Category: Consumer Protection

He Paid $13 for $13,000 Cartier Earrings, and Then the Jeweler Noticed

When Rogelio Villarreal bought rose-gold earrings for a price that the luxury retailer said was a mistake, he looked to a Mexican consumer protection law. He later said the company delivered the earrings.
Help! Megabus Canceled My Trip But Won’t Refund the Booking Fee.

A traveler spent $53.98 to reserve a bus ride from Philadelphia to Boston. But the company canceled the trip and returned only $49.99, prompting an 18-month fight over a principle.
Transportation Dept. and State Attorneys General Will Look Into Airline Complaints

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced a new partnership with more than a dozen state attorneys general that aims to improve protections for air travelers.
Consumers Hate ‘Price Discrimination,’ but They Sure Love a Discount

The Wendy’s debacle is a warning shot for brands: If you want to play with prices, make sure to communicate why and whom it could help.
How Much Would You Pay to Make Sure You Never Sawed Off a Finger?

Even in the world of woodworking, there are trade-offs at the intersection of policy, public safety, patents and profit.
Jool Baby Infant Swings Recalled Over Suffocation Hazard

Federal regulators said that the Jool Baby swings should not have been marketed as sleep products because they have an incline angle that is not safe.
Trade Groups Sue to Block Credit Card Late Fee Limit

Banking groups and Texas business associations asked a federal court to abolish a new federal rule that would cap most late fees at $8.
New Federal Rule Caps Most Credit Card Late Fees at $8

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said its new restriction would save households $10 billion a year in “junk fees.”
F.T.C. Warns Dozens of Funeral Homes to Provide Accurate Costs to Callers

The agency said an “undercover phone sweep” of more than 250 homes found that 38 failed to provide prices or supplied inconsistent prices in separate calls.
Consumer Bureau Proposes Overdraft Fee Limits for Large Banks

The options would include charging a benchmark fee, set by the bureau, that would be significantly lower than the current $35 standard.
Sidney M. Wolfe, Scourge of the Pharmaceutical Industry, Dies at 86

For over 40 years, he and his organization, the Health Research Group, held government and manufacturers to account for unsafe medication.
U.S. Regulators Propose New Online Privacy Safeguards for Children

The F.T.C. proposed sweeping privacy changes on Wednesday which could curb how social media, game and learning apps use and monetize youngsters’ data.