#consumer protection

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UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 hours ago

Help to cut baby formula costs could save parents up to 500, Starmer says

Government will implement CMA-backed measures to cut baby formula costs by promoting cheaper equivalents, standardising packaging, grouping displays, and allowing vouchers and coupons.
Public health
fromSFGATE
6 hours ago

San Francisco takes 10 corporations to court over ultra-processed food

San Francisco sued ten food corporations alleging they sold addictive ultra-processed foods that caused health harms and seeks damages, injunctions, and restitution.
#greenwashing
fromwww.ocregister.com
19 hours ago

Arizona attorney general sues Chinese online retailer Temu over data theft claims

Mayes said the app deceives customers about the quality of its low-cost products and collects what she described as a shocking amount of sensitive data without the consent of users, including GPS locations and a list of other apps on users' phones. According to the lawsuit, prosecutors are concerned about Temu being subject to laws in China that require Chinese companies to hand over data requested by the government, and that its code is designed to evade security reviews.
Privacy professionals
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
21 hours ago

Greystar to pay $24M in FTC, Colorado lawsuit

Greystar advertised low base rents but omitted mandatory fees, prompting an FTC settlement requiring refunds and mandatory full-price disclosures.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
1 day ago

Idaho voids MV Realty right-to-list contracts in settlement

The settlement voids MV Realty's contracts, requires record removal, and bars MV Realty and its three executives from Idaho residential real estate for five years.
Marketing
fromFast Company
2 days ago

Thinking of spending on Travel Tuesday deals? Follow these expert tips from consumer advocates

Travel Tuesday promotes one-day travel deals but consumers should research prices and fine print to avoid inflated fares, blackout dates, hidden fees, and restrictive conditions.
Privacy professionals
fromFast Company
3 days ago

4 tips to help you maintain a healthy credit rating

Credit enables economic mobility like homeownership but also fuels exploitative lending and debt; understanding its benefits and pitfalls can reduce harm.
Soccer (FIFA)
fromWIRED
3 days ago

Mexico Preps for the 2026 World Cup With a Ticket Resale Platform and a Tourism App

A bilingual World Cup app will offer tourism guides, real-time match info, services, and an official ticket resale platform displaying prices in Mexican pesos.
E-Commerce
fromTechCrunch
4 days ago

New York state law takes aim at personalized pricing | TechCrunch

New York requires businesses using personal data for personalized pricing to disclose that an algorithm set the price.
Canada news
fromwww.cbc.ca
4 days ago

Ford government takes control of real estate regulator | CBC News

Ontario appointed an administrator to take control of the Real Estate Council of Ontario after an audit found mishandling of iPro Realty funds.
fromMail Online
5 days ago

Black Friday warning as 11 million lost to holiday fraud last year

'selling air package holidays in the UK must hold an ATOL (Air Travel Organiser's Licence)'
UK news
UK politics
fromBusiness Matters
5 days ago

Reeves and Kendall summon telecoms chiefs, warning firms must do more to protect consumers from unexpected price hikes

UK ministers demand telecoms stop unexpected mid-contract price rises and move customers to clear pounds-and-pence increases, ensuring fair, transparent treatment.
#meta
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
6 days ago

Chancellor summons telecoms bosses to demand action on mid-contract price hikes

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has demanded telecoms protect consumers from mid-contract price hikes and confirm contracts will prevent unexpected price increases.
#consumer-protection
fromMashable India
2 months ago
E-Commerce

DoCA Probes E-Commerce Hidden COD Charges; Flipkart, Amazon, Zomato, Swiggy Face Dark Pattern Allegations In India

fromMashable India
2 months ago
E-Commerce

DoCA Probes E-Commerce Hidden COD Charges; Flipkart, Amazon, Zomato, Swiggy Face Dark Pattern Allegations In India

New York City
fromCurbed
1 week ago

Can I Pay an Illegal Broker Fee Without Being a Sucker?

Tenants cannot be charged broker fees under the FARE Act; report illegal demands to DCWP with documentation or pursue alternate remedies.
Barcelona
fromEuro Weekly News
1 week ago

Spain Issues Black Friday Scam alert

Catalonia warns shoppers to remain vigilant during Black Friday as cyber scams grow more frequent and sophisticated, leveraging AI-enhanced fraud and fake promotions.
Privacy professionals
fromMen's Journal
1 week ago

Jeep, Chrysler, And Dodge Owners Are Getting Pop-Up Ads In Their Cars

Stellantis displays pop-up advertisements inside cars, shown when vehicles are stationary, causing owner frustration and exposing weak US advertising and privacy regulation.
Miscellaneous
fromIrish Independent
1 week ago

Sky to refund Irish broadband customers it overcharged for more than a year

Sky Ireland overcharged under 1% of customers (average €50) due to missed contract-change notifications; it will credit accounts and implement price rises from January 2026.
fromIrish Independent
1 week ago

'If we wanted to price gouge, we would add one or two flights, we added 15' - Michael O'Leary defends 700 Prague fares for Ireland play-off

We have a daily flight to Prague, during the draw, all the remaining seats on those flights on the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday were all sold out. So before the draw was even concluded yesterday, we're completely full on our daily flight to Prague. What do we do? We added, within an hour of the draw yesterday, we had an extra 15 flights going out to Prague and returning from Prague on that week. Now the reality of those flights is the returns are empty
Miscellaneous
#ticket-resale
Miscellaneous
fromIrish Independent
2 weeks ago

Complaints upheld against An Post, Lidl and influencers by advertising watchdog

Advertising Standards Authority upheld multiple complaints against companies and influencers for misleading pricing, unclear disclosures, and false service availability, while some complaints were dismissed.
fromPitchfork
2 weeks ago

Ticket Resale for Profit to Be Outlawed in United Kingdom

Reselling tickets for more than face value will be made illegal in the United Kingdom, The Guardian and BBC report. Set to be announced this week, the plans will make good on the Labour Party's 2024 election pledge to crack down on touting, amid the debate over rising concert ticket fees. Platforms reselling face-value tickets will be allowed to add service fees, but these will be subject to new limits, according to The Guardian.
UK politics
fromTheregister
2 weeks ago

Vodafone, EE, O2, Three hit with 3B overcharging lawsuit

The cases involve contracts bundling handsets with services. The contention is that customers who continued using the service after the minimum term ended were charged the same monthly fee, and not a SIM-only fee for continued use of the network. Plaintiff Justin Gutmann - understood to be a former executive at Citizens Advice - said he was seeking damages of more than £3 billion ($4 billion) as the "class representative" on behalf of millions of subscribers he claims were overcharged.
UK news
fromBusiness Matters
2 weeks ago

Eight firms investigated over online pricing as CMA exercises new powers

Eight companies are under formal investigation by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over concerns about online pricing tactics, marking the regulator's first major enforcement action under its strengthened consumer protection powers. The firms - StubHub, Viagogo, AA Driving School, BSM Driving School, Gold's Gym, Wayfair, Appliances Direct and Marks Electrical - are being examined as part of a wide-ranging review into how businesses display and structure online prices.
Miscellaneous
#ai-chatbots
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks ago
Artificial intelligence

UK consumers warned over AI chatbots giving inaccurate financial advice

AI chatbots frequently give inaccurate and misleading financial, tax, travel, and legal advice to British consumers.
fromZDNET
1 month ago
Artificial intelligence

Beware of getting your product buying advice from AI for one big reason, says Ziff Davis CEO

Verify chatbot-cited sources before trusting AI buying advice because citations increasingly favor brand marketing over independent journalism.
fromZDNET
1 month ago
Artificial intelligence

Beware of getting your product buying advice from AI for one big reason, says Ziff Davis CEO

E-Commerce
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 weeks ago

StubHub misled me about my $331 concert ticket refund. What should I do?

Companies cannot legally lie about refunds; platforms must provide promised refunds or adequate remedies when ticket resales, cancellations, or rescheduling create entitlement to reimbursement.
Renovation
fromHomebuilding
2 weeks ago

Pensioners lose millions in solar refund scam

Two UK solar companies were shut down after defrauding pensioners of over £3.1 million using false government-backed refund and grant claims.
US politics
fromThe Verge
2 weeks ago

Why we're going to keep talking about the Trump phone

The promised Trump Mobile phone remains unseen, deposits' status unknown, and continued reporting is necessary because the situation is unresolved and potentially problematic.
#cfpb
Europe politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks ago

EU court rules non-alcoholic drinks cannot be called gin

Only spirits made with ethyl alcohol and juniper at minimum 37.5% ABV may be legally labelled gin; non-alcoholic products cannot use the term.
Food & drink
fromwww.dw.com
2 weeks ago

'Gin' must contain alcohol, top European court says DW 11/13/2025

EU products labeled 'gin' must contain alcohol and meet the gin definition: ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin flavored with juniper and 37.5% ABV.
fromSpectrumlocalnews
2 weeks ago

Algorithmic Pricing Disclosure Act takes effect

"It's all about the privacy of the data. And it's a very common practice that the businesses use your personal data. In many cases, without your knowledge, to be able to set prices or target you for advertising material," Ersin Uzun, executive director of Rochester Institute of Technology's Global Cybersecurity Institute, said.
US news
US news
fromBusiness Insider
3 weeks ago

United Airlines says a window seat doesn't need to have a window

United and Delta are accused of selling seats labeled 'window' that lack exterior views; United argues 'window' denotes seat position next to the aircraft wall.
US politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 weeks ago

Yes, New York will soon be under new management. But Zohran Mamdani is just the start | Carys Afoko

Lina Khan transformed the FTC, secured major consumer victories, and joins the New York mayor-elect's transition team, signaling challenge to big tech and Wall Street.
London politics
fromwww.standard.co.uk
3 weeks ago

Police issue 2,500 urgent warning to Londoners with dodgy' Amazon Fire TV sticks

Using illegal Amazon Fire sticks often leads to fraud and identity theft, converting modest subscription savings into losses of thousands of pounds.
Travel
fromwww.mercurynews.com
3 weeks ago

Locked out and charged $385 for getting into my Airbnb is that fair?

Documented evidence showing weather-caused lock malfunction should protect guests from liability for repair charges.
fromwww.housingwire.com
3 weeks ago

Zillow faces lawsuit alleging illegal kickbacks in mortgage business

According to the complaint, Zillow pressures agents in its Premier Agent and Flex lead programs to steer buyers to Zillow Home Loans for their purchase mortgage pre-approval. Allegedly, agents who sent more clients to Zillow's mortgage arm for their pre-approvals received extra or higher-quality leads in exchange. If agents in the Flex program fail to send a sufficient number of leads to ZHL for pre-approval, they risk being removed from the program.
Real estate
fromMashable India
3 weeks ago

Gambling Online? Try Turning Off Push Notifications.

Earlier this year, during the college basketball event known as March Madness, the biggest sports gambling apps were lighting up Eden Iscil's phone with notifications. From sunrise to late evening, they kept inviting him to wager on games, players, and teams. But the apps didn't know that Iscil wasn't actually interested in placing bets or winning money. In fact, Iscil isn't a "sports person" and had never gambled on sports before downloading the FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM apps.
Marketing tech
#shein
#microsoft-365
fromComputerworld
3 weeks ago
Business

Microsoft issues apology for misleading Microsoft 365 pricing plans

Microsoft reversed Copilot-linked price hikes after regulatory pressure, acknowledged poor communication, and offered refunds to affected Microsoft 365 subscribers in Australia.
fromIT Pro
1 month ago
Tech industry

Microsoft 365 price hikes have landed the tech giant in hot water

Microsoft allegedly concealed cheaper 'Classic' Microsoft 365 plans to push subscribers into higher-priced Copilot-integrated plans, prompting an ACCC lawsuit over misleading conduct.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
4 weeks ago

Government disappointed by unexpected O2 price rise

Government asked Ofcom to review in-contract price-rise rules after O2 raised monthly prices mid-contract, seeking stronger consumer protections and fair treatment.
Travel
fromwww.mercurynews.com
4 weeks ago

Carnival charged me a $500 cancellation fee I didn't know about. Can I get it back?

Travel agents and cruise lines must clearly disclose nonrefundable fees and promotion terms before booking; failure may violate consumer protection rules and justify a refund.
US news
fromAxios
1 month ago

Government imposter scams surge amid shutdown

Scammers increasingly impersonate government agencies around the shutdown, driving a sharp rise in complaints and exploiting stressed, vulnerable people with sophisticated, convincing tactics.
Business
fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago

Something Very Unsettling Is Happening at Gyms. It's Only Getting Worse.

LA Fitness repeatedly failed to process legitimate cancellation requests, leaving customers auto-renewed and charged thousands despite certified letters and staff assurances.
Tech industry
fromTheregister
1 month ago

Australia sues Microsoft for misleading M365 users

Australia's ACCC alleges Microsoft misled Microsoft 365 subscribers by hiding a lower-priced Classic plan while promoting pricier Copilot-integrated plans.
France news
fromThe Local France
1 month ago

France tightens up bank rules for loans and overdrafts

France will enforce stricter overdraft and loan rules from November 2026 to curb over-indebtedness and strengthen consumer protection.
Artificial intelligence
fromThe Verge
1 month ago

'Clinical-grade AI': a new buzzy AI word that means absolutely nothing

Marketing terms such as "clinical-grade" for AI mental health chatbots borrow medical authority without legal accountability and can mislead consumers about efficacy and regulation.
#fcc
Food & drink
fromSFGATE
1 month ago

Chipotle to pay $246K penalty for allegedly breaking Calif.'s gift card law

Chipotle will pay $246,000 and create a customer portal after a stipulated judgment over not cashing out gift cards with balances under $10.
fromwww.cbc.ca
1 month ago

$32M case against Ontario developer falls apart at provincial regulator hearing | CBC News

In the biggest case ever brought before the HCRA's discipline committee, Briarwood Development Group was accused of violating the province's code of ethics for home builders by coercing 142 buyers into paying more for pre-construction homes, for which they had already paid deposits and signed agreements, ultimately extracting more than $18 million. The counts against Briarwood were all dismissed or withdrawn last month, after the HCRA failed to prove its case and bring forward substantial evidence.
Canada news
Renovation
fromHomebuilding
1 month ago

Do you have to declare a house is haunted when selling?

Sellers in England and Wales are not legally required to disclose a property's haunted reputation, unless directly asked, under consumer protection and caveat emptor rules.
#digital-fairness-act
UK politics
fromTheregister
1 month ago

Ofcom 'disappointed' after O2 mid-contract price hike

O2 (VMO2) plans up to 40% mid-contract bill increases from April 2026 by exploiting a regulatory loophole that permits rises despite rules banning inflation-linked increases.
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

Wine scam victim's warning as fraudsters are jailed

A pensioner who ploughed 40,000 into a fraudulent wine investment scheme has warned others not to fall for similar scams after three men were jailed. Terry Fleming, 81, from Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, said he invested the money over two years believing he would make a profit, but eventually had to sell the bottles at a considerable loss. Three men who stole at least 6m from 41 victims in the scheme were given prison terms to at St Albans Crown Court on Friday.
UK news
E-Commerce
fromTasting Table
1 month ago

What To Do With Unused Gift Cards When A Restaurant Closes For Good - Tasting Table

Unused gift cards often lose value when businesses close, but legal protections and certain recovery steps can sometimes restore their monetary worth.
fromFast Company
1 month ago

Homeowners are seeing skyrocketing insurance rates as extreme weather worsens. Can this bill of rights help?

As weather disasters become more and more frequent, the home insurance system feels broken for Americans across the country. Now, the advocacy nonprofit Consumer Reports is trying to implement a " homeowners insurance bill of rights " to codify baseline protections across all 50 states. According to a survey from the group, homeowners have seen their insurance rates climb-like Sierra in North Carolina, whose insurance spiked 43% last year, with her provider citing the "increased regional weather risks" as well as Hurricane Helene's impact specifically.
US news
fromBoston.com
1 month ago

AG Andrea Campbell launches reelection campaign

It takes viewers through the "American story" of Campbell's life: from a childhood in foster care and public housing to Princeton University and ultimately to the halls of power. "My own story is proof of what's possible, but yet we can do so much more. We can truly make this Commonwealth a place where everyone, no matter who you are or where you come from, can dream big and actually have those dreams realized," she says in the ad.
US politics
Real estate
fromBoston Condos For Sale Ford Realty
1 month ago

New Massachusetts Home-inspection Law For Home Buyers Takes Effect Boston Condos For Sale Ford Realty

New Massachusetts law bans sale terms requiring buyers to waive or limit home inspections, aiming to discourage house flippers and protect first-time homebuyers in a tight market.
US politics
fromTechCrunch
1 month ago

FTC removes Lina Khan-era posts about AI risks and open source | TechCrunch

The FTC removed three Lina Khan-era blog posts about open-source AI and consumer harm amid Trump administration efforts to reshape agency messaging and deregulate tech.
fromZDNET
1 month ago

I tested the $5 phone 'repair' dongle that promised big fixes for cheap - here are my results

There are a lot of weird scam tools out there. Soaring power bills have made the "power saver" scam devices popular, but the other day I came across another odd one called a "USB Phone Battery Repair Multipurpose Battery Restorer Efficient Repair" dongle. Also: Want to cut your electric bill? Skip these scam 'power-saving' devices, and buy this instead It claims to do a lot, but rest assured, all it does is take your money.
Gadgets
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Morning Docket: 10.16.25 - Above the Law

* Law school applications up 33 percent. Or " nearly half" as some lawyers would say. [ Reuters] * Supreme Court's voting rights argument reveals justices more than willing to roll back the law to 1950s. [ Bloomberg Law News] * Michigan State Title IX investigators may have collaborated with university lawyers. [ State News] * The lawyer-to-blacksmith pipeline is alive and well. [ CBS News] * Trump DOJ wastes tons of taxpayer money on frivolous cases, but the costs to the accused matter almost as much winning. [ NPR]
Law
New York City
fromBitcoinist.com
1 month ago

Crypto Gets An Address: New York City Unveils US' 1st Official Crypto Office

New York City established the Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain Technology to guide policy, coordinate agencies, educate residents, explore blockchain uses, and attract business.
fromDataBreaches.Net
1 month ago

Attorney General James Secures $14.2 Million from Car Insurance Companies Over Data Breaches - DataBreaches.Net

NEW YORK - New York Attorney General Letitia James today secured $14.2 million from eight car insurance companies for failing to protect the private information of more than 825,000 New Yorkers. The data breaches were part of a hacking campaign that targeted car insurance companies' quoting tools and stole people's personal information, including driver's license numbers and dates of birth. The hackers later used some of the stolen driver's license information to file fraudulent unemployment claims at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
E-Commerce
fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago

Your Favorite Tech Products Are Getting Worse. Here's How We Can Fix It.

Amazon leverages platform dominance and pricing tactics to create illusory Prime Day deals, exploiting shoppers and sellers and driving consumer backlash.
Gadgets
fromZDNET
1 month ago

This phone 'repair' dongle promises big fixes for $5 - so I put it to the test

The USB phone battery 'repair' dongle is a worthless scam device that contains only LEDs and a resistor and does not repair batteries.
Pets
fromLos Angeles Times
1 month ago

California tightens leash on puppy sales with new laws signed by Newsom

California enacted laws banning online brokers from selling puppies, voiding nonrefundable deposits, and strengthening buyer protections and seller disclosure for pets under one year.
fromwww.dw.com
1 month ago

Plant-based 'burger' label grilled in EU parliament DW 10/08/2025

"A steak is made of meat full stop. Using these names only for real meat keeps labels honest, protects farmers, and preserves Europe's culinary traditions," said lead negotiator and EPP member of parliament Celine Imart ahead of Wednesday's vote. "Calling it 'meat' is misleading for the consumer," she added.
Miscellaneous
Toronto
fromwww.cbc.ca
1 month ago

Fraud is a known problem in Canada's crypto ATM industry. What are operators doing about it? | CBC News

Crypto ATMs in Canada have become the primary vehicle for scammers to convert victims' funds, with operators internally acknowledging widespread fraud-related transactions.
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

New California law bans loud ads on streaming services for peace and quiet'

We heard Californians loud and clear, Newsom said in a statement, and what's clear is that they don't want commercials at a volume any louder than the level at which they were previously enjoying a program.
California
fromLondon Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
1 month ago

EU's commercial online services: What's in it for UK users - London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

The United Kingdom's rapport with the European Union proceeds uninterrupted even after Brexit. European online services offer something distinct for European consumers: reliability, transparency, and innovation. Be it affordability, choice, or stronger data protection, British users continue to gain from what the European digital economy has built up over decades of EU co-operation and regulatory harmonization. Political frontiers may have shifted, but on the internet, economic exchange of goods, payments, and entertainment across the web between the EU and the UK proceeds with full vigour.
Miscellaneous
UK news
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

Housebuying reform plan aims to cut costs and time

Government proposes major reforms to the housebuying system to cut costs, reduce delays, halve failed sales, and increase transparency and standards.
fromBusiness Matters
1 month ago

Banks warn government not to cap resale prices of gig tickets

Britain's leading banks have warned the government against capping the resale prices of concert and event tickets, claiming the move would push ticket touts and fraudulent sellers onto unregulated social media platforms. In a submission to ministers, UK Finance, the trade body representing Lloyds, NatWest, HSBC, Barclays and more than 300 other financial institutions, said proposed ticket price caps could backfire by driving "tout activity" away from regulated platforms such as Viagogo and towards sites like Facebook Marketplace, where fans are more exposed to scams.
UK politics
Real estate
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

UK ministers aim to speed up homebuying by four weeks

Government proposals aim to shorten homebuying by four weeks, shift upfront costs to sellers, require pre-sale property information, and explore binding contracts to reduce collapses.
France news
fromThe Local France
1 month ago

Brexit cards, electricity bills and driving fines: 6 essential articles for life in France

Multiple practical consumer and resident changes in France: Brexit residency renewals, electricity peak-hour shifts, clothing ecolabels, new driving fines, and restaurant overcharging risks.
UK politics
fromBusiness Matters
2 months ago

Regulation of Online Spaces and Protection of Consumer Rights in Modern Britain

Policymakers must balance online innovation with robust consumer protections and adaptable oversight to address cross-border and unregulated platform risks.
fromIndependent
2 months ago

AIB warns of emerging threat of 'second-helpings scams' to defraud victims by offering fake services to recover stolen money

Swindle involves panicked customers losing more money on top of what was stolen from them in the first place
Miscellaneous
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