#consumer protection

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Public health
fromWPXI
1 hour ago

Pennsylvania attorney general part of crackdown on misleading AI-generated weight loss ads

A bipartisan coalition of 35 attorneys general demands Meta stop deceptive AI-generated weight-loss ads, require clear risk disclosures, and restrict prescription drug promotions.
#meta
#tesla
fromwww.housingwire.com
5 hours ago

New York outlaws right-to-list agreements

The property rights of American homeowners must be safeguarded, Caroline Cone, director of state government affairs for the American Land Title Association (ALTA), said in a statement. It is essential to ensure there are no unreasonable restraints on a homeowner's ability to sell or refinance their home in the future due to unwarranted transaction costs. ALTA, along with AARP, were strong proponents of the bill, as well as other similar pieces of legislation across the country.
Real estate
US politics
fromMission Local
11 hours ago

Fake immigration lawyers are scamming Bay Area families. Here's how to protect yourself.

Scammers impersonate immigration lawyers in the Bay Area, targeting elderly, low‑literacy, and urgent clients with false guarantees and unofficial contact channels.
Miscellaneous
fromIndependent
17 hours ago

Revolut criticised by MEP Billy Kelleher over how it treats victims of fraud

Revolut refused to refund €10,000 allegedly taken from a businessman's account without authorisation.
Social media marketing
fromeuronews
18 hours ago

Influencer marketing in fast-fashion and food sectors under scrutiny

Influencer marketing often lacks transparency, promotes unhealthy foods, frequently fails to disclose paid partnerships, and may breach consumer law, prompting calls for joint liability and restrictions.
US news
fromFast Company
1 day ago

Hyundai and Kia to offer free anti-theft repairs for millions of cars under a multistate settlement

Hyundai and Kia will provide free repairs and future engine immobilizers after a nationwide settlement over vulnerable vehicles linked to widespread thefts and related harms.
Gadgets
fromThe Verge
1 day ago

Texas is suing all of the big TV makers for spying on what you watch

Five major TV manufacturers are accused of using Automatic Content Recognition in smart TVs to collect private audio/video and viewing data for targeted advertising.
EU data protection
fromPractical Ecommerce
1 day ago

The Top Conversion Barrier in the E.U.

European consumers require strong privacy protections, transparent pricing, clear returns, verified reviews, and regulatory compliance, creating major trust barriers for non-EU merchants.
UK news
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

Ministers to back regulation of England's funeral industry after scandals

England will introduce statutory regulation, licensing, inspections and enforcement for funeral businesses after inquiries revealed systemic failures and abuses of human remains.
fromThe Verge
1 day ago

21 states and DC join the FTC's lawsuit against Uber

According to the lawsuit, Uber charged consumers for the Uber One subscription without their consent, billed them before the end of a free trial, and shared misleading claims about how much consumers can save with the subscription. Uber One subscribers were allegedly forced to go through a lengthy and difficult process to cancel the subscription, which could mean tapping through up to 23 screens and taking 32 actions.
E-Commerce
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 days ago

UK Treasury drawing up new rules to police cryptocurrency markets

Cryptocurrencies will be regulated in a similar way to other financial products under legislation coming into force in 2027. The Treasury is drawing up rules that will require crypto companies to meet a set of standards overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Ministers have sought to overhaul the crypto market, which has ballooned in popularity as a way of investing money and making payments.
UK politics
Los Angeles
fromLos Angeles Times
5 days ago

D.A.'s undercover sting targets 'criminal contractors' in L.A. wildfire zones

Five people were arrested for attempting illegal, unlicensed repairs on homes believed damaged by the Eaton Fire in an undercover anti-fraud operation.
Snowboarding
fromSnowBrains
6 days ago

Copper Mountain, CO, Settles Class Action Lawsuit Over Resort Surcharge - SnowBrains

Copper Mountain and owner POWDR settled a class action alleging an undisclosed resort surcharge added to food purchases inflated prices up to about 9%.
fromwww.housingwire.com
6 days ago

Nonprofits launch fair lending tip lines as federal oversight wanes

The NCRC announced on Wednesday a tip line for anyone who believes fair lending laws have been violated, saying it has the expertise to investigate and the resources to take action when warranted. Individuals can submit confidential complaints regarding potential violations of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Housing Act, redlining, or unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices. Advocacy organizations have a key role to play in filling the gaps this administration is creating, Van Tol said.
Law
fromThe Verge
6 days ago

State AGs warn Google, Meta, and OpenAI that their chatbots could be breaking the law

The AGs have given Meta, Google, OpenAI, and others a deadline of January 16th, 2026 to respond to demands for more safety measures for generative AI, saying innovation is not "an excuse for noncompliance with our laws, misinforming parents, and endangering our residents, particularly children."
US politics
UK politics
fromBusiness Matters
6 days ago

Cross-party MPs elect new leadership for APPG on Investment Fraud amid call for stronger consumer protection

New cross-party APPG leadership prioritizes rebuilding trust, stronger consumer protection, and holding regulators and industry accountable to combat investment fraud.
US news
fromwww.npr.org
1 week ago

Congress calls for a crackdown on companies charging disabled vets

Members of Congress demand enforcement against unaccredited claims consultants who charge veterans illegal fees, exploit legal loopholes, and use aggressive tactics to access VA systems.
#class-action
E-Commerce
fromsfist.com
1 week ago

Report: SF-Based Instacart Charging Some Customers as Much as 23% More for the Same Items, Thanks to AI Pricing

Instacart uses AI-driven dynamic pricing to show different shoppers different prices for identical items, sometimes up to 23% higher.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
1 week ago

FTC issues warnings to rental software firms on price transparency

Software rental-listing providers that omit mandatory fees or hinder pricing information prevent informed renter decisions and harm market efficiency, risking FTC legal action and penalties.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 week ago

Balloons with illegal levels of chemicals that can cause cancer sold in UK shops

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
US politics
Marketing
fromInc
1 week ago

Shay Mitchell's Luggage Brand May Have Broken the Law With Its Controversial Email to Customers

Béis used a deceptive "Fraud alert" subject line to promote an extended Black Friday sale, prompting customer outrage and potential CAN-SPAM exposure.
US politics
fromBusiness Insider
1 week ago

Trump's student-loan repayment changes could bring costly errors for borrowers, Dem lawmakers say

Major student-loan repayment changes risk causing costly servicing errors that can delay payments, harm credit and jeopardize borrowers' financial stability.
US politics
fromFortune
1 week ago

Trump administration waives part of a Biden-era fine against Southwest Airlines for thousands of canceled flights in 2022 | Fortune

The Transportation Department waived Southwest's final $11 million payment after citing significant operational improvements and investments following the December 2022 storm.
fromwww.nytimes.com
1 week ago

What Are Stablecoins?

There's a new type of money spreading rapidly across the internet, propelled by the crypto boom. It's supposed to be worth a dollar, but it's not issued by any government. Called a stablecoin, it is a digital currency that is subject to very little legal oversight and its growing popularity has recently transformed it into a $300 billion market. You can use stablecoins to buy things online, make investments or send money abroad with minimal fees.
Cryptocurrency
fromBoston.com
1 week ago

Mysterious chip found in Brighton ATM as 'skimming' incidents increase

Boston police said the skimmers can be hidden inside or placed over an ATM's card reader, allowing them to copy information from a card's magnetic stripe or chip. In some cases, thieves also set up tiny cameras to capture a PIN as it's typed into the ATM. At store checkout counters, criminals may use plastic overlays on keypads or card readers that secretly collect card data.
Gadgets
#consumer-protection
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 week ago

Just watch us get ripped off': Readers slam energy bill hikes

Outrage has erupted among Independent readers after the UK energy watchdog Ofgem approved a 28bn investment to upgrade gas and electricity networks, which is expected to push household bills up by 108. Many pushed back at the idea that consumers should bear the cost, stressing that energy companies are already highly profitable and that past underinvestment is a result of prioritising shareholder dividends over infrastructure.
UK news
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
1 week ago

George Morales elected to NRMLA board

George Morales joined NRMLA's Board to advance reverse mortgage modernization, broaden market access, strengthen consumer protections, and promote technology-driven efficiency.
US news
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks ago

How the dollar-store industry overcharges cash-strapped customers while promising low prices

Family Dollar and Dollar General frequently charge higher register prices than shelf prices, causing systemic overcharging that disproportionately harms low-income customers.
#cfpb
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks 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
2 weeks 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
2 weeks 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
2 weeks 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
2 weeks 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 weeks 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
2 weeks 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
2 weeks 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
2 weeks 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
2 weeks 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
2 weeks 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
2 weeks 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.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
2 weeks 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.
New York City
fromCurbed
3 weeks 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
3 weeks 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
3 weeks 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
3 weeks 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
3 weeks 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
4 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
4 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
4 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
4 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
E-Commerce
fromwww.mercurynews.com
4 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
1 month 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
1 month 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.
Europe politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month 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
1 month 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
1 month 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
1 month 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
1 month 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
1 month 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
1 month 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
1 month 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
1 month 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
1 month 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
1 month 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
1 month 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.
US politics
fromTelecompetitor
1 month ago

FCC to Study Broadband Labels, May Remove Requirements

The FCC approved a study to reconsider 2022 broadband label requirements mandating 'broadband nutrition labels' listing prices, fees and service details, with one commissioner dissenting.
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