Recently, I was interviewed by KOMU, local NBC affiliate, on Robocalls. In the full interview, I discussed new legislation — but that part did not end up in the broadcast. I nonetheless wanted to follow up and share the information. A bipartisan bill has been introduced and reintroduced in Congress to address the growing problem…
Chalk one up for consumers! The California Supreme Court unanimously held that interest rates may render a consumer loan unconscionable even in the absence of a statutory interest rate cap. http://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/S241434.PDF. The ruling has also been covered in the LA Times and the American Banker. This allows courts to take into account the facts and equities…
The Washington Post recently interviewed Professor Amy J. Schmitz on her research related to consumer protection, and means for obtaining remedies. You can read the article in the Washington Post at https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/a-complaint-guide-for-unhappy-consumers/2018/06/18/39d7a536-6b5e-11e8-bea7-c8eb28bc52b1_story.html?utm_term=.555798b0c1f1.
Recently, I was asked by WalletHub to comment on cash back credit cards. The post should be forthcoming on the WalletHub site. Nonetheless, I am also sharing my insights here: • Should everyone have at least one cash back credit card? Not necessarily. For starters, consumers should always “shop around” and compare credit cards, and…
Tamko Building Products, Inc. v. Hobbs is a big win for consumer protection. This case differs from others of its kind, as it provides consumers with protection from invasive arbitration agreements attached to a product’s packaging. In 2005 and 2007 respectively, Lee Hobbs and the Jonesburg Methodist Church bought Heritage Series Shingles, which are manufactured by…
Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a report raising new concerns about costly fees and risky features often related to certain college-sponsored accounts. The Bureau’s analysis of roughly 500 marketing deals between these schools and large banks found that many deals allow for risky features that can lead students to rack up hundreds…
Our social media driven culture is used to posting, sharing, Tweeting, chatting, pinning, blogging, and Skyping – with friends and strangers alike. But, in the past decade, businesses have emerged as a new player in the social media hierarchy. This has given consumers new tools for reaching out to businesses, and has created a whole…