Chalk One Up For the Good Guys [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/07/chalk_one_up_for_the_good_guys.html]
Your activism forced lawmakers to reform our financial system! But the fight is not over. ... 
Errors in Foreclosures [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/07/errors_in_foreclosures.html]
By Norma Garcia
New California survey finds increasing evidence of banks foreclosing in error...
Bank of America Charging $8.95 for Paper Statements [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/07/bank_of_america_charging_895_f.html]
In Georgia Bank of America is introducing a new type of bank account. One that charges $8.95 to receive paper statements. ...
Companies sitting on surplus dollars while rates go up [http://www.prescriptionforchange.org/2010/07/companies_sitting_on_surplus_d.html]
Some of the biggest health plans have been accumulating huge surpluses even as they ask consumers to pay higher and higher rates. What gives?...
Victory! President signs Wall St. Reform Bill Into Law [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/07/victory_president_signs_wall_s.html]
The President signed the Wall St. Reform bill creating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. We outline what they should tackle first. ...
What Is In The Wall St. Reform Bill For You [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/07/what_is_in_the_wall_street_reform_bill_for_you.html]
The Senate’s 60-39 vote passing a landmark bill to overhaul the rules for banks and Wall Street shows the power that consumers can have over even the most powerful and well-funded lobby groups in the country. ...
What Is In The Wall St. Reform Bill For You [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/07/what_is_in_the_wall_st_reform_1.html]
The Senate’s 60-39 vote passing a landmark bill to overhaul the rules for banks and Wall Street shows the power that consumers can have over even the most powerful and well-funded lobby groups in the country. ...
Senate Passes Wall St. Reform. [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/07/senate_passes_wall_st_reform.html]
Finally. Financial Reform Bill a “Game Changer”...
A bar in Seattle will buy you dinner for quitting Chase bank [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/07/a_bar_in_seattle_will_buy_you.html]
After having enough of Chase the owner of Twilight Exit bar in Seattle is offering a free steak dinner with proof that you have dropped your Chase bank account. ...
The end of SS, SSI, VA checks is NOT yet a done deal! [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/07/the_end_of_ss_ssi_va_checks_no.html]
The Department of Treasury has proposed to end federal payments by check beginning March 2011 for new recipients and March 2013 for existing beneficiaries--substituting direct deposit or deposit onto prepaid cards....
Who Will the CFPB Serve? [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/07/who_will_the_cfpb_serve.html]
At our recent Consumers Union Activist Summit we were lucky enough to meet activists from all over the country who are doing amazing work. One such person was Andrea Wieland from the group First Nations. First Nations Native American operated...
Wall Street Reform Bill Update [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/07/wall_street_reform_bill_update.html]
Sen Brown comes out in support of Wall St. Reform Bill- Where does your Senator stand?...
Patient safety activists hold "conversation" with CDC [http://www.safepatientproject.org/2010/07/patient_safety_activists_hold.html]
On June 16, Consumers Union’s Safe Patient Project and 11 patient safety advocates from 10 states attended the first “Consumer Conversation on Healthcare-Associated Infections” at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. ...
Putting an End to Pre-Existing Conditions [http://www.prescriptionforchange.org/2010/07/putting_an_end_to_preexisting.html]
Do you have pre-existing medical conditions that caused you to be denied for insurance coverage? Have you been uninsured for at least six months? If so then we have some potentially good news for you today. ...
As the July 1st deadline approaches, CFA warns consumers not to Opt-In to Overdraft. [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/06/as_the_july_1st_deadline_appro.html]
CFA releases a survey of Big Bank Overdraft Fees and Terms...
Wall Street Bill Headed Back To Conference [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/06/wall_street_bill_headed_back_t.html]
All this talk about decades without real consumer protection and we all forgot one thing... Who is looking out for the BANKS? Luckily, someone is on the watch. ...
What does BCBS of Texas Have to Hide? [http://www.prescriptionforchange.org/2010/06/post_44.html]
Remember earlier this year when Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield filed for rate increases as high as 39% for California health insurance customers? Consumers were outraged, the state insurance commission investigated and found “flaws” and “miscalculations”, BCBS had little choice...
Call Your Senator Now to Pass Financial Reform [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/06/call_your_senator_now_to_pass.html]
The financial reform bill needs 60 votes in the Senate to be sent on to the President for final signature. The Lending Industry is going to fight it till the very end. ...
Let's talk about labels [http://www.safepatientproject.org/2010/06/lets_talk_about_labels.html]
A bill in California (SB 1390) would create a minimum of 12-point font for the most crucial information on medication labels and would require translation of medication label information into commonly used non-English languages. ...
Numerators [http://www.safepatientproject.org/2010/06/numerators.html]
Guest blog post from Kerry O’Connell of Conifer, Colorado. Kerry is a member of the Colorado Health Facility Acquired Infections Advisory Committee. A committed patient safety advocate, he calls for restoring empathy and compassion in health care....
Financial Reform Bill- Update [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/06/financial_reform_bill_update_2.html]
Here is an update of what is in the final version of the bill that is moving on to the House and Senate floors for final passage. ...
Financial Reform Moves! [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/06/consumers_score_huge_reform_vi.html]
Despite overwhelming pressure from the lending industry, big banks and credit card companies, just to name a few, consumer pressure and activism helped move us closer to passing legislation that creates real financial reform. ...
Twilight Prepaid Cards Will Suck You Dry [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/06/twitlight_prepaid_cards_suck.html]
When you expose prepaid cards branded with Twilight licensed images to some light their outrageous fees don't exactly sparkle... beware puns ahead. ...
The Dangers of Travel Cards [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/06/the_dangers_of_travel_cards.html]
By Alex Wong
Brian gets talked into using a "travel card", which is just another prepaid card without any protections, instead of travelers checks. ...
Stop Auto Dealer Loopholes- Last Chance [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/06/stop_auto_dealer_loopholes_las.html]
The House is scheduled to start discussing consumer protections today and are threatening to carve out one of the biggest financial products you will ever use- the auto loan. You can help. ...
What’s in the Mortgage Provisions of the Reform Bill [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/06/wall_street_reformwhats_in_the.html]
One of the major areas of concern driving legislative reform of the financial services industry is mortgage lending. ...
Close The Loophole on Car Dealers - Take Action Before Tuesday [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/06/close_the_loophole_on_car_deal.html]
The House Conference Committee is scheduled to discuss consumer protections soon. Send your message now to Stop Car Dealer Loopholes!...
Bank of America gave us a little and then took it away! [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/06/bank_of_america_gave_us_a_litt.html]
B of A is thinking up new fees to add to their checking accounts to make up for lost overdraft revenue....
Final Credit Card Rules on Penalty Fees and Interest Rate Review [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/06/fed_issues_new_rules_for_credi.html]
The Federal Reserve has issued the final regulations for the last provisions of the CARD Act which go into effect on August 22nd....
Pass financial reform that includes oversight of auto dealers [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/06/pass_financial_reform_that_inc.html]
Barney Frank needs to hear from your member of Congress to oppose the Auto Dealer exemption. Here are the facts. ...
Working to improve Chase’s Overdraft Opt-in Solicitations [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/06/working_to_improve_chases_over.html]
Over the past few months CU has joined other consumer groups to encourage Chase to make their overdraft opt-in solicitations less misleading to consumers. ...
New study shows that banks don't price penalty fees for risk. [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/06/new_study_shows_that_banks_don.html]
A new report by the Center for Responsible Lending proves that, despite their claims, banks do not price credit card late fees for risk. ...
Still confused about the new credit card law? [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/06/still_confused_about_the_new_c.html]
This Q&A published in the Boston Globe may answer some of your questions about the new credit card law. But there is one thing I’d like to add....
Financial Reform Bill Update [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/06/financial_reform_bill_update_1.html]
It ain't over yet. The banking lobby is working hard and spending tons to water down the financial reform bill while it is in conference....
New CDC report on CLABSIs: One step forward, many more to go [http://www.safepatientproject.org/2010/06/new_cdc_report_on_clabsis_one.html]
This week the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a state-specific report (not hospital specific) on rates of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in the ICU as collected by its National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), a monitoring system...
Some Shocking Survey Numbers on "Bill Shock" [http://www.hearusnow.org/2010/05/now_hear_this_newsletter_may_2.html]
A couple of weeks ago we wrote about “bill shock,” the unpleasant experience of receiving a huge, unexpected bill from a wireless company. Now we have some new numbers from the FCC showing the true breadth of bill shock among...
One-Hundred and Seventy-Eight [http://www.prescriptionforchange.org/2010/05/onehundred_and_seventyeight.html]
That’s the number of rate increases that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas filed for their individual insurance policies to go into effect between January 2007 and May 2010. To be fair, they spread these increases out amongst as many...
Credit Card Terms and Conditions Now Posted Online [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/05/credit_card_terms_and_conditio.html]
The Fed released a new website that posts credit card agreements so consumers can review....
Senate passes financial reform - but it's not over yet! [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/05/post_15.html]
Your countless phone calls and emails to the Senate just helped pass the toughest financial reform bill since the Great Depression. But we aren’t done yet! The House and Senate now must merge their respective bills in conference committee, and...
Gaming and Mobile Payments [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/05/gaming_and_mobile_payments.html]
By Simone Backer More and more consumers each year are paying for virtual currency and other online goods with their cell phones. These mobile payments are quicker and simpler than credit card payments, but lack the regulations and infrastructure necessary...
What's in the Financial Reform Bill [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/05/whats_in_the_financial_reform.html]
Ends "Too Big To Fail", establishes a Consumer Financial Bureau, and much much more. Want to look for yourself? We got you covered with a link to the bill text in its entirety as well. ...
Senate Passes Financial Reform Bill [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/05/senate_passes_financial_reform.html]
In the final vote the Senate passed the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 (RAFSA) 59-39...
Senate Votes to Limit Debate on Financial Reform Bill [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/05/senate_votes_to_limit_debate_o.html]
Bringing the Financial Reform Bill one step closer to the presidents desk two Democrats vote against cloture while three Republicans vote for. ...
You're gonna save $5 billion in credit card and overdraft fees this year! [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/05/youre_gonna_save_5_billion_in.html]
The new laws that went into effect this year to regulate credit cards and overdraft programs, will save consumers $5 billion in fees according to a USA Today analysis....
Call to Action for Social Security, SSI, and Veterans benefits recipients [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/05/call_to_action_for_social_secu.html]
If you receive Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Veterans benefits, you know this money is essential to you. It helps you pay for food, housing, and other basic living expenses....
Senate Moving Forward: Passes Good (Not Great) Amendment [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/05/senate_moving_forward_passes_g.html]
The Senate approved Sen Mark Udall's (D-CO) amendment on access to free credit scores but with a catch. ...
Paper statement fees?! What to do about this latest trick [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/05/paper_statement_fees_what_to_d.html]
We’ve heard from a number of consumers on our previous blog, Paper statement fees?! Credit card issuers’ latest trick about their frustrations with receiving their bills in the mail and surprise(!) are charged a fee for it....
Consumers pay steep rates for small loans [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/05/consumers_pay_steep_rates_for_1.html]
Need more proof that we need a strong independent financial watchdog for consumers? We just put out a report with the National Consumer Law Center and the Consumer Federation of America that shows consumers in most parts of the country...
FCC Seeks Solutions for Wireless "Bill Shock" [http://www.hearusnow.org/2010/05/now_hear_this_newsletter_may_1.html]
The Federal Communications Commission wants to cut down on “bill shock,” the unpleasant phenomenon consumers experience when they get unexpectedly get a huge wireless phone bill....
Tell Senate: Do Not Give Exemptions To Auto Loans [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/05/auto_dealers_are_lenders_too.html]
By Arone Silverman
President Obama called on the Senate to not exempt car dealers from a proposed Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, sending a strong message that he wants Democrats to stand firm against lobbying by the politically powerful group....
