Washington Activity (285 items)

Welcome to the Washington page. Explore this page for current legislative efforts, research, reports and consumer tips that are specific to your state.

Policy and Legislation

• CU letter to Senate Banking in support of CFPA (March 4, 2010)
• Letter to Federal Reserve asking for same protections to prepaid cards as debit cards (February 17, 2010)
• Supporting comments for FDIC mortgage securitization reform (February 12, 2010)
• Letter to Dodd from Americans for Financial Reform (February 10, 2010)
• CU urges Congress to support CFPA (January 15, 2010)
• Comments to the Federal Reserve regarding proposed amendments the Truth in Lending Act’s disclosure rules on Open-End credit (December 22, 2009)
• Letter to the Federal Reserve regarding proposal to amend the Truth in Lending Act’s disclosure rules on Closed-End credit (December 22, 2009)
• Support for the Personal Data Privacy and Security Act of 2009 (November 3, 2009)
• Consumers Union supports reform to remove paid medical debts from credit (October 2, 2009)
• Obama should prioritize credit card reform (March 24, 2009)
• Coalition letter to sponsors opposing HR 1214 (March 17, 2009)
• Supporting comment for FTC authority over predatory mortgages (March 4, 2009)
• Coalition endorses bill to cap interest rates (March 2, 2009)
• CU urges Obama administration to let states take greater role overseeing banks (February 4, 2009)
• Groups call for a consumer agenda for Congress and the new Administration (December 18, 2008)
• Groups call for a consumer agenda for Congress and the new Administration (December 18, 2008)
• CU offers principles for restructuring financial regulation (December 16, 2008)
• CU offers principles for restructuring financial regulation (December 16, 2008)
• Senate letter urging a vote for bridge loans to the domestic automakers (December 10, 2008)
• CU calls for new agency heads to protect consumers in credit and housing (December 2, 2008)
• Letter to the Comptroller of the Currency regarding stored value cards (November 26, 2008)
• Letter to President-Elect Obama from Consumers Union President (November 5, 2008)
• CU: Include credit card reforms in bailout package (September 24, 2008)
• Protect all your money if your bank fails (September 15, 2008)
• CU calls on the FTC to protect consumers from losing billions held on retailer gift cards (September 11, 2008)
• FTC urged to protect gift cardholders (September 11, 2008)
• Consumer’s Union letter urging Congress to act now on credit card reform (September 5, 2008)
• Fact sheet on state gift card protection laws (August 4, 2008)
• Comments on proposed rule to curb unfair credit card practices (July 15, 2008)
• Comments on proposed rule to curb unfair overdraft practices (June 27, 2008)
• CU calls for protections in contactless cards and pay by cell phone (June 20, 2008)
• CU supports federal bill to remove the SSN from newly issued Medicare cards (May 30, 2008)
• States with Notice of Security Breach Laws (February 9, 2005)

• Consumer groups endorse credit card reform bills (March 12, 2008)
• House bill takes on abusive credit card practices (February 7, 2008)
• CU calls for one stop banking complaint system (December 12, 2007)
• State laws restricting private use of Social Security numbers (November 28, 2007)
• CU urges Fed to improve credit card disclosures (August 27, 2007)
• Simplify the fees, not just the disclosures (June 6, 2007)
• Consumers Union letter on S. 495 (April 24, 2007)
• Consumers Union letter on S. 1178 (April 24, 2007)
• Consumers Union Supports S. 495 (March 11, 2007)
• Consumer groups call on federal regulators to protect consumers from dangerous mortgage practices (February 21, 2007)
• States with Security Freeze Laws (October 31, 2006)
• CU supports requiring data brokers to abide fairly in contracts to Homeland Security (July 18, 2006)
• CU supports health information technology amendment (July 10, 2006)
• Groups comment to Subcommittee on Health on HR 4157 (June 7, 2006)
• CU supports the “Free Internet Filing Act” (April 21, 2006)
• CU supports efforts to guard privacy of your tax returns (letter) (April 7, 2006)
• Letter to the House supporting data security (March 28, 2006)
• Consumer groups band together against unscrupulous payday lenders in Pennsylvania (January 12, 2006)
• DATA bill will not effectively help deal with the very real threat of ID theft (November 16, 2005)
• S. 1789 will provide consumers with some significant protections from potential data breaches (November 3, 2005)
• Consumer groups seek clear federal deposit insurance coverage for funds backing stored valued cards (November 2, 2005)
• Senator Akaka bill stops check holding for payday loans (October 6, 2005)
• Consumer groups call on Federal Reserve Board to protect funds on emergency benefits payments cards (September 23, 2005)
• ask Fair Isaac to adapt credit scoring models to exclude harmful information about disaster victims.]]>">Groups ask Fair Isaac to adapt credit scoring models to exclude harmful information about disaster victims (September 12, 2005)
• Letter to the SEC expressing opposition to broker-dealer adopted rules (August 11, 2005)
• Consumer groups urge Fed to rein in high cost overdraft loans (June 8, 2005)
• Click here for the letter. ]]>">CU calls on Congress to enact strong identity theft safeguards (May 9, 2005)
• Letter to House urges rejection of bankruptcy bill (April 15, 2005)
• CU letter with other consumer groups regarding payday loans to FDIC (April 14, 2005)
• Measures to prevent ID theft outlined for Senate hearing (April 13, 2005)
• Washington Post article]]>">Article Highlights Need for ID Theft Protections (April 5, 2005)
• CU supports bill to provide national notice of data security breaches (March 29, 2005)
• CU calls for changes in credit card practices, law, and regulation (March 24, 2005)
• CU comments regarding the proposed amendment addressing payroll cards (March 5, 2005)
• Consumer groups support proposed amendment to federal Regulation E addressing payroll cards (October 28, 2004)
• Letter to the SEC Regarding Mutual Fund Reform (May 10, 2004)
• Letter to the SEC Calling for Comprehensive Mutual Fund Disclosure Forms (April 21, 2004)
• Response to Chairman Donaldson's Congressional Testimony and Recommendations for Mutual Fund Reform (April 14, 2004)
• Letter to the US Banking Comm. on Mutual Fund Reform (April 7, 2004)
• CFA Letter to the SEC Urging an Investigation into Accounting Abuses (May 19, 2003)
• Letter to National Arbitration Forum Regarding CU's Position on Arbitration (October 29, 2002)
• Testimony regarding Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act (September 21, 2002)
• Letter to the Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan regarding application of merger (June 25, 1998)
• Comments on NationsBank/Bank of America Merger Application to the Federal Reserve Bank (June 11, 1998)
• Letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan on review of bank mergers (April 22, 1998)

Consumers Union News Releases

• Senator Dodd unveils financial industry reforms (March 15, 2010)
• Fed issues proposal to rein in credit card fees (March 4, 2010)
• CU pushes for an independent financial watchdog (March 3, 2010)
• New credit card protections start on February 22 (February 18, 2010)
• CU Applauds White House Proposal for New Limits on Big Banks (January 25, 2010)
• CU urges Congress to support CFPA (January 15, 2010)
• Fed issues final credit card regulations (January 12, 2010)
• Federal Reserve Board urged to limit gift card fees (December 18, 2009)
• CU praises House vote on financial reforms (December 11, 2009)
• CU urges House to pass strong CFPA (December 10, 2009)
• Fed urged to stop new credit card tricks (November 20, 2009)
• Senator Dodd Unveils Discussion Draft for Financial Reform (November 13, 2009)
• Federal Reserve Board Issues New Rules On Bank Overdrafts (November 12, 2009)
• Consumer Financial Protection Agency Gets OK (October 22, 2009)
• House committee holds hearing on CFPA (September 30, 2009)
• New bill will make the Credit CARD Act effective December 1, 2009 (September 24, 2009)
• CU pushes Consumer Financial Protection Agency (September 14, 2009)
• First of Credit CARD Act Protections Take Effect (August 19, 2009)
• New oversight proposed for financial system (July 23, 2009)
• Recession is prime time for scams, CU tells Senate Hearing (July 14, 2009)
• Consumers Union Testifies about FTC’s relationship to the proposed CFPA (July 8, 2009)
• House approves credit card reform bill (May 20, 2009)
• Senate approves credit card reform bill (May 19, 2009)
• Credit card reform bill passes House (April 30, 2009)
• CU applauds Obama credit card proposals (April 29, 2009)
• Senate panel passes bill limiting credit-card rates (March 31, 2009)
• Groups urge House to approve credit card reform (March 31, 2009)
• Senate panel to consider landmark credit card bill (March 30, 2009)
• CU testifies to Senate on modernizing bank supervision, regulation (March 23, 2009)
• Consumers need opt-in on overdraft programs (March 12, 2009)
• Obama Foreclosure Plan: Statement by Consumers Union (February 19, 2009)
• Foreclosure plan offers hope for homeowners (February 18, 2009)
• CU: Foreclosure moratorium needed now (February 11, 2009)
• State oversight needed to fight bank abuses (February 5, 2009)
• CU: Obama cap on executive pay right thing to do (February 4, 2009)
• Consumer group's press release on December 2008 Overdraft Proposal (December 22, 2008)
• Statement by CU on President-elect Obama’s economic team (November 24, 2008)
• CU calls for new reforms to address financial crisis (November 14, 2008)
• Senate approves Wall Street rescue package (October 1, 2008)
• House passes credit card reform bill (September 23, 2008)
• CU: Bailout should include consumer protections (September 23, 2008)
• CU: Bailout should include consumer protections (September 23, 2008)
• House to vote on credit card reforms (September 22, 2008)
• OCC sides with banks on credit card reform (August 21, 2008)
• Congress to consider landmark credit card bill (July 28, 2008)
• House to vote on subprime mortgages (July 23, 2008)
• CU applauds effort to restrain abusive credit card practices as a strong first step (July 10, 2008)
• New rules proposed to curb unfair bank practices (May 2, 2008)
• Senator Dodd's credit card reform bill applauded (April 30, 2008)
• Groups push Congress for credit card reforms (April 17, 2008)

• Congress should curb overdraft loan fees (March 7, 2008)
• Credit cardholders send Congress a Valentine (February 14, 2008)
• CU says Social Security numbers need protection (December 11, 2007)
• FTC: 8.3 million identity theft victims in U.S. (November 27, 2007)
• Consumer groups back credit card reform bill (May 16, 2007)
• CU praises Senate Identity theft legislation (May 3, 2007)
• 2006 GAO study highlights anti-consumer practices in the credit card industry (October 11, 2006)
• House bill provides key protections against identity theft (March 29, 2006)
• House panel votes to gut existing state identity theft laws (March 16, 2006)
• CU teams up with Montana Attorney General on ID theft protection (February 9, 2006)
• Record penalty: A wake-up call for tougher ID theft protections? (January 26, 2006)
• House Subcommittee Fails to Maintain Strong Protections for Many Consumers (November 3, 2005)
• House panel guts security breach notice provision to curtail ID theft (November 3, 2005)
• Consumer groups ask questions for new Fed chair nominee (October 24, 2005)
• Connecticut Governor signs identity theft bill into law (June 24, 2005)
• Read CU's testimony.]]>">10 million Americans at risk of ID theft from data security breaches (June 24, 2005)
• Illinois Governor signs identity theft protections into law (June 23, 2005)
• Colorado consumers get powerful new identity theft protection (June 6, 2005)
• Read letter. ]]>">Bankruptcy bill will erect harsh new barriers and reward abusive lenders (April 17, 2005)
• Senate Committee to Consider ID Theft Issues at April 13 Hearing (April 11, 2005)
• ChoicePoint ID theft scandal prompts bill to rein in information brokers (March 3, 2005)
• Bankruptcy bill on senate floor will erect harsh new barriers and reward abusive lenders (February 28, 2005)
• Bank of America computer tape loss puts 1.2 million at risk of ID theft (February 25, 2005)
• Consumer Groups call for end to use of binding mandatory arbitration clauses (February 24, 2005)
• Stronger ID theft protections urged in wake of ChoicePoint Fraud (February 17, 2005)
• Take action now! ]]>">Post "Check 21" banking law reforms proposed in Congress (February 15, 2005)
• Watch out for holiday gift card fees (December 7, 2004)
• Statement by Consumers Union about Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan's Criticism of Predatory Lending (March 22, 2000)
• Consumers Union: Gov’t Report on Mortgage Lending Positive Step (July 17, 1998)
• Consumers Union Applauds HUD's Proposal to Make Mortgage Brokers More Consumer Friendly (September 17, 1997)
• Consumers Union Praises Senate Vote Outlawing Unfair Mortgage Terms (March 18, 1997)

Research and Reports

• Obama's bailout plan should help protect taxpayers (February 10, 2009)
• Jury’s out on abusive overdraft loans proposal (December 22, 2008)
• New credit card protections adopted by Feds (December 18, 2008)
• CRA is not the cause for the foreclosure crisis (October 21, 2008)

• Consumer groups urge FTC to support low cost, easy to use security freeze (February 25, 2008)
• CR Poll: Americans want identity theft protections (September 6, 2007)
• Credit-based insurance premiums hurt minorities (July 24, 2007)
• Congress considers new ID theft protection (July 18, 2007)
• FAQ - Freeze Identity Thieves Out of Consumers' Credit Files (May 11, 2007)
• President's ID Theft Task Force's Plan Falls Short (April 23, 2007)
• TJX data security breach puts millions at risk (March 29, 2007)
• Real People, Real Stories (October 20, 2006)
• Veterans in some states can freeze access to credit files to stop identity thieves (May 23, 2006)
• Millions of veterans at risk for identity theft following data breach (May 22, 2006)
• summary of states where lawmakers have introduced legislation to give consumers the right to place a freeze on their credit files to prevent identity thieves from opening new accounts in their names.]]>">Current State Security Freeze Bills (November 30, 2005)
• States with security freeze laws (November 8, 2005)
• More states giving consumers power to freeze credit files (June 30, 2005)
• Identity theft victims get new protections in Washington state (May 10, 2005)
• Take action. ]]>">Lexis-Nexis security breach puts more consumers at risk of ID theft (March 9, 2005)
• Read Letter to Senators]]>">Bankruptcy Bill Provision Guts Conflict of Interest Protection (March 7, 2005)

Consumer Tips

• Are you experiencing problems with your security freeze? (April 14, 2009)
• Frequently asked questions about security freeze (April 14, 2009)
• Some states making ID theft protection easier (August 28, 2008)
• State Security Freeze Laws (December 4, 2006)

• ID theft freeze available nationwide on Nov. 1 (October 31, 2007)
• Powerful ID theft protection goes nationwide (October 4, 2007)
• 39 states lets consumers freeze credit files (July 16, 2007)
• 26.5 million veterans at risk for identity theft (May 24, 2006)

Blog Posts

• Dodd Moving Forward on Financial Reform (February 5, 2010)
• Liz Warren To Speak At CU Summit! (January 13, 2010)
• New Gift Card Protections May Be Coming Your Way (December 18, 2009)
• House Passes CFPA!!! (December 11, 2009)
• The Card Game: An Expose on Credit Cards (November 23, 2009)
• Law Profs Call for the CFPA (September 29, 2009)
• Beware of Creditors (August 24, 2009)
• Obama Vs. The Federal Reserve (June 18, 2009)
• Thank You! (May 26, 2009)
• Obama Providing More Financial Protections (May 22, 2009)
• FPSC - The Ball Keeps Rolling! (May 21, 2009)
• 24 Capricorns voted YES for credit card protections (May 20, 2009)
• Mr. Yurkiw goes to Washington (May 19, 2009)
• A Bad Moon Rising for Credit Card Banks (April 20, 2009)
• New financial system plumbing, same old poisoned water in the pipes? (April 15, 2009)
• CU overdraft activists are in the news! (March 26, 2009)
• Faces of Foreclosure—Argy Tripodis (March 2, 2009)
• Obama's Foreclosure Plan (February 18, 2009)
• Let's be Frank, a Moratorium on Foreclosures? It's a Great Idea! (February 11, 2009)
• CU’s Wish List for the New Year (December 11, 2008)
• Use Your Linens N Things, Mervyns, or Shoe Pavillion Gift Card NOW! (October 23, 2008)
• Use it or Lose it Now…Linens N Things are shutting their doors (October 8, 2008)
• Keeping more money at the checkout (May 28, 2008)
• Tell the Fed your credit card horror story. (May 12, 2008)

• Do you know where your SSN is? (December 12, 2007)
• Tell TransUnion, Experian and Equifax you deserve the best (September 21, 2007)
• How Many Freeze States Are There Now? (May 17, 2007)
• A story behind a security freeze law (May 16, 2007)
• Those Sensitive Numbers (February 8, 2007)

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