Subtopics:

Policy and Legislation

• Support for the Deceptive Loan Check Elimination Act (August 7, 2009)
• Testimony in opposition to HR 1214, The Payday Loan Reform Act of 2009 (May 18, 2009)
• Coalition support letter for the Credit Cardholder Bill of Rights (HR 627) to House Financial Services Committee (April 21, 2009)
• Model State Clean Credit and Identity Theft Protection Act (April 14, 2009)
• Video highlighting the fight in Congress over credit cards (April 7, 2009)
• Coalition letter to house members opposing HR 1214 (March 23, 2009)
• Testimony on Credit Cards (HR 627) and Overdraft Fees (HR 1456) (March 19, 2009)
• Coalition letter to sponsors opposing HR 1214 (March 17, 2009)
• Read CU's overdraft comment on the December 2008 overdraft proposal (March 12, 2009)
• Senate letter supporting Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009 (March 5, 2009)
• Supporting comment for FTC authority over predatory mortgages (March 4, 2009)
• Coalition endorses bill to cap interest rates (March 2, 2009)
• House to vote soon on foreclosure legislation (February 25, 2009)
• Support for Judicial Loan Modifications (February 24, 2009)
• CU urges Obama administration to let states take greater role overseeing banks (February 4, 2009)
• Groups call on Treasury Secretary to restrict the use of bailout funds for credit cards (January 29, 2009)
• Summary of December 2008 overdraft proposal (January 27, 2009)
• Federal Reserve Board’s December 2008 overdraft proposal summary (January 26, 2009)
• CU offers regulatory reform principles to the Congressional Oversight Panel (January 16, 2009)
• Groups urge co-sponsorship of credit cardholders bill of rights (January 12, 2009)
• Consumers Union's agenda for the 111th Congress (January 12, 2009)
• Fact Sheet about ID Theft (January 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 President-Elect Obama from Consumers Union President (November 5, 2008)
• CU: Include credit card reforms in bailout package (September 24, 2008)
• Wall Street rescue plan, worries for consumers (September 23, 2008)
• FTC urged to protect gift cardholders (September 11, 2008)
• California Assembly Bill 1830 Fact Sheet - Mortgage Lending Reform (September 9, 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)
• Consumer groups testify in House to protect social security benefits from predatory lending (June 25, 2008)
• CU's guide to security freeze protection (June 13, 2008)
• Consumer groups seeks strong regulations to protect home borrowers (April 9, 2008)
• Consumer groups ask IRS to close privacy loophole (April 7, 2008)

• Consumer groups endorse credit card reform bills (March 12, 2008)
• Consumer groups seeks stronger protections for military borrowers (February 25, 2008)
• House bill takes on abusive credit card practices (February 7, 2008)
• California considers foreclosure protection (January 29, 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)
• Consumers Deserve Stronger Financial Services Protections (July 27, 2007)
• Simplify the fees, not just the disclosures (June 6, 2007)
• Delaware bill would prohibit credit scoring in automobile & homeowners insurance (May 1, 2007)
• Consumers Union letter on S. 1178 (April 24, 2007)
• Fact Sheet about ID Theft (April 11, 2007)
• Consumer groups call on federal regulators to protect consumers from dangerous mortgage practices (February 21, 2007)
• Abusive credit card practices come under fire (January 25, 2007)
• Consumers Union's Guide to State Security Freeze Laws (January 11, 2007)
• Consumer groups ask federal bank regulator to keep banks out of the business of abusive and high-priced "paystub" and holiday RALs (December 18, 2006)
• States with Security Freeze Laws (October 31, 2006)
• Oregon Measure 42 Questions and Answers (October 10, 2006)
• Oregon Measure 42 Myths and Facts (October 10, 2006)
• GAO stats and facts on credit cards (October 1, 2006)
• Credit Cards: A Call for Reform (October 1, 2006)
• Letter urging Congress to keep existing credit protections for consumers using credit repair services (September 25, 2006)
• CU calls for stronger "red flag" process to detect identity theft before it happens (August 28, 2006)
• Consumer groups seek more accurate credit reports (May 22, 2006)
• CU supports the “Free Internet Filing Act” (April 21, 2006)
• Letter to the House supporting data security (March 28, 2006)
• Consumer and Privacy Groups’ Letter to House Financial Services Committee Opposing H.R. 3997 (March 13, 2006)
• Letter to SD Governor to veto weak identity theft bill (March 3, 2006)
• CU joins other consumer groups in seeking full and fair study on refund anticipation loans (February 22, 2006)
• Letter to credit agencies urges Spanish language material (January 19, 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)
• Senator Akaka bill stops check holding for payday loans (October 6, 2005)
• IRS letter asking for rule change on refund anticipation loans (October 5, 2005)
• Click here for a summary of some of the bills that have been introduced in Congress to protect credit card consumers. ]]>">Will Congress Protect Credit Card Consumers? (September 26, 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)
• Consumer group comments on federal regulation of credit card disclosures (July 11, 2005)
• click here.]]>">State security freeze bills (June 14, 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)
• Consumer groups oppose the Responsible Lending Act (April 11, 2005)
• CU supports the Prohibit Predatory Lending Act (April 11, 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 opposition letter rejecting bankruptcy legislation (March 1, 2005)
• Letter to the House supporting policies to address predatory lending in the subprime mortgage market (February 28, 2005)
• Support the Consumer Checking Account Fairness Act (February 8, 2005)
• Freeze Identity Thieves Out of Consumers' Credit Files (February 2, 2005)
• Letter to the FTC regarding free annual credit report site is blocking web links (December 7, 2004)
• Consumers face risk from the use of Social Security numbers on Medicare cards (October 19, 2004)
• Letter to Bank CEOs asking to improve the Check 21 law (September 20, 2004)
• Letter to CA Governor supporting the Car Buyer's Bill of Rights (August 30, 2004)
• Comments to the FTC on regulations for identity theft rights (June 8, 2004)
• Letter to the SEC Regarding Mutual Fund Reform (May 10, 2004)
• Letter to the Federal Reserve System Regarding Check 21 (March 11, 2004)
• CU Testimony On the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act Before the House (April 8, 2003)
• Testimony regarding Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act (September 21, 2002)
• CU's History against Predatory Lending Practices (September 7, 2000)
• Letter to the Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan regarding application of merger (June 25, 1998)
• Letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan on review of bank mergers (April 22, 1998)

Consumers Union News Releases

• Consumer groups offer debt-strapped consumers advice on getting real relief (January 26, 2010)
• Senator Dodd Unveils Discussion Draft for Financial Reform (November 13, 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)
• Consumers need opt-in on overdraft programs (March 12, 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)
• Consumer group's press release on December 2008 Overdraft Proposal (December 22, 2008)
• Bailout should include new credit card standards (November 26, 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)
• Schwarzenegger urged to sign mortgage reforms (September 25, 2008)
• House passes credit card reform bill (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)
• CU applauds effort to restrain abusive credit card practices as a strong first step (July 10, 2008)
• Gas consumers to get relief on debit card holds (June 27, 2008)
• Alaska governor signs strong new ID theft law (June 13, 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)
• TransUnion offering security freeze nationwide (September 19, 2007)
• Familes need help understanding college financing (July 19, 2007)
• Consumer groups back credit card reform bill (May 16, 2007)
• CU praises Senate Identity theft legislation (May 3, 2007)
• CU estimates that 23.3 million Americans haven't used last year's gift cards (October 25, 2006)
• 2006 GAO study highlights anti-consumer practices in the credit card industry (October 11, 2006)
• CU supports Oregon Measure 42 to ban credit scoring in insurance (September 25, 2006)
• Insurers using credit scores to set auto and homeowners rates (July 5, 2006)
• Consumer Reports finds personal privacy concerns in planned uses of RFIDs (May 4, 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)
• Proposed AZ identity theft safeguard too costly for consumers (March 10, 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)
• CU's letter to credit reporting agencies and the news release from Puerto Rico ]]>">Should Spanish speakers also enjoy the right to free credit reports? (January 18, 2006)
• Consumer groups ask questions for new Fed chair nominee (October 24, 2005)
• Credit reporting agencies reject a step to help hurricane survivors (October 6, 2005)
• NJ Governor signs ID theft protections into law (September 22, 2005)
• Katrina aftermath: Be careful when giving to charities online (September 14, 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)
• Court orders more proceedings on California financial privacy law (June 20, 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)
• Study: Repossession, foreclosure protection on mobile homes inadequate (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)
• Medicare cards pose identity theft risk for seniors (October 20, 2004)
• Consumers Union: Gov’t Report on Mortgage Lending Positive Step (July 17, 1998)

Research and Reports

• Payday loans and overdraft fees (February 24, 2009)
• Obama's bailout plan should help protect taxpayers (February 10, 2009)
• Consumer Federation of America Payday Loan Page (February 1, 2009)
• Summary of December 2008 overdraft proposal (January 27, 2009)
• CRL Issue Brief: 36% APR Cap on High-Cost Loans (January 10, 2009)
• 2008 Fee Study of Bank and Credit Union Overdraft Programs (January 9, 2009)
• Jury’s out on abusive overdraft loans proposal (December 22, 2008)
• An Agenda To Close Growing Gaps In Marketplace Protections (December 18, 2008)
• New credit card protections adopted by Feds (December 18, 2008)
• CRA is not the cause for the foreclosure crisis (October 21, 2008)
• Schwarzenegger signs foreclosure protection bill (July 21, 2008)
• Consumer groups seeks strong regulations to protect home borrowers (April 9, 2008)

• Consumer groups urge FTC to support low cost, easy to use security freeze (February 25, 2008)
• Consumer groups seek better rules for correcting errors in credit reports (February 12, 2008)
• Your Credit Matters (January 9, 2008)
• Consumer Reports poll on public attitudes about the use of SSNs (December 4, 2007)
• 8.3 million Americans fall victim to identity theft each year (December 4, 2007)
• Federal legislators tell consumer reporting agencies to improve the security freeze (October 31, 2007)
• 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)
• Bills in the 110th Congress on notice of security breach and other data security issues (June 4, 2007)
• Another week, another identity theft scandal (May 25, 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)
• U.S. Senate hearing exposes credit card abuses (March 6, 2007)
• CardSystems' security breach shows need for stronger safeguards (March 2, 2007)
• Illinois, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin can use a security freeze to thwart identity thieves. Victims of identity theft in Hawaii and Kansas also got that right in the new year.]]>">More consumers can freeze credit files as of January 1, 2007 (January 29, 2007)
• >Illinois, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin can use a security freeze to thwart identity thieves. Victims of identity theft in Hawaii and Kansas also got that right in the new year.]]>">More consumers can freeze credit files as of January 1, 2007 (January 29, 2007)
• CU to continue fight for fair insurance rates despite Oregon ballot measure loss (November 8, 2006)
• Reviewing Your Credit Report (October 29, 2006)
• Real People, Real Stories (October 20, 2006)
• Consumer Reports investigation warns your privacy is for sale (August 31, 2006)
• The secret score behind your auto insurance (August 10, 2006)
• Report: Banning the use of credit information in insurance (June 30, 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)
• DACO joins in call to credit agencies on behalf of the people of Puerto Rico (January 19, 2006)
• Editorial: Credit protection (January 17, 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)
• States with Notice of Security Breach Laws (February 9, 2005)
• CU opposes proposal to require utilities to report payment information to credit reporting agencies (December 1, 2004)
• ID-theft protection services typically not worth the money (October 30, 2003)
• You Mean We Don't Have A National Financial Privacy Law? (October 28, 2003)
• Deep-pocketed business groups ramp up efforts to pass consumer credit legislation (September 17, 2003)
• On-line banking policies and principles (October 1, 1999)

Consumer Tips

• What you need to Know about Debt Settlement Services (January 5, 2010)
• California: What to do if You Receive a Demand for Payment from a Creditor or a Debt Collection Agency (DC-1) (June 16, 2009)
• Fiscal Fitness: Choosing a Credit Counselor (June 16, 2009)
• Knee Deep in Debt (June 16, 2009)
• Debt Collection: A Guide for Consumers (June 16, 2009)
• Easy Credit? Not So Fast! The Truth About Advance-Fee Loans (June 16, 2009)
• Federal Trade Commission’s Credit & Loan Page (June 16, 2009)
• Consumer Reports, Viewpoint: Gift Cards (December 15, 2008)
• CU's guide to security freeze protection (June 13, 2008)

• Reviewing Your Credit Report (December 4, 2007)
• Credit card tips for college students (September 18, 2007)
• 39 states lets consumers freeze credit files (July 16, 2007)
• FAQs on SSNs and ID Theft (October 31, 2006)
• 10 million Americans fall victim to identity theft each year (October 11, 2006)
• Consumer Reports: Beware of these home loans (June 13, 2006)
• How to talk to your lender if you can't pay your mortgage, car loan, or credit card due to the hurricane (December 6, 2005)
• Recovery information for consumers affected by Hurricane Katrina (September 17, 2005)
• Beware of these home loans (July 5, 2005)
• How to read your credit report (July 5, 2005)
• Tsunami scams: Careful when giving to charities online (January 11, 2005)
• New law will mean more bounced checks and fees for consumers (October 21, 2004)

Blog Posts

• Stay Away from RALs (Refund Anticipation Loans) (March 5, 2010)
• Winner of the Danger of Debt Contest!! (March 2, 2010)
• Calling all creative shutter bugs! (September 15, 2009)
• Supreme Court decision and President's proposal give states more power (July 1, 2009)
• Rising Foreclosures, Evictions and Scams What’s Going On? (June 25, 2009)
• Consumer Financial Protection Agency - What it is and What it does (June 17, 2009)
• Obama Providing More Financial Protections (May 22, 2009)
• Colbert Report highlights a very bad bill (April 27, 2009)
• Summary of Pew Study on Credit Card Practices (March 30, 2009)
• It’s a big week for credit card legislation! (March 30, 2009)
• Consumer Complaints Work: JP Morgan and Chase to issue Refunds on Credit Cards (March 27, 2009)
• FSPC: Slowing The Race To The Bottom (March 13, 2009)
• Nebraska Identity Theft Bill Advances (March 12, 2009)
• Those pesky overdraft fees--the Fed needs to hear from you too! (March 12, 2009)
• Another Federal Watchdog Agency? It's a Good Thing (March 10, 2009)
• The Faces of Foreclosure— Tomás Hernandez (March 10, 2009)
• Know the rules of the game before taking Capcom card (March 4, 2009)
• Wow! Decisions based on actual data! (March 4, 2009)
• Will Treasury Secretary Geithner Side with Consumers or with Banks in Major Case before SCOTUS (February 25, 2009)
• Don’t spend our tax money to support credit card debt with unfair terms! (January 29, 2009)
• Second Chance for Opt-In to Overdrafts! (January 26, 2009)
• Get your tax refund in advance? Maybe not. (January 21, 2009)
• Unfinished Business: What’s not in the credit card rule (January 7, 2009)
• Initial news reports on new credit card rule inaccurate (December 22, 2008)
• New rules to stop unfair credit card rate increases--eventually (December 18, 2008)
• CU’s Wish List for the New Year (December 11, 2008)
• Chairman Bernanke -- Enact credit card reforms now (December 1, 2008)
• Federal Government Should Set Standards for Taxpayer-backed Credit Card Debt (November 26, 2008)
• CU has launched the 1st Annual Dangers of Debt Cartoon Contest. First Prize is $1000!!! (October 27, 2008)
• Use Your Linens N Things, Mervyns, or Shoe Pavillion Gift Card NOW! (October 23, 2008)
• Bill Me Later might mean Pay Up Much More Later (October 20, 2008)
• Mortgage Meltdown Update (October 14, 2008)
• Use it or Lose it Now…Linens N Things are shutting their doors (October 8, 2008)
• Best plan of action for your money- Stay Put (September 29, 2008)
• Is my money safe? (September 16, 2008)
• Banks get OCC to do their dirty work. (August 21, 2008)
• New Development in California—the Mortgage Foreclosure Crisis Epicenter (July 28, 2008)
• Last Chance to Tell the Fed Your Credit Card Story (July 28, 2008)
• Challenge: What Type of Overdraft Service Do You Have? (June 23, 2008)
• New Way of Lending? (June 11, 2008)
• To the Grad: Words of Wisdom from Consumer Advocates (June 2, 2008)
• Who’s Holding Your Money? (May 19, 2008)
• BANK FEES… (The Clandestine Pick-pocket) (April 28, 2008)
• Buying a car? That super-low monthly payment offer may cause trouble down the road. (April 18, 2008)
• No more dangerous financial products! (March 31, 2008)

• What the Postal Service and the FTC didn’t say about ID theft (March 3, 2008)
• Spending is not the way to save (February 22, 2008)
• Telephone check? Could the Wachovia “demand draft” problem happen to you? (February 6, 2008)
• Monday’s tip from Money Mom: Don’t borrow your tax refund (January 7, 2008)
• Monday's tip from Money Mom: "No payments until 2009" may cost more than you think! (December 17, 2007)
• Do you know where your SSN is? (December 12, 2007)
• Got Money? (October 18, 2007)
• Experian Steps Up (October 4, 2007)
• Tell TransUnion, Experian and Equifax you deserve the best (September 21, 2007)
• Security Freeze for ALL (September 19, 2007)
• Consumer Reports Poll Finds 89% of Americans Want Lawmakers to Restrict the Use of SSNs (September 6, 2007)
• America's banks missing the mark on banking fees (August 27, 2007)
• Opting Out (August 8, 2007)
• Overdrawn? (July 6, 2007)
• Who should decide if you get notice of a security breach? (July 5, 2007)
• Guarding those precious digits... (June 8, 2007)
• A story behind a security freeze law (May 16, 2007)
• Freeze Facts (May 2, 2007)
• Record Set! (March 29, 2007)
• Would you like that burger without the credit card fraud? (March 12, 2007)
• The Word's Out, the Freeze is on Yahoo! (February 21, 2007)
• Don't Pay for a Fraud Alert (February 1, 2007)
• WSJ Article: Squaring Off! (January 29, 2007)
• Eight more states (January 12, 2007)
• What is the OCC? (December 15, 2006)
• Pennsylvania, It's Time to Freeze (December 4, 2006)
• News from Transunion (December 1, 2006)
• Tired of waiting for your deposits to clear? (October 31, 2006)
• Are You Knee Deep in Credit Card Fees? (October 19, 2006)