Welcome to Consumers’ Notebook, where we feature news-you-can-use and other timely information to help you become a more informed consumer. Check back often to read the latest pieces in our Notebook.
Student Loan Repayment Pause Extended Yet Again
After a federal appeals court halted a plan to forgive student loan debt for millions of Americans, the Biden administration on Tuesday extended a payment pause until the end of June 2023.
Consumer Advocates Urge Supermarkets to Stop Digital Discount Discrimination
A coalition of national consumer groups recently sent a letter to the presidents of a dozen large supermarket chains, calling on them to “stop discriminating against senior citizens and low-income shoppers” who cannot take advantage of in-store digital-only discounts.
DOT Fines 6 Airlines and Orders Them to Refund $600 Million to Stranded Passengers
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has ordered six airlines to pay $600 million in refunds to passengers who had their flights canceled or significantly delayed during the pandemic. Only one of the six, Frontier, is a U.S. airline.
Can You Trust Online Reviews for Home Warranty Companies?
For decades Checkbook has urged against buying home warranty plans, which we see as terrible deals. Consumer advocate Edgar Dworsky, publisher of ConsumerWorld.org, found something curious when he looked into online reviews for American Home Shield.
Dealing with Debt: The Smart Way to Get Your Finances Back in Order
Credit card debt can lead to serious financial trouble. A trained credit counselor can help you pay down debt, even if it seems insurmountable, and teach you skills to remain on track.
UPDATE: FTC May Require Funeral Homes to Disclose Prices on Their Websites
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is updating its Funeral Rule, first enacted in 1984. That is credited with reducing fraud and deception in the funeral business.
Court Ruling Puts Temporary Hold on Student Loan Forgiveness Program
A federal appeals court has temporarily stopped President Biden’s federal student loan debt relief program.
UPDATE: Banks Often Refuse to Help Victims of Zelle Scams
Use a payment platform provided by your bank or credit union, and you probably assume your financial institution will be there to help if there’s a problem. Don’t count on it. Customers tricked into sending money to scammers via Zelle are learning that lesson the hard way.
New Proposed Rule Would Require Airlines to Disclose the ‘True Cost’ of Tickets, Including Fees
The U.S. Department of Transportation is considering a rule that would make it easier for consumers to see the true cost of flying—airfare, plus any fees—when booking trips. The rule would help provide customers with the information they need to choose the best deals.
Consumer Advocates Want the Department of Transportation to Fix Our Broken Airline System
Airline passengers too often have their flights canceled at the last minute, or delayed for hours. Consumer advocates say U.S. airlines are failing their customers by putting profits ahead of realistic schedules. The U.S. Department of Transportation could and should do far more to protect passengers.
Fraud Alert: Scammers Use Hacked Facebook Accounts to Put a New Twist on an Old Scam
Con artists are using social media to breathe new life into an old government grant scam. Many victims report losing thousands of dollars.
Scam Victims Have Until Aug. 31 to Claim Western Union Refunds; FTC Accuses Walmart of Similarly Enabling Crooks
Western Union has agreed to return money to consumers who were tricked into wiring money to criminals from 2004 through 2017. To get your share of the money, you must file a claim by August 31. The FTC is now suing Walmart for similar alleged lack of oversight.
New Climate Law Provides Big Tax Credits for Electric Vehicle Purchases, but Few Models Qualify Right Now
The new Inflation Reduction Act provides billions of dollars in tax incentives for clean-car buyers. But the law includes restrictions that could make it difficult or impossible for you to take advantage of the tax break anytime soon.
Supermarkets’ Digital Offers Leave Tech-Challenged Seniors Without Valuable Discounts
At a time when consumers are especially focused on saving money at the supermarket, some shoppers—those who are tech-challenged or digitally disconnected—are unable to access “digital only” sale prices advertised in weekly store circulars.
FTC Proposes New Advertising Guidelines Against Misleading Endorsements
To avoid misleading consumers, endorsements should be genuine and honest, and any relationships (such as compensation) between the advertiser and the endorser should be disclosed. In May, the FTC proposed several revisions to its guides that would clarify and strengthen rules for traditional media, plus apply guidelines to cover influencer endorsements.
Good News for Consumers: Credit Bureaus Agree to Change How They Report Medical Debt
Tens of millions of Americans have seen their creditworthiness plummet in recent years due to unpaid medical bills. Recently, the three major credit bureaus agreed to significantly change how they treat this debt.
Robocalls on the Rise: How You Can Fight Back
For years, we’ve been promised that new technology would solve the robocall problem. But phones keep ringing.
Ford to No Longer Allow Customers to Buy Electric Vehicles at the End of Their Leases
Lease an all-electric vehicle from Ford and you no longer have the option to buy that car or truck when your agreement ends. As of June 15, Ford eliminated the purchase option for new leases on the F-150 Lightning, E-Transit Van, and Mustang Mach-E.
Buying Your Leased Car Could Be a Smart Move (Right Now)
At the end of their lease, many people turn in that old vehicle and lease another one. They like driving something new––and it doesn’t make economic sense to buy that old ride. A shortage of new and used cars has changed that economic equation, at least for now.
Road Hazard: Major Auto Repair Chains Offer ‘No Interest’ Financing That’s Often Very Costly
Many auto repair shops work with third party lenders to offer on-the-spot “free financing.” Unfortunately, these offers can turn out to be costly loans, with interest rates sometimes as high as nearly 200 percent.