Consumer Ally News & Latest Consumer Ally Headlines

5 Signs You're Getting Robbed at the Hospital

9:25AM 2/08/2012

High hospital costs seem to be a fact of life that most Americans have reluctantly come to accept. What most people don't realize, however, is that not all of those charges are legit: Many medical bills contain fraudulent charges.

Bank Fee Backlash Cost Big Financial Institutions More Than 2 Million Customers

1:20PM 2/07/2012

By Bruce Watson

Bank of America, Citigroup, Banking, Consumer Ally

Switching banks is a hassle, but outrage over the big financial institutions' efforts to pile on new steep fees pushed more than 2 million people to close their accounts over the past 3 months. Is Bank Transfer Day becoming Bank Transfer Year?

When 6 Percent Interest Is Too Good to Be True

1:02PM 2/02/2012

By Dan Caplinger

Banking, Consumer Ally

Savers have taken it on the chin for years, with banks paying almost nothing on checking and savings accounts while charging big fees. So when a new financial website offered a 6% interest rate on an insured savings account, it got a lot of attention.

How the Chevy Volt Became a Political Punching Bag

11:15AM 1/26/2012

By John Rosevear, The Motley Fool

Company News, General Motors, Autos, Consumer Ally

GM CEO Dan Akerson is charged up about the politically manufactured controversy surrounding the Chevy Volt. "We did not engineer the car to become a political punching bag," he said. Tough words -- but rescuing the Volt's reputation will be a tough fight.

Valentine's Scams: Don't Be a Fool for Love Online

1:05PM 1/19/2012

By Dawn Kawamoto, The Motley Fool

Technology, Consumer Ally

Valentine's Day offers Internet con artists a great cover for their illegal craft: Using love as a lure, scammers sweet-talk their victims out of personal information the can use to rob you. Here's what you need to know to avoid falling for a fraud.

Consume with a Conscience: The Rise of Ethical Shopping

12:00AM 1/16/2012

By Barbara Thau

Economy, Retail, Charity, Consumer Ally

More Americans are waking up to the idea of citizen consumerism -- a fitting topic on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, when our thoughts turn to social consciousness. Could the concept of making more of our purchases purposeful go mainstream in the same way that the green buying movement has?

Support Builds for LEGO Anti-Sexism Drive

3:30PM 1/13/2012

By Dawn Kawamoto, The Motley Fool

Consumer Ally

LEGO's newest toys are drawing a some loud complaints from parents, who complain that the girl-centric marketing of the Friends line is sexist. In less than a month, a petition against it has generated more than 42,000 signatures and plenty of commentary.

Financial Scams 2012: The Latest Twists in the Ever-Evolving Art of the Con

7:00AM 1/05/2012

By Dawn Kawamoto, The Motley Fool

Consumer Ally, Crime

You're not going to fall for the old Nigerian prince scam anymore -- but the fraudsters know that, and they've moved on, too. Here are some financial scams that made the rounds in 2011 -- and will likely be back in some form this year.

An Unappetizing Truth at Butterball: Turkey Abuse

12:20PM 12/30/2011

By Alyce Lomax, The Motley Fool

Consumer Ally, Food

When consumers think of Butterball, they think turkey. But on Thursday, some highly unappetizing images of the birds being abused emerged that might cause many buyers to ponder what really went on before their holiday turkey dinners reached their plates.

Two Recalls Dampen Holiday Cheer

2:50PM 12/22/2011

By The Motley Fool

Investing, Consumer Ally

This is the time of year when retailers can't seem to move product out of their stores fast enough, but now Walmart and Target are scrambling to get some of their merchandise back: Potentially tainted infant formula and a children's travel case that definitely has too much lead in its paint.