'Food Genome' Map May Help Consumers Eat Better
Until now, the only way to find out what Americans eat and how many calories they consume has been government data, but researchers are trying to change that.
Consumer protection
5 Reasons Credit Cards Are Still the Best Way to Pay
As long as you pay off your balance every month, using a credit card can often be the smartest way to pay, thanks to these beneficial features other methods don't offer.
4 Modern Conveniences That Can Put Your Money at Risk
During National Consumer Protection Week, government agencies and nonprofits are offering tips to protect our money and our identities. And we're especially vulnerable in our everyday transactions -- whether it's tapping the ATM or logging into the Internet from our favorite coffee shop.
You're Losing Your Right to Sue Big Companies, One TOS at a Time
To celebrate National Consumer Protection Week, we recently highlighted a few quick actions that consumers can take to protect themselves. But the sad fact is that the most potent consumer protection tool -- the class-action lawsuit -- may soon be all but extinct.
CFPB Unveils New Federal Rules to Curb Risky Mortgages
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is laying out the nation's first rules aimed at ensuring that mortgage borrowers can afford the loans they take out. Among the new regulations are bans on the risky "interest-only" and "no documentation" loans that helped inflate the housing bubble.
Big Retailers Fined for Pushing Phony Bamboo Fabrics
Macy's, Amazon and Sears have all agreed to fork over hundreds of thousands of dollars each in fines after the Federal Trade Commission busted them for passing off Rayon fabrics as genuine, environmentally friendly bamboo.
FTC Warns Hotel Chains to Stop Hidden 'Resort Fees,' 'Drip Pricing'
Frequent travelers know that extra airline fees have become the norm. But resorts and hotels make it even harder to figure out what your final bill is going to add up to. Now, the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection is fighting back on our behalf.
CFPB Complaint Site Takes on Credit Report Issues, Too
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's complaint website already gave Americans a way to seek redress over problems with credit cards, mortgages, bank accounts, auto or personal loans, even student loans. Now, it's also ready to help us deal with credit reporting agencies.
Prepaid Cards Are 'Risky' and Loaded with Fees, Pew Study Finds
Reloadable prepaid cards, which work like debit cards without a bank account, have been growing in popularity. But prepaid cards are riskier than you'd realize, and most come with between 7 and 15 fees - many of which aren't disclosed - reveals a new study from a nonpartisan think tank.
Consumer Finance Bureau Floats New Rules for Mortgage Servicers
The government's consumer lending watchdog proposed new rules Friday aimed at protecting homeowners from unexpected costs and shoddy service by companies that collect their monthly mortgage payments.
Court Upholds Rules to Stop 'Deceptive' Airfare Advertising
The government can regulate airlines' "unfair and deceptive" advertising practices by requiring them to show consumers a total ticket price that includes taxes and fees in their ads, the U.S. Court of Appeals said Tuesday, rejecting an industry challenge.
Stay-At-Home Mom Fights New Credit Card Rule
The Card Act was passed in 2009 to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive credit card practices. But some stay-at-home parents complain that one part of the law has made it harder for them to get credit cards.
America's 10 Worst States for Fraud
When times are hard, fraud often gets worse. Americans are under great financial pressure, and there is no shortage of criminals waiting to take advantage of it. 24/7 Wall St. examined the 10 states that had the most per-capita fraud complaints.
Consumer Agency Softens Credit Card Fee Limit
The Obama administration's consumer financial watchdog agency is backing off a plan to limit big upfront fees on credit cards. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau acknowledged Thursday that its proposal would increase costs for cardholders and allow banks to charge more in fees.
Banks Made Less on Overdraft Fees Last Year
The average fee for overdrafting your bank account rose again last year, but evidently, more Americans are doing a better of job managing their checking accounts, because the amount paid in overdraft fees dropped by $1.5 billion in 2011, after a $4 billion drop in 2010.