consumer protection

The Better Business Bureau's slogan is "Start with Trust" -- but not so fast. It seems the BBB has inherent conflicts of interest, and questions have been raised about what it takes to "earn" an A from the BBB. Can companies pay for good ratings -- or worse yet, do they have to?

Last year, the government changed the rules on debit card overdrafts, requiring banks to get customers' permission before allowing transactions that would lead to penalty fees. But despite the new rules, overdraft fees continue to be an expensive pain in the neck for millions of Americans.

This is the 13th annual National Consumer Protection Week, a coordinated campaign designed to highlight the importance of information and the of available online resources, the Federal Trade Commission announced. As recent Consumer Ally stories shows, scams targeting seniors, homeowners,...

Consumer confidence was up in January, according to The Conference Board. It's Consumer Confidence Index climbed to 60.6, up from 53.3 in December. Consumer spending is also rising and all this may translate into a better 2011 for many businesses. In all this good news, customer service expert...

The Federal Trade Commission's telemarketing rules aim to protect consumers from debt-settlement companies that charge upfront fees or overpromise results. But some companies already have found ways to get around those rules, consumer groups warn.

New rules proposed by the Fed for debit card transactions may mean consumers end up paying more to use their cards, while big retailers save billions. The rules would sharply limit the transaction fees sellers pay, so banks could recoup that money from buyers.

Landmark food safety reform legislation that aims to curb the incidence of food recalls, foodborne illnesses and shoddy practices by American food producers and importers passed the U.S. Senate with broad bipartisan support today and is awaiting final approval by the House of Representatives before...

If you've ever owned a car you've probably had at least one bad experience with an auto repair shop. But hundreds -- possibly thousands of people say they've been burned by an automotive repair chain known as Just Brakes, most often for trying to inflate a $99.88 brake job into major repairs...

Trying to keep your family safe from dangerous products is extraordinarily challenging. You can follow product recalls as millions of consumers do, but many of those aren't issued until months after a hazard has been identified, thanks to a sometimes clunky legal process that requires corporate...

National Protect Your Identity Week is underway and numerous companies have wasted no time in letting consumers know that they offer the best service to combat fraud and theft. But the Consumer Federation of America warns that many of these companies make false promises and exaggerated or...