Blog

Could portable bank account numbers ease moving your money?

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Consumer Program Director

PIRG "Big Banks, Bigger Fees" reports have documented the many so-called "switching costs" problems consumers face when trying to move their money to a new bank (or credit union). Account number portability, which has worked well for phone company switching, could be a part of the solution.

Consumer Protection

Spokeo to pay $800,000 in FTC settlement: Sold social network data for employment uses

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

By | Ed Mierzwinski

Consumer Program Director

(POST UPDATED): The data broker Spokeo has agreed to pay penalties of $800,000 over multiple violations of the Fair Credit Reporting and FTC Acts. It's important as the first FTC case over the "sale of Internet and social media data in the employment screening context."

Consumer Protection

Tell Jamie Dimon: "Leave the Fed" and Other Bank News

Thursday, June 7, 2012

By | Ed Mierzwinski

Consumer Program Director

JP Morgan Chase chief Jamie Dimon has been one of the leading opponents of strong bank regulations but still sits on the board of one of his bank's chief regulators-- the New York Fed --despite his bank's recent gambling losses. Help us tell Jamie: it's time to go.

Consumer Protection

Crop Insurance: A Taxpayer Giveaway by Another Name

Thursday, June 7, 2012

By | Nasima Hossain

Public Health Advocate

Just like other agriculture subsidies, the federal crop insurance program directs billions of taxpayer dollars to the biggest agribusinesses, with the payouts biased towards commodity crops that are often processed into junk food ingredients. The program directly subsidizes agribusinesses’ insurance premiums on coverage they would buy anyway, making it yet another way taxpayer dollars pad Big Ag’s profits