consumer protection News

Fifth Third Bank to Pay $5M Fine for Illegally Forcing Car Insurance Onto Borrowers

Fifth Third Bank agreed this week to pay a $5 million fine for illegally forcing vehicle insurance onto borrowers who had coverage. Fifth Third also agreed to pay a $15 million fine for illegal sales practices. The Cincinnati, Ohio-based bank …

Despite Consumer Watchdog’s Supreme Court Win, CFPB Powers on Chopping Block

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision safeguarding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau—the nation’s consumer finance watchdog—earned plaudits from supporters of robust federal regulation. But their praise for the court may prove short-lived. Powered by its 6-3 conservative majority, the court has …

Massachusetts AG Warns AI Systems Subject to Consumer Protection, Anti-Bias Laws

Developers, suppliers, and users of artificial intelligence must comply with existing state consumer protection, anti-discrimination, and data privacy laws, the Massachusetts attorney general cautioned Tuesday. In an advisory, Attorney General Andrea Campbell pointed to what she described as the widespread …

FTC Asks Congress for Authority Over Its Own Consumer Cases

The US Federal Trade Commission is asking Congress to change the law so it can handle its own privacy settlements and other consumer protection cases that it’s currently forced to refer to the Justice Department. The DOJ has been slow-walking …

Vermont’s Consumer Protection Suit Against Energy Firms Returned to State Court

The federal district court in Burlington, Vermont recently granted the state attorney general’s motion to return the state’s consumer protection case against Exxon and other fossil fuel producers to state court. The federal court said that since the case is …

FTC Asks Social Media, Video Streaming Firms Info on Misleading Ads

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Thursday issued orders to eight social media and video streaming firms including Meta Platforms Inc., Twitter, TikTok and YouTube seeking information on how the platforms screen for misleading advertisements. Snap, Amazon.com Inc-owned Twitch, …

FTC Is Preparing Potential Antitrust Case Against Amazon

The US Federal Trade Commission is preparing a possible lawsuit against Amazon.com Inc. that could be filed as soon as this spring, according to people familiar with the investigations. The allegations the agency is preparing to make and the timeline …

Pennsylvania Recovers $1.7M for Buyers of Car Repair Coverage Service Contracts

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said his office has secured a court order for more than $1.7 million in restitution against a car service coverage firm he said denied claims for services and refused to refund payments. The AG has …

Massachusetts Auto Dealer Accused of Racial Bias in Pricing

A Massachusetts car dealership illegally charged Black and Hispanic customers hundreds of dollars more for remote starters, paint protection and other add-on products than it did for white customers, the state attorney general’s office said in a lawsuit announced Monday. …

California Insurance Commissioner Touts Bills Signed by Governor

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara thanked Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday for protecting the state’s consumers through the signing of 11 bills that Lara sponsored this legislative session. According to Lara, the new laws will expand access to insurance, prevent …