The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today announced its plans to require automakers and motorcycle manufacturers to provide consumers with a free online tool that will enable them to search recall information by Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) starting next year. Many manufacturers already do this, but some don’t — like…
Getting annoying calls, texts from car dealers or others? The Hanson Law Firm can help. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) restricts marketing calls and text messages to cellphones and residential landlines by generally prohibiting communication using automated systems, artificial callers, or prerecorded voices unless the consumer gives “prior express consent.” The TCPA also specifies…
Huge win for consumers today. After being blocked for two years, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), has the Captain aboard ship! The CFPB, by the way, was established by the 2010 law that overhauled federal financial regulatory powers following the Great Recession and was meant to be a flagship protection against further consumer abuse. …
Just when you thought car buying couldn’t get any more fraught with peril — Auto dealers succeeded in stalling popular, common-sense auto safety legislation pending in California that would have prohibited them from renting, selling, leasing, or loaning unsafe, recalled used cars at retail to consumers. They complained that it is impossible for them to…
Here is a great article about how the US Supreme Court is destroying consumer protections and allowing lawbreaking employers to steal wages. http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jul/06/business/la-fi-scotus-employees-20130706
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is proposing changes to the Used Car Buyers Guide required by the agency’s Used Car Rule. As explained by the FTC, “The Used Car Rule, formally known as the Used Motor Vehicle Trade Regulation Rule, has been in effect since 1985 and requires car dealers to display a window sticker,…
Four of the largest rental car companies–Hertz Corp., Avis Budget Group Inc., Enterprise Holdings Inc. and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc. – agreed to the request from senators Barbara Boxer and Charles Schumer that they not rent or sell recalled cars until they repair safety defects that triggered the recalls. The senators are pushing for…
The FTC has taken steps to help consumers to avoid unwanted “robocalls.” For decades, Congress and the Commission have recognized that consumers should have control over the telemarketing calls that come to their homes and mobile devices, and be able to stop the ones that they don’t want to receive. The Commission and the FTC have…
California law now requires “Made in the USA” to mean what it says — 100% Made in USA. But new legislation being sponsored by manufacturers in California wants to water down that standard. The Consumer’s Friend and other consumer groups oppose this new mislabeling rule as manufacturers need a bright line rule and consumer’s need…
Washington Post 2-16-12 By Ylan Q. Mui, Thursday, February 16, 9:02 AM The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Thursday sought to bring debt collectors and credit bureaus under its purview, marking the first time the often controversial industries would be subject to federal supervision. Under its proposed rule, the CFPB would oversee the nation’s largest…
