#consumer-protection

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fromThe Drum
1 day ago

Ryanair calls on Google to curb sponsored screen-scapers taking its search topspot

Ryanair stated that the scrapers provide shoppers with outdated or inaccurate information (such as little to no mention of Ryanair's infamous hidden charges which are at least outlined in the official website). Furthermore, the customer details are rarely passed onto the airline meaning it cannot contact them if there's any change in the flight manifest.
Marketing tech
Music
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

What could bring down extortionate ticket prices? Perhaps stars like Harry Styles taking a stand | Simon Price

Major pop stars are pricing concert tickets at maximum market rates, making shows inaccessible to many fans and provoking widespread backlash.
US politics
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 days ago

OCC escrow plan opposed by regulators, consumer advocates

The OCC proposed rules would let national banks control mortgage escrow terms and potentially withhold interest, preempting state consumer protections.
E-Commerce
fromAol
2 days ago

Kuaishou's e-commerce unit fined $3.8 million by Chinese regulator

Kuaigou fined 26.7 million yuan for charging unreasonable fees, failing to protect consumers, enabling counterfeit and false marketing, and publishing illegal advertising.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
3 days ago

Boots and Superdrug accused of misleading shoppers with dodgy' reward card deals

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground.
UK news
Law
fromwww.housingwire.com
3 days ago

Reverse mortgage servicers face lawsuit over borrower fees

Class-action alleges HECM servicers improperly added attorneys', property inspection, preservation and appraisal fees to reverse mortgage loan balances, inflating principals and costs.
Music
fromLos Angeles Times
3 days ago

Why California's fight over ticket fraud has become a proxy war against Ticketmaster and Live Nation

Speculative and fake resale tickets on secondary markets can leave buyers unable to attend events despite payment, revealing gaps in consumer and artist protection.
Soccer (FIFA)
fromAbove the Law
4 days ago

FIFA 2026, Politics, And The Law: What Sepp Blatter's Warning Really Means For The World Cup In America - Above the Law

Legal, immigration, security, consumer protection, and tort issues will shape fan access and liability for the 2026 World Cup across three host countries.
UK news
fromLondon On The Inside
5 days ago

Why Online Prize Draws Are Booming Across the UK

Online prize draws in the UK have rapidly grown into mainstream, mobile-first platforms offering low-cost, frequent competitions and prompting government research and a voluntary code.
UX design
fromMedium
4 days ago

How wrong becomes normal

Dark patterns are intentional deceptive interface designs that manipulate users into actions against their interests by exploiting psychology, urgency, and friction.
Miscellaneous
fromIrish Independent
5 days ago

Estimated 500,000 in accidental payments made at 'tipping terminals'

Consumers frequently tip but feel pressured by digital payment methods; regulators urge clearer opt-out options, separation of tipping terminals, and transparent communication of service charges.
E-Commerce
fromTechRepublic
5 days ago

Amazon Reaches $1B Settlement Over Return Refund Practices - TechRepublic

Amazon proposes a settlement exceeding $1 billion to resolve a class action alleging mishandled customer returns and refunds.
Digital life
fromBusiness Insider
6 days ago

Why subscriptions make everything more expensive

Pervasive subscription models increase long-term costs, employ difficult cancellations and dark patterns, and erode consumer ownership of purchased goods.
UK news
fromwww.independent.co.uk
6 days ago

Thousands of homeowners left in limbo over botched energy scheme

A government-backed ECO home-efficiency scheme left nearly 30,000 UK homeowners with unsafe, poor-quality work and massive repair bills.
fromForbes
1 week ago

AI Chatbot Ads Spark Senator's Privacy And Safety Concerns

When OpenAI announced earlier this week that it would begin testing advertisements within ChatGPT, it marked a key shift in how AI tools make money. The company promised users could opt out of personalized ads and would see clear labels distinguishing promotions from regular responses. However, widespread concerns over the use of ads in AI content has many worried. Senator Ed Markey sent a letter this week to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and other tech leaders expressing concerns over the use of ads with AI.
US politics
fromTime Out New York
1 week ago

NYC moves to ban hotel junk fees ahead of World Cup

With the FIFA World Cup set to descend on the region this summer, city officials announced this week that hidden hotel fees and surprise credit card holds will soon be illegal under a new rule finalized by the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. The measure aims to rein in last-minute add-ons like "resort," "destination" or "service" fees that quietly inflate room rates long after travelers think they've locked in a price.
New York City
Law
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 week ago

Help! A $1,400 Frigidaire cooktop catastrophe sent me through a customer service maze

Consumers are entitled to prompt repair, replacement, or refund when a new appliance is defective or damaged during service under federal and state warranty laws.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 week ago

MPs slam abject failure' over insulation scheme as victims up to 230k out of pocket

Failed government energy-efficiency scheme left tens of thousands of homeowners facing unaffordable repair bills and uncertain government support to cover costs.
US politics
fromWIRED
1 week ago

Legislators Push to Make Companies Tell Customers When Their Products Will Die

Massachusetts bills would require companies to disclose when software support for connected devices will end to improve cybersecurity and consumer protection.
fromSun Sentinel
1 week ago

Proposal to require state oversight of insurance affiliate payments clears first hurdle in Legislature

It found that during that period, 19 insurers based in Florida or surrounding regions funneled billions of dollars in fees to holding companies and other affiliates that were not "fair and reasonable," as defined by various industry rules. The insurers were not identified in the study. The study showed that insurers paid investors $680 million in dividends and accepted $951 million in capital contributions from affiliates, clouding regulators' abilities to determine insurers' actual financial health.
US politics
Marketing tech
fromLondon Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
1 week ago

Influencer platforms in the UK: What local brands should look for - London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

Use an influencer platform with UK-ready, end-to-end workflows that enforce disclosure, claims discipline, privacy-safe recruitment, and finance-ready reporting to limit enforcement and reputational risk.
New York City
fromwww.amny.com
1 week ago

MAMDANI'S FIRST 100 DAYS: Mayor takes on hotel junk fees,' condemns antisemitism in Brooklyn amNewYork

Zohran Mamdani banned hidden hotel junk fees, condemned antisemitic graffiti in Borough Park, and emphasized affordability priorities on his 21st day in office.
#cfpb
fromFast Company
1 month ago
US politics

U.S. consumer watchdog faces extinction in 2026 as Trump says it's 'very important' to shut it down

CFPB aided consumers disputing credit-reporting errors, enabling corrections and access to credit; its potential shutdown would leave many unprotected.
fromwww.npr.org
1 month ago
US politics

Nearly two dozen states sue the Trump administration over funding for CFPB

CFPB funding is threatened as the agency refuses Federal Reserve transfers, prompting a multi-state lawsuit to prevent defunding and protect consumer enforcement.
fromFast Company
1 month ago
US politics

U.S. consumer watchdog faces extinction in 2026 as Trump says it's 'very important' to shut it down

Real estate
fromBoston Condos For Sale Ford Realty
1 week ago

Will Massachusetts Follow The Trend Of Restricting 'private Listings'? Boston Condos For Sale Ford Realty

Washington's SB 6091 would require privately marketed homes to be concurrently offered publicly, classifying secret listings without public access as an unfair practice.
UK news
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 week ago

UK exposed to serious harm' by failure to tackle AI risks, MPs warn

Failing to regulate AI in the UK financial sector exposes consumers and financial stability to significant harm.
New York City
fromThe Nation
1 week ago

Zohran Mamdani Takes on the Gig Economy's Wage Thieves

New York City sued Motoclick for allegedly stealing millions from delivery workers through illegal fees and wage violations, seeking to shut down the company.
Gadgets
fromZDNET
2 weeks ago

Do these cheap car de-icing gadgets actually work? My verdict after testing one in the winter cold

Electromagnetic 'antifreeze' device failed to remove frost; it contained only a small circuit, battery, solar panel, LED and misleading marketing claims.
#antitrust
Miscellaneous
fromEngadget
2 weeks ago

Italian regulators are investigating Activision Blizzard's monetization practices

Italian regulator is investigating Activision Blizzard's Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty: Mobile for misleading, aggressive monetization practices, deceptive UI, and permissive parental controls.
Cryptocurrency
fromThe Atlantic
2 weeks ago

How Crypto Is Used for Political Corruption

Trump administration deregulation and family crypto profits coincided with unregulated crypto growth, increasing consumer theft risk and enabling political corruption.
#trump-mobile
US politics
fromArs Technica
2 weeks ago

Six months later, Trump Mobile still hasn't delivered preordered phones

Trump Mobile accepted $100 deposits in 2025 but delivered no T1 phones, repeatedly delayed release, and sold refurbished non-U.S.-made devices instead.
US politics
fromNBC News
2 weeks ago

Democratic lawmakers urge FTC to investigate Trump phone

Democratic lawmakers requested an FTC probe into Trump Mobile's T1 over alleged deceptive 'Made in the USA' claims and unpaid $100 deposits.
US politics
fromPractical Ecommerce
2 weeks ago

Lawmakers Eye Dynamic Ecommerce Pricing

Lawmakers are pursuing bans on personalized algorithmic pricing, making dynamic, AI-driven price changes potentially legally risky for retailers.
EU data protection
fromIrish Independent
2 weeks ago

Sky must tell customers about alternative price plans before renewal, court rules

Sky Ireland must inform customers before contract auto-renewal and offer alternative tariff information in compliance with EU regulations, as ordered by the High Court.
US news
fromwww.npr.org
2 weeks ago

FTC accuses AI search engine of 'rampant consumer deception'

JustAnswer/Pearl allegedly used targeted ads and a chatbot funnel to enroll users in costly recurring subscriptions masked by low join fees and fine-print disclosures.
fromTechCrunch
2 weeks ago

A consumer watchdog issued a warning about Google's AI agent shopping protocol -- Google says she's wrong | TechCrunch

In a now viral post on X viewed nearly 400,000 times, Lindsay Owens on Sunday wrote, "Big/bad news for consumers. Google is out today with an announcement of how they plan to integrate shopping into their AI offerings including search and Gemini. The plan includes 'personalized upselling.' I.e. Analyzing your chat data and using it to overcharge you."
E-Commerce
California
fromwww.npr.org
2 weeks ago

California fire victims say fighting with insurance companies has delayed rebuilding

Wildfire survivors face long insurance delays and disputes, forcing debt and stalled rebuilding while regulators investigate insurers and political leaders decry industry tactics.
E-Commerce
fromPractical Ecommerce
2 weeks ago

Why E.U. Ecommerce Rules Seem Complex

An ecosystem of overlapping EU regulations builds consumer trust but creates complex, burdensome compliance challenges for online merchants across nearly every ecommerce operation.
Real estate
fromCurbed
3 weeks ago

The Bay Ridge Condo Scammer Has to Pay Up

Twenty families scammed in Bay Ridge will receive $4.2 million plus ten years' interest; developer Steven Wu is barred from future real estate deals.
Soccer (FIFA)
fromAbove the Law
3 weeks ago

A World Cup Ticket Isn't A Souvenir. It's A Contract Of Adhesion. - Above the Law

World Cup tickets are sold as revocable, dynamically priced licenses with minimal refunds, strict arbitration clauses, and broad FIFA protections that limit fan remedies.
Healthcare
fromBloomberglaw
3 weeks ago

Telehealth Enforcement Is on the Rise. Transparency Will Help

Telehealth faces intensified government enforcement across civil and criminal fronts targeting advertising, privacy, billing, prescribing, Medicare enrollment, and related arrangements.
Agriculture
fromTasting Table
3 weeks ago

Not All Hawaii Macadamia Nuts Are Local - A New 2026 Law Makes That Clear - Tasting Table

Hawaii requires products containing macadamia nuts grown outside the state to be labeled as such beginning January 1, 2026, under Act 199.
California
fromTasting Table
3 weeks ago

California Cracks Down On Food Delivery Apps In 2026, With New Protections For Your Money - Tasting Table

California AB 578 requires cash refunds for incorrect or undelivered food-delivery orders, preserves driver gratuities, mandates human customer-service access, and strengthens delivery-worker protections.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
3 weeks ago

UWM seeks to dismiss remaining RESPA claims

UWM seeks dismissal of remaining claims after a judge dismissed all RICO and most RESPA claims, leaving limited RESPA and state claims active.
California
fromSFGATE
3 weeks ago

California residents have a new way to dodge spam calls and texts

California launched DROP, a first-in-the-nation portal enabling residents to request bulk deletion of personal data from data brokers in minutes.
#junk-fees
fromBusiness Insider
3 weeks ago
New York City

Zohran Mamdani is trying to solve one big consumer problem in New York

New York City's mayor signed executive orders banning hidden junk fees and subscription traps and will form a citywide task force to enforce compliance.
fromwww.amny.com
3 weeks ago
New York Islanders

MAMDANI'S FIRST 100 DAYS: Mayor signs executive orders targeting junk fees and subscription traps amNewYork

Zohran Mamdani signed two executive orders to combat junk fees, creating a task force and directing enforcement against hidden and recurring subscription charges.
fromwww.amny.com
3 weeks ago
New York Islanders

MAMDANI'S FIRST 100 DAYS: Mayor signs executive orders targeting junk fees and subscription traps amNewYork

fromwww.housingwire.com
3 weeks ago

Real Brokerage added as defendant in RESPA suit against Zillow

All of the teams named as defendants advertise on either their social media channels or website that they are part of the Zillow Flex program. Similarly to the two original complaints, the consolidated amended complaint claims that Zillow, and now the real estate defendants, violated a variety of statutes, including the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), the Washington Consumer Protection Act, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and the law of unjust enrichment and fiduciary duty.
Real estate
Travel
fromTravel + Leisure
3 weeks ago

A New Travel Scam Is Targeting Travelers With Fake Texts-Here's How to Spot It

Travelers are being targeted by SMS scams requesting payment or verification details to avoid alleged reservation cancellations.
#meta
fromBloomberglaw
1 month ago

Samsung Trims False-Ad Class Action Over Chromebook Flexibility

Samsung Electronics America Inc. escaped nearly all claims brought by a group of consumers who alleged the hinges on its Chromebook convertible laptop are defective.
Law
Law
fromwww.housingwire.com
1 month ago

Judge blocks key Hometap defenses in Massachusetts HEI lawsuit

Massachusetts AG alleges Hometap's HEI product functions as an illegal reverse mortgage violating usury and consumer protection laws, and litigation is ongoing.
UK news
fromianVisits
1 month ago

Train firms slapped for "cheapest ticket" claims after regulator ruling

Two train companies and one ticket seller were found to have misleadingly advertised "cheapest tickets" without adequately disclosing split-ticketing options that can lower fares.
California
fromThe Mercury News
1 month ago

Traffic death of Campbell boy leads to lower speed limit in school zones

California will implement multiple laws improving school-zone safety, elections, consumer protections, workers' rights, and concealed-carry rules, and hosts an agricultural strategic plan webinar.
California
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Traffic death of Campbell boy leads to lower speed limit in school zones

California will adopt laws lowering school-zone speeds to 20 mph, speeding ballot counts, protecting consumers and animals, requiring rental price disclosure, and allowing rideshare unionization.
Online marketing
fromSourcing Journal
1 month ago

FTC Warns Companies Over Fake Reviews

The FTC warned companies that creating, buying, or incentivizing fake consumer reviews violates the Consumer Review Rule and can trigger enforcement and civil penalties.
California
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

New California laws rewrite car-buying rules with return policy and pricing reforms

California enacted SB766 granting a three-day full-refund right for used vehicles under $50,000, strengthening price and financing disclosure and banning deceptive add-on charges.
Law
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Service animal hair in a rental car: Can Hertz demand $500 to clean it?

Hertz may lawfully charge a cleaning fee for animal hair, but a $500, undocumented fee can be arbitrary and arguably unreasonable.
US politics
fromThe Verge
1 month ago

The year the government broke

Federal government and consumer protections were severely weakened in 2025, enabling prolonged delays and inconsistent enforcement of TikTok restrictions despite legal mandates.
fromThe Local France
1 month ago

Everything you need to know about the 2026 winter sales in France

France has two government-ordained sales periods, one in summer, one in winter; the rest of the time discounts and special offers shops can offer consumers are strictly limited. While you might be able to get a deal at other times, the best bargains are reserved for the period of les soldes, when retailers are allowed to sell items at below cost price.
France news
#instacart
fromFortune
1 month ago
E-Commerce

Instacart ends a program that tested how much shoppers would pay by showing different prices for the same items | Fortune

fromFortune
1 month ago
E-Commerce

Instacart ends a program that tested how much shoppers would pay by showing different prices for the same items | Fortune

New York Islanders
fromwww.amny.com
1 month ago

Mamdani taps federal trade regulator to lead Department of Consumer and Worker Protection amNewYork

Sam Levine will lead NYC's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to combat wage theft, labor abuse, employee misclassification, and predatory corporate practices.
E-Commerce
fromThe Verge
1 month ago

Instacart scraps AI pricing tests that made some products more expensive

Instacart ended AI-powered pricing tests and will display the same prices for identical items bought at the same time and store location.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 month ago

Why drivers could be paying more for fuel than they should

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
UK news
World news
fromBitcoin Magazine
1 month ago

Ghana Legalizes Crypto Trading Under New Legal Framework

Ghana legalizes cryptocurrency trading and creates a licensed, Bank of Ghana–overseen framework emphasizing consumer protection, financial stability, and licensing for digital-asset businesses.
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Why did Budget wait 18 days to charge me $450 for dirty' floor mats?

Budget should have inspected the van when you returned it and quickly given you a detailed invoice explaining the $450 fee. Budget's own policy states that its cleaning charges will be reasonable (although it reserves the right to determine what is reasonable). California's Consumer Legal Remedies Act also prohibits deceptive claims, including vague fees. You should've taken photos of the van at pickup and return, even if you thought nothing was wrong,
Law
Pets
fromSun Sentinel
1 month ago

Insuring your pet? You should know about these changes to Florida law

Florida enacted a law to regulate pet insurance, banning wellness-as-insurance marketing, requiring disclosure of exclusions, agent training, and a 30-day cancellation right.
Privacy technologies
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Family banned from more than 1,000 petrol stations' amid fuel theft row

A security company’s ANPR-linked debt notices wrongly barred a family from over 1,300 petrol stations for 19 months, disrupting travel and refuelling.
fromABC7 San Francisco
1 month ago

Hundreds of Bay Area 7-Eleven customers overcharged 100 times for gas

"And then that's when I got the shock of my life," McLaren told the I-Team. "That tank of gas that I put in wasn't $79.34 like I had thought. It was $7,934."
California
fromwww.npr.org
1 month ago

4 common scams to watch out for this holiday season

In a frenzy of last-minute gift shopping and travel bookings, we can be more anxious, more distracted and more vulnerable. "There's a lot of hustle and bustle during the holiday season, so there's a lot more opportunities for scammers to steal from us," says Amy Nofziger, senior director of Fraud Victim Support at the AARP Fraud Watch Network, a fraud prevention service.
Information security
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 month ago

Instacart will pay customers $60 million in settlement over false advertising'

Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
US politics
fromTelecompetitor
1 month ago

Dem senators want status quo on broadband labels

The broadband label framework was designed to work like nutrition labels, giving consumers a clear, consistent way to understand what services they are buying before they commit. After years of development and a bipartisan vote to implement these protections, we are now at the point where providers have integrated these labels into their systems and consumers are beginning to rely on them. This is not the moment to reverse course,
US politics
Poker
fromBusiness Matters
1 month ago

Licensed Casinos and the Growth of Regulated Online Markets

Licensed online casinos use regulation, transparent terms, and secure payment practices to protect players, prevent fraud, and build long-term trust and commercial success.
EU data protection
fromComputerworld
1 month ago

Apple changes App Store in Japan

MSCA gives stronger consumer protections in Japan than EU rules, enabling controlled API access, app notarization, payment defaults, and enhanced child safety measures.
Public health
fromWPXI
1 month ago

Pennsylvania attorney general part of crackdown on misleading AI-generated weight loss ads

A bipartisan coalition of 35 attorneys general demands Meta stop deceptive AI-generated weight-loss ads, require clear risk disclosures, and restrict prescription drug promotions.
#tesla
fromwww.housingwire.com
1 month ago

New York outlaws right-to-list agreements

The property rights of American homeowners must be safeguarded, Caroline Cone, director of state government affairs for the American Land Title Association (ALTA), said in a statement. It is essential to ensure there are no unreasonable restraints on a homeowner's ability to sell or refinance their home in the future due to unwarranted transaction costs. ALTA, along with AARP, were strong proponents of the bill, as well as other similar pieces of legislation across the country.
Real estate
US politics
fromMission Local
1 month ago

Fake immigration lawyers are scamming Bay Area families. Here's how to protect yourself.

Scammers impersonate immigration lawyers in the Bay Area, targeting elderly, low‑literacy, and urgent clients with false guarantees and unofficial contact channels.
Miscellaneous
fromIndependent
1 month ago

Revolut criticised by MEP Billy Kelleher over how it treats victims of fraud

Revolut refused to refund €10,000 allegedly taken from a businessman's account without authorisation.
Social media marketing
fromeuronews
1 month ago

Influencer marketing in fast-fashion and food sectors under scrutiny

Influencer marketing often lacks transparency, promotes unhealthy foods, frequently fails to disclose paid partnerships, and may breach consumer law, prompting calls for joint liability and restrictions.
US news
fromFast Company
1 month ago

Hyundai and Kia to offer free anti-theft repairs for millions of cars under a multistate settlement

Hyundai and Kia will provide free repairs and future engine immobilizers after a nationwide settlement over vulnerable vehicles linked to widespread thefts and related harms.
Gadgets
fromThe Verge
1 month ago

Texas is suing all of the big TV makers for spying on what you watch

Five major TV manufacturers are accused of using Automatic Content Recognition in smart TVs to collect private audio/video and viewing data for targeted advertising.
EU data protection
fromPractical Ecommerce
1 month ago

The Top Conversion Barrier in the E.U.

European consumers require strong privacy protections, transparent pricing, clear returns, verified reviews, and regulatory compliance, creating major trust barriers for non-EU merchants.
UK news
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Ministers to back regulation of England's funeral industry after scandals

England will introduce statutory regulation, licensing, inspections and enforcement for funeral businesses after inquiries revealed systemic failures and abuses of human remains.
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