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PROTECTING CONSUMER SAFETY—Toys should not be toxic or dangerous for children to play with. Our food should not make us sick. The terms for banking and credit accounts should be clear and easy to understand.

LOOKING OUT FOR CONSUMERS

CALPIRG’s consumer program works to alert the public to hidden dangers and scams and to ban anti-consumer practices and unsafe products.

TROUBLE IN TOYLAND

For 27 years, CALPIRG’s "Trouble In Toyland" report has surveyed store shelves and identified choking hazards, noise hazards and other dangers. Our report has led to at least 150 recalls and other regulatory actions over the years.

Get our tips for buying safer toys.

BIGGER BANKS, BIGGER FEES

In April, CALPIRG released a report in which we surveyed more than 350 bank branches and revealed that fewer than half of branches obeyed their legal duty to fully disclose fees to prospective customers, while one in four provided no fee information at all. We also found that despite widespread stories about the “death” of free checking, free and low-cost checking choices are still widely available, if consumers shop around.

Find out how to beat high bank fees.

SEE ALL CONSUMER RESOURCES

Issue updates

News Release | CALPIRG Education Fund | Consumer Protection, Higher Ed

BANKS SKIM MILLIONS IN FEES FROM STUDENT AID

Banks and other financial firms take advantage of partnerships with colleges and universities, harming students.

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Report | CALPIRG Education Fund | Consumer Protection, Higher Ed

The Campus Debit Card Trap

Banks and other financial firms take advantage of partnerships with colleges and universities, harming students.

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Blog Post | Consumer Protection, Food

STATMENT: US Senate Approves FDA Safety and Innovation Act | Jon Fox

The US Senate Passage of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) not Strong Enough to Ensure Sufficient Consumer Safety from Drugs and Medical devices.

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Blog Post | Budget, Consumer Protection, Democracy, Food

Tragedy reinforces need for Homeowners’ Bill of Rights | Jon Fox

Californin man's death is further evidence that big banks have failed consumers.  

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Blog Post | Consumer Protection

Do Not Track gets another push | Jon Fox

FTC tells congress of need for meaningful Do Not Track policies.

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News Release | CALPIRG | Budget, Food, Tax

Unlikely Allies Recommend $1 Trillion in Savings to Super Committee

As the Congressional “Super Committee” begins its search for $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction, a new study released today by the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) and the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) provides the panel with a great place to start: more than $1 trillion of spending cuts with appeal from across the political spectrum.

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Media Hit | Consumer Protection, Democracy

ABC 7: Does a ballot initiative put your identity at risk?

Does signing a ballot initiative put your identity at risk? Ballot initiatives seem to always be circulating and we are often asked to add our signature, so should we be concerned?

> Keep Reading
News Release | CALPIRG | Consumer Protection, Financial Reform

CALPIRG Calls on Congress to Confirm CFPB Chief

 In July, the landmark Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took over as the nation’s first federal financial agency with only one job, protecting consumers. But until it gets a Senate-confirmed director, its powers, especially over payday lenders and other non-banks, are limited.

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News Release | CALPIRG | Consumer Protection

DoJ Blocks AT&T, Protects Consumers

Today the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) filed suit to block AT&T’s proposed takeover of T-Mobile. If approved the merger would combine the second and fourth largest wireless carriers, giving AT&T control over nearly 50% of the U.S. wireless market. The CALPIRG applauds the DoJ’s efforts to protect consumers from market consolidation, higher prices, and fewer choices.

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Media Hit | Consumer Protection

ABC 7: Experts warn of smartphone security

You wouldn't think of leaving your computer open to viruses and hackers, but your smartphone probably doesn't have the same protections, and that could make you vulnerable. One consumer advocate ABC7 spoke with compared leaving your phone unprotected to leaving the front door open to your home.

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Tools & Resources

TOY SAFETY TIPS ON-THE-GO

From toxic chemicals to choking hazards to dangerous magnets, see what dangerous toys to watch out for while you shop.

TOYSAFETY.MOBI

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