Business Practices & Corporate Accountability News
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8/12/2004
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MASSPIRG praised government officials for their leadership in protecting consumers against Identity Theft. Specifically, Consumer Affairs Chief Beth Lindstrom, Public Safety Commissioner Edward Flynn, and Kim Hinden, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles are leaders in the fight against Identity Theft. The changes announced today, will make it easier for consumers to safeguard their social security numbers and will forward the cause of bringing greater awareness, information and prevention to a growing problem that government, business and the public must be vigilant in addressing. | |
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8/11/2005
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BOSTON— Nearly half (47%) of all cell phone customers would switch or consider switching cell phone service carriers to get a lower rate and better service if they didn’t have to pay an average penalty of $170 to cancel their service contract, according to a new economic analysis and survey released today by MASSPIRG (Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group). | |
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8/03/2007
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Consumers in Massachusetts have won a great victory against the growing crime of identity theft. With the passage of a new law today, consumers will have new tools to prevent identity before it happens. | |
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7/9/2005
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Since the beginning of 2005, nearly 50 million consumers have had their personal data compromised by several major security breaches involving national companies like ChoicePoint, MasterCard, Citibank, and Bank of America. conducted by the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MASSPIRG) found that 14 percent of consumers had been victims of identity theft and 71 percent were concerned about becoming a victim. In addition, consumers overwhelmingly supported (93%) a "security freeze" to protect them against identity theft. | |
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6/8/2006
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Saying the federal government has done “too little too late” after it announced that the private information of 26.5 million veterans had been stolen, Massachusetts veterans and legislators today called for state action to strengthen protections against the crime of identity theft. To date, 20 states have passed laws to address the growing problem of identity theft. | |
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6/26/2007
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BOSTON– A bill aimed at curbing deceptive loan mark-ups by car dealers was heard before the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure. The sponsor of the Car Buyers’ Bill of Rights is Representative Christopher Fallon (D-Malden), who says that the real cost of new cars can often be hidden from consumers because of the misleading practice. | |
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6/23/2005
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BOSTON—Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America according to the Federal Trade Commission, and states are taking action following numerous breakdowns in security of consumers' personal information by some of the nation's leading financial institutions. | |
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6/17/2004
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BOSTON—One in four credit reports contains errors serious enough to cause consumers to be denied credit, a loan, an apartment, mortgage or even a job, according to a new survey released today by MASSPIRG. | |
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5/9/2007
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BOSTON— The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a comprehensive identity theft protection bill today that gives consumers the ability to “freeze” their credit reports to stop would-be thieves from opening credit in their name, and requires businesses and government agencies to notify consumers if enough of their personal information that could be used to commit identity theft is lost or stolen. | |
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5/17/2007
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Consumer groups, consumers and lawmakers urged members of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy to support consumer protections for cell phone customers at a public hearing today at the State House. | |
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5/14/2007
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BOSTON—The Massachusetts Senate joined the House in passing an identity theft protection bill today that gives consumers the ability to “freeze” their credit reports to stop would-be thieves from opening credit in their name, and requires businesses and government agencies to notify consumers if enough of their personal information that could be used to commit identity theft is lost or stolen. | |
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4/9/2007
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BOSTON—The Consumer Protection Committee in the state house heard testimony today in support of increased identity theft protections. Speakers included Attorney General Martha Coakley, Office of Consumer Affairs Director Dan Crane, MASSPIRG, and victims of the crime. | |
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4/1/2004
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BOSTON - As millions of consumers rush to file their taxes by the April 15th deadline, MASSPIRG issued an April Fool's Day warning to consumers to watch for outrageous fees and sloppy privacy practices at tax preparation centers. | |
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3/8/2004
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Consumer groups and lawmakers plan to urge the Legislature's Joint Committee on Insurance to support a bill prohibiting insurers from using credit scores in underwriting or to set premiums for homeowners, renters and even, in the future, auto insurance at a public hearing at the State House on Tuesday, March 9, 2004. | |
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3/27/2002
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More than half of consumers who called their credit card company to complain about their high annual interest rates were successful in reducing those rates by an average of one-third, according to a report by the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MASSPIRG) released at a press conference. | |
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3/21/2005
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2/7/2007
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The Federal Trade Commission announced today that identity theft has topped the list of consumer complaints the agency received for 2006. More than a quarter of a million ID theft complaints were lodged with the agency last year, accounting for 36 percent of the 674,000 complaints the FTC received. | |
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11/13/2001
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Payday lenders, thwarted by state regulators and the courts, are expanding their use of partnerships with banks to make loans that violate state usury laws, small loan rate caps, and even payday loan state legislation. | |
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11/01/2007
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Boston—A new law goes into effect today that will give consumers new protections against the crime of identity theft. Signed by Governor Patrick in August, the Identity Theft Protection Law will give consumers the ability to block unauthorized access to their own credit reports so thieves cannot open new credit accounts in their name. | |
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10/3/2005
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BOSTON—Consumers and lawmakers are urging members of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy to support consumer protections for cell phone customers as a key bill receives its hearing this week. The bill—The Cell Phone Users’ Bill of Rights (SB 1790, HB 3331)—was filed jointly by Representative Steve Walsh (Lynn) and Senator Jarrett T. Barrios (Cambridge). | |
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1/26/2006
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At news conference this morning, January 26, the Federal Trade Commission announced a 15 million dollar penalty against ChoicePoint for failing to protect data security. | |
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1/18/2007
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Legislation recently filed by state Senator Jarrett Barrios and state Representatives William Straus and Michael Costello would go a long way to protect consumers in Massachusetts against identity theft, according to consumer advocacy group MASSPIRG. | |
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07/17/2007
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The Senate approved a conference committee report and enacted the Identity Theft Prevention Bill today, sending the long awaited legislation to Governor Patrick for his signature. The new law will give consumers in Massachusetts more protections against the crime of identity theft, according to consumer advocacy groups. | |
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03/27/2008
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Boston—Students overwhelmingly support limits on campus credit card marketing, according to the results of a nationwide MASSPIRG survey of over 1500 students at 40 colleges in 14 states, including UMass-Boston, Mass College of Art, and Mass Bay Community College. | |
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03/01/2005
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Consumer complaints about cell phones and service are skyrocketing, far outpacing the significant growth of the industry, according to a study released today by the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MASSPIRG). Can You Hear Us Now? A report on how the cell phone industry has failed consumers, chronicles the proliferation of confusing calling plans, billing errors, hidden fees, dropped calls, spotty signal coverage, inadequate customer service and excessive contract termination fees. | |