CONSUMER PROTECTION
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.
Illinois PIRG’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 30 years, Illinois PIRG’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 avoiding dangerous toys.
BIGGER BANKS, BIGGER FEES
In April, Illinois PIRG 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
If you've ever used a dating app, your data has likely been collected and shared across the Internet. How do dating - and other types of apps - use your data? Advocate R.J. Cross explains.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Kathy Kraninger submitted her resignation Wednesday soon after the inauguration of new President Joe Biden. Resignation opens seat for President Biden’s new nominee Rohit Chopra.
President-elect Joe Biden announced Monday that he intends to nominate Rohit Chopra as Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) director and Gary Gensler as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The Illinois General Assembly passed the Predatory Loan Prevention Act today, which will implement a 36 percent interest rate cap on consumer loans, including payday and car title loans.
The Illinois House of Representatives passed the Predatory Loan Prevention Act today, which if passed by the Senate, would implement a 36 percent interest rate cap on consumer loans, including payday and car title loans.
Consumer Protection
Illinois passes landmark bill to prevent predatory lending
The Illinois General Assembly has passed the Predatory Loan Prevention Act — endorsed by Illinois PIRG and more than 50 consumer, labor, community and civil rights organizations — which will institute a 36 percent interest rate cap on consumer loans. Too often, payday loans trap borrowers in cycles of debt through excessive and predatory interest rates.
Consumer Protection
Report finds ComEd scheme caused utility rate hikes for Illinoisans
Illinois PIRG has released "Guaranteed Profits, Broken Promises," a report examining years of actions that, according to federal prosecutors, constituted a corrupt bribery scheme on the part of the utility Commonwealth Edison to win favorable legislation. The report found that, as a result, Illinoisans have been paying 37 percent higher electricity delivery rates.
Consumer Protection
Auto Loan Complaints Rise
A review of complaints to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) Consumer Complaint Database reveals a sharp spike in consumer complaints about auto purchasing, leasing and finance since the beginning of the pandemic.
Consumer Protection
ComEd must be held accountable for bribery schemes
Revelations that the utility Commonwealth Edison, or ComEd, paid bribes in exchange for favorable policies has prompted Illinois PIRG Education Fund to call on the Illinois Commerce Commission to do a comprehensive audit of the company, and to demand transparency through the release of detailed data from ComEd itself.
Latest Reports
Tools & Resources
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Student Tip Sheet: Campus Financial Products
Avoid the tricks and traps in campus financial products that may drive up the costs of collegeIllinois PIRG Education Fund -
Leading Groups Send Criteria for Evaluating VW Settlement
Seeking Compensation for Consumers and Environment -
Group letter opposing Nancy Beck to head CPSC
Former chemical industry official would be fox guarding henhouse
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