Consumer Law

Car talk -- interpreting the pings and squeaks

Posted on February 05, 2010

Collection agencies push out phone companies for most complaints

Posted on February 03, 2010
Washington consumers don't like calls from debt collectors. Gripes about collection agencies have been rising in recent years but it took a single complaint to ultimately move the industry into pole position and bump out telecommunications, which previously held the top spot for at least a decade.

Who is watching you online?

Posted on January 28, 2010
If you saw a stranger peering into your windows at home or rifling through your desk at work, you?d call the cops. But many of us have no idea what happens to all the bits and bytes of information we send over our computers, iPhones and Blackberries. Take Facebook, for example ...

This week's events for savvy consumers

Posted on January 26, 2010
If you live in the Puget Sound and are planning to make home improvements, curious about the paperwork required to run a nonprofit or interested in data privacy, you may want to check out these events ...

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General Tobacco products can no longer sold here

Posted on January 21, 2010
General Tobacco products, including Bronco, Champion, GT, Silver and 32? cigarettes, will soon be removed from Washington store shelves.

Public comments sought on Puget Sound Energy rate increase

Posted on January 14, 2010
Puget Sound Energy customers can comment on the company?s proposed electric and gas rate increases during a public hearing next week in Olympia or by e-mail. This is PSE?s first rate case following the sale of the utility to the Macquarie investor consortium which was approved by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) in December 2008.

2010: Time to eat healthy foods, exercise more and shed a few pounds

Posted on January 11, 2010
So my New Year?s resolutions for 2010 include getting fit. I?m in ample  company (*high hat - ba dump bump*)... Tips for choosing a weight loss program or gym.

In debt? Know your rights when dealing with collectors

Posted on January 08, 2010
The Federal Trade Commission has a new animated video that explains rights consumers have when dealing with debt collectors. In related news, the Attorney General's Office settled our case with Topco Financial ...

Stores pay more when you sign at the register instead of using a PIN

Posted on January 05, 2010
"When you sign a debit card receipt at a large retailer, the store pays your bank an average of 75 cents for every $100 spent -- more than twice as much as when you punch in a four-digit code," the New York Times reported this week.

AG seeks bills to protect homeowners, used car buyers

Posted on January 04, 2010
Two consumer protection bills were among those previewed at a press conference today ...

Credit changes filling the mail

Posted on December 30, 2009
If you have credit cards, you?ve probably noticed a lot of mail lately. In addition to your monthly bill, creditors are sending notices about upcoming changes to your account. If you don't like the new terms, your option is to "refuse," which effectively cancels the card...

KSER-AM to broadcast TeleTown Hall with McKenna tonight

Posted on December 28, 2009
Nearly 11,000 Washington seniors were on the phone last month with Attorney General Rob McKenna as part of a TeleTown Hall sponsored by AARP Washington. Public radio station KSER (90.7 AM) in Everett will broadcast a 30-minute edited version starting at 6:30 p...

All Consuming?s letter to Santa

Posted on December 24, 2009
All Consuming's letter to Santa. Find out what we'd like him to bring consumers this Christmas ...

E-mail scam: Package delivery e-mail is a computer virus

Posted on December 23, 2009
It seems innocent enough: an e-mail that indicates a shipper such as FedEx, DHL or UPS tried to deliver a package to you. You?re told to print out an invoice. But opening the attachment or clicking on the link infects your computer!

Consumers bite at phishing scam

Posted on December 21, 2009
Thanks to John Stark at the Bellingham Herald for picking up a report out of Idaho about more than 100 people who were hooked by a phishing scam. They victims were duped by fake text messages informing them that their debt cards had been frozen and telling them to call a number to provide account information ...

Complaints about DIRECTV signal a serious problem, says AG

Posted on December 15, 2009
DIRECTV has generated more consumer complaints to the Washington Attorney General?s Office than any other business in 2009. Since announcing our lawsuit filed yesterday, we?ve received 75 new consumer complaints about the satellite television company ...

Don't be deceived by 'free' credit report offers

Posted on December 09, 2009
Attorney General Rob McKenna says more needs to be done to protect consumers attempting to obtain the free credit report allowed by law. He joined 42 other state attorneys general in sending a letter this week to the Federal Trade Commission, in conjunction with the FTC?s proposal to help prevent deceptive marketing of ?free? credit reports ...

Cyber nightmare before Xmas

Posted on December 08, 2009
As shoppers gear up for the holiday season, so do cybercrooks. McAfee recently issued a list of the "12 Scams of Christmas." Among them: Fake invoces from delivery services, risky Internet searches and bug-ridden e-cards ...

Counterfeit software can infect PCs

Posted on December 03, 2009
Microsoft reported a surge of voluntary reports ? more than 150,000 in the past two years ? from people who unknowingly purchased counterfeit software that was often riddled with viruses or malware.

Swine flu for your computer!

Posted on December 02, 2009
An email asking state employees to register for a swine flu vaccination program is hogwash and can infect your computer ...

Lakewood police shooting ? don?t be misled by fundraising calls

Posted on December 02, 2009
Our hearts were torn when four Lakewood police officers were killed this week. Many are looking for ways to donate money to help families of the victims. But some fundraisers may not be legit. ...

McKenna's top 10 shopping tips for Black Friday

Posted on November 25, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving! If you're one of the 134 million Americans expected to take advantage of Black Friday discounts, take along this holiday shopping list -- Attorney General Rob McKenna's top 10 tips. ...

11,000 Washington seniors on the phone with AG McKenna

Posted on November 24, 2009
Nearly 11,000 seniors from across Washington state were on the phone today with Attorney General Rob McKenna as part of a TeleTown Hall sponsored by AARP Washington!

Today Show spotlights post-transaction marketing

Posted on November 19, 2009
Following up on yesterday's blog post about Attorney General Rob McKenna's testimony to Congress about deceptive online sales tactics, I thought I'd share this report from the Today Show ...

Wells Fargo agrees to buy back auction rate securities

Posted on November 19, 2009
Wells Fargo will buy back an estimated $1.3 billion in auction rate securities that have been frozen since February 2008, the state Department of Financial Institutions announced yesterday.

Should you buy extra coverage for electronics?

Posted on November 18, 2009
Consumers will spend $1.3 billion on extended warranties this holiday season, says one industry report. Is the extra coverage worth it? ...

Shop online? Watch out for sneaky charges

Posted on November 18, 2009
Shop online? If you don't scrutinize each step of the checkout process, you may end buying more than you wanted. Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna took a leading role in encouraging Congress to get tough on companies that engage in deceptive online sales tactics...

Settlement fixes alleged hang-ups with Vonage?s billing practices

Posted on November 18, 2009
Vonage, one of the nation?s largest providers of Internet-based phone service, will refund eligible customers and pay $3 million to the states to resolve concerns about its billing and cancellation policies.

One bad email drains $500,000 from victim's bank account

Posted on November 10, 2009
Beware of an email that claims you need to reset your Facebook password. It carries a nasty virus that wiped out $500,000 from a Maple Valley computing business? bank account ...

10 ways fake check scammers find you

Posted on November 06, 2009
According to the Consumer Federation of America, 1 in 3 American adults has received a counterfeit check, and of those, 2 percent actually deposit the checks and send money to the scammers. KOMO reporter Connie Thompson reports on 10 ways that phony check scammers track you down ...

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