Consumer Law

Biz Tip: Cut credit card processing fees with 'interchange plus'

Posted on November 05, 2009
Hey, business owners, are you spending too much to swipe a customer's credit card? One possible way to whittle down those processing fees is to switch from tiered pricing, which most merchants use, to "interchange plus." ...

Bellevue forum offers free small biz tips

Posted on November 05, 2009
The IRS and the City of Bellevue's Office of Economic Development are hosting a Washington Small Business Forum from 9 to noon on Friday, Dec. 4, at Bellevue City Hall ...

U.S. House wants to speed up new credit card rules

Posted on November 04, 2009
The U.S. House voted today to freeze credit card interest rates and fees for nine months. The bill, approved 331-92, would accelerate the February enactment date of legislation already passed by Congress that restricts when and how banks can charge credit card customers ...

AGs tell Congress: Don't limit states' authority to protect consumers

Posted on November 04, 2009
As Congress considers legislation to create a Consumer Financial Protection Agency, Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna is leading a group of 40 state attorneys general in urging federal lawmakers to uphold the role of the states in enforcing consumer protection laws ...

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Grandparents still falling for 'wire me some $' scam

Posted on October 30, 2009
Cons in Canada are still preying on grandparents. Since All Consuming first alerted readers about the "grandparent scam" (also called the "grandchild scam") in summer 2008, people continue to tell us how they or their loved ones fell victim to the ploy...

Thumbs Up: Lynden restaurant owner thwarts scam

Posted on October 30, 2009
John Stark, consumer blogger for the Bellingham Herald, passed along this news release from a Lynden business. It's a good reminder that businesses are targets of wire transfer scams too.

Latinos at risk of being exploited by notarios

Posted on October 28, 2009
In most Latin American countries, a ?notario? is a licensed attorney. But the similar-sounding English word ?notary public,? which translates to ?notario publico,? means something entirely different ...

New AGO Events Calendar

Posted on October 26, 2009
Where can I find a shred event? Where is Attorney General Rob McKenna speaking? Our new events calendar gives you the scoop ...

Lowdown on all those free credit report sites

Posted on October 23, 2009
By now, you should know that you?re entitled to a free annual credit report from each of three major bureaus ? Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. All Consuming recommends one Web site to obtain your free credit reports, Annualcreditreport.com. But what about all those other sites touting free credit reports?

Attorney General prepared to hammer dishonest home remodelers

Posted on October 14, 2009
Window sellers need to be transparent in their marketing. Roofers need to stay on top of the law. And home siding installers shouldn?t sidle up to consumers with inappropriately high-pressure sales pitches. That?s the gist of a letter sent Tuesday by the Washington Attorney General?s Office to more than 30 home remodelers around the state.

Check if your email password was hacked

Posted on October 12, 2009
Thousands of personal e-mail passwords belonging to Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, AOL, Earthlink and Comcast users were posted online after a phishing sceme targeted users of Gmail, Hotmail and others, according to news reports. You can check if your account was on the list.

Talking to your kids about inappropriate Web searches

Posted on October 06, 2009
Miriam, a mother of four, wrote to All Consuming with a sensitive question about talking to her kids about their Internet searches. For advice, we turned to expert Linda Criddle.

New interest-free and stripped-down credit cards

Posted on October 05, 2009
I confess: I have credit card debt. If you?re like me, you?ve likely found that as soon as you pay down one card you need to use it to buy something else. Due to recent changes in laws regulating credit card companies, many card issuers are raising interest rates and fees for consumers with good credit...

My gym closed. Can I get a refund?

Posted on October 02, 2009
The closure of several Bally?s health clubs has spurred complaints from consumers who want their money back.

Cookie monsters

Posted on September 28, 2009
You may have heard of cookies. They?re delicious morsels that come in flavors like chocolate chip and gingerbread, right? In this case, however, I?m talking about the itsy bitsy files that are deposited on your hard drive as you browse the Web. Some are harmless...

REI sweepstakes scam ... and the origin of 'pulling your leg'

Posted on September 25, 2009
If you receive a letter in the mail saying you've won $150,000 in REI's "Consumer Promotion Drawing," don't start planning your next outdoors adventure. It's just a scam from someone trying to pull your thermal leg warmer.

Veterans target of prescription drug scam

Posted on September 24, 2009
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is warning veterans not to give credit card numbers over the phone to callers claiming to update prescription information.

Do the Puyallup with Rob McKenna!

Posted on September 21, 2009
Do the Puyallup Fair with Attorney General Rob McKenna on Senior Tuesday to get the lowdown on senior scams and identity theft.

Free fall shredding events

Posted on September 17, 2009
To avoid a real-life fright night, be sure to shred sensitive documents.

Settlement aims to insulate consumers from future window pains

Posted on September 17, 2009
Our Consumer Protection Division lifted the curtain on a Seattle-based window installer?s allegedly deceptive sales practices and negotiated a settlement to insulate consumers from future harm.

Sweet sound of silence

Posted on September 11, 2009
Does dinner time seem more peaceful? The Federal Trade Commission has banned telemarketing pitches known as robocalls unless consumers have agreed in writing to the calls.

Kudos: Walmart employee stops wire fraud

Posted on September 09, 2009
We need more people like Renton Walmart employee Carrie Smith. Smith, 68, was featured in a recent Seattle Times article for talking people out of sending thousands of dollars by wire transfer to scammers.

How to avoid a repo when you can?t make a car payment

Posted on September 08, 2009
David, an All Consuming reader, recently wrote for advice: ?I cannot make my car payment. If I pay the interest and a little towards the principal, can I keep the car until I get back on my feet?? Attorney General Rob McKenna replied in today's Ask the AG column...

Reader questions: overdue traffic fines and credit opt-out

Posted on September 04, 2009
All Consuming blog moderator Kristin Alexander answers reader questions ...

Dealer to refund consumers who never got their free gas

Posted on September 03, 2009
Gas vouchers were a hot promotional tool last year, used to lure potential customers to dealerships, furniture stores and seminars. A Vancouver, Wash., car dealer must now reimburse customers who responded to one such promotion that the Washington Attorney General?s Office says was deceptive.

More consumers complaining about credit, AGs report shows

Posted on August 31, 2009
In a sign of the economic times, credit cards and predatory lending/mortgages cracked the national top 10 list of consumer complaints to state attorneys general offices last year, the National Association of Attorney General announced today.

Consumers juiced by deceptive Açaí and resveratrol product ads

Posted on August 28, 2009
Washington consumers looking to lose weight or wrinkles have jumped at ?free trial? offers for açaí berry and resveratrol products. But the fruity supplements came with unexpected costs.

Money for nothing ...

Posted on August 27, 2009
... Or nothing for your money. From Ponzi schemes to exotic financial investments, consumers are being conned.

BBB warns of bogus 'survey agent' job offer

Posted on August 26, 2009
A job ad for a ?survey agent? is too good to be true, the Better Business Bureau warned today.

Final call for dealers to file Clunkers papers

Posted on August 25, 2009
The U.S. Transportation Department has extended the deadline for dealers to file Cash for Clunkers applications once again, this time until 5 PDT tonight (Tuesday, Aug. 25).

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