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Blog Post
1/27/2012
By John M. Simpson
BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Online privacy got a tremendous boost this week when the European Commission proposed its new data protection rules that -- among other important safeguards -- would prove for the "right to be forgotten" online.
But that's not all that's been happening since I arrived in this city that is home to the European Commission. I've been here as...
Comments
Blog Post
1/25/2012
By Judy Dugan
The Hyundai Elantra keeps on losing fans because its real-world MPG, for most drivers, doesn't come close to the advertised 33 mpg combined, or even the advertised 29 mpg city. We're especially interested in hearing from California drivers who are having this problem.
On the auto site Edmonds.com, there's now even a reader forum called Hyundai Elantra...
News Release
1/25/2012
John M. Simpson & Carmen Balber
BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Landmark online privacy regulations proposed in Europe today that include the concept of a "right to be forgotten" could help provide U.S. consumers with tools necessary to protect their data held by Internet giants like Google, Facebook and Microsoft, if ultimately enacted, Consumer Watchdog said today.
Google's latest unilateral action combining data from...
Blog Post
1/27/2012
By John M. Simpson
BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Online privacy got a tremendous boost this week when the European Commission proposed its new data protection rules that -- among other important safeguards -- would prove for the "right to be forgotten" online.
But that's not all that's been happening since I arrived in this city that is home to the European Commission. I've been here as...
Blog Post
1/25/2012
By Judy Dugan
The Hyundai Elantra keeps on losing fans because its real-world MPG, for most drivers, doesn't come close to the advertised 33 mpg combined, or even the advertised 29 mpg city. We're especially interested in hearing from California drivers who are having this problem.
On the auto site Edmonds.com, there's now even a reader forum called Hyundai Elantra...
Blog Post
1/23/2012
By Jamie Court
It’s been a big day for those of us who have been making the case that Google steers users not to the most relevant products and services, but to its own services. This morning in Brussels, Consumer Watchdog called upon European privacy officials to investigate such antitrust issues, including how “the recent announcement of Google’s ‘Search, plus Your...
News Release
1/25/2012
John M. Simpson & Carmen Balber
BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Landmark online privacy regulations proposed in Europe today that include the concept of a "right to be forgotten" could help provide U.S. consumers with tools necessary to protect their data held by Internet giants like Google, Facebook and Microsoft, if ultimately enacted, Consumer Watchdog said today.
Google's latest unilateral action combining data from...
News Release
1/23/2012
John M. Simpson and Jamie Court
BRUSSELS – Consumer Watchdog, a U.S.-based consumer advocacy group, today called for the EU’s antitrust regulators to block Google’s acquisition of Motorola Mobility and ultimately issue a formal antitrust complaint against the Internet giant’s ongoing business practices.
“The Commission’s role in keeping Google’s abuses in check is essential....
News Release
1/23/2012
Carmen Balber or John M. Simpson
WASHINGTON, DC – Internet giant Google spent nearly $10 million lobbying federal policymakers in 2012, showing that the company has abandoned its idealistic "Don't Be Evil" roots and has bought into Washington's corrupt "cash and carry" political system, Consumer Watchdog said today.
Lobbying reports filed with the Senate Office of Public Records first...
Legal Update
10/31/2011
Jerry Flanagan
This week more than 100,000 California Blue Cross consumers will receive notice of their right to change coverage under a settlement in the Feller v. Blue Cross class action lawsuit.
Under the settlement, class members may (1) either change plans without medical underwriting to any one of the listed plans, or (2) remain in their current policy and have future rates capped. For more...
Legal Update
8/27/2011
Jerry Flanagan
Good news for Blue Cross consumers.
Yesterday morning I drove up to Ventura to attend the final approval hearing in Consumer Watchdog's class action lawsuit against Blue Cross for illegally closing insurance policies and using big rate hikes to force patients into lower-benefit and higher-deductible health coverage -- known as the "death spiral." Superior Court Judge Frederick H...
Legal Update
7/15/2011
By Todd Foreman
Mercury Insurance wants to hike its already excessive homeowner’s insurance rates: Mercury’s stalling tactics have already cost its policyholders $25 million, and each day that Mercury is allowed to overcharge its policyholders amounts to $35,000 in excess profits.
In May 2009, Mercury Insurance sought to hike its homeowners' insurance rates 4% across the board. In...
Video
12/28/2011
On KCBS TV-2 in Los Angeles, CA, Consumer Watchdog' s Doug Heller Discusses How To Avoid A New Credit Card Scam, And Calls On Credit Card Companies To Improve Security.
Video
12/20/2011
Consumer Watchdog's Doug Heller discusses why Mercury insurance is trying to get an extra $89 million out of their California policy holders.
Video
11/23/2011
Doug Heller discusses why CA state senators avoid questions about exotic trips funded by special interest groups on KTTV TV-11 Los Angeles, CA.
Success Stories
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Consumer Watchdog's founder led the 1988 voter revolt against insurers that passed Proposition 103 and saved Californians billions.
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We drove Congress to place a ban on HMOs discharging newborns and their mothers from the hospital 8 hours after birth.
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We beat a deceptive campaign funded by one of America's wealthiest men, ending insurers’ redlining of poor neighborhoods.
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