Consumer Watchdog Updates

Google search ad, what dat?

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:52:00 PST

Super Bowl XLIV wasn't only a first for the New Orleans Saints, it was also a landmark for Internet giant, Google. ...

Blue Cross's taste of what's to come if health reform fails

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:29:00 PST

Those of us who have health insurance--or think we have health insurance--can get complacent about whether the nation needs that big, complicated health reform legislation. But just try getting sick. Is your insurance even real? If it is, can you afford it after the latest round of price hikes? Is your deductible so big that paying it will mean financial ruin? Check out these stories and think about what the White House and Congress, by wimping out again on health reform, will condemn all of us to...

Consumer Watchdog and Steve Poizner Behind Battle Against Mercury Insurance

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:22:45 PST

Like many Californians, I was burned by Mercury auto insurance in the 90's. After my rates went up, despite a "discounted" quote by the agent, I was left wondering what, exactly, I had done. It took me a couple of years, but I eventually went through the headache of swapping carriers. Now, California's Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner has released a well-documented, 275-page report that details some of the, um, indiscretions used by Mercury Insurance that violate Proposition 103, a law enacted in 1988. Ah yes, the 80's are still coming back to bite us in the...

Internal Gov't Reports Show Mercury Insurance Discriminated Against Soldiers Unemployed, Domestic Partners, Small Biz - Reveal Motive Behind Prop 17

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:01:00 PST

Mercury Insurance Initiative – Prop 17 – Will Legalize Unlawful Surcharges Uncovered by State Investigators

Santa Monica, CA -- Newly released internal government reports show that Mercury Insurance Company, the sponsor of Proposition 17 on California's June ballot, has a history of discrimination against members of the U.S. military, the unemployed, the disabled, small businesspeople and unmarried adults living together. Consumer Watchdog pointed out that these and other Californians are now targeted for massive surcharges by Mercury’s ballot measure.

Consumer Watchdog Warns Against Making Financial Reform Bill Weaker on Consumer Protection Than Nation's Largest Bank Will Accept

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:07:39 PST

Calls on Sen. Dodd To Re-Affirm Commitment to Independent Consumer Financial Protection Agency

Washington, DC -- Consumer Watchdog called on Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd to re-affirm his commitment to an independent consumer financial regulator today after the nation’s largest bank announced it would not oppose the agency.

Insurer May Have Violated Law, Report Reveals

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:32:09 PST

A high-profile California insurance company that is backing a controversial insurance measure on the June ballot has engaged in practices that may be illegal, including deceptive pricing and discrimination against consumers such as active members of the military and drivers of emergency vehicles, according to a state report obtained by The Chronicle.

Chronicle reveals discrimination at Mercury Insurance, Soldiers targeted

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:01:00 PST

In case all those ads about how great insurance companies are was starting to make you feel all fuzzy inside, Carla Marinucci at the San Francisco Chronicle just posted a revealing and disturbing look into the widespread discrimination at California's 3rd largest auto insurer, Mercury Insurance....

Internal Documents Reveal Widespread Discrimination At Mercury Insurance

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:47:00 PST

Internal reports prepared by California Department of Insurance (CDI) investigators show that Mercury Insurance Company used a variety of internal company rules – many unwritten – to overcharge or refuse to sell insurance to many Californians it deemed "unacceptable," including Americans serving in the military, small businesspeople, unmarried people living together, people with diabetes, and the unemployed.

DC Week in Review: All about banks

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:50:00 PST

It was hard to get away from Wall Street in Washington this week. Former Citibank Chairman John Reed, free to speak his mind in retirement, endorsed an independent consumer agency in testimony before the Senate Banking panel on Thursday...

Eli's Egoland?

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:47:03 PST

A billionaire twisted arms to use public land for luxury shops. Now Eli Broad wants to put his art there.

Consumer advocate Jamie Court feels that the conflict is offset somewhat by the billionaire's purpose - an art museum rather than, say, a condo tower. "It's not like housing that he owned that he would profit from," says Court. "On the other hand, should that entitle him to have his pet project gain special concessions because of the knowledge he has?"

Justice Department Objects to Revised Google Books Settlement

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:18:59 PST

The Department of Justice filed a statement of interest February 4 saying that that despite “substantial progress” it still had objections to the proposed settlement of lawsuits challenging Google’s Book Search project, noting that the agreement continued to raise copyright, antitrust, and class certification issues. Consumer Watchdog, which had filed a brief opposing the settlement, praised the Justice Department’s stance. “The Department of Justice should be commended for standing firm in opposing this private deal that unfairly benefits the narrow agenda of one company,” said John M. Simpson, a consumer advocate with the nonprofit group. “The DOJ filing and the outpouring of other briefs from around the world opposing the amended settlement, such as the one filed by Consumer Watchdog, make it almost certain Judge Denny Chin will reject the deal.”

US DoJ Dissatisfied With Google Book Deal

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:13:57 PST

San Francisco, CA -- The US Department of Justice on Thursday said it was still not satisfied with an agreement on digitising books made between Google, authors and publishers, despite “substantial progress” on amendments to the settlement. Consumer Watchdog, the consumer group, welcomed the DoJ’s objections to the deal. “Google offered only minimal amendments to its original flawed deal and the key problems remain,” said John Simpson, a spokesman. “The DoJ filing and the outpouring of other briefs from around the world opposing the amended settlement make it almost certain [Judge Chin] will reject the deal.”

Justice Says Revised Google Books Deal Still Problematic

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:36:26 PST

The Justice Department announced late Thursday that it still has problems with a proposed settlement between the publishing industry and Google over the firm's plans for developing a global online library, CongressDaily reported. In a statement, the Open Book Alliance, which opposes the settlement, applauded the Justice Department's filing saying, it will "help to preserve competition, promote innovation and protect the public interest. The Department of Justice has made it crystal clear that the proposal before the court is overreaching and cannot be approved." The alliance members include Amazon.com, Microsoft and Yahoo, as well as some library, writer and publishing groups. John Simpson with Consumer Watchdog also praised the department in a statement for "standing firm in opposing this private deal that unfairly benefits the narrow agenda of one company" and predicted the court will reject it.

Justice Dept Says Google Books Deal Troubled

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:28:26 PST

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Changes that Google Inc and the Authors Guild made to an ambitious plan to create a massive online library were inadequate because they fail to address antitrust and copyright concerns, the U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday. Critics of the deal have been a varied group that includes Yahoo Inc, Amazon Inc, Microsoft Inc, the National Writers Union and Consumer Watchdog.

Feds Still Troubled By Google's Digital Book Deal

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:09:58 PST

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- The U.S. Justice Department still thinks a proposal to give Google the digital rights to millions of hard-to-find books threatens to stifle competition and undermine copyright laws, despite revisions aimed at easing those concerns. Consumer Watchdog, one of the groups fighting the settlement, applauded the Justice Department for taking a stand against a deal "that unfairly benefits the narrow agenda of one company."

DOJ: Thumbs Down Again to Google Book Search Settlement

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:52:49 PST

In a big blow to Google's efforts to build a massive digital-books marketplace and library, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has come out against the revised agreement to settle copyright lawsuits brought against Google by authors and publishers. Consumer Watchdog, a critic of the settlement, praised the DOJ's opinion and predicted the judge will not approve the proposal. "The Department of Justice should be commended for standing firm in opposing this private deal that unfairly benefits the narrow agenda of one company," said John M. Simpson, a consumer advocate with Consumer Watchdog, in a statement.

Consumer Watchdog Praises DOJ for Opposing Google Books Settlement

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:46:28 PST

SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog praised the U.S. Department of Justice today for opposing the amended Google Books Settlement. The DOJ said that while there were improvements in the amended settlement, problems with class certification, copyright and antitrust issues remained.

Google, NSA Partnership Raises Privacy Hackles

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:15:00 PST

The revelation that Google Inc. is partnering with the National Security Agency to probe a widespread cyber attack has quickened the pulse of privacy advocates.

Google asking spy agency for help

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:44:00 PST

Google has apparently gone to the super secret National Security Agency seeking help in preventing cyber attacks.

DOJ Not Pleased With Latest Google Book Agreement

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:29:00 PST

Although the amended settlement agreement for Google's Book Search addressed some concerns the U.S. Justice Department had, it still could give the company anticompetitive advantages in the digital book marketplace, the agency said on Thursday. The nonprofit advocacy group Consumer Watchdog praised the Justice Department's stance. "The settlement still abuses the class-action mechanism and purports to enroll absent class members automatically into new business 'opportunities,' in violation of current copyright laws," Consumer Watchdog reiterated from its friend-of-the-court brief opposing the agreement as modified.

Two Congressmen ask Justice to scrutinize Google Books deal, government will comment on revised deal Thursday

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:26:00 PST

Two Texas Congressmen have asked the U.S. of Justice to ensure that the proposed Google Books Settlement not hurt minority publishers and small businesses. The department is scheduled to file its view of the amended settlement in federal court on Thursday.

New Jerseyans Could Soon Be Able to Shop Across State Lines for Health Insurance

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:19:00 PST

If insurers can sell beyond state lines, the concern is that consumers would be attracted to the least comprehensive policies because they'd be cheapest. For example, someone could buy a policy in a state that doesn't mandate coverage of diabetic supplies. "You get what you pay for in these policies (and) consumers won't realize it until they are sick and it's too late," said Jerry Flanagan, health care policy analyst for Consumer Watchdog, a California consumer health group.

Hot Fuel Fix in Deep Freeze

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:35:27 PST

When a private club that is too cozy with corporations make the rules on consumer protection, guess what happens? The National Conference on Weights and Measures met last week voted to just dump years' worth of proposals and plans to fix the "hot fuel" ripoff. It reminded me of the old Soviet trick of removing purged bureaucrats from ceremonial photos.