Consumer Action INSIDER - February 2017

WWW.CONSUMER-ACTION.ORG February 2017 Issue Eight, Volume Seven In This Issue: What people are saying Did you know? Timely new guides help online shoppers Free publication provides EITC updates for 2017 tax filers Hotline Chronicles: You pay for paid tax preparer mistakes Consumer Action joins Alliance for Investor Education Consumer Action, Capital One host online banking webinars Coalition Efforts: Cabinet posts, FinTech regs and recalled cars Another noteworthy year: Consumer Action’s 2016 annual report CFPB Watch: Misleading credit scores, debt collectors and student loans Class Action Database: Formaldehyde in your flooring About Consumer Action What people are saying Thank you for the opportunity to attend your recent Economic Survival Guide for Servicemembers and Veterans training session in Jersey City. This helpful class explored a wide range of laws, regulations and opportunities that protect and benefit military service members. — Steven Drulis, New Jersey Coalition for Financial Education Did you know? Many people are daunted by the thought of making a call to their elected officials. If you’re one of them, check out this Tumblr post by Cordelia McGee-Tubb, a cartoonist, web developer and accessibility advocate based in San Francisco. Follow the cute illustrations and helpful advice to a place where you say to yourself, “I can do this! It’s not impossible.” Several motivational and informational resources for reaching your members of Congress are included in the post. And, while a call is more impactful, if you’re still not comfortable picking up the phone, you can always use Consumer Action’s handy “Compose your own message” tool to email your lawmakers about whatever issues you’re passionate about. Timely new guides help online shoppers A new education module prepares online shoppers to avoid, or get successful resolution for, customer service matters and disputes—just in time for all those holiday returns. READ MORE.... Free publication provides EITC updates for 2017 tax filers With tax season upon us, Consumer Action is reissuing its popular Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) fact sheet to inform taxpayers about increased credits and income limits, as well as a potential delay in receiving their refunds. READ MORE.... Hotline Chronicles: You pay for paid tax preparer mistakes A woman contacted Consumer Action’s hotline to complain about how mistakes by a paid tax preparer caused her a series of problems that cost a lot of money. READ MORE.... Consumer Action joins Alliance for Investor Education Consumer Action has joined the Alliance for Investor Education, an esteemed consortium of leading investor-related non-profits, associations and government agencies working to educate the public on wise investment practices. READ MORE.... Consumer Action, Capital One host online banking webinars Capital One and Consumer Action co-hosted two Ready, Set, Bank webinars in December. The webinars help older adults learn about online and mobile banking. READ MORE.... Coalition Efforts: Cabinet posts, FinTech regs and recalled cars Consumer Action and its allies responded to many priorities in recent months. Here’s a rundown of the recent coalition activities we’ve been involved in. READ MORE.... Another noteworthy year: Consumer Action’s 2016 annual report Consumer Action’s latest annual report—highlighting the organization’s activities, staff, partners, budget and more—is now available online. READ MORE.... CFPB Watch: Misleading credit scores, debt collectors and student loans In our regular CFPB Watch feature, we detail recent actions taken by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to protect consumers. This month’s roundup includes the Bureau’s actions to issue refunds for misleading credit scores, reveal threatening debt collection tactics and stop deceptive student loan servicing. READ MORE.... Class Action Database: Formaldehyde in your flooring Consumer Action maintains a database of notable class actions so that interested consumers can learn more, join a pending action or make a claim. Of note: Floor & Decor Outlets of America, Inc. recently reached a settlement in a case alleging they sold laminate flooring that did not meet safety standards for dangerous formaldehyde emissions. READ MORE.... Consumer Action has been a champion of underrepresented consumers nationwide since 1971. A non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, Consumer Action focuses on consumer education that empowers low- and moderate-income and limited-English-speaking consumers to financially prosper. It also advocates for consumers in the media and before lawmakers to advance consumer rights and promote industry-wide change. By providing consumer education materials in multiple languages, a free national hotline, a comprehensive website (www.consumer-action.org) and annual surveys of financial and consumer services, Consumer Action helps consumers assert their rights in the marketplace and make financially savvy choices. Nearly 7,000 community and grassroots organizations benefit annually from its extensive outreach programs, training materials and support.