Page 13 - Consumer Issues News Today

With the holiday gift-giving season here, consumer advocates want to make sure parents and caregivers understand the threats some toys can pose to children. Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, said it is crucial for parents to do their homework and know what they are buying. ...

Groups in Oregon are fighting for consumer rights in the face of what they call "a concerning request" from PacifiCorp, the states second largest electricity provider. Earlier this year, PacifiCorp asked the Oregon Public Utility Commission to set limits on future lawsuit awards, restricting payments to actual damages for property and loss of life. Jagjit Narga, executive director of the Oregon Consumer Justice group, said this request puts customer rights in jeopardy. ...

Reports from the Insurance Commissioners office and the state Attorney General reveal an analysis of what they call "the true costs of health care" in Washington. Based on the results, the Economic Opportunity Institute is asking state lawmakers to do more to address consolidation and sharply rising costs. Health-care costs nationwide have been on the rise. ...

Its estimated that one in three Kentuckians struggles to pay medical bills, and the issue continues to be a driving factor in personal bankruptcy cases. Local organizations are working to address the issue by partnering with debt-buying agencies to relieve residents medical debt. Reverend Kent Gilbert, pastor of Union Church in Berea, said during the pandemic, several churches teamed up with a debt consolidator to eliminate millions of dollars of medical bills. ...

Today is International Volunteer Day, a celebration of the work people offer to support the causes they care for. Nonprofits across the country rely on volunteers to fulfill their mission. Kevin Bailey, CEO of the Idaho Nonprofit Center, said peoples sense of wanting to give back is what drives volunteerism. ...

Small Business Saturday has come and gone and the North Carolina Sustainable Business Council urged people to keep "shopping local" this season. The council said supporting homegrown businesses creates jobs and makes communities healthier. One of those businesses is the Little River Pecan Farm, with 100 pecan trees on a 10-acre section of sixth-generation land. ...

A new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found the repayment process for federal student loans has been filled with errors. Repayments began in October following a three-year pandemic-related pause. Since then, complaints of inaccurate bills, late notices and poor customer service have only increased. ...

Advocates for unpaid family caregivers in Maine say theyll need continued support beyond the recently passed paid family and medical leave program. Caregiving can be a full-time job with many out-of-pocket expenses, like paying for gas to get to a doctors appointment or ensuring a parent has enough food in their fridge. Bridget Quinn, associate state director for advocacy and outreach with AARP Maine, said state grants to help caregivers with up to $5,000 in expenses will end next year, and ...

Many older residents of Washington state are facing strains on their budgets -- and the government programs that could assist them are underused. An assistance program like the Senior Property Tax Exemption is a prime example. King County Assessor John Wilson cited the median value for a home in his county as about $790,000. ...

A new report is calling for greater accountability in the system providing funding to farmers in underserved communities. The research takes a dive into the Farm Credit System, examining the risks and suggesting improvements to make the system more fair and more sustainable. Joshua Humphreys, president and senior fellow of Croatan Institute, a farmer and lead author of the report, said despite the Farm Credit System making around 45% of all agricultural loans, there is no transparency in how m...