Richard Holober, president of the Consumer Federation of California, said the current process allows manufacturers to make discount promises they won't have to keep because many shoppers simply dump the rebate applications.

CALIFORNIA is a land of motorists, but more than 3.4 million people are driving illegally by not carrying auto insurance, despite a state program that offers insurance for under $400 a year..."The numbers are a little disappointing. We know there is a need there," said Sandra Chapin, program director for the Consumer Federation of California.

Add 21st Century and Safeco to the growing list of insurance companies that are reducing their rates for California consumers. "The industry has finally come to the recognition that this is the law," said Richard Holober, executive director of the Consumer Federation of California.

A consumer right's advocate applauded the settlement. "Privacy is very important to people," said Richard Holober, executive director of the Consumer Federation of California. "People don't want others to know more than what is required to transact business."

Regulation is seldom preferable to competition. But AB 1010 would boost competition by giving customers greater leeway to compare and choose a cellular phone company that provides the best service.

The plastic pipe known as CPVC, which stands for chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, has been at the center of a lengthy, politically charged dispute pitting pipe manufacturers and the building industry against the state plumbers union and environmental groups...Opponents contend that the manufacture, installation, and use of plastic pipe poses health risks, such as chemicals leaching into water.

Rosy Chu interviews Gary Gartner and Sandra Chapin (Consumer Federation of California) on the State's low-cost auto insurance program. (KTVU Channel 2)

The script has become a familiar one in Washington as California's consumer protections come under attack in Congress. This time it's the state's law mandating strict rules for notifying consumers when the security of their personal financial data has been breached.

A divided California Public Utilities Commission on Thursday ended six years of wrangling by issuing a long-awaited proclamation of the rights of telephone customers and promising to step up consumer education and enforcement of existing rules. (Contra Costa Times)

What is the telephone consumer bill of rights? And why do consumers deserve one? Have those questions answered and more. (CFC Press Materials)

The California Public Utilities Commission adopted a Telecommunication Consumer Bill of Rights in May 2004, only to suspend the rules in January at the urging of industry leaders. Now a new bill of rights is on the table. The new rules would create a consumer education program, a Telecommunications Fraud Unit and expand the agency's toll-free consumer complaint hotline.

Don't panic, but don't let your guard down. That is the message consumer advocates have for Californians who fear they may be affected by MasterCard International's announcement Friday of a breach in credit card data, which may have exposed more than 40 million cards to fraudulent activity. (Contra Costa Times)

Data broker ChoicePoint Inc., the focus of a national furor over privacy, said it supported legislation that would allow people to see and correct, if necessary records the company kept on them.

Inspired by what began as an isolated protest by California nurses, opponents of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are working in a loose but widening network to thwart his policy proposals. (LA Times)

The recent security breaches at choice point and Bank of America are just the tip of the ice berg when it comes to the risk of identity theft now faced by all consumers. (KCBS Channel 5)

The "Commonsense Consumption Act," like more than a dozen laws proposed or passed in recent weeks across the country, would limit individuals' ability to sue restaurants for health problems associated with obesity. It also would protect food manufacturers, advertisers, packers, sellers and distributors. (Contra Costa Times)

Businesses, state and local law enforcement, and consumer groups gathered in Sacramento Tuesday to brainstorm ways to curb identity theft. (KCBS Channel 5)

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Thursday he was backing off a controversial proposal to abolish 88 state boards and commissions that oversee everything from licensing doctors to running recycling programs. It seemed nearly everyone in Sacramento found something to hate in the proposal. (SF Chronicle)

Abandoning one of his most far-reaching and controversial proposals since taking office, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has decided to withdraw his plan to eliminate 88 regulatory and policy-setting boards and commissions. (Sac Bee)

On the vast majority of his campaign promises, Schwarzenegger has yet to produce specific results.

News that privacy advocates claim to have gathered enough valid signatures to have their Consumer Information Privacy Initiative appear on the March 2004 California primary election ballot could signal the beginning of a long and costly campaign for the financial services industry.

Banking and insurance interests gave more than $700,000 in campaign contributions in the last election to members of a state legislative committee that defeated a financial privacy protection bill.