Consumer Protection
PROTECTING CONSUMER SAFETY—Toys should not be toxic or dangerous for children to play with. Our food should not make us sick. The terms for banking and credit accounts should be clear and easy to understand.
LOOKING OUT FOR CONSUMERS
U.S. PIRG’s consumer program works to alert the public to hidden dangers and scams and to ban anti-consumer practices and unsafe products.
TROUBLE IN TOYLAND
For 30 years, U.S. PIRG’s "Trouble In Toyland" report has surveyed store shelves and identified choking hazards, noise hazards and other dangers. Our report has led to at least 150 recalls and other regulatory actions over the years.
Get our tips for avoiding dangerous toys.
BIGGER BANKS, BIGGER FEES
In April, U.S. PIRG released a report in which we surveyed more than 350 bank branches and revealed that fewer than half of branches obeyed their legal duty to fully disclose fees to prospective customers, while one in four provided no fee information at all. We also found that despite widespread stories about the “death” of free checking, free and low-cost checking choices are still widely available, if consumers shop around.
Find out how to beat high bank fees.
SEE ALL CONSUMER RESOURCES
Issue updates
The FDA investigation reinforces that our food isn't nearly as safe as it should be. This time, more than 60 people got sick from salads, probably because a company failed to sanitize the water used to grow its romaine lettuce.
The amount of money Americans owe on their cars is now at an all-time high -- up 75 percent since the end of 2009. Americans’ rising indebtedness for cars raises concerns about the financial future of millions of households as lenders extend credit to more and more Americans without the ability to repay, according to a new U.S. PIRG report.
In much of America, access to a car is all but required to hold a job or lead a full and vibrant life. Generations of car-centric transportation policies – including lavish spending on roads, sprawl-inducing land use policies, and meager support for other modes of transportation – have left millions of Americans fully dependent on cars for daily living.
Unsafe food recalls in the U.S. are trending the wrong way. From 2013 to 2017, they rose 10 percent overall, and a whopping 83 percent for the most hazardous meat and poultry recalls.
Here is our statement about Wells Fargo’s system failures that started yesterday.
Consumer Protection
Congressional investigation concludes that Equifax breach was entirely preventable
The worst data breach in history could have been prevented with some basic security measures.
Consumer Protection
Watch out for unsafe toys
U.S. PIRG's “Trouble in Toyland” report found boron in slime, choking hazards without the proper warning labels, “connected” toys that pose a privacy risk and more.
Latest Reports
Tools & Resources
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No Write-Offs for Consumer Ripoffs
Corporations Able to Secure Tax Deductions for Mortgage Violations, Price-Fixing and Other Misconduct, But Two Bipartisan Bills Would AddressU.S. PIRG -
Consumer Brief Supporting NY Attorney General In Alzheimer's Drug Case
Actavis Seeks To Use Illegal "Product-Hopping" Scheme To Raise Rx Prices -
Letter from consumer groups to Experian & T-Mobile Re Data Breach
Demanding Firms Give Consumers Free Credit Freeze Protection -
Leading Groups Send Criteria for Evaluating VW Settlement
Seeking Compensation for Consumers and Environment -
Big Data and Fintech Resource: Powerpoint by Jeff Chester
Center for Digital Democracy -
U.S. PIRG Joins Legal Brief Defending CFPB Constitutionality
Case to be heard May 24th in DC Circuit, US Court of Appeals -
Medical Debt Malpractice
2-page Fact Sheet based on report -
Medical Debt Malpractice
2-page Fact Sheet based on report -
Letter Opposing HR 10, The Wrong Choice Act
Submitted to all Representatives on Day of House Floor Vote -
Fact Sheet: Older Consumers in the Financial Marketplace
An Analysis of Complaints, and Results, From the CFPB -
Our Amicus Brief Supporting the states of Ohio et al v. American Express
Before the Supreme Court of the US -
FinTech and Consumers
A draft report on the FinTech Universe -
Public Interest Privacy Principles
Endorsed by 34 Leading Groups
Our Affiliates
Featured Position
Support Us
Your donation supports U.S. PIRG’s work to stand up for consumers on the issues that matter, especially when powerful interests are blocking progress.