Software lockouts shouldn’t be the reason I can’t use my car
Tethering customers to the manufacturer violates consumer rights and drives the electronic waste crisis.
Consumer alerts
Get the information, tools and resources it takes to protect yourself in today’s ever-changing marketplace.
These days we all need to be smart consumers. We need access to the information and resources it takes to avoid the latest scams, stop identity thieves, spot rip offs and keep unsafe food and toxic products out of our shopping carts. PIRG’s consumer watchdog team does the research, conducts media exposes, produces consumer guides, and sends out consumer alerts so we have the tools to make smart, safe, informed choices.
The Latest on Consumer alerts
Why consider buying antibiotic-free meat
Statement: Equifax must be held accountable for mishandling consumer data yet again
Updates
Teva Pharmaceuticals to Settle in Opioid Crisis
Americans are still getting surprise medical bills, despite new protections in place
Celebrate the President’s Executive Order on Competition
Featured Resources
Trouble in Toyland 2022
Ringing in Our Fears
Food for thought: Are your groceries safe?
Getting Off the Hook of a Predatory Tow Part II
Did You Know?
In times of emergency, our researchers have found price surges of up to 166% for critical supplies like face masks and bottled water.
What We're Doing
Our guide provides tips for avoiding price-gouging and a how-to for reporting bad actors.
The Latest
Type
Cookie pop-ups: why you should think twice before hitting “accept”
When we use free websites and apps, there's often cookies and other tracking technologies in the background harvesting huge amounts of data about who we are and what we do online. Virtually no laws rein in the companies behind these cookies, nor how they use and sell the info they collect.
New list: Approaching 11th anniversary, top 11 actions CFPB recently took that anger financial industry
As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) turns 11 years old, a new list from U.S. PIRG highlights 11 ways this crucial agency has rededicated itself to its mission since Rohit Chopra was confirmed as its new director by the Senate last fall.
Top 11 actions the CFPB has taken for consumers under Director Rohit Chopra
As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) turns 11 years old, we are highlighting 11 ways it has returned to its mission since Rohit Chopra was confirmed as its new director by the Senate last fall.
18 tips to reduce robocalls and protect yourself from scams, plus robotext red flags
Illegal robocalls seem to be declining a smidgeon as more phone companies install federally mandated technology to block spoofed calls and detect other scam calls. Here are some tips to live by and share with vulnerable friends or relatives.
Report: One year after new federal law implemented, robocalls fall, robotexts skyrocket
A year after a new federal law aimed at fighting robocalls, the number of phone companies that have adopted the required technology has quadrupled and the volume of scam robocalls has dropped in half. But spam texts have increased more than tenfold as con artists and identity thieves find alternative ways to steal Americans’ personal information and money.
Team
Murray
Teresa
Murray
Consumer Watchdog, PIRG
Mierzwinski
Ed
Mierzwinski
Senior Director, Federal Consumer Program, PIRG