United States: Consumer Protection

Online bill payment company Doxo faces a $2.1 million settlement with the FTC over allegations that it used deceptive search advertising to impersonate billers and misled consumers about hidden fees. The complaint details how Doxo disguised itself as the official payment platform for various companies while adding undisclosed junk fees and enrolling consumers in subscription programs without proper consent.

The Federal Trade Commission has announced updated fee structures for telemarketers seeking access to the National Do Not Call Registry for Fiscal Year 2027. Starting October 1, 2026, the cost per area code will increase...

What happens when consumer protection disclosures designed to help everyone make better financial decisions actually produce different outcomes for financially vulnerable populations? New research challenges conventional assumptions about effective disclosure by examining whether making information more salient can inadvertently worsen choices for consumers experiencing financial stress, particularly when transactions involve meaningful trade-offs rather than clearly superior options.

Online bill payment company Doxo faces a $2.1 million settlement with the FTC over allegations that it used deceptive search advertising to impersonate billers and misled consumers about hidden fees. The complaint details how Doxo disguised itself as the official payment platform for various companies while adding undisclosed junk fees and enrolling consumers in subscription programs without proper consent.

The Federal Trade Commission has announced updated fee structures for telemarketers seeking access to the National Do Not Call Registry for Fiscal Year 2027. Starting October 1, 2026, the cost per area code will increase...

State attorneys general from multiple jurisdictions have taken significant enforcement actions targeting anticompetitive practices in the pharmaceutical and real estate sectors, while also addressing consumer protection violations in subscription services and food labeling. These coordinated efforts demonstrate the growing role of state AGs in policing market competition and protecting consumers from deceptive business practices.

California's Senate is currently considering a bill that would create mandatory heavy metal testing and disclosure rules for protein supplement brands. SB 1033, modeled after the recent AB 899 baby food law, responds to a perception that protein powders, shakes, and bars contain elevated levels of heavy metals.

The FDA has released new draft guidance establishing a comprehensive risk-based framework for evaluating container closure systems used in pharmaceutical packaging, marking a significant update from its 1999 guidance. This framework addresses five critical factors including material safety, environmental protection, performance standards, manufacturing impacts, and storage considerations, with particular emphasis on leachables assessment and quality control programs across different drug delivery routes.

As of July 1, 2026, California is the first state in the United States to mandate that large restaurant chains disclose major food allergens directly on their menus.

What happens when consumer protection disclosures designed to help everyone make better financial decisions actually produce different outcomes for financially vulnerable populations? New research challenges conventional assumptions about effective disclosure by examining whether making information more salient can inadvertently worsen choices for consumers experiencing financial stress, particularly when transactions involve meaningful trade-offs rather than clearly superior options.

The Federal Trade Commission announced a major policy reversal on disparate-impact claims, stating it will no longer pursue such enforcement actions due to lack of statutory authority and constitutional concerns. The agency also took action against credit repair schemes targeting veterans and distributed millions in consumer refunds from a previous Grubhub settlement.

Why would Colorado opt out of DIDMCA Section 521 if it doesn't prevent rate exportation by out-of-state banks? This analysis examines Congress's original 1980 intent behind DIDMCA Sections 521 and 525, revealing how the legislation addressed intrastate lending challenges during a period of extreme interest rates rather than interstate rate exportation concerns.