Consumers' Checkbook

A nonprofit organization focused on assisting consumers in locating reliable and affordable service providers within their local areas.

Consumer

English

Non-profit

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#207393

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#44372

Home and Garden/Home Improvement and Maintenance

#59

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Articles

New Federal Rule Bans Hidden Hotel and Ticket Junk Fees

3 weeks ago | checkbook.org | Herb Weisbaum

In a rare win for consumers, the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees took effect on May 12, requiring booking websites for hotels, vacation rentals, and concert and sports tickets to disclose all mandatory fees in advertised prices. Instead of surprising customers at checkout by adding “service fees,” “convenience fees,” or “resort fees,” companies must include these costs upfront and in search results.
Solar Energy Installation Scams on the Rise

1 month ago | checkbook.org | Herb Weisbaum

Click below to listen to our Consumerpedia podcast episode. Scammers across the U.S. are going door-to-door, pitching “free” solar energy systems. Many homeowners never get any solar equipment installed; those who do often get shoddy work. The criminals are leaving unsuspecting homeowners with massive debt; many victims have reported losing tens of thousands of dollars. The con starts with a fast-talking salesperson offering a “limited time offer” for a free solar energy install.
Computers & Devices: How to Keep Yours Safe from Hacks

1 month ago | checkbook.org | Kevin Brasler

Click below to listen to our Consumerpedia podcast episode where a former cyber thief explains how to protect your online accounts. Our computers, phones, and tablets are under constant attack from hackers, identity thieves, and foreign governments attempting to work their way in. Software developers and hardware makers must play whack-a-mole to keep up with these relentless digital villains.
Hotels: Tips for Finding a Sweeter Stay

1 month ago | checkbook.org | Jennifer Barger

Hotel reservation sites showcase abundant guest ratings, 3D room tours, and tools letting you filter properties by features from location to pet friendliness. So why does it feel so nightmarish now to book a pleasant stay—and why have so many hotels seen a drop in guest satisfaction? I’m often challenged to find hotels I like.
Study: Half of Americans Feel ‘Financially Adrift’ Due to Uncertain Economic Climate

1 month ago | checkbook.org | Herb Weisbaum

Are we headed into a recession? How much will tariffs drive up the cost of living? Will I ever be able to build some savings? A pervasive feeling of uncertainty about the economy, largely due to actions taken by the Trump administration, is “significantly impacting” people’s perception of financial well-being, leaving many feeling “stuck despite their best efforts,” according to the 2025 Financial Literacy and Preparedness Survey from the nonprofit National Foundation for Credit Counseling.
Federal Government to Restart Collections on Defaulted Student Loans

1 month ago | checkbook.org | Herb Weisbaum

After a pause of more than five years, on May 5 the federal government will resume collections on defaulted student loans. The U.S. Department of Education will target borrowers who haven’t made payments for 270 days or more. The department’s Federal Student Aid (FSA) office will notify borrowers via email that their loans are entering “involuntary” collection unless they start making payments or enroll in an Education Department forbearance or deferment program.
Judge Removes Cap on Credit Card Late Fees

2 months ago | checkbook.org | Herb Weisbaum

A federal court judge in Texas scrapped a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule that would have limited “excessive” credit card late fees to $8. Judge Mark Pittman, who had already blocked the CFPB from implementing the fee cap, decided the rule illegally prohibited credit card companies from charging “reasonable and proportional” fees.
Congress Kills Rule that Would Have Capped Banking Overdraft Fees at $5

2 months ago | checkbook.org | Herb Weisbaum

In a major win for the banking industry, Congress has overturned a Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB) rule that would have limited overdraft fees to $5 at the nation’s largest banks and credit unions (those with more than $10 billion in assets that levy more than 80 percent of all overdraft charges each year). The rule, one of the CFPB’s last regulatory efforts of the Biden Administration, was projected to save U.S. consumers roughly $5 billion annually.
Used Car Prices Increasing

2 months ago | checkbook.org | Herb Weisbaum

Click below to listen to our Consumerpedia podcast episode. Buying a late-model used vehicle will become even more challenging as prices rise due to declining supply and higher demand. In early March, the average price for a used car hovered around $25,000, according to Cox Automotive. Industry experts told Consumers’ Checkbook that a sharp decline in lease volume during the pandemic is largely to blame for higher prices.
Toll Road Collection Scams

Mar 31, 2025 | checkbook.org | Herb Weisbaum

If you receive a text message requesting payment for outstanding toll charges, assume it’s a scam. The volume of these fake messages has surged since Checkbook first warned about them in June 2024, when the FBI warned it had received thousands of complaints from at least three states. The scam has now spread “coast to coast,” according to a consumer alert posted earlier this year from the Federal Trade Commission.