Chuck Bell

How Rising Home Insurance Costs Are Linked to Your Credit History (Gift Article) In many states, homeowners with “excellent” credit scores are charged less for home insurance than those with worse scores, even if they live in a disaster-prone area.

“When the government and the financial system mandate that we buy a product, there’s a special obligation to make sure the pricing is fair,” said Doug Heller, director of #insurance at the Consumer Federation.

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Before every financial crisis, there is a concerted effort to argue that this time is different. Efforts to whitewash recent banking history is an unnecessary sidebar that fuels culture-war grievances while an opportunity for real justice remains on the table.

NEW: Tomorrow marks three years since Silicon Valley Bank's failure. Despite the passage of time, accountability remains elusive. For @prospect.org, our @timi-iwayemi.bsky.social breaks down how Fed Vice Chair Michelle Bowman's calls for a new review ring hollow.

prospect.org/2026/03/09/t...

Breaking Free In the new report Breaking Free: Pathways to a fair technological future, the Norwegian Consumer Council has delved into enshittification and how to resist it.

“Breaking Free: Pathways to a fair technological future,” report from the Norwegian Consumer Council

www.forbrukerradet.no/breakingfree/

A Day in the Life of an Ensh*ttificator YouTube video by Forbrukerrådet - Norwegian Consumer Council

The Norwegian Consumer Council (Forbrukerrådet) released a report on the trend of "enshittification" in digital consumer goods and services, suggesting ways for consumers to resist, accompanied by this satirical video.

youtu.be/T4Upf_B9RLQ

New York proposes new rules to protect buy now pay later borrowers - CR Advocacy Consumer Reports praises New York’s proposed rules that would provide the strongest, most comprehensive consumer protections of any state  ALBANY, NY – Consumers who make…

“New York’s proposed buy now, pay later regulations would provide the strongest, most comprehensive protections for consumers of any state and are a model for lawmakers across the country,” said Chuck Bell, special projects director at Consumer Reports.

advocacy.consumerreports.org/press_releas...

Lawmakers push to ban toxic weed killer in New York | Fingerlakes1.com A toxic weed killer tied to Parkinson’s disease will take center stage at the State Capitol on Tuesday. Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal and a coalition of health and environmental advocates plan to ...

Today AM @LindaBRosenthal & a coalition of health & environmental advocates announced new legislation to ban the use & sale of paraquat, a widely used herbicide linked to Parkinson’s disease, cancer, & other serious health harms.

www.fingerlakes1.com/2026/02/10/l...

Most and Least Expensive Supermarkets - Consumer Reports Consumer Reports compares the prices of baskets of goods across dozens of grocery retailers in five cities representative of their regions.

The difference between the highest- & lowest-priced grocery baskets in 6 cities was more than 33 percent. When Costco and specialty grocers like Whole Foods were included, the price differences were even more significant. #Affordability

www.consumerreports.org/money/prices...

The CFPB helped consumer David Biddle of Philadelphia in 2023. He fought on the phone with a financial institution for nearly three months to close a fraudulent $27,500 loan, which was tanking his credit. But he didn't get any action until he filed a complaint.

www.usatoday.com/story/money/...

Consumer guardrail facing cuts waits on court decision. @consumerreports.org @consumerfed.bsky.social @borrowerjustice.bsky.social

Read my @usatoday.com story: www.usatoday.com/story/money/...

DCWP Sues Motoclick and CEO, Warns Delivery Apps to Comply With Worker Protections

On January 15, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Sam Levine filed a lawsuit against predatory delivery app Motoclick for egregiously violating the City’s Delivery Worker Laws.

Read: nycclc.org/news/dcwp-su...

I was proud to join Mayor Mamdani, Attorney General James, DCWP Commissioner Levine, and my colleagues in the city and state government for the signing of an executive order to ban hidden junk fees and subscription traps.

Mamdani Commissioner Pledges to Hold App Companies Accountable for Road Safety - Streetsblog New York City DCWP Commissioner Sam Levine pledged to crack down on app companies that pressure delivery workers to use e-bikes and cars recklessly.

New DCWP Commissioner Sam Levine pledged to crack down on app companies that pressure delivery workers to use e-bikes and cars recklessly.

Mamdani's administration plans to use existing authority to go after companies illegally hiding fees. Right now, Ticketmaster is breaking NY state law by hiding fee breakdowns behind additional toggles and clicks. (same with Seatgeek, Stubhub etc.) Fees are supposed to be clear & conspicuous!

Searching for Ecolabels: a mystery shopping exercise in supermarkets across Europe People care about the impact of what they buy. But how easy is it to find sustainable products across Europe? We ran a mystery shopping exercise in 13 countries to find out.

People care about the impact of what they buy. But how easy is it to find sustainable products across Europe? We ran a mystery shopping exercise in 13 countries to find out.

"Using rulemaking authority, the NYC Dept of Consumer & Worker Protection & the Citywide Junk Fee Task Force will target predatory companies that pad prices w/hidden fees—schemes that drain family budgets & undercut honest businesses that play by the rules."

www.nyc.gov/site/dca/new...

Urge CFPB to Drop Proposed Rule Gutting Fair Lending Protections Under ECOA Take Action: Submit Your Comment to the CFPB Today

Take action here. www.nclc.org/urge-cfpb-to...

How Bella Abzug changed credit laws YouTube video by Center for American Women and Politics

“…Don’t make come down there!” — former NY Rep Bella Abzug. #ProtectECOA #StopLendingDiscrimination

youtu.be/cTjIuhY12tY?...

What is #DisparateImpact ?

Hear Stephen Hayes of Relman Colfax PLLC explain #ECOA #CFAFSC

🚨 Will decades of fair lending law be gutted? Our panel explains the high stakes of the #CFPB ’s proposed changes to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and discusses how it could undo years of civil rights protections. #CivilRights #ECOA #CFAFSC

The True Costs of Forced Arbitration Contracts - Community Sentinel The FAIR Act would give workers a choice between arbitration or the court system in a dispute with employers.

“Forced arbitration is one-sided because the company writes the clauses, and federal law does not require an arbitrator to have legal training. The proceedings are sealed with no ability for appeal or even judicial review,” said Christine Chen Zinner.

communitysentinel.media/2025/12/10/t...

Living Apart: How the Government Betrayed a Landmark Civil Rights Law The authors of the 1968 Fair Housing Act wanted to reverse decades of government-fostered segregation. But presidents from both parties declined to enforce a law that stirred vehement opposition.

“Equal opportunity for all Americans in education and housing is essential if we are going to keep our nation from being torn apart.” — former Michigan governor and HUD Secretary George Romney

www.propublica.org/article/livi...

Instacart’s AI-Enabled Pricing Experiments May Be Inflating Your Grocery Bill, CR and Groundwork Collaborative Investigation Finds - Consumer Reports Exclusive: Instacart’s AI pricing may be inflating your grocery bill.

In collaboration w/ @groundwork.bsky.social & @moreperfectunion.bsky.social, we convened hundreds of volunteers from across the country to investigate Instacart’s AI-assisted pricing experiments at popular grocery stores like Target & Kroger. Read our full investigation below:

We’ve relaunched a 1940s classic. Bread & Butter from Consumer Reports is back to help you stretch your dollar and cut through the noise. Subscribe on Substack now: https://consumerreports.substack.com/

Stop Using Batteries in Certain Rad Power E-Bikes Due to Fire Hazard, CPSC Warns - Consumer Reports Rad Power e-bike batteries "pose a risk of serious injury and death," the CPSC says, after 31 reports of fires.

🚨 Certain e-bike batteries from Rad Power Bikes pose a serious risk of injury and death from fires, and consumers should stop using them immediately. The lithium-ion batteries have model numbers RP-1304 and HL-RP-S1304.

NAIC Consumer Representative Report: Recommendations for States’ Efforts to Mitigate Harms Caused by Federal Policy Actions - Consumer Health Reps at NAIC

Consumer advocates are deeply concerned about recent & looming federal policy changes that could strip upwards of 14M consumers of their health insurance. But there’s hope: state insurance commissioners have the power to protect patients. Here’s how 📷

consumeradvocacyforhealth.org/resource/nai...

Opinion | Everyone is talking about affordability – and making the same mistake "As lawmakers grapple with the cost of living, they need to remind Americans – again and again – that pay is a policy choice," Heidi Shierholz writes.

This op-ed summarizes much of this thread www.ms.now/opinion/infl.... 17/

So lawmakers need to repeat one core truth: PAY IS A POLICY CHOICE, and real affordability comes not just from lowering prices where possible, but from raising wages so that working people earn enough to cover the costs of living with dignity and security. 16/

Affordability is dominating the discourse. What I don't like about the conversation is that it focuses almost entirely on prices—as if the only way to make life affordable is to make things cheaper. But affordability is determined by prices *and pay.* 1/

Promoting HSAs in any form is likely to fragment health insurance & encourage healthier people to enroll in less comprehensive coverage. High deductible health plans suck for workers & their families, & put them on the hook for high copays and deductibles

www.kff.org/health-costs...

Russ Vought has once again escalated his illegal CFPB shutdown by ordering CFPB cases to be transferred to the DOJ. It’s time for Congress to impeach and remove Russell Vought from power. nteu335.org/2025/11/20/c...