OAKLAND — As the landmark price transparency law is set to go into effect July 1, California Attorney General Rob Bonta today released guidance to help businesses across the state comply with the new law. According to 2018 data from Consumer Reports, at least 85% of Americans have experienced a hidden or unexpected fee for a service, and more than two-thirds of those surveyed in 2023 said they were paying more now in surprise charges than they did five years earlier.
OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today, alongside a bipartisan, multistate coalition, announced a $10.25 million settlement with major U.S wireless carriers after an industry-wide investigation of misleading advertising practices. The settlement, which is subject to court approval, resolves the allegations that the carriers violated the Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law by engaging in deceptive and misleading advertising.
According to an October survey of more than 2,100 U.S. consumers, 44% of respondents had paid for their most recent retail purchase in stores via debit card, while 28% paid with a credit card.
Credit cards are the most common lending product in America, with more than 550 million cards in circulation and more than a trillion dollars in outstanding debt. Unlike mortgages or auto loans, where you typically know how much you’ll borrow and the monthly payment, credit cards are different. When you take out a credit card, you may have no debt at all. In fact, you may be primarily using it as a payment device with the goal of paying your balance off each month.
In spite of record-high credit card debt of more than $1 trillion, many Americans are taking steps to reduce their debt. A recent GOBankingRates study showed that consumer debt decreased in 32 states plus the District of Columbia between the third and fourth quarters of 2023.
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