Chuck Bell

“…We need to fight to fight for a financial system that is fair for all of us.” —former CFPB Director Rohit Chopra at @NJCitizenAction Financial Justice Summit, South Orange, NJ

I completely agree with you
Buying a car is already difficult for many people these days. Dealers can't be allowed to profit from this situation 😔
I hope Newsom will listen to the public and protect consumer interests

CA groups push for veto of bill that would raise fees on car sales A coalition of California consumer and small business groups is asking Gov. Gavin Newsom to veto a bill which would allow car dealers to more than triple the fee to

@governor.ca.gov Newsom please VETO #SB791, which would give greedy car dealers a huge windfall at the expense of CA's new and used car buyers. Now is the wrong time to jack up the price of buying a new or used car. Please VETO #SB791

app.publicnewsservice.org/story/ca-gro...

More people in Republican districts rely on Obamacare subsidies than in Dem districts.

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Texting and Messaging Scam Attempts Have Increased by 50 Percent, a Consumer Reports Survey Finds - Consumer Reports Texting and messaging scam attempts have increased by 50 percent, according to Consumer Reports' 2025 Cyber Readiness Report

A key finding: texting and messaging scam attempts have increased by 50 percent, according to a nationally representative CR survey of 2,158 U.S. adults conducted in April 2025. Here’s how to protect yourself:

Spoiler: Americans are less confident than they were last year that their personal data is private and not distributed without their knowledge.

2025 Consumer Cyber Readiness Report

Hot off the press 🔥 We’ve teamed up with @aspendigital.bsky.social and @gca.bsky.social to drop our fourth annual Consumer Cyber Readiness Report just in time for #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth. innovation.consumerreports.org/2025-Consume...

YouTube video by Charles Bell Just One Click To Cancel Now

No more tricks to block my choice!
Unsubscribe and raise your voice

I just canceled and I'm strong
I say goodbye and say so long
Just one click to save some coin
As easy to quit as it was to join

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UOY...

"Immigrants locked up in California’s newest federal detention center have described the facility as a “a torture chamber”, “a zoo” and “hell on earth”, saying they were confined in filthy cells and suffered medical crises without help."

Donald Trump’s Assault on Disability Rights Federal offices and programs that insure equal treatment are being shuttered and scaled back.

Under the Trump Administration, federal offices and programs that insure equal treatment are being shuttered and scaled back.

YouTube video by carconsumers CA Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act SB766 (Allen) - Sen. Jones dismisses car buyers' struggles

Many #California consumers are struggling to afford to buy a car. Republican Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones apparently is blissfully unaware. @davidlaz.bsky.social @erinwitte-cfa.bsky.social @consumerfed.bsky.social @chuckbell.bsky.social

www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_0V...

California Legislature Sends Bill to Make New and Used Cars More Affordable to Governor Newsom California Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act will make buying a new or used vehicle in California more affordable and less risky.

“The CARS Act will protect millions of Californians from costly auto sales scams and make the car-buying experience easier and more transparent,” said John Van Alst at NCLC. “We applaud the work of Senator Allen and the California Legislature." #ProtectConsumers www.nclc.org/california-l...

Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe PHEVs Recalled for Software Error - Consumer Reports Jeep is recalling some Grand Cherokee 4xe PHEV plug-in hybrids that might stall while driving because of a software error.

⚠️ #Recall Alert: Jeep is recalling nearly 92,000 Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) from the 2022 through 2026 model years to fix a software error that could cause the SUVs to lose power while driving.

Most toddler towers that families buy aren’t safe, study finds - WTOP News A Consumer Reports study examined 16 of most popular toddler towers for stability and entrapment risks and checked to see if they provided warning labels and age ranges.

On toddler towers: “There’s kids who have fallen out the back of these and landed on their side, hurt their ribs,” said Gabe Knight, a senior policy analyst for Consumer Reports. (via @wtopnews.bsky.social)

Ford and Lincoln Recall Nearly 1.5 Million More Cars, SUVs, and Trucks to Fix Backup Cameras - Consumer Reports Ford and Lincoln are recalling even more cars, trucks, and SUVs because their backup cameras don't work.

#Recall: Ford and Lincoln are recalling 1,456,417 cars, trucks, and SUVs to fix a backup camera that may show a blank, distorted, or upside-down image. Here's what you need to know:

Lexus, Subaru, and Toyota EVs Recalled for Foggy Windows - Consumer Reports The Lexus RZ, Subaru Solterra, and Toyota bZ4x are being recalled because faulty heating could cause the windshield to fog up.

⚠️ #Recall Alert: Nearly 95,000 electric cars are being recalled because their defrosters and defoggers may not work, which could make it difficult to see out the windshield while driving.

Tech for Good: Consumer Reports’ Fight for Digital Consumer Rights Podcast Episode · Innovation Storytellers · 09/09/2025 · 48m

CR's Leah Fischman Hunter and Ginny Fahs joined the Innovation Storytellers Show to talk about Consumer Reports’ fight for digital consumer rights in an online world filled with AI hype, dark patterns, and data brokers. Listen now: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Yonkers Happy Hour Join us for a CR Member Happy Hour to meet fellow members, connect with CR staff, get the scoop on upcoming projects, and share your ideas for a better, fairer, and safer marketplace-all while enjoying good company and refreshments.

You're invited! Next Wednesday, 9/17 at Yonkers Brewing Company, join us for a CR Member Happy Hour to get the scoop on upcoming projects, and share your ideas for a better, fairer, and safer marketplace 🥂

Reserve below:

Prepared Remarks of CFPB Director Rohit Chopra at Georgetown University’s DC Fintech Week | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Chopra delivered remarks at Georgetown University’s DC Fintech Week.

The CFPB and FTC were both in the process of rulemaking on this issue before the administration change. See e.g. www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/new...

#California new & used car buyers are close to having new rights and protections under #SB766, championed by @benallenca.bsky.social. BRAVO @erinwitte-cfa.bsky.social @chuckbell.bsky.social & all supporters! We're all hoping @governor.ca.gov will sign the bill, making cars more affordable in CA.

No, the CFPB Is Not Handing Out Cash to People Scammed on Zelle and Cash App (Despite What These Influencers Are Saying) - Consumer Reports CFPB complaint database subject of misinformation by social media influencers on TikTok and Instagram

Consumer advocates warn: Some personal finance influencers are undermining trust in the CFPB, giving bad advice & targeting the Black community and fraud victims already struggling. Learn more here:

No, the CFPB Is Not Handing Out Cash to People Scammed on Zelle and Cash App (Despite What These Influencers Are Saying) - Consumer Reports CFPB complaint database subject of misinformation by social media influencers on TikTok and Instagram

Social media stars are peddling misinformation and dubious financial advice, and undercutting the federal government's consumer complaint database #paymentfraud

www.consumerreports.org/money/scams-...

Consumer Review Fairness Act: What Businesses Need to Know The Consumer Review Fairness Act (CRFA) protects people’s ability to share their honest opinions about a business’s products, services, or conduct, in any forum, including social media. Is your compan...

The Consumer Review Fairness Act, passed in Congress in 2017, bans most gag clause provisions of this type. More infomation is available from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) here. www.ftc.gov/business-gui...

Black unemployment is rising. Civil rights are under attack. How do we achieve the economic demands of 1963, today? Leading experts weigh in on Aug 27 at 1pm ET. #TheMarchContinues #mow62
 https://bit.ly/MOW62

Your "buy now, pay later" purchases likely won't factor into your credit scores for now "Buy now, pay later" loans have largely stayed out of credit scores, and that could continue as more Americans use the programs.

"There have been some challenges in integrating 'buy now, pay later' loans into the traditional credit reporting framework," CR's financial policy advocate @chuckbell.bsky.social said. "These are often short-term loans, and that creates some problems." (via @cbsnews.com.web.brid.gy)

5 Key Takeaways From Our Investigation Into ‘Sewer Service’ Tens of thousands of NYC residents are sued every year for consumer debt. Many of them don’t know about it.

nysfocus.com/2025/06/11/n...

In this video, New Economy Project’s Elena Rodriguez explains how "sewer service" is used by predatory debt collectors—and how to fight back. (Bonus: a cameo by NEP's Tousif Ahsan as a particularly dodgy process server.) neweconomyproject.bsky.social

www.youtube.com/shorts/P5hiJ...

The very clear message is that the BLS head will be fired if they do not produce numbers that meet Trump's approval.

In related news, these are the last set of BLS job numbers we can assume have not been doctored.

Very much agree with Justin, further thoughts here: www.epi.org/press/trumps...

Is Black America the Leading Edge of a Coming Trump Recession? Black unemployment surged in June amid signs of a slowing economy. Black Americans may again face disproportionate harm in an approaching recession.

Last month, I was worried about signs of growing black joblessness. This month provides more reason to worry: Black unemployment up from 6.8% to 7.2%. Employment-population ratio drops from 57.7 to 57.2. @ceprdc.bsky.social @jointcenter.bsky.social cepr.net/publications...