Video

KTLA TV-5 Los Angles – Health Warnings Issued For Elevated Levels Of Lead

March 11, 2014  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>California Governor Jerry Brown intervened in the case of Vernon lead battery recycler Exide Technologies that has threatened public health with hazardous emissions of lead. The governor discussed the case with regulators at the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), which revealed that testing of soil at 39 area homes and 2 schools showed unacceptably high levels of lead.</p>

KTVU TV-2 Investigates: Family Solicited For Hospital Donations After Child’s Death

March 6, 2014  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>Some tragedies at hospitals might be unavoidable, but a mother and father who lost their 21 month old daughter at Children's Hospital Oakland say it's what happened after their daughter's death that has continued to torment them.<br /> <br /> The parents of Morgan Westhoff say they've continued to receive mail and other communication from the hospital, including surveys and repeated requests for donations.<br /> <br />

Jamie Court Talks to the California Assembly About Retailer Data Breach

February 18, 2014  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>The California Assembly Judiciary and Assembly Banking and Finance Committees gathered today to discuss the data breaches atcompanies such as Target, Neiman Marcus and Michaels. Target and Neiman Marcus refused to attend. Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, appears before the committees to talk about why it happened and what can be done.</p>

KCRA – Los Angeles – Retailers fail to appear for data breach hearings

February 18, 2014  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>Lawmakers invited representatives of Target and Neiman Marcus to testify at a California hearing of the Judiciary and Banking and Finance committees, after the retailers experienced massive security breaches that compromised millions of consumers' personal data this past winter. The two companies declined to participate. Consumer Watchdog's Jamie Court did participate and give startling testimony that effects 1 in 4 Americans.</p>

KTTV Fox Los Angles – Will the Google / Time Warner merger mean bad business for consumers?

February 16, 2014  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>Since deregulation of the television industry in 1996, rates have more than doubled. The legislation was heralded as good for consumers, bnut was anything but. This past week, the two largest providers: Time Warner Cable and Comcast announced a merger worth $45 billion that they claimed was great for consumers and competition. John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog discusses what may be next for consumers.</p>

KNBC TV-4 Los Angeles – Comcast Is Taking Over Time Warner, Will Customers Suffer?

February 14, 2014  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>Comcast and Time Warner has proposed a merger to unite the two media giants. The American Consumer Satisfaction Index ranked both companies' television and Internet services the lowest in the nation. Will this monopoly bring lower prices, or angry customers? John Simpson held a press conference today to talk about the concerns many of us are having about the future of our cable and internet bills.</p>

KCBS TV-2 Los Angeles – Will A Comcast & Time Warner Merger Mean Higher Prices For The Consumer?

February 14, 2014  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>Comcast and Time Warner's planned $44 billion merger may not bring much joy for their  subscribers.The combined company would bring cable or Internet service to about a third of American subscribers. That would give Comcast, which is already the nation's largest TV, Internet and home phone provider, an even more sizable lead on its rivals. Jame Court discusses the implications of an even larger media content monopoly.</p>

KTTV TV-11 Fox Los Angeles – Should Smartphones Be Required To Have A Kill Switch?

February 10, 2014  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>Consumer Watchdog's John M. Simpson discusses the implications of allowing carriers to disable your smart phone remotely. California state Senator Mark Leno has authored new bill in hopes that the wireless industry would wake up to the realities of high phone theft statistics in California. If enacted into law, it would effect all carriers of modern smartphones. Mobile phone theft accounts for almost one in three US robberies, according to the Federal Communications Commission.</p>

KNBC TV-4 Los Angeles – How Affinity Groups Affect The Price You Pay For Car Insurance

January 29, 2014  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>Insurance companies are always looking for ways to evade Proposition 103, and they have come up with a scheme to evade the law’s good driver requirements.  These days, some insurance companies are marketing plans that promise lower premiums to people who belong to what the insurance industry calls “affinity groups” – college graduates who can afford to maintain memberships in an alumni association, people with high paying jobs like doctors, lawyers, and business executives, and other elite members of the 1%.<br /> <br />

KABC TV-7 Los Angeles – Are You Subsidizing Someone’s Car Insurance?

January 29, 2014  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>Regular people who work middle class or blue-collar jobs; high school graduates; retired citizens and those on low incomes. Even if they are Good Drivers, they are forced to subsidize the rich, but not necessarily better, drivers who insurance companies prefer to do business with. The surcharges – which are not disclosed on your auto insurance bills – can result in premiums as much as 33% higher for some drivers who are not a member of a company’s preferred occupational groups.</p>

KCAL TV-9 Los Angeles – How Affinity Groups Are Making You Pay More For Car Insurance

January 29, 2014  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>Insurance companies are always looking for ways to evade Proposition 103, so it's not too surprising that some companies --Mercury, GEICO, Progressive, 21st Century and the Auto Club of Southern California, to name some of the biggest -- have come up with a scheme to evade the law's good driver requirements.  These companies are marketing plans that promise special premium benefits to people who belong to what the insurance industry calls "affinity groups" -- college graduates who can afford to maintain memberships in an alumni association, people with high paying job

KTVU Fox – Oakland – Is Your Doctor Under The Influence? A New Billboard May Be Able To Help

January 24, 2014  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>Consumer Watchdog launched a billboard publicizing a new toll-free hotline, 1-844-DOCS-DUI, calling on the public and physicians to report suspected drug and alcohol abuse by doctors. "The California Medical Board has estimated that 18% of doctors will have a drug or alcohol problem during their careers, yet California has no system to identify doctors who abuse substances. This hotline will give the public a place to report concerns about impaired doctors to protect patients and save lives," said Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog.