Consumer groups are calling for the withdrawal of a bill that would change the way California's auto lemon law works - before the legislative session ends this week. Assembly Bill 1755's backers say it would reduce delays in getting reimbursed for a defective new car.

Rosemary Shahan, president of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, said it would also mean if a problem arises more than six years after the sale, the lemon law no longer applies.

"It would shorten the statute of limitations for filing a lemon-law case to just one year after the warranty expires. Right now it's four years after you find out you have a claim," she explained.

The bill would also require consumers to file a formal written complaint instead of simply calling the dealer. Bill co-author State Senator Tom Umberg said in a statement that the bill "is a necessary step towards streamlining and strengthening California's 'Lemon Law' to get drivers out of the judicial system and back on the road more quickly."

General Motors is the biggest backer of the bill. Shahan suggests car manufacturers are looking for ways to avoid paying to repair or replace vehicles.

"What they're trying to do is reduce their warranty compliance costs, like last year alone, Ford paid out $1.9 billion in warranty repairs, and they're under pressure by Wall Street to reduce their warranty costs," she continued.

She added the bill would also mean that manufacturers would no longer have to pay off the amount people may still owe on a lemon car. So some people may not be able to get a buy-back unless they can come up with thousands of dollars up front.

Concert and sports fans in Ohio are expressing growing frustration over rising ticket prices and hidden fees.

In response, Congress is considering the TICKET Act, a bipartisan bill which aims to increase transparency by requiring ticket sellers to display all fees upfront.

Sally Greenberg, executive director of the National Consumers League, highlighted why she feels the issue is so important for consumers.

"People in Ohio understand the frustration and the anger that you feel when you go buy a ticket, it looks like a reasonable cost and, all of a sudden, the fees add 30%, 40%, 50% of the cost," Greenberg explained.

If the TICKET Act passes, ticket vendors will be required to show the total price, including fees, at the beginning of the purchase process. While supporters such as Greenberg see it as a win for consumers, some in the ticketing industry argued the change could disrupt business models.

The rise of online ticket fraud has become another challenge for buyers.

Nick Drewe, CEO of the consumer website WeThrift.com, emphasized the importance of vigilance when purchasing tickets online.

"Our study revealing the states with the highest online shopping fraud reports is a wake-up call for consumers nationwide," Drewe noted. "Navigating the digital marketplace is kind of like exploring a new city; it's exciting but also requiring caution."

As Ohioans await the outcome of the TICKET Act, many hope increased transparency will lead to fairer ticket pricing. Drewe urged consumers to remain cautious while shopping online to avoid becoming victims of fraud.

Groups are warning technology companies could undermine protections on a number of issues with their push for certain provisions in international trade agreements, known as digital trade rules.

Julie Bouanna, executive director of the Washington Fair Trade Coalition, said the policies could limit regulations on Big Tech passed in Washington state.

"The People's Privacy Act, legislation on artificial intelligence oversight and the right to repair," Bouanna outlined. "This is legislation that we see popping up in Washington but also, really, across the country as we're waking up to Big Tech's outsized influence on our everyday lives."

The People's Privacy Act was proposed legislation in Olympia, which would have allowed residents to correct and delete personal information collected on data servers. The tech industry argued trade agreements include exemption provisions for certain policies. It also said overregulation in areas like artificial intelligence could stifle the technology.

Bouanna countered there are legitimate concerns about the effects of including the policies tech companies are pushing for in trade agreements.

"These are trade rules that would essentially allow corporations to sidestep local privacy laws and shield their technology from government oversight," Bouanna explained. "Making it harder to hold them accountable."

Washington state lawmakers have also introduced legislation to increase transparency for algorithm-based decision-making to prevent discrimination from AI and allow for more affordable fixes to products through "right to repair" legislation, which has been adopted in other states like Oregon.

Bouanna noted all the policies could be affected by digital trade rules.


get more stories like this via email

During National Hispanic American Heritage Month, financial experts are speaking out to help Latino families build wealth.

Federal data show that more than a quarter of Latino consumers in the U.S. have no recent credit history, making them "credit invisible" and unlikely to qualify for a loan.

Jorge Lopez Colunga, business development officer in commercial lending for Self-Help Federal Credit Union in San Francisco, said some Latinos are unaccustomed to using credit.

"In Mexico, Latin America, it's either you pay cash or you just don't buy it because you cannot afford it," Lopez Colunga explained. "Here you have to learn how to use credit and leverage it, because it's crucial in order for them to afford something bigger in the future."

Lopez Colunga pointed out many Latinos are self-employed and may operate on a cash basis. He advised people to keep meticulous records and hire an accountant because accurate business income and tax records will help them qualify for business, home and car loans down the line.

Maria Ramos Cuaya, racial wealth gap coordinator at Self-Help Federal Credit Union, encouraged people to seek financial counseling.

"We always try to connect our members with the proper resources for them to understand how to create a spending plan, how to manage their finances, how to access credit without having to get into so much debt," Ramos Cuaya outlined.

Ramos Cuaya noted many banks and credit unions offer "credit builder" loans to help people establish or build new credit using their own money.