Wisconsin lawmakers recently debated reforms for payday loans. Efforts to protect consumers come amid new research about financial pain associated with cash advances offered through smartphone apps. The Center for Responsible Lending is out with findings that detail how "earned wage advances" from digital platforms come with extra costs disguised as things like tips. Traditional payday lenders are often criticized for charging excessive interest rates on loans that are usually around $500.

Lucia Constantine, a researcher with the Center for Responsible Lending, said customers are usually seeking smaller amounts from the apps, but she warns they can be just as costly.

"They are trapping consumers in a cycle of borrowing that is similar to that of a payday loan, " she said.

The report said after using these financial products, customers are seeing overdrafts on their checking accounts increase by 56% on average. Industry leaders deny they're barraging consumers with hidden fees, stressing that features such as suggested tips are optional. More broadly, a bipartisan payday loan reform bill in the Wisconsin Legislature failed to advance this month.

Constantine said like longstanding payday lenders, these cash advance apps can be hard to regulate. Meanwhile, she urged those in a bind to explore other options.

"[They should] try talking to their friends and family as a first source. The other option which I would recommend is reaching out to their credit union or banking institution to see if they can get some sort of small-dollar loan," she said.

She noted places such as credit unions typically provide more transparency on loan costs. According to the report, three-quarters of consumers took out at least one advance on the same day or day after a re-payment was posted.


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A recent scam using fake Indiana government email addresses is prompting a broader warning to Hoosiers.

The messages claimed to involve unpaid tolls and tricked some people into clicking on links where their personal information could be stolen. Investigators traced the emails to a former state contractor's account which should have been shut down.

Isak Nti Asare, executive director of the Indiana University Cyber Security Clinic, said the breach shows why Indiana must treat cyber defense as essential.

"Cyber security should always be a big thing for us," Nti Asare emphasized. "Not because we're reacting to news of incidents and attacks and vulnerabilities but rather just because understand that in order for us to thrive in the digital age as Hoosiers, we need cyber security."

He added it was not just a contractor mistake; it reflects the need for stronger systems and better planning statewide.

Nti Asare pointed out cyber threats happen constantly, not just when headlines appear. He urged people to stop and think before responding to messages that feel urgent or unusual.

"If somebody bumped into you in the street and said, 'Hey, give me your credit card details.' You would go, 'What?' You'd say, 'OK. Show me a badge. Do you have a warrant?'" Nti Asare explained. "We need to be as cautious as you would be in the physical realm, if not really much more, actually."

Indiana's attorney general urged people to report suspicious emails at IndianaConsumer.com. Experts recommended using multifactor login tools, freezing credit reports when needed and changing passwords regularly.


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Consumer rights advocates are celebrating five bills that passed the First Chamber deadline in Salem, moving closer to becoming law.

The bills are supported by the Consumer Alliance of Oregon, a coalition of 18 advocacy groups spanning housing, health care and other sectors. The bills mark the Alliance's first legislative push to protect Oregonians from predatory business practices.

Daysi Bedolla Sotelo, advocacy and policy strategist for the Oregon Health Equity Alliance, highlighted one bill which would rein in hospital facility fees and require transparent patient billing.

"Right now, you go and seek care and then you get home and get the bill and it's surprising that it could be up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars in facility fees," Bedolla Sotelo explained.

Another bill would bring the state's insurance sector under Oregon's Unlawful Trade Practices Act. The change would help guarantee insurance companies, including auto, health and housing, do not deny claims unfairly. Currently, insurance is the only major Oregon industry not subject to the law.

On a federal level, House Republicans are considering reducing the funding for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the agency responsible for shielding Americans from predatory lending practices and fraud.

Ethan Livermore, economic justice organizer for the nonprofit Neighborhood Partnerships, said Oregon lawmakers need to step up and fill in the gaps.

"With so much uncertainty at the federal level, I think Oregon legislators have a really amazing opportunity to make sure that Oregonians are protected," Livermore contended.

Other bills backed by the Alliance would shield Oregonians from medical debt harming their credit scores and guarantee fair rates when buying a car.

Bedolla Sotelo emphasized since everyone is a consumer, consumer protections should be a nonpartisan issue.

"It doesn't matter where you live, you are being affected by all of these issues," Bedolla Sotelo noted. "Oftentimes, we don't think about them until it happens to us."


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Tariffs are disrupting supply chains from China, making it harder for reusable alternatives to compete with single-use plastics.

Jeffrey Delkin, president of Bambu, an Oregon-based company which has been making plastic-free home goods for 20 years, said the Trump administration's 145% tariffs forced the company to lay off their staff in China and make their U.S. staff part-time. Though Chinese tariffs will now drop to 30% for 90 days, Delkin noted it is still a huge jump from the usual 3.5%.

He fears the tariff roller coaster threatens the company's future as well as the market for plastic alternatives.

"Unfortunately, this is a time where we need more small, right-minded, responsibly operated businesses," Delkin contended. "The current conditions are not helping."

Data show even before the trade war, plastic products faced much lower tariffs than their alternatives. This keeps plastic prices low and makes it harder for alternatives to compete. Delkin added since the oil industry receives large government subsidies, plastic producers are better able to absorb extra costs.

Research shows plastics contain harmful chemicals which leech into food, water and the environment. Emissions created during plastic production also contribute to climate change.

Delkin pointed out the public is still learning about the effects of microplastics on overall health, adding more than 90% of plastic produced ends up in landfills.

"It's that kind of stark reality that encouraged us to do what we do and to really promote renewable materials," Delkin explained.

The plastic market continues to grow despite its harmful effects. In 2020, about 370 million tons of plastic were traded, valued at $1.2 trillion.


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