NCL pays tribute to Esther Shapiro, longtime board member and consumer crusader (1918-2016) – National Consumers League

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October 21, 2016

Contact: Cindy Hoang, National Consumers League, cindyh@nclnet.org, (202) 207-2832 

Washington, DC—The staff and Board of Directors of the National Consumers League (NCL) mourn the passing of Esther Shapiro, career consumer advocate, longtime National Consumers League Board Member, and head of Detroit’s Consumer Affairs Department for 24 years, appointed by Mayor Coleman Young in 1974. Shapiro died last Friday, October 14, at her home in Detroit’s Lafayette Park area. She was 98.

Shapiro was born in 1918 in Chicago, an only child of Jewish immigrants. According to her grandson Nick, in 1939, at age 20, she moved to New York City and got an office job at a garment factory, “very literally a sweatshop … Conditions were so bad that the girls actually went on strike.”

“Management came down on them hard, so they had a meeting and the people had pretty much decided on going back when the union organizer jumped on the table and said, ‘Like hell you’re going back.’ And that very dashing young man was her husband-to-be, Harold Shapiro,” said Nick Shapiro.

During World War II, Esther and Harold lived in Tacoma, WA. After the war, the couple moved to Detroit so that Harold Shapiro could work as a union organizer. The Shapiros became early volunteers in the civil rights movement, socializing often with Coleman Young, talking politics until the wee hours, and working hard on Young’s campaign for Mayor.

Shapiro had been a volunteer coordinator for Detroit’s board of education, but heard that the Michigan Credit Union League had a post for a consumer advocate for statewide credit unions.

“She impressed them with her ideas about educating consumers, about budgeting, and the law. So she taught herself on the job,” said her daughter, Andrea Shapiro. This gave her the skills for becoming the city’s consumer crusader

Shapiro became a consumer champion just as the movement was peaking in the 1970s. President Kennedy issued a manifesto on consumer rights in 1962, and three years later Ralph Nader’s iconic expose on the auto industry, Unsafe At Any Speed, was published. Shapiro became close with Esther Peterson, who served as consumer advisor to Presidents Kennedy and Johnson and headed the White House Office of Consumer Affairs under President Jimmy Carter. Shapiro joined the NCL Board of Directors in the 1980’s and served alongside Peterson.

Shapiro’s voice for consumers became known throughout the region because of her regular appearances on Detroit radio stations and her consumer columns in the Detroit Free Press, which ran from 1986 to 1995. She was fond of the expression, “The big print giveth and the small print taketh away.”

Shapiro headed Detroit’s consumer office well past Young’s departure, finally leaving at age 80. NCL celebrated with her and attended her induction into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame in October 2015. Throughout her life, Shapiro supported NCL and members of the staff, attending many LifeSmarts teen financial literacy and consumer education competitions in her years on the Board. In 1997, NCL honored Esther Shapiro with the Florence Kelley Consumer Leadership Award.

Reflecting on the evolution of consumer advocacy, Shapiro noted that consumer protection had largely taken shape of warnings in fine print on product labeling, and most of her consumer columns ended with Caveat Emptor – let the buyer beware and not expect government’s protection. In an interview two years ago, according to the Detroit Free Press, Shapiro said, “We tried — we tried very hard, and I think we did some good.”

Shapiro was predeceased by her husband and son, Mark. She is survived by her daughter, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Esther also felt a great sense of pride that her granddaughter Evelyn Shapiro, works as a carpenter and has a union leadership role. 

“Esther was a force early on that propelled the consumer movement … A female force,” said NCL Board Member Jodie Bernstein.

“The National Consumers League is grateful for the many contributions of this pioneering consumer advocate and for her service to the NCL Board over several decades,” said NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg. “She and I became friends and she always offered me wise and valued counsel since the day I arrived at NCL. It was an honor to work with a consumer champion and pioneer. We at NCL will miss her.”

A memorial service for Esther Shapiro will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 13 in the large meeting room of 1300 Lafayette, the high-rise apartment building just down the block from Shapiro’s condominium in Detroit’s Lafayette Park development.

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

Greenberg comments on Biosimilar User Fee Act (BsUFA II) – National Consumers League

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October 20, 2016

Contact: NCL Communications, Cindy Hoang, cindyh@nclnet.org, (202) 207-2832

Washington, DC–The National Consumers League (NCL) appreciates the opportunity to deliver these comments on the reauthorization of the Biosimilar User Fee Act for fiscal years 2018 through 2022 (BsUFA II). The National Consumers League has long been concerned with ensuring the safety of foods and drugs. Among NCL’s top priorities are ensuring the safety, effectiveness, and appropriate use of both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, and medication adherence, which we have helped to advance through our Script Your Future Campaign.

The National Consumers League is a strong supporter of biosimilars, since they help to provide less expensive biological products for patients with serious diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and cancer. Since 2012, BsUFA has helped to provide FDA with the resources the agency needs to enhance the science-based review of new biosimilars. User fees are integral to the FDA’s ability to review drugs and biologics in a timely manner, since the agency is woefully underfunded. To make matters worse, due to a .5% Across-the-Board (ATB) cut included in the Continuing Resolution, the FDA will experience a $2.5 million cut in funding over the 10-week period until December 9. It is clear that user fees are necessary for the FDA to carry out its drug and biologic review functions.      

Click here to read the full statement.

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

America’s Health Insurance Plans and National Consumers League Launch New Education Effort to Help Consumers Better Understand their Health Insurance – National Consumers League

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October 18, 2016

MyHealthPlan.guide informs, educates, and engages consumers on health insurance options

Contact: David Merritt, America’s Health Insurance Plans, press@ahip.org, 202-778-3200
Cindy Hoang, National Consumers League, cindyh@nclnet.org, (202) 207-2832 

Washington, DC – America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) has partnered with the National Consumers League (NCL) to launch MyHealthPlan.guide, a comprehensive online guide that informs, educates, and engages consumers to better understand how health insurance works.

Health care can be complex and confusing. A recent state analysis found that 42 percent of consumers who bought their own insurance said they lacked a clear understanding of their health insurance plans. Other studies show that consumers are unaware of key factors they should consider before selecting a plan. And many consumers are unaware of the critical benefits their plan covers, including free preventive services.

MyHealthPlan.guide can help solve these challenges. From open season for employer-sponsored coverage to open enrollment in the Marketplaces and Medicare, this will be an important and timely resource for consumers who are buying insurance for the first time or who have questions about their existing plan. It also complements health plan sites that offer more information about specific products, plans, and benefits.

“Health insurance can be frustrating when you don’t have the right information to make the best decision for yourself or your family. That’s why we want to help inform, educate, and engage consumers to make sure they have the information and tools at their fingertips to make the best decisions about their healthcare,” said AHIP CEO Marilyn Tavenner. 

The new online, interactive resource offers three portals for consumers — “Choosing a Health Plan,” “Living a Healthy Lifestyle” and “Using my Health Plan.” Each portal offers tailored, in-depth answers, information, and resources for their specific questions – but presented in a simple, straight-forward way. Consumers can also search MyHealthPlan.guide using keywords, look up terms using the site’s glossary and access a curated list of additional recommended resources and most popular searches.

The growing engagement of consumers in healthcare decision-making is a key part of the movement toward value-based healthcare delivery models and the industry’s ongoing investment in consumer-friendly online resources, personal health devices and smartphone applications.

“Consumers today are more engaged in healthcare decision-making than ever before—a trend that is predicted to grow for the foreseeable future. MyHealthPlan.guide aims to provide consumers with easy-to-access, straightforward information to determine the health insurance coverage that is right for them and how to best use it to meet their personal health needs,” said NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg. 

Early evidence has shown that such increased engagement is positive—consumers will make informed healthcare decisions when they are provided the right information in the right format. However, despite the growing opportunity for engagement, it can often be difficult for consumers to find all of the information they need in one place, leaving many confused and overwhelmed rather than empowered. MyHealthPlan.guide is an important step by health plans, working in partnership with consumer advocates, to begin to bridge the gap in information. AHIP and NCL will use feedback on the site’s user experience to update and expand on the site over time.

Access MyHealthPlan.guide and learn more about AHIP and NCL’s efforts to inform, educate, and engage consumers by going to https://myhealthplan.guide/

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About AHIP

America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) is the national trade association representing the health insurance community. AHIP’s members provide health and supplemental benefits through employer-sponsored coverage, the individual insurance market, and public programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. AHIP advocates for solutions that expand access to affordable health care coverage to all Americans through a competitive marketplace that fosters choice, quality, and innovation.

About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

CFPB’s structure ruled unconstitutional, but is it really? – National Consumers League

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SG_HEADSHOT.jpgThe DC Federal Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Tuesday that the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Wall Street financial watchdog that is the brainchild of  Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), is unconstitutional.The three judge tribunal said that the CFPB will now function under direct oversight of the President, who will have the power to fire the agency’s director at will. The decision is intended to weaken the agency’s ability to wield its regulatory power independently from this or any Administration.

The lawmaker who authored the decision, U.S. Circuit Judge Brett Kavanaugh, is a well-known conservative who once worked on President Bill Clinton’s impeachment as a Hill staffer. Judge Kavanaugh wrote that the CFPB’s “single-director structure” violates the separation of powers specified by the Constitution by vesting one person with vast power “unchecked by the President.” Prior to the decision, the President could only fire the director for very specific reasons. Supporters of the CFPB’s work predicted this court would find a reason to fault the agency and its structure.

Judge Kavanaugh wrote: “The CFPB’s concentration of enormous executive power in a single, unaccountable, unchecked Director not only departs from settled historical practice, but also poses a far greater risk of arbitrary decision-making and abuse of power, and a far greater threat to individual liberty, than does a multi-member independent agency.” This seems like a dubious basis for undermining an agency’s power as Congress created the CFPB structure very deliberately.

It is likely the federal government will ask the full DC Circuit to reconsider its ruling. And the recent wave of Obama appointees to the court may suggest a rehearing is possible. Meanwhile, Senator Warren had this to say about the decision:

“This split decision — which bizarrely relies on a mischaracterization of my original proposal for a new consumer agency — will likely be appealed and overturned. But even if it stands, the ruling makes a small, technical tweak to Dodd-Frank and does not question the legality of any other past, present, or future actions of the CFPB. The CFPB has been, and will remain, highly accountable to both Congress and the President, and continued Republican efforts to transform the agency’s structure or funding should be seen for what they are: attempts fostered by big banks to cripple an agency that has already forced them to return over $11 billion to customers who have been cheated.”

The CFPB has become such an important instrument of protection for consumers by overseeing the activities of the financial service industry that of course, given its imposition of fines and cracking down on industry misdeeds, bad actors are trying at every turn to challenge its power. It’s reminiscent of the multiple legal attacks on the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, which stood up well.

The CFPB is doing exactly the job Congress intended, being the cop on the beat, and it’s fortunate that its structure and ability to police the industry won’t be seriously altered by this decision.

Preventive care benefits: Your health plan’s best kept secret – National Consumers League

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To those who may question the necessity of health insurance, I have two words for you: Preventive care. Seven out of ten deaths among Americans each year are from chronic diseases, many of which are preventable. Preventive health services like physicals, immunizations and other screenings can help find health problems early, when the chances for treatment and cure are better, or even prevent health problems before they start. 

Preventive health services are covered under all health insurance plans with no additional out-of-pocket costs when provided by in-network providers. Your health insurance plan may cover even more services that cost you nothing – to find out more, be sure to contact your health plan.

Unfortunately, many consumers with health insurance don’t take advantage of these services – simply because they don’t know their insurance covers it.  That’s a problem we’re working hard to resolve.

Below we list some of the preventive care benefits available through your health plan: 

For adults:

Immunizations (Vaccines)

It is important for adults to stay up to date on their immunizations.  They can save your life and save your health.  Through your health plan, vaccines for diseases such as chicken pox, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, hepatitis A & B, and the flu are all covered. 

Depression screenings

Too many people suffer from mental health conditions, such as depression, and the consequences can be devastating on individuals and families alike. Taking a depression screening is one of the most efficient and effective ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of depression and get you on the path to treatment. Depression screenings are fully covered by your health plan. 

Cancer screenings

Nearly everyone has felt the impact of cancer – either themselves or a friend or loved one.  Screenings are one of the most powerful weapons against cancer. When many cancers are found early, chances of survival increase exponentially. Important preventive cancer screenings include cervical cancer screening, breast cancer mammography screening, and colorectal cancer screening. Lung cancer screening is also covered for adults aged 55-80 who are current smokers or have quit smoking in the last 15 years. 

For women:

Well-woman visits

Well-woman visits are key to women’s health and help identify health concerns before they become life-threatening. These visits usually include your annual physical examination, as well as any necessary screenings (such as pap tests, blood pressure and cholesterol screenings), evaluations, counseling, and immunizations based on your age and risk factors. 

Services for pregnant women or women who may become pregnant

In addition to the preventive services available to all women, there is also a list of services available for mothers-to-be. Breastfeeding support and counseling, gestational diabetes screenings, anemia screenings, and even folic acid supplements for women who may become pregnant are all covered under your health plan – at no additional cost to you. 

For children:

Autism screenings

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children are screened for autism at their 18- and 24-month well-child visits. This type of screening can quickly identify children with developmental and behavioral challenges when early treatment may be most effective. 

Vision screenings

Good vision is essential to a child’s development, success, and overall well-being. Their vision should be checked when they are first born, while they are a baby, and through their preschool and school years. If problems with a child’s vision are not detected early, their vision may become limited in ways that cannot be rectified later in life. And it can also affect school performance and learning.  But with early detection, it is usually possible to treat vision problems effectively. Thankfully, vision screenings for all children are covered through your health plan. 

Be on the lookout for new resources from the National Consumers League (NCL) and America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) to help consumers get the most out of their health insurance benefits.

Dutch study examines consumer attitudes around food fraud – National Consumers League

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ali.jpgIn 2013, Europe was confronted with a shocking food revelation. Food safety authorities unveiled that a number of popular products labeled “100% beef” actually contained significant amounts of horse and pig meat. While food fraud is hardly a new issue, this incident attracted global attention and caused consumers to reconsider their trust in the food industry.

To address growing speculation about food authenticity, Consumentenbond (a Dutch consumers’ association) conducted a study examining consumer attitudes around food fraud. The Consumer Trust and Food Integrity report was released this month in their magazine. The study was conducted in the Netherlands, but findings indicate the prevalence of food fraud throughout our transnational food system and illustrate a global concern around food safety and authenticity.

When looking at consumers’ knowledge of food fraud, the study found that two-thirds of consumers “worry about food fraud.” Consumers reported an overall skepticism of product labels and indicated that authorities could be doing more to prevent adulteration and mislabeling. Consumers were asked which foods they think have the highest prevalence of food fraud. Meat and chicken were ranked most susceptible, with consumers reporting possible fraud at 51 percent. Ready meals and (shell)fish were presumed to be the second and third most commonly misrepresented food items, at 44 percent and 38 percent respectively.

The survey also took a look at consumers’ trust in food retailers. Consumers were asked whether they thought products from specific suppliers have higher instances of food fraud. Products sold in organic supermarkets were suspected to have the highest rates of food fraud (33 percent.) Products sold at general grocery stores were interestingly suspected to have low rates of food fraud, at less than 10 percent.

The report shows some inconsistencies between consumer expectations and the realities of food fraud. Consumers are correct in their suspicions about meat and chicken, but should be more aware of fraud occurring in milk products, dried herbs, and honey.

According to the full authenticity test, out of 156 products, 33 products (21 percent) showed deviations. Researchers presume this percentage would be even higher if a larger sample size were tested.  Confidence in industry and regulatory agencies is shrinking as consumers become more aware of the prevalence of food fraud. Currently, food labels provide enough information for consumers to determine food authenticity. Improving traceability will require an increase in regulatory food checks and more precise labeling. Consumentenbond and the National Consumers League (NCL) call on industry and regulatory agencies to strengthen food inspection throughout the supply chain and to work towards a more transparent food system to regain consumer trust.

The American Food Protection and Defense Institute recommends that consumers take the following steps to avoid food fraud:

  • Buy from reputable brands and sources
  • Read the labels on the food products you buy
  • Be skeptical of prices that appear “too good to be true”
  • When possible, buy products from short, visible supply chains
  • Buy minimally processed foods with few ingredients

NCL calls on FCC to examine high cost of international mobile roaming – National Consumers League

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October 12, 2016

Contact: NCL Communications, Cindy Hoang, cindyh@nclnet.org, (202) 207-2832

Washington, DC—The National Consumers League (NCL), the nation’s pioneering consumer and worker advocacy organization, today called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to examine the role that international mobile roaming (IMR) services play in wireless “bill shock.” An NCL analysis of the market for IMR services found that a significant portion of the more than 73 million Americans who travel abroad annually may be at risk of incurring higher than expected charges on their wireless phone bills, a phenomenon commonly known as “bill shock.”

In 2011, at the urging of the FCC and consumer groups—including NCL—the wireless industry began providing notifications to travelers of international roaming charges that they may incur while using their cell phones overseas. Given the explosive growth of data-intensive smartphones since 2011, however, NCL believes that notifications alone may not be sufficient to prevent IMR-related bill shock. In comments filed with the FCC, NCL called on the Commission to gather new data on the impact of IMR-related bill shock and consider possible regulatory or voluntary industry solutions.

“No one wants a sky-high cell phone bill as a souvenir of their trip,” said John Breyault, NCL vice president of public policy, telecommunications and fraud. “Unfortunately, due to the high cost of roaming, even consumers who are careful and try to limit their mobile data use can come home to a surprise bill in their mailbox.”

NCL’s analysis of the major American wireless carriers’ IMR service offerings found that roaming package pricing is extremely expensive when compared with domestic service rates. In addition, the carriers’ roaming packages often offer significantly smaller data allotments, slower speeds or both. Finally, while there are cheaper alternatives to buying roaming packages—such as buying a local SIM card and prepaid plan in the destination country—NCL found no instances where U.S. carriers attempted to educate their subscribers about those alternatives.

“We recognize that U.S. carriers are often at the mercy of foreign carriers who can and do set wholesale IMR rates far in excess of cost,” said Breyault. “However, as regulators around the world have recognized, this situation represents a market failure which the FCC would be wise to examine as it seeks to protect the millions of American consumers who take their smartphones with them while traveling abroad.”

Since the FCC last examined bill shock, international regulators have taken action to address the high cost of IMR services. The European Union (EU) will eliminate intra-EU roaming fees by 2017 and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries have agreed to reduce IMR data rates by two-thirds by 2020. The Asia Pacific Economic Council and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have also urged member countries to take action to address high IMR rates and educate consumers often cheaper alternatives to IMR services.

“Consumers in the U.S. should not play second fiddle to consumers in Europe or the Gulf countries when it comes to protections from IMR-related bill shock,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL’s executive director. “Consumers should not be put at risk of incurring outrageous cell phone charges just because they took their phone with them while traveling abroad.”

Click here to read NCL’s full FCC filing.

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

 

What’s wrong with hotel resort fees? – National Consumers League

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Brian YoungThe following scenario is all too familiar to consumers when they are shopping around for the best hotel deal. You begin your search as many consumers do, by logging onto your favorite hotel booking site to find a hotel in a great location at an affordable price. After a little research, you settle on the perfect hotel that is near the action, but far enough away that it fits into your budget. 

As you near completion for your hotel booking however, you notice that the overall cost of your room is nearly twice the amount of the room rate you were quoted. This is because your hotel levied a mandatory resort amenity fee against you that you had to pay regardless of whether you use any of the amenities! You are now faced with the all too common choice between taking the financial hit and paying the hidden fee, or starting over from square one to find an affordable hotel (that hopefully doesn’t charge the fees).

Unfortunately, the trend toward mandatory hotel resort fees seems to be growing. During my own research for a hotel in Las Vegas, I saw several hotels artificially deflating their prices by neglecting to advertise their room rates along with their mandatory fees. One can only assume that this was done in order to lure consumers into selecting their hotels over the more honestly marketed prices that advertised the actual cost of a stay.

This practice is extremely profitable for the hotel and resort industry. In 2015, the industry garnered $2.47 billion from this practice. Unfortunately, while this trend may be very profitable for the industry, it is inherently deceptive and harmful to consumers who are slammed with hidden and fees for “amenities” they may not even wish to use.  Furthermore, these fees tend to cover amenities that were historically included in the price of the room such as local calling from their hotel room, beach towels, access to the pool or gym and discounted access to the hotel’s amusement park.

For consumers, this creates a race to the bottom where ethical actors — hotels and resorts that publish the actual cost to stay at their hotels — are disadvantaged since cost-conscious consumers are naturally drawn to the the least expensive prices. Unfortunately, travelers often find that their nightly rate increases dramatically once the resort or hotel comes clean about the mandatory fees.

Fortunately, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offered guidance to the hotel industry back in 2012 that motivated them to be more upfront about the fees they charge. Until then, many hotels were tacking on numerous fees at check in or check out, once a consumer had far fewer — or zero — alternatives to paying the fees. Recently, however, the FTC has stated that it will continue to look into the practice of charging mandatory resort fees that are separate from the advertised room rate. The Commission has even signaled that it may take action to end this practice entirely.

Unfortunately FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez has taken some heat from Congress for the FTC’s efforts to address this issue. Just last week, the chairwoman was peppered with industry talking points by Senator Dean Heller (R-NV), who insinuated that consumers do not mind being charged these hidden and deceptive fees. Let’s hope that the FTC will remain strong against such industry-led attacks and fight for honest and transparent pricing that will enable consumers to make informed choices and good actors will not be penalized for being honest about the costs of their rooms.

NCL cautions consumers to beware of purchasing tickets on ScoreBig – National Consumers League

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October 7, 2016

Contact: Carol McKay, NCL Communications, carolm@nclnet.org, (412) 945-3242

Washington, DC—The National Consumers League (NCL), America’s pioneering consumer and worker advocacy organization, is urging consumers who purchased or are considering purchasing tickets via the ScoreBig live event ticket exchange to be aware that tickets bought on the exchange may not be honored at the gate.

According to multiple press reports, ScoreBig recently experienced a liquidity crisis and has ceased compensating sellers of event tickets. While many sellers have suffered financial loss and the National Association of Ticket Brokers has issued a guidance to its member companies to honor tickets, there is nonetheless a risk that some fans could be left with invalid tickets when they arrive at an event. In addition, it appears that ScoreBig is continuing to sell tickets through its exchange, despite reports that the company’s assets have been seized by its creditors and that it has little or no way to compensate the sellers of those tickets.

The following statement is attributable to John Breyault NCL’s vice president of public policy, telecommunications and fraud:

“October is one of the busiest months on the sports calendar — with the MLB playoffs kicking off, the NFL and college football seasons in full gear, and the NHL getting under way. Unfortunately, fans who purchased tickets through ScoreBig may be turned away at the gate through no fault of their own and be out hundreds or even thousands of dollars spent traveling to an event only to be unable to attend it.”

“This is an unacceptable situation, and consumers should steer clear of ScoreBig until this situation is resolved. We would urge the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general to investigate whether the company is selling tickets in violation of its own 100 percent money-back guarantee policy and federal and state consumer protection statutes.”

For fans who purchased or are considering purchasing tickets through ScoreBig, NCL is offering the following tips:

  1. Avoid buying tickets from ScoreBig until the current situation is resolved. Tickets bought on ScoreBig are currently at risk of not being honored at the gate.

  2. On September 30, ScoreBig emailed ticket buyers with the contact information of the ticket sellers who sold ScoreBig their tickets. Customer should promptly reach out to the ticket seller and make arrangements for obtaining a valid ticket. ScoreBig customers may also have received additional communications from the original ticket sellers after September 30. Ticket buyers should be sure to check email SPAM folders for this important information if it did not arrive in email inboxes. Consumers may be asked by the original ticket seller to purchase a new ticket because of this situation.

  3. Consumers who paid for ScoreBig tickets via credit or debit cards and/or were refused entry to an event should dispute the charges with their credit or debit card issuer.

  4. Consumers who purchased a ticket through ScoreBig and who were refused entry to an event should consider filing a complaint with the FTC at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

NCL statement on new consumer protection rules for prepaid cards – National Consumers League

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October 5, 2016

Contact: Cindy Hoang, National Consumers League, cindyh@nclnet.org, (202) 207-2832 

Washington, DC—The National Consumers League (NCL), America’s pioneering consumer and workers’ rights advocacy organization, today welcomed the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) publication of new rules designed to enhance consumer protections for users of prepaid cards. The following statement is attributable to NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg:

“The CFPB has set common-sense rules of the road that will do much to protect consumers in this fast-growing payment space. In particular, we are pleased that the new rules’ anti-fraud provisions will allow prepaid users to enjoy the same protections from unauthorized use that credit and debit card users have depended on for years. At a time when hackers and other criminals are using stolen payment account information to run up billions of dollars worth of fraudulent charges, today’s action will reduce risk for the millions of consumers who depend on prepaid cards. While we are concerned that overdraft fees on prepaid accounts will continue to be permitted under the rules, we are pleased that there are strong new restrictions on the use of such fees by issuers. We urge all prepaid card vendors to work diligently to meet or exceed the CFPB’s consumer protection requirements as far in advance of the October 1, 2017 compliance deadline as possible.”

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.