NCL applauds FDA for its latest decision to approve an updated COVID-19 vaccine

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September 11, 2023

Media contact: National Consumers League – Melody Merin, melodym@nclnet.org, 202-207-2831

Washington, DC – The NCL applauds the FDA’s announcement approving the latest COVID vaccine, which will be available to many Americans immediately or very soon to patients who are eligible.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 9,000 COVID-19 hospital admissions in the week ending July 29, a 12.5-percent increase from the week before. While that’s far below the nearly 45,000 admissions recorded the same week a year ago, the new vaccine is nevertheless is welcome and much needed to keep COVID and its new variants in check. The percentage of emergency department patients diagnosed with COVID-19 has risen gradually in July.

National Consumers League urges Ticketmaster to refund Springsteen fans

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September 11, 2023

Media contact: National Consumers League – Melody Merin, melodym@nclnet.org, 202-207-2831

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Consumers League (“NCL”) today urged Ticketmaster to immediately offer refunds to fans who purchased tickets to Bruce Springsteen’s postponed concerts. Due to illness, the rock icon recently announced indefinite postponements of the remainder of the concerts currently scheduled for September. According to Ticketmaster’s Purchase Policy, consumers will only be able to obtain refunds when the postponed concerts are rescheduled for a date to be determined.

The following statement is attributable to NCL Chief Executive Officer, Sally Greenberg:

“Like millions of other fans, our best wishes go out to Bruce Springsteen in light of his pressing medical issues, and we wish him a speedy recovery. Throughout his career, he has put his fans first. However, given the announcement that multiple upcoming concerts have been postponed to a date to be determined, we are concerned that consumers are not being given the option by Ticketmaster to obtain refunds for their tickets. Due to Ticketmaster’s policies, millions of dollars in fans’ funds are stuck in limbo, potentially for months or even longer.

We understand that many of Springsteen’s fans may opt to hold onto their tickets and will plan to see The Boss when his concerts are rescheduled. Until then, Ticketmaster will almost certainly be earning interest on fans’ funds that are locked up due to the company’s refund policy. Essentially, due to its policies, Ticketmaster is forcing fans to give the company an interest-free loan for an indeterminate period. It is a bedrock consumer protection principle that when a consumer does not get a product she paid for, a prompt refund should be issued. Ticketmaster should give consumers the option to immediately obtain refunds not just for Bruce Springsteen’s concerts, but for all postponed events going forward.”

 

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)
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 nclnet.org.

NCL urges Senate committee to pass the College for All Act

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August 28, 2023

Media contact: National Consumers League – Katie Brown, katie@nclnet.org, 202-823-8442

Washington, D.C. – Today, the National Consumers League (NCL) urged the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance to favorably report the College for All Act of 2023.

” The National Consumers League1 (NCL) urges the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance to favorably report S.1963, or the College for All Act of 2023, without delay. The College for All Act would transform the nation’s system of higher education by allowing millions of students to pursue college degrees that they otherwise could not afford. Additionally, it would prevent student debt from continuing to burden future attendees of higher learning, a significant issue currently affecting graduates, individuals with partial educational attainment, and parents of students.” 

The full letter can be found here.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)
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 nclnet.org.

National Consumers League response to the Request for Information regarding FDA regulation of CBD

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August 25, 2023

Media contact: National Consumers League – Katie Brown, katie@nclnet.org, 202-823-8442

Washington, D.C. – On August 17, the National Consumers League responded to the Request for Information regarding FDA-Regulation of CBD.

“In 2019, in response to the proliferation of unreviewed and untested CBD products, NCL identified the need for greater education among consumers about CBD and better enforcement of regulations in the CBD marketplace. NCL created Consumers for Safe CBD to address the need, champion the rights of consumers, and call on government and industry to do better – to ensure safety and promote a pathway for new products through clinically tested scientific research. Since then, action has been taken on the state and federal levels to increase access to cannabinoids beyond CBD. In response, NCL expanded our educational campaign and established Cannabis Consumer Watch.” 

The full letter can be found here.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)
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 nclnet.org.

NCL sends letter to Illinois Attorney General on mass arbitration

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August 18, 2023

Media contact: National Consumers League – Katie Brown, katie@nclnet.org, 202-823-8442

Washington, D.C. – The National Consumers League sent a letter to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul on the practice of mass arbitration. NCL CEO Sally Greenberg urged the office to look into these issues to avoid denying consumers the redress and remedies to which they are entitled under the law and further delays in justice and accountability.

The full letter can be found here.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)
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 nclnet.org.

National Consumers League supports the SAG-AFTRA strike

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August 4, 2023

Media contact: National Consumers League – Katie Brown, katie@nclnet.org, 202-823-8442

Washington, D.C. – The National Consumers League supports the SAG-AFTRA nationwide strike announced on July 14, 2023 against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. After a union wide vote authorized the strike with 97.7% voting yes, more than 150,000 movie, theater, and streaming actors have gone on strike.  AMPTP represents over 350 American television and film production companies, including Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Netflix, Apple TV+, and Amazon.

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher has been outspoken about the union’s frustration with the studios and networks.  “The Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers’ (AMPTP) responses to the union’s most important proposals have been insulting and disrespectful of our massive contributions to this industry,” Drescher and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland have said.

The strike started after negotiations with AMPTP failed, despite SAG-AFTRA’s very reasonable demands:

  • Residual payments from streaming services based on viewership numbers
  • Streaming services won’t release statistics on streaming numbers to the union.
  • Protections and restitution for studios using Artificial Intelligence to reproduce an actor’s likeness
  • More regulation on “Self Taped Auditions” in which actors film their own auditions instead of within a casting studio. SAG-AFTRA says this creates an unfair burden being placed on actors
  • Increased contributions to pension, health and welfare funds.
  • Increased pay across the board and a living wage for those who work in the industry.

This strike coincides with the Writers Guild of America’s strike against the AMPTP; NCL also supports that group of writers who are striking. This marks the first time in 63 years that that both of these major unions have been forced to simultaneously go on strike.

The issues facing SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America are almost identical: workers in this industry have seen their pay slowly diminished by inflation during the last several years, they face a reduction in residuals, less working time for shows, and the threat of artificial intelligence to replace actual writers and editors.

Sally Greenberg, NCL’s CEO, explained the reason for her organization’s support. “We have always been pro worker and this strike is no exception, except that the disparity in pay between industry executives and performers is more shocking than ever. Disney CEO Bob Iger’s board of directors handed him a two-year $27-million-per-year contract extension the day before the vote. Other studio executives make many millions as well, and yet they expect performers and writers in the industry – whose creativity is responsible for the success of these shows – to work for diminishing salaries and reduced benefits such that many cannot earn a living wage. The AMPTP refuses to even consider ideas like a plan for actors to participate in streaming revenue, for example.”

NCL also recognizes the strong solidarity that these striking performers have shown. For weeks, hundreds have kept the picket lines active at major AMPTP locations. Several major Hollywood SAG-AFTRA members have given generous donations in the millions to support striking performers who may not be able to afford rent or food due being shut out of their occupation by the AMPTP. Some of these individuals include Leonardo DiCaprio, Nicole Kidman, Dwayne Johnson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Matt Damon.

We also include below the statement of AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler in support of the performers represented by SAG-AFTRA.

AFL-CIO Statement on SAG-AFTRA

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)
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 nclnet.org.

National Consumers League mourns death of Jon Cuneo

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July 27, 2023

Media contact: National Consumers League – Katie Brown, katie@nclnet.org, 202-823-8442

Washington, D.C. – The National Consumers League’s Board of Directors and Staff is deeply saddened by the untimely death of anti-trust lawyer and consumer advocate Jonathan Cuneo. Jon practiced with the firm of Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, LLP in Washington DC with copartners Pamela Gilbert, herself a consumer advocate who currently serves on NCL’s Board of Directors, and Charles LaDuca.

“Jon’s reputation as a top notch litigator and consumer, worker and anti-trust lawyer was second to none. NCL counted Jon Cuneo as a close friend, supporter and ally in the fight for a better world for workers and consumers,” said Sally Greenberg and Joan Bray, NCL’s CEO and NCL Board Chair Joan Bray.

Jon served as Washington counsel in the first case to challenge the “Joe Camel” cigarette advertising campaign targeting young people to take up smoking, he took on Prudential Insurance Company for abusing policyholders through deceptive sales practices, and won a landmark case establishing the principle that “labels matter” under California’s Unfair Competition and False Advertising laws and is now a landmark of American law.

On the privacy front, Jon led the ligation against Metromail for privacy violations surrounding supermarket questionnaires. After a woman in Ohio received a sexually suggestive letter from a maximum security inmate in Texas, it came to light that the company had subcontracted for Texas prisoners to “key” the questionnaire information. The firm was able to secure injunctive relief, and a cash pool of $15 million was made available to victims.

“Jon’s extraordinary legal career includes many more cases than we can recount here. He was also a kind and generous colleague, father and husband. He and his wife also held legendary annual holiday party, an invitation to which was much coveted in Washington. Our sincere condolences go out to his family, law firm partners and the many people whose lives were touched by Jon Cuneo,” said Greenberg and Bray.

 

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)
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 nclnet.org.

Consumer groups’ statement on elimination of speculative ticketing disclosure requirements from S. 1303, the “TICKET Act”

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July 27, 2023

Media contact: National Consumers League – Katie Brown, katie@nclnet.org, 202-823-8442

Washington, D.C. – The United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation today approved an amended version of the Transparency in Charges for Key Events Ticketing Act (“TICKET Act”). Unfortunately, an amendment to the bill that was approved during the markup eliminated a key provision that consumer groups supported which would have required ticket sellers to disclose clearly and conspicuously, prior to a consumer selecting a ticket for purchase, when a seller does not have possession of a ticket being listed for sale. The eliminated provision would have addressed a controversial practice known as “speculative ticketing,” that has harmed too many consumers who thought they had purchased a ticket only to later find out that the seller was unable to fulfill their order. [1] In a July 25 letter to the Commerce Committee, eleven consumer advocacy organizations had urged support for the original version of the TICKET Act, which was introduced with bipartisan support in April.

In response to today’s vote, the undersigned consumer groups released the following statement:

“The live event ticketing market is a rigged game, riddled with deception and a lack of transparency at every turn. We are extremely disappointed that the Commerce Committee today bowed to pressure from industry opponents and missed an opportunity to reduce the risk that fans end up high and dry without tickets to events they had otherwise planned to attend. The TICKET Act, as amended, is a step in the right direction but a reminder of why vested interests continue to resist comprehensive reform. The live event ticketing system needs to be cured of deep flaws that result in consumers being abused before tickets go on sale, while they are for sale, and through the moment they are scanned for entry. The TICKET Act as introduced would have assured transparency to two of the most opaque parts of ticket buying: the pricing of tickets, and the sale of  tickets that sellers do not possess, but are offered to unknowing customers. We continue to support all-in pricing of live event tickets because today’s deceptive drip pricing is unfortunately the norm whether the tickets come from a venue, a team, Ticketmaster, or a resale marketplace. Our groups will continue to work for a fairer ticket marketplace to ensure that fans are able to access affordable tickets to their favorite events in an open, transparent, and competitive marketplace.”

Organizations supporting this statement include National Consumers League, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Federation of California, Fan Freedom Project, National Association of Consumer Advocates, Protect Ticket Rights, Public Knowledge, Sports Fans Coalition, and U.S. Public Interest Research Project, and Virginia Citizens Consumer Council.

[1] Burchill, Caitlin. “Burlington man learns his expensive Taylor Swift tickets don’t exist days before concert,” NBC Connecticut. (June 13, 2023) Online: https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/investigations/nbc-ct-responds/burlington-man-learns-his-expensive-taylor-swift-tickets-dont-exist-days-before-concert/3048419/; Oberle, Marisa. “PROBLEM SOLVERS: Potential ‘controversial’ practice leaves Kent Co. family without Taylor Swift tickets,” FOX 17-West Michigan. (June 21, 2023) Online: https://www.fox17online.com/news/problem-solvers/problem-solvers-controversial-practice-leaves-kent-co-family-without-taylor-swift-tickets-day-before-concert

 

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)
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 nclnet.org.

Consumer groups urge support for S. 1303, the “TICKET Act”

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July 26, 2023

Media contact: National Consumers League – Katie Brown, katie@nclnet.org, 202-823-8442

Washington, D.C. – NCL and other consumer groups submitted the below letter to Chair Cantwell and Ranking Member Cruz to urge support for S. 1303, the “TICKET Act”.

 

July 25, 2023

 

The Honorable Maria Cantwell Chair

Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation

United States Senate

254 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510

 

The Honorable Ted Cruz Ranking Member

Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation

United States Senate

512 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510

 

RE: Consumer groups urge support for S. 1303, the “TICKET Act”

Dear Chair Cantwell and Ranking Member Cruz:

The eleven undersigned consumer organizations represent the tens of millions of fans who attend concerts, sports, theater, and other live events every every year 1,  generating more than $130 billion in economic impact.2 Despite the profits fans’ entertainment spending creates for this important industry, the process of obtaining tickets to a live event is often fraught with deception and unfair business practices. From a fan’s point of view, trying to get an affordable ticket to see their favorite band, cheer on their hometown team, or enjoy a night at the theater is a rigged game.

It is for this reason that the undersigned organizations have endorsed S. 1303, the Transparency in Charges for Key Events Ticketing Act (“TICKET Act”).3 We thank you for introducing this bipartisan consumer protection measure and we urge your colleagues on the Commerce Committee to support the bill when the committee considers it this week.

Reforms like those in the TICKET Act are urgently needed to ensure fans can access affordable live event tickets from both primary and secondary ticket sellers. The bill mandates all-in pricing of tickets, which addresses a significant source of frustration for consumers when purchasing tickets. Add-on fees, commonly labeled as “service fees,” “processing fees,” and “facility fees,” are typically added to the cost of the ticket as buyers progress through the ticket-buying process. On average, these fees raise the cost of a tickets by 27 percent and 31 percent on the primary and secondary market, respectively.4 The TICKET Act’s all-in pricing requirement will ensure that consumers see the full cost of a ticket the first time a ticket is advertised. This will allow fans to make a more informed buying decisions before they begin the buying process. Competition will also be enhanced, since competing ticketers on the secondary market will not be able to hide the true cost of a ticket behind a deceptively low advertised price.

The TICKET Act also includes reforms that would address a second significant frustration for ticket buyers: undisclosed speculative ticketing. This practice, also known as “spec ticketing,” involves resellers listing tickets they do not possess for sale on resale websites and secondary ticket exchanges. Speculative selling is a controversial ticketing practice since consumers are often deceived into thinking they are buying tickets the reseller possesses. There are numerous examples where consumers who thought they had a ticket to an event were later told that the speculative ticket reseller was unable to obtain the ticket.5 The TICKET Act addresses this problem by requiring ticket sellers to disclose clearly and conspicuously, prior to a consumer selecting it for purchase, when the seller does not have possession of a ticket being listed for sale. This would benefit consumers by allowing them to make a more informed choice about whether to take the risk that a speculatively resold ticket order may not be fulfilled.

On behalf of America’s live event fans, we thank you for your leadership on this issue and we urge your colleagues to join our organizations in support of this important pro- consumer and pro-competition bill.

 

Sincerely,

National Consumers League

Consumer Action

Consumer Federation of America

Consumer Federation of California

Fan Freedom Project

National Association of Consumer Advocates

Protect Ticket Rights

Public Knowledge

Sports Fans Coalition

U.S. Public Interest Research Group

Virginia Citizens Consumer Council

cc:       Members of the Senate Commerce Committee

 

1 Live Nation Entertainment. “Live Nation Entertainment Reports Fourth Quarter & Full Year 2022 Results.” Press release. (February 23, 2023) Online: https://www.livenationentertainment.com/2023/02/live-nation- entertainment-reports-fourth-quarter-full-year-2022-results/; Fischer, Ben and Broughton, David. “NFL per- game attendance makes big jump.” Sports Business Journal (January 16, 2023) Online: https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2023/01/16/Upfront/nYl-attendance.aspx;  National Basketball Association. “NBA sets all-time records for attendance and sellouts during 2022-23 regular season.” Press release. (April 10, 2023) Online: https://www.nba.com/news/nba-sets-all-time- records-for-attendance-and-sellouts-during-2022-23-regular-season; The Broadway League. “2022–2023 Broadway End-Of-Season Statistics Show That Broadway Had Attendance Of 12.3 Million And Grosses Of $1.58 Billion.” Press release. (May 23, 2023) Online: https://www.broadwayleague.com/press/press- releases/20222023-broadway-end-of-season-statistics-show-that-broadway-had-attendance-of-123-million-     and-grosses-of-158-billion/

2 Oxford Economics. The Concerts and Live Event Industry: A Signi9icant Economic Engine (July 26, 2021) Online:   https://www.oxfordeconomics.com/resource/livemusic/

3 “S.1303 – 118th Congress (2023-2024): TICKET Act.” Congress.gov, Library of Congress, 26 April 2023, https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1303.

4 United States Government Accountability OfYice. Event Ticket Sales: Market Characteristics and Consumer Protection Issues (GAO-18-347). Pg. 15 (April 12, 2018) Online: https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-18-347.pdf

5 Burchill, Caitlin. “Burlington man learns his expensive Taylor Swift tickets don’t exist days before concert,” NBC Connecticut. (June 13, 2023) Online: https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/investigations/nbc-ct- responds/burlington-man-learns-his-expensive-taylor-swift-tickets-dont-exist-days-before-   concert/3048419/; Oberle, Marisa. “PROBLEM SOLVERS: Potential ‘controversial’ practice leaves Kent Co. family without Taylor Swift tickets,” FOX 17-West Michigan. (June 21, 2023) Online: https://www.fox17online.com/news/problem-solvers/problem-solvers-controversial-practice-leaves-kent-   co-family-without-taylor-swift-tickets-day-before-concert

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)
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 nclnet.org.

NCL urges ED to erase student debt, improve permanent pathways to cancellation

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July 24, 2023

Media contact: National Consumers League – Katie Brown, katie@nclnet.org, 202-823-8442

Washington, D.C. – Last week, the National Consumers League (NCL) filed comments in a U.S. Department of Education (ED) regulatory process that will enable the Department to broadly cancel student debt. This newest debt cancellation initiative came after NCL urged the administration to utilize alternate authorities following the Supreme Court’s misguided judgement against the first debt cancellation program. 

“President Biden and Secretary Cardona correctly recognized that we need to address the debt burden associated with getting an education,” said NCL Public Policy Manager Eden Iscil. “They have an opportunity to substantially improve the lives of millions of borrowers through a number of options available with this process the Department initiated.” 

In its comments to ED, NCL advocated for universal student debt cancellation without unnecessary administrative burdens on borrowers. Such burdens likely prevented millions of eligible borrowers from applying to the first cancellation program and significantly delayed its implementation. In addition to one-time debt cancellation, this process will empower ED to improve its permanent cancellation pathways under its income-driven repayment (IDR) plans to allow debt relief to be accessible in the future as well. 

Currently, IDR plans use all-or-nothing debt cancellation, with student debts erased only after several years in repayment (usually 20-25 years). Such a system relies on student loan servicers, ED, or borrowers not making a single mistake in filing paperwork for decades—something almost 6 out of 10 borrowers do. Under NCL’s proposal, borrowers would receive incremental forgiveness. For example, a borrower who is currently eligible for 100% debt cancellation after 10 years of repayment would instead see 10% of their principal balance erased each year for a decade.  

NCL’s full comments to the Department can be found here.  

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)
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 nclnet.org.