Consumer Affairs

'Deceptive' real estate firm tied to Loop's Monroe Capital sued by Kwame Raoul

MV Realty targeted people who had equity in their homes but needed cash — locking them into decadeslong contracts carrying hidden fees, the Illinois attorney general says in a new lawsuit.

By Stephanie Zimmermann

Consumer Affairs

Internet providers must now be more transparent about fees, pricing, FCC says

The new required pricing labels are modeled on nutritional labels and are meant to help consumers comparison shop and avoid junk fees.

By Cora Lewis | AP

Money

Walmart grocery shoppers' deadline nears to get in on $45 million class-action lawsuit settlement

If you bought meat, poultry, pork or seafood sold by weight or bagged citrus fruits at Walmart, you could be eligible to claim up to $500. Here’s what you need to know.

By Mike Snider and Sarah Al-Arshani | USA Today

Technology

Browsing in incognito mode doesn't protect you as much as you might think

Nearly every major web browser has a private mode. Here’s a look at what they do and don’t do for surfers.

By Associated Press

Consumer Affairs

What's a good egg? Learn what free range, cage free really mean on labels

Understanding the different labels on egg cartons can be confusing with some descriptions even misleading, according to experts.

By Aidan Sadovi | For the Sun-Times

Inflation Rose 3.2% In February, woman shopping for groceries

Other Views

Why are Americans so skeptical about a rosy economy?

The way inflation is measured masks certain costs that add to the prices that consumers pay every day. Not surprisingly, higher costs mean lower consumer confidence, no matter what Americans are told about an improving economy.

By Veronique de Rugy

The Watchdogs

Hemp products often mislabeled, posing potential danger to consumers, Chicago researcher finds

Lab tests of hemp products sold in Chicago showed wildly varying levels of THC and unexpected cannabinoids in edibles and flowers. Lawmakers are calling for the items to be regulated.

By Stephanie Zimmermann and Tom Schuba

Technology

In Apple AirTag stalking case, judge denies tech giant's attempt to dismiss class-action lawsuit

Apple’s $29 AirTags have become popular items since their 2021 release, helping users keep tabs on the location of anything from keys to luggage.

By Wyatte Grantham-Philips | AP

Starting Over

Medicare paid over $8,000 for supplies ordered under my name. Nobody can tell me why

Open bills you receive in the mail, read them and report any discrepancies to Medicare and other health partners, Mary Mitchell writes.

By Mary Mitchell

Fewer Illinois residents using payday lenders after state capped interest rates

By Amy Yee

Columnists

Protect your Social Security account from scammers

Creating an online Social Security account helps prevent someone from doing it without your knowledge.

By Neil Steinberg

The Watchdogs

Illinois 'junk' fee legislation calling for price transparency, from airline or concert tickets to rent

Legislation is being proposed in Springfield that would require the total price of goods and services, especially extra fees, to be disclosed before customers try to pay.

By Stephanie Zimmermann

Credit Card Reform Legislation Would Tighten Rules On Rates And Fees

Personal Finance

An $8 credit card late fee cap sounds good now, but it may hurt you later

The average credit card late fee has ballooned to $32 in 2022 from $23 at the end of 2010, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said.

By Medora Lee | USA Today

Car accident on wet road during rain, head on collision side view. Two cars damaged after head-on collision, car crash. Car crash on the street, damaged cars after collision. Traffic rules violation

Letters to the Editor

Drivers pay car insurance based on their crash risk. That's fair.

Insurance companies consider some personal characteristics in pricing auto insurance, such as age, marital status, gender and credit score, because these factors provide a more accurate assessment of risk.

By Letters to the Editor

Personal Finance

With credit card debt on the rise, consumers should watch their FICO score

If consumers are disappointed in a lower-than-expected score or a significant drop, it’s helpful to understand what factors into that number, according to an expert.

By Jackie Dulen | For the Sun-Times

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.

Starting Over

Illinois targets car insurance discrimination

Car insurance premiums should be based on one’s driving record, not socioeconomic factors.

By Mary Mitchell

Editorials

Wendy's 'dynamic pricing' kerfuffle makes clear: Charging more for fast food would be in bad taste

It’s unclear whether Wendy’s backtracked or the fast-food chain’s CEO didn’t fully understand what “dynamic pricing” meant when he used the term. But surge pricing has no place in any restaurant, let alone fast-food establishments.

By CST Editorial Board

Customers leave a Jewel-Osco store at 6014 S. Cottage Grove Ave. on March 25, 2019.

Editorials

Lawsuit against Kroger and Albertsons merger should now make for a better deal, or no deal at all<br/>

Executives for the nation’s two largest supermarket chains have admitted that they now offer lower prices, better products, better pay and more benefits because of — you guessed it — competition, according to the lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general.

By CST Editorial Board

Consumer Affairs

AT&T says its cellphone network restored

More than 58,000 AT&T customers were without cellular service around midday Thursday in locations including Houston, Atlanta and Chicago, according to data from Downdetector.

By Associated Press

Consumer Affairs

Cellphone service out? Here's what to do when your phone service has an outage

Customers of AT&T, the country’s largest wireless provider, are reporting widespread outages.

By Associated Press

Mariano’s and Jewel grocery stores would fall under a single company under a proposed merger of food giants Kroger and Albertsons.

Editorials

Is Kroger, Albertsons merger a good deal or rip-off? Lawsuit from feds, states could help shoppers find out.

The public deserves to know much more about the potential impact of the deal between the nation’s largest supermarket chains.

By CST Editorial Board

Editorials

Honda HR-V's should be recalled to prevent rear window explosions

Honda’s intended plan to correct the defect is better than nothing but it does not go far enough as an official safety recall.

By CST Editorial Board