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Trouble in Toyland

FCAN releases the 37th annual
Trouble In Toyland report on dangerous toys.


US Representative Kathy Castor announces the release of  FCAN's 2022 Trouble in Toyland report at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital 

DANGEROUS TOYS | Rep. Kathy Castor is talking about the annual Trouble in Toyland report, aimed at protecting children from dangerous toys. Story >> http://bit.ly/2Dpn2dC

Posted by ABC Action News - WFTS - Tampa Bay on Wednesday, November 27, 2019





New Blog Post
FCAN and Americans for Financial Reform on WSLR-FM

Americans for Financial Reform (AFR) Consumer and Payday Campaigns Manager Candace Archer Ph.D. and Bill Newton, FCAN Deputy Director appear on WLSR's Peace and Justice Report with Tom Walker to discuss predatory lending, the CFPB, and consumer financial reform.

Peace and Justice Report  Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund




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Time to Reign In Florida Predatory Lenders
High-Cost Predatory Rent-a-Bank Schemes in Florida

<Florida APR Source: National Consumer Law Center
Florida law limits interest rates to protect its residents from predatory lending.
But high-cost online lenders are evading Florida law by laundering their loans
through rogue, out-of-state banks, which are not subject to state rate caps. In a “rent-abank” scheme, a loan program is designed and run by a nonbank lender that charges and
collects interest and makes the bulk of the profits. But a bank’s name is on the paperwork,
and the lender claims it is a “bank loan” exempt from state law. Predatory rent-a-bank
lending hurts consumers, disabled veterans, and small business owners who can lose their homes to 121%
APR loans.

These installment lenders are now using rent-a-bank schemes to evade Florida law1

1. Source:  National Consumer Law Center  https://www.nclc.org/issues/high-cost-small-loans/rent-a-bank-loan-watch-list.html

The legality of rent-a-bank schemes is questionable. But in 2020, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency approved a “fake lender” rule that prevents courts from following the money to prevent usury law evasions. A second set of OCC and FDIC rules preempting state rate caps on assigned loans also help protect high-cost loans laundered through banks. Both rules have been challenged.

To preserve Florida’s authority to stop predatory lending, we must:

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Fight for Lower Auto Insurance Rates:  Florida 3rd highest in the nation!

The Florida Legislature just passed an innovative auto insurance law that removes PIP Personal Injury Protection. It is replaced with mandatory Bodily Injury Coverage at $25,000 for the driver, and $50,000 per accident.&nbsp Unfortunately, Gov. DeSantis vetoed the bill, meaning your auto insurance will stay exactly the same at least until next year. 

If signed, the bill would mean better insurance with a higher benefit for consumers.  But some consumers, mainly those who now chose the low $10,000 coverage, would pay more. The average savings should be about 35% or $350 per year.

Sign SB 54 to Repeal PIP and lower auto insurance rates by $350 per year!Sign SB 54 to Repeal PIP and lower auto insurance rates by $350 per year!

Reduce Fraud

Florida is a hotbed for fraud, but eliminating PIP will reduce fraud. Tougher law enforcement and resources for investigations are still needed. 
Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed Senate Bill 54, the repeal of PIP and replacement with mandatory BI. Studies show drivers will save about 35% or $350 per year if Gov. DeSantis had signed the bill.   

Excerpt from today's FCAN Press Release:  

FCAN Executive Director Susan McGrath stated, "PIP Repeal/Mandatory BI with $25/$50k mandatory Bodily Injury liability coverage is in the best interest of most consumers. It should lower rates for many consumers and provide better coverage. According to McGrath, "There is an option in the bill that allows drivers to still choose PIP-like Medical Payments coverage, but many drivers, especially seniors with Medicare, may choose to avoid that coverage because their health insurance or Medicare already covers them. FCAN also thinks the new law will reduce Florida's uninsured drivers and the fraud associated with PIP."

An analysis by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation in 2016 found that repealing PIP and replacing with BI at $25/$50 would result in an average 9.6% savings for most Floridians. A new 2021 study says savings would average $350 per driver annually or 18%. However, some Floridians who now carry only the minimum $10,000 coverage or have no insurance, would see higher rates, but they would benefit from more coverage.



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FCAN  COVIDLiability Immunity Project

The Florida House of Representatives is considering HB 7, a bill that would exempt many businesses from lawsuits when they may be responsible for exposing staff, customers, or the public to the virus through carelessness or negligence.  Read more here.


Protect Public Health NOT Superspreaders! 

Oppose Senate Bill 72 and House Bill 7


Read FCAN Statements on these bills

FCAN COVID-19 Emergency Response

The COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented challenge for our country, threatening our health, wellbeing, and democracy. Now more than ever, we need to work together to ensure that our government has a coordinated, strategic response to safeguard the public’s health, protect consumers from emerging dangers and ensure people can still participate fully in our democracy.

 
Too Dangerous to Open Florida? 

Open Safe FL.pdf   Open Safe Release.docx

NEW OpenSafe FL Facts.pdf    NEW 7.9.20 Open Safe Week 2 release.docx,

From Johns Hopkins University of Medicine
July 08, 2020 
FCAN and national partners have assembled a COVID-19 response team of policy experts, advocates, organizers, and researchers. If we all pull together, we can find concrete ways to protect public health, consumers, and our democracy. Click here for more information:

More Testing Needed - Protect Healthcare Workers - Consumer Tips for Coping - Prevent Price Gouging - Safely Reopen - Release Ventilator Repair Information - Protect Consumer Credit - Stop Bad Bailouts - 25 Things to do at Home - Much more

FCAN's Comprehensive Response  to the Florida Covid-19 Surge

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Hurricane Season is Here! FCAN Helps you get ready

    FCAN 2020 Hurricane Media Guide
 -- resources, data, more from FCAN and the Public Interest Network

Strengthen Our Homes -- FCAN oped on the need for stronger building codes

Hurricane Resilience  -- How Can Communities Become Resilient?

Consumer updates:

Unsafe Used Cars (docx file)

FCAN Payday lending press release (pdf) Feb 2, 2019

 

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FEATURED ISSUE: Pesticides are threatening bee populations globally.

Millions of bees are dying off, with alarming consequences for our food supply. We rely on bees to pollinate 71 of the 100 crops that provide 90 percent of the world’s food. Imagine no almonds, less coffee, no chocolate, fewer apples and strawberries, less alfalfa to feed dairy cows ... the list goes on. READ MORE

FCAN stands for an America where everyone gets their fair share, does their fair share, and pays their fair share; and where everyone plays by the same rules.

Insurance

Auto insurance costs too much! Learn why here READ MORE

Consumer

Holding business and corporations accountable is crucial to protecting consumers. READ MORE

Health Care

The American Health Care system isn’t working but it doesn’t have to be that way. READ MORE

Bees

Bees impact our food, economy, and health; it’s time to protect them. READ MORE