Consumer Watchdog

Programs: Litigation - consumer watchdog (cwd) works to protect consumers in the courts and before administrative agencies. In 2014, cwd concluded several challenges to insurance rate change proposals saving california homeowners and motorists over $125 million on their insurance. Cwd initiated or intervened in several proceedings at the california department of insurance related to excessive insurance rate change proposals. Cwd continued litigation against unfair pricing practices by auto insurance companies. Cwd initiated and continued litigation against several large health insurance companies to stop bait-and-switch marketing tactics such as misrepresentation of doctor and hospital networks, and to protect the health and privacy of hiv/aids patients. Cwd continued litigation to compensate customers for false advertising by a major auto manufacturer of its cars miles per gallon. Cwd continued to prosecute litigation against the state to prevent improper disposal of toxic waste in california. Cwd continued to prosecute litigation against a major telecommunications company over exorbitant early termination fees.

corporate accountability, privacy & political reform consumer watchdog (cwd) educates the public about issues related to consumer rights, privacy and political reform, and cwd researches and informs the public about corporate involvement in the political process. In 2014, cwd was interviewed for and cited in approximately 175 news articles and radio & tv interviews related to these issues, including the washington post, los angeles times, the guardian, cnbc, npr and the new york times. Cwd joined international consumer organizations to educate the public and promote stronger digital privacy protections. Cwd filed complaints with federal regulatory agencies on anti-consumer practices of the major internet companies. Cwd educated the public about the privacy risks of emerging technologies and petitioned regulators to focus on consumer issues related to privacy and net neutrality. Cwd educated the public about the political influence and lobbying efforts of various industry giants in washington and sacramento. Cwd exposed concerns regarding mergers and acquisitions by major internet and telecommunications companies.

health care & insurance reform consumer watchdog (cwd) fights to protect patients from insurance abuses, to improve patient safety, and for universally available and affordable health care. Cwd works to enforce and protect californias insurance reform proposition 103, which regulates most property/casualty insurance. In 2014, cwd was interviewed for and cited in approximately 115 news articles and radio & tv interviews related to these issues, including los angeles times, washington post, usa today, san francisco chronicle, sacramento bee, and the new york times. Cwd educated the public about access to healthcare, and deceptive insurance industry efforts to weaken federal and state health care consumer protections. Cwd also promoted efforts to increase fairness and transparency in auto and homeowners insurance rates. Cwd continued to pursue a formal petition to the state insurance commissioner to stop auto insurance companies from secretly discriminating against customers based on occupation or educational level. Cwd educated the public about failures in medical oversight and patient safety regulations in california, and about patient access and addiction to prescription drugs.