Consumer News: Honda pays $632,500 fine over privacy violations, California says

This may be as good as it gets

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• 30-year fixed mortgage rates averaged6.11% as of Feb. 5, 2026, holding near its lowest level in years and remaining essentially flat from the previous weeks 6.10%.

• Fifteen-year fixed mortgage rates averaged5.50%, also slightly up week-to-week, but significantly below the 6.05% average a year ago.

• Rates remain lower than 2025 levels, offering buyers steadier borrowing costs heading into the spring home-buying season.

Freddie Macs latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey shows that the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) edged up to 6.11% last week a slight uptick from 6.10% the prior week, but still near its lowest levels in years.

The 15-year FRM averaged 5.50%, also inching up from the week before, but remaining well below the 6% level seen in early 2025.

Sam Khater, Freddie Macs chief economist, noted that the combination of more affordable rates and modestly better inventory could give prospective buyers a boost as spring approaches.

What it means for buyers

After years of historically low interest rates followed by sharp increases post-pandemic, mortgage costs this winter have flattened near 6% a pace that, while above the ultra-low pandemic era, marks a meaningful improvement from recent peaks. Average rates were closer to 6.89% a year ago, meaning todays buyers could see noticeably lower monthly payments on the same-priced home.

Economists and industry forecasts expect mortgage rates to stay in this range, near 6%, without dramatic swings in the short term offering some predictability to would-be buyers planning ahead.

Despite steadier rates, affordability pressures persist in many markets. Recent data indicate:

• In many major metro areas, renting remains cheaper than owning due to high home prices and mortgage borrowing costs, dampening purchase demand.

• Some regions continue to see tight inventories and rising prices, such as Hartford, where low months of supply are driving competition.

• However, other markets, like Houston, are experiencing improving affordability, with mortgage rates and prices both declining enough to expand buyer access.

• Across the U.S., more inventory and broader pricing stability are starting to balance the market after years of extreme tightness.

Spring buying season outlook

As the spring home-buying season gets underway, the combination of relatively stable mortgage rates and slowly improving supply could create opportunities for buyers who have been sidelined by affordability constraints. Experts caution that while rates may remain elevated compared to historical lows, the current environment offers more predictability and negotiation leverage than in the past few years.

For many buyers, this means locking in a rate near todays levels sooner rather than later and working closely with lenders to navigate regional market dynamics from competitive bidding in tight markets to discounts in areas with softer demand.

New data shows a continued decline in unwanted calls to start 2026

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• U.S. consumers received just under 3.9 billion robocalls in January 2026, according to YouMails monthly Robocall Index.

• That total marked a 5.6% drop from December 2025 and an 18% decline compared with January 2025.

• Despite the improvement, telemarketing and scam calls still made up the majority of robocalls nationwide.

U.S. robocall volumes continued to trend downward at the start of 2026, offering a rare bit of relief for consumers long frustrated by unwanted calls. New data from YouMail, a robocall protection app that tracks call activity nationwide, shows Januarys robocall traffic fell to just under 3.9 billion calls, one of the lowest monthly totals in years.

On a daily basis, Americans received an average of 125.2 million robocalls in January, or about 1,449 calls every second. That represents a noticeable improvement from December, when robocalls averaged 132.6 million per day and more than 1,500 per second. Januarys total was also only slightly higher by 3.8% than October 2025, which marked a multi-year low.

YouMail CEO Alex Quilici said the latest figures point to meaningful progress, though the issue remains widespread.

Encouraging start to the year

Its encouraging to see January 2026 with a meaningfully lower number of robocalls than December, Quilici said.

He noted that the past four months have averaged fewer than fourbillion robocalls, the first time that has happened since April 2022. However, the problem is far from solved, and it remains in consumers best interests to protect themselves with robocall-blocking apps.

Carriers have been rolling out the STIR/SHAKEN framework across their networks. This technology helps verify that caller ID you see on your phone is legitimate which makes it harder for scammers to spoof numbers to look local or trusted.

The Federal Communications Commission(FCC) requires all voice providers, including wireless carriers, to implement this system, which is central to reducing illegal robocalls.

The January decline was broad-based. All major categories of robocalls decreased during the month, including notification calls, payment reminders, and telemarketing or scam calls.

Notifications accounted for an estimated 1.10 billion calls, down just over 3% from December and representing about 28% of all robocalls. Payment reminder calls fell more sharply, dropping 11% to roughly 570 million calls. Telemarketing and scam calls declined by just over 4% to an estimated 2.18 billion calls.

Telemarketers and scammers

Even with that drop, telemarketing and scam robocalls remained the dominant category, making up about 57% of all robocalls placed in January. That translates to nearly 2.2 billion potentially unwanted or deceptive calls reaching consumers in a single month.

Among those, one campaign stood out as Januarys most annoying and potentially harmful. A robocall operation tied to a company calling itself Found Cash Now urged recipients to visit a website claiming it could help them recover unclaimed government money. The calls used a nearly identical message across tens of thousands of phone numbers, telling recipients they were owed exactly $5,286, warning the funds would be lost if not claimed quickly.

YouMail estimates the campaign alone may have generated more than 50 million calls in January. The identical dollar amount, lack of consumer consent, and reports of suspicious activity after visiting the website all point to a large-scale robocall scam, according to the company.

The program aims to help underinsured patients lower out-of-pocket drug costs

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• TrumpRX, a newly launched prescription discount program, is being promoted as a way for consumers to save money on medications at participating pharmacies nationwide.

• Supporters say the program is designed to be free to use and does not require insurance, enrollment fees, or membership commitments.

• Consumer advocates urge shoppers to compare prices carefully and understand how discount cards work before relying on any single program.

A new prescription discount initiative called TrumpRX has entered the crowded market of drug savings programs, promising lower prices on a wide range of medications for Americans struggling with rising health care costs.

The program, which is branded with President Trumps name, is being promoted as a simple, no-cost alternative for consumers who are uninsured, underinsured, or facing high copays. According to materials released by its organizers, TrumpRX functions similarly to other prescription discount cards, offering negotiated prices that can be used at many major pharmacy chains and independent drugstores.

How TrumpRX works

TrumpRX is not health insurance. Instead, it operates as a prescription discount card that consumers can present at the pharmacy counter. The pharmacy then applies the programs discounted price, which may be lower than the customers cash price or, in some cases, lower than an insurance copay.

Consumers can typically use such programs by downloading a card online, printing it, or displaying a digital version on a smartphone. There are no claims to file, and discounts are applied immediately at checkout.

Who may benefit

Prescription discount programs like TrumpRX are often most helpful for:

• People without health insurance

• Patients whose insurance does not cover a specific medication

• Consumers facing high deductibles or copays

Savings can vary widely depending on the drug, dosage, pharmacy, and location. Some generic medications may see substantial discounts, while brand-name drugs may offer more modest savings.

What consumers should watch out for

Consumer advocates recommend approaching any new discount program with a critical eye. Shoppers should:

• Compare TrumpRX prices with other discount cards and their insurance copays.

• Ask the pharmacist which option provides the lowest price.

• Understand that discounts can change and are not guaranteed.

• Be cautious about sharing personal information beyond what is required to receive a price quote.

Its also important to note that pharmacies are not required to accept every discount card, and participation can vary.

TrumpRX adds another option for consumers looking to reduce prescription drug costs, but it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. As with any discount program, the best approach is to compare prices, ask questions at the pharmacy counter, and choose the option that delivers the greatest savings for each prescription.

The program aims to help underinsured patients lower out-of-pocket drug costs

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• TrumpRX, a newly launched prescription discount program, is being promoted as a way for consumers to save money on medications at participating pharmacies nationwide.

• Supporters say the program is designed to be free to use and does not require insurance, enrollment fees, or membership commitments.

• Consumer advocates urge shoppers to compare prices carefully and understand how discount cards work before relying on any single program.

A new prescription discount initiative called TrumpRX has entered the crowded market of drug savings programs, promising lower prices on a wide range of medications for Americans struggling with rising health care costs.

The program, which is branded with former President Donald Trumps name, is being promoted as a simple, no-cost alternative for consumers who are uninsured, underinsured, or facing high copays. According to materials released by its organizers, TrumpRX functions similarly to other prescription discount cards, offering negotiated prices that can be used at many major pharmacy chains and independent drugstores.

How TrumpRX works

TrumpRX is not health insurance. Instead, it operates as a prescription discount card that consumers can present at the pharmacy counter. The pharmacy then applies the programs discounted price, which may be lower than the customers cash price or, in some cases, lower than an insurance copay.

Consumers can typically use such programs by downloading a card online, printing it, or displaying a digital version on a smartphone. There are no claims to file, and discounts are applied immediately at checkout.

Who may benefit

Prescription discount programs like TrumpRX are often most helpful for:

• People without health insurance

• Patients whose insurance does not cover a specific medication

• Consumers facing high deductibles or copays

Savings can vary widely depending on the drug, dosage, pharmacy, and location. Some generic medications may see substantial discounts, while brand-name drugs may offer more modest savings.

What consumers should watch out for

Consumer advocates recommend approaching any new discount program with a critical eye. Shoppers should:

Compare TrumpRX prices with other discount cards and their insurance copays

• Ask the pharmacist which option provides the lowest price

• Understand that discounts can change and are not guaranteed

• Be cautious about sharing personal information beyond what is required to receive a price quote

Its also important to note that pharmacies are not required to accept every discount card, and participation can vary.

TrumpRX adds another option for consumers looking to reduce prescription drug costs, but it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. As with any discount program, the best approach is to compare prices, ask questions at the pharmacy counter, and choose the option that delivers the greatest savings for each prescription.

New data show a continued decline in unwanted calls to start 2026

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• U.S. consumers received just under 3.9 billion robocalls in January 2026, according to YouMails monthly Robocall Index.

• That total marked a 5.6% drop from December 2025 and an 18% decline compared with January 2025.

• Despite the improvement, telemarketing and scam calls still made up the majority of robocalls nationwide.

U.S. robocall volumes continued to trend downward at the start of 2026, offering a rare bit of relief for consumers long frustrated by unwanted calls. New data from YouMail, a robocall protection app that tracks call activity nationwide, show Januarys robocall traffic fell to just under 3.9 billion calls, one of the lowest monthly totals in years.

On a daily basis, Americans received an average of 125.2 million robocalls in January, or about 1,449 calls every second. That represents a noticeable improvement from December, when robocalls averaged 132.6 million per day and more than 1,500 per second. Januarys total was also only slightly higherby 3.8%than October 2025, which marked a multi-year low.

YouMail CEO Alex Quilici said the latest figures point to meaningful progress, though the issue remains widespread.

Encouraging start to the year

Its encouraging to see January start 2026 with a meaningfully lower number of robocalls than December, Quilici said.

He noted that the past four months have averaged fewer than 4 billion robocalls, the first time that has happened since April 2022. However, the problem is far from solved, and it remains in consumers best interests to protect themselves with robocall-blocking apps.

Carriers have been rolling out the STIR/SHAKEN framework across their networks. This technology helps verify that a calls caller ID is legitimatewhich makes it harder for scammers to spoof numbers to look local or trusted.

The Federal Communications Commissionrequires all voice providers, including wireless carriers, to implement this system, which is central to reducing illegal robocalls.

The January decline was broad-based. All major categories of robocalls decreased during the month, including notification calls, payment reminders, and telemarketing or scam calls.

Notifications accounted for an estimated 1.10 billion calls, down just over 3% from December and representing about 28% of all robocalls. Payment reminder calls fell more sharply, dropping 11% to roughly 570 million calls. Telemarketing and scam calls declined by just over 4% to an estimated 2.18 billion calls.

Telemarketers and scammers

Even with that drop, telemarketing and scam robocalls remained the dominant category, making up about 57% of all robocalls placed in January. That translates to nearly 2.2 billion potentially unwanted or deceptive calls reaching consumers in a single month.

Among those, one campaign stood out as Januarys most annoying and potentially harmful. A robocall operation tied to a company calling itself Found Cash Now urged recipients to visit a website claiming it could help them recover unclaimed government money. The calls used a nearly identical message across tens of thousands of phone numbers, telling recipients they were owed exactly $5,286 and warning the funds would be lost if not claimed quickly.

YouMail estimates the campaign alone may have generated more than 50 million calls in January. The identical dollar amount, lack of consumer consent, and reports of suspicious activity after visiting the website all point to a large-scale robocall scam, according to the company.