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Consumer Daily Reports

Consumer News: Match to pay $14 million, overhaul cancellation and guarantee practices in FTC settlement

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Category: Consumer Daily Reports

The settlement affects Match, OkCupid, PlentyofFish and other popular dating sites

By Truman Lewis Consumer News: Match to pay million, overhaul cancellation and guarantee practices in FTC settlement of ConsumerAffairs
August 12, 2025

  • Match Group will pay $14 million and stop misleading users about dating guarantees after FTC charges.

  • Company must simplify Match.com subscription cancellations and end account lockouts tied to billing disputes.

  • FTC says the changes will protect consumers from hidden restrictions and unfair practices.

Match Group, the parent company of Match.com, OkCupid, PlentyofFish, and other popular dating platforms, has agreed to a $14 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission over allegations it misled consumers and unfairly restricted access to paid accounts.

The settlement resolves a 2019 FTC lawsuit claiming Match deceived users by promoting a six-month meet someone special guarantee without clearly disclosing the strict conditions required to qualify. The FTC also alleged the company locked out customers who disputed charges keeping their money while denying them access to the services they had paid for and made cancellation unnecessarily difficult.

Under the proposed federal court order, Match must clearly disclose all terms and conditions of its guarantees, refrain from misrepresenting material restrictions, and stop punishing customers who file billing disputes. The company is also required to provide straightforward ways for subscribers to cancel.

The FTC said the $14 million will be used to compensate affected consumers. The Commission approved the settlement in a unanimous 3-0 vote, and the order will take effect once signed by a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.




Posted: 2025-08-12 16:47:47

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Consumer News: Want to save the planet? Stay home, don't get a dog

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 19:07:07 +0000

Study finds Americans often misjudge which personal choices impact climate change the most

By James R. Hood of ConsumerAffairs
August 13, 2025

  • New research shows people overestimate the climate benefits of recycling and efficient light bulbs, while underestimating the impact of flying, owning dogs, and using renewable energy.

  • The most impactful actionsavoiding flights, not owning a dog, and switching to renewable electricitywere among the most misunderstood.

  • Experts say marketing, visibility, and misinformation contribute to the publics inaccurate rankings of climate-friendly actions.

Many Americans pride themselves on their burlap shopping bags, vegan snacks and recycling everything in sight. But a new study recently published by the National Academy of Sciences finds that many such cherished traditions don't actually do all that much to reduce climate change, while other harmful behaviors like jet flights andcarnivorous dogs are much more damaging.

Researchers asked participants to rank the climate impact of various behaviors, from switching to energy-efficient light bulbs to avoiding plane flights. They found widespread misconceptions. While avoiding flights, not adopting a dog, and using renewable electricity ranked highest in actual climate benefit, they were also the most underestimated by participants. Conversely, actions like recycling, changing light bulbs, and using less energy for laundrythough beneficialwere overestimated in their climate impact.

People over-assign impact to actually pretty low-impact actions such as recycling, and underestimate the actual carbon impact of behaviors much more carbon intensive, like flying or eating meat, said study co-author Madalina Vlasceanu of Stanford University.

Several factors may explain the gap. Jiaying Zhao, a psychology and sustainability professor at the University of British Columbia, noted that visible and frequent actions, like recycling, feel more significant than infrequent but high-impact behaviors like flying. Marketing campaigns have also long promoted recycling and efficient appliances, while often ignoring the emissions from activities such as air travel or pet ownership.

Flying dogs are the worst

Dogs, in particular, contribute more to climate change than many realize due to the meat-heavy diets they require. Beef production, a common protein in pet food, is especially carbon-intensive and often linked to deforestation. Air travel is another major source of emissions, with a single round-trip flight from New York to Los Angeles producing over 1,300 pounds of carbon dioxide per passenger.

Switching to renewable energy, experts say, is among the most effective choices an individual can make, significantly reducing emissions from home heating, cooling, and electricity use.

The researchers found that when participants were given accurate information about the climate impact of different actions, they adjusted their priorities toward more impactful changes. People do learn from these interventions, Vlasceanu said. After learning, they are more willing to commit to actually more impactful actions.


Read More ...

Consumer News: Texas stares down Kellogg's, which agrees to remove toxic dyes from its cereals

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 19:07:06 +0000

Kellogg's agrees to remove toxic dyes from its cereals following negotiations with Texas

By James R. Hood of ConsumerAffairs
August 13, 2025

Young cowpokes and others sidling up to the breakfast bar won't be blinded by the glare from their cereal bowls anymore. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has twisted Kellogg's arms and wrestled an agreement that the company will permanently remove toxic dyes from its cereals.

Following months of investigating and negotiating, Im proud to officially say Kelloggs will stop putting these unhealthy ingredients in its cereals, said Paxton in a news release. The signed [agreement] demonstrates that Kelloggs is committed to keeping this pledge, and I commend the company for doing the right thing. I encourage other food manufacturers to sign similar agreements to demonstrate their commitment to helping Americans live healthier lives.

Kelloggs cereals have played an important role in US consumers lives for more than a century, and we look forward to continuing that tradition, the company wrote.

It's not clear if the agreement affects only Texas. Generally, when one state typically California regulates a consumer product, manufacturers apply the modification nationwide.

"A significant milestone"

The parties have signed anAssurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC), which certifies that the company is legally agreeing to remove artificial food colorings from its cereals by the end of 2027. This historic legal agreement with a major food company represents a significant milestone in the movement to remove toxic dyes from foods and protect the health of all Americans, Paxton said.

While other companies have verbally committed to removing food dyes, Kelloggs is the first to officially sign a legally binding agreement confirming that it will remove food colorings.

Paxton previously issued a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) to Kelloggs in February of this year and formallyannouncedthe investigation in April. The investigation was launched after Kelloggs claimed it would remove petroleum-based food colorings in the United States, but did not do so. Instead, it removed these toxic ingredients in Canada and Europe while continuing to put different types of blue, red, and yellow dyes in American cereals.


Read More ...

Consumer News: Target preps for Halloween early with big discounts

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 19:07:06 +0000

Dive into dcor, costumes for all (even pets!), and treats starting at just $1

By Kristen Dalli of ConsumerAffairs
August 13, 2025

  • Target just dropped a Halloween collection online featuring over 1,500 items, with prices kicking off at just $1.

  • Dcor spans three on-trend vibes moody Victorian, classic orange and black, and magical / iridescent with most pieces under $25.

  • Costumes range from pop-culture characters to Target-themed looks and adaptive options, starting around $10, plus unique candy deals like spooky gummies and candy noodles.

Halloween has officially hit Target.

The retailer dropped an expansive lineup of more than 1,500 Halloween items on its website, with prices beginning at just $1. The goal is to help consumers prepare for the Halloween season ahead of time and without breaking the bank.

We know millions of families love Halloween and dont want to wait until October to shop, so Target is ready with over 1,500 new items so you can start preparing right now, Rick Gomez, chief commercial officer, Target, said in a statement.

With great value on delicious treats from Favorite Day and beloved national brands, stylish decor, and costumes for kids of all ages, Target has everything you need to celebrate a magical season.

What you need to know (budget, dcor, costumes & candy)

  • Dcor Trends (mostly under $25)

    • Moody, bleak, and beautiful: Dark-romantic, Victorian aesthetics gold snakeskin taper candles, skull-and-pumpkin pillows, and luxe gothic pieces from the Threshold collection.

    • Orange, black, and boo: The Hyde & EEK! Boutique brings the classic Halloween palette with staples like Featherly Friends and the larger-than-life Lewis the grinning eight-foot pumpkin ghoul, plus new pals: werewolf, vampire, and witch.

    • Mystical, magical, enchanting: Iridescent witch hats, fringed pumpkins, and shimmery skeletons.

  • Costumes (starting at $10)
    • Expect hundreds of fresh options for everyone from toddlers to adults and even your pets.
    • Pop-culture lovers can pick from Spider-Man, Gabbys Dollhouse, Minecraft, Wicked characters, and more. However, Target fans owe it to themselves: infant and toddler Bullseye dog costumes are already trending, as are the Bullseye semi-truck looks. Plus, food costumes (like Diet Coke, M&Ms, charcuterie boards) deliver whimsy, while adaptive options (like mermaid or firefighter costumes, light-up electric bones) make sure everyone can get in on the fun.
  • Treats & Party Snacks
    • Targets got candy covered, too. Shoppers can find Joyride Spooky Gummies and Nerds Gummy Clusters exclusively at Target, alongside Favorite Day picks like peelable gummy apples, freeze-dried worm candy, sour slime, and spooky witches-brew noodles all for under $5. There are also party-ready value bags starting around $9.99, and party favors going for just $1.


Right now, the Halloween goodies are exclusively online but beginning in September, everything will hit shelves in Target stores.


Read More ...

Consumer News: Fresh food joins Amazon’s Same-Day Delivery

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 19:07:06 +0000

Order milk, meat, and more alongside your gadgets and get them within hours

By Kristen Dalli of ConsumerAffairs
August 13, 2025

  • Prime members in over 1,000 U.S. cities can now order perishable groceries like produce, dairy, meats, and frozen foods with Amazons Same-Day Delivery.

  • Amazon plans to double that reach to more than 2,300 cities and towns by the end of 2025.

  • You can now mix groceries with electronics, home goods, or books check out in one cart and receive everything in hours.

Imagine ordering bananas, milk, frozen pizza and even a mystery novel in one go, and having it all arrive within hours.

Thats now a reality for Amazon Prime members in more than 1,000 U.S. cities and towns, as Amazon has announced that it will be bringing fresh perishable groceries into its Same-Day Delivery service.

If your cart tops $25, delivery is free if not, theres a$2.99 fee. Non-Prime customers can still get Same-Day Delivery, but itll cost $12.99, no matter the order size.

Amazon is always looking for ways to make grocery shopping simpler, faster, and more affordable for our customers, especially Prime membersand this new service makes grocery shopping a quick and easy experience, the company wrote in a statement.

Whats new and what you can expect

Thousands of fresh items produce, dairy, meat, seafood, baked goods and even frozen foods are getting the fast-delivery treatment, alongside the millions of other items Amazon already ships same-day.

The retailer is aiming even higher, expanding this offering to over 2,300 areas across the U.S. by years end. That means even more folks will be able to shop seamlessly and get essentials in a flash.

This new service builds on Amazons existing grocery options like Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods but adds serious convenience by combining all your shopping needs in one cart.

Every perishable item goes through a six-point quality check and is delivered in insulated, recyclable packaging just like what Amazon uses for Fresh and Whole Foods deliveries.


Read More ...

Consumer News: Zelle sued by New York over rampant fraud, $1 billion in losses

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 19:07:06 +0000

AG Letitia James says the developers of Zelle peer-to-peer payment app left users exposed to fraud

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs
August 13, 2025

  • AG Letitia James sues Zelles operator, Early Warning Services, over failure to prevent fraud that cost users over $1 billion

  • Lawsuit alleges Zelle was designed without essential safeguards and marketed falsely as safe

  • Case seeks restitution for New Yorkers and court-ordered anti-fraud protections going forward

New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a sweeping lawsuit against Early Warning Services, LLC (EWS), the operator behind the popular peer-to-peer payment app Zelle, accusing the company of failing to protect consumers from widespread fraud that drained over $1 billion from users between 2017 and 2023.

The lawsuit, announced today, paints a damning picture of how Zelle was designed and operated. According to the New York Attorney Generals Office, EWSa company owned by major U.S. banks including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Capital One, and Wells Fargolaunched Zelle hastily, prioritizing speed and user growth over security. The result, the lawsuit claims, was a platform ripe for exploitation by scammers.

No one should be left to fend for themselves after falling victim to a scam, said AG James. I look forward to getting justice for the New Yorkers who suffered because of Zelles security failures.

Fraud made easy, recovery nearly impossible

Zelle, which enables near-instant transfers between U.S. bank accounts using only email addresses or phone numbers, offered few verification protections at sign-up. Scammers routinely created accounts that mimicked trusted entitiessuch as utilities or government agenciesand tricked consumers into sending money under false pretenses. Once transferred, the money was often unrecoverable.

In one example cited in the lawsuit, a New Yorker was duped into sending $1,476.89 to a Zelle account labeled Coned Billing after receiving a call from someone impersonating a Con Edison employee. The consumers bank, JPMorgan Chase, refused to refund the loss, claiming it could not retrieve the funds.

The OAG says EWS knew of such from the start, failed to enforce its own minimal anti-fraud policies, and did not require banks to report fraudulent transactions in a timely mannerallowing fraudsters to repeatedly target new victims.

Ignored warnings and abandoned safeguards

EWS reportedly developed basic fraud prevention tools as early as 2019 but failed to implement them, even as fraud reports mounted. Although a federal lawsuit on the issue was dropped by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau earlier this year, New Yorks lawsuit seeks restitution and damages for victims and court-enforced reforms to mandate robust fraud protections.

Despite being marketed as a safe alternative to apps like Venmo and PayPal, Zelles lack of safeguards has turned it into a haven for scammers, the lawsuit alleges. Attorney General James contends that EWSs failure to act constitutes a clear violation of New York consumer protection laws.

The case signals renewed pressure on fintech platforms to prioritize consumer safetyor face legal consequences.


Read More ...

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