Student Consumer Action Network

Don't Get Ripped Off

After Wall Street practices brought down the entire U.S. and parts of the world economies, Congress finally stepped up in July 2010 and created the Maryland PIRG Students-backed Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a new agency that will act as a counterbalance to the banks and ensure that the credit cards, mortgages, and student loans that consumers use are safe and easy to understand. When you have a complaint about a bank or credit card company, you can call on the new CFPB.

Our economy needs to be fair to consumers in order to function. While a company may make a short-term profit from ripping off consumers or putting an unsafe product on the market, it's not good for anyone in the long term. 

Our consumer program works to protect consumers by:

• Alerting the publice to hidden dangers, scams, and unsafe products
• Educating consumers about the choices available by conducting price surveys of various products and services available to students in an effort to allow them to the make the best choices for themselves.
• Educating consumers about their rights in the marketplace by producing consumer guides to help people navigate the marketplace.
• Advocating for change by working to build the support it takes to pass consumer protection legislation in our states and in D.C.

As students, we're particularly vulnerable to some specific consumer issues:

• Online Privacy
• Identity Theft
• Renters Rights
• Student Tax Breaks
• Credit Cards
• Spring Break and Travel Ripoffs
• Cell Phones
• Health Insurance 
• Private Student Loans