Pat Zaharopoulos, Esq. and Murtaza H. Baxamusa named to UCAN's Board of Directors
UCAN has named Pat Zaharopoulos, Esq. and Dr. Murtaza H. Baxamusa to its Board of Directors. Details.
Four Holiday Scams And "Gotchas" to Look Out For
Have you seen some holiday offers that look too good to be true? They probably are. A savvy shopper should be aware of scammer's tactics during the shopping season. Protect your pocketbook by avoiding this year's top holiday scams.
Paying by smartphone a not-so-smart idea
You can use your smartphone to do just about anything, and now you can buy a flat screen TV with a single screen tap. But is it a good idea? T-Mobile just launched a new service dubbed “Direct Carrier Billing,” which allows users to make purchases on their phone and billed to their T-Mobile account. Consumer attorneys warn that these services don’t offer adequate fraud protection, which means that in a dispute the consumer can be stuck with the bill.
Looking to cut summer electricity costs? Here’s one consumer product worth its weight in gold.
Nothing is more frustrating than watching your energy bill rise and feeling powerless to stop it. If you call SDG&E they’ll offer you a general energy audit - - useful, but it won’t tell you if you have a problem appliance that’s an electricity glutton. If you call an electrician they’ll inspect your appliances - - but for a pretty penny.
Luckily, there is a way to test each of your appliances without incurring an enormous cost.
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Regulators are going to the Dark Side
Two prominent "regulators" have gone to work for Comcast - the same company they were supposed to be policing. The issue raises serious questions about the credibility and impartiality of the politically appointed bureaucrats that are supposed to be representing you in regulatory hearings. Full story.
Meet local privacy advocates on May 11, 2011
On Wednesday, May 11, at 7PM, three of America's top Privacy Advocates, including Beth Givens of UCAN's Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, will be in the same room discussing the digital underground and the threat to your privacy at UCSD's Great Hall. Learn more and RSVP HERE.
New appointees could transform the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), from a "lap dog," into a watchdog
The end of an era at CPUC?
Governor Brown's new appointees to California's most powerful regulatory court - the California Public Utilities Commission - has the potential to restore integrity to a tarnished institution. Full Story.
Time to look into earthquake insurance?
We all know California is earthquake country and “unsettling” might be the word to describe recent major and devastating quakes in Japan, New Zealand and Haiti. Being prepared for--and surviving--a major quake should be first priority but what about the financial aftershocks?
California Energy Commission launches a new site to help consumers with energy upgrades
With SDG&E’s increasing rates and our current cold spell, San Diegans have every reason to keep their home energy efficient. But trying to find a decent contractor and ensuring you qualify for those energy rebates can be a pain in the butt.
CPSC Recalls
John Mattes is an embedded reporter for the New Media Rights Community Journalism Project investigating UCAN issues.
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The Fraud Squad Network
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UCAN's Money Saving Tips Forum
Share your favorite tips and see some of the UCAN Staff's money saving secrets
Michael Gets All Wet & Fishy.....with an Aquaponic Experiment
Miracles don't happen often enough in our world. But when Michael starts growing his own fish and food in his garage, then you know that there's some divine intervention because Michael doesn't fish and he's got a brown thumb that makes all leafy things tremble. So how did Advocate Michael become Farmer Michael? One word: AQUAPONICS.
DUH-REGULATION: How regulatory recklessness led to the 21st Century's first economic meltdown
Consider this fact. Any child under the age of 18 is prohibited from gambling in a casino in most states. Yet, that same 17 year old can trade in derivative securities with absolutely no prohibitions. What is the difference between casino gambling and derivative training? Well, for one, gambling risks are more readily calculable. Secondly, gambling is regulated by individual states. But derivative trading is exclusively controlled by federal regulators. And those regulators have very little interest in regulating. Why is this important? Because history will likely show that these disinterested regulators contributed mightily to the financial market freezeout that is pushing the world economy into the most serious economic recession in generations.
It is important that Americans know what really caused the financial cataclysm. Decisions will be made in 2009 based upon what policy makers decide are the root causes of the financial crises that plague our economy. Knowing the causes are critical to determining the correct fixes. As will be explained below, the credit markets' unfettered efforts to keep Americans spending will likely prove to be the primary culprit behind the current credit collapse.
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UCAN.org is made available by the Utility Consumers' Action Network to assist you in becoming what you always knew you could be: a consumer ROCK STAR! We take no corporate money, and are beholden only to you, the consumer. As such, the site is here for educational, advocacy, and empowerment purposes, as well to to give you general information and a general understanding of the law. Just remember this site is NOT here to provide specific legal advice. By using this web site you of course understand that there is no attorney-client relationship between you and the Web Site publisher, UCAN. The Web Site should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.
That said, get to digging on the site, inform yourself, speak your mind, and earn Watchdog Bones! This is YOUR site, and we mean it. So comment on any of the content, discuss the latest issues in the forums, file a complaint on a company with the Fraud Squad, and generally cut loose.
See our Terms of Use, Privacy, and Copyright complaint policies as well as our Content Reuse Policy, Some Rights Reserved. Remember, if you have any questions about copyright law or need legal information regarding intellectual property, the internet, or new technologies, visit our affiliate New Media Rights at www.newmediarights.org. If you are in the San Diego region, you can also can apply to use New Media Rights' multimedia studio and equipment for free.
