AGO News Releases With Topic: Consumer Protection

New laws will help protect veterans against Pension Poacher scams and increase economic protections for military servicemembers Two bills requested by Attorney General Bob Ferguson to protect veterans and military families were signed into law today by Governor Jay Inslee. The bills received broad bipartisan support. The new laws will take effect June 12, 2014.

Shines light on dangers of mixing caffeine and alcohol Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that a multi-state settlement has been reached with Phusion Projects, LLC., Jaisen Freeman, Christopher Hunter, and Jeffrey Wright (collectively, “Phusion”).

As donors consider contributing to relief efforts for the Snohomish County mudslide tragedy, Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Secretary of State Kim Wyman are urging consumers to be on guard against scam artists who try to take advantage of the situation.

Fortune 500 company will adopt new policy effective April 1, 2014 After Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a petition in court regarding its investigation of O’Reilly Automotive Inc.’s policy of not providing healthcare benefits to the same-sex spouses of its Washington employees, O’Reilly announced it will now extend healthcare coverage to same-sex spouses of its employees in Washington and other states recognizing marriage equality. This new healthcare policy is effective April 1, 2014.

O’Reilly refuses to provide records requested by the Attorney General The Washington State Attorney General’s Office today filed a petition in King County Superior Court to enforce a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) issued to O’Reilly Auto Parts.

AGO offers multiple ways to help consumers It is almost impossible not to be a consumer. Whether a purchase is made online or in a store down the street, whenever you engage in some kind of business transaction you are a consumer.

Consumers encouraged to file claims to receive share of $310M settlement Estimated $500,000 returned to Washington state agencies Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that consumers may now file claims to recover money from the manufacturers of Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) computer chips. These consumer payments will settle multi-state antitrust allegations that the manufacturers conspired to fix prices.

The Washington State Attorney General’s Office and Better Business Bureau are partnering up for National Consumer Protection Week, March 2-8. Both agencies are committed to providing Washingtonians with tools to protect themselves against growing scams and helping people make better purchasing decisions.

A new email phishing scam making the rounds nationwide has hit Washington state, and this one is disguised as a utility bill.

Personal stories of NW families struggling to make ends meet and avoid foreclosure highlight  need for community involvement to help Thurston County families stay in their homes The Washington State Attorney General’s Office and the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions are pleased to announce the screening of the foreclosure documentary American Winter in Olympia, Wash.