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Protecting
Consumers
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| PIRGIM
Education Fund Advocate Megan Owens, speaking in front
of reporters, highlights unfairly rising bank fees in
Michigan. Photo: Staff |
Through
our consumer program, PIRGIM Education Fund works to protect
consumers from dangerous products and rip-offs. We recently
released several reports to educate consumers and watchdog
businesses, including:
Big
Banks, Bigger Fees
Released by PIRGIM Education Fund in November 2001, Big
Banks, Bigger Fees detailed the sharp increase in customer
banking fees in recent years. The report found that Michigan
consumers could save at least $75 annually by banking with
a smaller bank or credit union.
Trouble
in Toyland
This report, released each November by PIRGIM Education
Fund, chronicles safety hazards still posed by some toys.
The 2001 survey focused on choking hazards, the most common
cause of toy-related deaths. Our 17th annual report, released
in Nov. 2002, highlighted dangerous toys on store shelves
as well as hazards associated with purchasing toys online.
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| The
2001 version of this report, released with Dr. Bryan
Buller, Medical Director of the Emergency Department
at St. Mary’s Mercy Medical Center in Grand Rapids,
cautioned parents about the choking hazards in commonly
available toys. |
We released
the 2001 report in Grand Rapids, Detroit and Lansing, garnering
much media attention. In 2002, we expanded the release to
include Port Huron, working with doctors such as Dr. Frank
McGeorge, physician at Beaumont Hospital, and Dr. Thabit
Bakhur, director of Emergency Services at Port Huron Hospital.
Deflate
Your Rate
Released in March 2002, this report showed that 56 percent
of individuals surveyed reduced their interest rates by
more than one-third with a free,five-minute call, simply
by phoning their credit card company and asking for a rate
reduction.
Playing
It Safe: The Sixth Nationwide Safety Survey of Public Playgrounds
Released in June 2002, this state PIRG survey found that
a sizeable percentage of playgrounds in Michigan failed
to meet the standards of safe play laid out for the study.
Hazards included swings that are too close together, slides
too far off the ground, inadequate padding underneath equipment
and peeling paint. Despite progress already made in improving
playground safety, much remains to be done. Multiple television
and radio stations covered the release.
Home
| Drilling In The Great Lakes
| Clean
Water Enforcement | Strengthening
Our Democracy | Land
Use And Liveable Communities | Cleaning
Up Our Air | Protecting
Consumers | New
Energy Future
|
