Consumers are becoming more and more socially conscious and want the goods and services they use to measure up. It doesn’t take much. A simple action that costs a company very little — or nothing at all — can make a real difference in the mind of a customer and the company’s bottom line. In that spirit, here are five companies that make an effort to make the world a…

By DANIEL WAGNER WASHINGTON — The government’s consumer lending watchdog proposed new rules Friday aimed at protecting homeowners from unexpected costs and shoddy service by companies that collect their monthly mortgage payments. Mortgage servicing companies would be required to provide clear monthly billing statements, warn borrowers before interest rate hikes and actively help them avoid foreclosure under the proposal by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The rules also require companies…

By JOAN LOWY WASHINGTON — The government can require airlines to show consumers a total ticket price that includes taxes and fees in print and online ads, the U.S. Court of Appeals said Tuesday, rejecting an industry challenge to a series of consumer protection regulations. The Department of Transportation, which issued the regulations last year, has the authority to regulate “unfair and deceptive” airline industry practices, the three-member panel said…

Think counterfeiting only extends to that knock-off name-brand purse or those slightly irregular DVDs you bought on the street? Think again. Everything is fair game to counterfeiters these days, from music to computer equipment to car parts. But perhaps most frightening: The food you eat and the beverages you drink might not be the real thing. While all counterfeiting is problematic, counterfeit food and beverages are especially tricky. The inherent…

By Emily Jane Fox NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Apartments crawling with bedbugs. Pricey phone services the customer — senior citizens — didn’t order. A tombstone never delivered. And, of course, auto dealers. The Consumer Federation of America on Tuesday released its annual chronicle of the top 10 consumer complaints. The CFA list comes from a survey of 38 consumer agencies about the kinds of complaints they received in 2011. The…

Prev1 of 5Next There’s nothing new about using social media to battle big businesses: For years, the media has trumpeted stories of angry customers who voiced their gripes on social networks, often with great results. Recently, however, an Arizona cancer patient went to unusual lengths in his social media campaign, using Twitter and Facebook to engage the CEO of one of America’s biggest insurance companies in a dialog about America’s…

Prev1 of 3Next The most tempting, succulent confection of the season might be candy corn. The tri-colored pyramids epitomize autumn and Halloween, and 35 million pounds — or about 9 billion pieces — of candy corn will be produced this year, says the National Confectioners Association. Not too shabby for the confection started in the 1880s by George Renninger, a humble employee of the Wunderlee Candy Company. But while much…

As I was walking to work this morning, I saw a giant bus ad that read, “Don’t let bureaucrats tell you what beverage to buy.” It bore the silhouette of a muscular man triumphantly holding up a cup of soda and directed viewers to NYCBeverageChoices.com. The ad campaign and website are part of the beverage industry’s ongoing efforts to overturn New York City’s ban on the sale of sugary drinks…

[UPDATE May 20, 2013:] We learned today that Victoria’s Secret has decided against creating a special line of bras for breast cancer survivors, rejecting a popular petition by a woman whose mother survived the disease. A few months ago, it appeared that the petition was making some headway: Victoria’s Secret parent company Limited Brands invited petitioner Allana Maiden to meet with company representatives in person to discuss the issue. But…

Alamy Moms will go to any lengths to ensure their family’s well-being. Unfortunately, scammers know that too. So under the guise of helping, they’ll go to equally great lengths to part moms from their cash. This Mother’s Day — and every day — be on the lookout for these common scams that often target mothers and other caregivers. Make Big Bucks Working at Home! When money is tight, working at…