Current Projects

Payday Loans
	Maryland Consumers has been working to keep payday lending illegal in Maryland. Payday lenders loan a small amount of cash in exchange for the consumer’s post-dated personal check. These loans carry interest rates as high as 390% for a two week loan and 780% for a one week loan. During the 2001 legislative session Maryland Consumers worked with other non-profit groups and government agencies to thwart an industry attempt to legalize payday lending in Maryland. We also conducted a survey of payday loan activity in Maryland and we will be releasing the results of that survey in conjunction with the Consumer Federation of America this fall.
Privacy Rights
Maryland Consumers is concerned about the privacy rights of consumers and is monitoring legislation that impacts privacy rights. During the 2001 legislative session, Maryland Consumers testified in favor of state legislation that would provide privacy protections for internet users. While many of the provisions of this bill were defeated, a new division was created in the Attorney General’s Office to coordinate a response to internet related complaints and to focus on internet fraud. We also supported legislation that prohibited the sale or purchase of social security numbers. While this bill was narrowly defeated in committee, it is expected to be reintroduced in 2002. Maryland Consumers will continue to focus on the issue of privacy to ensure that consumers’ interests are heard.
Energy Star
	Maryland Consumers is working with the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) to educate consumers about the Energy Star label - a symbol found on energy efficient appliances. We are also promoting a little known Maryland law that provides a tax exemption for consumers who purchase certain Energy Star appliances. We placed articles about Energy Star and the tax exemption in several newsletters, newspapers, distributed brochures at the Maryland State Fair and other events and promoted Energy Star on television and radio shows, getting the word out about Energy Star to many Maryland residents. For more information about Energy Star and the Maryland tax exemption go to our Energy Star Page.
Credit Card Marketing
Maryland Consumers is promoting a new website, www.truthaboutcredit.org, which describes what consumers can do to avoid high credit card charges and includes a credit cost calculator. We are advising consumers to be aware of penalty APR’s and increased fees for late payments. Penalty APR’s, which many credit card companies have started imposing if a customer makes a late payment or misses a payment, can increase the APR an average of 8%. Late fees have doubled in the last ten years to an average of $27.61. In addition to educating consumers about credit card offers, Maryland Consumers is investigating the aggressive marketing of credit cards to students on college campuses. This has become a serious problem over the last few years, with many college students getting into substantial debt before they have graduated from college and forcing some to drop out of school or file for bankruptcy. Maryland Consumers testified in favor of a bill introduced in the 2001 legislative session that would prohibit public colleges and universities from disclosing students’ personal information for commercial purposes. This bill was defeated, but this issue is expected to be revisited in 2002.
Regulating Guns as Consumer Products
	Maryland Consumers is working with the Consumer Federation of America on a project to inform consumers that guns are not regulated for safety (as are virtually all other products) and to educate consumers about the potential benefits of safety regulation of guns. Maryland Consumers is one of ten state consumer organizations chosen to participate in the project. Like cars, prescription drugs, household pesticides and a host of other products sold in America, guns are inherently dangerous. They cannot be used as intended without exposing the user and bystanders to the risk of injury or death. The big difference between guns and other consumer products is that guns are not regulated for health and safety in their design, manufacture or distribution. No federal agency has the power to ensure that guns manufactured and sold are safe. Maryland Consumers co-sponsored a briefing with Attorney General J. Joseph Curran for Maryland non-profit groups to educate them on regulating guns as consumer products and to encourage the groups to distribute information about this issue to their members. We are continuing to reach out to groups across the state to get the word out about this project. To learn more about regulating guns as consumer products go to Guns as Consumer Products.