Members of CUB’s consumer advocacy department (CAD) take thousands of inquiries each year, so they’ve heard all about the crazy pitches consumers receive from alternative electric suppliers. Last week, Sandra Marcelin-Reme—a veteran of the department—shared one consumer complaint that shows the type of trickery consumers are up against. Take a look at the…...
Outreach team notches $18,376 in consumer savings in first-quarter
Members of CUB’s legal and policy teams aren’t the only ones helping Illinois consumers save money this year. According to CUB records, the outreach department—which holds money-saving events across Illinois—showed consumers how to cut their utility bills by roughly $18,375.72. The nine-member team spends most of its time out in…...
Check your Comcast bill: Are you paying a “digital adapter” fee?
Every cable bill these days has add-on fees that allow companies to raise your bills without increasing the advertised rate of your TV package. For Comcast customers, one of those charges, called the “digital adapter” fee, has increased in 2017—from $3.99/month to $5.99/month. So, what is the fee supposed to…...
Cut TV costs with CUB’s free guide
On Tuesday morning, CUB held a news conference to release a first-ever guide to help Illinois consumers cut their TV bills. You can receive a copy of CUB’s Guide to Cutting Your TV Costs—which includes information for both “cord shavers” and “cord cutters”— by visiting www.CUBCableCenter.com. (While you’re there, remember…...
Donations Doubled!
This week, a generous CUB supporter has agreed to match donations, which makes it the perfect time to give. Your contribution—whatever you can afford— will help fund our lawyers, consumer advocates, and money-saving events and publications needed to fight rip-offs across the state. Besides rip-offs, we’re also up against a…...
Big ICC ruling for electric shoppers
The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) took a big step in improving the power market, proposing new rules to protect consumers against misleading marketing. CUB and other consumer advocates applaud the new rules. For about two years, we have been calling for tougher rules to prevent misleading and confusing marketing by…...
Are you due for an AT&T refund?
AT&T has agreed to pay nearly $7.8 million to settle government allegations that the phone giant allowed scammers to charge some customers about $9 a month for a fake directory assistance service. The settlement, announced by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in August, is the latest action against the “cramming” scam. Cramming is…...
