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What is Consumer Reports? Consumer Reports is an American nonprofit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to investigative journalism, independent product testing, public education, and consumer advocacy. The organization's main mission is to help consumers make smarter decisions in all aspects of their lives. To learn more about Consumer Reports, check out these articles. Each article contains a list of key facts about Consumer Reports and what they do to help consumers make better decisions. Listed below are the most frequently asked questions about the organization. About Consumer Reports Consumer Reports is an American nonprofit consumer organization. It is dedicated to consumer education, investigative journalism, and independent product testing. It also offers a range of consumer services including public education and advocacy. Its mission statement outlines its role as a trusted consumer resource. The organization was founded in 1947, and was formerly known as Consumers Union. Since then, it has become one of the leading consumer advocacy organizations, with over 30 years of experience. Today, the organization has seven million subscribers, down from eight million in 2008. These subscribers include both print and digital subscribers. The average age of CR subscribers is 56. The magazine is a trusted source of information for consumers and policymakers. Its website also provides the latest news and information on products. The company has a long history of promoting consumer welfare and has worked to protect the health of Americans. Its board of directors is composed of Ellen Taus, a retired CFO from the Rockefeller Foundation. A nonprofit member organization, Consumer Reports works to improve the lives of consumers. By providing independent research and ratings that are free from advertising bias, the organization improves consumer products and services, advocates for consumer-friendly policies, and educates the public. While many companies are competing for customers, CR remains the voice of consumers and advocates for consumer safety. If you're looking for a trusted source for unbiased reviews, read the About Consumer Reports website to find out how you can benefit from its research. The organization also has a strong presence in Washington, D.C. They lobby the federal government on consumer issues and publish buying guides. Consumer Reports has no shareholders, and their research is based solely on its own testing. The site's editorial policies prohibit advertising. They also strictly enforce a no commercial use policy. Consumer Reports is the authority on consumer protection and education. Its goal is to inform consumers of the risks of certain products and services. Consumer Reports' headquarters is located in Yonkers, New York. The organization operates the largest nonprofit consumer product testing facility in the world. The National Testing and Research Center is a state-of-the-art educational facility. It is an integral part of the organization's work, and it is here that many of their reports are based. They also conduct tests to identify whether products meet government standards. Consumer Reports offers a free, monthly or annual subscription to their services. Fair Credit Reporting Act The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a U.S. Federal Government regulation that promotes accuracy, fairness, and privacy in consumer information. The law was signed into effect in 1970 and has been the main piece of legislation governing consumer credit reporting ever since. This article discusses what the FCRA does, how it works, and how it may affect you. The following are three benefits of the FCRA. In addition to its many privacy protections, the FCRA also protects you from creditor abuses. The Fair Credit Reporting Act protects consumers by giving them the right to access their own credit files. Consumers may request a free copy of any information contained in their credit files by contacting a consumer reporting agency and presenting proper identification. They can also request their credit scores, which are numerical summaries of their creditworthiness, once every 12 months. Additionally, the FCRA permits consumers to dispute information they find to be inaccurate or incomplete. In addition, consumers can seek financial restitution for each violation. FCRA violations carry fines ranging from $100 to $1,000. You may also be eligible to recover attorney's fees and court costs. FCRA violations can also result in criminal charges if you obtain the information under false pretenses. You may also be able to request punitive damages. In addition to the damages listed above, there are several common violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. A credit report can be inaccurate if it does not reflect your current financial situation. If you were unaware of a change in your financial circumstances, the FCRA could help you protect yourself. In addition to ensuring that the credit report contains accurate information, the FCRA also protects consumers from identity theft. The FCRA also mandates lenders and employers to inform consumers when their credit information is being used against them. If you believe that this has occurred, you can challenge the information held in the database and have it removed or corrected. The FCRA has changed the way that credit reporting works, and there are now additional laws requiring credit bureaus to comply with this regulation. Sources of funding The magazine claims to be non-partisan, but it also maintains a lobbying and advocacy arm. This arm, called the Consumers Union Action Fund, promotes left-leaning consumer policies, such as subsidizing electric vehicles. This arm is funded through magazine subscriptions and some notable left-leaning grantmaking organizations. It also receives some funding from other nonprofits. The magazine has a board of directors with diverse backgrounds. Consumers' Research is the predecessor to Consumer Reports. It was founded in 1926 by Arthur Kallet, who later quit after disagreements with director F.J. Schlink and Amherst College economist Colston Warne. The House Un-American Activities Committee labeled Consumers Union as a "subversive" group, but in 1954 it was removed from the list. Consumers' Research remains the oldest consumer advocacy organization, with more than three million readers each year. The organization's success has led to legislation aimed at protecting consumers. For example, Consumers Union's findings about tobacco products led to government safety commissions and regulations within the industry. The magazine was the first public source to describe the chemical composition of cigarettes. It won the first National Magazine Award in 1975 and won further honors in 1987, 1990, and 2004. The magazine has reached millions of people and has prompted lawsuits from manufacturers whose products were criticised in the publication. Scope of publication The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 regulates the publishing of consumer reports. This law is known as the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA) and applies to anyone who uses a consumer report. As a result, the scope of publication of consumer reports is increasingly limited. This article will discuss the limitations and the scope of publication. To understand how the CFPA affects consumer reports, we'll discuss a few examples of CFPA-protected reports.