Consumer Protection

OAKLAND — In recognition of National Consumer Protection Week, California Attorney General Rob Bonta today released 2024’s Top 10 Consumer Complaints and highlighted ongoing efforts to protect California consumers. The list released today includes the top consumer complaint categories the California Department of Justice (DOJ) has received in the last calendar year. Attorney General Bonta urges Californians to report misconduct or violations of state consumer protection laws to DOJ at oag.ca.gov/report. Complaints submitted by the public provide DOJ and sister agencies with important information about potential misconduct to help determine whether to investigate a business or individual.

“California is a pillar of strong state consumer protection laws and an outspoken advocate for robust federal protections,” said Attorney General Bonta. “This National Consumer Protection Week, I urge Californians to help us further this work. If you see misconduct or are the victim of a scam, my office wants to know about it: I encourage consumers to immediately file a complaint online at oag.ca.gov/report. Whether protecting our kids online, stopping egregious bank fees, or cracking down on illegal price gouging, as the People’s Attorney, I am committed to going to the mat for California consumers.” 

Top 10 Consumer Complaint Categories from 2024:

1.    Social Media Platforms 
2.    Online Retailers
3.    Banks
4.    Contractors
5.    Landlord/Tenant Issues
6.    Online Scams 
7.    Debt Collection 
8.    Credit Reporting 
9.    Telephonic Scams
10.  Brick and Mortar Retail Sales

Fighting to Keep More Money in the Pockets of Californians:

Attorney General Bonta took on bad actors and archaic policies that hurt Californians pocketbooks. Last year, DOJ announced a $700 million multistate settlement with Johnson & Johnson for failing to disclose if asbestos was present in its talc products; secured a settlement with ticket reseller StubHub, Inc. for failing to pay timely refunds to Californians for canceled events during the COVID-19 pandemic; and sponsored successful legislation to protect Californians’ financial future by banning the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports.

Last month, Attorney General Bonta supported lawsuits challenging the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Since its creation, the CFPB has actively worked to make the lives of everyday people better and has returned over $20 billion to Americans nationwide. The shuttering of the CFPB would cause catastrophic harm to consumer protections, leaving no federal oversight over large banks, and saddling state agencies with the sole responsibility to protect consumers from conduct regulated by the CFPB.

Putting Social Media Companies on Notice:

In response to a dramatic uptick of consumer complaints, last March, Attorney General Bonta sent a letter to Meta expressing deep concern regarding the increase in account takeovers and lockouts on Facebook and Instagram and the inadequacy of the company’s response to prevent and address consumer harm from these takeovers. The letter asked Meta to take immediate action to increase mitigation tactics and respond to users whose accounts have been taken over.

Sticking up for Students: 

In the last year, Attorney General Bonta continued to protect students by securing a decision that upheld a judgment against Ashford University for giving students false or misleading information about career outcomes, cost and financial aid, and transfer credits, as well as a $4.5 million settlement with University of Phoenix for aggressive and unlawful military student recruitment tactics. 

Protecting Children Online:

Attorney General Bonta continued to take action to create a safer internet for children and teens. In October 2024, DOJ filed a lawsuit against TikTok for harming young users and deceiving the public about the social media platform’s dangers; and secured a decision in his lawsuit against Meta that largely denies Meta’s attempt to evade responsibility for their role in the children’s mental health crisis. DOJ proudly supported legislation that would put consumers in control of their relationship with social media, like SB 976 (Skinner), recently enacted legislation which interrupts the ability of social media companies to use addictive design features, and AB 56 (Bauer-Kahan), newly proposed legislation that would require warning labels on social media platforms. 

Advancing Your Data Privacy Rights: 

In January, Attorney General Bonta reminded Californians of their right to stop or "opt-out" of the sale and sharing of their personal information under the California law, and encouraged consumers to consider familiarizing themselves with the Global Privacy Control (GPC), an easy-to-use browser setting or extension that allows consumers to take back control of their personal data. 

Last year, Attorney General Bonta announced a settlement with DoorDash for violating California privacy laws by selling its customers’ personal information; and worked with local partners to secure a settlement with a video game developer for illegally collecting and sharing children's data. 

Scram, Scams! 

Attorney General Bonta continued educating and warning consumers about financially harmful and widespread AI-generated scams, toll booth scams, romance scams, and package delivery text-based scams; and continued the fight against annoying and illegal robocalls, which are often a vehicle for scams.

Setting the Record Straight on AI:

In January, Attorney General Bonta issued two legal advisories, reminding consumers of their rights, and advising businesses and healthcare entities who develop, sell, or use artificial intelligence (AI) about their obligations under California law. Many consumers and patients are not aware of when and how AI systems are used in their lives or by institutions that they rely on.

Businesses use AI systems to evaluate consumers’ credit risk and guide loan decisions, screen tenants for rentals, and target consumers with ads and offers, as such, must comply with California consumer protection laws.

Tackling Price Gouging During a Natural Disaster: 

In the wake of Los Angeles Fires, Californians should be coming together to help our neighbors, not attempting to profit off their pain. DOJ takes its duty to protect the public from price gouging, rental bidding, and unsolicited property offers by predatory buyers extremely seriously. In addition to sending over 700 warning letters to hotels and landlords, DOJ has several active investigations into price gouging and has announced price gouging charges against three Los Angeles real estate agents and a landlord (January 22, January 28, and February 18). These investigations are often the result of review of complaints received by DOJ.

DOJ established the Disaster Relief Task Force to work closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement and regulatory partners; last month, DOJ collaborated with, Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto on misdemeanor price gouging charges against a homeowner and real estate agent who allegedly engaged in price gouging in violation of the law.

For more tips and information on consumer protection, please visit https://oag.ca.gov/consumers. 

Gutting of CFPB creates a gap in regulation greater than before the 2008 financial crisis

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general in submitting an amicus brief in Mayor and City Council of Baltimore v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). In the brief, the attorneys general argue that the shuttering of the CFPB would cause catastrophic harm to consumer protections nationwide, leaving state agencies with the sole responsibility to protect consumers. 

“The CFPB was created to protect consumers from being taken advantage of by corporations. As the backbone of federal consumer financial protections, the CFPB is a force multiplier for California’s consumer protection efforts, working to protect consumers from fraud, abuse, and unfair business practices and returning over $20 billion to Americans since its creation,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The Trump Administration’s takeover of the CFPB is an effort to destroy the agency responsible for overseeing the mortgage markets, stopping predatory debt collectors, and preventing American families from being exploited by big banks and payday lenders. From sharing complaints and trend data, to providing training, and partnering on joint investigations and litigations, the loss of CFPB’s partnership has devastating and deep implications for California and households across the nation." 

After examining the fallout of the 2008 financial crisis, Congress concluded the crisis resulted in part from the failure of federal banking and other regulators to address significant consumer protection issues detrimental to both consumers and the safety and soundness of the banking system. In direct response to these events, Congress established the CFPB and tasked it with enforcing numerous federal consumer protection statutes and enacting regulations to further these efforts. For over a decade, the CFPB has served as an invaluable partner to state attorneys general and state banking regulators, both by working to protect consumers against fraudulent and abusive practices and by advancing a fair and level playing field in consumer financial markets by issuing regulations under federal law. 

In the last month, the Trump Administration has taken a series of actions intended to debilitate the CFPB, including issuing a suspension of work across the agency, terminating probationary employees, and announcing a decision not to draw additional funding from the Federal Reserve. These actions appear to be part of a unilateral effort to permanently shut down the agency, including programs and operations mandated by federal law. 

In the brief, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, the attorneys general argue the haphazard and chaotic shuttering of the CFPB: 

• Has caused and will continue to cause irreparable harm to the wellbeing of consumers and the states’ own enforcement efforts. 
• Leaves no oversight over large national banks. 
• Rapidly and substantially increases the burden on state agencies to protect consumers. 

For example, one of the most significant losses associated with the CFPB’s shuttering is the loss of their consumer-complaint system, which fields approximately 25,000 consumer complaints about financial products and services each week. This system allows the CFPB to identify and prioritize complaints where a consumer is at risk of imminent home foreclosure and then refer consumers to housing counselors to help them avoid losing their home.

Additionally, the CFPB is the sole federal regulator of nonbank mortgage lenders, and the sole federal entity that is statutorily authorized to supervise and bring enforcement actions against national banks in connection with “abusive” practices. Since 2022, California has referred nearly 4,000 consumers to the CFPB in circumstances where the Bureau is best positioned to provide the assistance needed. 

The CFPB’s sudden gutting also means that there will be essentially no oversight of very large banks, such as JPMorgan and Wells Fargo, for their compliance with consumer financial-protection laws. Very large financial institutions that compete with state-chartered banks will have the freedom to loosen their regulatory compliance and profit accordingly — to the detriment of consumers and competing banks and credit unions — as was seen in the years leading up to the 2008 financial crisis. 

In filing the brief, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of New York, New Jersey, the District of Columbia, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

A copy of the amicus brief can be found here. 

In addition, DOJ has sent more than 700 price gouging warning letters to hotels and landlords

LOS ANGELES — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the filing of charges against a Southern California real estate agent and a landlord for price gouging a victim who was evacuated due to the Eaton Fire. This investigation began when a complaint was filed with the California Department of Justice (DOJ) after the victim took steps to rent a Hermosa Beach home after the Governor’s Emergency Order, which protects against price gouging, went into effect. The investigation revealed that after the Emergency Order was in place, the defendants increased the rental price by 36%, which exceeded the 10% limit laid out in Penal Code section 396. The charge carries a potential penalty of a $10,000 maximum fine and the possibility of 12 months in jail. 

“The California Department of Justice remains focused on putting a stop to price gouging,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Following the devastating fires in Southern California, I have been urging the public to report price gouging to local authorities, or to my office at oag.ca.gov/report or by reaching out to our hotline at (800) 952-5225. Today, we’ve announced price gouging charges against both a real estate agent and a landlord for price gouging in the wake of the Eaton Fire. DOJ will continue relentlessly pursuing those who are trying to capitalize off of the chaos and pain of Southern California’s natural disaster.”  

As part of Attorney General Bonta's work to protect Californians following the Southern California wildfires, DOJ has also sent more than 700 warning letters – and counting – to hotels and landlords who have been accused of price gouging. In addition, the office has more active criminal investigations into price gouging underway.
 
Working alongside our District Attorneys, City Attorneys, and other law enforcement partners, DOJ has opened active investigations into price gouging as it continues to ramp up deployment of resources to Los Angeles County to investigate and prosecute price gouging, fraud, scams, and unsolicited low-ball offers on property during the state of emergency. DOJ has been working diligently to tackle this unlawful and unscrupulous conduct since a state of emergency was declared on January 7, 2025, and to further those efforts, the launch of a website dedicated to its response: oag.ca.gov/LAFires.
 
California law – specifically, Penal Code section 396 – generally prohibits charging a price that exceeds, by more than 10%, the price a seller charged for an item before a state or local declaration of emergency. For items a seller only began selling after an emergency declaration, the law generally prohibits charging a price that exceeds the seller's cost of the item by more than 50%. This law applies to those who sell food, emergency supplies, medical supplies, building materials, and gasoline. The law also applies to repair or reconstruction services, emergency cleanup services, transportation, freight and storage services, hotel accommodations, and long- and short-term rental housing. Exceptions to this prohibition exist if, for example, the price of labor, goods, or materials has increased for the business. 

Violators of the price gouging statute are subject to criminal prosecution that can result in a one-year imprisonment in county jail and/or a fine of up to $10,000. Violators are also subject to civil enforcement actions including civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation, injunctive relief, and mandatory restitution. The Attorney General and local prosecutors can enforce the statute.

TIPS FOR REPORTING PRICE GOUGING, SCAMS, FRAUD AND OTHER CRIMES:

1. Visit oag.ca.gov/LAfires or call our hotline at: (800) 952-5225.
2. Include screenshots of all correspondence including conversations, text messages, direct messages (DMs), and voicemails
3. Provide anything that shows what prices you were offered, when, and by whom.
4. If you’re on a site like Zillow, you can also send screenshots of the price history and a link to the listing. 
5. Include first and last names of the realtors, listing agents, or business owners you spoke to. Be sure to include phone numbers, email addresses, home and business addresses, websites, social media accounts.
6. Don't leave out any information that can help us find and contact the business or landlord.

Californians who believe they have been the victim of price gouging should report it to their local authorities or to the Attorney General at oag.ca.gov/LAfires. To view a list of all price gouging restrictions currently in effect as a result of proclamations by the Governor, please see here.

A copy of the complaint can be found here. 

 Global Privacy Control signal sends ‘do not sell’ requests on your behalf  

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today reminded Californians of their right to stop or "opt-out" of the sale and sharing of their personal information under the California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA), California’s landmark, first-in-nation privacy law. Along with the attorneys general of Colorado and Connecticut, states that also have robust privacy protections, Attorney General Bonta encourages consumers to consider familiarizing themselves with the Global Privacy Control (GPC), an easy-to-use browser setting or extension that automatically signals to businesses that they should not sell your personal information to third parties, including for targeted advertising. 

“Every single one of our online interactions is a robust source of data that broadcasts who we are, what we like, and how we live. Many websites install tracking software that allows third parties to track consumers, use the information they learn to create entire profiles of users, and deploy targeted ads that follow us around our time surfing the web,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Today, I remind Californians of their right to opt-out and take back control of their personal data. Global Privacy Control is the easiest way to limit the number of third parties that have access to our personal information and online behavioral data. I also encourage mobile device manufacturers to develop an easy, GPC-like feature that consumers can use to signal the right to opt-out.”

“Websites are constantly tracking and collecting our personal information for every purpose you can imagine. In Connecticut, you can now opt out of tracking across all sites by selecting a single simple option. It’s an easy step to take back control over your data and protect your privacy,” said Connecticut Attorney General William Tong.   

Data comes from nearly everywhere online, even when people think they’re not revealing anything. It has been estimated that the average person produces 1.7 MB of data per second or 6,120 MB of data per hour. 

Websites can track and amass personal information and behavioral data like pages visited, time spent on pages, clicks, and detailed purchase information to create and share profiles and inferences about consumers. Apps and other software can collect and transmit personal information as well, including sensitive personal information like a user’s precise geolocation. Preventing third parties from receiving this information is a key step to protecting private information and stopping the proliferation of your data in the online ecosystem. 

YOUR RIGHT TO OPT OUT

The CCPA vests California consumers with control over the personal information that businesses collect about them, including the right to request that businesses stop selling or sharing your personal information. With some exceptions, businesses cannot sell or share your personal information after they receive your opt-out request unless you later provide authorization allowing them to do so again. Businesses must wait at least 12 months before asking you to opt back in to the sale or sharing of your personal information.  

HOW DO I OPT OUT?

Consumers have two options to opt out of the sale of their data: 

OPTION 1: Enabling Global Privacy Control 

The GPC is a signal that allows users to automatically indicate to the websites they visit that they would like to opt-out of the “sale” of their personal information. The GPC signal is an easy way to opt-out because a consumer does not have to make individualized requests to opt-out on each website they visit. GPC can be downloaded via a browser extension; some browsers offer a GPC setting. Installing GPC is simple and ensures your personal is protected. 

Click here for a video to show you how to install GPC.

OPTION 2: Opt-Out One Business at a Time 

Businesses that sell personal information must provide a clear and conspicuous “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” link on their website that allows you to submit an opt-out request. Businesses cannot require you to create an account to submit your request or ask for additional information to process your opt-out. 

If you can’t find a business’s “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” link, review its privacy policy to see if it sells or shares personal information. If the business does, it must also include that link in its privacy policy. If a business’s "Do Not Sell My Personal Information" link is not working or difficult to find, you may report the business to our office by visiting oag.ca.gov/report.

For more information on the CCPA and opting out, please see here. For a tutorial on installing GPC, please see here.

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert following the Governor’s declaration of a state of emergency in response to the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County. The Palisades Fire has burned over 1,200 acres, threatening structures, homes, and critical infrastructure, including power lines and water tanks. The fire and ongoing windstorm conditions have prompted evacuation orders and warnings and impacted the access route to the Palisades Highlands community. In today’s alert, Attorney General Bonta reminds all Californians that price gouging during a state of emergency is illegal under Penal Code Section 396. Californians who believe they have been the victim of price gouging should report it to their local authorities or to the Attorney General at oag.ca.gov/report. To view a list of all price gouging restrictions currently in effect as a result of proclamations by the Governor, please see here.

“As high winds and dry conditions increase the intensity of the Palisades Fire, I urge Southern Californians to listen to communication from officials and keep safe. California’s price gouging law protects people impacted by an emergency from illegal price gouging on housing, gas, food, and other essential supplies,” said Attorney General Bonta. “If you see price gouging — or if you've been the victim of it — I encourage you to immediately file a complaint with my office online at oag.ca.gov/report or contact your local police department or sheriff’s office.”

California law generally prohibits charging a price that exceeds, by more than 10%, the price a seller charged for an item before a state or local declaration of emergency. For items a seller only began selling after an emergency declaration, the law generally prohibits charging a price that exceeds the seller's cost of the item by more than 50%. This law applies to those who sell food, emergency supplies, medical supplies, building materials, and gasoline. The law also applies to repair or reconstruction services, emergency cleanup services, transportation, freight and storage services, hotel accommodations, and rental housing. Exceptions to this prohibition exist if, for example, the price of labor, goods, or materials has increased for the business. 

Violators of the price gouging statute are subject to criminal prosecution that can result in a one-year imprisonment in county jail and/or a fine of up to $10,000. Violators are also subject to civil enforcement actions including civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation, injunctive relief, and mandatory restitution. The Attorney General and local district attorneys can enforce the statute.

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today, alongside the U.S. Department of Justice and a bipartisan coalition of 10 attorneys general, filed an amended complaint against RealPage and the nation’s largest property management companies for maintaining an unlawful pricing alignment scheme that artificially raised rents and increased rent revenue across the board. Today’s amended complaint names five of the previously unnamed property management companies as defendants — including Camden, Cushman & Wakefield/Pinnacle, LivCor, Willow Bridge and Greystar — and seeks claims under California’s Unfair Competition Law against all defendants. Last August, the Attorney General filed a lawsuit against RealPage, alleging that its unlawful pricing alignment scheme and illegal sharing of confidential pricing and supply information harmed consumers by decreasing competition among landlords, limiting price negotiation, and increasing prices in the rental housing industry. This price alignment scheme affected rental housing throughout the country including in California —especially in multifamily buildings in Southern California including in Orange County, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Glendale, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, Corona, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Temecula, Murrieta, San Diego, Coronado, and Carlsbad.

“When it comes reducing the cost of living for Californians, the California Department of Justice is all in. Today’s amended complaint against RealPage and some of the largest property management companies in the country, alleges that the companies artificially inflated rent prices and illegally maintained a minimum pricing floor against market trends, and that not only RealPage, but the landlords that profited from this scheme must be held accountable,” said Attorney General Bonta. “If you are in the renting business you are responsible for knowing and abiding by California laws. The housing affordability crisis hurts renters and those with the lowest incomes the hardest; the profits from these illegal schemes come out of the pockets of the people that can least afford it. California is stronger when we protect tenants and a competitive economy."

RealPage is in the business of generating rent increases and growing revenue for landlords by using algorithmic models to recommend price increases to subscribers. It does so by amassing competitively sensitive data from competing landlords through its pricing algorithms and sharing this data among subscribers. Landlords understand that their nonpublic data will be used to recommend prices not just for their own units, but also for competitors who use the programs, and agree to provide this information because they understand they will benefit from the information of their rivals. In other words, RealPage knows what competing landlords are charging and can increase profits for landlords by using that information to recommend landlords set or raise their prices uniformly, thereby eliminating competition, and leaving renters no choice but to pay artificially high prices.

Over the last four decades, housing needs have significantly outpaced housing production in California. Housing costs have skyrocketed, making it harder for Californians to keep a roof over their heads. California's 17 million renters spend a significant portion of their paychecks on rent, with an estimated 700,000 Californians at risk of eviction.    

The amended lawsuit filed today alleges that RealPage, Camden, Cushman & Wakefield/Pinnacle, LivCor, Willow Bridge and Greystar’s conduct violates both federal antitrust laws and California’s Unfair Competition Law. 

In filing the amended lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta joins the U.S. Department of Justice and the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington.

The amended complaint can be found here. 

 Most of landmark child online safety law will take effect on January 1, 2025  

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a statement in response to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California’s decision denying in large part Big Tech’s attempt to stop Senate Bill (SB) 976 from going into effect on January 1, 2025. Also known as the “Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act,” SB 976 interrupts the ability of social media companies and other website operators to use addictive algorithmic feeds, notifications, and other addictive design features to trick and hook children and teens to spend hours and hours on their platforms. 

“There is mounting evidence showing the devastating toll that social media addiction can have on our children's mental health and well-being. This addiction is not an accident; it is fed by algorithms deployed by Big Tech,” said Attorney General Bonta. “California’s landmark law allows young people to intentionally develop the relationship they want with social media, rather than the relationship that is most profitable for companies using tricks and traps to glue young people’s eyes to their screens. We are pleased the court understands the importance of giving California families this choice.”

Although the court today upheld most of SB 976, it blocked two portions of SB 976 from taking effect tomorrow on free speech grounds — this aspect of the decision is erroneous because no part of SB 976 regulates speech. The California Department of Justice will continue to vigorously defend this law in court and remains confident in the commonsense statute enacted by both Democrats and Republicans, and supported by teachers, public health professionals, and parents in California.

A copy of the decision can be found here. 

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced settlements with tenant screening company, RealPage, and property developer and manager, Holland (formally known as Holland Residential (California)), for violations of the COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act (Tenant Relief Act). The complaints allege that RealPage provided screening reports to housing providers, including Holland, which identified rental debt accrued due to the COVID-19 pandemic as a negative factor in violation of the Tenant Relief Act, and that many applicants were denied housing as a result. As part of the proposed settlements, RealPage must pay $625,000 in penalties and restitution, and both RealPage and Holland must comply with strong injunctive terms.

“As California navigates an unprecedented housing crisis, it’s critical that those most at risk of losing their homes are afforded the rental protections they deserve. COVID-19 rental debt cannot be used against tenants when they apply for housing,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Our settlements against RealPage and Holland underscore the responsibility that screening agencies and landlords hold in making sure they fully comply with California law. As the People’s Attorney, I am committed to using the full force of my office to ensure more Californians have access to safe and secure housing.”

In response to the pandemic, California enacted a series of emergency bills, collectively known as the COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act, to stabilize the housing market. These provided significant eviction protections to tenants, including creating restrictions on credit reporting and use of COVID-19 rental debt in rental screening. The Tenant Relief Act prohibits any housing provider, tenant screening company, or other entity that evaluates tenants on behalf of a housing provider from using COVID-19 rental debt as a negative factor in assessing a residential tenant application. 

RealPage violated the Tenant Relief Act by considering COVID-19 rental debt as a negative factor when screening over 2,500 tenant applicants in California, including several that were performed for Holland. As a result of the investigation by the California Department of Justice, RealPage and Holland have now modified their screening processes to ensure that they filter out COVID-19 rental debt. 

Under the settlements today, RealPage must pay $625,000 in penalties and restitution, and both RealPage and Holland must comply with strong injunctive terms, including, but not limited, to:  

• Regularly confirming the existence of proper filters for COVID-19 rental data with their data sources or filtering the data themselves, before using it in any tenant screening process.
• Tracking consumer disputes and reporting systemic issues to the Office of the Attorney General.
• Taking steps to investigate claims that a screening report may have contained COVID-19 rental debt and to ensure eligible tenants are not denied housing.
• Providing annual training to their employees regarding requirements under the Tenant Relief Act and related consumer reporting laws.
• Complying with the provisions of the Tenant Relief Act.

Attorney General Bonta is committed to ensuring tenants are treated fairly in accordance with the law and understand their rights. In October 2024, Attorney General Bonta issued consumer alerts regarding the maximum annual rent increase permitted under state law and summarizing several local rent control or rent stabilization laws throughout California. Alerts are available in various languages and can be found here.  

In August 2024, Attorney General Bonta, alongside the U.S. Department of Justice, filed a lawsuit against RealPage, alleging the company enabled landlords to artificially raise rents by participating in a pricing alignment scheme that increased prices in the rental housing industry. This lawsuit is ongoing and is unrelated to today’s settlement. 

In February 2024, Attorney General Bonta announced a settlement with two separate local Bakersfield landlords and their property management company, Clemmer & Company, for multiple violations of the Tenant Protection Act and for violation of the Fair Employment and Housing Act. Also in February 2024, Attorney General Bonta issued five consumer alerts advising California tenants of their rights and protections under state law and alerting property managers and landlords of their obligations to tenants. In January 2024, Attorney General Bonta announced a settlement with Invitation Homes resolving its alleged violations of the Tenant Protection Act and California’s anti-price gouging law, affecting approximately 1,900 households.

A copy of the complaints and proposed judgments against RealPage and Holland Residential (California) can be found here, here, here, and here, respectively.  

Submit claims online by January 8, 2025

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today reminded California residents who purchased gas in Southern California between February 20, 2015 and November 10, 2015 to submit a claim for a payment under the state’s antitrust settlement with gas trading firms for tampering with and manipulating prices for California gasoline. The deadline to submit claims is January 8, 2025. Eligible Californians may submit a claim online at www.CalGasLitigation.com.

“California, don’t forget to claim your money! When companies conspire to unlawfully raise prices for consumers, my office steps in, just as we did with our litigation and settlement against two gas trading firms,” said Attorney General Bonta. “As part of this settlement, I am proud to deliver money back to Californians who may have been impacted by gas price manipulation. I urge eligible drivers to submit a claim by January 8, 2025.”

In July 2024, Attorney General Bonta announced a $50 million settlement with gas trading firms, resolving allegations that Vitol, Inc. and SK Energy Americas, Inc., along with its parent company SK Trading International, secretly worked together to tamper with and manipulate spot market prices for California gasoline. If you purchased gasoline in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Kern, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and/or Imperial counties in California between February 20 and November 10, 2015, you may be eligible for a payment. The Attorney General's settlement is in addition to a settlement of a private class action lawsuit filed in federal court.  

To submit a claim, learn full details about your rights and options, and access frequently asked questions, visit www.CalGasLitigation.com. 

Antitrust enforcement is an essential component of a healthy economy. Competitive marketplaces established through antitrust vigilance help consumers by ensuring fair prices for goods and services, an array of products to choose from, quality goods and services, and the steady introduction of innovative new products. As part of the Attorney General’s commitment to enforce antitrust laws, the California Department of Justice recently launched a new Antitrust Complaint Form. Please click here to report anticompetitive conduct that potentially violates the antitrust laws.

SAN FRANCISCO – Today in San Francisco, California Attorney General Rob Bonta joined GLIDE to share tips and resources on how to donate safely and avoid scams while giving this holiday season. The Attorney General has primary regulatory oversight of charities and the professional fundraisers who solicit on their behalf, and may investigate and bring legal action against charities that misuse charitable assets or engage in fraudulent fundraising practices. In providing today’s tips, Attorney General Bonta encourages donors to take the necessary steps to ensure that their donations get into the correct hands.

“As a proud Bay Area resident, I’m grateful for the opportunity to join GLIDE in giving back this holiday season,” said Attorney General Bonta. “For more than 50 years, GLIDE has been deeply rooted in the Tenderloin community, providing free meals, childcare, housing assistance, and other support – with the goal of creating, sustainable long-term pathways for residents to get back on their feet. I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to the GLIDE staff and volunteers who make this vital work possible and for their partnership today in providing valuable charity tips during the annual time of giving. I encourage Californians to do their research to ensure their donations go where they intended. If you believe that a charity or fundraiser is engaged in misconduct, please report it to my office at oag.ca.gov/charities/complaints.”

"GLIDE cares for our community by providing meals, rental assistance, health resources, childcare, supportive programs and more,” said Dr. Gina Fromer, President & CEO of GLIDE. “We couldn’t carry out our love agenda for the people of San Francisco without the amazing generosity of our donors. We appreciate the Attorney General and his staff for ensuring that everyone’s holiday donations end up where they belong.”

Tips on How to Donate Safely and Avoid Charity Fraud

• Check the Registration Status: Charities and professional fundraisers soliciting donations in California are required to register with the Attorney General’s Registry of Charities and Fundraisers (Registry). They are also required to file annual financial reports. Before you donate, make sure to confirm that the charity is registered and up to date with its financial reporting. Our registry search tool allows you to search the Registry’s database and verify whether a charitable organization or fundraiser has complied with the Attorney General’s registration and reporting requirements.
• Give to Organizations You Trust: Always do your research before making a donation. Review the charity’s annual financial reports to find out how much of your donation will actually be spent on the charitable cause, as well as how much, or if any, will go to overhead and employee compensation. Research charities in your community and support those that make a positive impact.
• Don’t Be Pressured by Telemarketers: If you receive a call from a telemarketer, do not fall for pressure tactics or threats. Remember, you have the right to decline a donation request and can hang up. If you are interested in donating to a particular organization, you can visit their website or contact them directly to get more information.
• Be Cautious of "Look-Alike" and Fake Websites and Emails: Be on the lookout for websites and emails that use slightly different web addresses (URLs) or email addresses in order to pass off as a legitimate charity. Scammers sometimes purchase these types of URLs or create fake email accounts in order to trick potential donors into donating to a look-alike website or steal your information. Be careful of fake websites by closely looking at the web address, and be cautious of web addresses that end in a series of numbers.
• Watch Out for Similar-Sounding Names and Other Deceptive Tactics: Some organizations use names that closely resemble those of well-established charitable organizations in order to mislead donors. Additionally, if you receive an email from an organization to which you have never donated, take extra precautions before clicking on any links. Be skeptical if someone thanks you for a pledge or donation that you never made, as scammers use this trick to deceive you into paying them. If you are unsure whether or not you made a donation, make sure to check your records.
• Be Alert to Fundraising via Peer-to-Peer Social Network: Do not assume charitable fundraising that you see on social media are legitimate, even if the charitable campaign is shared by someone that you trust. If you plan to donate through a social network solicitation, do your research and find out whether your donation is going directly to a charity or to the person who created the campaign, whether the person who created the campaign will keep a portion of your donation, or if you will be charged a fee for donating.
• Protect Your Identity: Never give your Social Security number, credit card information, or other personal identifiable information in response to a charitable solicitation. Some organizations may sell or rent their donor lists to other organizations, including organizations that are not charities. Before making a donation, review the charity’s privacy policy to find out if your information will be shared with outside companies.
• Be Careful When Making Electronic Donations: Electronic donations — such as donations made via text, QR Codes, and portable credit card readers — have become common practice due to their ability to provide a quick and easy way to donate on the spot. While convenient, remember that anyone can create a QR code, send a text, or buy a portable card reader. Always confirm that the solicitation was submitted by a charity, or that the person facilitating the transaction is authorized to receive donations on behalf of a charity. Always check your receipt and your credit card/online payment method statement to ensure that the transaction charged to your account is accurate.

For more information on how to protect yourself against charity fraud, visit our donation tips webpage at oag.ca.gov/donations.