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Consumers can’t be expected to budget, save their hard-earned money, or make fully informed choices if they don’t know up front how much a purchase is truly going to cost them.
Whether you’re looking to sign up for a new cell phone plan, score tickets to a show, or order takeout, you have the right to price transparency and honesty. That means no hidden fees, and no too-good-to-be-true deals that are indeed, too good to be true.
At California DOJ, we’re fighting for that right. This week, I was proud to join a bipartisan, multi-state coalition in announcing a $10.25 million settlement with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon over deceptive and misleading advertising practices that have become all too common in the cell phone industry. My office also put out guidance to help businesses comply with the new Honest Pricing Law that I sponsored last year that protects consumers from hidden fees. In a world where information is power, consumers deserve to have transparent and honest pricing to consider when they’re shopping.
In solidarity,
Rob
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Protecting Consumers
 Wireless carriers have exploited the fact that cell phones are now essential to our day-to-day lives. I am proud that our $10.25 million settlement with AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile requires industry-wide changes to the deceptive advertising practices which have become commonplace in the marketing of cell phones. As the People’s Attorney, I am committed to enforcing California's consumer laws and standing up for consumers nationwide.
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Eliminating Hidden Fees
 We’re sick and tired of hidden fees that hurt consumers and our marketplace. I was proud to sponsor California’s landmark law to end hidden fees. This law is simple: the price you see should be the price you pay. The new law, which goes into effect on July 1, tackles annoying bait-and-switch charges that are added to Californians’ bills at the end of a transaction. This week we issued guidance to help businesses comply with the new law, and create a more fair and level marketplace for business and consumers.
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Safeguarding Your Privacy
 Californians have robust privacy rights over the use of their data, thanks to our state privacy laws that are some of the strongest in the nation. This week, we fought to maintain these protections as congressional leaders consider a federal data privacy bill that could potentially limit these state laws. Our message is clear: Congress should pass a privacy law that sets a floor, not a ceiling.
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Ending Illegal Robocalls
 Robocalls recklessly interrupt people’s busy days and cause Californians real financial damage every year. This week, a district court denied a telecom company's attempt to evade responsibilty in our lawsuit to hold the company accountable for delivering not hundreds, or thousands, or millions, but billions of robocalls, including Social Security Administration scams, Medicare scams, and employment scams.
⬇️⬇️ Click below to hear examples of these illegal calls. ⬇️⬇️
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Fighting to End Gun Violence
 This week, my office secured an important victory after a judge ruled that California DOJ can continue working with qualified gun violence researchers to study and inform strategies to protect our communities. We also continued our work to advance and defend life-saving gun laws, such as assault weapons bans and required waiting periods. Commonsense gun safety measures work, and we must champion these critical measures for all Americans.
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Make a Difference at California DOJ
 Apply today to help DOJ protect the health, well-being, and public safety of Californians. Check out our featured jobs below and visit oag.ca.gov/careers for a full listing of available positions:
Deputy Attorney General Supervisor, Natural Resources Law
Deputy Attorney General Supervisor, Land Law Use and Conservation
Deputy Attorney General IV, Cybercrime Section
Deputy Attorney General III, Tort & Condemnation
Deputy Attorney General III, Land Use and Conservation
Senior Assistant Attorney General, Environment Section
HR Consultant, Performance Management and Discipline Unit
Information Technology Specialist II, Technology Support Bureau
Investigative Auditor IV Specialist, DMFEA
Legal Secretary, Legal Support Operations
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Post of the Week
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FLASH BRIEFING
Attorney General Bonta Announces Arrest and Charges Filed Against a Former Solano State Prison Correctional Officer
Attorney General Bonta: Mojave Unified School District Achieves Compliance with DOJ’s Four-Year Stipulated Judgment, Commits to Additional Reforms to Protect Students from Disproportionate Discipline and Increase Mental Health Support
Attorney General Bonta Announces $10.25 Million Settlement Against AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile for Misleading Advertising Practices
With Landmark Price Transparency Law Set to Go into Effect July 1, Attorney General Bonta Releases Guidance for Businesses
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Photo of the Week
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 This week, I visited the Milken Institute to talk about responsible AI.
AI might be evolving quickly, but it’s not the wild west.
We have consumer protection, antitrust, and privacy laws on the books, and at California DOJ, we’re committed to enforcing them.
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Resource Corner
 At California DOJ, public safety is job #1. Our Fentanyl Enforcement Program does incredible work in the fight against the fentanyl epidemic — busting deadly drug trafficking operations, seizing nearly 12 million fentanyl pills, tons of fentanyl powder, and making hundreds of arrests — in the mission to protect you, your families, and our communities.
In recognition of National Fentanyl Awareness Day, here are a few of the many resources available to those impacted by this crisis:
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