MontPIRG’s History of Defending Consumers

🏠1981 - 1986

  • MontPIRG operated a Consumer Hotline which served as an important source of information for consumer problems

  • MontPIRG was influential in passing the Lemon Law, protecting automobile consumers from footing the bill for substantial defects that the manufacturer or dealership were responsible for

  • MontPIRG combed through Montana law to create the Landlord / Tenant Guide, transforming complex legal jargon into plain language

  • MontPIRG administered and reported on surveys concerning the best banking and food services for UM students

  • MontPIRG defended consumers from exploitative cable companies

  • MontPIRG represented consumers on the Citizens Utility Advocate Board

  • MontPIRG held an Anti-Utility Rate Increase Campaign to stop the state from putting the cost of Colstrip on consumers

  • MontPIRG fought a telephone rate increase

  • MontPIRG held workshops for renters

  • MontPIRG worked to include plain language in consumer contracts

🏠1987 - 1991

A scan of an old MontPIRG document with a house on the cover. It says "When you rent... a Montana Tenant Guide. A publication of the Montana Public Interest Research Group, Inc."

  • In the 1991 legislative session, MontPIRG passed a bill guaranteeing renters that their security deposits be returned in 10 days

  • MontPIRG began the Consumer Guide Campaign

🏠1992 - 2001

  • MontPIRG created a Tenant/Landlord Hotline as a complement the Tenant/Landlord Guide

🏠2002-2006

  • MontPIRG fought against Pay Day Loans

  • MontPIRG continued distributing Tenant/Landlord Guides and information

  • MontPIRG began the Credit Card Campaign, and effort to stop credit card companies from targeting students and prevent the Alumni Association from selling students names to credit card companies

  • MontPIRG worked in the state legislature and on campus to ensure tuition and college affordability

🏠2007-2014

  • MontPIRG fought against predatory lending

🏠2015-2020

  • Facing budget cuts to the university system, MontPIRG sent student lobbyists to the capital to defend affordable education and revitalized its campus campaign for tuition affordability

  • MontPIRG student lobbyists fought against multiple bills in the 2017 legislative session that would restrict renter's rights and exploit tenants

  • MontPIRG student lobbyists worked tirelessly in Helena to support Net Metering and vital privacy protections