Archive for the ‘Finance 101: Secure Your Future’ Category

Monday, March 14th, 2011

Top Consumer Complaints of 2010

The Federal Trade Commission has released a report on the consumer complaints it received from Americans in 2010, and the list illuminates many of the financial and privacy concerns important to the American people.

Here’s a look at the top ten issues that sparked the most consumer outrage, as well as some tips for dealing with a problem new this year.

  • Identity theft: For the 11th year in a row, identity theft earned the top spot for number of consumer complaints, with 19 percent of all complaints filed (a whopping 250,854).
  • Debt collection: If you’ve ever dealt with abusive debt collectors, it may not surprise you to learn that issues with this group caused the second greatest number of complaints among consumers (144,159, or 11 percent of all complaints).
  • Internet services: Whether for fraudulent offers or subpar service, Internet providers landed third for most consumer complaints, five percent of all complaints (65,565).
  • Prizes, sweepstakes and lotteries: In fourth place came this type of scam, which often offers phony rewards after the victim pays a bogus entry fee. A total of 64,085 complaints were filed about this type of issue, or about five percent of all complaints.
  • Shop-at-home and catalog sales: Whether for defective goods, unwieldy return policies or some other act of non-consumer-friendliness, this type of transaction accounted for about four percent of consumer complaints last year (60,205).
  • Imposter scams: A new category this year, this type of scam jumped to sixth place, prompting the FTC to issue warnings about how to spot imposter scams to avoid sending money to strangers (details below).
  • Internet auctions: Perhaps because of the Internet’s vast scope and inability to fit neatly into regulatory areas, online auctions prompted 56,107 people to file complaints with the FTC.
  • Foreign money/counterfeit check scams: Getting blasted when you intended to invest or travel can be especially traumatizing, so it’s no wonder 43,866complaints concerning this category were filed last year.
  • Telephone and mobile services: Varying definitions of service options and quality of service provided prompted 37,388 people to file complaints about their communication tools.
  • Credit cards: This old classic is still causing us plenty of trouble. Despite the new protections instituted by the Credit CARD Act, 33,258 complaints were still filed about credit cards.

Avoiding Imposter Scams

The FTC’s consumer complaints about imposter scams (that is, scams in which someone pretends to be a government agency or loved one in order to convince a victim to part with money or sensitive information) prompted the release of a report on how to spot and avoid such scams.

In general, avoid wiring money to anyone you don’t know, be wary if someone pushes you to act quickly to make a transaction, don’t transmit sensitive information by text message and always confirm a person’s identity before making a major financial move.

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Thursday, March 10th, 2011

The Latest Consumer Protection from the FTC

The Federal Trade Commission’s annual National Consumer Protection Week is upon us (March 6 – 12, 2011) and that means it’s a great time to brush up on information about money, credit and the consumer protections available to you – just because you happen to live in the United States.

You can get handy tips for personal finance and money management at the NCPW blog, which is updated regularly with tips for topics including these (and more!):

  • Avoiding foreclosure rescue and other mortgage-related scams;
  • Knowing how to spot employment opportunity scams;
  • Making the most of your money in the early stages of your career;
  • Building and maintaining a budget to improve financial stability;
  • Avoiding time-share and credit-card scams offered via text messages; and
  • Learning what steps to take to save your home from foreclosure.

In short, whether you’re rebuilding from a bankruptcy filing or just starting to establish yourself in the world of credit and wealth, there are excellent, free resources available for your enjoyment and education.

FTC Targets Scammers Preying on the Cash-Strapped

In other FTC news, the commission announced this week new efforts to halt scams that target people in need of work – in other words, those who can least afford to lose money to dishonest schemes.

According to the FTC’s web site, Operation Empty Promises has taken legal action against the following scammers:

  • Ivy Capital Inc., a company that allegedly bilked consumers out of more than $40 million with promises of helping them to establish lucrative, Internet-based businesses from their homes. The scam reportedly worked by first asking victims about their available credit and then pushing them to use that credit to buy worthless products and services.
  • National Sales Group, Executive Sales Network and Certified Sales Jobs, three names of the same company that allegedly posted fake sales jobs on job-search web sties including CareerBuilder.com. The group, it seems, falsely promised sales positions with Fortune 1000 companies and charged victims money for what they claimed were costs related to background checks – often, this company reportedly overcharged and charged unapproved recurring fees to victims’ credit cards.
  • Business Recovery Services LLC, a company that the FTC claims misrepresented the potential effectiveness of its work-at-home wealth recovery “kits,” which sold for $499 each. All told, the FTC reports that this group managed to snag $1.5 million from victims.

Take Advantage of FTC Protections!

The FTC is constantly patrolling for scammers and those violating existing consumer protection rules. If you’ve caught wind of a scam or have been victimized by a scammer, you may want to file a complaint with the FTC as well as consult with an attorney to see whether you might be entitled to any compensation.

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Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

Checking in on the Credit CARD Act

A recent report from the Center for Responsible Lending suggests that the reforms introduced by the Credit CARD Act of 2009 are working to improve transparency in the marketing of credit cards to consumers.

In case you need a refresher course, the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act was designed to improve transparency from banks and other credit card issuers so that consumers could navigate the world of credit with greater ease and less financial distress. Here’s a look at just how much this consumer protection legislation has changed.

  • Advertised credit card interest rates: Before the passage of the Credit CARD Act, the CRL reports, the discrepancy between the rates advertised by credit card offers and those that consumers actually paid had reached unprecedented highs. In fact, according to the report, between 2004 and 2008, the difference between promoted rates and real rates was at its greatest ever.
  • Higher advertised rates means more honesty: Since the passage of the CARD Act, it seems, credit card offers have come branded with higher (and closer to actual) advertised interest rates.
  • More transparency in pricing: According to the CRL, new rules governing the way credit cards can advertise their interest rates has led to the exposure of as much as $12.1 billion in annual fees. In other words, credit card companies are now presenting more honest pictures of how much their products cost consumers.
  • Interest rates on credit cards constant: Despite the increases in advertised interest rates, the report shows, consumers have not actually paid more in interest since the passage of the CARD Act. This suggests that, rather than increasing the cost of credit card products, the new laws simply made those costs more readily apparent to consumers.
  • Credit card offers constant: The CRL notes in its report that direct-mail offers of credit products have been extended at a volume “consistent with economic conditions,” suggesting that, while the overall total may have fallen since boom times, the drop-off can be attributed to the tight economy and not to restrictions imposed by the new law.

What Does Better Transparency Mean for You?

As a consumer, how can you expect to benefit from the changes that have been spurred by the passage of the Credit CARD Act? The CRL lists a few ways:

  • Better transparency means more competition: According to the CRL, improved transparency among credit card issuers will spur positive competition – as banks abandon the trends of hidden fees and deceptive pricing, more banks and lenders should follow suit, which should eventually translate to lower consumer costs.
  • Tighter rules do not mean less available credit: Though some critics of the CARD Act suggested that the restrictions on lending and increased disclosure requirements would mean a decrease in overall credit availability, numbers from actual research have not borne out those predictions.
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With Valentine’s Day around the corner, many Americans are likely thinking about ways to treat their loved ones, or considering their options for meeting a romantic partner. And in the age of online dating and connections, the Federal Trade Commission has issued a guide for keeping your personal information (and money) safe from identity thieves while you enjoy all Cupid has to offer.

Here’s a look at some of the FTC’s Valentine-specific warnings.

Know the Warning Signs for Valentine’s Day Scams

  • Online dating & social networking: Online venues for meeting and interacting with people have ballooned in popularity in the last several years, but that doesn’t mean they’re always safe. The FTC suggests proceeding with caution when engaging in any sort of online relationship, especially if you notice any of these identity theft warning signs. The important thing to keep in mind is not to let your guard down even if you’re feeling particularly sentimental around the holiday.
  • Flower delivery scams: Another warning the FTC has issued concerns flower delivery services – obviously a classic choice for February 14th. According to the FTC, some flower delivery scams involve telemarketers offering their services over the phone for more money than a local florist’s shop would charge. Naturally, that’s not a good deal for anyone. If you’re thinking of sending blossoms to a loved one this year, make sure you know you’re working with a legitimate company and paying a fair price.
  • Financial habit compatibility: While financial matters may not seem like the most romantic topic to broach during a Valentine’s dinner, they are important to any serious relationship. Luckily, the FTC offers a fiscal compatibility quiz for partners interested in seeing how their spending, saving and budgeting habits match up. (Hint: offering to do this quiz together for a Valentine’s Day date might not go over well if it’s the most romantic thing you’ve got planned.)
  • Magazine subscription and renewal scams: Thinking of giving a gift that your valentine can enjoy all year long? Be careful if you choose a magazine subscription, because some scammers have begun sending phony renewal notices to subscribers in hopes of tricking these people into sending checks they think are to maintain their subscriptions. Instead, visit the web site of the magazine you want to share with your loved one and make sure that web site is a secure place to enter any financial information.

The Relationship between Love & Money

Americans tend to think of love and money as unrelated subjects, but any serious relationship demands a consideration of financial matters from both partners. After all, the stress of debt problems can wreak havoc on a relationship, so show your partner you care by putting financial matters on the table this Valentine’s Day!

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Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011

Spend Smarter to Save Time & Money

As anyone recovering from bankruptcy, trying to eliminate debt or otherwise reshaping their finances knows, shopping and buying new things can be a source of stress – after all, we all need stuff now and then (whether it's a new part for a car, a new refrigerator or new shoes for our kids). But we shouldn’t have to worry that our purchase will turn into a nightmare if something goes wrong.

A recent post from WalletPop.com outlines what it calls a “Customer Bill of Rights,” which offers suggestions for what ordinary consumers should look for in their purchasing to make sure they won’t be scammed or led into a labyrinth of red tape should something malfunction.

Know What to Look for in a Company

Here’s a summary of how to better navigate your spending and buying experiences.

  • Look for contact information. If a company doesn’t readily display contact information (with email addresses or phone numbers on a web site and actual representatives in a store), you may not want to shop there. After all, if you can’t easily communicate with the company, you’ll probably be in for some serious headaches if you want to ask about a return or repair policy down the road. Before you spend your money, make sure you know how to ask the vendor questions.
  • Know your timeframe. If the first person you speak with can’t help you resolve a problem, ask for a manager. It’s easy during customer service calls to get frustrated and give up, but remember that you spent your money on this company’s product, and you need help with it. Customer service reps shouldn’t act like this is a burden; if they do, you’ve learned one company not to buy from in the future.
  • Know the policies and ask about changes. Return and warranty policies change frequently at some retailers. Be sure to read such policies and ask how a company handles changes: if, for example, you buy something and the policy changes before you need it fixed, what will your options be?
  • Be wary about warranties. Many stores offer expensive warranty deals that are not worth your money. Instead, consider looking at online warranty vendors (like SquareTrade.com) or simply setting aside a fund for all your appliances – that way, you have somewhere to draw money from if you need repairs.
  • Do some homework. In an ideal world, we wouldn’t have to worry about whether a retailer would treat us respectfully if we needed to make a return, but in the real world some vendors have better reputations than others. A quick online search should yield lists of companies that have high and low ratings for their customer service. You can also look at forums where customers chat about their experiences.
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Monday, January 31st, 2011

Keep Your Debt Elimination Motivation High

Whether you’ve committed to a Chapter 13 bankruptcy repayment plan or you're paying off debt without help from the bankruptcy court, it's essential that you stay with your plan over the long term – otherwise, you may never get to the payoff of being debt free.

But, because eliminating debt and rebuilding credit can take several years (a Chapter 13 bankruptcy takes three to five years), staying motivated to pay down your debt can be a challenge all its own.

Here are some tips for keeping yourself excited for your mission, adapted from NotMadeofMoney.com.

Stay Pumped to Pay Debt: Break the Whole into Sections

  • Work piece by piece: Rather than thinking of your debt in terms of its overwhelming total number, break it into pieces of debt (whether by account, type of debt or some other groups) and focus on eliminating one type at a time. This should keep you from feeling helpless in the face of a large debt total.
  • Take time to celebrate small victories: When you meet one of your small financial goals (which can be anything from paying off a certain debt to avoiding some type of costly, detrimental financial behavior) for a set time period, reward yourself and enjoy the reward. Obviously, it's important not to go overboard on this (and risk undoing all the good you've done), but treating yourself to, say, one fancy latte per month will likely help you enjoy that drink much more than if you gulp one every morning.
  • Think debt by debt: Most insiders suggest paying the minimum balance on all but one debt (either the one with the highest interest rate, for maximum efficiency, or with the lowest balance, for speedy elimination) and funneling the rest of your spare change into that debt. This way, you'll pick off debts one by one as your work your way down to a debt-free life.
  • Remember your long-term goal: Eliminating debt can provide you with financial freedom that you might use in a number of ways – remember to keep in mind what you plan to do once you're unyoked from your debts. Whether you want to travel, give more, work less or do something else, remember that your journey toward debt elimination will help you get there.
  • Enlist a helper: Whether you're working toward financial freedom with a spouse or on your own, having an outside source of motivation can be helpful to keeping you on track. We tend to feel more responsible for our actions when someone is holding us accountable for them, for one thing; for another, it's nice to hear how well we're doing from someone else's mouth once in a while. So if you don't already have a debt-elimination buddy, start thinking about who might best motivate you to stay on track.
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Wednesday, January 26th, 2011

Avoid Refund Anticipation Loans this Tax Season!

If you’re counting on a tax refund this year, you may have heard of refund anticipation loans (or RALs), which some tax-preparation services offer to people as part of tax preparation services. But these loans, as most consumer advocates will agree, are not a good deal for you the consumer.

Here’s a look at why tax refund anticipation loans (sometimes called a refund anticipation check) may not be all that they're promised, and what the federal government is doing to help you avoid them.

Why RALs Are a Bad Financial Move

So what is a refund anticipation loan? Basically:

  • It’s a cash advance loan that charges you a high interest rate to get some of your tax return dollars earlier than you would have otherwise gotten them.
  • Some tax preparation services offer them to customers who are expecting a tax return that year. Generally, a customer can receive the money for a “fee” of some kind – just like a payday loan. In fact, RALs are very much akin to payday loans: their “fees” are just high interest rates disguised to look harmless.
  • RALs eat into whatever tax return you can expect to get. After all, you have to pay for the privilege of receiving your money early, and that money comes out of whatever you would have received from the federal government.
  • RALs can also set you up for debt. What happens if there’s a mistake in your tax forms or if you end up getting a smaller return than you expected? If you take out a refund anticipation loan for the full amount of your return and then receive a smaller actual return from the government, you’ll still be responsible fore repaying the loan amount in full. Yikes.
  • RALs may present a tempting prospect to unbanked Americans – after all, if you don’t have a bank account, waiting for a refund check from the government and then paying to have it cashed can seem like a waste of time and money. But paying for the RAL itself will almost always cost more.

So What Are the Feds Doing about the RAL Problem?

This year, the Treasury is launching a new program that offers an alternative to refund anticipation loans, particularly aimed at people without bank accounts who might be susceptible to the RAL’s siren song. Here are the gist:

  • Debit card distribution: The Treasury will be sending debit cards pre-loaded with people’s refunds to 600,000 Americans selected at random to participate.
  • Experiment to see what works: If the program proves popular, the pre-loaded debit card system could become standard practice in future years.
  • Varied terms on cards: In order to test various features, the debit cards will come with a variety of features. Some will require no fees to make purchases or withdraw money from ATMs, while others will charge small fees to be activated, check balances or use at certain retailers.

The goal of this program, it seems, is to offer a lower-cost alternative to RALs and RACs to the people most likely to be tempted to choose them.

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The Federal Trade Commission recently published tips to help Americans get the most out of their vehicle warranties. The guidelines are fairly simple, but could make a huge difference to your car (and your wallet) should your car need repairs.

And for anyone recovering from bankruptcy or otherwise trying to maintain healthy finances and eliminate debt, these tips should be welcome.

Know What the Warranty Protects

Here’s something that many consumers don’t know about auto warranties:

  • Federal law protects consumers: In fact, it’s illegal for an auto dealer to deny service outlined in a warranty simply because a you had your car serviced by an independent mechanic.
  • The dealer has to offer proof: In order to deny warranty-covered services, a dealer must be able to prove that specific work done on the car caused the damage that you want repaired. And then, only the part damaged by the independent mechanic can be denied warranty services – the rest of the car is still protected.

Make the Most of Your Car’s Warranty

The FTC recommends taking the following steps to make sure your car can get the service and attention it needs and is legally granted by its warranty.

  • Read your warranty or your car’s owner’s manual: In order to take advantage of the terms of service, you have to know what they are, right? So make sure to take the time to look over what is guaranteed in your vehicle – you may even be pleasantly surprised.
  • Keep a note of the end of the warranty period: It’s not “cheating” to have any problems or issues looked at by your dealer right before the end of your warranty. In fact, that’s a smart move: why not get any updates or repairs done for free while you still can?
  • Take regular care of your car: Make sure to follow the guidelines listed in the owner’s manual for maintaining your car. This means changing the oil and air filters, having tires rotated, and getting any strange noises checked out as they occur. This may cost more in the short term than ignoring your car or letting things slide, but better maintenance will mean better longevity (which means you won’t have to pay for a whole new car for longer).
  • Keep your receipts: It’s a good idea to have a file (whether digital or hard) of all the maintenance and repair work you get done. That way, you can use the receipts as evidence that you maintained your car properly if and when you need to take it in to the dealer to have it repaired under warranty.
  • Make some noise: If a dealer refuses warranty-guaranteed service on your car, speak to a manager or another dealership. Consider filing a complaint with your state’s attorney general. The federal government outlines certain rights for consumers regarding their cars and auto warranties, so why not take advantage of those?
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A recent report from CreditBloggers indicates that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the new government body created by the Obama administration to improve consumer protections in the United States, plans to create an easy-to-understand tool that will allow potential homeowners to compare the terms of various mortgage loans with greater ease.

Here’s a look at some of the details.

Easier-to-Understand Mortgage Documents and More

  • More transparency in lending: According to a press release from the CFPB, the organization plans to join forces with state enforcers and banks to improve transparency in lending tools such as mortgage documents, student loans and payday loans. The goal of this partnership is to better equip consumers with the tools needed to understand loans before they take on such burdens.
  • Clarification of mortgage options: One of the CFPB’s specific goals is to provide consumers with an easy-to-understand comparison sheet for mortgage loans. The current forms, apparently, include too much legal and technical jargon and provide little illumination for the average consumer.

So what might this mean for consumers, once the CFPB produces documents to facilitate various borrowing experiences?

Improved Understanding of Consumer Risk

The goal, it seems, is to put consumers in a position of power when they’re making decisions about their finances. Ultimately, services from the CFPB might include:

  • Better disclosures on student lending forms: Most student loans are not dischargeable in bankruptcy, but students continue to regularly take on tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt in order to get a bachelor’s degree. Improved disclosures, explanations and estimates post-graduation earnings could help young students make more reasonable borrowing decisions.
  • Tighter restrictions (or clearer terms) at payday loan stores: While some state laws have banned or greatly restricted the practice of payday lending, in much of the country payday lenders still thrive. The CFPB has announced that it plans to play a role in changing the face of payday lending so that it is less alluring and expensive for already struggling consumers.
  • Clearer comparisons of mortgage offers: As stated above, more direct methods of explaining and comparing mortgages could potentially save consumers from taking on toxic debt.

Because the financial turmoil we’ve been dealing with for the last few years has had unarguably negative effects on the lives and livelihoods of millions of citizens, it’s refreshing to see the potential for some good (in the form of increased consumer protections) to come out of the bad.

The CFPB is still a fairly new organization; as it matures and extends its reach, it should be making important changes for consumers across the country.

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Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

What You Can Learn from 2010’s Top Scams

While many people are looking forward to the new year, it’s also important to take time to look back on what we learned from 2010. So here’s a review of some of the major scams that we saw in the past year and what you can do to protect your finances from similar ones.

Protect Your Finances from Future Scams

  • Mortgage Relief Scams: Scammers know that people who are feeling desperate make good targets, so times of economic distress provide scam artists with plenty of opportunities for ripping people off. Scams offering fake mortgage relief take advantage of people in danger of losing their homes by offering fake services to negotiate with lenders or change mortgage terms, and real opportunities for struggling homeowners to throw away money they can’t afford to lose. Lesson: You are the only one responsible for saving your home and/or mortgage. If you want help, you must ask for it and do some work to find the right group to provide it.
  • Debt Relief & Reduction Scams: Like mortgage relief scams, debt relief scams work by charging consumers steep upfront fees for debt-reduction services that the scammer never delivers. Though new rules have strengthened consumer protections against debt settlement companies (which are sometimes little more than dolled-up scammers), many groups are apparently still finding ways to get around these rules. Lesson: Do your homework before committing to any debt relief firm. Visit the Better Business Bureau, compare fees among companies, and consider your alternatives (like credit counseling and bankruptcy). Most importantly, if something sounds too good to be true, don’t believe it.
  • Robocall Scams: These scams work by contacting vast numbers of consumers with recorded telephone messages and promising some attractive service (like quick debt reduction) – naturally, for a steep price. Lesson: Getting out of debt is almost never a quick process. If someone promises a quick fix for your debt, turn the other way and run (and don’t write any checks in the meantime).
  • Identity Theft Scams: Identity theft is perhaps one of the most troubling crimes of the information age – correcting the damage done by identity thieves can take hours of time and lead to anger and frustration. And identity thieves are masters at taking advantage of new technologies to get our information – emails, text messages, online buying sites and other popular media have all been used by identity thieves to lure in unsuspecting consumers. Lesson: Guard your personal information carefully. Don’t ever wire money to strangers, reply to unfamiliar emails, text sensitive information or otherwise reveal too much of your personal data.

Keep Your Money Safe in 2011

The sad truth about scams is this: there will always be a new scam out there – the nature of legislation is that it is slow and retroactive, meaning that unscrupulous individuals will always be able to outpace laws. But if you approach your everyday transactions and interactions with reasonable skepticism, you should be able to keep yourself and your money safe.

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