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Articles
Plain-language advice to help you understand your consumer rights and avoid and report scams.
Offers of free money from government grants are scams. Someone might offer you a grant to pay for education, home repairs, home business expenses, or unpaid bills. But they’re all scams. Here’s how to
Before you trade in, sell, give away, or recycle your phone, remove your personal information. Removing Your Personal Information Recycling Your Phone Removing Your Personal Information If you’re
It would be nice if you could lose weight simply by taking a pill, wearing a patch, or rubbing in a cream, but claims that you can lose weight without changing your habits just aren’t true. And some
When a loved one dies, family members and friends often need to make decisions about a funeral quickly and under emotional stress. If your loved one dies in another state, or you can’t meet in person
Wi-Fi hotspots in coffee shops, libraries, airports, hotels, universities, and other public places are convenient, but often they’re not secure. If you connect to a Wi-Fi network and send information
If your credit, ATM, or debit card is lost or stolen, federal law limits your liability for charges made without your permission, but your protection depends on the type of card — and when you report
People spend billions of dollars a year on products and treatments in the hope of improving their health and fitness. But a lot of that money goes to companies that make fake claims about those
Discriminating against someone who’s trying to get a mortgage loan is against the law. Know your rights and what to do if you suspect discrimination. Fair Lending Laws and Your Rights Before and
Federal law gives you protections when you deal with any organizations or people who regularly extend credit. That includes, for example, banks, small loan and finance companies, retail and department
We hear a lot about credit — credit reports, credit scores, credit freezes, credit monitoring. What does it all mean for you? Your credit matters because it affects your ability to get a loan, a job
Some scammy debt relief companies will say just about anything to get your money. They promise to get you a lower credit card interest rate, claiming to be able to save you thousands of dollars but
If you’re thinking about getting a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit, shop around. Compare financing offered by banks, savings and loans, credit unions, and mortgage companies. Shopping
Dishonest invention promoters lie about the profit potential of your invention to get you to pay for expensive, but often useless, services. Here’s what you need to know to avoid an invention
Many payment cards may look alike, and they all let you use a plastic card to pay for things online or in a store. But credit, charge, secured credit, debit, and prepaid cards work in different ways
Whether you’re drawn to the beauty of turquoise and silver jewelry or the earth tones of Indian pottery, learning more about American Indian arts and crafts can help you make sure you buy quality
When you cosign a loan for a friend or family member, you’re putting your own finances and creditworthiness on the line. Here’s what you need to know before you cosign a loan. What’s a cosigner? Why