Debt Collection: Know Your Rights

Know someone who’s behind on their bills? Are debt collectors calling for payment? There are laws to protect you. Understanding your legal rights when dealing with debt collectors can help you avoid the bad ones who will say anything to get you to pay.

Financing a Car

You know what kind of car you want, and you know what you can spend. But don’t head to the dealer just yet. Before you shop for a car, shop for financing.

Financing a car means you pay it off over time, but you don’t have to get that financing through a dealer. Check with banks credit unions and finance companies first. Then take your best financing offer with you to the dealers.

Report and Recover from Identity Theft

Is someone using your personal information to open new accounts, make purchases or get benefits? Report it at IdentityTheft.gov and get a free personal recovery plan.

Hacked Email: What to Do

Are your friends and family getting emails from you that you didn’t send? Or maybe you want to check your email, but you can’t log in? Chances are your email’s been hacked. Here’s what to do.

Money Wiring Scams

This video shows some common money wiring scams, and what happens to some people who meet the scams.

Minimum Payments on Credit Cards

This video shows what happens when someone makes just the minimum payment on a credit card balance.

Free Trials Can Cost You

Free trial programs often come with catches — expensive catches. If you get an offer to try a product or service for “free” be sure to read the fine print and know how to stop a company from billing you if you’re not interested in buying after the trial period is over.

Paying Your Car Loan

You probably rely on your car to get you everywhere you need to go, where it’s work, school, or running errands. While having a car can be convenient, it can also be a big financial responsibility. You may have taken out a loan to buy it. Until you’ve paid the lender back, you don’t legally own the car.

Online Shopping Tips

Shopping online? A little research can help you get the best deal and avoid unnecessary hassles. Day by day, more and more people are shopping online. It’s convenient, and you can bring a world of choices to your computer, phone or tablet.

Hang Up on Fraudulent Telemarketing

Chances are, you did not win a million dollars in a lottery you don’t recall entering. Nor do you have a bevy of “free” prizes waiting for you as a reward for being a valued customer. So, if a telemarketer calls with this kind of news and asks for your account number, other personal information or cash upfront to collect your “prize,” hang up. It’s a scam.