Explains differences between a warranty and service contract, how to get the most out of a warranty, your rights, possible scams.
BACKGROUND CHECKS is a brochure that teaches students how bad credit can affect their ability to get more credit and to get or keep a job. The information explains how employers often use a credit report when they hire and evaluate employees for promotion, reassignment or retention. A video is also included for review.
Vocational schools, also known as trade or career schools, and certificate programs can be a great way to train for a variety of jobs. But not all of these programs are useful or legit, so it’s important to do your research before picking a program.
COMPETITION COUNTS: HOW CONSUMERS WIN WHEN BUSINESSES COMPETE explains that competition in America is about price, selection, and service and teaches students how they benefit through businesses keeping prices low and the quality and choice of goods and services high.
CONSUMER.GOV - WHAT TO KNOW AND DO is designed to provide financial literacy help for educators and students. Topics include Managing Your Money; Credit, Loans and Debt; and Scams and Identity Theft. It also includes a Toolbox with lesson plans, worksheets, presentations, videos, and resources to help immigrant communities.
CREDIT AND YOUR CONSUMER RIGHTS is an online brochure that gives a brief explanation of consumer rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Billing Act, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. It provides tips for solving credit problems.
CREDIT CARD LOSS PROTECTION teaches students about the risks of telephone scams regarding worthless credit card protection and insurance programs. The article also discusses the importance of following your cried card issuer's procedures and not paying for charges you didn't make.
CREDIT SCORES is an online article that discussed how your credit score affects whether a company will give you credit and how much you’ll pay for it.
DEBT COLLECTION FAQs teaches students about consumer rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, what debt collectors may and may not do, and how and where to complain if you are harassed, threatened, or abused.
Before you buy an extended warranty or service contract, compare it to the warranty that came with the product. Will buying the coverage add extra benefits?
Learn how, why, and when to order copies of your free annual credit report.
GIFT CARD SCAMS is an online article about how no real business or government agency will ever insist you pay them with a gift card. Anyone who demands to be paid with a gift card is a scammer.
HOW STUDENT LOANS WORK AND HOW TO AVOID SCAMS in an article about paying for school and how to avoid student loan debt relief scams.
HOW TO AVOID SCHOLARSHIP AND FINANCIAL AID SCAMS is an online article about how people who need money for school can spot scams.
Learn what child identity theft is, how to detect it, how to protect your child’s personal information, and what to do if someone steals your child’s identity.
IDENTITYTHEFT.GOV is the FTC's comprehensive online guide designed to help victims report and recover from identity theft. It includes checklists, sample letters, credit bureau contact and consumer rights information, and steps to create a personal recovery plan.
JUST FOR YOU - FINANCIAL EDUCATORS is an online destination for comprehensive consumer information that you can print, copy, post, or link to freely. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) resources can be shared with students, friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors. Use your social networking skills or order free materials to give away.
KIDS ONLINE offers resources on online safety, advertising literacy, identity theft and scams.
How to determine whether prices, discounts, and other terms in car ads are true before you go to the dealership.
LOST OR STOLEN CREDIT, ATM AND DEBIT CARDS provides tips for protecting your credit and ATM cards, limiting your financial loss, and buying a registration service. The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) and the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) are discussed.
Before you buy online, comparison shop and check sellers and products. Keep records of purchases to make sure you can hold a seller to its promises
PROTECTING AGAINST CREDIT CARD FRAUD identifies steps to make it more difficult for a crook to get your credit card or card numbers. It provides tips on how to report losses and fraud as well as to how to protect yourself against fraud.
RENTAL LISTING SCAMS cautions consumers who are searching for rental property to avoid being a victim of a rental scam. Signs of scams include asking you to wire money, and asking for a security deposit before you have signed the lease.
RENTING A CAR outlines points to consider and questions to ask when you rent a car. It explains key terms: collision damage waiver, personal accident insurance, personal effects coverage, and fees such as mileage fees and airport surcharges.
USED CARS is a FTC webpage that provides information on how to get a vehicle history and steps for used car shopping, including tips to understand vehicle financing, car loan modification scams, auto service contracts and warranties, and how to determine the value of the vehicle, and related blog posts.
USING A CREDIT CARD explains your rights and responsibilities under the law. The online article addresses refunds, errors on your bill, how to dispute a charge, and unauthorized charges.
VEHICLE REPOSSESSION discusses your creditor's rights in seizing and reselling your car for nonpayment and explains deficiency: the difference between what you owe on your loan and what your creditor gets for reselling your car.
WARRANTIES provides a way to compare written warranties that can make a difference in your purchasing decisions.
YOU ARE HERE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION (FTC) MICROSITE FOR KIDS takes kids to the virtual shopping mall where they find games and activities that let them experience advertising, competition, and the mission of the Federal Trade Commission.
