DSEF & CBBB: How “Top” Are the Top Ten?

Today’s highlighted blog post from the Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB)

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How “Top” Are the Top Ten?

Recently a local journal published a list of “Top Companies” in our area. “Wait a minute,” I said, spotting a familiar name. “Don’t they have an F with the BBB?”

Further research turned up the fact that this rating was earned in part due to a BBB Accredited Business revocation. We had revoked the company for not responding to a complaint after having had numerous chances to do so. Ironically, the complaint was about lack of response to the business’s paying customer.

DSEF and Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) fosters honest and responsive relationships between businesses and consumers—instilling consumer confidence and advancing a trustworthy marketplace for all.

About the Better Business Bureaus
As the leader in advancing marketplace trust, Better Business Bureau is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Every year, more than 87 million consumers rely on BBB Business Reviews® and BBB Wise Giving Reports® to help them find trustworthy businesses and charities across North America. Visitwww.bbb.org/us for more information.

Blog

DSEF & CBBB: Protect Your Mail

Today’s highlighted blog post from the Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB):

By CAROL ODELL

With the mail picking up for the holiday season it’s a good time to focus on mail theft.

The Colorado Springs Police Department sent out a Community Alert about mail theft that is worth repeating. Here it is.

Mail fraud can mean anything from non-delivery of mail-order merchandise to mail actually being stolen. Not only do criminals steal packages containing presents and cards filled with money or checks but personal information in your mail can be used by criminals to steal your identity.

Preventing Mail Theft:

Do not leave outgoing mail in your unlocked mailbox.
Deposit mail in a collection box or inside your local post office.
Promptly pick up your incoming mail after it is delivered.
Arrange for the installation of locked group mailboxes for neighborhood delivery. These are Neighborhood Deliver & Collection Box Units (NDCBU). Each address has an individual locked unit for delivery and collection. At least seven neighbors are needed to sign a petition requesting an NDCBU.
Install a locked mailbox or convert your unlocked box to the lockable type.
Have mail delivered to a Post Office Box or Personal Mail Delivery Service.
Use Direct Deposit and Electronic Banking to avoid checks in your mail.
Contact the senders if you don’t receive credit cards, checks or other valuable mail.
When out of town have the post office hold your mail or have someone your trust pick up the mail daily.
Be observant of and report suspicious activities on your street, including those near your letter carrier, the postal vehicle, residential mailboxes, and collection boxes.
Notify the post office and people who will be sending you mail that you have a change of address.
To stop receiving pre-approved credit and insurance offers call: 18885OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) or visit: www.optoutprescreen.com

Do you have any other mail safety tips?

Blog

DSEF & FTC: Take A Close Look At Your Phone Bill For Mysterious Charges

Today’s highlighted blog post from FTC/NCPW:

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Take a close look at your phone bill for mysterious charges

May 20th, 2011 by Cheryl

Do you examine your phone bill closely enough each month to recognize any new charges? Would you notice a $2 or $3 one-time service charge? Or an obscure, recurring monthly charge?

Scammers hope you don’t. That’s why they invented cramming – the practice of sneaking charges onto your phone bill for services you didn’t order or use.

For 13 years, the DSEF has been proud to partner with the FTC and other organizations to offer a wide array of education events and resources that encourage consumers nationwide to take full advantage of their rights and make better-informed decisions.

You’ll find a wealth of resources at www.ncpw.g ov that will help you protect your privacy, manage your money, learn more about credit and debt, decipher advertising messages, and steer clear of fraud and scams.

Please take a moment to share the resources on this Web site with others in your communities and companies and, together, we’ll help build a nation of better-informed and educated consumers.

Charles. L. Orr
Executive Director

Blog

DSEF & FTC: Getting Your Free Annual Credit Report

Today’s highlighted blog post from FTC/NCPW:

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Getting Your Free Annual Credit Report

July 5th, 2011 by Carol

Are you looking for a job? Thinking about buying a car or a home? Applying for credit? Before you do, get – and review – a copy of your credit report. The information in your credit report can affect whether you get a job, a loan, or the terms or cost of a loan. You want to be sure the information about you is correct, complete and up-to-date.

Please take a moment to share the resources on this Web site with others in your communities and companies and, together, we’ll help build a nation of better-informed and educated consumers.

Charles. L. Orr
Executive Director

Blog

DSEF & CBBB: The Worst Fees of 2011

Today’s highlighted blog post from the Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB):

The Worst Fees of 2011

BY GREG HUDSON – DECEMBER 27, 2011

It was the year of fees, reports MSN’s Money Matters. As businesses scrambled to make up lost revenue, they tacked on charges for everything from paying a bill (online and offline) to printing out your concert tickets at home. With so many fees frustrating consumers in 2011, narrowing down the list was a daunting task, writes Liz Weston. But here are her top five stupidest fees of the year:

Debit card fees: After Congress limited how much banks could charge merchants for each debit card transaction, banks started making customers pay instead. Fortunately, the backlash was “immediate and fierce.” Banks that had begun charging monthly $4 and $5 fees, quickly pulled the programs.

Boarding pass fees: First, airlines started charging for checked baggage and onboard meals. But this year, Spirit Airlines, which markets itself as a low cost airline, out did the fee-crazy industry by charging a $5 fee for having your boarding pass printed out at the airport counter, rather than a kiosk or on your home computer.

Early-termination fees for TV service: Be sure to read the fine print when you sign up for new a television service. Pay TV providers, such a Verizon Fios and DirecTV, are taking a pay from cellphone carriers and hitting consumers with high charges (from $200 up) for early termination of services.

See the full article and the rest of MSN’s list here.

Blog

DSEF & FTC: Is Losing Weight Really this Easy?

Today’s highlighted blog post from FTC/NCPW:

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Is Losing Weight Really this Easy?

It’s some pitch — lose lots of weight quickly with products you can try for free. Even better — the products seem to be endorsed by trusted news sites, and satisfied “reporters” attest to all the unwanted pounds they’ve dropped.

Those were the kinds of claims behind a recent complaint filed by the FTC and State of Connecticut against Boris Mizhen and his companies, who allegedly used fake news websites to promote weight loss products. Featuring stories like “Acai Berry Diet Exposed: Miracle Diet or Scam?,” the sites often displayed the logos of major news sources, including CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News, and featured fake reporters claiming to have lost lots of weight quickly without any special diet or real exercise. Many people who followed the links and signed up for a free trial, rather than paying a small shipping handling fee, ended up paying $79.99 for the trial, and for recurring monthly shipments of products that were hard to cancel, the FTC alleged.

Please take a moment to share the resources on this Web site with others in your communities and companies and, together, we’ll help build a nation of better-informed and educated consumers.

Charles. L. Orr
Executive Director

Blog

DSEF & CBBB: Names Top Ten Scams of 2011

Today’s highlighted blog post from the Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB)

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BBB Names Top Ten Scams of 2011

Better Business Bureau investigates thousands of scams every year, from the latest gimmicks to schemes as old as the hills. Our new Scam Source (www.bbb.org/scam) is a comprehensive resource on scam investigations from BBBs around the country, with tips from BBB, law enforcement and others. You can sign up to receive our Scam Alerts by email, and you can also be a scam detective yourself by reporting scams you’ve discovered.

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DSEF & FTC: Payday Mayday: Seek Alternatives to Costly Loans that Can Sink You

Today’s highlighted blog post from FTC/NCPW:

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Payday Mayday: Seek Alternatives to costly Loans that Can Sink You

The ads are everywhere — on the radio, television, the Internet, even in the mail. They refer to payday loans, cash advance loans, check advance loans, post-dated check loans, or deferred deposit loans. And their promises of quick cash to get out of a financial bind can be tempting to many.

Please take a moment to share the resources on this Web site with others in your communities and companies and, together, we’ll help build a nation of better-informed and educated consumers.

Charles. L. Orr
Executive Director

Teleseminar

DSEF & Money Wise Women: Raising Money Smart Kids

Today’s highlighted post from Money Wi$e Women Get Smart Teleseminar Series:

Raising Money Smart Kids

Learn how parents can help their children develop a healthy attitude towards money. Janet Bodnar will share a wealth of suggestions, ideas and tips on raising money smart kids — from a young age to college bound teens.

Janet Bodnar

Janet Bodnar is editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. During her career at Kiplinger, Bodnar has written about a wide range of topics on investing, money management and the economy. She is also a nationally recognized expert in the field of children’s and family finances, and the author of several books. Her latest book is Money Smart Women: Everything You Need to Know to Achieve a Lifetime of Financial Security (Kaplan). Praising Money Smart Women, Time magazine noted that Bodnar “avoids the patronizing finger wagging and sticks to giving advice that women can really use.” She speaks frequently on the subject of women and money. Bodnar’s “Money-Smart Kids” column appears regularly at www.kiplinger.com/columns/kids. It was chosen by Moneysmartz.com as one of the top financial columns online. And Bodnar is the kids and money coach on the AOL Coaches site.

DSEF proudly sponsors the free Money Wi$e Women Get Smart Teleseminar Series hosted by Marcia Brixey, Founder and President of Money Wise Women Educational Services and author ofThe Money Therapist: A Woman’s Guide to Creating a Healthy Financial Life. The series covers topics related to business and finances and provides women the opportunity to learn from professional experts in a safe, comfortable environment.

To find out about upcoming teleseminars, visit http://www.moneywisewomengetsmart.com/

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DSEF & CBBB: Helping Small Business Owners Manage Credit Wisely

Today’s highlighted blog post from the Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB)

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Helping Small Business Owners Manage Credit Wisely

BBB and Capital One Managing Credit – Made Simpler Partnership to offer businesses tailored advice and easy-to-follow tips online for free

“Faced with the realities of the economic downturn, millions of small businesses have been forced to take a second look at their finances, including examining their spending habits and how they use credit,” said Stephen A. Cox, President and CEO, Council of Better Business Bureaus. “Regularly examining your business’s finances, including how and why you use credit, is important. BBB’s Managing Credit – Made Simpler provides easy-to-follow tips, checklists, and advice compiled to help small businesses better handle and successfully build their business’s credit record.”