Best Ways Consumers Can Protect Themselves

From lodging a complaint to avoiding scams, here's what you need to know.

It's National Consumer Protection Week. So I've come up with a list of our stories and columns that will help you learn what your rights are as a consumer and how to protect yourself. The Federal Trade commission also has consumer-protection resources you might want to check out.

Credit cards and banking

FAQs on the New Credit-Card Rules: Sweeping changes shift the game in consumers' favor.

A New Ban on Overdraft Fees: The Federal Reserve is providing more protections for consumers.

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Investing

Our Man Goes Undercover and Tells All: The free trading-education seminars he attended turned out to be short on wisdom and long on hard sell.

Why It's Hard to Fight Brokers: Mad as hell over losses? You can go to arbitration, but the deck will be stacked against you.

Loans

This Pitch Is Legit: Reverse loans let seniors convert equity to cash, but at a price.

beware refund-anticipation loans: there are other ways to get cash fast without the high interest rates and fees.

scams

Protect Your Identity During the 2010 Census: Here's what you should expect when the government starts collecting information about your household next month.

Protect Your Identity Every Day: Follow these tips so that you never become a victim of ID theft.

Services

Resources to Help You Check Out a Company: Here's how to learn about the reputation of a business before you sign on the dotted line.

Complain and Get Results: If you're unhappy with a product or service you received, here's how to effectively lodge a complaint.

Shopping

Showing ID When Paying With a Card: Here's why you should think twice about handing over identification when paying with a credit card -- and what to do if the merchant won't accept your card if you refuse to show ID.

Get Your Fair Share When a Company Goes Broke: Here's what happens if you buy a gift card or make a down payment with a retailer that files for bankruptcy.

Cameron Huddleston
Former Online Editor, Kiplinger.com

Award-winning journalist, speaker, family finance expert, and author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk.

Cameron Huddleston wrote the daily "Kip Tips" column for Kiplinger.com. She joined Kiplinger in 2001 after graduating from American University with an MA in economic journalism.