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.
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401(k) 'Super' Catch-Up Contributions Are Coming in 2025New for 2025, employees 60 to 63 can save an additional $11,250 in their 401(k), but should they?
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Five Year-End Strategies You Can't Afford to MissInstead of making New Year's resolutions, consider making some money moves that could help save you big bucks on your taxes.
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How to Guard Against Identity Theft in 2025Scammers are getting better at impersonating legitimate businesses.
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Social Media Scams Cost Consumers $2.7B, Study ShowsScams related to online shopping, investment schemes and romance top the FTC's social media list this year.
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Five Ways to Save on Vacation Rental PropertiesTravel Use these strategies to pay less for an apartment, condo or house when you travel.
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How to Avoid Annoying Hotel Fees: Per Person, Parking and MoreTravel Here's how to avoid extra charges and make sure you don't get stuck paying for amenities that you don't use.
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Tired of Scam Text Messages? The FCC Cracks DownNew scam text message rules from the FCC require carriers to block texts from bad numbers and protect consumers.
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Tax Scam: IRS Warns Taxpayers Against Filing False W-2 InfoScams A new tax scam on social media advises lying on your W-2 to falsely claim credits and bigger refunds.
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Scams Cost Consumers $8.8 Billion in 2022 — The Top Five Frauds
Scams and frauds jumped to shocking new highs last year. Learn the top five types, and use our tips to protect yourself.
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Beware Fake Disney Plus Emails That Steal Your Bank InformationFake Disney Plus billing messages enable scammers to access your bank account and drain your funds.
