Reports

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What's the Truth About "No Interest...No Payment" Retail Financing Offers?

August 2003

"No interest until ...next year!"

"No payments until ...2006!"

"180 days or 6 months same as cash"

Furniture, appliance and electronics retailers, in particular, love to throw out these teasers, hoping to entice you into buying something big. Or just to get you into the store where you may at least buy something. But before you jump off the couch and head to the store, you need to ask, "What's the catch?" Because there's always a catch. Behind the headlines are the asterisks and the small print with the real deal. Here are the most common "catches" with these offers:

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ARE YOU AT RISK OF IDENTITY THEFT?

July 2003, updated March 2007

How big a problem is identity theft? It's an epidemic. The Javelin Strategy and Research/Better Business Bureau 2006 Identity Fraud Survey Report indicates there were 8.9 million adult victims in the U.S. in 2005 and that the total one year fraud amount was $56.6 billion.

Having one's personal identity stolen can be costly and frustrating. Taking steps to learn about the dangers of ID theft and to prevent becoming a victim makes smart sense. This brief report shares the basics of what you need to know and provides links to other excellent resources.

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Hang Up on Telemarketing Fraud

June 2003, updated March 2007

Telemarketing phone calls certainly annoy most consumers. But more important, many of these calls are designed to steal consumers' cash. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that telemarketing scams cost Americans more than $40 billion each year. In their surveys, the National Fraud Information Center found that the average individual loss in 2005 was $2,892, up from $1,174 in 2001. A little information and some commonsense tips can help you protect yourself and your family against these rip-offs.

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Get the Most from your Long Distance Dollars

Ads for "dial-around" (10-10) numbers are everywhere on TV. Prepaid phonecards hang by the checkout in almost every store. Can these long-distance services actually save you money? Are there other ways to save? The answer is yes—but only if you do some comparison shopping and stay alert for hidden charges.

Dial-Around Numbers

"Dial-around" numbers are the access numbers, such as 10-10-xxx or 101-xxxx, that provide access from your home phone to a long-distance carrier other than your selected home long-distance service. The charges for these services appear on the monthly bill for your local service.

Dozens of dial-around services are available in any given geographical area, and one might be right for you. But in checking out and comparing services, use the following tips to look for policies and charges that can make the calls much more expensive than their advertised rate.