Library: English | Savvy Online Shopping: How to resolve a dispute

Consumers who shop online sometimes run into problems, from delivery or product issues to billing questions or disputes. This publication explains the steps that online shoppers can take to avoid or resolve these and other problems that might arise.

Library: English | Savvy Online Shopping: Tips for trouble-free transactions

Online shopping offers all sorts of benefits, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t without potential risks. This publication explains how to reduce hassles by protecting your personal information, making wise choices about where you shop and how you pay, and taking steps to avoid disputes.

Library: English | Q&A about Protecting Your Finances for Servicemembers and Vets

This backgrounder expounds on the topics introduced in the companion brochure. Presented in Q&A format, the guide answers dozens of questions for servicemembers and veterans, ranging from how to avoid predatory lenders and take advantage of mainstream financial services to how to handle student loans and deal with debt collection issues. 

Library: English | Economic Survival Guide for Servicemembers and Veterans

This fact sheet teaches servicemembers and veterans how to recognize and avoid scams and expensive or risky financial products/services and encourages them to take advantage of the many consumer-friendly borrowing and banking options available. It also explains the special consumer finance protections that active duty servicemembers have under the law.

Library: English | Economic Survival Guide for Servicemembers and Veterans - Seminar Lesson Plan and Class Activities

This downloadable packet guides community educators through a 2.5-hour presentation on servicemembers’ and veterans’ consumer rights, financial services to avoid and the better alternatives that exist, how to avoid scams aimed at veterans, and where to get legal and financial help. In addition to the lesson plan (to be used in conjunction with the downloadable PowerPoint presentation), the packet includes exercises, resources and a class evaluation form.    

Library: English | Economic Survival Guide for Servicemembers and Veterans - PowerPoint Training Slides

This downloadable PowerPoint presentation is designed to be used in conjunction with the “Economic Survival Guide for Servicemembers and Veterans” lesson plan. The slides provide a visual component to the training that will help to engage learners and improve retention.

Library: English | California’s Lemon Law: Protection for new and used car buyers

This fact sheet about California’s protections for new and used car buyers explains how the state Lemon Law works, which vehicles are covered, the arbitration programs used by most car dealers and how consumers can pursue a claim in California.

Library: English | An Employee’s Guide to Payroll Cards

This four-page guide is designed to help employees who work for companies that offer a payroll card to determine whether that is their best option, understand how the cards work and how to avoid fees, and know their rights.

Library: English | Paying with Plastic: A Consumer Action introduction to payment cards

This two-page fact sheet explains the differences between credit, charge, debit, prepaid and gift cards. It can help you choose the best option for every transaction.

Library: English | Credit card checkout fees: Consumer rights and retailer responsibilities

A 2012 court settlement between retailers and the payments industry allowed retailers to pass their credit card acceptance costs onto consumers in the form of a new fee when consumers choose to pay with a credit card. Not all merchants will charge this fee so consumers should be aware that they can avoid it by shopping around.