Articles

Your credit score affects whether a company will give you credit and how much you’ll pay for it.

Before you buy, know that gemstones, diamonds, and pearls may be natural, manufactured, or treated to change their appearance.

Taking care of your eye health and monitoring your vision is important. Any time your prescriber measures your prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses (an exam that is called a refraction), they must give you a copy of your prescription — whether you ask for it or not — at no extra charge. Wherever you choose to buy your glasses or contact lenses, your prescription lets you shop around for the best deal. The FTC enforces the Eyeglass Rule and Contact Lens Rule.

Scammers follow weather reports just like everyone else — and when disaster strikes, they’ll strike, too. If you know what scams look like after a weather emergency, it’ll be easier to make plans to avoid them. Here are ways those scams play out, and how you can be prepared.

Your tenant background check report can affect whether you get rental housing, the terms of your lease, and how much you pay for rent or a security deposit.

Offers ways to spot and avoid scams when shopping for a home security system.

If you’re thinking about buying a timeshare or joining a vacation club, make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into.

Dishonest invention marketers lie about the profit potential of your invention to get you to pay for expensive, but often useless, services. Here’s what you need to know to avoid an invention marketing scam.

Spot and avoid real estate investment seminar scams, investment coaching scams, and precious metals and coins investment scams.

Scammers pressure you to wire money to them because it’s easy to take your money and disappear. Wiring money with services like MoneyGram, Ria, and Western Union is like sending cash — once you send it, you usually can’t get it back. Never wire money to anyone you haven’t met in person — no matter the reason they give.

If you’ve been scammed, someone might promise to help you get your money back –– if you pay in advance. That’s another scam.

Advice to help you choose a contractor, pay wisely, and handle problems along the way.

Includes a list of contacts and practical steps to help you get your finances back on track after a weather emergency.

Thinking about getting your high school diploma? Here’s how to tell the difference between legit programs and diploma scams.

Companies sometimes try to get new customers by sending “prescreened” offers. Learn how prescreening works and how to opt out.

If a debt collector files a lawsuit against you to collect a debt, it’s important to respond — either yourself or through an attorney. And remember, you have rights when it comes to dealing with debt collectors. Here are answers to some common questions you might have about the process.