Welcome to Consumers’ Notebook, where we feature news-you-can-use and other timely information to help you become a more informed consumer. Check back often to read the latest pieces in our Notebook.
Is This a Good Time to Buy a New or Used Car?
People are buying cars again. To regain lost business, car manufacturers and dealers are promoting steep discounts and special financing.
Update: Advice from a Patient Advocate for Families with Vulnerable Loved Ones
During the coronavirus pandemic, patient advocates can offer vital assistance to the families of those who are hospitalized or locked down in senior communities.
Air Passenger Rights During Coronavirus Crisis
An airline must give you a refund if it cancels your flight. Many carriers finally are granting more flexibility for flyers who wish to change their travel plans due to the coronavirus crisis.
Headlight Ratings Encourage Automakers to Improve Safety; These 2021 Models Scored Best
To encourage automakers to improve inferior headlights, in 2016 the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety began rating vehicles for this important safety issue. Here are the 2021 models that scored best.
Robocalls on the Rise: How You Can Fight Back
For years, we’ve been promised that new technology would solve the robocall problem. But phones keep ringing.
Fraud Alert: Criminals Pitch Bogus Cryptocurrency Investments
A gold-rush mentality created by the cryptocurrency craze has people sending money to companies that promise huge returns in days or weeks without first checking them out. Often, they’re scams—cyber criminals are increasingly luring victims who hope to get rich quick.
How to Save Money at the Pump and Boost Your Car’s Gas Mileage
Unless you can park your car and drive less, there are three ways to deal with soaring gasoline prices: Hunt for the lowest price; chose the best way to pay; and then squeeze the most miles out of every gallon you buy.
Social Media Scams Are Skyrocketing. Here’s How to Protect Yourself.
Social media websites and apps are increasingly magnets for crooks looking for victims. About one quarter of all fraud losses reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) last year resulted from scams that started with social media ads, posts, or messages.
Credit Score Myths vs. Reality: Don’t Let These Common Misconceptions Hold You Back
Although good credit is important for so many reasons, many people don’t understand how the system works and instead make decisions based on misinformation. Checkbook asked Liz Weston, a personal finance columnist and author, to separate myths from facts.
Court Approves Equifax Breach Settlement: Money for Some, Free Credit Monitoring for All
Equifax will pay up to $425 million in restitution to those directly impacted by the massive data breach of the credit bureau in 2017. Settlement notices are now being sent to those who previously filed claims for monetary compensation or free credit monitoring.
New Government Report: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion Rarely Act on Complaints About Credit File Errors
If you spot a mistake on your credit report and contact the credit bureau, there’s a good chance nothing will happen. Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion together provided relief when alerted to errors less than two percent of the time last year, according to a new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Automakers Rev Up Subscription Services
When you buy or lease your next car, you might be required to pay a monthly or yearly subscription fee to activate some of its features.
New Federal Rules Spell Out What Debt Collectors Can and Cannot Do
New debt collection regulations took effect at the end of November. The new rules focus on communications and disclosures from debt collectors, including what a collector can say, how often they can contact the consumer, what information must be provided, and what qualifies as harassment.
Marriott Settles Lawsuit and Agrees to Include ‘Resort Fees’ in Advertised Room Rates
In a major victory for travelers, last week Marriott International settled a consumer protection lawsuit brought by the Pennsylvania attorney general and agreed to begin disclosing upfront any mandatory fees, including resort fees.
Attention Holiday Shoppers: The Pros and Cons of Retail Credit Cards
While having a store’s card may make sense for you, applying for credit can impact your credit score and overall finances, so it should never be done without careful consideration. You need to understand the terms, fees, and interest rate. Most retail credit cards have higher interest rates than traditional credit cards.
Attending College Next Year? It’s Time to File Your FAFSA to Find Out About Financial Assistance
FAFSA is the gateway to your share of the nearly $150 billion in federal aid available from the U.S. Department of Education, plus assistance from state governments and most colleges and universities.
Early-Bird Holiday Shopping Might be the Smart Move This Year
We're again being told to “get going now” on our holiday shopping this year. Wait too long, retailers warn, and you might not find everything on your gift-giving list.
Fraud Alert: Phone Scams Involving Amazon Impersonators Are Skyrocketing
Scammers impersonate all sorts of businesses, but Amazon is “a runaway favorite” of telephone fraudsters, according to a report from the Federal Trade Commission.
Pause on Student Loan Payments Ends in January; Here’s How to Prepare
The government-mandated pause on federal student loan repayments, interest, and collections—set to expire at the end of September—has been extended until Jan. 31, 2022. The Department of Education made it clear this is the “final pause.”...
Are You Sharing Your Wi-Fi with Amazon? If So, Should You Be Concerned?
Amazon Sidewalk, the retail giant’s new shared wireless network, is now up and running across the United States. If you have an Echo smart speaker or Ring security device, you may be powering Amazon’s “mesh network” without realizing it.