Self-help information through various links, documents, publications, etc. Check the Community Directory Channel for more resources.
There are 31 resources
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Checking and ATMs
Automatic Teller Machines and the Law
(Separate Website)
Downtown, at the mall, at the superstore?everywhere?an automatic teller machine (ATM) is there, ready to give you cash in exchange for a swipe of your plastic and a few magic numbers. That convenience, however, comes with a certain amount of expense and some exposure to risk as well.
By: American Bar Association
Credit, Debit, and ATM Cards
(Separate Website)
These plastic cards may look alike ? but different rules apply to each.
Know the rules?and these cards can
make financial transactions safer and
more convenient. Fail to understand the rules?and the fees and late payment charges can cost
you a lot of money!
By: Appleseed Foundation
Credit
Credit
(Separate Website)
The use of credit is a way of life in the United States. At any one time, about three-fourths of American households have some form of debt, including credit purchases of cars, appliances, clothing, vacation trips and other goods and services. Just over two-fifths of households have loans secured by their homes?in other words, mortgages. This web site will help you understand the rules, regulations, and laws about consumer installment credit, designed to protect you, the consumer.
By: American Bar Association
Credit - An FTC Consumer Law Web Site
(Separate Website)
This web site contains over 100 documents that deal with credit issues, including credit scams, privacy issues, identity theft, electronic banking and credit cards. The web site also contains information for businesses. The documents may be viewed and printed from the screen or printed in PDF format.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Credit Cards and Charge Accounts
(Separate Website)
Lawline FAQ: A credit card is a convenience which lets the consumer buy goods and services without having to carry cash and checkbooks. This plastic card represents the legal agreement you have with a creditor such as a department store or bank.
By: South Carolina Bar Association
Using Credit Cards
(Separate Website)
Credit cards are not just a convenient, cash-free
way to make a purchase. Credit cards are one
way to borrow money from a bank. Credit cards
are LOANS ? and they often are expensive
loans. Learn how they work and how much they
can cost before you apply for one!
By: Appleseed Foundation
Predatory Lending
Abusive Lending Website of the Federal Trade Commission
(Separate Website)
This web site contains documents relating to: (1) home equity loans, home equity credit lines and common home equity scams, (2) high rate, high fee mortgages, (3) reverse mortgages, (4) payday loans, and (5) mortgage discrimination. You may view the documents on-line and print them out or print them in PDF format.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Advance-fee Loan Scams
(Separate Website)
Advance-fee loan sharks are preying on unwary consumers, taking their money for the promise of a loan or credit, and leaving them in hot water. The scam artists often impersonate legitimate lenders to entice consumers into falling for their bogus offer.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Auto Title Loans
(Separate Website)
PDF document (may load slowly).
By: South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center
Avoid Dangerous Loans - Bank on Your Future
(Separate Website)
Questions to Ask About Loans: Does the interest rate change over time? Are there fees for this service? What is the cost of the interest that I will have paid by the end of the loan period? Are the loan documents available in my primary language?
By: Appleseed Foundation
Borrower Beware: The High Cost of Small Loans, Pawn Brokers and Rent-to-Own Stores
(Separate Website)
When you need cash, you should beware of some of the companies and people who make loans. This web page tells you what to watch for when you do business with small loan companies, pawn brokers and rent-to-own stores.
By: National Consumer Law Center
Easy Credit? Not So Fast. The Truth About Advance Fee Loan Scams
(Separate Website)
The vast majority of lenders are owned and managed by legitimate professionals. But fraudulent loan brokers and other individuals misrepresenting the availability of credit and credit terms definitely are in business. One of their favorite strategies is the "advance-fee" loan. That's when they guarantee you'll get a loan or other type of credit - but you must pay before you apply.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Payday Lenders Brochure
(Separate Website)
PDF document (may load slowly).
By: South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center
The High Cost of Payday Loans
(Separate Website)
Payday loans go by a variety of names, including "deferred presentments", "cash advances", deferred deposits", or "check loans", but they all work in the same way. The difference between the amount of the check and the amount of cash the customer gets in return is interest or a loan fee that the lender is charging. These types of short-term loans are always very expensive.
By: National Consumer Law Center
Other Resources
66 Ways to Save Money
(Separate Website)
This web site lists many ways to save money in transportation, food, housing, banking and other needs. From the Consumer Literacy Consortium, a working group of representatives from federal and state government agencies, consumer groups, business organizations, and educational institutions that seeks to develop and disseminate essential messages to inform and educate consumers.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Children's Consumer Issues - An FTC Web Site
(Separate Website)
This FTC web site contains a number of documents relating to protecting children including information on scholarship scams, consumer credit, online privacy and products to protect kids from the sun. The web site also contains information for businesses which market to children. The documents may be viewed and printed from the screen or printed in PDF format.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Adobe Acrobat Reader required. (If you are using a screen reader that does not support PDF format, copy the PDF link, and use the Access Adobe online form to convert this file to HMTL text.)
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