Self-help information through various links, documents, publications, etc. Check the Community Directory Channel for more resources.
There are 330 resources
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Banking Services
Checking and ATMs
What Senior Advocates Should Know About Electronic Deposit of Social Security and SSI
(Separate Website)
In 1996, Congress passed a law requiring that the federal government make most payments, including Social Security and SSI payments, using electronic funds transfer (EFT). The federal government has been implementing the EFT law over the past few years. The EFT law may have caused some seniors, especially those who never have had a bank account or used an ATM, some needless anxiety. Many of these seniors may not be aware that there are a number of exceptions to the EFT law. Even worse, the EFT law may have caused some low-income seniors to fall prey to check cashers and other high cost financial services providers.
Under the EFT law, there are a number of options to receive federal benefits electronically, including regular and low-cost bank accounts. There is also a generous provision for hardship waivers, so that recipients can continue to receive paper checks. The most important thing advocates can do is to make sure their clients are not needlessly spending money on expensive accounts at check cashers and other financial sharks.
By: National Consumer Law Center
What You Should Know about Your Checks
(Separate Website)
An informative resource on checks.
By: The Federal Reserve Board
When Is Your Check Not a Check? Electronic Check Conversion
(Separate Website)
Suppose you?re at a store making a purchase and decide to pay by check?at least, that?s what you believe you?re doing. The clerk asks you for a check that is completely filled out, partially filled out, or even blank. The clerk then runs the check through a machine and hands the voided check back to you with your receipt. What just happened? Did you pay by check? Why did the clerk return the check to you? The answer is, you just experienced electronic check conversion. The following questions and answers explain how electronic check conversion works and what your rights are as a consumer.
By: Federal Reserve Board
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
Don't Pay to Borrow Your Own Money: The Risks and Costs of Tax Refund Anticipation Loans
(Separate Website)
How would you like to pay a super-high price to borrow money that already belongs to you? Sounds ridiculous, right? But that's pretty much what happens to many folks at tax time. You may be tempted by tax-time advertisements for "Fast Cash Refunds," "Express Money" or "Instant Refunds." Beware! Many of these "fast refunds" are really LOANS, refund anticipation loans, with extremely high interest rates!
By: National Consumer Law Center
Equal Credit Opportunity Act
(Separate Website)
Lawline FAQ: This act applies to banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, finance companies, department stores, credit card issuers, car and appliance dealers and all others who regularly grant credit. The Act does not guarantee credit. You must still pass the creditor's tests of creditworthiness, but the tests must be applied impartially, and without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, receipt of public assistance or because you exercise your rights under federal laws.
By: South Carolina Bar Association
Building Wealth: A Beginner's Guide to Your Financial Future
(Separate Website)
Building Wealth: A Beginner's Guide to Securing Your Financial Future offers introductory guidance to individuals and families seeking help to develop a plan for building personal wealth. While a comprehensive discussion of accounting, finance and investment options is beyond the scope of this workbook, it presents an overview of personal wealth-building strategies.
By: Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Consumer Bill of Rights
(Separate Website)
By: SC Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation
Consumer Debts and the Law
(Separate Website)
Do you owe someone money? Having trouble paying off your debt? This brochure can help you understand your rights as a consumer debtor. PDF document (may load slowly).
By: South Carolina Bar Association
Consumer Handbook on Adjustable Rate Mortgages
(Separate Website)
With a fixed-rate mortgage, the interest stays the same during the life of the loan. But with an Adjustable Rate Mortgage, the interest rate changes periodically, and your payments may go up or down. This brochure helps you to understand Adjustable Rate Mortgages.
By: Federal Reserve Board
How to File a Consumer Complaint about a Bank
(Separate Website)
If you have a complaint about a bank or other financial institution, the Federal Reserve System might be able to help you. The Federal Reserve is responsible for carrying out many of the federal laws that protect consumers in their dealings with financial institutions. We can help individual consumers by: (1) Answering questions about banking practices, and (2) Investigating complaints about specific banks under our supervisory jurisdiction.
By: Federal Reserve Board
Home Page
Referral Finder
(Separate Website)