New Bureau Says Credit Misunderstood

December 1, 2011

The new Consumer Financial Protection bureau (CFPB) has been focused on collecting credit card complaints since it began on July 21, 2011. So far, more than 5,000 complaints about credit cards have been submitted, and CFPB is using the information to help identify basic problems in the marketplace.

CFPB made three observations about the complaints:

• Consumer confusion…we struggle to understand the terms of credit cards and associated products.

• Third-party fraud…alleged false charges are made by unauthorized parties

• Factual disputes…factual disputes between consumer and issuer are rampant

Beginning December 1, the Bureau will tackle complaints related to home mortgages. The Bureau hopes to be ready to handle complains on all financial products and services by the end of 2012.

The complaint system includes a toll-free number and a form on the CFPB website.

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Free Shipping Garners More In Sales

November 30, 2011

Free shipping.

It’s one of consumers’ favorite holiday promotions. And, according to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) recent survey, 9 out of 10 retailers plan to tap that craving. If shipping is free, it appears about 36% of us will spend more online. So retailers are also boosting their online presence to gain favor with consumers who are  shopping more online.

To that end, the survey reveals that consumers will use social media to get information about sales and promotions–about 29% will check a retailer’s Facebook page, and about 65% will read customer reviews on the company website.

So many more retailers–51%–said they have invested significantly in optimizing their websites, and 35.3% are using QR codes in offline advertising, such as magazines. Nearly 75% beefed up Facebook and Twitter accounts in advance of the holiday rush, according to the NRF survey of 1,685 consumers conducted by BIGresearch.

According to Pam Goodfellow, Consumer Insights Director, BIGresearch, “These days, most people want to shop around all season long, using their smartphones to scan items in stores and compare prices, retailers’ websites to find store locations to scope out gift ideas, and tablets or laptops to shop from the convenience of their home.”

(NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association, representing all types and sizes, including chain restaurants in the U.S. and more than 45 countries.)

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Think About This…

November 27, 2011

The difference between a dream and a goal…is a plan.

Do you have a plan to reach your financial goals? Or are you thinking it’s about a bigger paycheck?

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Can you make a great wage?

November 12, 2011

Your college major can make all the difference in how high your salary–and your career–can soar.

Take a look at this list at the career prospects for some college majors–and the salaries to go with it. It’s based on the 2010 U.S. Census data. Did you choose a great major?

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How much do you owe in student loans? Do you know?

November 8, 2011

The amount college students borrow is skyrocketing. The current Administration is offering students a chance to consolidate their federal student loans, but that isn’t the problem. The issue is borrowing more than they need in the first place. To add extra insult, students don’t keep track of how much they’ve racked up in loans, and they don’t budget to keep expenses in check.

If you want to know how much you currently owe in student loans, use the National Student Loan Data System to get an update. This is the U.S. Department of Education’s central database for student aid..

Did you know the law already lets student loan borrowers limit their loan repayments to 15% of their discretionary income, and it forgives all remaining debt after 25 years? Find out if you are eligible here or check with your college. Few students know about this option.

If you are a young entrepreneur, check with the Small Business Administration at this site to see if you can reduce your monthly student loan repayment.

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Find a Penny, Pick It Up…

October 26, 2011

Last week, I heard an intriguing story on American Public Media—about a runner who has found spare change on the ground nearly every day for 33 years.

Surprisingly, he has collected more than $8000, and paid for a vacation to Hawaii. While Craig Davidson is compulsive about running, it appears he’s even more obsessive about finding a penny or two. It’s a challenge to find some every day.

Really? Studies show most kids today won’t stoop to pick up change, even if it’s quarters. But this guy will break his stride to pick up a penny. “It’s not if I’m going to find money, it’s how much I’m going to find. Pennies are the most common,” he says.

Davidson shows that small amounts can add up. Do you think that’s true? I do.

While I don’t run marathons, I do make monumental efforts to pick up stray coins on the ground. Many of my friends say they do the same.

It doesn’t really matter how you save money….just that you do learn to save. So whether it’s spare change that goes in a jar or automatic deductions from your paychecks, saving is a habit. Have you made it one of yours?

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What’s Happening to Bank Fees?

October 4, 2011

Thanks to a new rule that requires banks to charge retailers a lower fee for debit card transactions, you will probably see more fees on your bank statements. It’s a result of the Dodd-Frank Act for consumer protection.

Beginning October 1, banks charge 24 cents instead of the average 44 cents per transaction—the fee a retailer pays to the bank every time a debit card is swiped for a consumer’s purchase. Plus, other regulatory changes have limited overdraft fees recently. Since banks won’t likely want these major cuts to eat into their profits, the end result will be higher costs to you, the consumer.

Here’s what to watch for:
• Your “free” checking account might change its free status, or you might have to meet different requirements. According to Bankrate.com, free checking accounts are slowly disappearing and account fees are on the increase. Only about 45% of non-interest bearing checking accounts are free now, compared to 65% in 2010 and 76% in 2009. A Bankrate.com survey shows average monthly fees for non-interest checking accounts are $4.37, which is 75% more from a year ago. Meanwhile, the average overdraft fee is about $31, also more than last year.

• Some debit cards may cut rewards programs. Some examples? SunTrust, Wells Fargo, and Chase Bank.

• Some banks may start charging you to use your debit card or even to have a debit card. Bank of America recently announced it will have a transaction fee, for example.

Since more consumers use debit cards than credit cards, this is a big deal. The Federal Reserve estimates that banks could lose about 40% in revenue from debit card fees.

But debit cards aren’t going away. They’re too convenient. Will you change your habits when it comes to paying with plastic if you have to pay a fee?

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Go to School on School Expenses

September 4, 2011

Your kids’ backpacks are bulging, your after-school schedule is filled to the brim. But…your checkbook is nearly empty.

Yes, school begins with a bang–or sticker shock–every fall. In fact, retailers consider it the second biggest shopping event of the year, right behind Christmas. Spending for the 2011 school year will be almost $23 billion, billion with a “B.” A family with kids in K-12 will spend an average of nearly $604 on school supplies, clothing and electronics, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2011 back-to-school survey. And, 9 in 10 parents said the economy would impact their back-to-school shopping.

Congratulate yourself if you’ve be able to stay within budget this fall…and then watch out. Yes, watch out for those extras that nickel-and-dime you as activities and classes really kick in gear. The extra book, the fundraiser, the team t-shirt, even the posterboard for that science project.

Here are 5 money-saving strategies to help lessen the blow.

1. Make choices.
2. Reuse.
3. Frugal is in.
4. Borrow and exchange.
5. Barter.

What are your best tips for saving money this school season?

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How Do Your Bills Compare?

August 23, 2011

Do you think your utility and internet bills look expensive, but you just shrug and assume everyone has high utilities?

Check out what U.S. consumers in 21 metropolitan areas pay and see how yours compares at White Fence. This website also compares providers, for those consumers who want to find lower costs.

Did you know the national average is $281.40 a month for a utility bill? Plus most of us pay more than $35 monthly for high-speedi internet.

What can you do to lower this monthly expense? If you can’t or don’t want to change providers, are there alternatives such as an energy-saving plan?

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Skimping on College Textbooks?

August 17, 2011

This is an excerpt from an article by Alexis Mattera, which appeared at www.scholarships.com, August 12…

…According to survey conducted by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, seven out of 10 undergraduate students reported not buying one or more textbooks because the cost was too high. How high? The Government Accountability Office estimated textbooks cost a quarter of the average state college tuition (three-fourths at community colleges) and the U.S. PIRG revealed textbook prices have risen faster than overall inflation with a 22-percent uptick in the past four years.

For students, this means some serious money management is in order. “Generally what we get from students is ‘Yeah, it’s only a few dollars, but it could be my dinner,’” said Jessica Bruning, a student at Iowa State University. “It adds up pretty quickly.” The survey also revealed four out of five students said new editions prevented them from purchasing cheaper used books and half cited bundles or custom editions as the culprits for increased costs.

The good news – yes, there is some! – is that groups like Textbook Rebellion, Campus Progress and even individual professors are doing their part to keep textbook costs from negatively impacting students’ college experiences. “Better options are out there,” said Nicole Allen, textbooks advocate for the Student PIRGs. “Between used books, rental programs and long-term alternatives like open textbooks, we have the tools we need to make textbooks affordable for more students.”

Do you know college students who aren’t buying their textbooks?

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