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06/03/2011
If moving to a new home is on your agenda for this summer, the BBB has tips that will help you find a reliable mover and avoid scams that can turn your move into a nightmare.
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01/01/2008
If you’ve ever locked yourself out of your car or home, you know what a hassle it can be. Your first thought is to get someone to help you out of your situation. If a family member or friend can’t deliver a spare set of keys, your next call might be to a local locksmith. But before you make that call, consider this: According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, some locksmiths advertising in your local telephone book may not be local at all. They may not have professional training. What’s more, some of them may use intimidating tactics and overcharge you.
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06/01/2007
The possibility of losing your home because you can't make the mortgage payments can be terrifying. Perhaps you are one of the many consumers who took out a mortgage that had a fixed rate for the first two or three years and then had an adjustable rate. Or maybe you're anticipating an adjustment, and want to know what your payments will be and whether you'll be able to make them. Or maybe you're having trouble making ends meet because of an unrelated financial crisis.
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03/01/2005
A good credit rating is very important. Businesses inspect your credit history when they evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, and even leases. They can use it when they choose to give or deny you credit or insurance, provided you receive fair and equal treatment. Sometimes, things happen that can cause credit problems: a temporary loss of income, an illness, even a computer error. Solving credit problems may take time and patience, but it doesn’t have to be an ordeal.
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11/01/2004
Flip through a magazine, scan a newspaper, or channel surf and you see them everywhere: Ads that promise quick and easy weight loss without diet or exercise. Wouldn’t it be nice if — as the ads claim — you could lose weight simply by taking a pill, wearing a patch, or rubbing in a cream? Too bad claims like that are almost always false.
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03/01/2004
Of all the many different types of credit - for example, retail credit, loans, charge cards, and mortgages - utility credit may be the one that most people cannot do without. Utility credit is the credit extended to users of gas, electricity, and water services. Phone service also can be considered a utility.
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07/01/2003
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the nation’s consumer protection champion. The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraud, deception and unfair business practices in the marketplace. The FTC provides the information consumers need to spot and avoid fraud and deception.
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05/01/2001
Overexposure to the sun's invisible rays - ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) - can cause skin damage. The damage can be immediate and long-term, with effects ranging from sunburn, rashes, and cell and tissue damage to premature wrinkling and skin cancer. Indeed, many skin changes that often are identified with aging actually result from damage by too much sun.
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05/01/2001
You see the ads on TV, in magazine and newspaper inserts, and on the Internet: "5 Books for $1," "10 CDs for FREE," or "4 Videos for 49¢ each." By joining some of the clubs that are offering these deals, you may become a member of a "prenotification negative option plan." That means you are agreeing to receive merchandise automatically unless you tell the club not to send it.
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05/01/2001
Whether you're new to the job market or looking to enhance your skills, a private vocational or correspondence school can be an excellent starting point for furthering your career. These schools train students for a variety of skilled jobs, including automotive technician, medical assistant, hair stylist, interior designer, electronics technician, paralegal and truck driver. Some schools also help students identify prospective employers and apply for jobs.
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04/01/2001
Buying jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you're considering a gift of jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here's some information to help you get the best quality jewelry for your money, whether you're shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store by catalog or online.
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04/01/1999
Wouldn’t it be great to throw out those heavy boxes and bottles of laundry detergent and replace them with a small, light-weight, money-saving plastic ball? Some businesses claim that their reusable balls, rings and discs, filled with what they say is a special liquid, can take the place of laundry detergents.
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01/01/1999
Chances are you've gotten your share of "pre-approved" credit card offers in the mail, some with low introductory rates and other perks. Many of these solicitations urge you to accept "before the offer expires." Before you accept, shop around to get the best deal.
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12/01/1998
From groceries to barbecue grills, most everyday items bear a Universal Product Code (UPC). This symbol — a series of numbers and vertical bars of varying thicknesses — is shorthand for product information. When a cashier passes the UPC symbol over an electronic scanner, a computer decodes the symbol and sends the price to the register. The price appears on a display screen and on your printed receipt.
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08/01/1998
How frustrating! You buy a product and it breaks. You try to return it or have the company fix it, but don't succeed. You talk with the salesperson, speak with the manager, and write letters to the company, and still you're not satisfied with the company's response.
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