1-888-8 PUEBLO (1-888-878-3256)
       
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Smart Consumer: Online
Tips and Guides
These electronic publications provide
access to a wide variety of consumer related information. They can be read, but are not available for ordering from
FCIC.
Cars - Computers - Education - Employment - Español - Family - Federal Programs
Food - Health - Housing - Money - Small Business - Travel - And
more...
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Money
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A Consumer’s Guide to Sweepstakes and
Lotteries - Recognize the difference between legitimate sweepstakes and other types of
offers, such as prize promotions, and illegitimate promotions that misrepresent themselves and seek to
defraud.
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Bankruptcy Basics - There are 5 basic types of bankruptcy cases used to obtain relief from debt. Learn the differences in
debts discharged, assets kept, forms needed, where to file, and more.
(PDF
file)
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Before Disaster Strikes -
Suggests ways to be financially prepared to deal with a natural disaster. Information on buying insurance, preparing a household
inventory, filling an evacuation box, and more.
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Buying Time: The Facts About Pre-Paid
Phone Cards - How to buy long distance telephone services in advance.
(PDF
file)
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Certificates of Deposit: Tips for
Investors - Learn how CDs work, how to purchase them, and questions to ask before
buying.
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Cold Calling - How
can you stop sellers from calling, what are the signs of a scam or fraud, and who can you contact for
help?
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Consumer Fraud by Phone or Mail Know How to Protect
Yourself - When phone calls and postcards are bringing you marvelous offers to buy
"shares"or "interests" in foreign lotteries; low-cost vacations; magazine subscriptions; office supplies or promotional items or
club memberships, it's a good idea to be skeptical. Learn how to tell the real offers from the fakes.
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Consumer Handbook to Credit
Protection Laws - This guide explains how consumer credit laws can help and protect
you.
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Credit and Divorce - Compares the benefits and disadvantages of individual, joint and "user" accounts. Steps to take if you
divorce or separate.
(PDF
file)
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Credit Card Repayment Calculator - The Federal Reserve Board has put on their website an easy "calculator" to estimate how long it will
take to pay off credit card debt.
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Credit Matters - How to qualify for credit, keep a good credit history, protect your credit once you have it, and more.
(PDF
file)
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Credit Reporting 101 - When was the last time you checked your credit
report for accuracy? How do you obtain your credit score? What does your credit report mean to those who lend you money and
credit? Not only does your credit report affect your financial life, but it can also affect your career, education, and the interest rates
that lenders offer you. By periodically reviewing your credit report, you can see your payment history, understand how your credit is
rated, prevent errors from going undetected, and save delay when you need an accurate credit report the
most.
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Cutti
ng through the Confusion on Investing - Explains the differences between brokers,
investment advisers, and financial planners and identifies questions investors should ask themselves and potential providers
before making a choice.
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Doing Your Taxes - Explains what tax forms to use, how to fill them out, where to send your return, and how to get free
help. Lists the most common errors to watch for.
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Electronic Banking - Learn more about electronic transactions, such as debit cards and online account access, including
how transactions are processed, their timing, security, and legal protections.
(PDF
file)
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Enjoying Retirement - What you need to plan for and know about retirement, such as exercise, recreation, diet, finances,
and more.
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Filing a Claim For Your Retirement
Benefits - What you need to know about your summary plan description, filing a benefit
claim, waiting periods, appealing a denied claim, and more.
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Finding a Lost Pension - Here’s how to find out if you have an unclaimed pension, where to search, documents you’ll need,
and what to do when you find your pension fund.
(PDF
file)
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Fiscal Fitness: Choosing a Credit
Counselor - Credit counselors offer a variety of services that can help you put your financial
life back in order. Use this guide to choose the credit counselor that is right for you.
(PDF
file)
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Fraud
Fighting 101: Smart Tips for Older Investors - Even if you have never been subjected to an
investment fraudster's sales pitch, you probably know someone who has. Following the legendary Willie Sutton principle,
fraudsters tend to go "where the money is" -- and that means targeting older Americans who are nearing or already in retirement.
Fraudsters also have in their sites the millions of Baby Boomers who have been accumulating sizeable retirement nest eggs
through company 401(k)s and personal accounts
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Get a Good Night’s Sleep: Rest
Assured, Your Money is Safe in an FDIC-Insured Account - Answers common questions
about how Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation coverage works, what is not covered, and what happens if a bank fails.
Includes an FDIC-Insured Depositor’s Bill of Rights. Also, explains what to do if your home equity line of credit is frozen.
(PDF file)
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Hands on Banking
(CD) - Interactive CD-ROM helps you build the money skills you need for life. Four separate
programs from 4th grade through adult, in English and Spanish, cover budgeting, saving, investing, buying a home, and
more.
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How to Resolve a Complaint Against a Thrift Institution or Savings
Association - Information on how the Office of Thrift Supervision of the U.S. Department of
Treasury may be able to help.
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I Bonds Investor's
Guide - Follow this easy-to-read Q&A format to find out if I Bonds are a good way for you to
save and invest money.
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ID Theft: What It's All About - Thieves can steal your personal information and use it to commit fraud for long periods without your
knowledge. Here’s how to protect yourself, and what to do if you are a victim.
(PDF
file)
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Identity Crisis...What to Do If Your Identity is
Stolen - It sounds like something out of a spy movie--but it can happen. Thieves can get
your bank, credit, debit, charge, and Social Security card numbers. Find out how to protect yourself.
(PDF
file)
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Identity Theft: Safeguard Your Personal
Information - Identity theft is America’s fastest growing crime. Identity theft occurs when a
crook steals key pieces of personal
identifying information, which may include a name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, and mother’s
maiden name, to gain access to a person’s financial accounts. Armed with this information, an identity thief may
open new credit or financial accounts, buy cars, apply for loans or Social Security benefits, rent an apartment, or set up utility and
phone service - in someone else’s name. Add these tips to your "must do" list to protect your
identity.
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Invest Wisely - Basic tips
to help you select a brokerage firm and representative, and make and monitor an investment Identifies questions to ask and
warning signs to look for to avoid problems.
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Investors' Bill of Rights - What you should know about investments and what information you are entitled to before investing.
(PDF
file)
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IRS Audit - Explains what an audit is, and factors that may trigger one. Here's advice that includes how to appeal
the results.
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Lump Sum Distribution - Before you take out the money built up in a pension plan, consider the tax and investment benefits
and risks of your options.
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Need a Loan? Think Twice About Using
Your Home as Collateral - Useful tips to help you protect your home and equity when
applying for a loan.
(PDF
file)
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Preventing Identity Theft: A Guide
for Consumers - Provides information and resources to help you avoid this crime and repair
the damage if necessary. Includes a list of ways in which identity thieves can steal your personal information.
(PDF
file)
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Reverse Mortgages: Are They for You? - Reverse mortgages generally are available to consumers who are 62 or older, and can be used to
supplement retirement income or meet health care or other financial needs. But beware -- reverse mortgages are complex
loans and are secured by your home.
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Shopping With Your ATM
Card - Describes the new and expanded ways you can use an ATM card. Also provides
safety precautions and a listing of ATM networks and affiliated shopping services by state.
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Start Smart: Money Management for
Teens - Teens have access to more money than ever before, thanks to allowances and gifts
and, for many, income from chores, summer jobs or part-time jobs. Teens also are becoming more responsible for handling
money and making decisions - for everything from small, everyday purchases to bigger-ticket items (such as a bike or a camera)
to saving for college. If you consistently make smart decisions about your money, you can have more of it for what you truly
need.
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Taking Control of Your
Finances - A handy guide geared toward young adults—from those still in school to just
starting a career or a family. Learn the right ways to save and manage money, and how to avoid some common mistakes people
make with their money.
(PDF
file)
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Ten Questions to Ask
When Choosing a Financial Planner - Covers credentials, costs, services, an interview
checklist, and resources to contact for more information.
(PDF
file)
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What You Should Know
About Financial Planning - Discusses the benefits of financial planning for life-changing
events, such as buying a home or retirement.
(PDF
file)
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Women and Retirement Savings - What women need to know about retirement benefits, including plan type, eligibility, penalties,
spousal benefits, and more.
(PDF file)
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You Have the Power to Stop Identity Theft - There is a type of identity theft using the Internet called "phishing". Pronounced "fishing", that’s exactly
what thieves are doing, fishing for your personal financial information. They want your account numbers, passwords, Social
Security numbers, and other confidential information so they can use your financial accounts or run up bills on your credit cards.
If you understand how phishing works and how to protect yourself, you can help stop this crime.
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Your Credit Scores - Your credit score is a number based on the information in your credit file that rates how much of a risk
you are. Learn why your credit score matters, what good and bad scores are, the elements of your FICO credit score, and how
you can raise your score.
(PDF
file)
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Your Investments - Consumer facts about investments that are not deposits and are not insured by the
FDIC
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Your Rights as a Financial Planning
Client - Here’s a checklist of your rights, what to expect from your financial planner, and what
to do if you have a problem.
(PDF
file)
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