News

• August 14, 2018 Next steps for homeowners mistakenly foreclosed by Wells Fargo
• August 14, 2018 Banks and retailers are tracking how you type, swipe and tap
• August 14, 2018 Can consumer loans ever be so expensive they break the law?
• August 13, 2018 Sports betting is now legal in several states
• August 13, 2018 White House takes aim at financial protections for military

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CA News & Special Reports

Consumer Action INSIDER - August 2018 This month's INSIDER updates readers on recent events (including Public Citizen's Affordable Medicines Now conference, the Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue’s annual meeting on the impact of technology on consumers, and the Credit Builders Alliance Training Institute); breaks down the pros and cons of a new California data protection law; tells the tale of a consumer who was charged too much for her out-of-country car rental due to "currency conversion" issues; updates readers on the latest happenings at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (which is currently under assault by its own director); gives information on our "coalition efforts" and lists the latest lawsuit settlements from our Class Action Database. (Wednesday, August 01, 2018)

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Five Recent Publications

Improving your financial health with FinTech A beginner’s guide to personal finance apps. Financial technology (FinTech) is the use of modern technology, such as the internet and apps (downloadable mobile software), to develop powerful financial services tools for consumers and businesses. For those who are motivated to improve their finances and dedicated to working toward their goals, FinTech can make the process more convenient, efficient and even rewarding. This guide will introduce you to the types of FinTech tools available and how they can help you. It will also tell you what to consider when choosing an app and how to stay safe when using FinTech.

Micro Business: Preparing for success (Chinese). 開創一個很小──或是微型──企業，可能會成為日後長期專業化以及財務成功的關鍵。但是由於很多企業無法在開始幾年後繼續維持下去，所以個人想成為一位企業家的決定絕非易事。這本指南對於計劃創業之過程，以及如何達到微型企業成功目標均有詳盡解說，內容包括：成本／盈利估算、資金籌備、確認法律及專業運作所需項目（如保險、簿記、業務建議等等），以及在互聯網營業之相關事宜。
Starting a very small—or micro—business can be the key to long-term professional and financial success. But since many businesses do not make it past the first few years, becoming an entrepreneur is not a decision to make lightly. This guide explains the process of planning and launching a micro business, from estimating costs/earnings and finding funding to identifying legal and professional needs (insurance, bookkeeping, business advice, etc.) and doing business on the internet.

Just Say No to Scams A guide to protecting yourself from liars, cheats and crooks. Scammers cheat unsuspecting consumers out of millions of dollars each year, but there are ways to avoid becoming a scammer’s next victim. This guide will help consumers understand how crooks reel in their prey, recognize and evade scam attempts, and learn about scam prevention and reporting resources.

Just Say No to Scams (Quick Tips) Quick tips for protecting yourself from fraud. The Just Say No to Scams “quick tips" sheet provides consumers with the basics of recognizing the signs of a scam, understanding how to protect themselves and knowing where they can learn more. Formatted as a two-sided black-and-white publication, the tip sheet is easy and economical for community educators to print and distribute.

Common Scams: Recognizing and avoiding fraud. This compendium of widely perpetrated scams provides details about how common scams are carried out, how consumers can avoid them, and where to report different types of scam attempts. It is intended for use with the “Just Say No to Scams” consumer guide.

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Recommended Publications

Friday, January 05, 2018

Mortgage loan relief for disaster victims. The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) has produced a guide to assist those helping homeowners struggling after a hurricane, flood, fire or other natural disaster.

Friday, September 23, 2016

Spanish-English glossary of real estate terms. A new Spanish-English glossary of commonly used real estate terms has been released to help real estate agents and brokers make the home buying process more manageable for consumers who seek to better understand the complexities of a mortgage transaction in Spanish. The glossary offers both formal and colloquial translations of key mortgage terms.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

2016 Car Insurance & Credit Scores Report by WalletHub. The WalletHub study gives us information on the connection between credit scores and car insurance.

Friday, September 04, 2015

CFPB Monthly Complaint Report: Credit Reporting Issues. Complaint reports from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) focus on a different issue each month providing a snapshot of complaint trends by type, state and company, and highlight actual complaints reported by consumers.

Friday, January 23, 2015

California Lifeline carrier search tool. The California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) has a multilingual tool that enables consumers to search for California LifeLine service providers.

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