Are you looking for ways to decrease your spending…and start increasing your savings? Need some simple advice for maximizing your investments? Want to start planning for your retirement but don’t know where to start?
Many people are afraid to talk about money,…
Managing Money Topic: Credit
A listing of news items, events, books, and publications on credit.
News
- April 12, 2023Banks are closing customer accounts, with little explanation
- April 04, 2023A federal tool could soon make it easier to compare credit cards
- March 08, 2023The dirty little secret of credit card rewards
- February 28, 2023Supreme Court hears challenges to student loan forgiveness
- February 06, 2023Even after you bought a car, dealerships can ‘yo-yo’ you and take it back
CA News & Special Reports
Consumer Action INSIDER - June 2021 The June 2021 issue of INSIDER brings you stories about our recent activities and publications, including the most recent Consumer Action News issue, about liability insurance, and a new webinar explaining the rise of "contactless payment" methods due to the pandemic. Regular features include Hotline Chronicles, CFPB Watch and new additions to our Class Action Database. (Monday, May 31, 2021)
Five Recent Publications

Financial health and FinTech COVID relief. The financial health and FinTech community has mobilized to offer online resources, coaching, financial support and other relief to consumers.

Freeze Your Credit File (Spanish) Leave ID thieves out in the cold.
El “congelamiento de seguridad” es una herramienta para ayudarle a prevenir el robo de identidad y evitar que impostores utilicen su información personal para establecer crédito. Esta publicación explica cómo “congelar” su crédito, lo cual previene que se establezca crédito nuevo a nombre suyo hasta que usted suspenda provisionalmente el congelamiento o le retire de forma permanente.

Freeze Your Credit File Leave ID thieves out in the cold.
A credit file “security freeze” is a preventive tool to help you avoid identity theft and to block impostors from using your personal information to establish credit. This publication explains how to “freeze” your credit file, which prevents new credit from being established in your name until you temporarily or permanently lift the freeze.

This publication answers common questions about how a credit report security freeze can protect you from ID theft, the pros and cons of a security freeze, and how to place, lift and remove a freeze. (It has been updated to reflect changes implemented on Sept. 21, 2018, under new federal law.)

Micro Business: Preparing for success (Chinese).
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.
BookNotes
How YOU Can Profit from Credit Cards
Curtis Arnold, founder of Cardratings.com, passes along techniques he has used to escape credit card debt, "creatively finance" his wedding, car, and home purchases, and earn thousands in credit card "perks" every year. Along the way, he offers advice targeted to…
Liz Pulliam Weston is a personal finance columnist whose twice-weekly columns for MSN Money reach more than six million people each month. In her new book she provides a complete action plan for improving your credit score. Credit scores—numbers that sum up your credit…
Credit Scores & Credit Reports
The U.S. credit reporting system keeps detailed financial histories on more than 200 million Americans. Evan Hendricks' Credit Scores & Credit Reports is a well-informed, informative, and well-written guide to a subject of great and growing importance to consumers. Hendricks, a foremost privacy expert,…
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