Consumers

Federal Reserve Education

March 26, 2008

The Federal Reserve Education website can help you understand what the U.S. Federal Reserve does and how its actions influence local and global economies.

Here is the description from the FRE website: "Here you can find links to instructional materials and tools that can increase your understanding of the Federal Reserve, economics and financial education. All of the Fed web sites, curriculum, newsletters, booklets and other resources are free."

Information at their site is divided up into four categories: Teacher Resources, Personal Financial Education, Fed101, and Quick Picks.

"Fed101" offers information about the Federal Reserve, including its history, structure, monetary policies, banking supervision, and financial services.

"Personal Financial Education" categories include: Consumer Banking, Consumer Protection, Economics, Home Ownership & Mortgages, Interest Rates, Loans & Credit, General Information, Non-Fed Web Sites.

Other areas include educational activities for teachers and students as well as "Fed FAQs" (Frequently Asked Questions) and a glossary of terms.

National Consumer Protection Week 2008: Financial Literacy

February 25, 2008

The week of March 2, 2008 has been designated as "National Consumer Protection Week" by the U.S. Government in order to promote consumer education and protection.

This year's theme is "Financial Literacy: A Sound Investment." As stated at Consumer.gov, "Financially savvy consumers are likely to make smarter decisions about managing their money, using credit wisely, and building a solid financial foundation for later."

The NCPW website states it hosts a variety of informative materials and links to relevant government agencies and other organizations:

"Consumers can find practical – and tactical – tips from NCPW partner organizations about how to make well-informed financial decisions, avoid credit scams, and protect their personal information on this site. This site has information from federal, state, and local government agencies, and national consumer advocacy organizations. Use it to promote NCPW in your community, or at your school, job, or club. The Outreach Toolkit has promotional materials you can download and use."

A Spanish version of the NCPW website is also available.

Homeowners & Tenants Insurance

January 4, 2008

The New York State Insurance Department has just announced a new "Consumer Shopping Guide for Homeowners & Tenants Insurance" which, they as they describe, "will help New Yorkers shopping for homeowners or tenants insurance make the right choices for themselves and their families. The Guide offers descriptions of the types of basic policies that companies offer. Consumers will also find recommendations for how much coverage to purchase, how to save money, and what additional products are offered on top of the basic policies." (as quoted from announcement posted on the NYLINE list on January 3, 2008).

There are two editions available ("Upstate" and "Downstate," dated 2007). Those documents are in the Adobe PDF format. You can view them using the free Adobe Reader.

Holiday Hazards

November 29, 2007

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has published a holiday safety advisory for consumers:

"Avoid Hazards Related to Holiday Decorating"

Besides warnings, the CPSC offers advice for handling and installing holiday decorations, including trees, lights, candles, and fireplaces.

FDIC: The New Climate

November 28, 2007

The FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) has published a new consumer advisory: "The New Climate for Mortgage Borrowers".

The guide addresses recent developments in housing markets and provides information of interest to current and future mortgage borrowers.

For more information and websites on this topic, check out our earlier blog post: "Foreclosures and Mortgages."

If you'd like to read more about mortgages, click here to locate books and other related items in the library catalog.

Recalls, Recalls, Recalls

November 16, 2007

As more recalls in food, consumer, and other products continue to be announced in the news, it can be confusing if not exhaustive trying to keep up with all the announcements, especially as they can come from many different sources in and beyond the government and might not necessarily be reported prominently, promptly, or completely by news media in each and every case.

In hopes of making it easier and faster to find many of these major announcements, our recently expanded Current Interests and Events guide now has a special category dedicated just to recall announcements with direct links to websites featuring recall notices posted by such U.S. Government agencies as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission), and the USDA/FSIS (United States Department of Agriculture's Food and Safety Inspection Service), among others.

We hope you find this information useful, and we encourage you to consider bookmarking our Current Events page so you always have easy and instant access to key news sites in major subject areas. There's plenty of fun stuff there as well, such as movie news, literary happenings, arts and entertainment, game and music sites, and more, so please check it out!

Foreclosures and Mortgages

November 5, 2007

The U.S. Federal Reserve Board has published a consumer information guide on the topic of foreclosures, credit, and loans: Foreclosure Resources for Consumers.

Their guide contains links to related government agencies that offer information and guidance to consumers.

Other government websites offering information on this topic include:

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Mortgage Fraud Report
• Federal Housing Administration (FHA): "You Can Avoid Foreclosure and Keep Your Home"
• Federal Reserve Board: "Home Mortgages: Understanding the Process and Your Right to Fair Lending"
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Consumer Information: Mortgages and Real Estate - Articles and consumer advisories/alerts.
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Facts for Consumers: "Mortgage Payments Sending You Reeling? Here's What to Do"
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS): "Special Web Section Unveiled for Homeowners Who Lose Homes; Foreclosure Tax Relief"
• State of New York Banking Department: "Help for Homeowners Facing Foreclosure"
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): "Avoiding Foreclosure in New York"
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): "Help Save My Home"
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): "Tips for Avoiding Foreclosure"
• U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ): "For $800 and the Deed To Your Home - Bankruptcy Foreclosure Scams Target Distressed Home Owners"
• U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Consumer Alert: "Mortgage Foreclosure Scams"
• USA.gov: Mortgages - Information for Home Buyers and Homeowners
• USA.gov: Mortgage Foreclosure

GDP: Gross Domestic Product

November 5, 2007

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce has published the following document explaining what GPD is and how it works as an economic indicator to give us further insight into the current state of the U.S. economy:

Measuring the Economy: A Primer on GDP and the National Income and Product Accounts

This document is in the Adobe PDF format. You can view it using the free Adobe Reader.

Consumer Price Index

October 10, 2007

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is something that gets mentioned in the news, but what does it mean? How does it work?

The U.S. Department of Labor/Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) web page that explains the CPI economic indicator.

An "Addendum to Frequently Asked Questions" is also available from BLS to further explain certain aspects of the CPI.

Toy Recalls

August 3, 2007

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has published information regarding the recent nationwide recall of toys that could be sources of lead poisoning.

For more information concerning other product recalls, visit the CPSC home page.

Convenient links to the CPSC website as well as food recall news from the FDA can be found in the Health, Safety, & Fitness section our Current Interests guide.

Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy

August 2, 2007

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has created a website of interest to any consumer interested in efficient energy use and renewable energy resources: A Consumer's Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Their site includes news and information on many related topics including appliances, solar and wind power, heating, the Energy Star program, and building construction.

For more information on this topic, check out the many related informational items available in the library system.

Win or Lose

July 23, 2007

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has information of interest to consumers who have been (or might in the future be) informed that they have won something:

• Facts for Consumers: "Prize Offers - You Don't Have to Pay to Play!"
• "Fraud: Recognize It. Report It. Stop It."

Decrease your odds of losing by becoming aware of potential scams and exploitative tactics!

Botnets, Hackers, Spam

July 11, 2007

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a new Consumer Advisory out called "It's nine o'clock... Do you know who is using your computer?".

Consumers are encouraged to raise their levels of technical awareness and are provided by the FTC some tips to help reduce the risk of computers being abused or attacked.

E-Scams

May 22, 2007

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) publishes consumer advisories regarding new and known electronic scams ("e-scams") occurring on and beyond the Internet:

• Internet Scams: Internet Auction Fraud, Non-Delivery of Merchandise, Credit Card Fraud, Investment Fraud, Business Fraud, Nigerian Letter Scam
• Common Fraud Schemes: Telemarketing Fraud, Fraud Alert, Nigerian Letter or 419 Fraud, Impersonation/Identity Fraud, Advance Fee Scheme, Health Insurance; Investment Related Scams: Letter of Credit Fraud, Prime Bank Note, Ponzi Scheme, Pyramid Scheme
• Fraud Target: Senior Citizens: Health Insurance Fraud, Counterfeit Prescription Drugs, Funeral and Cemetery Fraud, Fraudulent "Anti-Aging" Products, Telemarketing Fraud, Internet Fraud, Investment Schemes
• Headlines - Current and archived news and advisories from the FBI
• New E-Scams and Warnings: Ticket Scams, Threat and Extortion E-Mails, Computer Worms, Fraudulent FBI E-Mail Alert,
• RSS News Feed of FBI stories (RSS/new feed reader or RSS-enabled web browser required)

If you believe you might be the victim of potential Internet fraud, the FBI has a special website called Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov) which you can visit to file a report or view answers to frequently asked questions.

For more information on consumer scams, advisories, news, and more, be sure to check back at this blog as well as visit our Consumer Information web guide, the Consumers section of our Government Information guide, and our Current Interests guide.

If you require any more information, please call our Reference Department at 341-5461 or use our free Ask a Librarian service on the web.

Online Shopping

May 17, 2007

OnGuardOnline.gov, a website from the U.S. government, has some helpful tips for anyone interested in purchasing items over the Internet:

Online Shopping

In addition to this page they provide links to related topics, including:

• Stop, Think, Click
• Phishing
• Spam Scams
• Internet Auctions

Electrical Safety Month

May 16, 2007

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a warning in May ("Electrical Safety Month"):

CPSC Warns of Dangerous Counterfeit Electrical Products

They also provide a link to the Electrical Safety Foundation International website, where you will find related news, information, and notices of recalls.

For more government websites related to consumer safety issues and product recalls, try these other web pages at Thrall.org:

• Consumer Information Web Guide
• Health, Safety, and Fitness section of our Current Interests web guide

Buying a Home

May 9, 2007

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has just published a new alert for consumers considering the purchase of a home: "Buying a Home: It's a Big Deal"

For more information here is their press release.

For more information on this topic, try our library catalog for information on:

• house buying and selling and real estate

Publication of the Week

April 23, 2007

The U.S. Federal Citizen Information Center offers publications to consumers. Each week at their website they feature a free Publication of the Week.

This week they are featuring a guide to finding medical information. Early on you will see a section called "Start With Your Community Library," and that's where we can help you.

At Thrall we have a wide selection of health resources in print, in electronic form, and on the web to help you start learning more about various topics in health, fitness, nutrition, and related areas.

Some books are located at Reference, such as encyclopedic sets and specialized dictionaries, while others are located in our circulating collections. Other books may be available through interlibrary loan.

We also subscribe to a variety of journals, and you can access even more journal, magazine, and newspaper articles freely through article databases, either at home or in the library.

You can also check out our Health blog and Health news section of our Current Interests guide for more links to recent articles, studies, and web resources.

Public Knowledge of Current Affairs

April 16, 2007

The Pew Research Center has published their findings after studying what impacts the so-called "information revolution" is estimated as having on the American public's awareness of current events.

Their report, called "Public Knowledge of Current Affairs Little Changed by News and Information Revolutions - What Americans Know: 1989-2007" contains statistics, charts, and a quiz.

Investing Online

April 12, 2007

OnGuardOnline.gov has published a guide for consumers interested in learning more investing over the Internet.

Their guide is called "Investing Wisely Online" and includes some "quick facts" and tips.

For more information you can check out our recently revised web guide for investors as well as books on investing and related topics in the library catalog.

Pet Food Recall Expanded AGAIN

April 1, 2007

Even more products have been included in the recent Pet Food Recall Information at FDA.gov.

Be sure to click your web browser's RELOAD or REFRESH button once you get to that page to make sure you see the latest information!

Fuel Economy Guide

March 30, 2007

FuelEconomy.gov has updated their Fuel Economy guide for car models through 2007.

At this site you can also search vehicles from 1985 through 2007 and see how they compare.

Mortgages

March 30, 2007

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published a new consumer advisory: "Applying for a Mortgage Can Trigger a Landslide of Competing Offers". The FTC explains how they can beneficial and also how consumers can make the stop through opt-out and "Do Not Call" registries.

"Free Credit Report" Scams

March 29, 2007

If you used terms such as "free credit report" in web search engines, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) states, "you may have unintentionally ended up on a site that charged a fee for its products or services."

Search engines match each word you type to web pages they have indexed. Some search engines attempt to sort results according to what may appear to be the most relevant websites being displayed first. This is not always true.

Sometimes the first sites you see can be "sponsored results," where website owners pay to be listed before other search results. Other sites can exploit your lack of awareness, even your mispellings, all while appearing quite convincing and professional.

Why should that matter? It can matter most of all if you wind up at the wrong website and proceed according to your belief that the website is legitimate and is what it appears to be. If it is not, you could compromise details concerning your identity, financial information, and other specifics you would normally not want others to have. In such a situation you could make yourself a prime target for identity theft.

There are many "free credit" websites out there promising you access to free reports and scores. At the FTC website is the following reminder: "annualcreditreport.com is the ONLY authorized online source for you to get a free credit report under federal law."

In another Consumer Alert, there is this document from the FTC warning of imposter sites used to gather and exploit personal information: Fake Credit Report Sites: Cashing in on Your Personal Information.

To learn more about credit reports you are entitled to annually, the FTC has a web page called "Your Access to Free Credit Reports".

To learn more about identity theft and how to protect yourself, Consumer.gov has a dedicated website.

Thrall also has a special coverage web guide on the topic as well as items in our Government Documents and regular circulating collections.

Pet Food Recall EXPANDED

March 26, 2007

More pet products have been included in the recent Pet Food Recall Information at Recalls.gov at the same links reported last week in this same blog.

A toll free number for further inquiries has been included in the announcement at that website along with other FDA contact information.

Free Consumer Action Handbook

March 26, 2007

At Firstgov.gov there is an offer for a free copy of the Consumer Action Handbook, 2007 edition.

As their site says, "If you feel like you've just been ripped off, take action." This book can help you get started!

Pet Food Recall Information from Recalls.gov

March 19, 2007

Recalls.gov has a link to Pet Food Recall Information from The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). If you have a pet or know someone who does, be sure to check this out!

Recalls.gov is described as a "one stop shop" for U.S. Government recalls for consumer products, motor vehicles, boats, food, medicine, cosmetics, and environmental products.

If you have some free time, browse Recall.gov's regularly updated lists to see if any of the food or products you own have been recalled.

For your convience, a link to this site is included in our Current Events page in the Health and Safety section. You can get there through our home page by clicking "current interests" in the News line.

Potentially life-saving information is just a few clicks away!

World Consumer Rights Day

March 15, 2007

March 15 is "World Consumer Rights Day," and in support of this a consumer-oriented organization called Consumers International has developed a presentation alerting consumers about "Unethical Drug Promotion."

Consumers International writes, "Consumers are largely unaware of how their drug consumption choices are being shaped by corporate motives for gargantuan profits."

For more information on this topic, and to read their report, please visit their website.