Sure, you may use credit cards frequently for your purchases, but do you understand interest rates, annual fees, liability and everything else that comes with being a credit card user? Here are a few consumer tips when it comes to signing up for a credit card – I hope you find the information useful! 

How many times have you received a text message from an unknown number, letting you know that you’ve won an all-expense-paid tropical vacation or expensive electronic, and that all you need to do is click on a link in the message to claim the prize? Seems a little too good to be true, doesn’t it? For our final Fraud Prevention Month-related blog post, we’re putting texting and app scams in the spotlight. 

It's Consumer Awareness Week this week (March 15-22, 2013). We thought we would share our top five tips of all time with you today.

Curious?

Fraud Prevention Month, a month-long national initiative that helps Canadians recognize, prevent and report fraudulent activities, kicked off today. As in previous years, we’re going to mark this important event by sharing information with you throughout the month that’ll help reduce your odds of being targeted by fraudsters. First up: smartphones and the importance of protecting your data.

Have you heard about offers to assist you with “reducing your debt” or promising that you “only need to pay back a reduced percentage of what you owe?” There are many companies in Canada who now offer what are typically called debt settlement services.

If you owe money this may seem like a good solution. But before you consider exploring this option there are several factors you should consider:

Well, mid-January is upon us and that can only mean one thing: it’s time to announce the Top 10 Scams, an annual list created in partnership between Consumer Protection BC, the BBB, British Columbia Securities Commission, the Competition Bureau of Canada, the RCMP and the Vehicle Sales Authority. From romance to computer scams, this year’s list is themed “just in case a scam is around the corner,” showing how even the most convincing promise can turn out to be not exactly what it’s supposed to be. Read on to learn more about this year’s Top 10 list and for tips on how to protect yourself against scammers.

’Twas the night before Christmas and all through the mall,
Shoppers were wide eyed, finishing off their haul.
The store windows were decked out in their finest décor,
With tinsel and teddy bears and electronics galore.

With a recent poll from the Retail Council of Canada finding that Canadians with kids will spend an average of $75 on Halloween purchases, I thought it’d be timely to share some of my favourite money-saving tips for this ghoulish time of year.

These days, it seems like you can rent-to-own practically anything, from fitness equipment and furniture to electronics and major appliances. The deals can seem really good, especially if you think you are making small payment installments. But before you sign on the dotted line, take a moment to crunch the numbers (the original price, interest and any additional fees) – the true cost of renting-to-own just might surprise you.

Building on last week’s post (on how to complain), this week we’re going to show you what’s involved with writing an effective complaint letter.