Credit Card Resources
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Federal Trade Commission
Web: www.ftc.gov
Toll-Free: 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357)
TTY: 1-866-653-4261
| The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. |
Consumer Protection - Fair Credit Billing
Web: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre16.shtm
Have you ever been billed for merchandise you returned or never received? Has your credit card company ever charged you twice for the same item or failed to credit a payment to your account? While frustrating, these errors can be corrected. It takes a little patience and knowledge of the dispute settlement procedures provided by the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA).
Identity Theft
Web: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
Toll-Free: 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338)
TDD: 202-326-2502
The FTC is the federal clearinghouse for complaints by victims of identity theft. Although the FTC does not have the authority to bring criminal cases, the FTC assists victims of identity theft by providing them with information to help them resolve the financial and other problems that can result from identity theft.
The JumpStart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy
Web: www.jumpstartcoalition.org
The Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy seeks to improve the personal financial literacy of young adults by evaluating their financial literacy; developing, disseminating and encouraging the use of standards for grades K-12; and promoting the teaching of personal finance.
Don't be Lost
A lost or stolen wallet or purse is a gold mine of information for identity thieves. If your wallet or purse is lost or stolen:
File a report with the police immediately and keep a copy. Cancel your credit cards. Call the issuer(s) immediately. Many companies have 24-hour toll-free numbers to deal with such emergencies. The number is on your monthly statement.
Get new cards with new account numbers. Call the fraud departments of the major credit reporting agencies, and ask each agency to put a “fraud alert” on your account:
- Equifax 1-800-525-6285
- Experian 1-888-397-3742
- TransUnion 1-800-680-7289
Report the loss to the fraud department of the bank where you have your checking and savings accounts. Ask about the next steps regarding your accounts, including your ATM or debit card.
- Â Review your credit reports regularly and have them corrected when necessary.
-  Report a missing driver’s license to your state department of motor vehicles.
- Â Change your home and car locks, if your keys were taken.
