http://upstatesc.bbb.org/WWWRoot//SitePage.aspx?site=81&id=a824b759-3137-43b5-aedf-a38056bcce73&debug=False 10 Mon, 01 Oct 2007 05:00:00 GMT Grocery shelves, hardware stores, card shops, and other retail operations are filled with products and packages announcing environmental features that may influence your purchasing decisions. But when it comes to products and packaging, what do claims like "environmentally safe," "recyclable," "degradable" or "ozone friendly" really mean? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) want you to know. The FTC, in cooperation with the EPA, has developed guidelines for adv http://upstatesc.bbb.org/article/ftc-sorting-out-green-advertising-claims-4659 Fri, 01 Jun 2007 05:00:00 GMT The possibility of losing your home because you can't make the mortgage payments can be terrifying. Perhaps you are one of the many consumers who took out a mortgage that had a fixed rate for the first two or three years and then had an adjustable rate. Or maybe you're anticipating an adjustment, and want to know what your payments will be and whether you'll be able to make them. Or maybe you're having trouble making ends meet because of an unrelated financial crisis. http://upstatesc.bbb.org/article/ftc-mortgage-payments-sending-you-reeling-heres-what-to-do-4733 Tue, 01 May 2007 05:00:00 GMT Whether you’re shopping for appliances or automobiles, groceries or gadgets, travel services or tax preparers, the Internet has changed the way most people gather information about products and services. http://upstatesc.bbb.org/article/ftc-buying-a-home-its-a-big-deal-4763 Thu, 01 Feb 2007 06:00:00 GMT Using a credit line to borrow against the equity in your home has become a popular source of consumer credit. And lenders are offering these home equity credit lines in a variety of ways. http://upstatesc.bbb.org/article/ftc-home-equity-credit-lines-4770 Sun, 01 Oct 2006 05:00:00 GMT If you’re thinking about selling your home, you may be considering using the services of a real estate broker or agent. But before you sign a listing agreement, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the agency that works for a competitive marketplace, wants you to be informed about your choices. http://upstatesc.bbb.org/article/ftc-selling-your-home-tips-for-selecting-a-real-estate-professional--4783 Fri, 01 Sep 2006 05:00:00 GMT Gas prices are up, and so is the volume of advertising for "gas-saving" products. When gasoline prices rise, consumers often look for ways to improve fuel efficiency. Although there are practical steps you can take to increase gas mileage, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns you to be wary of any gas-saving claims for automotive devices or oil and gas additives. Even for the few gas-saving products that have been found to work, the savings have been small. http://upstatesc.bbb.org/article/ftc-gas-saving-products-fact-or-fuelishness--4501 Tue, 01 Aug 2006 05:00:00 GMT A laptop computer defines convenience and mobility. It enables you to work from home, a hotel room, a conference hall, or a coffee shop. http://upstatesc.bbb.org/article/ftc-keeping-laptops-from-getting-lost-or-stolen-4552 Tue, 01 Aug 2006 05:00:00 GMT Voice over Internet Protocol — VoIP — is one way people are making and receiving telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection rather than a regular phone line. VoIP converts your phone call — actually, the voice signal from your phone — into a digital signal that travels through the Internet to the person you are calling. If you are calling a plain old telephone number, the signal is converted back at the other end. If you’re comfortable with new technology, you may want to learn more about VoIP. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, suggests that it’s smart to do some research on this technology before signing up for it. http://upstatesc.bbb.org/article/ftc-voip-its-a-phone-its-a-computer-its--4427 Sat, 01 Jul 2006 05:00:00 GMT Could a simple medical test tell you if you are likely to get a particular disease? Could it evaluate your health risks and even suggest a specific treatment? Could you take this test in the privacy of your home, without a doctor’s prescription or guidance? http://upstatesc.bbb.org/article/ftc-at-home-genetic-tests-a-healthy-dose-of-skepticism-may-be-the-best-prescription-4807 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 05:00:00 GMT Home is where most people feel safe and comfortable. But sometimes — say, when a hurricane, flood, tornado, wildfire, or other disaster strikes — it’s safest to pack up and go to another location. http://upstatesc.bbb.org/article/ftc-financial-readiness-as-critical-as-fully-charged-batteries-4652 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 05:00:00 GMT You’ve probably learned a long list of important safety and privacy lessons already: Look both ways before crossing the street; buckle up; hide your diary where your nosy brother can’t find it; don’t talk to strangers. http://upstatesc.bbb.org/article/ftc-social-networking-sites-safety-tips-for-tweens-and-teens-4442 Mon, 01 May 2006 05:00:00 GMT Ever wonder how a creditor decides whether to grant you credit? For years, creditors have been using credit scoring systems to determine if you’d be a good risk for credit cards and auto loans. More recently, credit scoring has been used to help creditors evaluate your ability to repay home mortgage loans. Here’s how credit scoring works in helping decide who gets credit — and why. http://upstatesc.bbb.org/article/ftc-credit-scoring-4637 Mon, 01 May 2006 05:00:00 GMT Your credit report contains information about where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you’ve been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) promotes the accuracy and privacy of information in the files of the nation’s consumer reporting companies. http://upstatesc.bbb.org/article/ftc-how-to-dispute-credit-report-errors-4710 Sat, 01 Apr 2006 05:00:00 GMT Credit is an important money management tool for both young and older consumers. Yet the elderly, particularly older women, may find it difficult to get credit. http://upstatesc.bbb.org/article/ftc-getting-credit-when-youre-over-62-4660