Category Chapters

Aug 9 2014

Is Your Credit Card Denied By Mistake?

When your credit card issuer suspects fraudulent activity on your credit card, it triggers a red flag to deny the charge.  Generally, it is a great protection.  But if you are making the purchase and not a thief, it can be frustrating.  Some purchase patterns that could cause your purchase to be denied include:

  • A purchase for a small dollar amount, followed by a large purchase. Credit card thieves sometimes make a small dollar “test purchase” followed by big ticket items, so this raises a red flag.
  • Multiple purchases back-to-back in a short span of time.
  • Making purchases in a new city, in a different part of town, or in stores where you do not normally shop.

Though inconvenient, these protections are to keep you from being a victim of fraud.  Take these steps to prevent or deal with a credit card purchase being denied by mistake:

  • Inform your credit card company if you will be using your card out of town (especially internationally).
  • Update your billing address if you move, so that the company recognizes the new pattern of purchases as a new normal.
  • Make sure the company has your cell phone number so that it can contact you faster to verify or authorize a purchase.
  • Contact your credit company immediately if your purchase is denied.

For more information go to http://www.usa.gov/topics/consumer/consumer-action-handbook.pdf

Teaching Suggestions

  • Ask students if their credit card was ever denied in error.
  • If the transaction was denied, how did they resolve the problem.

Discussion Questions

  1. What are a few reasons that your credit card purchase might be denied?
  2. What can you do to avoid such an embarrassment at the check-out counter?
Aug 6 2014

Health Scams: Don’t Take Risks With Your Health and Your Money

Lots of people are fooled with buying health products that sound great, but are really fakes.  These products may cause serious health problems, such as pain, suffering, or even death.

Watch out for the following fraudulent claims:

  • It’s Natural. Just because a product is “natural” does not mean it is safe.
  • It’s So Easy. Don’t believe the promises of “lose weight while you sleep.”  If it sounds too easy, it might be a scam.
  • Miracle Cure. Generally, one pill will not treat or cure many different illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, AIDS, or arthritis.
  • It Worked for Me. Personal success stories by “real people” or doctors are easy to make up.
  • They Don’t Want You to Know. Always ask your health care providers what is best for your health.

 

For additional information on health fraud and scams go to http://www.fda.gov/healthfraud, http://www.fda.gov/medwatch, and http://www.ftc.gov

Teaching Suggestions

  • Ask students if they have fallen prey to health care scammers.
  • Have students make a short presentation with a summary of actions that might be taken to avoid health scams.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why do health scammers continue to prey on unsuspecting consumers?
  2. What can consumers do to avoid being victimized by health scammers?
Aug 2 2014

Increased Oversight Needed For Growing Managed Care Expenditures

In fiscal year 2013, the Medicaid program covered about 71.7 million people at a cost of $431.1 billion, of which Centers for Medicare and Medical Services (CMS) estimated that $14.4 billion (5.8 percent) were improper  payments.  In 2014, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examined how state and federal agencies ensure comprehensive integrity efforts, such as payment review, auditing, and investigating fraud.  To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Medicaid program, the GAO recommends that the Administrator of CMS should:

  • update its Medicaid managed care guidance on program integrity practices,
  • provide the states with additional support in overseeing Medicaid managed care program integrity, and
  • require states to audit payments to and by managed care organizations.

For additional information and complete GAO report go to http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-34.

Teaching Suggestions

  • Ask students what are typical benefits that Medicaid provides.
  • Ask students to prepare a summary report on how to prevent or reduce the Medicaid fraud.

Discussion Questions

  1. What is Medicaid and how it assists low-income individuals and families?
  2. How is Medicaid financed?
  3. Do people with Medicaid need to buy supplemental medical insurance?
Jul 30 2014

Procter & Gamble’s Allen Lafley on Activist Investors’ Watch List

“With most of the Dow 30 companies up for the year, investors should be heartened that P&G remains in the ‘bargain bin.'”

In this article, Marc Courtenay describes the financial information investors can use to evaluate an investment in Procter & Gamble, a large global company with a worldwide customer base of 4.8 billion people.  Information in this article includes a discussion of P&G’s

  • Efforts to reduce costs by $10 billion.
  • Current stock price and future price predictions.
  • Decision to increase its dividends to stockholders.
  • Projections for earnings growth and the anticipated effect on the stock’s share value.

For more information go to  http://www.thestreet.com/story/12766334/1/procter-gambles-alan-lafley-on-activist-investors-watch-list.html

Teaching Suggestions

You may want to use the information in this blog post and the original article to

  • Stress the importance of using financial information when evaluating a corporate stock for investment purposes.
  • Discuss how financial information (dividends, earnings per share, dividend payout, etc.) relate to the share value for a stock like P&G.

Discussion Questions

  1. Because P&G is a large global company with a customer base of 4.8 billion people and is a component in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, do investors still need to evaluate the company before investing in its stock?
  2. Why are financial measures like dividends, earnings per share, dividend payout, and projections for earnings growth important when evaluating a stock investment?
Jul 26 2014

Retirement Catch Up: Saving After 50

“. . .more than a third of people 55 and older have saved less than $10,000.”

According to Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, President of the Charles Schwab Foundation and daughter of Charles Schwab, there are a number of steps anyone can take to get their financial house in order.

For example, Ms. Schwab-Pomerantz suggests that savings should be non-negotiable–it’s that important.  To increase the amount saved, people should take a hard look at where they are spending their money.  For example, do you really need cable television or that new car?

She also suggests that a person in their 20s should save 10 percent of income in order to save the money needed for a comfortable retirement.  If the same person waits until she or he is in their 30s, the percentage for savings increases to 20 percent while someone in their 40s will need to save 30 percent of their income.  Finally, a person in their 50s will need to save 40 percent of income to provide for retirement.   The Bottom Line:  The percentage a person must save for a comfortable retirement increases if they wait to begin a savings and investment program.

For more information go to http://finance.yahoo.com/news/retirement-catch-up–saving-after-50-043631641.html

Teaching Suggestions

You may want to use the information in this blog post and the original article to

  • Remind students how small changes in how they manage their financial affairs can change their lives both now and when they reach retirement age.
  • Stress the importance of beginning a savings and investment program sooner rather than later.
  • Use a Time Value of Money calculation to show how regular savings can increase over time.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why is it important to begin a savings and investment program when you are in your 20s?
  2. Where does the money come from to begin a savings and investment program?
Jul 23 2014

7 Smart Investing Tips from Kiplinger Readers

7 Smart Investing Tips from Kiplinger Readers

Each of the seven tips described below can help both experienced and beginning investors improve their investment skills.

  1. Invest in what you understand. To avoid getting caught in a stock-market bubble and to remain calm during an economic downturn, you should know something about a company’s true worth.
  2. Less debt means less risk. Look closely at a company’s balance sheet to determine if a company has too much debt that could hamper the company’s growth or ability to weather an economic storm.
  3. Use dividends to diversify your stock holdings. Instead of reinvesting dividends in the same stock, take cash dividends and use the money to buy stocks in different companies in which you have few holdings.
  4. If you use funds, look under the hood. To diversify your investments, make sure your existing funds don’t own the same stocks in the same companies.
  5. The right stock can replace a bond. Look for high-yield, dividend stocks to replace all or a portion of your bond holdings.
  6. Cash isn’t trash. Cash can be used to take advantage of stock-market downturns or corrections.
  7. Patience is a virtue. Sometimes it just takes time for a stock to increase in value.

For more information go to http://kiplinger.com/printstory.php?pid=12565

Teaching Suggestions

You may want to use the information in this blog post and the original article to

  • Encourage students to evaluate all potential stock or mutual fund investments.
  • Stress the importance of patience and the value of a long-term investment program.

Discussion Questions

  1. How can these seven tips improve your investment decisions?
Jul 19 2014

Consumer Action Handbook

How can a person contact an auto manufacturer with a concern about a motor vehicle? Where would a person file a complaint about deceptive investments? What state consumer protection agencies are available to help consumers in Missouri?

These, and many other, questions are answered in the Consumer Action Handbook, published by the U.S. General Services Administration. Updated each year, this free reference book offers consumer buying tips on everything from consumer credit and environmental-friendly products to travel and utilities along with extensive lists of contact information for major companies, trade associations, and federal, state, and local consumer agencies.

The Consumer Action Handbook may be accessed at::

online version – http://www.usa.gov/topics/consumer/consumer-action-handbook-online.shtml

download version – http://www.usa.gov/topics/consumer/consumer-action-handbook.pdf

order form for print copy – http://www.usa.gov/consumer-action-handbook/order-form.shtml

video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHhm5arq1RY

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students obtain a copy of the Consumer Action Handbook (print or PDF version) and have them select information about which they were not previously aware.
  • Have students talk to others to determine their main sources of consumer information when making a purchase or when having a consumer complaint.

Discussion Questions 

  1. Why do an extensive number of consumer problems occur in our society?
  2. Explain the actions a person might take when encountering a consumer complaint.
  3. In addition to the Consumer Action Handbook, what information sources might consumers use when planning a purchase or encountering a consumer problem?
Jul 16 2014

Text Message Spam

Spam text messages are not only annoying but also illegal. Many con artists use text messages to obtain your personal information by offering a free gift card or vacation. As a result, you become very vulnerable to identity theft.

To avoid becoming a victim of text message spam, register your number on the Do Not Call List.  Also, never click on links in spam messages, which often carry malware or send you to fake websites.

Never reply to these text messages or give out your personal information.  Report the text spam to your cell phone carrier by forwarding the message to 7726 (SPAM).

You can report unwanted commercial text messages and other complaints related to consumer fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#crnt&panel1-1

For additional information on text message spam, go to:

http://blog.usa.gov/post/89152807112/protect-yourself-from-text-message-spam

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0350-text-message-spam

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students conduct research to obtain information on various types of scam and frauds.
  • Have students create an in-class presentation or a video communicating actions to take to avoid becoming a victim of consumer fraud.

Discussion Questions 

  1. Why do some people easily become victims of text message spam and other consumer frauds?
  2. Describe various types of frauds and scams.
  3. What actions can be taken to avoid becoming a victim of consumer fraud?

 

Jul 12 2014

Learning about High-Cost Financial Services

Brian Page, a teacher in Reading Ohio, wants his students to understand the drawbacks of check-cashing services, pawnshops, rent-to-own stores, payday loans, and other shadow banking services.  As a result, he scheduled a field trip for his students to visit these sources of high-cost financial services in their community, which are used by many unbanked consumers.

At LoanMax, they observed people getting loans with their auto titles serving as collateral.  One missed payment could lead to repossession of the vehicle. Next, at CheckSmart, students learned about payday lending and tax refund anticipation loans.

At CashAmerica people were making loan payments on money borrowed, which used jewelry, electronics, and sports memorabilia as collateral. Finally, the visit to the Rent-A-Center store demonstrated the exorbitant costs of furniture, appliances, and electronics when using a rent-to-own payment program.

For additional information on teaching about high-cost financial services, go to:

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students talk with someone who has used one of these high-cost financial services. Obtain information about their experiences.
  • If appropriate, have students visit a high-cost financial service provider to obtain information about their services and fees.
  • Have students create a video presentation with suggestions on how to avoid using costly sources of financial services.

Discussion Questions 

  1. Why are an increasing number of people using high-cost financial services such as pawnshop loans, payday loans, and rent-to-own programs?
  2. What alternatives might used by consumers instead of these high-cost financial services?
  3. What actions might a person take to avoid these high-cost financial services?
Jul 9 2014

The Sharing Economy

Saving money or earning extra income can be as easy as using an app to rent a car or lend someone your backyard tools. With about 5,000 sharing companies, organizations and programs in operation, consumers could save hundreds and even thousands of dollars a year.

The main focus of the sharing economy is car and bicycle rentals, home sharing, and shared nanny services.  But consumers can also borrow drills, saws, ladders, lawn mowers through a community tool shed.

To avoid obvious dangers, be sure to use a sharing service that screens potential customers with background checks and identity verification. Technology can increase trust with online profiles and reviews from users.

There is also money to be made in the sharing economy by providing rides to others or renting out an extra bedroom. Before getting involved in the sharing economy, be sure to have proper insurance coverage and an understanding of tax implications. Participants in the sharing economy also note the social benefits of connecting with others from around the world.

For additional information on the sharing economy, go to:

http://www.kiplinger.com/article/business/T049-C000-S002-cash-in-on-the-sharing-economy.html

http://www.kiplinger.com/article/spending/T050-C000-S002-sites-to-help-you-save-make-money-by-sharing.html

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students research various apps that facilitate transactions in the sharing economy.
  • Have students create interview questions that they might ask someone who is a buyer or seller in the shared economy.

Discussion Questions 

  1. What benefits are present for individuals and society as a result of the sharing economy?
  2. Explain how technology helps to increase the participation and acceptance of sharing economy activities.
  3. What concerns should be addressed when participating in the shared economy?