Consumer Handbook

Each week Whitney Quick, with the Better Business Bureau in Cape Girardeau, brings you tips to help you be a better consumer and not be caught off guard by scams or the unexpected.

Consumer Handbook: Spot And Avoid Student Loan Debt Relief Scams

By Whitney Quick • Apr 2, 2019

Camden County College/Flickr, License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode

Student loan debt has a serious impact on countless Americans’ finances, preventing some of them from buying homes and starting families. The burden of this debt leads some borrowers to seek loan consolidation and other debt relief options.

Borrowers should research these options carefully and not give in to the temptation to seek a quick fix that could turn out to be a scam.

Consumer Handbook: Over $26,000 Lost Locally To Scam Artists In 2018, According To BBB Scam Tracker

By Whitney Quick • Mar 27, 2019

In 2018, nearly 100 consumers in southeast Missouri and southern Illinois reported to Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker being victimized by scam artists, with losses of more than $26,000.

About 16.8% of those scam reports regarded online purchase scams, and 11.6% were reports of debt collection scams.

Consumer Handbook: How To Find Safe, Rewarding Summer Camps For Your Kids

By Whitney Quick • Mar 20, 2019

Parents should look beyond glossy brochures and pretty website pictures when searching for summer camps. The safety, health, and satisfaction of children should be the camp’s top priority, and a great camp should be an enriching experience for your child.

When choosing a camp, parents need to use the same care and common sense they would use in evaluating a daycare program. Look for one that provides activities that are of interest to your child, matches their personality, and is appropriate for their age and skill level.

Consumer Handbook: Looking Out For Phony, Extravagant Product Claims

By Whitney Quick • Mar 14, 2019

Recently, the Better Business Bureau has received reports of consumers falling prey to pitches for products that claim to be endorsed by the popular television program, Shark Tank. This is a new twist on fraudulent free trial offers: a common scam that costs consumers millions of dollars each year.

Consumer Handbook: Educating Yourself On Returns, Exhanges, And Gift Cards When Stores Close

By Whitney Quick • Mar 7, 2019

Roderick Eime/Flickr, License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/legalcode

As the retail landscape changes, many Americans find their favorite retailers going out of business. These closings often are accompanied by once-in-a-lifetime liquidation sales, but they also bring dramatic changes to the retailer’s return policies, not to mention questions about unused gift cards and warranties.