Consumer Protection

Community Financial Literacy is here to provide you with tips that will educate you on how you can avoid get trapped with predatory lenders and other consumer issues that affects Refugee and new Immigrant communities because of ignorance and lack of information. Please find some on this page but you can still consult us for more details.

  • Consumer credit tip: while it may not be possible to pay off your card’s balance in full each month, consumers should make as large a payment as can comfortably be afforded to avoid being locked into credit card debt for a long period of time. Paying off your balance can be a sound financial strategy which will significantly lessen finance charges                                                         
  • Be aware of internet scam!!!!!!!!! There are always reports from consumers that they have received a realistic-looking check in the mail, together with a request to deposit the check in their bank account and mail a portion of the check back to sender. The problem is , the bank check is a fake, and the consumer has been hoodwinked into sending “ real” money back.  

5 Tips for Protecting Your Checking Account

  1. Don’t give your account number and bank routing information to anyone you don’t know.
  2. To be removed from telemarketing lists, sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry online (www.donotcall.gov) or by calling, toll-free, 1-888-382-1222.
  3. Review your monthly statement. Make sure all the checks, debits, automatic payments, and other withdrawals are ones you authorized. If you see a transaction you did not authorize, notify your bank immediately.
  4. Notify your bank about any problems as soon as possible.The sooner you alert your bank to a problem, the sooner they can get it resolved.                                                                                       
  5. If you don’t have enough money in your account, don’t write the check or authorize the debit.