Credit and Money Matters

The federal regulator of the largest U.S. banks wants too much power, state attorneys general complained this week in a 6-page letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. ...

Teletrack, Inc,. has agreed to pay $1.8 million to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations that the company sold credit reports for marketing purposes, in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. According to the FTC’s complaint, Teletrack sells credit reports and other services to businesses that mainly serve money-strapped consumers.

Do you joke that you’re not a “numbers person”? If so, you may be among the estimated 1 in 20 adults impacted by dyscalculia, a sort of math dyslexia.

You shouldn’t have to pay an up-front fee for a lower interest rate credit card offer. In advance-fee loan scams, the lender guarantees a credit card in advance for a fee before you even apply and regardless of your credit rating. These offers are illegal and often target people with credit problems.

A light bulb just went off above someone’s head at the Federal Trade Commission. The agency had the bright idea to launch a campaign to educate consumers about newer light bulbs. Halogen incandescent, CFLs and LEDs last longer and use less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs.

The Olympia Police Department is warning the public not to give information to callers posing as debt collection companies who attempt to collect personal information.

Skimming scams are on the rise in Western Washington, according to local cops, and you may not realize you’ve been taken until long after thieves have stolen your credit card or debit card information. Here's how to protect yourself ...

With gas prices soaring, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced today the formation of the Oil and Gas Price Fraud Working Group. That’s right … we’re talking about a bunch of government agencies monitoring oil and gas markets for potential violations of criminal or civil laws. ...

According to the New York Times, hundreds of millions of dollars worth of life insurance policies go unclaimed each year. Why? Over time they get lost and the beneficiaries don't know the money exists. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner put together some information on finding old policies. Check out the story on the department's blog.

Income tax identity theft scams have tripled in the last five years.