Credit and Money Matters

When it comes to fundraisers, some are Santas and others are Grinches. Secretary of State Sam Reed and Attorney General Rob McKenna today unveiled the 2010 Commercial Fundraiser Activity Report that helps people avoid greedy fundraising organizations when making charitable donations.

This news may leave you wondering, what, exactly, is (or was) the Kardashian Kard? In short, it’s a debit card emblazoned with the images of three attractive, if slightly vacant, media darlings: Kim, Kloe and Kourtney. I’m guessing that the Kardashians, known for their plasticity, didn’t immediately grasp the irony

Black Friday is the time when retailers hope to move from being in the red to being in the black. Attorney General Rob McKenna's top 10 list of shopping tips will help you spend less and avoid scams during the holiday shopping season.

Credit scores are not things you can “wish” better, but a myriad of credit-fix scams advertised online and on television promise a quick fix.

Assistant Attorney General Jack Zurlini does windows. And roofs. And vinyl siding. Zurlini is hammering home the importance of honest advertising to home remodelers. An industry magazine, Replacement Contractor, published an interview with Zurlini this week about how and why the Washington Attorney General’s Office brought the cases.

With identity theft and credit fraud becoming commonplace, any step you can take to avoid a scam is a necessary one.

Penny auction sites lure thousands of consumers daily with cheap prices on brand-name electronics, designer handbags and discounted store gift cards. Wired.com describes penny auctions as “a combination of bingo night, the Home Shopping Network and a slot machine addiction.” But an investigation by the Washington Attorney General’s Office shows how some of these sites can fool consumers into paying big bucks on an auction with no winner ...

While you can get away with buying many everyday items used, there are quite a few others that are worth paying the extra few dollars to be the initial owner.

Look out for "professional cards" and "rebate cards." Credit card issuers are finding creative ways to recoup revenues lost because of the CARD Act.

Public Affairs Intern Darius Schwarz shares his unfortunately true "fish story" about roaming costs ...