http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/WWWRoot//SitePage.aspx?site=53&id=a824b759-3137-43b5-aedf-a38056bcce73&debug=False 10 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT With the tax deadline looming, taxpayers need to prepare for unexpected emails and phone calls purporting last-minute issues with returns or refunds. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/is-there-really-a-problem-with-those-taxes-41637 Mon, 08 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT During Financial Literacy Month in April, Better Business Bureau reminds consumers to keep track of their credit reports to help prevent identity theft. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/credit-reports-are-an-identity-theft-protection-tool-41646 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 06:00:00 GMT Scams and identity thefts are particularly prevalent risks during tax time. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/national-consumer-protection-week-online-and-offline-scams-target-tax-filers-40527 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT Tax Tuesday: Trust is Critical Better Business Bureau warns taxpayers that they are not exempt if their tax returns are prepared improperly by third-party professionals. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/tax-preparers-dont-have-to-be-taxing--40308 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 06:00:00 GMT Don’t be fooled by the unseasonably-warm temperatures; it’s only January and there are many months of winter ahead. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/choose-a-reliable-snow-removal-contractor-before-hail-freezes-over-39899 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT An individual in the Kalamazoo area is making door-to-door sales with a BBB Logo on his jacket and wanting to install high efficient light bulbs and shower heads. THE BBB DOES NOT SOLICIT DOOR TO DOOR and this individual has no connection with the Better Business Bureau. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/consumer-alert-door-to-door-salesman-wearing-bbb-logo-31576 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT Shop or donate online only on sites that use technology that encrypts your personal and financial information before sending it for payment processing. Encrypting sensitive information makes it inaccessible to anyone outside the system. Any page on a site that asks for personal or financial information should have a URL or Web address beginning with https:// as opposed to the usual http://. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/holiday-help-from-your-bbb-of-western-michigan-30961 Fri, 30 Apr 2010 05:00:00 GMT roughly 700,000 Census takers will start knocking on the doors of households that did not return their census form through the mail. The BBB encourages anyone who didn’t return their form in the mail to prepare for a visit from a Census taker by learning what to expect and how to identify scammers. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/100501a-2010-census-takers-knocking-on-doors-nationwide-19211 Sat, 10 Apr 2010 05:00:00 GMT A new Federal rule goes into effect April 22, 2010, to limit the risks of lead poisoning that might result from renovations made to older buildings. The Better Business Bureau warns contractors, renovation companies and DIY landlords that failure to meet new certification and training standards would result in significant fines. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/100410d-new-epa-rules-on-lead-based-paint-require-certification-and-training-by-april-22-18820 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 06:00:00 GMT One New Year’s resolution that many small business owners are making is to increase their use of social media to promote their business online through sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. The Better Business Bureau recommends that small business owners ease into the waters thoughtfully when planning to launch a social media strategy; otherwise, they risk abandoning the ship in frustration. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/100101b-bbb-small-business-advice-five-tips-for-ensuring-social-media-success-in-2010-14317 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 06:00:00 GMT The New Year is here and, because of the rough economy, it’s more important that ever to resolve to be a savvy consumer. The Better Business Bureau offers the following ten New Year’s resolutions to fight scammers, prevent identity theft and save money in 2010. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/100101c-bbbs-top-ten-new-years-resolutions-for-a-consumer-savvy-2010-14318 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT The Better Business Bureau has received more than 1,500 complaints about several dozen Web sites that are trading on the Google name to scam people who want to learn about making money from home. Because the sites often use the Google name and prominently display its iconic logo, consumers often assume they are getting a job with Google when in fact they were getting taken in by yet another work-at-home scheme. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/091103b-make-money-from-home-with-google-not-so-fast-warns-bbb-13331 Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT According to a report by the Los Angeles Times, the H1N1 virus - the so-called “Swine Flu” - isn’t any more deadly than a seasonal flu, but it is transmitted more easily. Employers play a vital role in preventing the spread of the H1N1 virus and the Better Business Bureau offers the following advice to bolster the workplace against the threat of flu this winter. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/091001d-defend-your-business-against-the-h1n1-virus-this-winter-12774 Mon, 01 Oct 2007 05:00:00 GMT Grocery shelves, hardware stores, card shops, and other retail operations are filled with products and packages announcing environmental features that may influence your purchasing decisions. But when it comes to products and packaging, what do claims like "environmentally safe," "recyclable," "degradable" or "ozone friendly" really mean? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) want you to know. The FTC, in cooperation with the EPA, has developed guidelines for adv http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/ftc-sorting-out-green-advertising-claims-4659 Fri, 01 Jun 2007 05:00:00 GMT The possibility of losing your home because you can't make the mortgage payments can be terrifying. Perhaps you are one of the many consumers who took out a mortgage that had a fixed rate for the first two or three years and then had an adjustable rate. Or maybe you're anticipating an adjustment, and want to know what your payments will be and whether you'll be able to make them. Or maybe you're having trouble making ends meet because of an unrelated financial crisis. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/ftc-mortgage-payments-sending-you-reeling-heres-what-to-do-4733 Tue, 01 May 2007 05:00:00 GMT Whether you’re shopping for appliances or automobiles, groceries or gadgets, travel services or tax preparers, the Internet has changed the way most people gather information about products and services. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/ftc-buying-a-home-its-a-big-deal-4763 Thu, 01 Feb 2007 06:00:00 GMT Using a credit line to borrow against the equity in your home has become a popular source of consumer credit. And lenders are offering these home equity credit lines in a variety of ways. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/ftc-home-equity-credit-lines-4770 Sun, 01 Oct 2006 05:00:00 GMT If you’re thinking about selling your home, you may be considering using the services of a real estate broker or agent. But before you sign a listing agreement, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the agency that works for a competitive marketplace, wants you to be informed about your choices. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/ftc-selling-your-home-tips-for-selecting-a-real-estate-professional--4783 Fri, 01 Sep 2006 05:00:00 GMT Gas prices are up, and so is the volume of advertising for "gas-saving" products. When gasoline prices rise, consumers often look for ways to improve fuel efficiency. Although there are practical steps you can take to increase gas mileage, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns you to be wary of any gas-saving claims for automotive devices or oil and gas additives. Even for the few gas-saving products that have been found to work, the savings have been small. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/ftc-gas-saving-products-fact-or-fuelishness--4501 Tue, 01 Aug 2006 05:00:00 GMT A laptop computer defines convenience and mobility. It enables you to work from home, a hotel room, a conference hall, or a coffee shop. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/ftc-keeping-laptops-from-getting-lost-or-stolen-4552 Tue, 01 Aug 2006 05:00:00 GMT Voice over Internet Protocol — VoIP — is one way people are making and receiving telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection rather than a regular phone line. VoIP converts your phone call — actually, the voice signal from your phone — into a digital signal that travels through the Internet to the person you are calling. If you are calling a plain old telephone number, the signal is converted back at the other end. If you’re comfortable with new technology, you may want to learn more about VoIP. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, suggests that it’s smart to do some research on this technology before signing up for it. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/ftc-voip-its-a-phone-its-a-computer-its--4427 Sat, 01 Jul 2006 05:00:00 GMT Could a simple medical test tell you if you are likely to get a particular disease? Could it evaluate your health risks and even suggest a specific treatment? Could you take this test in the privacy of your home, without a doctor’s prescription or guidance? http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/ftc-at-home-genetic-tests-a-healthy-dose-of-skepticism-may-be-the-best-prescription-4807 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 05:00:00 GMT Home is where most people feel safe and comfortable. But sometimes — say, when a hurricane, flood, tornado, wildfire, or other disaster strikes — it’s safest to pack up and go to another location. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/ftc-financial-readiness-as-critical-as-fully-charged-batteries-4652 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 05:00:00 GMT You’ve probably learned a long list of important safety and privacy lessons already: Look both ways before crossing the street; buckle up; hide your diary where your nosy brother can’t find it; don’t talk to strangers. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/ftc-social-networking-sites-safety-tips-for-tweens-and-teens-4442 Mon, 01 May 2006 05:00:00 GMT Ever wonder how a creditor decides whether to grant you credit? For years, creditors have been using credit scoring systems to determine if you’d be a good risk for credit cards and auto loans. More recently, credit scoring has been used to help creditors evaluate your ability to repay home mortgage loans. Here’s how credit scoring works in helping decide who gets credit — and why. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/ftc-credit-scoring-4637 Mon, 01 May 2006 05:00:00 GMT Your credit report contains information about where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you’ve been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) promotes the accuracy and privacy of information in the files of the nation’s consumer reporting companies. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/ftc-how-to-dispute-credit-report-errors-4710 Sat, 01 Apr 2006 05:00:00 GMT Credit is an important money management tool for both young and older consumers. Yet the elderly, particularly older women, may find it difficult to get credit. http://www.grandrapids.bbb.org/article/ftc-getting-credit-when-youre-over-62-4660