Buying Products & Services

Learn how the cards work and what consumer protection is available for each type of card.

"Lowest Price of the Year", "Best Deal in Town!" Can you really believe the advertisements you see? Have you ever been frustrated because you went to the store to get the advertised item but they were out of the item? Advertisements should be viewed with an educated eye. Read more

Structured intervention and preventive education programs are available to help people with drug and alcohol abuse problems. The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) is responsible for establishing criteria for the approval of such programs. Read more.

Some marketers of pills and sprays say they found a Fountain of Youth in HGH – Human Growth Hormone. But the Federal Trade Commission says a closer look at these non-prescription products suggests they may be nothing more than hype.

If you own a car, you know it's important to do routine maintenance and repairs. Can a dealer refuse to honor your car's warranty if another shop does maintenance or repairs? The Federal Trade Commission says no. In fact, this is illegal. Read more

If you own a “lemon” bought or leased in Connecticut, you may be eligible for the state’s arbitration program.

Some seasonal home improvement workers show up in your community offering roof repairs or driveway blacktop that turn out to be scams. Read more.

There are things you should know before you contract to have a home built, or for home repairs or remodeling.  Georgia law protects consumers when they hire a building contractor.

Buying a new puppy can be an exciting and happy experience. But too often it turns into an unpleasant and expensive experience. Currently, puppy purchases in Wisconsin are not covered by a “lemon law” such as what protects automobile buyers. It's important for consumers to educate themselves before making their purchase.

Before you spring for new exercise equipment, make sure you’re not buying the fitness fiction of quick, easy results. When shopping, look for equipment that suits your lifestyle and budget, and shop around to get the best price. Read more.

Cable television provides expanded viewing options and related services to many households in Georgia.  As with any other service, you may occasionally encounter problems. Here are tips for resolving problems with your cable company.

Many new car dealers advertise very low interest rates and special promotions. Ads promising high trade-in allowances and low-cost options may help you shop, but you must compare carefully to find the best deal. Read more

When you're looking for a job you may think about working with a career consulting company. Be cautious about the ads for these companies, and never pay for services before you get a job.  Read more about steps to take before hiring a company.

The Consumer Action Handbook  is one of the federal government's most informative and popular resources. Information in the guide empowers consumers to make smart decisions and get assistance with problems and questions. The guide is  available in Spanish as Guía del Consumidor.

Read BBB expert advice about buying and selling and being a savvy consumer. BBB Consumer Tips provide real-time news about hot marketplace topics, from choosing the right auto insurance to picking the right wedding photographer.

As a credit card user, you have rights under state and federal law that allow you to get a refund on your credit card in some situations. The refund comes as a chargeback. Read more.

Credit, charge, or debit? Each method lets you pay for products and services and each has unique characteristics. If you’re shopping for a credit card, it’s important to compare fees, interest rates, finance charges, and benefits.

By subscribing to emails or text alerts from popular daily deal websites, many people have found great online offers. Unfortunately, some offers that look like giveaways don't turn out to be a great value. If you're thinking about buying a daily deal, there are steps to take to make sure you get what you expected.

Georgia wants to crack down on businesses who disguise their out-of-state location by publishing a local number in a phone directory.  Read more about what to do if this happens to you.

While some door-to-door food companies provide a valuable service to their customers, a number of them have misled consumers and may sell food at two or three times the price found in local stores. The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection shares this information about door-to-door meat salespeople and home food service plans.

Do your vehicle's warning lights come on when you turn on the ignition? They should. If they don't, they won't come on in case of mechanical emergency. If your vehicle's gauges don't operate as mentioned in the owners manual, have them checked.  Read more.

Many exhibitors at trade shows, fairs, or home improvement seminars are professional and reputable, but some vendors may be looking for potential victims to scam. Read more about what to watch for.

Many previously-flooded vehicles are recycled into the economy and end up being resold.  Many such vehicles were released into the marketplace after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. If you're shopping for a used car, truck, van or SUV, learn how watch for signs of flood damage.

There are complex causes for the price of gasoline, and many causes are beyond our government’s control. Georgia's price-control laws go into effect only after the Governor declares a state of emergency, for example, after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Read more.

Read or listen to a message about the terms and conditions related to gift cards.

Have you ever seen a retail establishment that advertises it's “going out of business,” but somehow manages to hang on and stay in business?  It may be violating Georgia law, which prohibits conducting a going-out-of-business sale for longer than 90 days.

Media ratings systems are one source of information help protect children from violence in movies, games, and music. Get details about the ratings. 

If you were solicited and signed a contract for more than $25 at your home, or away from the contractor’s regular place of business, Wisconsin law allows you three business days to cancel. Read more.

Wisconsin's direct marketing rule protects consumers in telephone, e-mail, fax, mail, and door-to-door transactions, including sales made in motel and hotel rooms and other places away from the seller’s place of business.

Identity theft protection services can help you monitor your accounts. Many people find it valuable and convenient to pay a company to monitor their financial accounts, credit reports, and personal information. Others choose to do this themselves for free. Before you pay for a service, evaluate it and its track record.

Many backyard play sets are placed on dirt or grass – surfaces that do not adequately protect children when they fall. Make your backyard playground a safe place to play!

Lawn care services perform some of the time-consuming and complicated tasks of lawn maintenance. Sometimes you must sign expensive and long-term contracts to hire a company. It's important to know exactly what you want from a lawn care firm. Read more

If you have continuing problems with a motor vehicle that you purchased new or leased new in Georgia, the Lemon Law provides you with a self-help process.  Georgia’s Lemon Law is designed to help you get your defective vehicle repaired.

The success of your move within Maryland or the Washington, D.C. area depends on how well you prepare. There are federal regulations for interstate moves (from state to state or outside a Metropolitan area) but few laws that specifically address intrastate moving (within a state). In this situation, take special care to protect yourself.

Thinking of bidding in an online auction, or selling some of your stuff? Internet auctions are a great resource for shoppers and sellers, but you need to watch out for some pitfalls. Find out how.

When you consider where to buy eyewear, chances are you consider cost and convenience. The Federal Trade Commission enforces the Contact Lens and Eyeglass Rules, which increase the “portability” of your contact lens and eyeglass prescriptions. Read more

The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (PRC) publishes in-depth guides on how to protect your privacy when you shop. Learn what information you should give to merchants, how to shop online safely, the differences among payment methods, and more.

Some scam prize offers and sweepstakes use fancy certificates, official entry numbers, or envelopes that look like telegrams to trick people into thinking they're legitimate. Despite the fancy package, these offers will cost you money. Read more.

Rebate offers can be irresistible, reducing a product's price and promising a partial or full reimbursement after you buy. The Federal Trade Commission cautions consumers against being "baited" by rebates that arrive much later than promised, or not at all.

In Wisconsin, there are no specific laws that regulate repair shops. To avoid problems, consumers should do some homework first.

Wisconsin law requires vehicle rustproofing contracts to provide information about the length and type of coverage, liability limits, transfer requirements, and consumer responsibilities. Read more

Play is essential to a child’s development, but poorly designed or improperly used toys can cause injury or even death. By following some basic guidelines, parents can better ensure that playtime is fun, educational, and safe.

Everybody wants to save money on gas, but for every car make and model, estimated gas mileage is just that — an estimate. Actual mileage depends on how you fuel, drive, and maintain your car. The Federal Trade Commission offers some bumper-to-bumper tips to help you get the most miles from your gas purchase.

Do you need a place to store your things temporarily? A self-service storage facility may be the answer to your problems. Before renting, get these tips from the Wisconsin Bureau of Consumer Protection. 

Everyday activities like using a savings card at the grocery store or a social networking app on your phone may give businesses access to information about your habits, tastes, and activities. Where does that information go and how is it used?

Many funeral providers offer packages of goods and services for different kinds of funerals. When you arrange for a funeral, you have the right to buy goods and services separately. You don't have to buy a package that includes items you don't want. Here are some tips to help you shop for funeral services.

For hassle-free online shopping, get the details about what you're buying, pay by credit card, keep records, and protect your personal and financial information.

When storing your property, including boats, pontoons, RVs, and motorcycles, protection from theft or damage should be your primary concern. Read more.

Unfortunately, many of these fast “refunds” are actually loans called “refund anticipation loans” (RALs). When you get a RAL, you’re actually borrowing your own money, money that you will get as a tax refund. Read more.

What happens when you purchase tickets to a theater performance, sporting event, or concert months in advance, only to later have the event canceled or rescheduled? Under Wisconsin law, consumers are protected from losing most prepaid admissions fees. Read more

If you're thinking about paying for a timeshare or vacation plan, the Federal Trade Commission says it’s a good idea to do some homework. You could end up having a hard time selling your timeshare. Read more

Toys advertised on television can be an important part of a child’s “wish list” for birthdays or holidays. And television advertisements are an important source of information about toys. Help your children evaluate toy advertisements by talking about the topics featured in this resource.

Whether you want to take a cruise, stay at a resort, or join a travel club, it pays to be an informed traveler Before you choose, read a company’s cancellation and refund policies, and consider whether you want travel cancellation insurance.

You can use a raincheck to get the advertised price on sale items.

You can opt out of recieving some unwanted mail, calls, and texts. Read more.

Scam artists use many schemes to get your money; many involve transferring money through companies like Western Union and MoneyGram. According to the Federal Trade Commission, money transfers may be useful to send funds to someone you know and trust, but they’re completely inappropriate when you’re dealing with a stranger. Read more

Get informed before you take your car in for routine maintenance or unexpected repairs.

Wisconsin is one of about 30 states with some type of bedding labeling law, which requires proper labeling of bedding-related products in order to distinguish between remanufactured bedding made of secondhand material and bedding products manufactured of new material. Read more

If your organization is considering working with a professional fundraiser, you have an obligation and a responsibility to the public to account for all funds collected and to ensure the fundraising is conducted in an honest, straightforward, and legal manner. Read more