Chicago,
IL - February 27, 2013 - The Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and
Northern Illinois (BBB) will be featured at the 15th annual National Consumer Protection Week
(NCPW), March 7th, 2013, from 8:30AM to 3:00PM, in the lobby of the James R. Thompson Center,
100 W. Randolph St.
The BBB joins federal, state, and local government agencies and national
consumer advocacy organizations at this event. Consumer protection information
and brochures will be among the free items available.
National
Consumer Protection Week focuses on giving consumers the tools they need to
make smart financial decisions in today's marketplace. This information
can help people get the most for their money, whether they are trying to
stretch their paychecks, find a quick fix for a spotty credit history, or
distinguish the difference between a real deal and a potentially fraudulent
product or service.
"The
Better Business Bureau is proud to be part of this year's National Consumer
Protection Week campaign," said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of
the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. "Especially in times like this,
information is power and the ability to obtain third party reviews helps
consumers to make informed choices. We invite everyone to visit www.bbb.org for tools such as online business reviews
and Request
a Quote; these free tools can be used to make smart choices in the
marketplace."
The BBB
offers the following tips on making smart financial decisions:
·
Check Them Out. Check out a business before you
spend money on any product or service. Visit www.bbb.org
to view the BBB's free Business Review on the company
·
Three Bid Rule. Obtain bids from three companies
and carefully compare before you begin construction or any other type of work
on your home or business. Check out the BBB’s Request
a Quote to obtain free estimates.
·
Signing Contracts. Never sign any contract that has
blank spots or contains incomplete information about the work to be
accomplished.
·
Beware of Requirements of money
for instructions.
Jobs that require you to make some type of payment upfront before work begins are
typically scams.
·
Shred It. Protect yourself against identity
theft. Shred all documents that contain any financial information.
Including offers for new credit cards and loans.
The
"For Consumers" section of the BBB website (www.bbb.org) provides consumers hundreds of
specific, easy-to-understand tips including: how to get a free credit report,
how to spot a telemarketing scam, dealing with debt, deterring and detecting
identity theft, avoiding auto repair scams, and how to file a consumer
complaint with the appropriate authorities.
For more
information on consumer safe shopping or National Consumer Protection Week,
visit www.bbb.org
###
As a
private, non-profit organization, the purpose of the Better Business Bureau is
to promote an ethical marketplace. BBBs help resolve buyer/seller complaints by
means of conciliation, mediation and arbitration. BBBs also review advertising
claims, online business practices and charitable organizations. BBBs develop
and issue reports on businesses and nonprofit organizations and encourage
people to check out a company or charity before making a purchase or donation.
