When you’re planning to make a purchase, two of the most crucial factors you will inevitably compare are the prices and the various companies that offer the product or service you need. Did you know that BBB can give you a list of companies and their prices at the same time? BBB’s online directory, Member Pages, is completely free and it is an extremely simple way to find businesses you can trust and prices you can afford.

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Many people use both credit and debit cards interchangeably out of habit. The main difference between a debit and a credit card purchase is that a debit card creates a DIRECT link to your bank account and money can be taken out quickly. Generally, a debit card is fine for most things, but the following 4 purchases should be made with a credit card whenever possible:

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Are you hoping to buy your first home this year? If so, check out the special event that we have coming up during National Consumer Protection Week on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 – you won’t want to miss it!

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Last year, your BBB received over 23,000 complaints from consumers who felt they were taken advantage of by a business. Those looking for jobs, struggling to make money or get out of debt were the most common targets of scammers, hackers and deceptive businesses in 2010.

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145 million people nationwide will take part in early holiday shopping on Black Friday or Cyber Monday this year. Whether your plans include a shopping cart or a computer, BBB reminds you to keep a few things in mind while getting in the holiday spirit…

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Identity theft continues to be a concern for consumers and businesses. That’s why BBB is offering you FREE shredding and recycling at the annual 2010 Fall Shred Day next month, as part of National Protect Your Identity Week (October 17-23, 2010).

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With today's announcement from Blockbuster that it has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy, many consumers may wonder what this specifically means to them as a customer. The answer in this case is, not a whole lot. According to Blockbuster, their online and retail stores will remain open while the company attempts to restructure and reorganize to help alleviate the debt it has accumulated.

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We normally think of phishing attempts as those that come through your email or from malicious websites, but they can also come from phone solicitations as well. Case in point, today we received an alert that several consumers have received automated phone calls telling them their credit or debit cards have been locked or temporarily suspended. Conveniently enough, the message also invites them to enter information over the phone to solve the problem. BBB warns this not to be done.

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Employee fraud costs businesses $400 billion in annual losses, and 76% of frauds are committed internally by employees. To help businesses gain knowledge on how to reduce fraud in the workplace, BBB is hosting a Business Seminar on Fraud Prevention next week in the following locations:

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Facebook users are familiar with the ability to "like" their friends' comments, wall posts, etc. Many users constrastly have called for the ability to "dislike" posts as well. Unfortunately, scammers became aware of this and have set up traps for computer users in the disguise of applications which are now wrecking havoc on computers.

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A couple of weeks ago, we warned you about timeshare meetings occuring in Corpus Christi. This week, we received another tip from a business owner in San Antonio alerting BBB to several possible locksmith scams. The story goes like this...

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Over the past few months, your BBB has continued to provide FREE professional speakers to area businesses and organziations looking for insight on a wide variety of topics we cover. Because of the overwhelming inquiries into this program, your BBB is proud to expand BBB Speakers Bureau to the following areas...

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Friday is the deadline to have your 2010 Census questionnaire mailed back. Anyone who doesn't can expect a census worker to come knocking at their door from May 1, 2010 until July 10, 2010. Just as a reminder, here's some advice to consider if someone from the Census Bureau pays you a visit...

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Last Friday, we wrote about new guidelines for security companies, specifically mentioning door-to-door sales. In the spirit of that theme, we received an e-mail today from a consumer who was taken by a door-to-door salesman selling meat.

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Most of the time, consumers can be sure that an unsolicited letter from an unknown source asking for personal information is a scam. We like that consumers turn to BBB for advice when they receive one because it helps us stay ahead of the scammers and bring awareness to those who may become future victims. However, we received an inquiry from a consumer who received the following letter from TexasSure asking for information about their car and insurance and it was not a scam...

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