New “Credit / Debit Card Warning Labels”
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Warns Against Indiscriminate, Credit based Spending
That is Harmful to One's Financial Future!
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RELEASE: January 2002
CONTACT:
Paul Richard, RFC, ICFE Executive Director
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San Diego, CA. “Everyday spending decisions,
especially credit based one, will do far more harm to one's financial
future, than any investment decision one might ever make,” says
the ICFE’s executive director, Paul Richard, RFC. A new “Credit/Debit
Card Warning Label”: Four new versions of the labels, including
“If You Can Eat It, Drink It, Or Wear It, It Is NOT An EMERGENCY!,”
may be seen at http://www.icfe.info,
the nonprofit, San Diego based, Institute of Consumer Financial
Education's Web site (ICFE), The ICFE is dedicated to helping consumers
become better spenders, regular savers and wise users of credit.
“More Americans are getting all charged-up with their credit cards,
bringing the plastic debt to new record levels. Vulnerable consumers
need more reminders and help in the fight against accumulating debt,”
says the ICFE’s Richard, who created the labels.
“The ICFE ‘Credit/Debit
Card Warning Labels’ are self sticking for the front of the
cards,” says Richard. There four versions are: (a) “CAN I AFFORD
IT?” (b) “SHOULD I CHARGE IT?” (c) “WARNING: Overuse Is Dangerous!”
or the new (d) “If You Can Eat It, Drink It, Or Wear It, It Is NOT
An EMERGENCY!” The ICFE labels are available at ten/$3 with a self-addressed,
34 cent stamped envelope (see address below).
Quantity pricing is available on the Web site.
The ICFE has the following
tips to consumers for using credit, debit and charge cards:
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Reduce the number of cards you carry and use
just one or two.
(Optional: Place credit/debit cards in protection sleeves.)
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Use credit cards for purchases where you may
need consumer protection on a warranty or a return, or mail
order
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Return all unwanted credit cards, cut up into
pieces, to the card issuer
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Keep unused cards in a safe place.
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Carry credit cards separately from your wallet
or purse.
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Keep your card in view whenever you hand it
to a merchant.
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Destroy carbon papers on receipts.
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Never lend your cards to anyone.
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Promptly report questionable charges.
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Avoid signing blank charge vouchers.
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Don't give card numbers out over the phone on
calls you didn't originate.
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Enter charge purchases in your checkbook register
as though they were a check.
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Credit Card Warning Labels
Ordering Information:
For 10 Credit Card Warning Labels, please print and fill out our
order
form
To obtain ten ‘Credit/Debit Card Warning Labels’, send $3 and a
self-addressed, 34 cent stamped envelope and indicate version a,
b, c or d and send to:
ICFE Labels
PO Box 34070
San Diego, CA 92163-4070
About the ICFE:
The Institute of Consumer Financial Education (ICFE),
founded in 1982 by the late Loren Dunton - creator of the “certified
financial planner” (CFP) designation - is dedicated to helping consumers
of all ages to improve their spending, increase savings and use credit
more wisely. The years between 1984 and 2000, the ICFE was also known as
the National Center for Financial Education (NCFE).
The ICFE is a nonprofit consumer education organization that has helped millions of people through its education programs and resources. Over
one million “Credit
/ Debit Card Warning
Labels” and “Credit
/ Debit Card Sleeves” are in circulation world wide.
The ICFE’s on-line help for consumers who spend too much
was featured in PARADE Magazine (June 9th, 2002) in the Intelligence
Report section. The money helps and tips are from the “Money
Instruction Book,” a course in personal finance, which was completely
revised and updated in 2002 and is positioned to become among the premier
programs in the new bankruptcy and debtor education initiatives.
The ICFE’s “Do-It-Yourself Credit File Correction
Guide,” now in its Twelfth Printing, is in use by thousands of consumer credit and debt
counselors in addition to tens of thousands of consumers. It received a
“buy” rating in July, August and November from nationally syndicated
financial columnist, Humberto Cruz in his column, “The Savings Game".
BottomLine Personal newsletter gave the Guide a “Send For” rating in
September 2001. The ICFE and our do-it-yourself approach to credit file
correction was featured on NBC Nightly News on 04-30-02. The Spanish
edition of the Guide premiered in January 2002. Syndicated columnist,
Robert Heady also gave the ICFE Guide a “buy” rating.
The ICFE Web site at: www.icfe.info helps consumers with
mending spending, learn about the
proper use of credit, budget and expense guidelines, how to set up and implement a
spending-plan and also access financial education courses and videos and how to
teach children about money. Other ICFE services include a
free eNewsletter, and an
on-line resource center of financial education
learning tools, including videos, books and personal finance courses.
Consumers may learn more on the Internet about the "Do-It-Yourself
Credit File Correction Guide" here, or fill out our request
form, indicating your areas of interest.
For more information contact
Paul Richard, RFC ICFE Executive Director at 619-239-1401.
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