10 Commandments for Consumers

Consumers should follow a few basic rules to protect their money. In honor of National Consumer Protection Week, let's review them:

1. Thou shall read the fine print: When it comes to contracts, it isn't the large print you need to worry about. Potential surprises are usually obscured in the fine print. That's why you should always read every word before signing. If you're caught off guard by an unexpected charge, "I didn't know" won't get you off the hook if the charge is noted in the fine print.

2. Thou shall not give financial information to strangers: It doesn't matter if a request for personal information comes by phone, e-mail or another method: If you didn't initiate the contact and you aren't confident in the legitimacy of the company or person, don't share information such as Social Security or bank account numbers. ...