Consumer protection – Prosper Canada Learning Hub

Make Change that Counts: National Financial Literacy Strategy 2021-2026

July 15, 2021/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Financial inclusion, Financial literacy Consumer behaviour, Consumer protection, Education, Financial literacy FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Miscellaneous Report Canada Budgeting, Debt, Financial behaviour, Financial vulnerability, Saving /by Carrie Wong

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada’s (FCAC’s) mandate is to protect Canadian financial consumers and strengthen financial literacy.

The National Strategy is a 5-year plan to create a more accessible, inclusive, and effective financial ecosystem that supports diverse Canadians in meaningful ways. The National Strategy is focused on how financial literacy stakeholders can reduce barriers, catalyze action, and work together, to collectively help Canadians build financial resilience.

CFPB Consumer Education Resources

May 25, 2021/0 Comments/in Consumer protection, Financial literacy Consumer protection, Financial education, Financial literacy CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Training/Toolkits Toolkit United States Families, Homelessness, Housing assistance, Mortgage, Scams, Seniors, Student loans /by Carrie Wong

Resources to provide consumers up-to-date information to protect and manage their finances during the coronavirus pandemic. Resources include:

mortgage and housing assistance
managing your finances
student loans
avoiding scams

And resources for specific audiences, including:

older adults & their families
parents & kids
people experiencing homelessness

Investing and The COVID-19 Pandemic: Survey of Canadian Investors

April 20, 2021/0 Comments/in Ontario Securities Commission Asset building and saving, Consumer protection Behavioral economics, Consumer behaviour, Consumer protection, COVID-19, investing, Investments Ontario Securities Commission Research Survey / Survey results Canada Demographics, Fraud, Goal setting, household income, RESP, RRSP, Scams, TFSA /by Carrie Wong

The Investor Office conducted this study to further our understanding of the experiences and behaviours of retail investors during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The study explored several topics including the financial preparedness, savings behaviour, financial situations, changing preference, and trading activity of retail investors. Key findings include that 32 per cent of investors have experienced a decline in their financial situation during the pandemic while 16 per cent have experienced an improvement. Half of investors have not done any trading during the pandemic, but of those who have been trading, 63 per cent have increased their holdings.

COVID-19 Fraud Alerts

March 9, 2021/0 Comments/in Ontario Securities Commission Consumer protection Consumer protection, COVID-19, Fraud, Investments, Scams Ontario Securities Commission Training/Toolkits Video Canada, Ontario /by Carrie Wong

GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca is an Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) website that provides unbiased and independent financial tools to help you make better financial decisions. This series of videos increases awareness of fraudulent activity during COVID-19. Topic include:

Pump-and-dump scams
Fake government messages
Warnings about your finances
Work from home scams
Signs of investment fraud
Quick high-return schemes

Stop Overpaying, Start Switching

January 22, 2021/0 Comments/in Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada Consumer protection Budgeting, Consumer protection Competition Bureau Canada Training/Toolkits Guide Canada Financial literacy /by Carrie Wong

In the past year, 1 in 4 Canadians surveyed renegotiated their contracts or switched providers to take advantage of better deals and services.

This webpage provides information on switching or renegotiating your contract to reduce your monthly bills and get better products and services.

Consumer Price Index Personal Inflation Calculator

January 22, 2021/0 Comments/in Statistics Canada Consumer protection Consumer protection, Online tool, Statistics Statistics Canada Tools Online tool Canada /by Carrie Wong

This interactive tool created by Statistics Canada allows you to explore your personal rate of inflation, based on the goods and services you consume.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is the official measure of inflation in Canada. It is representative of the change in prices experienced by the average Canadian household. However, your personal experience of inflation may not perfectly match the Canadian average due to differences in your spending habits. The Personal Inflation Calculator accounts for those differences and provides a measure of inflation unique to you.

2019 Financial Literacy Annual Report

January 22, 2021/0 Comments/in Consumer protection, Financial literacy Consumer protection, Financial education, Financial insecurity, Financial literacy CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Research Report United States Research /by Carrie Wong

The 2019 Financial Literacy Annual Report of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau highlights the Bureau’s Start Small, Save Up campaign, the Office of Financial Education’s foundational research, in conjunction with the Office of Older Americans, to understand the pathways to financial well-being, the Office of Servicemembers Affairs’ Misadventures in Money Management online training program, the Office of Older Americans’ Managing Someone Else’s Money guides, and the Office of Community Affairs’ Your Money, Your Goals toolkit, along with other direct to consumer tools, community outreach channels, and areas of research.

2020 Financial Literacy Annual Report

January 22, 2021/0 Comments/in Consumer protection, Financial literacy Consumer protection, COVID-19, Financial literacy, Financial well-being, Goal setting, Saving CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Research Report United States Outreach, Research /by Carrie Wong

The 2020 Financial Literacy Annual Report details the United States' Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection's financial literacy strategy and activities to improve the financial literacy of consumers. Congress specifically charged the Bureau with conducting financial education programs and ensuring consumers receive timely and understandable information to make responsible decisions about financial transactions. Empowering consumers to help themselves, protect their own interests, and choose the financial products and services that best fit their needs is vital to preventing consumer harm and building financial well-being. Overall, this report describes the Bureau’s efforts in a broad range of financial literacy areas relevant to consumers’ financial lives. It highlights our work, including the Bureau's:

Response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Pivot to financial resilience
Start Small, Save Up campaign
Foundational research to understand the pathways to financial well-being
Misadventures in Money Management online training program
Managing Someone Else’s Money guides
Your Money, Your Goals toolkit
Paying for College tool
Direct to consumer tools, community outreach channels, and areas of research

Guide de recours : Lors d’un conflit avec un fournisseur de communication

January 5, 2021/0 Comments/in Union des Consommateurs Consumer protection Consumer protection, Legal issues Union des Consommateurs Tools Guide Canada, Quebec /by Carrie Wong

A guide for consumers to help with problems related to communications services. Information is provided to allow consumers to better assert their rights and facilitate the resolution of a dispute with communication service providers. (Please note this is a French-language resource.)

Union des consommateurs - communicationservices

Bien choisir son crédit : un guide pratique [A Practical Guide to Making Smart Credit Choices]

January 5, 2021/0 Comments/in Union des Consommateurs Consumer protection, Credit & Debt Consumer protection, Credit, Debt Elisabeth Gibeau Training/Toolkits Toolkit Canada, Quebec Credit cards, Mortgage, Safe financial products /by Carrie Wong

A guide comprised of 12 fact sheets for consumers to learn more about credit, grouped into the following topics: general information, warnings, credit products, and comparison tables. (Please note this is a French-language resource.)

Financial Consumer Protection responses to COVID-19

December 1, 2020/0 Comments/in OECD - Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Consumer protection Consumer protection, COVID-19 OECD - Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Research Brief Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States Debt, Debt collection, Emergency savings, Insurance, Scams /by Carrie Wong

This policy brief provides recommendations that can assist policy makers in their consideration of appropriate measures to help financial consumers, depending on the contexts and circumstances of individual jurisdictions, during the COVID-19 crisis. These options are consistent with the G20/OECD High Level Principles on Financial Consumer Protection that set out the foundations for a comprehensive financial consumer protection framework.

Quarterly Consumer Credit Trends: Recent trends in debt settlement and credit counseling

November 11, 2020/0 Comments/in CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Credit & Debt Consumer protection, Credit counselling, Debt settlement Charles Romeo, Christa Gibbs, Grant Guillory, Vanessa Megaw Research Report United States Credit, Credit cards, Debt /by Carrie Wong

This report used a longitudinal, nationally-representative sample of approximately five million de-identified credit records maintained by one of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies. Trends in debt settlement and credit counseling during the Great Recession and in recent years are presented. This report shows that nearly one in thirteen consumers with a credit record had at least one account settled through a creditor or had account payments managed by a credit counseling agency from 2007 through 2019. Since 2016, the number of debt settlements has increased steadily, while credit counseling numbers are relatively unchanged.

Targeting credit builder loans: Insights from a credit builder loan evaluation

November 11, 2020/0 Comments/in CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Credit & Debt Consumer protection, Credit, Credit scores, Safe financial products CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Research Report United States Credit counselling, Credit unions, Financial coaching, Financial education /by Carrie Wong

This report presents the results of a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) funded evaluation of a Credit Builder Loan (CBL) product. CBLs are designed for consumers looking to establish a credit score or improve an existing one, while at the same time giving them a chance to build their savings.

The study used random assignment to explore four research questions:

How does the CBL affect participants’ likelihood of having a credit score?
For participants who already had a credit score, how does the CBL affect their score?
How likely are CBL borrowers to make late payments on the CBL and other loans?
Does the CBL affect participants’ savings balances?

Roadblock to Recovery: Consumer debt of low- and moderate-income Canadians in the time of COVID-19

November 11, 2020/0 Comments/in Prosper Canada Consumer protection, Credit & Debt Consumer protection, COVID-19, Credit, Debt, Financial counselling, Financial health, Financial insecurity, Financial vulnerability, Household debt, Low income Alex Bucik, Elizabeth Mulholland, Vivian Odu Research Report Canada Banking, Bankruptcy, Credit cards, Credit unions, Demographics, Payday lending, Student debt, Student loans /by Carrie Wong

Almost half of low-income households and 62 per cent of moderate-income households carry debt, with households on low incomes spending 31 per cent of their income on debt repayments, according to a new report published by national charity, Prosper Canada.

This report analyzes the distribution, amount and composition of non-mortgage debt held by low- and moderate-income Canadian households and explores implications for federal and provincial/territorial policy makers as they develop and implement COVID-19 economic recovery plans and fulfill their respective regulatory roles.

Report on Income and Canadian Financial Consumer Complaints

October 29, 2020/0 Comments/in Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments Consumer protection, Financial inclusion Banking, Canada, Complaint reporting, Consumer protection, Credit cards, Financial inclusion, Fraud, Gender/sex, Lone adults, Low income, Mainstream financial services Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments Miscellaneous Report Canada /by Glenna Harris

This report explores the financial services complaint experiences of Canadians at various income levels who used the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI)’s service. The national, not-for-profit organization collected demographic and case data for almost 1,000 closed cases resolved between 2017 to 2019 to create the report. These cases were grouped into three categories:

lower-income households (under $60,000);
middle-income households ($60,000 to $100,000); and
higher-income households (over $100,000).

Key findings include:

Lower-income households represent almost 40% of OBSI cases. Lower-income consumers of financial services need and make use of OBSI as an accessible alternative to the legal system.
Nearly one-third (30%) of employed complainants live in lower- or middle-income households. Canadians experience economic barriers to accessing legal services regardless of their employment status.
Most lower-income complainants are over 60, while most higher-income complainants are under 50. Older Canadians have a particular need for accessible dispute resolution.

Disability Alliance BC

October 27, 2020/0 Comments/in Disability Alliance BC Consumer protection, Financial literacy, Health Consumer protection, Disability, Disability Tax Credit, Financial literacy, Health, Income tax, Legal issues, RDSP, Tax benefits, Tax clinic, Tax credits, Tax filing Disability Alliance BC Training/Toolkits Toolkit British Columbia, Canada /by Carrie Wong

Disability Alliance BC supports people in British Columbia with disabilities through direct services, community partnerships, advocacy, research and publications.

Their website provides information on disability benefits including the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), CPP Disability, Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSP) and more.

Plan Institute Learning Centre

October 27, 2020/0 Comments/in PLAN Financial well-being Consumer protection, Disability, Estate planning, Financial literacy, Financial well-being, Health, Legal issues, RDSP PLAN Training/Toolkits Toolkit Canada /by Carrie Wong

The Plan Institute Learning Centre presents workshops, webinars, publications and other resources for individuals and/or families of a person with a disability, support-care workers, and organizations.

Lifting the Weight: Consumer Debt Solutions Framework

October 27, 2020/0 Comments/in The Aspen Institute Assets, Collection agencies, Consumer protection, Credit, Credit scores, Debt, Financial insecurity, Financial well-being, Household debt, household income, Income inequality, Race/ethnicity, Racial wealth gap, Student loans EPIC - Expanding Prosperity Impact Collaborative Research Report United States /by Carrie Wong

Aspen Financial Security Program’s the Expanding Prosperity Impact Collaborative (EPIC) has identified seven specific consumer debt problems that result in decreased financial insecurity and well-being. Four of the identified problems are general to consumer debt: households’ lack of savings or financial cushion, restricted access to existing high-quality credit for specific groups of consumers, exposure to harmful loan terms and features, and detrimental delinquency, default, and collections practices. The other three problems relate to structural features of three specific types of debt: student loans, medical debt, and government fines and fees.

This report presents a solutions framework to address all seven of these problems. The framework includes setting one or more tangible goals to achieve for each problem, and, for each goal, the solutions different sectors (financial services providers, governments, non-profits, employers, educational or medical institutions) can pursue.

Questions and answers to legal topics in Ontario

October 8, 2020/0 Comments/in CLEO - Community Legal Education Ontario Consumer protection Consumer protection, COVID-19, Debt, Disability, Education, Employment, Health, Housing, Immigration, Legal issues CLEO - Community Legal Education Ontario Tools Guide Canada, Ontario /by Carrie Wong

The Community of Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) website contains answers to common questions pertaining to a number of legal topics, including: COVID-19, debt and consumer rights, and employment and work.

Debt settlement and financial recovery companies: too risky an option?

September 18, 2020/0 Comments/in Consumer protection Budgeting, Consumer protection, Credit, Credit repair, Debt, Debt management, Debt settlement, Financial counselling, Regulation Union des Consommateurs Research Report Canada /by Carrie Wong

This report presents a study of the debt settlement and financial recovery industry and examines Canadian consumer issues from these services.

Data is gathered from company websites and contracts as well as customer surveys and questionnaires completed by governmental and non-governmental organizations. A comparative study of legislation applicable to the industry is also conducted.

Meeting the Emergency Moment: Key Takeaways from Delivering Remote Municipal Financial Counseling Services

September 14, 2020/0 Comments/in CFE Fund - Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund Financial coaching & counselling, Service system integration Barriers to services, Best practices, Co-location of service, Consumer protection, COVID-19, Credit, Financial counselling, Mainstream financial services, Pilot program, Program development, Remote, Service integration, Student loans, United States CFE Fund - Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund Research Brief United States /by Carrie Wong

Local governments across the United States are working to help their residents weather the health and financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In many cities and counties, that means deploying their Financial Empowerment Centers (FECs), which provide professional, one-on-one financial counseling as a public service. Local leaders were able to offer FEC financial counseling as a critical component of their emergency response infrastructure; the fact that this service already existed, and was embedded into the fabric of municipal anti-poverty efforts, meant that it could quickly pivot to meet new COVID-19 needs, including through offering remote financial counseling.

This brief describes how FEC partners identified the right technology; developed skills to deliver counseling remotely; messaged the availability of FEC services as part of their localities’ COVID-19 response; and shared lessons learned with their FEC counterparts around the country.

Credit Characteristics, Credit Engagement Tools, and Financial Well-Being

September 1, 2020/0 Comments/in CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Financial well-being Consumer protection, Credit, Credit rating, Credit scores, Debt collection, Demographics, Financial education, Financial literacy, Financial well-being, Fintech, Safe financial products, Student loans Éva Nagypál, Jeremy Tobacman Research Report United States /by Carrie Wong

This report presents results from a joint research study between the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Credit Karma. The purpose of the study is to examine how consumers’ subjective financial well-being relates to objective measures of consumers’ financial health, specifically, consumers’ credit report characteristics. The study also seeks to relate consumers’ subjective financial well-being to consumers’ engagement with financial information through educational tools.

Identity theft

September 1, 2020/0 Comments/in CLEO - Community Legal Education Ontario Consumer protection, Financial literacy Consumer protection, Financial education, Financial literacy, Fraud, Legal issues, Scams CLEO - Community Legal Education Ontario Tools Fact sheet Canada /by Carrie Wong

Identity thieves try to use your personal information to take money from your bank account, shop with your credit card, or even commit crimes in your name. This publication explains how to spot the warning signs of identity theft, how to protect yourself, and what you can do if it happens to you.

Beware of scams related to the coronavirus

September 1, 2020/0 Comments/in CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Consumer protection Consumer protection, COVID-19, Financial literacy, Fraud, Scams, United States Erin Scheithe Tools Toolkit United States /by Carrie Wong

Scammers are taking advantage of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to con people into giving up their money. Though the reason behind their fraud is new, their tactics are familiar. It can be even harder to prevent scams right now because people 62 and older aren’t interacting with as many friends, neighbors, and senior service providers due to efforts to slow the spread of disease.

This blog post presents consumer protection toolkit resources produced by Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in addition to tips for consumers regarding COVID-19 related scams.

New Risks and Emerging Technologies: 2019 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report

September 1, 2020/0 Comments/in BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust Consumer protection Canada, Consumer protection, Financial education, Financial literacy, Fraud, Gender/sex, Risk, Scams, Statistics, United States BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust Research Report Canada, United States /by Carrie Wong

The Better Business Bureau Institute for Marketplace Trust (BBB Institute) is the 501(c)(3) educational foundation of the Better Business Bureau (BBB). BBB Institute works with local BBBs across North America.

This report uses data submitted by consumers to BBB Scam Tracker to shed light on how scams are being perpetrated, who is being targeted, which scams have the greatest impact, and much more. The BBB Risk Index helps consumers better understand which scams pose the highest risk by looking at three factors—exposure, susceptibility, and monetary loss. The 2019 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report is a critical part of BBB’s ongoing work to contribute new, useful data and analysis to further the efforts of all who are engaged in combating marketplace fraud.

COVID-19: Managing financial health in challenging times

March 17, 2020/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Consumer protection, Financial literacy, Financial well-being Budgeting, Canada, Consumer protection, Emergency savings, Financial education, Fraud, Mainstream financial services, Saving FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Training/Toolkits Guide Canada /by Glenna Harris

This guide from the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada shares guidelines and financial tips to help Canadians during COVID-19. The topics include: getting through a financial emergency, where to ask questions or voice concerns, what to do if your branch closes, and more.

State of Fair Banking in Canada

January 30, 2020/0 Comments/in Angus Reid, DUCA Impact Lab Consumer protection, Credit & Debt, Research and evaluation Banking, Barriers to services, Consumer protection, Credit scores, Credit unions, Debt, Financial behaviour, Financial planning, Fringe financial services, Mainstream financial services Angus Reid, DUCA Impact Lab Research Report Canada /by Carrie Wong

Everyone needs to bank and nearly everyone has a relationship with at least one financial institution. Financial Institutions need relationships with consumers too, in order to thrive as businesses. The role these relationships play in financial decision making for Canadians is an important consideration for anyone seeking to understand the financial health of Canadians and the impact of the banking sector in Canada. This report discusses the findings from a national sample of both banking consumers and lenders who were asked about their perspectives on fairness, access, credibility and transparency.

OECD/INFE Report on Financial Education in APEC Economies: Policy and practice in a digital world

January 30, 2020/0 Comments/in OECD - Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Financial literacy Consumer protection, Data collection, Demographics, Financial education, Financial literacy, Financial well-being, Global economy, Poverty, Research OECD - Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Research Report /by Carrie Wong

This report responds to a call made by APEC Finance Ministers at their 23rd Ministerial Meeting in Lima in 2016 to advance “the design and implementation of financial literacy policies building on the expertise and standards developed by the OECD International Network on Financial Education”.

The findings illustrate that the majority of APEC economies are well-advanced in their efforts to collect relevant data, implement appropriate financial education policies, and address the remaining issues related to financial literacy, inclusion and consumer
protection. They are applying international best practices and making good use of available tools and resources to develop and refine strategic approaches and specific initiatives. However, there is still some way to go in ensuring that everyone living in an APEC
economy has the financial literacy that they need and concerns about financial fraud or abuse, the high complexity of financial services and the low financial literacy of specific population groups are driving policy interest in improving financial education.

Investor Protection Clinic and Living Lab: 2019 Annual Report

December 6, 2019/0 Comments/in Investor Protection Clinic Asset building and saving, Financial inclusion Canada, Case studies, Consumer protection, Financial education, investing, Investments, Legal issues Investor Protection Clinic Miscellaneous Report Canada /by Glenna Harris

The Investor Protection Clinic, the first clinic of its kind in Canada, provides free legal advice to people who believe their investments were mishandled and who cannot afford a lawyer. The Clinic was founded together with the Canadian Foundation for Advancement of Investor Rights (FAIR Canada), an organization that aims to enhance the rights of Canadian shareholders and individual investors.

The 2019 Annual Report summarizes the work of The Clinic, including description of the work and types of cases, example case scenarios of the clients who benefited from The Clinic's services, client data and demographics, and recommendations.

Video: Debt collection scams

November 21, 2019/0 Comments/in CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Consumer protection, Credit & Debt Consumer protection, Debt, Debt collection, Fraud, Rights, Scams, United States CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Training/Toolkits Video United States /by Glenna Harris

Dealing with debt collection issues can be challenging—especially when you’re not sure if the person you’re being contacted by is a legitimate debt collector or someone trying to scam you. This video from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in the United States shares useful tips on spotting debt collection scams and protecting yourself from scammers.

Consumer Perspectives on Fintech

November 7, 2019/0 Comments/in Prosperity Now (formerly CFED) Best practices, Consumer protection, Financial inclusion, Service system integration Barriers to services, Best practices, Consumer behaviour, Consumer protection, Financial capability, Financial planning, Safe financial products, Service integration Kate Griffin, Pamela Chan Research Brief United States /by Carrie Wong

This brief raises consumer perspectives on financial technology (fintech), and offers guidance for fintech developers on how to best serve low- to moderate-income clients.

Protecting vulnerable clients: A practical guide for the financial services industry

July 15, 2019/0 Comments/in Autorité des marchés financiers Consumer protection, Financial inclusion Abuse, Banking, Behavioral economics, Canada, Consumer protection, Financial behaviour, Financial inclusion, Financial vulnerability, Financial well-being, Frontline, Mainstream financial services, Power of attorney Autorité des marchés financiers Training/Toolkits Guide Canada /by Glenna Harris

Firms and representatives in the financial services industry occasionally encounter situations where a client’s vulnerability causes the client to make decisions that are contrary to his or her financial interests, needs or objectives or that leave him or her exposed to potential financial mistreatment.

Because of the relationships they develop with their clients and the knowledge they acquire about clients’ financial needs or objectives over time, firms and representatives in the financial sector can play a key role in helping people who are in a vulnerable situation protect their financial well-being. They are instrumental in preventing and detecting financial mistreatment among consumers of financial services. Firms and representatives can also help clients experiencing financial mistreatment get the assistance they need.

This guide proposes possible courses of action to protect vulnerable clients. Its purpose is to provide financial sector participants with guidance on the steps they can take to help protect clients’ financial well-being, prevent and detect financial mistreatment, and assist clients who are experiencing this type of mistreatment.

Tout Bien Calcule

January 3, 2019/0 Comments/in Associations de consommateurs du Québec Consumer protection, Credit & Debt, Financial literacy Budgeting, Canada, Consumer protection, Credit, Debt, en Francais, Financial education, Financial literacy, French language Associations de consommateurs du Québec Training/Toolkits Toolkit Canada, Quebec /by Glenna Harris

Pour souligner leurs 50 ans d’histoire, les Associations de consommateurs du Québec s’unissent pour offrir à la population québécoise un portail qui rassemble toute une gamme d’informations et d’outils développés au fil des années grâce à leur expertise en finances personnelles.

Cette porte d’entrée donne accès à des services spécialisés en finances personnelles offerts par les associations, propose des outils adaptés, et à travers les différentes sections, offre une information claire, objective et critique afin de vous guider vers de meilleurs choix de consommation et une meilleure santé financière.

The Little Black Book of Scams (2nd edition)

November 15, 2018/0 Comments/in Government of Canada Consumer protection Canada, Consumer protection, Fraud, Identity theft, Income tax, Scams Competition Bureau Canada Training/Toolkits Guide Canada /by Glenna Harris

Scammers are sneaky and sly. They can target anyone, from youngsters to retirees. They can also target businesses. No one is immune to fraud.
Our group of superheroes has found a way to see through the scams. Their secret is simple: knowledge is power!

Read this booklet to find out how you can also become a fraud-fighting superhero. Share this booklet with family and friends and start powering up!

Your Money, Your Goals: Focus on People with Disabilities

November 12, 2018/0 Comments/in CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Financial literacy, Financial well-being Abuse, Budgeting, Consumer protection, Credit, Debt, Disability, Financial literacy, Low income, Saving, United States CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Training/Toolkits Curriculum United States /by Glenna Harris

This is a companion guide to the 'Your Money, Your Goals' curriculum by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in the United States. This guide- Your Money, Your Goals: Focus on People with Disabilities—contains information, tips, and tools based on the insights from people with disabilities and from organizations that serve the disability community. It is based on the core philosophy that everyone has the right to control their money and make their own financial decisions.

Its specialized information and tools equip staff and volunteers to adapt training on and use of the toolkit and other resources to meet the needs of people with disabilities. It also includes information and tools to enable staff and volunteers to choose accessible locations, develop appropriate and considerate training activities, and plan to provide accommodations for diverse learning styles and other needs.

Core competencies frameworks on financial literacy

July 6, 2018/0 Comments/in OECD - Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Financial literacy Consumer protection, Financial behaviour, Financial capability, Financial education, Financial literacy, International, Mainstream financial services, Regulation, Saving, Youth OECD - Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Research Report /by Glenna Harris

Developed in response to a call from G20 Leaders in 2013, the core competencies frameworks on financial literacy highlight a range of financial literacy outcomes that may be considered to be universally relevant or important for the financial well-being in everyday life of adults and youth.

These documents describe the types of knowledge that youth aged 15 to 18, and adults aged 18 and up, could benefit from.

Debt and High Interest Resource Portal

June 28, 2018/0 Comments/in Consumer protection, Credit & Debt Canada, Consumer protection, Credit, Credit rating, Debt, Debt collection, Financial behaviour, Financial literacy, Financial well-being ACORN Canada Training/Toolkits Toolkit Canada /by Glenna Harris

This is ACORN Canada's debt and high-interest lending resource portal. It contains links and resources on debt, credit, banking, and other topics.

The Complaints Process for Retail Investments in Canada: A Handbook for Investors

June 25, 2018/0 Comments/in MBC Law Professional Corp. Consumer protection, Financial inclusion Canada, Complaint reporting, Consumer protection, investing, Investments, Ombudsman Harold Geller Miscellaneous Guide /by Glenna Harris

Canadian investors need more and better information to protect themselves both when they act on their own and when they retain lawyers. This handbook is intended to help Canadian investors better understand the choices they face when making a complaint and the impact of those choices. It can also serve as a guide to assist them when they work with lawyers, particularly those whose law practice does not focus on assisting Canadian investors in obtaining financial compensation.

Financial Empowerment: What it is and how it helps to reduce poverty

March 8, 2018/0 Comments/in Prosper Canada Poverty issues Asset building, Canada, Consumer protection, Financial education, Financial inclusion, Poverty, Poverty reduction strategy Prosper Canada Research Brief Canada /by Glenna Harris

Financial Empowerment is an integrated set of interventions proven to measurably improve financial outcomes for people living in poverty. This brief from Prosper Canada recommends nine financial empowerment strategies that can help reduce poverty by being integrated into poverty reduction strategies across Canada.

Handout 9-8: Dealing with consumer problems

February 23, 2018/0 Comments/in Prosper Canada Curriculum & Training, Financial literacy Canada, Consumer behaviour, Consumer protection, Curriculum, Financial literacy, Training, Training handout Prosper Canada Training/Toolkits Curriculum Canada /by Prosper Manager

This handout is from Module 9 of the Financial Literacy Facilitator Resources. Examples of how to deal with consumer problems.

To view full Financial Literacy Facilitator Resources, click here.

High cost lending in Canada

February 20, 2018/0 Comments/in Prosper Canada Consumer protection Advocacy, Canada, Consumer protection, Financial inclusion, Fringe financial services, Legislation, Lending, Payday lending, Research Prosper Canada Prosper Canada Webinars Webinar Alberta, Canada, Manitoba Consumer protection, Credit and debt, Policy and research /by Prosper Manager

This webinar, "High cost lending in Canada: Risks, regulations, and alternatives," is about why high cost lending products are concerning, especially for financially vulnerable Canadians. Speakers discuss what is driving the use of these products, what kind of regulations are involved, and what advocacy and financial product solutions could look like. The speakers are:

Jerry Buckland from Canadian Mennonite University
Courtney Hare from Momentum.

Read the presentation slides for this webinar.

Fraud Facts 2017 – Recognize, Reject, Report Fraud

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Consumer protection Canada, Complaint reporting, Consumer protection, Financial literacy, Fraud Competition Bureau Canada Research Report Canada /by John Smith

Consumer Experiences with Debt Collection – Findings from the CFPB’s Survey of Consumer Views on Debt

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Credit & Debt Consumer behaviour, Consumer protection, Debt, Debt collection, Legal issues, Lending, Methodology, Research, Survey, United States CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Research Report United States /by John Smith

Predatory Lending: A Survey of High Interest Alternative Financial Service Users

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CCPA - Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Consumer protection Canada, Consumer behaviour, Consumer protection, Credit, Employment, Fringe financial services, Lending, Low income, Payday lending, Research, Statistics J. Fantauzzi Research Survey / Survey results Canada /by John Smith

Youth Survey: Learning About Money – Overview

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Financial literacy Budgeting, Canada, Consumer protection, Debt management, Education savings, Financial literacy, Saving, Survey, Youth Canadian Foundation for Economic Education Research Survey / Survey results Canada /by John Smith

Financial Literacy Annual Report

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Financial literacy Complaint reporting, Consumer protection, Financial education, Financial literacy, Low income, Policy, Research, Tax clinic, Tax filing, United States CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Research Annual report United States /by John Smith

SAVED: Five steps for making financial decisions

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Curriculum & Training Consumer protection, Curriculum, Financial literacy, Mainstream financial services, Saving, United States, Workbook CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Programs Curriculum United States /by John Smith

Payday Loans: Market Trends

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Consumer protection Budgeting, Canada, Consumer protection, Financial literacy, Fringe financial services, Lending, Payday lending, Saving, Statistics FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Research Report Canada /by John Smith

Against Financial Literacy Education

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in University of Pennsylvania Financial literacy Consumer behaviour, Consumer protection, Financial education, Financial literacy, Outcomes, Policy, United States E. Lauren Willis Research Article United States /by John Smith

Debt Management Guide: A Resource for Social Services Professionals

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Woodgreen Credit & Debt Asset building, Bankruptcy, Canada, Consumer protection, Curriculum, Debt, Debt management, Low income Alla Zhura, Elaine Magil Miscellaneous Toolkit Canada /by John Smith

This debt management guide was created to assist volunteers at WoodGreen’s ground-breaking Debt Management Clinic, who meet one-on-one with community members to educate them on their options. It is now available for social services staff who want to know how to help clients deal with debt. This Guide provides a comprehensive explanation of the options available to any debtor in Ontario, with practical advice about what may make the most sense for low-income debtors. It starts with a chart outlining options, and later explains these options in detail. Wherever this Guide isn’t exhaustive, it will direct you to other sources that may provide further and more detailed information on any given topic. It’s wise to check web resources when working with clients on debt management, as policies, amounts, and rights may change from time to time. This Guide is accurate as of March 2012.

Financial Literacy around the World: An Overview of the Evidence with Practical Suggestions for the Way Forward

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in The World Bank Financial literacy Banking, Consumer protection, Debt, Education, Financial literacy, Gender/sex, International, Literature review, Low income, Methodology, Policy, Policy recommendations, Race/ethnicity, Research, Retirement planning, Survey Bilal Zia, Lisa Xu Research Working paper Switzerland /by John Smith

Canadian Consumer Finance Association: Filling the Gap – Canada’s Payday Lenders

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Canadian Consumer Finance Association Consumer protection Canada, Consumer protection, Fringe financial services, Legislation, Lending, Payday lending, Regulation, Technology The Conference Board of Canada Research Report Canada /by John Smith

The Invisible Crime: A Report on Seniors Financial Abuse

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Vancity Consumer protection Abuse, Canada, Consumer protection, Health, Research, Seniors, Urban Vancity Research Report Canada /by John Smith

Renewing and Renegotiating Your Mortgage

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Consumer protection Canada, Consumer behaviour, Consumer protection, Home ownership, Lending, Mortgage FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Research Guide Canada /by John Smith

Shopping Around for a Mortgage

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Consumer protection Canada, Consumer protection, Financial literacy, Home ownership, Lending, Mainstream financial services, Mortgage FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Tools Guide Canada /by John Smith

Understanding your Credit Report and Credit Score

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Credit & Debt Canada, Consumer protection, Credit, Credit cards, Credit scores, Financial literacy, Fraud, Identity theft FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Tools Guide Canada /by John Smith

Understanding Variable Interest Rate Mortgages

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Financial literacy Canada, Consumer protection, Financial literacy, Home ownership, Lending, Mainstream financial services, Mortgage FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Tools Guide Canada /by John Smith

Buying Your First Home: Three Steps to Successful Mortgage Shopping

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Consumer protection Canada, Consumer behaviour, Consumer protection, Home ownership, Lending, Mortgage FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Tools Guide Canada /by John Smith

Cheque Hold Periods: Your Right to Access Your Money

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Financial inclusion, Financial literacy Banking, Canada, Consumer protection, Financial inclusion, Financial literacy, Mainstream financial services FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Miscellaneous Guide Canada /by John Smith

This is a guide on cheque hold periods when banking in Canada. When you receive a cheque, you may consider two things before deciding where to cash it: When can you get your money? How much will it cost you to cash the cheque? Although cheque cashing services may make money available immediately, they generally charge much higher fees than financial institutions do. If you have an account with a bank or another federally regulated financial institution, there are laws that set out when the institution must make the money from a cheque available to you. In most cases, you can get access to the first $100 right away if you choose to cash your cheque in a branch.

Choosing the Right Chequing Account and Banking Package

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Financial inclusion Banking, Canada, Consumer protection, Financial inclusion, Financial literacy, Mainstream financial services FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Tools Guide Canada /by John Smith

Choosing the Right Savings Account

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Financial inclusion Asset building, Banking, Canada, Consumer protection, Financial inclusion, Financial literacy, Mainstream financial services, Saving FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Tools Guide Canada /by John Smith

Credit Cards: Understanding Your Rights and Your Responsibilities

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Credit & Debt Canada, Complaint reporting, Consumer protection, Credit, Credit cards FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Tools Guide Canada /by John Smith

How to Make a Complaint

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Consumer protection Banking, Canada, Complaint reporting, Consumer protection, Home ownership, Legal issues, Mainstream financial services, Regulation FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Tools Guide Canada /by John Smith

How to Order Your Credit Report

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Credit & Debt Canada, Consumer protection, Credit, Credit reporting, Debt, Lending FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Tools Guide Canada /by John Smith

International Review: Mobile Payments and Consumer Protection

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Consumer protection Canada, Consumer protection, International, Mainstream financial services, Payment systems, Regulation, Research, Technology FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Research Report Canada /by John Smith

Managing Debt: Getting Help from a Credit Counselling Agency

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Credit & Debt Canada, Consumer protection, Credit counselling, Credit reporting, Debt, Debt management, Financial literacy, Legal issues, Mainstream financial services FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Tools Guide Canada /by John Smith

Mortgage Prepayment; Know Your Options. Smart mortgage decisions start here

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Consumer protection Consumer protection, Financial literacy, Home ownership, Mortgage FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Tools Guide Canada /by John Smith

Opening a Personal Bank Account: Understanding Your Rights

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Financial inclusion Banking, Canada, Consumer protection, Financial literacy, Mainstream financial services FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Tools Guide Canada /by John Smith

Paying off Your Mortgage Faster

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Consumer protection Consumer protection, Financial literacy, Home ownership, Mortgage FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Tools Guide Canada /by John Smith

Protecting Your Credit Report: How to Correct Errors and Check for Fraud

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Credit & Debt Canada, Consumer protection, Credit, Credit cards, Credit reporting, Financial literacy, Fraud, Identity theft FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Miscellaneous Guide Canada /by John Smith

Your credit report is important for your financial health. It can help you get approved for credit cards and other loans. It can also affect your ability to rent housing or get hired for a job.
Protect your credit report by checking carefully for errors and signs of identity theft. You have the right to dispute any information in your credit report that you believe is wrong. You can ask the credit reporting agencies to correct errors. It’s free.

Your Money, Your Goals: Focus on Native Communities

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Curriculum & Training Aboriginal peoples, Abuse, Asset limits, Consumer protection, Curriculum, Debt, Debt management, Financial literacy, Financial well-being, Goal setting, Saving, Seniors, Toolkit CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Miscellaneous Toolkit United States /by John Smith

Banking Fees in Canada: Patterns and Trends

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Financial inclusion Banking, Canada, Consumer protection, Financial inclusion, Financial literacy, Mainstream financial services, Research Bruno Levesque, Charles Gibney, Sami Bibi Research Report Canada /by John Smith

Before You Sign any Contract: 10 Things You Need to Know

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Consumer protection Canada, Consumer protection, Financial literacy, Legal issues, Regulation FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Tools Guide Canada /by John Smith

All In: Building the Path to Global Prosperity Through Financial Capability and Inclusion

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in UNC Center for Community Capital Financial well-being Alternative financial services, Banking, Consumer protection, Financial capability, Financial vulnerability, Household wealth, Lending, Mainstream financial services, Payday lending, United States Janis L Bowdler, Lucy S. Gorham Research Working paper United States /by John Smith

How Young People View Credit: Predictable Debt Overload?

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Union des Consommateurs Credit & Debt Consumer behaviour, Consumer protection, Credit, Debt, Youth Sophie Roussin Research Report Canada /by John Smith

Welcome to the financial mainstream? The hazards facing low income people when navigating the financial world

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Houselink Consumer protection Alternative financial services, Banking, Canada, Consumer protection, Financial education, Financial literacy, Low income John Stapleton Research Report Canada /by John Smith

My Turn to Speak: Voices of Microfinance Clients in Benin, Pakistan, Peru and Georgia

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in The Smart Campaign Consumer protection Complaint reporting, Consumer protection, Credit, Debt, Insurance, International, Lending, Microfinance, Program development, Regulation Caitlin Sanford, Sushmita Meka Research Report United States /by John Smith

Towards a Comprehensive and Inclusive Consumer Protection Framework for Canada. Submission to Finance Canada

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Prosper Canada Consumer protection Canada, Consumer behaviour, Consumer protection, Credit, Direct deposit, Financial education, Financial inclusion, Financial vulnerability, Fringe financial services, Low income, Mainstream financial services, Regulation, Safe financial products, Saving, Small dollar credit CLLN - Canadian Literacy and Learning Network, Momentum, SEDI, SEED Winnipeg, West Neighbourhood House (formerly St. Christopher House) Research Brief Canada /by John Smith

Environmental Scan of the Supply of Financial Capability Information Education and Advice in Canada

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Prosper Canada Financial well-being Canada, Consumer protection, Financial capability, Financial education, Financial literacy, Research SEDI Research Report Canada /by John Smith

Preventing and Intervening in Situations of Financial Abuse. Ontario Edition

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in NICE - National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly Consumer protection Abuse, Canada, Consumer protection, Crime, Financial literacy, Fraud, Seniors NICE - National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly Miscellaneous Guide Canada /by John Smith

New York Financial Environment

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in NYC Department of Consumer Affairs Financial inclusion Asset building, Assets, Banking, Consumer protection, Financial counselling, Household wealth, Low income, Mainstream financial services, Safe financial products, United States NYC Office of Financial Empowerment Miscellaneous Presentation United States /by John Smith

Municipal Financial Empowerment: A Supervitamin for Public Programs. Strategy #3: Integrating Safe and Affordable Bank Accounts.

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in NYC Department of Consumer Affairs Financial inclusion Banking, Consumer behaviour, Consumer protection, Household wealth, Mainstream financial services, Saving, Service integration, United States NYC Department of Consumer Affairs Research Report United States /by John Smith

Municipal Financial Empowerment: A Supervitamin for Public Programs. Strategy #4: Targeting Consumer Financial Protection Powers.

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in NYC Department of Consumer Affairs Consumer protection Consumer protection, Debt, Debt collection, Financial education, Low income, Regulation, Tax filing, United States NYC Office of Financial Empowerment Research Report United States /by John Smith

Why It’s So Hard to Regulate Payday Lenders

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in The New Yorker Consumer protection Consumer protection, Legislation, Lending, Payday lending, Regulation, United States Astra Taylor Miscellaneous Article United States /by John Smith

The Real Cost of Payday Lending

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Momentum Consumer protection Alternative financial services, Canada, Consumer protection, Financial vulnerability, Fringe financial services, Lending, Low income, Payday lending Momentum Research Report Canada /by John Smith

Since the early 1990s payday lending businesses have become increasingly prolific in most parts of Canada, including Calgary. Social agencies and advocates working to reduce poverty view payday lenders and other fringe financial businesses as problematic for those looking to exit the cycle of poverty. Payday lenders charge interest rates that, when annualized, top 400%. The industry justifies this by stating that comparisons to an annual rate are unfair as loans are not meant to or allowed to last longer than two months. However, the fact remains that these businesses charge far more for credit than mainstream financial institutions and are more prevalent in lower income neighbourhoods.

Levels of Financial Capability in the UK: results of a baseline survey

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Personal Finance Research Centre, University of Bristol Financial literacy Budgeting, Consumer behaviour, Consumer protection, Credit, Debt, Evaluation, Financial capability, Instrument, Research, Saving, Survey, United Kingdom Adele Atkinson, Elaine Kempson, Sharon Collard, Stephen McKay Research Report United Kingdom /by John Smith

Considering A Payday Loan? 10 Questions To Ask

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Consumer protection Alternative financial services, Budgeting, Canada, Consumer protection, Curriculum, Financial vulnerability, Payday lending FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Miscellaneous Guide Canada /by John Smith

If you’re short on cash, a payday loan may seem like a quick way to get money, but there is a high cost. Fees on payday loans are generally much higher than those on other forms of credit, and they will take a big bite out of your budget. Make sure you have all the facts about a payday loan by asking the following questions.

Payday Loans: An Expensive Way to Borrow

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Consumer protection Alternative financial services, Budgeting, Canada, Consumer protection, Financial vulnerability, Payday lending FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Research Report Canada /by John Smith

Strengthening Financial Literacy Through Collaboration: Highlights of the 2014 National Conference on Financial Literacy

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Financial literacy Assets, Budgeting, Canada, Consumer behaviour, Consumer protection, Evaluation, Financial counselling, Financial education, Financial literacy, Outcomes, Policy FCAC - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Research Report Canada /by John Smith

2013 FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in FDIC Financial inclusion Assets, Banking, Consumer protection, Financial vulnerability, Low income, Mainstream financial services, Payday lending, Research, Survey, Unbanked, Underbanked, United States FDIC - Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Research Report United States /by John Smith

2013 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice: Summary Results

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Consumer Payments Research Center (CPRC) Consumer protection Banking, Consumer behaviour, Consumer protection, Crime, Fraud, Household wealth, Mainstream financial services, Payment systems, United States Joanna Stavins, Scott Schuh Research Survey / Survey results United States /by John Smith

The 2013 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice (SCPC) is the sixth in a series of annual studies
conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston to gain a comprehensive understanding of the cash and noncash payment behaviour of U.S. consumers. This report summarizes data collected in the 2013 SCPC and contains 57 tables with detailed estimates of the number of consumer payments, rate of adoption, and share of consumers using nine common payment instruments—cash, checks, money orders, traveler’s checks, debit cards, credit cards, prepaid cards, online banking bill payments (OBBP), and bank account number payments (BANP)— plus payments made directly from consumers’ income source. The report also contains estimates of consumer activity related to banking, cash management, and other payment
practices; consumer assessments of payment characteristics; and a rich set of consumer and
household demographic characteristics.

Report on the Economic Well-being of US Households in 2013

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Federal Reserve System Financial well-being Consumer behaviour, Consumer protection, Financial well-being, Household wealth, Neighbourhood, Survey, United States DCCA - Division of Consumer and Community Affairs Research Report United States /by John Smith

Fair Financing: Expanding Small-Dollar Short-Term Credit for Albertans

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in EMD Consulting Ltd. Consumer protection Alternative financial services, Canada, Consumer behaviour, Consumer protection, Debt, Financial education, Financial health, Lending, Low income, Mainstream financial services, Payday lending, Regulation, Small dollar credit, Social enterprise, Unbanked, Underbanked Ellen M. Dungen, Randy Coutts, Rhiannon MacDonnell Research Report Canada /by John Smith

Past Due: Debt-collection reforms that protect consumers not found to restrict credit availability

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Center for Responsible Lending Credit & Debt Consumer protection, Debt, Debt collection, Lending, Mainstream financial services, United States Bill Sermons, Leslie Parrish, Lisa Stifler Research Report United States /by John Smith

Secured Credit Cards: Innovating at the Intersection of Savings and Credit

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CFSI - Center for Financial Services Innovation Financial inclusion Consumer behaviour, Consumer protection, Credit, Credit cards, Credit reporting, Credit scores, Safe financial products, Saving, United States CFSI - Center for Financial Services Innovation Research Report United States /by John Smith

The Compass Guide to Small-Dollar Credit

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CFSI - Center for Financial Services Innovation Credit & Debt Consumer protection, Credit, Credit counselling, Debt, Lending, Mainstream financial services, Small dollar credit, United States Compass Principles Tools Guide United States /by John Smith

A Snapshot of Quality and Innovation Among Small-Dollar Credit Installment Lenders

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CFSI - Center for Financial Services Innovation Credit & Debt Consumer protection, Credit, Financial health, Lending, Safe financial products, Small dollar credit, Survey, United States Sarah Parker, Sohrab Kohli Research Report United States /by John Smith

Money Smart for Older Adults

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Curriculum & Training Abuse, Consumer protection, Curriculum, Identity theft, Seniors, Training, Workbook CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, FDIC - Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation United States /by John Smith

CFPB Proposal for Payday and Other Small Loans

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Consumer protection Alternative financial services, Auto finance, Banking, Consumer protection, Credit, Fringe financial services, Lending, Mainstream financial services, Payday lending, Regulation, Survey, United States The PEW Charitable Trusts Research Survey / Survey results United States /by John Smith

How the CFPB is Proposing to Regulate the Small Dollar Lending Industry. Understanding and Supporting the Payday Lending Rules.

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Consumer protection Auto finance, Consumer protection, Financial vulnerability, Low income, Payday lending, Policy, Policy recommendations, Regulation, United States CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Programs Webinar United States /by John Smith

Big Data, Big Potential: Harnessing Data Technology for the Underserved Market

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CFSI - Center for Financial Services Innovation Consumer protection Consumer protection, Financial health, Mainstream financial services, Outcomes, Safe financial products, Security, Technology, United States Eva Wolkowitz, Sarah Parker Research Report United States /by John Smith

Understanding and Improving Consumer Financial Health in America

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CFSI - Center for Financial Services Innovation Financial well-being Consumer protection, Financial exclusion, Financial insecurity, Financial vulnerability, Financial well-being, Policy, Poverty, Program development, Social assistance, United States Aliza Gutman, Jeanne Hogarth, Rachel Schneider, Thea Garon Research Report United States /by John Smith

Aligning for Impact: Innovation in Short-term Lending Products

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CFSI - Center for Financial Services Innovation Financial inclusion Consumer protection, Financial health, Fintech, Lending, Mainstream financial services, Safe financial products, Small dollar credit Brenton Peck Research Presentation United States /by John Smith

Investing in the American Dream: How Financial Institutions Can Build Long-Term Relationships with Immigrants Before and After Immigration Reform

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CFSI - Center for Financial Services Innovation Financial inclusion Banking, Consumer protection, Credit, Credit unions, Financial health, Immigrants, Lending, Mainstream financial services, Newcomers, United States Karen Biddle Andres, Thea Garon Research Report United States /by John Smith

Know Your Borrower: The Four Need Cases of Small-Dollar Credit Consumers

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CFSI - Center for Financial Services Innovation Credit & Debt Case studies, Consumer behaviour, Consumer protection, Credit, Lending, Low income, Safe financial products, Small dollar credit Nicholas Bianchi, Rob Levy Research Report United States /by John Smith

What It’s Worth: Strengthening the Financial Future of Family Communities and the Nation

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Prosperity Now (formerly CFED) Financial well-being Consumer protection, Employment, Families, Financial coaching, Financial literacy, Financial well-being, Health, Household wealth, Housing, Low income, Mainstream financial services, United States, Wealth inequality Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Prosperity Now (formerly CFED) Programs Book United States /by John Smith

Empowering low income and economically vulnerable consumers

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Financial well-being Consumer protection, Financial capability, Financial vulnerability, Low income, Policy, Policy recommendations, Scaling, United States CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Research Report United States /by John Smith

Rigorous evaluation of financial capability strategies – Why, when and how

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Financial well-being, Research and evaluation Consumer behaviour, Consumer protection, Evaluation, Financial behaviour, Financial education, Financial well-being, Research, United States CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Research Report United States /by John Smith

Fair Lending Report of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Consumer protection Consumer protection, Credit, Credit cards, Lending, Mortgage, Regulation, Risk, United States CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Research Report United States /by John Smith

Supplemental findings on payday, payday installment, and vehicle title loans, and deposit advance products

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Consumer protection Alternative financial services, Consumer protection, Fringe financial services, Lending, Payday lending, United States CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Research Report United States /by John Smith

Financial well-being: the goal of financial education

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Financial literacy Budgeting, Consumer protection, Evaluation, Financial education, Financial literacy, Financial well-being, Framework, Literature review, Measurement, Outcomes, United States CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Research Report United States /by John Smith

Consumer Experiences in Online Payday Loans

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Consumers Council of Canada Consumer protection Canada, Consumer protection, Fringe financial services, Legislation, Lending, Payday lending, Regulation, Research, Technology Denise Barrett Consulting Research Academic paper Canada /by John Smith

Teacher’s Manual: Counterfeiting, Identity Crime

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Bank of Canada Curriculum & Training Banking, Canada, Consumer protection, Crime, Fraud, Identity theft Bank of Canada Programs Curriculum Canada /by John Smith

Worksheets: Identity Crime

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Bank of Canada Curriculum & Training Banking, Canada, Consumer protection, Crime, Fraud, Identity theft Bank of Canada Programs Curriculum Canada /by John Smith

Does Community Access to Alternative Financial Services Relate to Individuals’ Use of These Services? Beyond Individual Explanations

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in University of Kansas, Assets and Education Initiative Consumer protection Alternative financial services, Consumer protection, Fringe financial services, Low income, Moderate income, Payday lending, Policy, Policy recommendations, United States, Urban Nancy Kepple, Terry Friedline Research Working paper United States /by John Smith

Fraud Prevention Kit

August 23, 2016/0 Comments/in Bank of Canada Consumer protection, Financial literacy Banking, Canada, Consumer protection, Crime, Fraud, Identity theft Bank of Canada Miscellaneous Presentation Canada /by John Smith

This is a presentation from the Bank of Canada on fraud prevention. Students in grades 9 to 12 will learn how to prevent losses due to bank note counterfeiting and identity crime. The kit includes a teacher’s manual, worksheets, Fighting Fraud on the Front Lines DVD, and much more.