Michael Finney's Consumer Blog

New scam pops up on Facebook

"World's funniest condom commercial" is the latest scam to pop up on Facebook. If you click on the link it takes you to a fake video page and if you click again you unknowingly "like" the video. BTW there is also no Facebook “dislike” button you can download, so don’t fall for that scam either.

Can't pay your student loans? Join the Army!

It is no secret many students are graduating from college, deep in debt, with no way to pay their student loans. Jobs are hard to come by and mom and dad are having their own financial difficulties. So here's a solution: join the military. Each branch of the military has its own program with its own rules, but you can get as much as $65,000.00 for signing up. If that sounds like a good option to you, talk with recruiters from each branch of the military and have them bid for your services.

>>Here’s a good starting point for information on the programs: http://www.military.com/Resources/ResourcesContent/0,13964,44245--,00.html

Free life jacket trade-in for kids

There is a life jacket trade in today. Radio Disney, The Department of Boating and Waterways and UC Davis Children’s Hospital will be holding the life jacket trade-in from 1-3 p.m. at the Sam’s Club in Vacaville.  Bring in your kid’s life jacket and If it is found to be outgrown or unserviceable, a new, properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket will be given in exchange. 

>>Get all the details at: http://www.dbw.ca.gov/

NOTE: More freebies to come! Watch ABC7 News at 5 PM for Finney's Friday Free Stuff. Details regarding those offers will be posted at ABC7NEWS.COM at 5:30 PM.

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This giveaway is not conducted by 7 On Your Side. If there are technical problems or issues with the product, concerns should be directed to the offering supplier.

Finney’s Friday Free Stuff: Fashion bandages!

Finney’s Friday Free Stuff: Bandages like no others! Nexcare Bandages has developed limited edition, fashion inspired bandages.

Here’s how you can get yours at: facebook.com/Nexcare

NOTE: More freebies to come! Check the blog again at 1:00 pm!

Sign up tor receive Finney's Friday Free Stuff and Michael Finney's Consumer Blog newsletters!

This giveaway is not conducted by 7 On Your Side. If there are technical problems or issues with the product, concerns should be directed to the offering supplier.

Banks taking longer to evict residents from homes

If you stop making mortgage payments how long before you're kicked out? Realtytrac.com has been looking at that and says longer now than before. The nationwide average is now 400 days, that's up about two months from last year at this time, when it took 340 days to get to foreclosure. Compared to pre-crises times... an eternity. Back in 2007 it took just 151 days. The average foreclosure in California now takes 330 days.

Foreclosures are down, and that's bad news?

Foreclosures are down 34% from a year ago and 9% from last month. Think there is something to celebrate? Not so fast. Reatlytrac.com says the decrease isn't because of fewer financially stressed homeowners, but because the banks don't want the homes... at least not yet. Banks have more homes than they can sell. So now both homeowners and banks are dragging their feet.

The mighty coffee cup lid

If you stopped and got a cup of coffee this morning, what do you remember about it? The store... the line at the store... the taste.. how hot or cold? Well, how about the coffee cup? How about a coffee cup lid. Here, from our friends at The Consumers, is an interesting article on a coffee cup lid. Really.

7.5 million Facebook users are under age

Uh-Oh... 7.5 million Facebook users are under age. Here's a video report.

Can shopping for an auto loan hurt your credit?

Does shopping for a loan, let's say to buy a new car, ding your credit score? Yes. Does asking several companies for quotes ding your credit score several times? No! Credit score giant, FICO, knows you want the best rates, so it counts all credit checks related to the same loan as just one check. Warning: don't drag out the process, make all your related loan applications within a week or two. Otherwise the credit scorer could think you are looking to finance several purchases.

Credit inquiries are not all created equal

Consumers worry their credit scores are hurt by credit inquiries. Those are the notices added to our credit report that someone checked our credit. Here's the basic rule: if you ask for credit, say checking mortgage or auto loan rates, those are noted. If on the other hand a preapproved credit offer arrives in your mail box, the inquiry that allowed that junk mail is not applied to your credit score. In my next post, why shopping around and asking lenders for rates doesn't hurt your score.