PAGE 12 � S T A R S A N D S T R I P E S � Thursday, March 19, 2009
Evidence of an economic recovery will have to
include a revival of interest in the housing market.
Learn how to proceed in that market by checking these Web sites.
HUD ADVICE
The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has help for determining how much you can spend on a
home, based on your income, savings, and so on. A calculator will show you if it's better to rent or to purchase,
by comparing the long-term costs of each option. Follow a link to learn what the
mortgage limit is in your county for FHA financing.
www.hud.gov/buying/
AVOIDING FORECLOSURE
Even if you don't plan on losing that new house someday, HUD's guide to avoiding foreclosure would be a good place
to stop for a lesson on the myriad of things that can go awry in what could be your biggest financial commitment.
www.hud.gov/foreclosure/index.cfm
MODIFY A LOAN
Need to modify an existing mortgage loan? The Wall Street Journal has compiled a list of
state hotlines for foreclosure-prevention services.
http://go.philly.com/wsjlist
MORTGAGE SHOPPING
You can print out a "mortgage shopping worksheet" from this government publication on how to shop for a mortgage.
It advises that you look for any hidden costs in contracts and get proposals from several mortgage brokers or banks.
There's a handy glossary and a link to www.consumer.gov/ for finding the federal offices that handle different
consumer issues, including those related to food, health, and other products.
http://go.philly.com/pueblo
REALTOR CENTRAL
The Web site of the National Association of Realtors has entertaining links to luxury and celebrity home listings
on YouTube, as well as additional help on checking and improving your credit rating.
www.realtor.com/
--Reid Kanaley, The Philadelphia Inquirer
No doubt you've purchased a
productorservicethatyouweren't
happy with. Rather than accept-
ing the situation, take action. After
all, businesses want to keep you
happy so you'll keep coming back.
The Federal Trade Commission
suggests these simple strategies
for resolving a problem you may
have with a product or service.
Where to Start: Contact the sell-
er. Keep a record of your conver-
sations -- who you spoke with and
when, and the action promised.
If you can't resolve the problem
at this level, contact the company
headquarters. In some instances,
you may have to contact the manu-
facturer. Many companies have a
toll-free telephone number. Look
for it on package labeling, or call
1-800-555-1212 for toll-free di-
rectory assistance. Management
may be grateful for your input; it
can help identify problems that
are bad for business.
Write a Letter: An effective
complaint letter should be clear
and concise, and include all the
facts. Include copies -- not origi-
nals -- of documents regarding
your complaint, such as sales re-
ceipts, repair orders, warranties,
cancelled checks, contracts, and
any correspondence with the com-
pany. You may want to send your
letter by certified mail, return re-
ceipt requested. The extra money
this costs pays for your proof that
the company got your letter and
who signed for it.
If That Doesn't Work: If your
letter doesn't do the trick, contact
the following organizations for
help:
State and Local Organizations:
Check your telephone directory
for the complete names, address-
es, and phone numbers of these
offices:
Your state attorney general
usually has a division that deals
with consumer protection issues;
Your local consumer protec-
tion office;
The Better Business Bureau;
www.consumerworld.org lists
international, federal, state, local,
and private consumer agencies as
well as Better Business Bureaus,
consumer organizations, and pro-
fessional associations.
Federal Government: The Con-
sumer Action Handbook offers
tips on buying products and ser-
vices, and lists contacts for infor-
mation and assistance. For a free
copy, write: Federal Citizen Infor-
mation, Center, Pueblo, Colorado
81009.
If you're not sure which federal
agency has jurisdiction over your
inquiry or complaint, contact the
Federal Information Center listed
in the U.S. government section of
your phone book.
Dispute Resolution Programs:
Many consumers and businesses
use dispute resolution programs
-- mediation and arbitration -- as
an alternative to going to court.
Some businesses require consum-
ers to arbitrate their disputes and
waive their right to go to court.
Check your contract or product
packaging for details.
Someprogramsarefree.Others
charge a flat fee, or a rate based on
your ability to pay.
--Federal Trade Commission
Bad deal? Steps to take if you feel you've been wronged by a vendor

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