Welcome to RealityCheck, an Elevations Credit Union sponsored consumer information resource! Please check back often, we will continue to add new information.
Looking for Remar's Privacy seminar handout or how to opt out of marketing databases? You'll find it in the Privacy Rights section. Then check out the many other Privacy Rights resources.
December 2008
Avoiding "Loan" Schemes and Other "Services" Risky to Your Financial Well-being
Economic hard times such as the nation is now experiencing bring out the schemes and scams that aim to make a buck on people who may be feeling pressure financially and who are unwary. In the last few weeks, I have seen dozens of ads and email solicitations for “opportunities” that could wreck an already stressed budget. So this month’s report details 1) some schemes and scams to avoid always and 2) some services that may be helpful in certain circumstances but that you must choose wisely how to use.
Holiday Shopping, Circa 2008: Tips from the Federal Trade Commission — These holiday shopping tips from the FTC can help you stay within your budget.
Catalog Choice
This site can help you reduce the number of unwanted catalogs you receive.
Library of Congress Spotlight on Kids & Families
Explore this section of the Library of Congress site. Check out Today in History, Places in the News, Portals to the World, and much more.
Who Cares: Sources of Information About Health Care Products and Services — This site from the FTC provides information and resources for various health topics including products, services, scams and fraud.
Breaking News
Reduced home prices tempting you to house shop? Be aware: Subprime lending tactics now being used to market some FHA loans—read Business Week’s investigative report.
Shop wisely and now may be a good time to buy a car. Consumer Reports releases Annual Car Reliability Survey. Also see Remar's Report for August for tips on shopping wisely.
Consumers Warned to Avoid Fake E-mails Tied to Bank Mergers
Reach Elevations CU directly at our Web address: RealityCheck.coop
You've been waiting for RealityCheck!
RealityCheck is an interactive website that gives you real-time, hard-hitting consumer information on topics, products and services that affect your life and financial well-being.
RealityCheck, designed just for Elevations Credit Union, has one agenda—helping you make wise decisions by giving you sound, unbiased, balanced information rather than hype or infomercial. RealityCheck covers lots more than the credit union sells, too.
The menu buttons at the left list the major categories RealityCheck covers. As time goes on, we'll continue to expand and update RealityCheck to cover an ever-growing range of consumer and financial issues. If you have ideas for topics you'd like covered, let us know by e-mail.
Why are we doing this? Elevations Credit Union is a member cooperative. Our members' best interest always comes first. Remar Sutton is our spokesman and partner in creating RealityCheck. If you've heard Remar talk about the auto industry or privacy issues, you know he's not shy on the subject of consumer rights. In monthly RealityCheck Reports and other information, Remar's job is to be your advocate and not the advocate of any product or service.
From now on, you can count on this website for a fact-based reality check on consumer issues important to your and your family's well-being.