Research saves
money, sorrow

Caveat emptor — let the buyer beware.
Even though there are laws to protect consumers from companies or individuals who try to take advantage, people are still conned into forking over their money.
Scams are always taking place, even in little Cedar City. Charges were made last week against Infinium, Inc., a company in Cedar City, which is believed by police to be involved in a $29 million national fraud ring.
Secret Service agents told the Journal that the telemarketing company allegedly took calls from people with low credit who were under the impression they would receive a credit card and have the transaction reported to Equifax and TRW to help improve their credit ratings.
Instead, the callers were sent “pay-as-you-go” debit cards, Secret Service agents said.
We urge students and faculty members to be careful where they spend and invest their money.
Research may take a little time, but it is not difficult.
A person simply has to call the Better Business Bureau or ask a friend or expert for advice. (With its great professors, SUU provides an excellent source of experts.)
There are a lot of red flags to alert consumers, according to the BBB’s Web site, www.bbb.org.
Consumers should watch out for:
u A deal that sounds much better than any being advertised by firms known to be legitimate;
u A promoter who is not based locally, provides no telephone number, and uses a post-office box or mail drop, rather than a street address;
u A promoter name and/or logo that closely mimics that of a respected brand or business;
u Pressure words, such as “urgent” or “final deadline,” sprinkled throughout the sales literature.
u Immediate request or demand for a check, money order or cash to be picked up by a courier or sent to a mail drop or post-office box;
u Vague answers or none at all to questions you ask about the offer;
u Insistence that you finalize a deal orally or provide personal financial information (such as a social security number, credit card number, or bank account information) without a written contract of other documentation in writing.
We also urge students to take time in making a decision. If an offer is made, the company can make the same offer the next day or week. People often regret decisions they make when under pressure. A major purchase or investment should not be made on the spur of the moment.
It is always important to read the fine print because the contract

 

may not match what the salesperson promised. It is never too late to change your mind about making a purchase or investment.
Utah has a 3-day rescission law that is in favor of the consumer. When a person enters into a contract, he or she has 3 days to void the contract. However, this does not apply to the purchase of a vehicle.
Last, a person should never give out personal information without knowing who is collecting it, why they are collecting it, and how it will be used. Thousands of people are faced with identity fraud every year because a con artist found out personal information.
Another way students can protect themselves is to be smart about credit cards. Many students feel like a credit card is free money. It’s not.
The money has to be paid back eventually — plus interest.
Credit card companies know that a free hat or duffle bag will not cost them much because the student will pay more than the value of the incentive in interest.
Sadly enough, the further a person gets into debt, the harder it is to get out. People have to think of the consequences and reprecussions of their actions.
People who understand interest charge it to others. People who don’t understand interest pay it.
We urge students to prepare before making financial decisions. A little research and common sense can save a lot of heartache and money.
The opinion expressed above is the collective perspective of the University Journal’s editorial board. The editorial board meets every Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Room 172D of the Sharwan Smith Center. Visitors are welcome.