It’s almost Thanksgiving, and like most Americans, I’m looking forward to eating all my favorite holiday dishes and spending some quality time with my family. This year I’ve got it easy. I’ll be spending my holiday going to see the latest blockbuster movie with my kids while my sister-in-law worries about whether the turkey is done. My teenaged nieces will help me set up some social media accounts and will probably laugh at my clueless questions, all while my son regales us with tales from his latest job.
Thanksgiving will also be a time for family conversations about serious matters. Thanksgiving is a great time to touch base with your family and make sure that everyone is doing well, physically, mentally, and financially.
Everyone at the dinner table will have a story
- A dear friend’s husband wired thousands of dollars when a caller claimed that his daughter was in jail and needed bail money.
- An older relative, who just turned 97, can no longer manage his finances. Now that his wife is gone, my husband is handling the older man’s money and property.
- Another relative recently fell for a lottery scam, and we need to help her avoid frauds and scams in the future.
Fortunately, I’ll have lots of tips and tools to share with everyone, because I work at the only office in the federal government specifically dedicated to the financial health of older Americans, the Office for Older Americans at CFPB.
Managing someone else’s money
First, I’ll give my husband the Managing Someone Else’s Money guides. Like millions of Americans, he’s managing money and property for a loved one who is unable to pay bills or make financial decisions. This can be very overwhelming. But, it’s also a great opportunity to help someone you care about, and protect them from scams and fraud. There are four guides for four types of fiduciaries (people with legal authority to handle someone else’s money)—agents under a power of attorney; court-appointed guardians of property; trustees; and government fiduciaries (Social Security representative payees and VA fiduciaries).
My husband can read the guide for agents under a power of attorney. It covers:
- An overview of his four duties, providing concrete examples and tips
- Information on how to spot financial exploitation and scams, and who to contact if you do
- Resources to find additional help
Protecting against scams and fraud
My relative is embarrassed that she fell for a lottery scam when a nice young man called her repeatedly and acted like her new best friend. She’s not alone, and she should speak out to her peers so they don’t become victims. Our Money Smart for Older Adults resource guide will teach her about a variety of scams and frauds that are out in the community right now and help her to be financially prepared for disasters. The CFPB is currently training leaders across the country to deliver this curriculum to older adults, their caregivers and other service providers in their communities.
Assisting living and nursing facilities
Another family member is a geriatric social worker who makes house calls at assisted living facilities. I’ll encourage her to give the staff at the facilities she visits CFPB’s new manual for assisted living and nursing facilities on how to protect residents from financial exploitation. These residents are especially vulnerable to scams and exploitation because many have Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive impairments.
So, as you prepare to enjoy your turkey, your pumpkin pie, and all of your traditions, consider using this Thanksgiving gathering to share some food for thought as well! You can order single or bulk copies of these guides for free.
Continue Reading
Today, we’re releasing our third Snapshot of Complaints Received from Servicemembers, Veterans and their Families. The report details the data and trends from consumer complaints we’ve received from members of the military community since July 2011.
Here are just a few highlights:
- Debt collection complaints have continued to rise since our last report, and now make up 39 percent of total complaints. It is our largest category of complaints from the military community.
- Credit reporting remains a top category of concern. 72 percent of these complaints are about incorrect information on credit reports. This remains a significant issue for the military community, one that we highlighted earlier this year.
- Student loans are another concern. 49 percent of these complaints are about problems dealing with a lender or servicer. In these complaints, we continue to see long-standing trends, such as servicemembers complaining about not being provided their Servicemembers Civil Relief Act rights.
This year our report also highlights our outreach efforts that allowed us to connect with thousands of members of the military community, as well as three of our enforcement actions that recovered millions of dollars for affected consumers, primarily servicemembers, veterans, and their families. These figures represent the positive impact of the work we continue to do on behalf of those who serve.
Problems with account services
Basic account servicing stands out as a significant area of concern for servicemembers. Most consumers can call their financial institution, visit a branch, or connect online to try and get the help they need to maintain their account. Unfortunately, for military personnel and their families, the realities of military life, including deployments, frequent moves, and a high operational tempo, can sometimes make access to those services extremely challenging.
We found that servicemembers were often subject to a variety of account maintenance or penalty fees, as well as account-access restrictions, which were triggered due to aspects of their military service.
These problems raise concerns that financial institutions may not have a true understanding of the servicing needs of their military customers and may lack proper procedures and protections for them. Detailed examples of servicemember experiences can be found in Section II of the report.
Check out the snapshot to learn more.
We’re listening
As always, if you have a problem with a consumer financial product that you can’t resolve on your own; or if you know someone in that situation, please remember that you can submit a complaint online or by calling (855) 411-2372. We make your voice heard.
