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Police: Chase ends with a crash involving school van

At least 9 killed in warehouse fire, dozens still missing

<p>It can be difficult to trust a salesman.</p><p>It&#8217;s in the job title &#8212; he or she wants to sell you something. And sometimes you don&#8217;t need it.</p><p>While in college I had my fair share of retail jobs, and I am familiar with incentive-based sales tactics. Goals were set for employees, and the team was encouraged to sell, sell, sell. The reward for meeting your goals? You&#8217;d get to keep your job.</p><p>More often than not, people were suspicious. Even if the deal was in the customers&#8217; favor, sometimes they still needed extra coaxing.</p><p>And in today&#8217;s world, there&#8217;s good reason to question salespeople.</p><p>The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently released a bulletin with suggestions for companies to review their employee sales incentive programs. This comes months after <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/business/589808/consumer-watchdog-wells-fargo-sham-shows-value-of-routinely-examining-your-bank-statements" target="_blank">Wells Fargo was fined and assessed penalties</a> of $185 million for what regulators with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau described as &#8220;widespread unlawful sales practices.&#8221; Some tactics included employees opening accounts without customers&#8217; knowledge in order to meet sales goals, resulting in more than a million bogus accounts.</p><p>The bulletin aims to educate employers about a plan of action, complete with overseeing entities, stronger policies and training, and steps for corrective action, regarding these incentive-based sales practices. You can read the full bulletin online here: <a href="http://bit.ly/2gFq7ce" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2gFq7ce</a>.</p><p>While not legally binding, it&#8217;s a good guide for companies looking to avoid shady sales practices (and hefty fines).</p><p><strong>Holiday shopping tips</strong></p><p>With the holiday season in full swing, it can be difficult to read the fine print amid all the hullabaloo. The promise of saving money may be too tempting, especially as those wish lists get more crowded and sweet-talking salespeople pack on the pressure.</p><p>Do yourself a favor and A). take a deep breath, and B). know what you&#8217;re getting into before you commit.</p><p>Here are some tips to keep in mind in the holiday shopping battlefield:</p><p>1. Be wary of store credit cards.</p><p>Employees offer their sales pitches for opening a store credit card after customers check out, noting one-day savings or other promotional deals. While store employees are trying to build the number of accounts they open to meet their sales goals, opening a card might not be the best choice for you.</p><p>Make sure you read the fine print before agreeing to that credit check. Some store cards are only usable at that particular retailer, and the interest fees and APR can be outrageously high.</p><p>Consumer Reports has a good <a href="http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/store-credit-cards/buying-guide.htm" target="_blank">credit card buying guide</a> for those interested.</p><p>WalletHub.com offers a store credit card comparison online here:<a href="http://bit.ly/2gFR5lh" target="_blank"> http://bit.ly/2gFR5lh</a>.</p><p>2. Know your credit score.</p><p>Taking the time to learn more about credit scores, what they are used for and what affects them is well worth it. Your <a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0152-credit-scores" target="_blank">credit score</a> can be a determining factor in getting a mortgage, auto loan, insurances and more.</p><p>If you do decide to open up new credit card accounts while shopping, don&#8217;t open too many in a short period of time, and don&#8217;t max out your balance. Your debt-to-credit ratio, or credit utilization, is the amount of debt you have compared to the amount of available credit. Having more debt than credit will have negative consequences on your credit score.</p><p>This article from USA Today offers tips for improving your credit score: <a href="http://usat.ly/2ggaCKQ" target="_blank">http://usat.ly/2ggaCKQ</a>.</p><p>You can check your credit score for free once every 12 months at <a href="http://www.AnnualCreditReport.com" target="_blank">AnnualCreditReport.com</a>.</p><p>3. Keep it simple.</p><p>One tip that may be easier said than done during the holiday deal rush: Don&#8217;t spend more than you&#8217;ve budgeted.</p><p>Stick to a list. Comparison shop. And if the deal ends up being worth it to you, then go for it.</p><p>But don&#8217;t let the holiday stress get the best of you.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Consumer Watchdog</p><p>Sarah Hite Hando</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Sarah Hite Hando is the Times Leader business editor. Reach her at 570-704-3945 or shando@www.timesleader.com.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Consumer Watchdog: Be wary of ulterior motives in a sea of seasonal salespeople