New Credit/Debit Card Sleeves, a/k/a “Condoms!”
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Offers Protection for Consumer Charge/Debit Cards and
Warns on Indiscriminate Credit-based Spending.
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RELEASE: February 2002
CONTACT: Paul Richard, RFC, ICFE Executive Director
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San Diego, CA. New
“Credit/Debit Card protection sleeves” with messages including: “If You Can
Eat It, Drink It, Or Wear It, It Is NOT An EMERGENCY!,” may be seen and
ordered at http://www.icfe.info, says the nonprofit
Institute of Consumer Financial Education (ICFE), a San Diego based group
helping consumers become better spenders, regular savers and wise users of
credit.
“More Americans are using debit cards, some daily, and also getting all
charged-up with their credit cards, bringing the plastic debt to new record
levels. Vulnerable consumers need more reminders and help in the fight
against accumulating debt,” says the ICFE’s executive director, Paul Richard, RFC, who created the sleeves, also known as condoms.
“The ICFE ‘Credit/Debit Card Sleeves’ holds a credit/debit cars,” says
Richard. The four versions are: (a) “Credit/Debit Card Sleeve for Safer
Spending and the Prevention of Debt” (b) “Credit/Debit Card Condom for Safer
Spending and the Prevention of Debt” (c) “WARNING: Overuse Is Dangerous!”
and (d) “If You Can Eat It, Drink It, Or Wear It, It Is NOT An EMERGENCY!”
The ICFE sleeves are available at ten/$5 with a self-addressed, 34 cent
stamped envelope (see address below). Quantity pricing is also available on
the Web site.
The ICFE has the following tips to consumers for using credit, debit and
charge cards:
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Reduce the number of cards you carry and use just one or
two.
(Optional: Place credit/debit cards in protection sleeves.)
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Use credit cards for purchases where you may need consumer
protection on a warranty or a return, or mail order
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Return all unwanted credit cards, cut up into pieces, to
the card issuer
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Keep unused cards in a safe place.
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Carry credit cards separately from your wallet or purse.
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Keep your card in view whenever you hand it to a merchant.
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Destroy carbon papers on receipts.
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Never lend your cards to anyone.
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Promptly report questionable charges.
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Avoid signing blank charge vouchers.
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Don't give card numbers out over the phone on calls you
didn't originate.
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Enter charge purchases in your checkbook register as
though they were a check.
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To obtain ten ‘Credit/Debit Card Sleeves’, send $5 and a self-addressed, 34
cent stamped envelope and indicate version a, b, c or
d and send to: ICFE Labels, PO Box 34070 San Diego, CA 92163-4070. Or
visit the ICFE’s Web site at
http://www.icfe.info.
Click on Each Sleeve for a closer look
"Credit Card Condom Sleeve Ordering Information:
To obtain ten ‘Credit/Debit Card Sleeves’, send $5 and a
self-addressed, 34 cent stamped envelope and indicate version a,b,c or d
and send to:
ICFE Sleeves
PO Box 34070
San Diego, CA 92163-4070
Order on-line using a VISA, American
Express or MasterCard or Check by printing and filling out our
order form
OR by calling 619-239-1401
Quantity Ordering Available as low as ten cents each
Order on-line using a VISA,
American Express or MasterCard or Check by printing and filling
out our order
form
OR by calling 619-239-1401
(NOTE: minimum charge order on this item is $5.)
For more information contact Paul Richard, RFC, ICFE Executive Director at 619-239-1401.
About the ICFE:
The Institute of Consumer Financial Education (ICFE),
founded in 1982 by the late Loren Dunton - creator of the “certified
financial planner” (CFP) designation - is dedicated to helping consumers
of all ages to improve their spending, increase savings and use credit
more wisely. The years between 1984 and 2000, the ICFE was also known as
the National Center for Financial Education (NCFE).
The ICFE is a nonprofit consumer education organization that has helped millions of people through its education programs and resources. Over
one million “Credit
/ Debit Card Warning
Labels” and “Credit
/ Debit Card Sleeves” are in circulation world wide.
The ICFE’s on-line help for consumers who spend too much
was featured in PARADE Magazine (June 9th, 2002) in the Intelligence
Report section. The money helps and tips are from the “Money
Instruction Book,” a course in personal finance, which was completely
revised and updated in 2002 and is positioned to become among the premier
programs in the new bankruptcy and debtor education initiatives.
The ICFE’s “Do-It-Yourself Credit File Correction
Guide,” now in its Twelfth Printing, is in use by thousands of consumer credit and debt
counselors in addition to tens of thousands of consumers. It received a
“buy” rating in July, August and November from nationally syndicated
financial columnist, Humberto Cruz in his column, “The Savings Game".
BottomLine Personal newsletter gave the Guide a “Send For” rating in
September 2001. The ICFE and our do-it-yourself approach to credit file
correction was featured on NBC Nightly News on 04-30-02. The Spanish
edition of the Guide premiered in January 2002. Syndicated columnist,
Robert Heady also gave the ICFE Guide a “buy” rating.
The ICFE Web site at: www.icfe.info helps consumers with
mending spending, learn about the
proper use of credit, budget and expense guidelines, how to set up and implement a
spending-plan and also access financial education courses and videos and how to
teach children about money. Other ICFE services include a
free eNewsletter, and an
on-line resource center of financial education
learning tools, including videos, books and personal finance courses.
Consumers may learn more on the Internet about the "Do-It-Yourself
Credit File Correction Guide" here, or fill out our request
form, indicating your areas of interest.
For more information contact Paul Richard, RFC ICFE Executive Director at 619-239-1401.
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