Consumers well informed

Consumoteca Blog

Practical guides on refunds, chargebacks, scams, privacy and consumer protection — in plain English.

How to Dispute a Credit Card Charge: Steps and Deadlines

How to Dispute a Credit Card Charge: Steps and Deadlines

Learn how to dispute a credit card charge, meet the FCBA deadline, gather evidence, handle a denial, and protect your account.

How to Dispute a Credit Card Charge: Steps and Deadlines

How to Dispute a Credit Card Charge: Steps and Deadlines

Learn how to dispute unauthorized charges and billing errors, meet the 60-day deadline, gather evidence, and escalate a denial.

Credit Bureau Complaints: How to Dispute Errors and Escalate in 2026

Credit Bureau Complaints: How to Dispute Errors and Escalate in 2026

Learn how to file credit bureau complaints with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, dispute errors under FCRA, escalate to CFPB, and fix identity theft issues.

Credit Bureau FAQ: How to Get, Fix, and Protect Your Credit in 2026

Credit Bureau FAQ: How to Get, Fix, and Protect Your Credit in 2026

Your practical guide to credit bureaus: free weekly reports, disputes, fraud alerts, freezes, medical debt rules, and FICO vs. VantageScore.

How to Dispute a Counterfeit Online Purchase Safely

How to Dispute a Counterfeit Online Purchase Safely

Received a fake product? Learn how to preserve evidence, open a marketplace claim, request a refund, and escalate safely.

How to Report a Counterfeit Product and Get a Refund: Amazon, eBay, Temu, FTC, CBP

How to Report a Counterfeit Product and Get a Refund: Amazon, eBay, Temu, FTC, CBP

Step-by-step guide for U.S. consumers: report fakes on Amazon, eBay, Temu, file FTC and CBP complaints, and understand refund rights under the INFORM Act.

Counterfeit Products FAQ: How to Spot Fakes and Get Help

Counterfeit Products FAQ: How to Spot Fakes and Get Help

Learn how to spot counterfeit luxury goods, electronics, cosmetics, and meds, plus what to do if you bought a fake. Includes official refund and complaint steps for U.S. consumers.

Contractor Deposit Dispute FAQ: How to Recover Your Money in 2026

Contractor Deposit Dispute FAQ: How to Recover Your Money in 2026

If a contractor kept your deposit without doing work, learn your refund rights, collection steps, bond claims, and small claims options in this practical 2026 guide.

Contractor Deposits: Safe Amounts, State Laws, and Scam Red Flags

Contractor Deposits: Safe Amounts, State Laws, and Scam Red Flags

Learn how much to pay a contractor upfront, state deposit limits like California's 10%/$1,000 cap, refund rules, and warning signs of deposit scams.

How to Dispute Credit Card Charges: Deadlines, Letters, and What Happens Next

How to Dispute Credit Card Charges: Deadlines, Letters, and What Happens Next

Learn the 60-day deadline, how to write a dispute letter, issuer review steps, merchant evidence, and what to do if your credit card chargeback is denied.