Consumers Power

By Milli Scott Categories: Business, Finance, Law
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About Course

This beginner-level course introduces students to the fundamentals of credit and the powerful rights consumers have in the credit marketplace. Through real-world examples, discussions, and guided activities, students will explore how to protect their credit, respond to violations, and leverage their rights to build stronger financial futures. This is the first step to becoming a credit-savvy consumer.

What Will You Learn?

  • By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  • Understand the 10 core consumer credit rights protected by U.S. law.
  • Identify common credit violations and how to respond effectively.
  • Communicate with credit bureaus and creditors using the proper language.
  • Dispute inaccurate or outdated credit information confidently.
  • Understand the impact of credit on financial opportunities.
  • Leverage credit laws for better financial outcomes.
  • Practice proactive credit management.
  • Recognize and report credit-related scams or identity theft.
  • Build a personalized credit protection plan.
  • Empower others with credit knowledge and consumer rights awareness.

Course Content

Intro to Credit + Accessing Your Report
This week lays the foundation by introducing the concept of credit, how credit scores work, and why consumer credit rights matter. Students will explore the role credit plays in financial decision-making and long-term wealth building. Students learn that under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), they are entitled to a free credit report annually from each bureau. This week focuses on how to obtain and understand your credit report.

  • Discussion: Why don’t people check their credit?

Accurate Reporting + Disputing Errors
Students discover how the FCRA protects them from inaccurate or outdated information on their reports. They will learn what to look for and what should not be reported. This week dives into how to formally dispute errors on your credit report. Students learn the structure and tone of a proper dispute letter and follow-up strategy.

Right to Privacy + Prescreened Offers
Covers the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and how it limits the sharing of personal financial data. Students explore who can legally see their credit information and under what circumstances.This week explains how consumers can limit unsolicited credit and insurance offers, why they receive them, and how opting out can protect credit and identity.

Denials & Adverse Action Notices
Students learn about the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and the FCRA’s requirement for creditors to provide a clear reason for a denial of credit, employment, or housing.

Debt Collection Laws (FDCPA + Privacy)
Explores the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and what collectors can and cannot do when attempting to collect a debt. Students learn their rights during debt collection calls.

Fair Debt Collection + Validation Rights
Continues the discussion from Week 5 with a focus on how to report violations, request debt validation, and stop harassment legally.

Identity Theft Protection & Recovery
This week introduces the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) and how to respond quickly to identity theft or fraud on a credit report.

Credit Comeback Plan & Course Wrap-Up
This final week focuses on protecting your credit from identity theft and understanding your right to place credit freezes and fraud alerts. Students will learn how to identify the signs of fraud, take immediate action to report identity theft, and use tools like credit freezes to secure their financial future. By the end of this week, students will: Recognize warning signs of identity theft Know how to file an identity theft report with the FTC Understand how and when to place a credit freeze or fraud alert Have a personal fraud prevention plan ready

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