tailieunhanh - 2012 CONSUMER ACTION HANDBOOK: BE A SMARTER CONSUMER

FMIs can differ significantly in organisation, function, and design. FMIs can be legally organised in a variety of forms, including associations of financial institutions, non- bank clearing corporations, and specialised banking organisations. FMIs may be owned and operated by a central bank or by the private sector. FMIs may also operate as for-profit or not-for-profit entities. Depending on organisational form, FMIs can be subject to different licensing and regulatory schemes within and across jurisdictions. For example, bank and non-bank FMIs are often regulated differently. For the purposes of this report, the definition of an FMI includes five key types of FMIs:. | Office of Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies GSA Federal Citizen Information Center 2012 CONSUMER ACTION HANDBOOK BE A SMARTER CONSUMER consumer CONTRIBUTORS The Federal Citizen Information Center would like to express its gratitude to the partners listed below who helped make possible the publication of the 2012 Consumer Action Handbook American Cleaning Institute American Express Company American Financial Services Association Education Foundation Bridgestone Retail Operations LLC The Colgate-Palmolive Company Consumer Product Safety Commission Department of Veterans Affairs Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Federal Trade Commission Financial Industry Regulatory Authority General Services Administration Government Printing Office Kellogg Company LeadingAge Mozilla Firefox National Futures Association The Procter Gamble Company Securities and Exchange Commission Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals International THE WHITE HOI SE WASHINGTON December 9 2011 Welcome to the Consumer Action Handbook. Each day families across America navigate complex decisions from buying a home or car to paying off a loan or using a credit card. That is why protecting American consumers remains a top priority for my Administration. With new credit card rules and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act we have taken concrete steps to empower the American consumer. We understand how crucial it is for consumers to be able to make the best choices for their families and these commonsense reforms will protect both consumers and our economy as a whole. The annual handbook published by the General Services Administration provides clear and practical information to help Americans make informed consumer decisions. From information on using credit wisely and preventing identity theft to filing a consumer complaint this guide brings you the latest information about your consumer rights and responsibilities. I encourage you to take full advantage of