• National Mortgage Licensing Web Site Now Available to Consumers
  In order to provide homebuyers and the general public with greater information concerning the companies and professionals in the mortgage industry and in fulfillment of the federal S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008, the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) has launched a website called NMLS Consumer Access. NMLS Consumer Access (http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/) is a fully searchable website that allows the public to view information concerning state-licensed companies, branches, and individuals licensed and registered through NMLS. No personal identifying information concerning individuals (such as social security number, date of birth, etc.) will be made available on NMLS Consumer Access.

Consumer Alert Archive

• Checks and Balances: New Rules, New Strategies for Bank Customers in the 21st Century. How will "Check 21" affect you? From the FDIC http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnsum04/cvrstry.html
• Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act: Frequently Asked Questions, from the Federal Reserve Board http://federalreserve.gov/paymentsystems/check21_faq.htm
• Don’t Cash that Check! (Check and Lottery Scams) from the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office http://www.doj.nh.gov/consumer/dont-cash-that-check/index.htm
• What’s Insured and What’s Not, from the Federal Reserve Board, http://www.frbsf.org/publications/consumer/products.html
• Writing a Check – Understanding your Rights, from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, http://www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/release/2005-75a.pdf

• General Information from the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Consumer Sourcebook http://www.doj.nh.gov/consumer/sourcebook/credit-cards.htm
• Please visit the Federal Reserve Board’s new web site that was created in February 2010, http://www.federalreserve.gov/creditcard/
• Five tips to improve your Credit Score, from the Federal Reserve Board, http://www.federalreserve.gov/consumerinfo/fivetips_creditscore.htm
• Consumer Beware: Using Easy "Credit Repair" Companies Could Be Fraud.
• Credit Repair – How to help Yourself, from the Federal Trade Commission, http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre13.shtm
• Managing Your Credit, from the UNH Cooperative Extension, http://extension.unh.edu/Money/MMManCr.htm

• New Overdraft Rules on Debit and ATM Cards, from the Federal Reserve Board, http://www.federalreserve.gov/consumerinfo/wyntk_overdraft.htm

• “Fiscal Fitness: Choosing a Credit Counselor” by the Federal Trade Commission. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre26.shtm
• “When your Bills Pile Up” from the UNH Cooperative Extension. http://extension.unh.edu/Family/documents/bills2.pdf

• Governor Lynch Expands the NH Foreclosure Prevention Initiative New Hampshire consumers with potential mortgage problems are encouraged to visit a new, comprehensive web site that contains key tips for preventing foreclosure – Please visit http://www.homehelpnh.org.
• New Hampshire Homeowner Hotline: 1-800-437-5991. Residents with concerns or questions about their mortgage are encouraged to call the Banking Department at 1-800-437-5991. Trained, knowledgeable staff will be available from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Messages received after business hours will be responded to on the next business day. Additional resources are listed below.
• Mortgage Workout Contacts If you are having trouble reaching your mortgage holder please contact the Banking Department at 1-800-437-5991 for assistance.

• Housing Programs
• NH Housing Finance Authority: 472-8623
• NH Office, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Manchester, NH 666-7510
• Affordable Housing Education And Development Program (AHEAD), Littleton, NH 444-1377
• Cheshire Housing Trust, Keene, NH 357-7603
• Concord Area Trust for Community Housing (CATCH), Concord, NH 225-8835
• Laconia Area Community Land Trust, Laconia, NH 524-0747
• NeighborWorks Greater Manchester, Manchester, NH 626-4663
• Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Nashua, Nashua, NH 882-2077
• Tri County CAP, Berlin, NH 752-7001

• Additional Federal Links
• HUD's Help for Homeowners Facing the Loss of Their Homes
• FTC's Mortgage Payments Sending You Reeling? Here’s What to Do
• FTC Alert - Shopping For a Mortgage? Your Application May Trigger Competing Offers, How to Opt Out.

• Looking for the Best Mortgage, from the FDIC, December 2008 http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/looking/index.html.
• Mortgages: Different Products for Different Needs, from the FDIC, May 2011 http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnspr11/mortgages.html.
• Escrow Accounts: What Mortgage Borrowers Need to Know, from the FDIC, May 2011 http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnspr11/escrow.html.

• About Reverse Mortgages for Seniors – From the US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/hecmabou.cfm.
• Reverse Mortgage Information from AARP http://www.aarp.org/money/credit-loans-debt/reverse_mortgages/.

• The Identity Theft Tool Kit, from the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office http://www.doj.nh.gov/consumer/identity-theft/index.htm

• Legal Advice and Referral Center (LARC): 1-800-639-5290
• Lawyer Referral Service of the NH Bar Association: 229-0002
• Pro Bono Referral Program (NH Bar): 224-5387
• Disabilities Rights Center, Inc, 1-800-834-1721

• Frequently Asked Questions about Payday Loans in New Hampshire from the NH Banking Department
• General Information from the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Consumer Sourcebook http://www.doj.nh.gov/consumer/sourcebook/loans.htm#payday
• Department of Defense publishes final rules - August 31, 2007
  Department of Defense publishes final rules regarding payday, title and other loans extended to Service Members and their dependents.
  Cite "Limitations on Terms of Consumer Credit Extended to Service Members and Dependents, Final Rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 50579-50594 (August 31, 2007) (to be codified at 32 C.F.R. part 232)".

• General Information from the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Consumer Sourcebook http://www.doj.nh.gov/consumer/sourcebook/schemes-swindles-scams.htm

• Ameriquest Settlement - November 7, 2007
  Consumers seeking information about the Ameriquest Multi-State Settlement should visit the following web address: http://www.ameriquestmultistatesettlement.com/, or call 1-800-420-5875.