THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2022 Page 13 BBB Tip: Help choosing a summer camp for your child C amps are once again looking like a good option for child care and entertainment over the long, hot summer. Now that many pandemic restrictions have been lifted, there are more camps available for caregivers looking to have their youngsters spend the summer being active and engaged. In the United States, the American Camping Association (ACA) accredits camps based on accountability, credibility, and commitment. The YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) off ers camps through local YMCAs across the U.S. In Canada, check with the Canadian Camping Association - they encourage campers and camp professionals to look to their local Provincial Camping Association and Provincial Health Authority for the most up-to-date information. BBB off ers these tips to parents searching for the right summer camp: • Check for accreditation. Regardless of pandemic-related issues, the safest way to ensure your child’s safety is to send them to a trustworthy camp. ACA accredited camps must meet the 32 national summer camp standards, and BBB Accreditation requires the organization meet eight BBB Standards for Trust. Search for camps in the ACA and find camps near you in the BBB Directory to check for BBB Accreditation. • Know required safety standards. Individual states will provide health and safety guidelines for summer camps, following CDC recommendations. These protocols may include measures such as monitoring health of staff and campers, limiting visitor access to campgrounds, adapting meal distribution and providing sanitation products to staff and campers. • Use references. Ask if they have a list of references or past campers you can contact. You may also want to consider asking trusted friends or family their recommendations for summer camps. Reviews and complaint histories can also be found on the camp’s business profi le at BBB.org. • Assess medical resources. Camps should have resources for treating sick and injured campers. Some children need daily medication; ask about the camp’s medical facilities and how those resources can accommodate your child's needs. • Review contracts and fees. As always, you should review contracts before you sign them. Find out the total cost and if a deposit is required. See which activities or services require additional fees. You should also check for details regarding refunds. If that information is not outlined in the contract, ask a camp employee. Find a summer camp near you at BBB.org. Will Hurricane Season Be Starting Earlier? While NWS considers moving the Atlantic storm season up 2 weeks, BoatUS has the goods on how to prepare your boat now SPRINGFIELD, Va., May 16, 2022 – No, you’re not going crazy. The current six-month Atlantic Hurricane Season, set in 1965, begins June 1 and runs through November 30. But if you have a recreational boat on the Eastern Seaboard or Gulf, you’ve likely noticed that the last seven annual hurricane seasons have experienced some type of tropical storm system in May – or earlier. Those early forming storms are now leading the National Weather Service to consider officially moving the hurricane season up two weeks to May 15. What’s a boater to do? “You can’t change hurricane season, but you can set up a customized hurricane plan for your boat now,” says Scott Croft, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) vice president, Public Aff airs. Researchers from Colorado State University are predicting another active Atlantic hurricane season for 2022 with 19 named storms and nine expected to reach hurricane strength (winds of 74 mph or greater). BoatUS notes it is the wind-driven storm surge of water that causes the most damage to recreational vessels as docks and infrastructure are torn apart and lowland boat storage areas fl ood. BoatUS, the national advocacy, services and safety group for boat owners with more than 800,000 members, has free recreational boat-, yacht club-, and marina-preparation information at BoatUS.com/Hurricanes. Also off ered is an extensive library of hurricane-preparation videos and BoatUS Magazine articles containing proven tips and techniques amassed from the nearly four decades of post-storm recreational vessel recovery, salvage, and wreck removal experience. “How to Find and Fix Potential Breaking Points on Your Boat” and “How Not to Read a Hurricane Map” are just a couple of the helpful short reads available. More extensive downloadable guides include “BoatUS Magazine Hurricane Preparations” and “Preparing Boats and Marinas for Hurricanes” and an easyto-download “BoatUS Hurricane Preparation Worksheet” to take with you to the boat. To help know when to prepare, an Active Storm Tracker helps keep boaters up to date on the direction and intensity of incoming storms, and the BoatUS App off ers text alerts. Putting together a hurricane plan today will make preparations easier when a storm approaches – and you will already have everything you need. (Credit: Stacey Nedrow-Wigmore/BoatUS) BBB Tip: What you should know about payday loan ads on social media I f you’ve ever needed extra cash to tide you over to your next paycheck, you understand the appeal of a payday loan. Now, video ads on places like TikTok are promoting small, short-term loans to a new, young audience – and making them seem cheap and easy. However, just because it looks simple, doesn’t mean it is. Predatory payday lenders are using the platform to make dishonest claims promising instant cash with no credit checks, late fees, or interest rates. Many times, the advertisers are getting around the rules of the platform. TikTok and Meta have rules restricting ads for short term/payday loans, but some have found their way through. Here’s what you should know before taking out a payday loan from a social media ad. Understanding payday loans featured on social media ads • Apps might not call it an “interest rate” but that’s what it is. Many of the lenders that advertise on TikTok try to skirt regulations by creating new names for their service. By calling their interest rates a “tip” or a “fee,” lenders hope you won’t notice just how much interest you’ll actually pay. Keep in mind that responsible lenders will always be willing to disclose the APR on their loans. • Payday loans are costly. A twoweek payday loan with a $15 fee to borrow $100 translates to an annual percentage rate (APR) of almost 400 percent, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. That’s a huge jump from even a high interest rate credit card, which have rates of about 30 percent. • Just because it’s easy, doesn’t make a payday loan a good idea. If you are young or have no access to other types of credit, you are an ideal target for a payday lender. Less-than-scrupulous lenders promote the fact that you don’t need a credit check or any paperwork to get a loan. However, that ease can come at a high cost. Before you pursue a payday loan, spend some time shopping around for other options. • Not all social media ads are truthful. Payday lenders seen on TikTok may promise you instant cash. But if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Many companies like these have faced scrutiny for deceptive lending practices, and some may simply be after access to your bank account. Don’t believe everything you see on social media ads without doing further research. • Be sure you can repay the loan. With such high interest rates, many people find themselves stuck in a debt cycle. In addition, payday loans can ruin your credit if you fi nd yourself unable to pay back what you owe. Better alternatives to payday loans • Develop a budget with an emergency fund. Create a budget so you know how much money you have coming in and how much you need to pay your bills. This will help you avoid needing a loan in the fi rst place. Then, set aside some cash each month to build up an emergency fund. Then, you will be covered even if an unexpected expense or an emergency comes up. • Get credit counseling. If you fi nd yourself unable to pay your bills or if you are caught in a debt cycle due to a high interest loan, get credit counseling. The U.S. Department of Justice has a list of agencies for people looking for debt reduction assistance. In Canada, see this list of Canadian nonprofi t credit counselling agencies. Also, check out BBB’s tip on credit counseling for more resources. • Shop around if you need a loan. Compare interest rates, charges, and late fees by reading the fi ne print before you choose a lender. Pay close attention to both interest rates and loan rollover fees. Credit unions are a good place to take out a small loan with reasonable interest rates. Even credit card cash advances, which usually have interest rates in the double digits, likely have lower interest rates than what a payday lender will off er you. See tips on choosing a bank or credit union. • Contact creditors if you can’t pay on time. If you realize you won’t be able to make a payment on time, don’t panic. Contact the creditor directly. Many creditors will be willing to work with you to come up with a payment plan that you can aff ord. For more information Read the BBB Tip: Payday Loans for more considerations on working with payday lenders. You’ll fi nd practical tips in the BBB Tip: How to shop for fi nancial services as well. If you feel a payday lender has committed fraud or taken advantage of you, fi le a complaint on BBB.org and with the Federal Trade Commission.
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