Financial Services
Ratings & Advice
The latest ratings and advice for Washington, DC area financial services.
Advice
- 30 Tricks Sellers Use to Manipulate You
- 65 Things You (Probably) Shouldn't Pay For
- About Checkbook: Why We're Unique
- Budgeting Websites
- Buy Now, Pay Later Often a Debt Trap
- Car Buying Strategies
- Cashback Shopping Portals
- Complaining: How to Get Results
- Consumers’ Notebook
- Credit Cards Provide Strong Protections for Consumers
- Credit Cards: Picking the Best One for You
- Credit Score Boost Offered by Experian Likely Not Useful
- Dealing with Unexpected Medical Bills
- Dealing with Your Digital Clutter
- Estate Planning Tasks & Tips
- Extended Product Warranties: Should You Buy Them?
- Financial Documents: Create a Paper Trail for Your Heirs
- Free Perks You Didn't Know You Have
- Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees & Annuitants
- Home Warranties
- Homeowners Insurance
- Identity and Cyber Theft: How to Protect Yourself
- Identity Theft: Are You Protecting Your Kids?
- Identity Theft: Are Your Investment and Retirement Accounts Protected?
- Life Insurance
- Online Privacy: How to Guard Yours
- Parking: Finding the Best Rates
- Passwords: How to Choose Safe Ones
- Payment Apps: Avoiding Trouble and Scams
- Pet Insurance
- Phishing Scams: Is Your Financial Institution Helping Cyberthieves?
- Price Matching: What's the Deal?
- Prices: Where Have All the Bargains Gone?
- Sale Prices Are Rarely Real Deals
- Savings Apps
- Stop Unwanted Calls, Mail, and More
- Timeshare Exit Companies Deserve a Time Out
- Travel Insurance
- Vehicle Service Contracts
- Water & Sewer Line Warranties
- Wills and Living Wills: Help with Preparing Yours
Current Issue

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Crash Course on Auto Insurance
Most drivers will save $500 to $1,500 per year by switching companies
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New Shingles, No Shakedown
Our ratings tell you which roofing contractors have you covered
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Manipulative Marketing Is Now the Norm
30 tricks sellers use to make you pay up and pay too much
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Shop Like a Pro
Our top tops for scoring the best prices and avoiding common problems
- Top Dental Specialists
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Home Maintenance Checklist
Our guide for what to do and when to do it
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Laundry List
Ratings of area drycleaners
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Floor Shows
How to get on great footing at a fair price
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Carpet Stores and Installers
Rolling out our ratings
- Buying Area Rugs
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DO Fence Me In
Best barrier builders
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Tailors and Sewing Pros
Who makes the cut?
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How to Buy a New Car
Strategies to get the best price and avoid dealers’ traps
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