Here are some great car buying tips:

1. Get your loan pre-approved at the Credit Union before you visit dealers. You can pre-establish your monthly payment and increase your negotiating power with the dealer.
2. For the lowest monthly payment, take the factory rebate and finance your next new vehicle at the Credit Union. Less than 4% of new vehicles are financed at the super low dealer rates you see advertised on TV. Why? Dealers don’t promote these rates and they are usually limited to a specific model(s). Worse yet, the price of the vehicle could be inflated by as much as 15% to compensate for their low rate.
3. Now is a great time to buy a used car. Why? Car and truck owners are turning in a large number of vehicles at the end of their lease. Used vehicles have flooded the car market and prices have gone down, especially on SUVs. Did you know? If you have a new or used vehicle loan from a dealer or another lender you can refinance it with OMEGA FCU. Call our Consumer Loan Department at 412-369-3806 or 1-800-496-8728 to compare your rate and monthly payment. It just might save you a little cash. (Current OMEGA FCU loans do not qualify)
4. The best time to buy a car is one week before the end of the month or a big holiday -- such as New Year’s, Easter, etc. Most salespeople at dealerships have a quota. They need to sell a set number of vehicles per month.
5. Before you shop around, find out as much as you can about the vehicle you want to buy. Remember, the Credit Union will let you know the maximum amount you can finance on that particular vehicle. You can check out websites like:
   • www.consumerreports.com (news, reviews, comparisons, etc.)
   • www.vehix.com (prices, side-by-side comparisons)
   • www.carfax.com (detailed history of used cars, fee based)
   • www.carbuyingtips.com (dealer scams, insurance advice)
6. Always test drive the vehicle for comfort, noise level, power, and braking. If the vehicle doesn’t feel right to you in any way consider another car.
7. Get a copy of everything you sign at the time you sign it. Do not sign anything that has not been filled out completely (sales contract, warranty or service agreement, insurance, odometer statement, title, receipts, etc.). If there is a problem later, you’ll have the paperwork.
8. Do not let dealers run your credit history until you are ready to buy. They are not allowed to run it without your permission. Many dealers will offer a "Hold Contract." This allows you do take the car home right away, pending financing with OMEGA FCU. However, this does require a credit check.
9. If you are planning to trade-in a vehicle, we can give you the fair market price – both the wholesale and resale values.

Protect Your Electronic Identity!

More than ever before it is important to protect your identity from theft. Here are some tips to remember:

• Don’t give out your account numbers, Social Security number, or PINs to anyone you’re not familiar with online or on the phone.
• Report lost or stolen checks, credit cards, ATM and Check cards immediately.
• Examine all check orders when they are first received to verify none have been stolen in the mail.
• On the Internet, buy only from companies you recognize and that have a secure ordering form that is protected by encryption technology.
• Never assume your communications on the Internet are private.
• If you notice a decrease in mail to anyone in your household - or you are not receiving anticipated financial statements, contact the post office and the creditor to verify your address. Account takeover scam artists will steal your mail, then usually change your mailing address to request a new credit, check, or ATM card.
• Keep your contact information (home address, phone number) current with companies you do business with such as your Credit Union.
• Always shred or destroy financial statements, credit card bills, credit applications, old cards etc. before throwing them away.
• When on vacation, have the post office hold your mail and stop newspaper delivery until you return.
• Compliment businesses that hold your card and verify your signature – and confront those that do not. Visa and MasterCard require this procedure.

For your information, the Social Security Fraud Hotline is 800-269-0271 and the FTC Identity Theft Hotline is 877-IDTHEFT (438-4338). If you have been a victim of Internet fraud, you can report it at http://www.ifcccfbi.gov./. This is the site of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Fraud Complaint Center. For more information on identity theft go to http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/index.html.