Georgia Watch and the Office of the Attorney General team up to protect military Servicemembers from financial harm

ATLANTA, November 10 – In advance of Veteran’s Day, Georgia Watch officially released the Georgia Military Consumer Protection Guide. In partnership with the Attorney General’s Office, Georgia Watch developed this comprehensive guide for military Servicemembers and their families.

Georgia Watch organized initial focus groups to assess the priority issues of military consumers to ensure the guide best reflects these identified needs. The guide contains pertinent information regarding state and federal legal protections for military personnel in the marketplace. It also highlights key consumer issues as outlined by the focus groups. Importantly, the guide provides alternatives to predatory lending products, including on-installation resources such as Army Community Services and/or non-profit credit counseling options. “Georgia Watch believes that providing this essential information to military personnel is paramount if we are to level the playing field for Servicemembers and their families in the Georgia marketplace,” said Liz Coyle, executive director of Georgia Watch.

In addition to the guide, Georgia Watch and the Attorney General’s Office developed a free Basic Training App for easy access to information, tips and tools to help Servicemembers successfully navigate buying a car, managing money, dealing with credit and debt, and avoiding scams and identity theft.

Georgia Watch partnered with a diverse array of groups, including the Army Community Service, Family Support and the AFB Airman & Family Readiness Centers, to distribute the guide and ensure that it reaches military personnel and bases throughout the state. The guide is published online on the Georgia Watch and Georgia Department of Law websites. The guide and related materials also will be distributed to universities, educational institutions, social service organizations, crediting and financial institutions, as well as faith organizations around the state. This project was funded in part by a grant from the Sears Consumer Protection and Education Fund.

Founded in 2002, Georgia Watch is a nonprofit statewide consumer advocacy organization working to empower and protect Georgia consumers through education, advocacy and policy development. Georgia Watch focuses on safeguarding consumer protections in personal finance, ensuring lower utility bills and cleaner energy, defending the availability of quality, affordable healthcare, protecting the right to trial by jury, and promoting access to the courts.

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