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Attitudes Toward ConsumerIssues: A 2003 Survey ofAARP Members inWest Virginia

Published June 2003

Attitudes Toward Consumer Issues: A 2003 Survey of AARP Members in West Virginia


Report Prepared by Erica Dinger

Copyright © 2003 AARP

Knowledge Management 601 E Street NW

Washington, DC 20049 http://research.aarp.org

Reprinting with Permission

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to making life better for people 50 and over. We provide information and resources; engage in legislative, regulatory and legal advocacy; assist members in serving their communities; and offer a wide range of unique benefits, special products, and services for our members. These include AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; Segunda Juventud, our quarterly newspaper in Spanish; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for National Retired Teachers Association members; and our Web site, www.aarp.org. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Acknowledgements

AARP staff from the West Virginia State Office, State Affairs, and Knowledge Management contributed to the design and implementation of this study. Special thanks go to AARP staff including Julie LeJeune, West Virginia State Office; Dacosta Mason, State Affairs; Laura Polacheck, State Affairs; Gretchen Straw, Knowledge Management; Darlene Matthews, Knowledge Management; Anita Ritter, Knowledge Management; Joanne Binette, Knowledge Management; and Anu Hyvarinen, Knowledge Management. Sue Ellsworth of FGI, Inc. managed the data entry and tabulation of the survey results. Erica Dinger managed all aspects of the project and wrote the report. For more information, contact Erica Dinger at (202) 434-6176.

Attitudes Toward Consumer Issues: A 2003 Survey of AARP Members in West Virginia 1

Background

Attitudes Toward Consumer Issues: A 2003 Survey of AARP Members explores the attitudes and concerns of 1,125 West Virginia member on consumer issues. Topics covered include attitudes about telemarketing and “Do Not Call” lists, payday loans, home financing and equity loans, home repair and improvement, and identity theft. Respondents were also asked to rate their level of concern about a variety types of businesses. This report summarizes weighted overall findings on all the topics covered in the survey. Throughout the report, statistics representing member responses are reported in percentages. In some instances, percentages are small and may not seem to represent a significant proportion of members, yet when projected to the total West Virginia membership the actual number of people may be substantial. As of May 2003, there were approximately 267,904 members in the state.

Highlights

Members are extremely concerned about telemarketers, pharmaceutical

companies, and payday lenders possibly misleading or taking advantage of them.

Over a third of respondents say that they have been swindled, and of those three in ten say they have been swindled by a telephone service.

Seven in ten members support legislation to eliminate payday lenders in West Virginia, while more than half support legislation to prohibit the ability to extend payday loans by paying additional fees if payday lending is permitted in West Virginia.

Almost all respondents support “Do Not Call” legislation, and more than eight in ten would put their names on a “Do Not Call” list if one was offered.

More than half of members strongly support consumer protections for sub-prime home equity loans, such as limiting the number of up front point that can be charged and giving a minimum notice of foreclosure.


Findings

West Virginia members are most concerned about companies that sell products over the phone. Members were asked to reflect on their own experiences and the experiences of others when thinking about how concerned they were that certain businesses would mislead or take advantage of them. Most members say they are extremely concerned about companies that sell their products over the phone, while almost half are extremely concerned about pharmaceutical companies and payday lenders. About four in ten are also worried about home repair contractors, health care organizations, and companies that sell their products over the Internet misleading them.

Types of Businesses West Virginia Members Are Extremely Concerned May Mislead or Take Advantage of Consumers

(n = 1,125)

13%

18%

18%

21%

22%

29%

33%

34%

35%

38%

40%

42%

47%

48%

70%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Credit unions

Stock brockers/brockerage firms

Mortgage brokers/lenders

Companies that sell their products on TV

Banks/savings and loan

Utility companies

Telephone companies

Check cashing outlets

Finance companies

Companies that sell their products over the Internet

Health care organizations

Home repair contractors

Payday lenders

Pharmaceutical companies

Companies that sell their products over the phone


Over a third of West Virginia members feel that they have been the victim of consumer fraud. More than a third (36%) of West Virginia members say they believe they have been the victim of consumer swindle or fraud. Among those who believe they have been the victim of a fraud, three in ten have been the victim of a telephone service swindle, while a quarter have been the victim of a home repair fraud or swindle.

Areas Where West Virginia Members Were Victims of Consumer Fraud or Swindle (n=400 who believe they have been victimized)

4%

6%

7%

8%

10%

10%

13%

15%

16%

16%

17%

22%

25%

30%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Home financing

Home shopping

Internet

Mail order

Retail products/services

Investments/securities

Travel/vacation industry

Insurance products/services

Product/service warranties

Charities/donations

Credit card

Auto related

Home repair

Telephone service


West Virginia members who were victims of a consumer fraud or swindle were contacted by telephone. Among those members who say they have been the victim of a consumer fraud or swindle, more than four in ten say they were contacted by a telephone call. Almost a quarter were contacted by mail, while fewer cite door-to-door contact.

Methods of Contacting Members (n=400 who believe they have been victimized)

4%

10%

11%

13%

23%

43%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

E-mail

Magazine/newspaper

Products/services on TV

Door-to-door

Mail

Telephone call


Payday Lenders

West Virginia members support legislation to eliminate payday lenders. Payday lenders make short-term loans at extremely high rates of interest. The payday lender will accept a post-dated check for deposit at a later date, then advance the consumer cash in the amount of the check for a fee and hold the check for the loan term, usually two weeks. More than half (52%) of members strongly support legislation to eliminate payday lenders in West Virginia, while 19 percent somewhat support such legislation.

Members Who Support or Oppose Legislation to Eliminate Payday Lenders

(n=1,125)

Strongly support 52%

Strongly oppose 3%

Somewhat oppose 7%

Don't know/no

answer 19%

Somewhat support 19%

Members support legislation to eliminate the ability to extend a loan from a payday lender by adding additional fees. More than a third (36%) of members strongly support legislation to eliminate the ability of payday lenders to extend loans by adding additional fees, while 17 percent somewhat support such legislation.

Members Who Support or Oppose Legislation to Eliminate Extending Loans from a Payday Lender

(n=1,125)

Strongly support 36%

Somewhat oppose 9%

Strongly oppose 12%

Somewhat support 17%

Don't know/no

answer 27%


Members support consumer protection measures for those who use payday loans. Six in ten or more respondents strongly or somewhat support each consumer protection measures for those who use payday loans. These include prominently displaying fees, requiring reasonable loan terms, prohibiting triple-digit interest rates, assessing the borrower’s ability to repay the loan, prohibiting payday lenders from being inside other businesses, and limiting the number of loans a consumer can have per year.

Members Who Support or Oppose Consumer Protection Measures (n=1,125)

44%

58%

61%

62%

65%

78%

19%

13%

4%

14%

14%

16%

4%

6%

17%

15%

6%

2% 16%

18%

17%

23%

25%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Limiting loans peryear

Separatebusinesses

Ability to repay

Limiting annualinterest rates

Reasonable loanterms

Display fees

Strongly support Somewhat support Oppose No Answer

4%

4%

“Do Not Call” Legislation and Telemarketing

More than a third of respondents get telemarketing calls at least once a day, and three-fourths find them to be an invasion of privacy.

Over a third of respondents say they get telephone calls from an organization asking them to buy something, enter a contest, or make an investment at least once a day, while four in ten get such calls more than once a week. Three quarters (75%) of respondents find these calls to be an invasion of their privacy, while seven percent call them a consumer rip off. Two percent think they are an opportunity for bargains or a source of information.

Frequency of Telemarketing Calls (n=1,125)

35%40%

17%

2%0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Once a day Once a week Less than oncea week

Never


Nearly all respondents would support a “Do Not Call” list in West Virginia. More than nine in ten (94%) respondents strongly or somewhat support a “Do Not Call” list in West Virginia that would give them the option of placing their name on a list so that telemarketers could not call them. Members Who Support or Oppose a “Do Not Call” List

(n=1,125)

Oppose 2%Strongly support 85%

Don't know 4%

Somewhat support 9%

More than eight in ten respondents say they are likely to put their name on a “Do Not Call” list. More than eight in ten respondents (85%) say they are very (73%) or somewhat (12%) likely to put their names on a “Do Not Call” list if one was offered. Eight percent say they are unlikely to do so, while an additional eight percent are unsure or gave no answer.


Home Financing/Equity Loans

Members support consumer protections on sub-prime mortgage lending companies. Sub-prime mortgage loans are normally higher cost home equity loans that are given to people who are higher credit risks. Six in ten or more respondents strongly or somewhat support each of four proposed consumer protection measures. These include limiting the number of up-front interest points charged, considering the borrower’s ability to repay, prohibiting excessive pre-payment penalties, and giving a minimum notice of foreclosure.

Members Who Support or Oppose Consumer Protection Measures for Sub-prime Loans

(n=1,125)

57%

58%

59%

60%

13%

16%

23%

11%

10% 10%

4%

4%

7%

22%

22%

25%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Minimum notice of foreclosure

Prohibiting excessive pre-paymentpenalties

Ability to repay

Limiting number of points

Strongly support Somewhat support Oppose No Answer

Members would turn to the Consumer Protection Division of the State Attorney General’s office if they had a complaint about a lending company.

Almost six in ten respondents would take a complaint against a sub-prime mortgage lending company to the Consumer Protection Division of the State Attorney General’s office. Almost three in ten would take a complaint to the manager of the lending company, while a quarter would call the State Banking Commissioner.

Where Members Would Go With Complaint (n=1,125)

33%

10%

10%

13%

25%

29%

58%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Not sure/don't know

State Auditor

State housing finance agency

Federal banking agency

State Banking Commissioner

Manager of company

State Attorney General'soffice/Consumer Protection Division


Four in ten respondents have received a solicitation for a home equity loan in the last year, and most solicitations came from the mail or a telephone call.

More than four in ten (43%) respondents received a solicitation for a home equity loan in the last twelve months. Of those who received a solicitation, most were received by telephone or mail. About two in ten were contacted by e-mail, while only one percent had a salesperson come to their door.

How Members Received Home Equity Loan Solicitations (n=480 who received solicitation)

1%

19%

58%

65%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Door-to-Door

E-mail

Mail

Telephone

Three in ten West Virginia members received between 3 and 6 solicitations for home equity loans.

Among members who received solicitations, three in ten (31%) report receiving between three and six solicitations in the last six months, while sixteen percent report receiving between 7 and 14. One in seven receive less than three solicitations and one in six receives 15 or more solicitations.

Number of Solicitations Received in 12 Months (n=480 who received solicitations)

14% 16% 15%5% 3%

8%16%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Lessthan 3

3 to 4 5 to 6 7 to 8 9 to 10 11 to 14 15 ormore


More than a third of respondents have had a bad experience with a home improvement contractor.

Almost seven in ten (68%) respondents have hired someone to do home repairs. Of those, almost four in ten say they have had a bad experience with a home repair contractor.

Members Who Had a Bad Experience with a Home Repair Contractor

(n=768 who have hired a contractor)

Don't know 3%

Yes 38%No 60%

Two in ten respondents have taken out home equity loans to make home improvements.

Twenty percent of respondents say they have taken out a home equity loan to pay for repairs or improvements on their homes, while 75 percent have not. Of those who have taken out such loans (n=224), seven percent say they have had a bad experience with taking out a home equity loan.


Identity Theft

Members would turn to the Consumer Protection Division of the State Attorney General’s office if they thought they were they victim of identity theft.

While only five percent of members say they have been tricked into giving personal identification information so that charges to credit cards or bank accounts could be made without their knowledge, most respondents have a clear idea of where they would go with such a complaint. Half or more would turn to the Consumer Protection Division of the State Attorney General’s office or the police. More than a third would go to the credit card company.

Where Members Would Go With Concerns Of Identity Theft (n=1,125)

19%

7%

14%

19%

36%

50%

54%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Not sure/don't know

Federal banking agency

FBI

Lawyer

Credit card company

Police

State Attorney General'soffice/Consumer

Protection Division


Top Priorities and Education

West Virginia members are most concerned about strengthening laws to protect consumers from identity theft and telemarketing calls.

When asked how much of a priority it should be for West Virginia to strengthen laws or regulations that protect consumers from unfair and deceptive practices, members ranked identity theft and telemarketing calls as their top priorities. Each of these consumer issues is rates as a top or high priority by at least two thirds of West Virginia members.

Areas of Top Priority for West Virginia Members (n=1,125)

38%

43%

44%

66%

72%

30%

29%

26%

16%

13%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Home financing

Payday loans

Home repairs

Telemarketing

Identity theft

West Virginia members want AARP to provide informational and educational programs about identity theft and telemarketing. About seven in ten members say that it is very important for AARP to offer programs on how to avoid identity theft and telemarketing scams are very important. More than half also say programs on home repair, home financing, and payday loans are very important.

Very Important Consumer Fraud Education and Information Areas

(n=1,125)

53%

54%

59%

68%

73%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Payday loans

Home financing

Home repair

Telemarketing

Identity theft


Conclusions

West Virginia members identify telemarketers, pharmaceutical companies, and payday lenders as those businesses that they feel are most likely to swindle them. More than a third say they have actually been the victim of a consumer fraud or swindle, and cite telephone companies and home repair contractors as the businesses they were swindled by. West Virginia members want to prohibit payday lending in the state and see more regulation of payday lenders if they are allowed to operate. Over seven in ten say that it is a top or high priority for West Virginia to strengthen laws in the area of payday loans. More than seven in ten members support legislation that would eliminate payday lenders. Over half would support legislation to prevent payday lenders from extending the loan period by adding additional fees. Members also strongly support various consumer protections for those using payday lenders, including prominently displaying all fees, requiring reasonable loan terms, prohibiting triple-digit interest rates, and assessing the borrower’s ability to repay the loan. Finally, more than half say that educational and informational programs in this area are very important. Members feel that there privacy is being invaded by telemarketing calls, and almost all would support the creation of a “Do Not Call” list in West Virginia. More than eight in ten say they would add their name to such a list if one were available. With the advent of the national “Do Not Call” list, West Virginia may want to investigate a state-run list to provide stronger enforcement. West Virginia members are also concerned about fraud in other areas, and would like to see stronger regulations of sub-prime mortgage companies. In addition, respondents said they would go to the Consumer Protection Division of the State Attorney General’s office for help with complaints against a lending company or if they thought they were the victim of identity theft. Interestingly, although one in six said they had been the victim of a fraud or swindle from a credit card company, only five percent said they had been the victim of identity theft. More education surrounding this issue could help to make members recognize when identity theft has occurred.

Methodology

AARP conducted the survey Attitudes Toward Consumer Issues: A 2003 Survey of AARP Members in West Virginia from March through May 2003. A sample of 2,000 AARP members in West Virginia was selected from AARP’s membership database. Each sampled member was contacted about the survey in four ways: a pre-notification postcard, the survey itself, a reminder postcard, and a second survey. 56 percent of the sampled West Virginia members returned surveys by the early May cut-off date, providing 1,125 useable surveys for analysis. Thus, the survey has a sampling error of plus or minus 2 percent.1 Survey responses were weighted to reflect the distribution of the age segments in the member population of West Virginia.

1 This means that in 95 out of 100 samples of this size, the results obtained in the sample would fall in a range of 2 percentage points of what would have been obtained if every AARP member in West Virginia age 50 or older had been surveyed.



1. Thinking about your own experience and what you know about the experiences of other people, how concerned are you about each of the following businesses possibly misleading or taking advantage of consumers? Please rate your own level of concern about each item using a 5-point scale where 1 means you are "not at all concerned" and 5 means you are "extremely concerned."

Extremely

Concerned Not At All No Concerned Response

a. Mortgage brokers/lenders 18% 18% 28% 12% 19% 6%

b. Banks, savings and loan institutions 22% 18% 24% 15% 15% 5%

c. Contractors who do home repairs 42% 25% 16% 5% 7% 6%

d. Telephone companies 33% 25% 21% 8% 9% 4% e. Finance companies 35% 21% 17% 7% 14% 5%

f. Companies that sell their products over the Internet

38% 19% 17% 6% 16% 4%

g. Companies that sell products by calling people on the phone

70% 11% 5% 3% 9% 3%

h. Payday lenders 47% 12% 10% 4% 20% 6%

i. Check cashing outlets 34% 16% 18% 7% 19% 7%

j. Stock brokers or brokerage firms 18% 23% 25% 12% 18% 5%

k. Companies that sell their products on home-shopping TV shows

21% 18% 22% 15% 20% 4%

l. Health care organizations 40% 22% 19% 8% 7% 4%

m. Utility companies 29% 21% 24% 13% 9% 4%

n. Pharmaceutical companies 48% 21% 15% 6% 6% 4%

o. Credit unions 13% 14% 23% 18% 27% 6%


2. In thinking about all the experiences you have ever had as a consumer, was there ever a

time you felt you were the subject of a consumer swindle or fraud?

% 36 Yes

51 No GO TO QUESTION 5 14 No Response

3. In what area were you a victim of a swindle or fraud? (Check all that apply) (n=400)

% % % 30 Telephone service 10 Investment/Securities related 2 E-mail 7 Internet 15 Insurance products and services 2 Food service 22 Auto related 17 Credit card 25 Home repair 16 Charities/Donations 4 Home financing/Mortgage loan 8 Mail order 13 Travel and vacation industry 16 Product/service warranties 2 Lottery 6 Home-shopping TV program 10 Retail products and services 7 Other: 8 No Response

4. How did the company or individual that swindled you contact you? (Check all that apply)

(n=400)

% % % 43 Telephone call 10 Magazine, newspaper, flyer 4 E-mail 13 Door-to-door 11 Products/services advertised on TV 11 Food service 23 Mail 2 Products/service advertised on radio 20 No Response

Telemarketing and “Do Not Call” Lists

5. Thinking about telephone calls that you receive where a caller from an organization asks you to buy something, enter a sweepstakes or contest, make an investment, or make a donation to a charity, about how often do you get these kinds of calls? Would you say you…

% 35 Get these calls at least once a day 40 Get these calls more than once a week 17 Get these calls less than once a week 2 Never get these calls 3 Don’t know/not sure 3 No Response


6. Which of the following statements best describes your impressions of telephone contacts

from organizations: They are…

% * A valuable source of consumer information 1 A great opportunity to take advantage of consumer bargains 75 An invasion of your privacy and an unwelcome intrusion 7 A fraudulent consumer rip-off 7 Don’t know/not sure 9 No Response

7. Would you support or oppose a law in West Virginia that would give you the option of

placing your name on a statewide “do not call” list so that telemarketers would be prohibited from calling you?

% 85 Strongly support 9 Somewhat support 1 Somewhat oppose 1 Strongly oppose 2 Don’t know/not sure 2 No Response

8. How likely are you to have your name and telephone number placed on a “do not call”

list?

% 73 Very likely 12 Somewhat likely 6 Not very likely 2 Not at all likely 5 Don’t know/not sure 2 No Response


Payday Loans

9. “Payday loans” are short-term loans made at extremely high rates of interest. Customers write post-dated checks for deposit at a later date. The payday loan outlet will then advance the consumer cash in the amount of the check for a fee and hold the check for the loan term – usually two weeks or until the consumer’s next payday. The out-of-state company operating in West Virginia currently charges a 400% annual percentage rate.

Do you support or oppose each of these consumer protection measures for West Virginians who may receive a payday loan from a financial outlet?

Strongly Support

Somewhat Support

Somewhat Oppose

Strongly Oppose

Not Sure

No Response

a. Prohibiting triple digit annual interest rates for payday loans ........................... 62% 4% 3% 14% 9%

9%

b. Limiting the number of loans consumers can get in one year .............. 44% 16% 7% 7% 15%

10%

c. Requiring reasonable loan terms to make it easier for customers to pay back the loan…….. 65% 13% 2% 2% 8%

10%

d. Requiring that all fees be prominently and clearly displayed for consumers..... 78% 4% 1% 2% 8%

8%

e. Requiring lenders to assess the borrower’s ability to repay the loan………………………. 61% 14% 3% 2% 9%

10%

f. Requiring payday lenders to be separate businesses (not located inside other stores)...… 58% 14% 4% 3% 13%

9%

10. Would you support or oppose legislation in West Virginia to eliminate Pay Day lenders?



11. Would you support or oppose legislation in West Virginia to eliminate the ability to

“flip” or extend the loan for an additional period of time by adding additional fees?


Home Financing/Equity Loans Sub-prime mortgage loans are normally higher cost home equity loans that are given to people who are higher credit risks. Sub-prime mortgage lending companies often operate as thrifts, banks, or affiliates of banks or other finance companies.

12. There has been dramatic growth in the sub-prime mortgage lending industry. How strongly do you support or oppose the following consumer protections on sub-prime mortgage lending companies that make “high cost” home equity loans, loans with either high fees or a high interest rate?

Strongly

Support Somewhat Support

Somewhat Oppose

Strongly Oppose

Not Sure

No Response

a. Prohibiting excessive pre-payment penalties 58% 10% 4% 6% 13%

9%

b. Requiring a minimum notice for foreclosures 57% 13% 2% 5% 13%

11%

c. Considering borrower’s ability to repay the loan

59%

16%

3%

1%

13%

9%

d. Limiting the number of up-front interest points charged 60% 11% 2% 2% 15%

10%


13. If you had a complaint about a sub-prime mortgage lending company and the home

equity loan you had taken out on the value of your home, where would you turn for help in getting your complaint resolved? (Check all that apply)

% 25 State Banking Commissioner 13 Federal banking agency 58 State Attorney General’s office/Consumer Protection Division 29 The manager of the business providing the service 10 State housing finance agency 10 State Auditor/Insurance Commissioner 3 Other: (specify)_______________________________________ 27 Not sure 7 No Response

14. In the last 12 months, have you received any solicitations directed at you personally

either by mail, a telephone call, or in person, to take out a home equity loan (a loan based on the value of your home?)

% 43 Yes

51 No GO TO QUESTION 17 2 Don’t know 4 No Response

15. How did you receive the offer? (n=480)

% 58 Mail

1 Door-to Door salesperson 19 E-mail

65 Phone call * Don’t know/Don’t remember

1 No Response

16. About how many offers have you received in the last 12 months? ________ (n=480)

% 14 Less than 3 16 3 to less than 5 15 5 to less than 7 5 7 to less than 9 3 9 to less than 11 7 11 to less than 13 1 13 to less than 15 16 15 or more 23 No Response


Home Repair/Improvement Fraud

17. Have you ever hired a person or company to make repairs or improvements to your home?

%

68 Yes

27 No 5 No Response

18. Have you ever taken out a home equity loan in order to make repairs or improvements to your home?

% 20 Yes

75 No 5 No Response

Identity Theft

19. In the last 12 months, not counting lost or stolen credit cards, has anyone ever tricked you or someone in your household into giving credit card information, bank account information, a social security number, or any other type of personal identification information so that charges could be made without your knowledge?

% 5 Yes 85 No 7 Not sure 2 No Response

20. If you had concerns about someone tricking you into giving them any of your personal identification information, where would you turn for help? (Check all that apply)

% 50 Police 7 Federal banking agency 54 State Attorney General’s office/Consumer Protection Division 14 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) 36 Credit card company 19 Personal lawyer 1 Other: (specify) ______________________________ 13 Not sure 6 No Response

17a. If ‘Yes’, did you ever have a bad experience as a result of hiring a person or company to make repairs or improvements to your home? (n=768) 38% Yes 60% No 3% No Response

18a. If ‘Yes’, did you ever have a bad experience as a result of taking out a home equity loan to make repairs or improvements to your home? (224) 7% Yes 89% No 3% No Response


Action to be Taken

21. How much of a priority should it be for West Virginia to strengthen laws and regulations that protect consumers from unfair and deceptive practices in each of the following areas?

Top Priority

High Priority

Medium Priority

Low Priority

Not a Priority

No Response

a. Payday loans 43% 29% 10% 3% 4% 12% b. Home financing/home equity loans 38% 30% 12% 3% 3% 14% c. Home repairs/home repair financing 44% 26% 13% 2% 2% 13% d. Telemarketing/”Do Not Call” lists 66% 16% 5% 2% 3% 9% e. Identity theft 72% 13% 3% 1% 1% 11%

22. How important is it to you that AARP in West Virginia provide educational and informational

programs in your community to help consumers avoid unfair and deceptive practices in each of the following areas?

Very Important

Somewhat Important

Not VeryImportant

Not at all Important

NotSure

No Response

a. Payday loans....................................... 53% 24% 5% 2% 5% 12% b. Home repairs/home repair financing.. 59% 23% 4% 1% 3% 10% c. Home financing/equity loans.............. 54% 24% 5% 2% 3% 12% d. Telemarketing/ “Do Not Call” lists .... 68% 16% 4% 2% 3% 8% e. Identity theft ....................................... 73% 13% 2% 1% 3% 9%


About You

The following questions are for classification purposes only and will be kept entirely confidential.

23. Financial decisions include decisions about loans, savings, and credit cards. Do you make these decisions, does someone else make them, or do you share these decisions with another person?

% 56 I make most of the financial decisions 2 Someone else makes most of the financial decisions 36 I share most of the financial decisions 1 Not sure 6 No Response

24. Do you own your home outright, are you paying off a mortgage or are you renting?

% 62 Own home outright 24 Paying off a mortgage 7 Rent 1 Live with someone without paying rent 1 Not sure 6 No Response

25. What is your 5-digit zip code? WRITE IN YOUR ZIP CODE ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

26. Do you have access to a personal computer either at home, work, or some other place?

% 52

42 Yes No

26a. If YES: Do you use the Internet or an online services such as America Online (AOL)? (n=579)

7 No Response 77% Yes 17% No 2% Don’t Know 3% No Response

27. Which of the following best describes your current employment status?

% 23 Employed or self-employed full-time 7 Employed or self-employed part-time 58 Retired and not working 4 Other such as homemaker 1 Unemployed and looking for work 7 No Response


28. What is the highest level of education that you completed?

% 10 Less than high school 33 High school graduate or equivalent 29 Some college or technical training beyond high school 9 College graduate (4 years) 10 Post-graduate or professional degree 9 No Response

29. What is your age as of your last birthday? ________ years

% 27 50-59 41 60-74 25 75+ 7 No Response

30. What is your current marital status?

% 59 Now married 23 Widowed 11 Divorced 1 Separated 4 Never married 2 No Response

31. Are you male or female?

50% Male 48% Female 2% No Response

32. Are you Hispanic, Spanish, or Latino?

% 2 Yes

89 No 1 Don’t know 9 No Response


33. What is your race?

% 94 White or Caucasian 2 Black or African American * Asian 2 Native American or Alaskan Native 0 Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 2 No Response

34. Which of the following best describes your voting behavior in state elections, that is elections, for Governor and State Legislators, held in the past ten years?

% 62 Always 23 Sometimes miss one 7 Rarely 6 Never 1 Not Sure 1 No Response

35. What was your annual household income before taxes in 2002?

% 10 Less than $10,000 22 $10,000 to $19,999 16 $20,000 to $29,999 12 $30,000 to $39,999 9 $40,000 to $49,999 12 $50,000 to $74,999 8 75,000 or more 12 No Response

Thank you for completing this survey. Please use the postage-paid envelope and return it to the State Member Research Surveys, AARP, 601 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20049, by May 2, 2003.

AARP Knowledge Management

For more information, contact Erica Dinger (202) 434-6176

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RI $$53 0HPEHUV LQ :HVW 9LUJLQLD · about telemarketing and “Do Not Call” lists, payday loans,...

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