
Lesson
Resolving Consumer Complaints
Summary
A fraudulent charge isn't your loss to absorb—federal law puts the timeline on your side. This lesson teaches students how to spot bad charges and dispute them before the clock runs out.
Bellringer: An $80 Mystery Charge
- Project the surprise-charge scenario and have students react.
- Surface the term "transaction dispute" before instruction.
Instruction
- Define fraudulent charges vs. merchant disputes.
- Walk the 5-step dispute process slide-by-slide.
- Introduce EFTA protections and the debit "Timer Rule."
Discussion: Fraud or Merchant Dispute?
- Run the three scenarios (subscription, gas station, phantom ATM).
- Have students label each and take it step-by-step.
Activity: Writing a Dispute Letter
- Students complete the fill-in-the-blank dispute letter using the phantom ATM scenario.
Wrap-Up & Assessment
- Explain the difference between fraud and merchant disputes.
- How will you prevent personal liability for unauthorized charges on your account? Give 2-3 strategies.
| Est. Time | Activity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 7 min | Bellringer: An $80 Mystery Charge |
|
| 10 min | Instruction |
|
| 13 min | Discussion: Fraud or Merchant Dispute? |
|
| 10 min | Activity: Writing a Dispute Letter |
|
| 5 min | Wrap-Up & Assessment |
|
Class Presentation
Includes a 26-slide deck with teacher notes. Present from Banzai, download a PDF, or copy it to Google Slides.
Presentations, Ready to Go
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- Copy to Google SlidesMake an editable copy for your class
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- Teacher NotesSlide-by-slide guidance, printable as one handout
Unit 2: Consumer Choices

Smart Shopping
The cheapest option isn't always the smartest one—and the most expensive rarely wins either. Explore consumer skills, comparison shopping, and the non-price factors that quietly drive every purchase.

Receipts & Sales Tax
Most adults can't explain every line on their own receipts—and that ignorance quietly costs them money. This lesson decodes receipts and explains sales tax and the hidden fees that inflate a final total.

Resolving Consumer Complaints
A fraudulent charge isn't your loss to absorb—federal law puts the timeline on your side. This lesson teaches students how to spot bad charges and dispute them before the clock runs out.
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