The five sections of this consumer handbook are The Cost of Credit, Applying for Credit, Credit Histories and Records, Correcting Credit Mistakes, and Complaining about Credit. Each section discusses relevant legislation: Truth in Lending, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Topics discussed in section I include methods for comparing finance costs, and explanations of open end credit, open end leases, balloon payments, advertising costs, and costs of settlement on a house. Section II discusses discrimination pertaining to sex, age, and marital status. Borrower characteristics and circumstances under which an agency may not legally deny credit are listed. Section III covers establishing credit histories for married, divorced, or widowed women, and methods for maintaining credit histories. Section four explains action to take concerning defective goods and services, prompt credits and refunds, second mortgage cancellation, lost or stolen credit cards, unsolicited credit cards, and discounts for cash payments. Section five discusses procedures for complaining to federal agencies. A glossary and addresses of federal enforcement agencies and federal reserve banks are included. (KC)