State Attorney General Rob McKenna praised the Federal Trade Commission for tackling a Tacoma company "that preyed on financially strapped consumers."

The FTC sued Mutual Consolidated Savings last week for allegedly using robo-calls to aggressively target consumers then charging fees of $690 to $899 while providing little help.

On Monday, the FTC froze the company's assets and a court-appointed receiver took control of the business.

“Mutual Consolidated Savings has been the source of numerous consumer complaints,” McKenna said. “The Federal Trade Commission’s move to shut down its Tacoma call center means that fewer consumers will be misled by the company’s promises to bail them out of debt.”

McKenna urged consumers to use a legitimate credit counselor and his office offered tips on how to sort out the bad actors from the good ones.

“When you’re drowning in debt, you’re desperate,” McKenna said. “But if you’re not careful, your chosen rescuer may toss you an anvil instead of a life preserver.”

Here's how to spot a debt repair scam:

- The company promises to repair a bad credit report.

- The organization wants you to pay before any services are provided.

- You aren’t informed of the legal rights and actions you can take yourself for free.

=> Read more!

A blog post on CBS Moneywatch.com recently reported Tacoma at the top of a list of "The 10 Best Housing Markets."

"Some markets are poised to do quite nicely — others will tank. Based on the Case-Shiller index, Moody’s Economy.com forecast the 10 best and worst markets between the fourth quarter of 2008 and the fourth quarter of 2013," according to the post.

I haven't been able to find the original source of the list. When I do, I'll let you know what exactly it was about the Tacoma market that ranked us so high.

Alaska Airlines has painted several of its 737s in Disney paint schemes. Now Amtrak is getting in the act to promote a new Disney version of a wintertime classic.

Disney has chartered an Amtrak train, painted its engine and cars like an English town at Christmastime complete with the characters from its new movie "A Christmas Carol."

The train began a nationwide tour promoting the film on Memorial Day in Los Angeles. It visits Seattle this week for the three-day Independence Day holiday.

The train will visit Seattle's King Street Station Friday through Sunday for free public viewings. The train features sneak previews of the film with Jim Carrey, inactive movie making exhibits and background information about the story.

No word yet on when the train will pass through Tacoma, but expect it either late today, or more likely, sometime Thursday along the BNSF tracks that skirt the waterfront and Puget Sound.

In Seattle, the train will be open Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. King Street Station is adjacent to Qwest Field at 303 South Jackson St.

Registration of new vehicles fell nearly 38 percent in Washington in May compared with the same month a year ago, according to data from an auto market analysis firm.

Cross-Sell reported a total of 13,602 new vehicles registered by Washington car dealers last month compared with 21,865 vehicles in May 2008. That's a 37.8 percent decline.

Used car registrations fell but not as severely. Dealers registered 26,104 used vehicles in Washington in May, and private parties registered 20,065 used vehicles.

Year-over-year used vehicle title registrations were down 8.2 percent at dealers and 7.7 percent among private parties.

Leading the new car sales were compact sport utility vehicles, compact cars and small sport utilities, said Cross-Sell.