Consumer Tips

TrueCar is dedicated to reinventing the car buying experience to be easy, straightforward and empowering from start to finish – with no surprises along the way. In fact, we want you to feel like you’re in complete control of your purchase at every turn, with the exact info you need, right when you need it.

Once you’ve found the car you want with the Union Plus Auto Buying Service, and have connected with a participating dealer, you then get to dial in the deal that works best for you. After completing a few short steps, you’ll get a unique Deal Code, which you can take to the dealer, online or in-person, to finalize the deal that’s right for you. Even better, your Deal Code is based on the dealer’s actual rates.

Value Your Trade

Have a car you’d like to trade in? The Union Plus Auto Buying Service, powered by TrueCar makes it easy to see what your car is worth, and get a real cash offer in seconds. All you have to do is answer a few questions about your vehicle and you can instantly receive a calculation of its value as well as a TrueCash Offer from a participating dealer. You can sell your car for cash or factor your TrueCash Offer into your final deal.

Calculate Your Personalized Monthly Payments Online

Next, you’ll choose how you’d like to purchase your vehicle – loan, lease or cash. If you opt for a loan or lease, our payment tool will crunch the numbers to give you accurate monthly payment information that includes taxes, fees, and trade-in offer, if you have one. From this point, you can further customize your monthly payment by entering your loan or lease preferences to see – in real-time – how it affects your payment estimate. And remember, TrueCar relies on actual financing inputs from dealers to help deliver accurate deal preferences.

For leased vehicles, you’ll enter:

• Amount due at signing
• Annual mileage allowance
• Lease term preference
• Credit Score

For vehicle loans, you’ll enter:

• Desired down payment
• Loan term preference
• Credit Score

Understand Your Service and Protection Options

Now that you’ve arrived at your monthly payment “sweet spot,” you can start considering service and protection options. Ever wondered what Excess Wear & Use Protection covers? Or if you need GAP Insurance? Oftentimes, service and protection plans aren’t presented until the time and place of purchase. But with TrueCar, we can help you do your homework ahead of time, at your leisure, so you can learn about what each option entails, and which ones might work best for you.

Get Your Deal Code

And just like that, you’re done customizing your deal! At this point, you’ll get your unique Deal Code that you can take to the dealer. Or if you’d prefer, you can complete the process entirely from home, including the delivery of your vehicle, with participating Dealers. Either way, with the Union Plus Auto Buying Service, powered by TrueCar, you’re free to do as much, or as little, as you want online, from anywhere.

Do Even More from Home

Still need help or assistance? We’re here for you. Once you get your personalized Deal Code, you’ll still have the option to:

• Ask a question
• Schedule a test drive
• Compare multiple deals
• Save your deal so you can come back to it

Ready to get started? Simply visit unionplus.truecar.com to find and configure the car you want. Once you get connected to Certified Dealers that have your vehicle, you’re on your way to building the deal you want on the car you love.

Let your fellow union members know that you've found a great fit with MetLife Auto & Home^®. When you refer another union member and he/she gets an auto insurance quote, we'll mail you a $20 gas card to say thanks.*

Spread the word. Tell your fellow union members to call us at 844-219-0292.

Here's how it works:

1. Refer a fellow union member.
2. He/she mentions your name and group code DJ7 when he/she calls for an auto insurance quote.
3. We mail you a $20 gas card.*

Determine your "why"

Knowing what you’re seeking in your next home will help you focus your search and set your priorities:

• If your family is growing, you enjoy entertaining, or you want to accommodate special interests or hobbies, you may be looking for extra space.
• If your family includes active children and/or pets, a fenced-in backyard with room to roam may be top of your list.
• If you’re excited to spend more time in lively city neighborhoods or out on parks and trails, choosing the most accessible location to these activities should be a key consideration.

As you begin your search, take into account both your long- and short-term vision of your home. Which things are essential, and on which elements would you be willing to compromise?

Review your budget

In addition to the cost of the home itself, moving comes with several expenses. Setting a budget for the selling, buying, and moving process will help you plan ahead. Costs to consider include:

• Necessary home repairs
• Painting and/or upgrading floors/carpets
• Enhancing landscaping
• Professional staging, if used
• Storage costs
• Movers
• Short-term rental costs, if you sell your current home before you can move into your new one

Programs to meet unique needs

When you’re ready to finance your new home, a Wells Fargo home mortgage consultant will listen to your needs and goals to help you compare loan features – including interest rates, monthly payments and more – and connect you to the right loan options for your situation.

Decide if making a move is the right move

Because a move is a big step, it’s important to make sure you have your personal and financial goals in mind when making your final decision.

You may decide that moving now isn’t right for you and prefer to consider your options for refinancing your existing mortgage. Refinancing may allow you to pay off your mortgage faster, get a predictable rate and payment, or have extra funds available by lowering your monthly payment. (Keep in mind that by lowering your monthly payment, you may pay more interest over the life of your loan.)

Support to get you home

Regardless of whether you decide to purchase a new home or refinance your existing mortgage, taking advantage of today’s low rates could put you in a good place. And you’ll have the personalized guidance of a Wells Fargo home mortgage consultant every step of the way.

How does a down payment work?

A down payment is an upfront payment toward the total cost of a home you plan to buy. You typically pay a percentage of the home’s cost, with the mortgage you get making up the difference. For example, if you put down 20% on a $400,000 home ($80,000), you would get a mortgage to finance the remaining $320,000.

If you’ve stashed away some cash for your down payment, great. But make sure you set a realistic budget when considering how much to put down.

Why your down payment amount matters

• It's one of the factors in lending decisions. Your lender will consider your down payment along with your credit score, credit history, total debt, and annual income to see if you qualify for a loan.
• The size of your down payment can affect your mortgage options. What you put down on your home can affect what financing options and interest rates you’re offered.
• The more you put down, the less you may pay in interest. Because you’re borrowing less money, a larger down payment may reduce the interest you pay over the life of your loan and lower your total mortgage costs. Plus, your monthly payment may be lower.

Mortgage options for low down payments

You don’t have to put down 20% to get a mortgage. The following are common types of loans that offer low down payment options.

• Conventional loans: First-time homebuyers might qualify for a down payment of just 3% of the purchase price.
• VA loans: If you qualify for this loan, which is backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, you won’t be required to make a down payment at all.
• USDA loans: If you qualify for a loan backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, your down payment could be 0%.
• FHA loans: First-time homebuyers might qualify for a down payment as low as 3.5% of the purchase price.

But, if you do choose make a lower down payment, you may have to pay mortgage insurance. This insurance provides protection for the lender in the event you are unable to make mortgage payments. Mortgage insurance increases the cost of the loan and will increase your monthly payments.

It's also a good idea to keep a little cash handy. After you pay all closing costs, most lenders want you to have enough money left in savings to cover your mortgage payments for a few months. You might also want to have some cash set aside for any unexpected expenses that might come up after you move into your new home.

There are many types of mortgages with different down payment requirements available. The down payment that’s right for you is the one that fits your budget and loan selection. Your Wells Fargo Home Mortgage consultant can help you understand your options so you can make informed decisions.

The 2021 Share My Lesson Virtual Conference will feature high-quality professional development for educators as well as a lineup of webinars is built around supporting the needs of educators (and parents too) during these extraordinary time.

Keynote Addresses:

• Roadmap for Excellence in History and Civics for all Learners
  Presented by Dr. Danielle Allen, Director of Harvard's Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics
  Share My Lesson and iCivics 
• The State of Public Education 2021
  Presented by Randi Weindarten, President, American Federation of Teachers and Share My Lesson
• Priorities to Support our Students
  A conversation with U.S. Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona

Webinar topics Include:

• Anti-Bias Education and Culturally Responsive Teaching
• Civic Engagement, Current Events and Social Studies
• Classroom Management, Restorative Practices and Support for ALL Students
• Distance Learning, Reopening Schools and Learning Recovery
• Instructional Strategies for the Arts, ELA and STEM
• Mental Health, SEL and Trauma-Sensitive Practices

Register for the free 2021 Share My Lesson Virtual Conference 
March 23-25, 2021 1-9 pm ET
Register for all Virtual Conference 2021 webinars

More from Share My Lesson

• Sign Up for Share My Lesson
  Get free access to 400,000 lesson plans, classroom activities and professional development resources
• Share My Lesson AFT Member Community
• Earn Continuing Education Credits
  Share My Lesson’s live and on-demand webinars are eligible for continuing education credit and professional development points

Most of us know we need important estate planning documents like wills, advance directives and powers of attorney, but finding the time to complete these documents can be a challenge.

With MetLife Legal Plans' new digital estate planning solution, it's easy for you to complete estate planning documents. This allows you to designate your wishes for healthcare, as well as protect your family and assets quickly and easily from the comfort of your home.

Use the digital estate planning solution to create:

• Last Will and Testament – Leave property to loved ones and choose guardians for minor children.
• Advance Directive – Plan for a medical emergency and select medical care preferences.
• Durable Financial Power of Attorney – Choose someone to manage finances in case of an emergency.

How does it work?

MetLife's digital estate planning solution is available to all enrolled legal plan members at members.legalplans.com. You will need to create an account here using the email and password of your choice to use the digital estate planning solution.

To get started:

1. Once you’ve created an account and logged in, choose “Wills and Estates” from the main menu, and then click on “Estate Plan Bundle” from the coverage page.
2. Answer a few questions to find out if the digital estate planning option is right for you. If it is, click on “Do it Online” to continue.
3. Begin creating your documents by providing some information about yourself, your family and your healthcare wishes.
4. Review the documents to ensure your wishes are correctly stated.
5. Print the documents and review the instructions for notarization. You can find a notary at most banks or UPS stores.

The process is designed to work for most people, but if there are aspects of your estate that are more complicated, you might be directed to reach out to one of MetLife's network attorneys instead of using the online process.

Get started

Limited Time Offer: Billing Accommodations for Texas Policyholders

MetLife Auto & Home is here to help Texas customers experiencing hardship and having difficulty paying their premiums during this time. Accommodations are available through March 24, 2021.

Bill holds and accommodations:

Customers in need of special billing accommodations can contact MetLife Auto & Home at 800-438-6381 (1-800-Get-Met1) for assistance.

One-time payment options:

• Pay-by-phone: 800-438-6381 (1-800-Get-Met1). Customers can pay by electronic check (preferred) or by debit or credit card.
• Online payment: Customers can sign up for online policy access and pay bills electronically by bank account or card at online.metlife.com or MetLife.com (click "Login" and select "Personal Account").

Automatic payment arrangements:

Automatic payment plans help avoid issues that can come up when natural disasters strike. Customers can set up recurring payments via checking account, from a credit or debit card, or payroll deduction (if available through your employer).

Filing a property claim:

Available 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year:

• Phone: 800-854-6011
• Fax: 866-743-1546
• Email: MET_CAT@metlife.com

MetLife Auto & Home is here for you during this difficult time and appreciates your patience.

A mortgage prequalification or preapproval can help you search for homes at prices where you are more likely to qualify for the home loan needed to complete the home purchase. Securing either also helps demonstrate to sellers that you have or are likely to get the financing you need in order to meet their asking price, which can be especially helpful in a competitive market, when multiple potential buyers may be trying to purchase the same home.

There are also some key differences. Let's look more closely at both.

Prequalification

A mortgage prequalification uses your basic financial information to provide an opinion of how much you may be able to borrow. There is no fee, no obligation, and no credit check involved.

It's helpful when: you're thinking about buying a home, but haven’t started looking at properties and aren’t ready to complete a mortgage application.

How to get one: Provide Wells Fargo Home Mortgage with basic information over the phone, in person or online. We’ll provide you with a home financing price range opinion on the spot.

Preapproval

A preapproval is more detailed and provides an estimate of your home price range based on an initial review of your application and limited credit information. With a preapproval, there may be a fee for the cost of the credit check.

It's helpful when: You’re actively looking at properties, want to focus your search, and are ready to fill out an application. Because it’s based on more detailed information and an actual credit check, a preapproval is often considered stronger than a prequalification. It will give you a more accurate idea of your potential loan amount, monthly payment, and interest rate, and it shows sellers you’re a serious buyer.

How to get one: Fill out a mortgage application. We’ll review the application and credit information and conduct an automated underwriting review. If you're approved, we can usually provide a home financing price range estimate or the loan amount you may qualify for right away.

Getting prequalified or preapproved can help you estimate your price range, however, it’s important to remember that neither one is a commitment to lend. A home mortgage consultant can help you decide which is better for your situation.

Wells Fargo is also here to help with a wide range of home financing options, online tools, including a simplified online mortgage application, and personalized start-to-finish support – so you can shop for a home with confidence.

Stay strong, Texas — our hearts and thoughts are with you.

Union Plus Disaster Relief and Partner Assistance

You may be eligible for a $500 Disaster Relief Grant from Union Plus
If you are a union member who participates in certain Union Plus programs and have been affected by the severe winter storms in Texas, you may be eligible for financial assistance through the Union Plus Disaster Relief program.*

No-cost legal help for Texans through MetLife's Disaster Relief Plan
MetLife Legal Plans has activated its Disaster Relief Plan for union members who have been affected by the recent severe winter storm in Texas.

MetLife network attorneys are able to provide document review and consultations for many issues that these individuals may face, at no cost to them through their Disaster Relief Plan. These include:

• Reviewing documents related to federal aid and insurance claims
• Providing consultation for identity theft issues due to lost personal documents
• Answering questions about damaged property for renters or homeowners
• Providing advice on dealing with creditors and bill collectors

This service will be available through July 31, 2021. Members that need assistance can call the Customer Service Center at 800-821-6400. ​​They will need to identify they are with Union Plus, the last four digits of their Social Security Number or membership number and indicate that they are interested in the document review and consultations services being offered as part of the Disaster Relief Plan.

LifeWorks Grief Counseling from MetLife
LifeWorks has resources available for you and your members to provide emotional support and referrals for community resources to help during this difficult time. LifeWorks has opened its 24/7 crisis support hotline for anyone affected by the severe weather and power outages.

The Crisis Support Line is available by calling: 1-877-757-7587. This hotline is available for anyone in the community impacted by this event. Callers will receive professional emotional support and/or referrals to community resources.^**

MetLife Auto & Home Catastrophe Response Team and Claims
MetLife stands ready to assist Texan customers experiencing property losses due to the recent extreme cold, including damage from burst pipes. Assistance includes:

• Help customers secure shelter, as needed
• Guide customers through temporary repairs
• Issue advances for immediate expenses using debit cards and electronic fund transfers
• Promptly compensate customers for any damage to property

MetLife Auto & Home Auto property damages
Phone: 1-800-854-6011
Email: MET_CAT@metlife.com

MetLife Auto & Home Flood policy claims
Phone: 1-877-254-6819
Email: metlifecs@torrentcorp.com

Ways to get or give help

Texas Workers Relief Fund
The Texas Workers Relief Fund has been established by the Texas AFL-CIO to assist workers and their families in their time of need.

Texas Freeze Resources from the Texas AFL-CIO
The Texas AFL-CIO has compiled a broad list of resources by region/city, that include shelter and food based resources.

Texas Mutual Aid Organizations

Here are some of the largest Mutual aid organizations in major Texas cities:

Austin
Donate to Austin Mutual Aid via the Venmo accounts @austinmutualaid and @austinmutualaidhotels.

Note: Do not donate to @austinmutualaidhotel (similar to the legitimate handle, just without an S.) this is a fraudulent account not associated with Austin Mutual Aid.

Dallas
Feed the People Dallas  is a Black/Latinx female-led network that serves the Dallas–Fort Worth area. You can Venmo it at @feedthepeopledallas or donate via it’s website: https://feedthepeopledallas.com/.

Houston
Community Care - Mutual Aid Houston has been overwhelmed by generous support and has recommended donations to the below organizations to help those in need in the Houston area:

• Crowdsource Rescue (@cs_rescue on Twitter) is a 100% volunteer organization using next-generation technology to quickly connect professional first responders and vetted civilian rescue teams with people in the community who need help after disaster strikes. Distributing food, water, generators, and heaters to people without power or water.
• Houseless Organizing Coalition (@HocHtx on Twitter) is a revolutionary coalition fully operated by BIPOC organizers building dual power within Houston's houseless community. Distributes supplies and addressing needs for those in our houseless community.
• West Street Recovery (@weststreetrecovery on Instagram) is a horizontally organized grassroots non-profit organization which aims to use efforts toward recovery after Hurricane Harvey to build community power.
• Houston Food Bank (@HoustonFoodBank on Twitter) serves more than 1.1 million people in the 18 southeast Texas counties and distributes food and other essentials to those in need through a network of 1,500 community partners.
• Texas Jail Project (@TxJailProject on Twitter) is a grassroots advocacy project that listens, informs, and advocates for people trapped in Texas county jails. Amidst the Texas Winter Storm, they set up a rapid response helpline for folks and their families to report on-the-ground conditions in jail facilities where thousands have no clean drinking water and are experiencing neglect.  They have been distributing funds to people's commissaries for those who are able to purchase food, water, and hygiene products through their jail's commissary stores. They also posted money to folks' phone accounts and covering the cost of all collect calls from jails.
• Community Fridges in Houston
  • HTX Community Fridges x Third Ward Community Fridge | Instagram
  • Alief Community Fridge | Instagram
  • Baytown Free Fridge | Instagram
  • Cloverleaf Community Fridge | Instagram
  • Stafford Community Fridge | Instagram
  • Tomball Community Fridge | Instagram

San Antonio

Para Mi Gente Mutual Aid is asking for donations via Cash App ($pmgmutualaid) and Venmo (@pmgmutualaid).

As always, double-check before donating to ensure you’re doing it safely and effectively and thank you for being good neighbors to our friends in Texas.

Union Plus Disaster Relief Grants of $500 are available to eligible participants of one of the following programs:

• Union Plus Credit Card Program²
• Union Plus Mortgage Program
• Union Plus Personal Loan
• Union Plus Life Insurance
• Union Plus Accidental Death Insurance
• Union Plus Auto Insurance 
• Union Plus Retiree Healthcare

To qualify for a Union Plus Disaster Relief Grant:

1. Your residence must be in a county qualifying for “Individual Disaster Assistance” from FEMA. To check if your county has been designated as an area eligible for individual assistance, visit FEMA’s disaster declarations page.
    
2. You must have had a Union Plus Credit Card for at least three months, Union Plus Personal Loan for at least six months, Union Plus Mortgage, Union Plus Retiree Health Insurance, Union Plus Life or Accidental Death Insurance or Union Plus Auto Insurance for at least 12 months with that account or policy in good standing (be up-to-date on payments).

If you participate in the Union Plus Credit Card Program and want to apply for a disaster relief grant, call 1-800-622-2580.

If you participate in any other of the designated programs and want to apply for a disaster relief grant, call 1-800-472-2005.

The Union Plus Disaster Relief Fund has provided nearly $1 million in assistance to union members facing hardships following Hurricanes Michael and Florence, floods and other natural disasters. Head to the Union Plus Disaster Relief Fund page to learn more about the benefits and eligibility requirements.