This is a Guest Post from a friend @Acadiana’s Thrifty Momma! Yep another Louisiana Blogger!

Responsible couponing

With the huge popularity of couponing these days, it is no surprise that there is a lot of talk in the coupon world about couponing ethics.  There are some things that are simply good practice and other things that are outright illegal.  Yes, there is an overseeing organization for coupons and they are very active.  This organization is the CIC (Coupon Information Center).  Although the CIC is a not-for-profit consumer organization, they are very influential among law makers.  The CIC helps fight coupon misredemption and fraud.  I have listed the top 5 guidelines to keep you ethical and legal when using coupons.

1.  NEVER copy a coupon – I think that speaks for itself.  It is illegal to copy a coupon even if it doesn’t state it on the coupon.  There are safety features on most coupons, much like a check, that will indicate to the manufacturer that it has been copied. This goes for printed coupons too!

2.  Stock up don’t stockpile – Having 10 years’ worth of toilet paper is not going to save you during the apocalypse.  There is no reason to stockpile such things. If you happen to find great freebies, stock up enough for 3-6 months, depending on the size of your family.  If you feel the need to get more free stuff, donate it.  The weather is turning cool and homeless shelters will be overflowing with needy people soon!

3.  Do not clear the shelves -  There is no need for any family to have 100 bottles of mustard!  If you find a great deal on something, take what you can reasonably use in the next 3 months and leave some for the next bargain hunter!  This, of course, does not apply to those stores that only carry 2-4 items of any given product; in that case, you have no choice but to “clear the shelf”.

4.  Be kind to your cashier – Many times cashiers are not familiar with coupons since most of the population does not use them.  Even among coupon users, the vast majority do not use more than 5 coupons in a single transaction.  Be kind and patient with the cashier, they are only doing their job.  A great way to help you stand your ground is that store’s coupon policy and have it on-hand.

5.  Be kind to others in line – I always tell the people who get in line behind me that I am using coupons/price matching.  Most people will either change lanes or, at least, be more patient about waiting for a lengthy transaction.

I have some upsetting news to share, Fake Coupons are coming out stronger! The people who like to cause trouble for us couponers are getting better at it! The Johnson & Johnson coupon that came out a few days ago had a Bricks.com url!

Budget Savvy Diva and Hip2Save have both reported on Fake Coupons!

Here is a list of fake coupons going around:
$2/2 Johnson & Johnson (Bar Codes 994115773197, 0041167032822)
$.75 Glade Coupon Premium Room Spary 9.7 oz (Bar Codes 511435240508, 081143500051068)
$3 DiGiorno Coupon (Bar Codes 571921000870, 7192167099833)
$3.00 NIVEA face or body 0.5-16.9 oz (Bar Codes 572140600872, 0072140013181)
$10.00 Electronic Banking Monopoly Coupon (Bar Codes 553569000510, 0653569005691)

There are plenty more listed on the Coupon Information Corporation Site (CIC) HERE

The Coupon Information Corporation (CIC) just added this coupon to its list of counterfeit coupons as of yesterday, April 15th.

What to do if you have these coupons or have used them?
If you have printed these coupons and have them in your possession, destroy them!

If you used the coupons to purchase items and they are still in un-opened packages, it is recommended that you take the items back to your store and return them immediately. (Please note this means that you should return the items and only be reimbursed for the purchase price minus the coupon amount. In some cases this may mean that you may not be reimbursed at all if the item was free after the coupon).

Every store that accepted these coupons will NOT be reimbursed by the manufacturer so by returning the items, you are preventing the store from losing money. If you have already opened/used the items purchased with this coupon, I am honestly at a loss for advise; however, I do encourage you to contact your local store manager and ask him/her what is recommended in this situation. Just explain that you just found out this coupon was a fake.

Remember: Circulating counterfeit coupons is a criminal offense that can be prosecuted by federal, state or local law enforcement, according to CIC. Don’t risk costly penalties to save a few cents! The penalty depends on the amount on the coupons.

What are the penalties for coupon fraud?
Longest prison sentence: 17 years
Highest financial penalty: $5 million
Prison sentences of three to five years are not uncommon. Financial penalties generally vary, but have often been in excess of $200,000.