If you have an outstanding bill or you have fallen behind on your mortgage or credit card payments, you may be contacted by a debt collection agency. Whether you have lost your job, suffered a medical emergency, or you simply made some unfortunate financial decisions that caused you to accumulate debt, owing a substantial amount
The three main credit reporting agencies (CRAs), Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, recently announced that this summer, they will remove certain types of medical debts from Americans’ credit reports and change how they report these debts. Medical debt is a major concern for many Americans. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) estimates that more than $88
Every year, millions of Americans are conned out of their hard-earned money by deceptive, unscrupulous individuals who make false claims to consumers and cheat them out of a significant amount of money. Too often, innocent, hard-working individuals are exploited during an interaction with an individual or a business representative who convinces them that they are
Having practiced consumer rights law for more than two decades, it’s not unusual for other lawyers to tell me they have no idea what consumer rights law is, and that they highly doubt their clients have legal issues that would fall under the consumer rights umbrella. But ignorance is not bliss, especially when it comes
We’d all like to think that we’re unique. But if we were to judge our uniqueness simply by our first and last names, we’d be disappointed. Some of us might share the same first and last names with hundreds or thousands of other people. According to research from Southern Illinois University, there were 34,269 people
As a consumer, you have basic rights when it comes to safety, the right to be informed about a product, to have your concerns heard, and to take legal action if your consumer rights have been violated. Unfortunately, if you are the victim of fraud, a defective product, or false advertising, or you have been
When you are the victim of identity theft, it can have an adverse impact on your entire life and in particular your finances. It can cause you to incur significant debt that you never accumulated or prevent you from renting an apartment or qualifying for a loan because of discrepancies on your credit report. It
Identity theft is a serious problem that can be financially devastating for the person whose identity or personal information has been stolen. Despite ongoing cybersecurity efforts, fraudsters continue to find ways to steal Social Security numbers, credit card information, and other personal information that can be used to make a profit. According to a recent
Delaware County Sheriff Jerry L. Sanders, Jr. issued a warning to county residents of a new wave of scam phone calls that appears to be from county law enforcement because of spoofed phone numbers. The callers are seeking payment for supposed fines and warrants for arrest. Most people know the term spoof to mean a
An individual’s credit report is an important document that can dictate the types of purchases they can make in the future. It chronicles their credit history, including any outstanding debts, late payments, or lines of credit taken out in their name. Credit reports are used when a person is looking to make a major purchase