People Come First At Our Consumer Rights Law Firm
Identity theft comes in many forms and faces, and can hit anyone at any time. Believe it or not small children can be victims of identity theft if they have a Social Security number. It doesn’t matter what your social economic status is; if you have any credit, or any credit card, a sophisticated identity thief can help themselves to…
One of the most damaging credit score killers are unpaid tax liens. Unpaid tax liens can damage your score for years to come and will continue to cause damage even after they are “released” or paid. An unpaid tax lien can remain on your credit file indefinitely per the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”). A new policy proposed by the…
A bill introduced to Congress this past week would allow consumers who are behind on their medical bills up to 120 days to work out a payment plan with debt collectors prior to the debt being reported on their credit file. This proposed amendment before Congress, called the Accuracy in Reporting Medical Debt Act, would allow debtors a grace period…
There is often a great deal of confusion about what rights you have as a consumer when it comes to requesting validation from a debt collector. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) explicitly provides consumers with this right and defines in the statute the duties collectors have prior to continuing their collection efforts. As a general rule, a collector…
Continuing my discussion of the importance of your credit report , the focus of today’s blog is on the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (“EFTA”). The EFTA was passed in 1978 to establish consumers’ rights and responsibilities of all participants in electronic funds transfer activities. The Act applies to electronic fund transfers, such as those involving automatic teller machines (ATMs), point-of-sale…
The Fair Credit Billing Act (“FCBA”) is a federal law designed to protect you from unfair credit billing practices. The FCBA applies to open ended credit accounts, such as credit cards, department store cards and revolving credit accounts-a line of credit where your balance and monthly payment fluctuate. This Act provides guidelines for both consumers and creditors to manage disputes…
You are being sued for an old debt. What should you do? You are overwhelmed and need some advice. Why are you being sued? The purpose of the lawsuit being filed by the creditor or collector’s attorneys is because they ultimately want to seek a judgment against you and then garnish your wages or attach to certain assets of yours.…
In numerous previous posts, I have discussed both the definition and the importance of your credit score. Your score, specific to you as a consumer, is a number that defines your credit worthiness and is used by companies to evaluate the potential risk in making the decision to lend you money and at what interest rate. Below is a list…
With the new amendments to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) regarding employment background checks, the number of cases filed continues to grow at a rapid pace. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), the agency in charge of spear heading these amendments, is requiring stringent compliance of employers when accessing consumer reports, increasing the number of lawsuits filed alleging violations…
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) you are entitled to one free copy of your credit report annually. Additionally, as a consumer you are permitted to review your credit report anytime and often as you like without affecting your score. However, when any other party reviews your report, this access, called an “inquiry”, is reported on your credit file…