Being harassed by a collection agency is never fun. How you deal with that harassment is very important to your sanity and protection of your rights outlined by laws that govern collection agencies. There are many things that a collection agency will do to attempt to intimidate you over the phone. Most of these tactics are illegal and if you document them, a collection agency may end up owing you money. Continue reading
Consumer Protection
Arkansas Sues Payday Lenders PDL Support LLC and Platinum B Services LLC for Illegal Usurious Lending
Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel filed suit against online payday lenders controlled by Josh Mitchem. His companies, PDL Support LLC and Platinum B Services LLC routinely charge interest rates that exceed 600% APR. One contract reflected an APR of 644.12%. Continue reading
Rincon Debt Management and Related Debt Collectors Shut Down Following Scam
Rincon Management Services LLC did business as Rincon Debt Management through a total of 7 debt collection companies. Following a Federal Trade Commission investigation, a California court has finally filed suit to seize the assets of the company and force a shutdown. Continue reading
Tax debt resolution services are frequently scams
Getting a tax debt resolution is similar to a regular debt settlement. If you are late in paying federal taxes, the IRS will act like a creditor, saying you may face consequences if you don’t pay up soon. The difference with taxes, however, is that the claim of potential consequences is true. Your assets may get frozen or seized, and you will be in an economic morass. In searching for a resolution, you may enlist in help from an attorney or a company that offers tax resolution services. As with any financial issue, you need to watch out for potential scams. Continue reading
How Identity Thieves Steal Your Information
Identity theft is a serious crime in the United States with as many as 9 million victims each year. Identity thieves steal personal information such as name, Social Security number, driver’s license number or credit card numbers with the intention of committing fraud. Once the thieves have your information they may rent an apartment, open a credit card account, establish telephone, utilities or automobile bills in your name, and since the regular payment of these credit lines do not effect the thief there is little regard to the destruction of the victim’s credit score. The scariest part of this type of crime is that the victims are sometimes unaware of the sabotage against their credit history until after the fact when contacted by debt collectors. The aftermath victims face can range from a quick resolution to hundreds of hours and dollars spent to restore their good name to missing out on opportunities like employment and housing or education loans. Continue reading
How to Spot the Fake Collection Agency Scam
Are you receiving threatening phone calls about collection accounts you do not recognize? Are the callers especially abusive? You may not know it, but you could be a victim of more than just a collection law violator. You could be the target of the rapidly growing fake collection agency scam. Continue reading
Beware of Property Tax Consultant Scam
Can a property tax consultant reduce your tax bill? How do they work? What are their qualifications? The answers might surprise you. The property tax consultant scam is one of the fastest growing sectors of fraudulent activity. Duke University’s Don Wells claims 70% of consultants are charlatans. I suspect that the number is even higher in the property tax consulting business. Continue reading
Blue Hippo Collection Accounts May be Uncollectible
Do you owe money to Blue Hippo for computers that you may or may not have received? There is a good chance that you may not have to pay anything on those debts. Continue reading
JK Harris in Contempt of 2008 Settlement
JK Harris has again found itself on the wrong side of the law by promising benefits that it was unable to provide. Despite agreeing to a 2008 settlement in which JK Harris agreed to change its advertising, the firm has again been slapped with contempt allegations for signing up four West Virginia residents even though they did not qualify for the advertised “Offer in Compromise” program. Continue reading
The CFPB – Consumer Watchdog or Paper Tiger?
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is scheduled to begin operations on July 21, but it remains unclear who will head the new agency and what regulatory power it will have. The Bureau was established by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 to educate and protect consumers from predatory lending practices. However, it has been mired in controversy since its inception by opponents of financial reform and financial sector lobbying groups. Continue reading
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