Tag Archives: credit
- Final MTA Debt Collection Fraudster Pleads Guilty
The last defendant in the MTA debt collection scheme has pleaded guilty. Paul Anthony Vasquez pleaded guilty on January 17, 2012 to conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud and money laundering. Vasquez also agreed to pay full restitution and forfeit assets seized by federal agents, including over $950,000 in cash and a 1.5 carat [...]
- FTC And CFPB Pledge To Work Together To Protect Consumers
It was announced today that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have signed an agreement to coordinate efforts to protect consumers in an effort to avoid duplication of federal law enforcement and regulatory efforts. The memorandum of the two agencies’ understand can be viewed here. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street [...]
- Defendants In Payday Lending Case To Pay More Than $294,000 For Illegal Garnishment Of Consumers’ Paychecks
Defendants in a payday lending case have been ordered to pay more than $294,000 for illegal garnishment of consumers’ paychecks. A federal court has ordered, at the request of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), one of the individuals behind a payday lending scheme and two companies he controlled to pay $294,536 for illegally trying to [...]
- Second Annual Small Business Saturday Could Mean Deal For American Express Cardholders
November hosts Small Business Saturday! Never heard of it? Me either. But apparently in honor of the day which is dedicated to small businesses on the busiest shopping weekend of the year the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is urging consumers to support the day and attempting to spread awareness. “For the second year in a [...]
- True Cradle Robbers – Stealing Credit From The Cradle
It’s often not a parent’s first thought to check the credit report of their minor child, however, it may now become a necessity. Not because a child may fraudulently be using credit without their parents’ knowledge but because scammers may have stolen their unused Social Security number and identity. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) put [...]
- It’s Been A Year Since The TSR – What’s Changed With Debt Settlement?
A year ago this month the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) barred debt settlement companies that used telemarketing from accepting up-front fees. Although it’s been an entire year since this change we are still see companies trying sneak in those up-front fees with businesses trying to exploit loopholes. The whole purpose of the Telemarketing Sales Ruling [...]
- Should I Sign With Fast Track Debt Relief? – Mary
“Dear Damon, I am ready to meet with a person on Monday to sign a paper for Fasttrackdebtrelief program. I was researching it..I am scared now.I don’t trust it. I saw your name in reviews about Fast Track.I need advise~~It is Saturday I am overwhelmed with a large amount of debt..I am struggling to pay [...]
- Debt Settlement: Top Ten Most Misunderstood Facts
Over the past few years debt settlement has been in the news, not always in a good way. Many consumers have complained about the services they’ve received while some have been very happy. Much of the disparity in the perception of the service is due to misconceptions about the process itself. So here are the [...]
- Trapped in a Debt Settlement Contract. What to Do? – Dean
“I contracted a debt settlement company now that it changed. I signed with them back in May of 2010, this was before the new law changed for settlement companies not to be able to charge up front for settlements. The contract is crazy, and I was stupid to sign it. I was totally delusional from [...]
- Building Your Financial Future: Advice For 20-Somethings
photo © 2009 Andrew Magill | more info (via: Wylio)A lot of people always say that sometimes no credit is just as bad as poor credit. And I’d like to attest, this is correct. I, Amanda Miller, am in my 20s. Which means, you guessed it, I am the poorest I will ever be again [...]
- A Good Credit Score Can Save Me How Much Money? – Infographic
Often times when dealing with a financial problem it is not possible to keep your credit score in top notch condition. But after the crisis passes, striving for a good credit score is a good thing to do, even if you don’t plan to go deep in debt ever again. Here is a great infographic [...]
- Forgotten Regulations That You Can Use to Make Your Creditors Treat You Fairly
If you are concerned about the way credit card companies and other lenders do business, you will be pleased to discover a little known regulation enacted for your protection. Regulation Z, or the Truth in Lending Law, regulates certain credit card practices and helps you know the true cost of credit and achieve a fair [...]
- Credit Card or Debit Card: The Great Debate
Having trouble getting approved for a credit card? Do you have bad credit? Maybe a debit card is the answer. Today, more and more banks and financial institutions are rushing to issue their customers debit cards. In fact, many of these companies routinely issue “enhanced” ATM cards that can also be used as debit cards [...]
- Consumer Reports: Credit Card Caution
Consumer Reports: Credit Card Caution KKTV 11 News, CO - 46 minutes ago American credit card debt is up more than eight percent from a year ago. That's the highest amount ever recorded. In these tough economic times, …
- Secret Credit Bureaus You Don’t Know About, But They Know About You
So let me tell you a story about secret credit bureaus that you don’t know about. Most of us have some knowledge about the three major credit bureaus that hold our credit report and credit score. The three biggies are Equifax, Experian and Transunion. But there are more places that hold information about you. Have [...]