I previously published a story about an outfit out of Florida being challenged in court over allegations they were selling credit repair services. See this story. Well some of the same players are back in it again. This new suit names Berges Law Group, Otto Berges, Consumer Protection Counsel, Debt Be Gone, and Gregory Fishman. Well apparently a couple of ... Read More »
Yesterday the Federal Trade Commission announced a very successful action against RMCN Credit Services for charging consumers for credit repair services. Over the years some readers have insisted in arguing with me that charging advance fees for removing negative but accurate information from a credit report is perfectly legit. Well that approach is bullshit, was bullshit and will continue to ... Read More »
Eric Phillips of California is going to have 33 months in federal prison to think back about his glory days of allegedly helping to create Georggin Law, pay the attorney who risked his license some compensation, and fleece consumers for credit repair services. As complaints about the debt relief services began to pile up with the FBI, an investigation began ... Read More »
by Paula Langguth Ryan, Mediator, Consumer Advocate and Communications Consultant. Every week, people contact me wanting advice on how to get their FICO or credit score up over the 700 mark. Here’s the first question I ask them: Which would you rather increase by 38% in six months– your FICO score or your net worth? The problem is, raising your ... Read More »
There is no shortage of issues that abound when it comes to credit reports. Between worrying if the correct information is being reported about you to what might be going on with your credit report behind your back, you have to remain ever vigilant. There many places where you can pay for credit report monitoring but I like to recommend ... Read More »
If you are surprised by what I’m about to share with you, you should not be. The allegation is a minister who was previous charged with identity theft and drug charges has been running an Illinois credit repair business that has left some unhappy consumers without refunds. “Moshamba Cannon was a preacher with a message, a family, and a surprisingly ... Read More »
So here is the predictable circle of life with some of the debt relief troubles I’ve written about. I write about a company. I get attacked that I don’t know what I’m talking about. The regulators take action. The company is toast. Sometimes the underlying people behind these efforts make a ton of money, stash some and settle with the ... Read More »
I get so tired of ads proclaiming there is some magic to credit repair and they charge an arm and a leg. Or how about the ads that claim they can get you a new alternative number to use in place of your social security number. That’s just illegal to use to apply for credit. Repair your credit with this ... Read More »
As part of my efforts to protect consumers, I poke around and look at advertisements and sales claims by debt relief companies. The help wanted ads are a great way to see who is motivated first by money rathe than offering exceptional consumer advice. Take for example the two advertisements today for a group called Smart Credit Group. The ads ... Read More »
Edwin Jacquet was sentenced yesterday in Manhattan federal court to 63 months in prison for his leadership role in what is believed to be the largest known credit repair fraud scheme ever charged. He was also ordered to pay more than $9.3 million in restitution for the losses caused by the scheme. Jacquet pled guilty in March 2012 to one ... Read More »
The FTC has announced they went back after Latrese & Kevin Enterprises, Hargrave & Associates Financial Solutions, Latrese Hargrave, Latrese V. Williams, and Kevin Hargrave, Sr. The couple and their companies somehow allegedly resurrected their credit repair outfit after they had been previous slapped by the FTC. Credit repair companies nailed by FTC. – (Click to Tweet) In the announcement ... Read More »
‘File Segregation’: New ID Is a Bad IDea If you have filed for bankruptcy, you may be the target of a credit repair scheme called file segregation, SCN or Secondary Credit Number, or CPN or Credit Profile Number. In this scheme, you are promised a chance to hide unfavorable credit information by establishing a new credit identity. That may sound ... Read More »
I saw an online ad for a company called Prime Credit Experts that said “Permanently Remove Charge Offs – Immediately Improve Your Credit Score.” – Source. So of course I had to go take a look at their site. When credit repair companies make claims about their services and being able to delete inaccurate information from a credit report, that’s ... Read More »
If you are the victim of identity theft the last thing you want to worry about is what to do next. Thanks to the kind folks at the FTC here is a comprehensive guide on what to do if you discover you are a victim of identity theft. This step-by-step guide will make it extremely easy for you to take ... Read More »
A U.S. district court granted a Federal Trade Commission request and has temporarily shut down a Florida-based operation that allegedly continued to pitch bogus credit-repair services nationwide, despite a 2010 court order requiring it to stop. The new court order, which will remain in place while the FTC seeks a contempt ruling against the defendants for violating the original order, ... Read More »
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