Recently we released the latest quarterly consumer credit trends report, this time focusing on the removal of civil public records from consumer credit reports. The three nationwide credit reporting companies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—entered into a settlement with...

We’ve recently heard that scammers are recycling an old phishing attempt. In this version, scammers, posing as a well-known tech company, email a phony invoice showing that you’ve recently bought music or apps from them. The email...

Hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and their resulting financial problems Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and the wildfires in California may be months behind us, but we know people continue to deal with the effects of these natural disasters...

In a world where it is drummed into us to buy things and that doing so even makes us happier, non-essential spending can play havoc with our finances. What is non-essential spending? It is spending money for...

New Medicare cards are coming soon. Here’s what you need to know about your new card. Plus, how to avoid related scams. Starting in April 2018, Medicare will begin mailing new cards to everyone who gets Medicare...

It’s Valentine’s Day and you and your spouse are enjoying a candle lit dinner at your favorite restaurant. Everything feels picture perfect as you end your evening sharing a heart-shaped chocolate dessert. When you try to pay...

Apparently many in my generation — albeit a bit younger than I am — are ditching credit cards. That’s the conclusion Fortune came to based on data that finds only one-third of Millennials utilize credit cards, the majority of...

Today, people who weren’t able to access the money on their RushCards in October 2015, but no longer have an active RushCard account, will have redress checks mailed to them.  And earlier this month, people who were...

If you’ve been following the news, you’ve probably seen that the iconic Toys”R”Us is winding down its business operations in the U.S., and closing its stores across the country, including stores in Puerto Rico. At this time,...

This might seem random coming from a personal finance enthusiast, but I love the Disney theme parks. The reason this may seem strange is because resorts like Disneyland and Walt Disney World are famously expensive and continue...

The Federal Trade Commission will begin mailing 36,830 checks totaling $10,158,601, to consumers who lost money to a technical support scam. Inbound Call Experts, LLC, doing business as Advanced Tech Support, along with other defendants, agreed to...

Ever get a chain letter in the mail or online? Then you know the drill — you send money to a person at the top of the list, then take their name off and add yours to...

At one time or another, we are all faced with a crisis wherein we need cash quickly. Depending on how desperate for cash you may find yourself, the list below explores a few ways to raise money...

It seems inconceivable that something as innocent as a lemonade stand could rouse the interest of the IRS. Believe it or not, though, there are a number of entrepreneurial activities your kids might try which would yield...

March Madness. The NCAA Playoffs. The World Cup. The World Series. These are just a few of the major sporting events that Americans spend lots of time and money on… and it’s usually seen as worth it...

“Get started selling on Amazon and make $5,000 – $10,000 in the next 30 days… even if you’ve never sold anything online before.” That’s one of the pitches the promoters of a large get-rich scheme used to...

We’ve heard that people are getting official-looking emails about the Western Union settlement. The thing to know is that you cannot apply for a refund by email. The scam emails we’ve seen ask for information about your...

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday hiked its benchmark interest rate from 1.5% to 1.75%, the highest its been since 2008. The central bank also suggested that additional rate increases are coming later this year. So what does...

Back in San Francisco in 2012, I was one of many NYC transplants desperately trying to find an apartment in a city that just didn’t have enough to go around. So many people were in the same...

Buying a car is expensive enough, but most people would agree that owning a car is far more taxing on one’s finances, with unexpected repairs, gas money, parking fees and traffic summons quickly adding up. In this...

Michael Abdelmesseh and KMA Merchant Services LLC have agreed to settle a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit for laundering credit card charges for Money Now Funding (MNF), a business opportunity scheme that falsely promised consumers they would make...

They’re at it again… tax scammers scheming new ways to steal personal information and money. In the first scenario, identity thieves file a fake tax return and have the refund deposited into your bank account. The thieves...

A Durham, North Carolina, tax return preparer was sentenced to 20 months in prison today for aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the...

Defendants bombarded consumers with illegal spam email pitching supplements The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 18,301 refund checks totaling more than $437,000 to people who bought bogus weight-loss products from Colby Fox, Christopher Reinhold and their companies,...

How will my money be given out to me from my 401k when I retire? Will a portion be given monthly or will it be given in a lump sum? I would like to get a big...

Have you ever noticed that lots of “radical people” get rich, while lots of average people just stay average? And in our economy, average usually means in debt, living paycheck to paycheck, and on the verge of...

Buying a new (or new-to-you) car from a dealership can be a harrowing experience. Your money is on the line, your ego takes a beating, and you worry about getting stuck with a lemon. It doesn’t have...

A priest for the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose was sentenced to 36 months in prison, announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Brian J....

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released the results of a first-of-its-kind national survey on the financial well-being of U.S. consumers that showed that more than 40 percent of U.S. adults struggle to make ends meet. The...

If you’re like most people, you want to get the lowest interest rate that you can find for your mortgage loan. But how is your interest rate determined? That can be difficult to figure out for even the savviest...

These days it seems the term “side hustle” is everywhere you look. This might lead some to assume that — as this Uber commercial proclaims — everyone needs one. However the truth, as it tends to be,...

Private Student loans are very dischargeable in bankruptcy and I’m going to show you are.   These types on loans can be as dischargeable as a credit card.  Let’s take a look at the Bankruptcy Code. Section...

When it comes to money, there are lots of numbers to tell you how you’re doing, like how much you have in the bank, your credit score, or the number of months left on your mortgage or...

According to John Greenleaf Whittier, “For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, ‘It might have been.’” I disagree. The saddest words are “I can’t.” How often do we hear that phrase employed,...

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took action against Top Notch Funding and two individuals associated with the company for lying in loan offerings to consumers who were awaiting payment from settlements in legal cases or from...

Falsely claimed ‘mass joinder’ lawsuits would void mortgage or get consumers $75,000 cash A federal court has found that Jeremy Foti and Charles Marshall, acting through Brookstone Law and Advantis Law, “made numerous false and/or misleading material...

Student loan borrowers with disabilities face unique challenges when repaying student loan debt. Borrowers with disabilities complain to the Bureau about servicing breakdowns and debt collection obstacles. These breakdowns can increase borrowers’ financial distress. Servicing breakdowns that...

Many of the ads you see online are created by marketers who are paid each time you click on their ad. And if that click takes you to a website where you sign up to try a...

A “free” trial offer may be tempting, but it could be a scam out to get your money. The Federal Trade Commission wants consumers to be aware of affiliate marketing in online advertising. Affiliate marketing is a...

Smartwatches have quickly gone from sci-fi to commonplace, and it’s easy to see why. Users can conveniently manage messages, music, fitness, and more right from their wrists as they go about the day.  But enjoying the convenience...

The Justice Department announced that at this time it will not challenge a proposal by The Clearing House Payments Company LLC (“TCH”), a joint venture of 24 U.S. banks, to create and operate a new payment system...

When you started or returned to college this year, you may have heard a lot around campus about making smart financial decisions. Paying for college is more than just applying for scholarships, grants, and student loans. Part...

Considering a fraud alert or credit freeze? In the aftermath of the Equifax data breach, many people are. You don’t need to be an identity theft victim to use them – but it’s helpful to consider your...

Do you have a relationship with debt? You hate it, but feel helpless to stay away from it? If so, you’re not alone. According to a New York Fed report, U.S. households have $12.3 trillion in debt....

The Justice Department previously announced that CitiFinancial Credit Company, as successor to CitiFinancial Auto Corporation, has agreed to pay $907,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by repossessing 164 cars owned...

Whether or not you are among the millions of people affected by the recent Equifax data breach, there are several steps you can take to respond when your personal information is exposed in a data breach.  We...

If your car broke down or you had an unexpected trip to the hospital, would you be able to cover the costs? If you don’t have savings, you could wind up borrowing money at high interest rates,...

The Federal Trade Commission has reached a settlement with PayPal, Inc. over allegations that the company told users of its Venmo peer-to-peer payment service that money credited to their Venmo balances could be transferred to external bank...

Oh no! It’s the end of the month and you are running short of money again. You blame it on your overspending spouse, fuming that if only he would stop wasting money your budget would be fine....

Online peer-to-peer, or P2P, payment systems let you send money to people quickly. I’ve used them to collect money from the parents on my daughter’s soccer team and to send money to my brothers when we’ve bought...