Year: 2011

My bank account was frozen and I was never given notice.  This is a frequent complaint that we hear from consumers.  Learn more about this and other frequent inquiries by reading below. What is a bank garnishment?  If there is a judgment against you, to satisfy the judgment, the creditor can garnish your wages, garnish […]

Many consumers have the same problem – paying their bills.  Needless to say, this is a common problem when unemployment is at an all time high.  Americans are struggling to pay their bills, the ones who are lucky enough to have jobs are working hard to keep them.  No one wants collection calls at work […]

We hear many complaints from consumers that they are getting so many calls from the collector that it is harassing and abusive.  The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act deems it a violation of the law to harass a debtor, and one of the ways it can be done is through a campaign of constant calling.  […]

Everyone is susceptible to identity theft.  The young or old, rich or poor – be careful.  Here are 10 important tips and facts about identity theft so you can avoid becoming a victim.  1.  Thieves do not need your credit card to steal your identity. Thieves need only one piece of information about you like your […]

You purchased a car and it has been in the repair shop frequently.  You are angry and frustrated.  Despite your monthly car payments, you are without a working vehicle.  How do you determine if your vehicle is a lemon? Step 1 Look at the manufacture, mileage and age of your vehicle.  The lemon law applies […]

I read an interesting piece in an article in Time Magazine about 5 things you should never buy in a store.  It included unlimited cell phone minutes, bottled water,  and alternative flu remedies.  It of course cautioned that there are exceptions to the rules.  For instance, despite the reports that most bottled water is simply […]

The definition of debt collector under the  Fair Debt Collection Practices Act does not include original creditors or servicers of an account for a creditor.  There are certain exceptions to the rule, but for the most part, the statute only applies to third party debt collectors.  Therefore, your creditors  are not held responsible for following […]

Be careful. An ex-spouse can ruin your credit long after the divorce.  We hear it all the time.  There is a divorce decree that states that one spouse is liable for certain old credit card bills.  Years later, that spouse discontinues making payments for whatever reason.  The spouse that was not supposed to be liable […]

The virtual credit card has been around for some time. Remarkably, few consumers use them. American Express discontinued virtual credit card service in 2004 and Discover followed in September, but Bank of America and Citi still offer it. Virtual credit card numbers were created to avoid giving out your credit card information. They are used when the credit […]

Minnesota’s Department of Commerce is clamping down on the abusive tactics of debt collection firms. Eight firms are facing severe financial penalties ranging from $40,000 to as high as $300,000.  These firms are being accused of harassing consumers, stealing personal financial information and hiring felons as collectors. The firms that are being penalized include Allied Interstate, […]