Month: April 2013

The FICO Score is a credit score most lenders use to determine your credit worthiness and whether you are a credit risk, so to speak.  Your FICO Score is a number that is calculated by combining pieces of your credit history from your report. This information is grouped into five different categories using percentages to […]

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) is a federal law that regulates the use of consumer credit and other background information.  The FCRA was created to ensure the distribution of accurate information about each consumer and provide adequate notice and information to consumers whose credit or employment is affected by the information collected and disseminated.  […]

Under Section 1692d of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) a collector may not engage in any conduct the natural consequence of which is to harass, oppress or abuse any person in connection with the collection of a debt.  This conduct includes but is not limited to, causing a telephone to ring or engaging […]

In Caprio v. Healthcare Revenue Recovery Group LLC, the plaintiff filed a complaint against Healthcare Revenue Recovery Group, LLC (“HRRG”) alleging violations under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) D.C. Civil No. 2-11-cv-02877 (New Jersey).  On appeal from the New Jersey District Court, the Third Circuit held that a collection letter sent by HRRG, […]

In March of this year the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) filed a formal complaint against collection agency, Security Credit Services, LLC (“SCS”) and Jacob Law Group PLLC (“Jacob”) alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) by charging consumers illegal fees for payments made by telephone and for threatening to file suit against […]

April 15th has come and gone.  Now is the time to focus on your credit report. Why – what is the big deal? Your credit score is important.  Unpaid debts, late payments, judgments and misreporting will not help you. They  will keep your score low and make it difficult to obtain a mortgage, get a […]

In a class action suit against Portfolio Recovery Associates, a consumer rights firms wins a $350,000 judgment against the collection agency for violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”).  In the case of Zimmerman v Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC, a plaintiff sued the debt collector for sending a collection letter inferring he was […]

As I finish up this week’s blogs focusing on the efforts of the Consumer Financial protection Bureau (“CFPB”) I want to discuss a situation relating to the mortgage industry that the Bureau was faced with and how it enforced its policy.  Earlier this month the CFPB announced its final decision in its effort to cease […]

In a post earlier this week, I blogged about the inception and purpose of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”).  When creating this agency the federal government required the submission of an annual report on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) explaining the agency’s progress on supervising the entire collection industry.  In an effort […]

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) is an agency created by our federal government, responsible for protecting and regulating financial services relating to consumers.  The bureau was created in response to the financial crisis our country underwent during the recession of this century.  The bureau, which became effective on July 21, 2011, is responsible for […]