Larry Smith Interview by Chicago Sun-Times on Double Income Tax on Legal Fees
I was proud to help out all consumers and their attorneys in taking part in a story by the Chicago Sun-Times on a tax code quirk that creates double income taxes on legal fees. After our cases are resolved, consumers tend to receive a 1099 tax form from the company we sued for the […]
How Bankruptcy Affects Your Credit Report
There is a lot of confusion surrounding how a bankruptcy affects a credit report. Many believe that the idea of a “fresh start” is supposed to mean that one’s credit should improve after bankruptcy. However, declaring bankruptcy and defaulting on payment obligations should cause a great deal of harm to one’s credit standing. Below we will explore how a bankruptcy […]
Credit Bureaus Extend Free Reports During Pandemic
Good news for consumers. ICYMI CDIA and the Big Three credit bureaus announced they are extending free weekly credit reports at https://link.edgepilot.com/s/ca08fc70/c2kzDnTgJ0G7i7gDYEltGg?u=http://www.annualcreditreport.com/ for an additional year until April 20, 2022. https://link.edgepilot.com/s/de4c85fa/iKHOOxgS7k2JJdhHeqj7Vg?u=https://www.cdiaonline.org/equifax-experian-and-transunion-announce-extension-of-free-weekly-credit-reports-to-help-americans-during-covid-19/ Again, instead of one per year, consumers can now receive one per WEEK. Continue to check your credit report and contact SmithMarco, P.C. if […]
Good Morning America Reports Record Number of Credit Report Errors
This morning on Good Morning America, it was reported that a record number of Americans are reporting errors on their credit reports. It was quite an eye opening piece. If you have not seen it, watch here. A big part of the problem is the manner in which creditors are reporting accounts affected by the […]
What Does a Background Check Show About You?
More and more, employers are using criminal background checks in the process of weeding out job candidates. So, what can show up on a criminal background check that a potential employer is going to use? Surprisingly, there are not a lot of limitations – not nearly as much as one would think. While the Fair Credit Reporting […]
Be Prepared for Background Checks When the Job Market Opens Up
With a vaccine roll-out and hope on the horizon, it is certain that the jobs market will open up, and employers will be seeking to hire again. Whether it be new businesses built during the pandemic or old ones getting back, employees will be needed. And with so many Americans being off work for so long, expect […]
No Plans to Use Your Credit – 3 Reasons Why You Still Need to Check it
During trying economic times, like many of us are facing during this pandemic, one might just assume they need not waste time checking up on their credit. Maybe you are already in a house or apartment for a while, not in the market for a car anymore, or just believe that now is not the […]
For Peace of Mind, Focus on Whole Report and Not Just Credit Scores
Credit monitoring has become a daily activity for some people. We are able to instantly look at our current credit scores from just opening an app on our phones. Many banks offer free monitoring as part of their promotions. We can see what our credit score is by the minute. Is that a good thing […]
Dispute on your Background Report
Hopefully, in the coming months, we will get control over the pandemic and many of us will have a chance to get back to work. But with so many businesses closing, many of us will be starting all over again, looking for new jobs. And with job-seeking goes the background checks. More and more employers […]
Seeking or Losing Credit – What Rights Do We Have?
As the economy continues to struggle through the pandemic, many consumers are experiencing credit loss. Either their current creditors are deciding to discontinue the relationship or lower the line of credit, or people seeking to obtain new credit are being turned away. Often times the consumer is frustrated as they believe their credit file or […]