Consumer Law

Q&A: How bailout affects consumers

Posted on September 24, 2008
Q&A: How bailout affects consumers | startribune.com

Let?s all play Wall Street Reckoning

Posted on September 24, 2008
Every Senator and Representative should talk this tough.  Sen. Dodd and Rep. Frank - you listening?

In Debt? Don?t Let Bill Collectors Bully You

Posted on September 24, 2008
In Debt? Don’t Let Bill Collectors Bully You | parade.com

Research Reveals Credit Cards Encourage Spending

Posted on September 24, 2008
Research Reveals Credit Cards Encourage Spending | getrichslowly.org

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Credit card insiders speak out against abusive practices

Posted on September 24, 2008
Earlier this year, former employees of MBNA and Bank of America contacted AFFIL looking for a way to speak out about disturbing sales practices they were trained to use as employees. Their stories confirm what we’ve long suspected: that credit card companies extend credit to those who can’t afford it, and engage in [...

House passes the Credit Cardholders? Bill of Rights

Posted on September 23, 2008
One down, one to go. The House of Representatives today passed the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights 312-112, a pretty convincing vote of confidence in the bill. Come on, Senate, get this done! Confirmation should appear on THOMAS shortly. This report comes by way of Cora Ganzglass, NACA’s Legislative Director...

AmeriDebt Returns $13 Million To Debt Management Scam Victims

Posted on September 23, 2008
AmeriDebt Returns $13 Million To Debt Management Scam Victims | New York Consumer Litigation

RIAA and 5 years of filesharing lawsuits

Posted on September 23, 2008
David Kravets over at Wired Blog Network’s Threat Level has a great piece on the travesty of abuse that is the RIAA’s campaign to go after illicit music downloads. Its been 5 years, with over 30,000 lawsuits filed and one jury trial victory that is likely to be reversed...

Check out I’m a constitution

Posted on September 23, 2008
Check out I’m a constitution Voter. Considering the times we should all “rediscover” the Constitution.

Millions at Risk of Foreclosure Fraud

Posted on September 22, 2008
Millions at Risk of Foreclosure Fraud | The Red Tape Chronicles

Would you elect (or re-elect) a politician who votes for a bailout?

Posted on September 21, 2008
George W. Bush wants to use $700 billion of taxpayers’ dollars to give loans to corporations bogged down by bad debt. Most Americans seem to think this is a terrible idea. Should we, the American taxpayer, invest in the same zombie debt that is leading companies down the road to bankruptcy? R...

U.S. government plans to buy billions in bad bank debt

Posted on September 19, 2008
Rather than allow the economy to collapse under its own bloated weight, then allow it to rebuild itself after putting smarter regulations in place, the U.S. government plans to take on billions in bad debt in a massive bank bailout. Here is the big joke that the government is telling to justify the plan: The government would [...

Choose a hospital based on the chance you will die in it

Posted on September 19, 2008
If you enjoy morbid statistics, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has got a website for you. At DHS’s Hospital Compare site, you can figure out (among other things) how many people died from various diseases at hospitals you are likely to visit...

Find the Right Credit Card at BillShrink

Posted on September 18, 2008
BillShrink lets you find the right credit card based on your spending and payment habits. Find the Right Credit Card at BillShrink | Lifehacker

Bankruptcy, Takeovers, and Bailouts - Oh My!

Posted on September 18, 2008
Bankruptcy, Takeovers, and Bailouts - Oh My! | Queercents

Enacted Payday Lending Legislation - 2008 Session

Posted on September 18, 2008
Enacted Payday Lending Legislation - 2008 Session | Nat’l Conference of State Legislatures (via Payday Lending Association)

Predatory Lending Association: dedicated to extracting maximum profit from the working poor

Posted on September 18, 2008
The website of the Predatory Lending Association* is chock-full of great information for payday lenders, such as racial profiling tools, tips on lending to members of the military (no, 20 payday loan stores by a military base are not too many), and a working poor finder, which uses Google Maps to help predatory lenders find [...

Banks in Denial

Posted on September 18, 2008
Banks in Denial | Consumer Law & Policy

Stop debt collection harassment

Posted on September 18, 2008
This blog has a lot of great information for consumers dealing with debt collection harassment. Here is a roundup of some of the best posts for consumers coping with debt collection: What to do when a debt collector calls Stop debt collector calls with the TeleZapper Debt collection complaints going up; what to do if you get a [...

Wall Street?s losses

Posted on September 18, 2008
Screencap of the New York Times’s excellent infographic. The real thing includes a ton of information when you mouse over the squares. A Year of Heavy Losses | New York Times (via BoingBoing)

Relaxation of Regulatory Capital Rules

Posted on September 17, 2008
“[T]he Fed seems to be knocking down every firewall that exists in banking regulation in an effort to stanch the current crisis. The danger, of course, is that by demolishing prudential firewalls, the crisis could grow even bigger.” Relaxation of Regulatory Capital Rules | Credit Slips

Commentary: How to prevent the next Wall Street crisis

Posted on September 17, 2008
My favorite: 5. We need better consumer protection laws, including laws that prevent predatory lending.” Commentary: How to prevent the next Wall Street crisis | CNN

Some lightweight tips on dealing with debt collectors

Posted on September 17, 2008
MarketWatch has an article, “How to deal with a debt collector” that reads like it was written by a debt collector. Read if you like, but the tips you can find on this blog will probably do you more good. How to deal with a debt collector | MarketWatch

Wall Street?s meltdown: deregulation and lack of consumer protection

Posted on September 17, 2008
The StarTribune has a commentary on the current turmoil in the financial markets. While the latter half of the commentary turns into an endorsement of Obama,* the first part identifies the cause clearly and concisely: “The banking and investment industries have been inadequately regulated, and consumer protections were diminished...

Victory for consumers; defeat for robo-calls

Posted on September 05, 2008
Excellent news for auto dial haters.  Victory for consumers; defeat for robo-calls. | MSNBC.com

The Beast That Swallows Its Young

Posted on September 05, 2008
For those of us with student loans…enjoy.

5 Mistakes Home Buyers Make

Posted on September 05, 2008
5 Mistakes Home Buyers Make | SmartMoney

Ten home upgrades that actually pay off

Posted on September 05, 2008
Real Simple has a list of 10 home upgrades you can make that will actually pay off when you sell your house. Highlights from the list: Painting your house, inside and out (pale yellow homes sell faster and for more money, apparently); Updating the kitchen, as long as you don’t go overboard; Updating a bathroom, again, as long [...

Credit Card Basics: Five Essential Skills for Mastering Plastic

Posted on September 04, 2008
In bad times…a little good advice Credit Card Basics: Five Essential Skills for Mastering Plastic | getrichslowly.org

Watch out for credit card hawkers on campus

Posted on September 04, 2008
If you’re heading off to college this fall — or taking one of your kids — be sure to watch out for aggressive solicitors offering t-shirts, pizza, Frisbees and even iPods to lure students into signing up for cards: Most people know that college kids are a favorite target of credit card companies...

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