This weekend, South Florida is the place to be! Whether you have questions about fair lending practices, loan modifications, mortgage servicing issues, abusive debt collection practices, bankruptcy, foreclosure defenses, or want to know what's being done about abusive credit card interest rates, need advice about how to deal with identity theft, or abusive credit reporting practices, this event is for you! National Consumer Advocates, consumer attorneys and non-profit groups are meeting in So... Read Full Story

This scenario reads like a fairy tale, only without the happy ending. Once upon a time, consumers could correct flawed credit reports by challenging incorrect information, thereby ensuring themselves better interest rates when obtaining new credit or a quickly approved loan. Unfortunately, this is no longer true and disputing flawed information is not a guarantee that the consumer's credit history comes through squeaky clean the next time he applies for credit. Originally designed to prot... Read Full Story

Regrettably, the recent downtime of my website has been frustrating and disappointing for myself and my readers who have all come to rely on this website. My hosting provider experienced difficulties that spilled over and led to serious downtime. Relying on others is something that we do every day without even realizing it. We expect the morning newspaper to appear on the front doorstep or online each morning without even wondering where it originates or how it consistently appears on a dai... Read Full Story

Forget about who is minding the store. The more important question here is who is protecting the identities of consumers? Which businesses care about protecting our data? Are there any financial institutions taking this crime seriously? If not, why aren't they?If financial companies, creditors, and other establishments that utilize important personal data obtained from their customers, clients, and patients are protecting consumers from identity theft, then why is so much of it occurring?... Read Full Story

While pregnant woman, children and those with weak immune systems wait in long, long lines to get a dose of the H1N1 vaccine, we learn that Wall Street's wants -once again comes before Main Street's needs. They not only get to move to the front of the line -they don't have a line at all.    As the below investigative report shows, while hospitals scramble to get enough vaccines for their high risk patients -and families across this country wait in massive lines to secure a flu ... Read Full Story

Bernie Madoff is not the only one trying to lure potential investors into risky investments, which might seem lucrative but are questionable. Seniors living in affluent areas need to be especially cautious, as they are often the target of schemes like the one uncovered by Mc Nelly Torres, an investigative journalist based in South Florida. In this piece for ConsumerAffairs.com, Torres investigated a company that seems to have disappeared as she began to ask questions to California regulators ... Read Full Story

It turns out that the biggest weapon we as consumers have to wield against financial predatory practices (the one that scares big banks the most) is one of my own personal heroes Harvard Law Professor and Chairman of the TARP Oversight Committee -Elizabeth Warren. (See video below)While the financial industry continues to fear the proposed implementation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency it seems they are even more fearful of what might come along with it. They are worried that if thi... Read Full Story

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has once again delayed full enforcement of the new identity theft prevention measures known as the "Red Flags Rule." Many of the businesses compelled by the FTC to comply with these changes now have a little breathing room with a new deadline of June 1, 2010 to meet. This is the fourth extension since the rules first came into existence. Initially, the enforcement of the Red Flags Rule was expected to occur by November 1, 2008, then extended through May, 200... Read Full Story

A new petition urging Congress to take swift action and regulate the mortgage servicing industry is circulating and growing momentum. As the economy and homeowners continue to struggle, this unregulated industry continues to be the source of  much of the pain and distress felt by borrowers who continue to search for help from the true holder of their mortgage, while simultaneously fighting against illegal foreclosure attempts by their mortgage servicing company.  Here are a few poin... Read Full Story

As I've noted in a number of earlier blogs, whenever someone discovers they've been scammed it doesn't take long to notice the scammer has gotten away with much more than just money. They manage to steal the victim's sense of security and very peace of mind. The truth is, whenever the economy takes a downward turn it's inevitable that crime rates turn upwards.  Whether con-artists put a new twist on an old scam or use innovative technology as their weapon of choice, they are very good at... Read Full Story