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Protect Your Consumer Rights During coronavirus COVID-19
Post On May 06, 2020
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During these trying times, many people have found themselves dealing with creditors and debt collection agencies. But don't fret -- there are strong consumers laws that protect you from overly aggressive collection tactics. Here is a list of what creditors and debt collection agencies MAY NOT DO: A...

# 1
Do 30-Day Return Policies Change Under Shelter-in-Place?
Post On Apr. 16, 2020

By the time this blog publishes, I bet every store will have a policy in place for the pandemic. Most stores are shut down for the time being, though many still have employees working from home or warehouses handling online orders. It raises the question: what happens if you have returns...

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Childcare and COVID-19: What Is Legal?
Post On Apr. 09, 2020

If you, like the vast majority of Americans, are currently ordered to stay at home or shelter in place, you might be struggling to understand exactly how to comply. You might be confused about whether you can send your kids to daycare right now, or if your nanny or babysitter can still come over —...

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Problems with Online Shopping
Post On Mar. 31, 2020

Purchasing goods from the comfort of your own living room certainly is more convenient than actually driving to a store, while offering a virtually unlimited array of choices and the ability to compare prices. While online payment and security technology have come a long way, you still may...

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Can I Sue If My Flight Was Cancelled
Post On Mar. 20, 2020

Few things are as infuriating as a delayed flight, and canceled flights can be downright enraging, especially around the holidays. However, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has thrown the airline industry into a tailspin like never before with hundreds, if not thousands, of flights being canceled....

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Coronavirus Snake Oil: What Is the Law?
Post On Mar. 12, 2020

If you've seen the 2011 movie, "Contagion," you probably remember the character played by Jude Law. "Contagion" was a well-made thriller about a deadly pandemic involving a virus that ended up killing millions of people, and Law's character, Alan Krumwiede, was the despicable jerk who sought to...

# 6
What Are Your Rights if You Cancel a Flight Due to Coronavirus?
Post On Mar. 11, 2020

You've been looking forward to that trip to visit your West Coast friends ever since you booked the flight last fall. But that was before anyone even knew of COVID-19's existence. As the virus has spread, so has your trepidation. And now there's a cluster of confirmed cases near your destination....

# 7
Is It Legal for Businesses to Refuse to Take Cash?
Post On Aug. 23, 2019

The message on your greenbacks would seem to be unequivocal: “This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private.” Well, not all debts, as it turns out. More and more restaurants and stores are going cashless, in effect telling their customers, “Your money is no good here.” These retailers...

# 8
What Are Your Rights When Your Concert Is Postponed or Canceled?
Post On Oct. 22, 2018

When a concert is postponed or canceled, the news can hit hard. Sometimes the ticket holder doesn't have the luxury of abundant free time, and can't make the new date. Other times, the purchase price was a lot of money, and the ticket holder really needs that money refunded immediately rather than...

# 9
Do Student Loans Affect Your Credit Score?

After you graduate from college, repaying your student loans is a great way to build and maintain a good credit score . Also, by repaying your student loans responsibly and regularly, you’re more likely to be able to qualify for an apartment, a car loan, or a mortgage in the future. In other words,...

# 10
I’m in Default on My Federal Student Loans. Now What?

Defaulting on your federal student loans is different than defaulting on another kind of debt you owe, like a credit card or a mortgage loan. With those types of debts, you’re in default if you miss just one payment. But federal student loans are another story. You go into default on most federal...

# 11
How to Get Free Help Settling My Debt With Creditors

Negotiating with your creditors can be an excellent way to reduce the overall amount that you owe, increase the period over which you repay your debts, or lower your interest rates. But getting free or low-cost assistance can be tricky. It's often difficult to know where to start, and scammers...

# 12
How to Dispute Mistakes on Your Credit Reports

Your credit report is a record of all open credit accounts you have, as well as your payment history with each of them. The three national credit reporting agencies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—keep these records, and federal law limits what they can do with the information they gather about...

# 13
How to Manage Your Credit During the Coronavirus Outbreak

If you’re experiencing a financial hardship due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak , you might be wondering how late or missed bill payments could impact your credit scores and what you can do to protect your credit history. Missing payments, charging credit cards close to—or over—their limit,...

# 14
Email Scams and Frauds

Like millions of people across the globe, you probably use a computer or smartphone to access the Internet to handle most of your personal and business tasks. You might use email everyday, and often each day, to do your job, as well as communicate with family and friends. The volume of email you...

# 15
How to Avoid Common Scams

Criminals are very clever when it comes to defrauding people. More often than not, scammers use new technology along with old tricks to try to get your money or personal information. In this article, you'll learn about some of the most popular scams out there. By learning to recognize fraud, you...

# 16
How to Avoid Foreclosure Rescue Scams

Homeowners facing foreclosure sometimes reach out to anyone offering a lifeline that could save the family home. Unfortunately, there's almost no limit to the number of scam companies willing to defraud you. The scams vary widely, but usually seem too good to be true. They make inflated promises...

# 17
How to Avoid Online Scams

You learned it as a child: "Don't talk to strangers!" Many people would never dream of giving intimate details of their personal life to an unfamiliar person on the street. But people are somehow less inhibited when on a mobile device or the computer. And online scammers are very clever when it...

# 18
Scam Alert: Mortgage Refinancing and Loan Modification Scams

There's no shortage of people willing to take advantage of homeowners facing foreclosure . Two common scams are: refinancing scams and loan modification scams. The actual scams vary a bit, but pretty much result in the same thing—the scammer pockets your cash. How a Refinancing Scam Works In a...

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