A set of laws at both the federal and state levels is present that offers consumer protection in US. Some of the federal laws are the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Billing Act, and so on. The state laws vary from one to another but the aim remains the same.
There are certain rights that you have as a consumer. It is better to know the details of these to ensure that you do not fall victim to any sort of fraud. But who to approach for help? Only a legal expert would be able to answer your questions and clarify your doubts. Only a competent attorney specializing in consumer protection laws would be able to help you understand your rights and privileges.
Suppose you have bought a product or availed a service. But later you realize that it was not of the standard of your expectation. Or imagine a situation where you have taken a loan and the lender is using wrong means for recollecting it. As a consumer you can file a lawsuit against these entities, i.e. the manufacturer or dealer of the product or the provider of the service or the lender.
But this isn’t always an easy task. You need expert help to handle the situation. The first thing to do is find a suitable consumer protection attorney. Base your choice on factors like his/her qualification, experience, license, success rate, and competence in the field. Discuss the details of your case and seek answers to your queries.
These are the things you need to ask the Consumer Protection Attorney:
• What is the estimated value of the case?
• What sort of proof is required?
• Do you need witnesses?
• How to approach the case?
• How much would it cost?
You need to clarify the details of the attorney’s charges as well. How would he/she bill you? Would it be on a per hour basis? Or would it be on contingency basis? If the terms and conditions suit you, go ahead and form a contract, also known as the retainer agreement, with the attorney and hire his/her services for your case. This agreement outlines what services the attorney is to provide and how he/she would be paid.
The consumer protection attorney would be able to file a complaint against the company or business, and help you get the summons. Once the case reaches a trial, he/she would work on the proof available, present the case from your perspective and highlight the points that are of relevance. He/she would also examine any proof or witness that the defendant presents at court.
In such circumstance, choosing the right attorney is of significance. It’s wise to opt for a consumer protection attorney who knows all about the laws applicable and helps you understand the situation, has good communication skills, and most importantly, one you feel comfortable working with.
03 FebConsumer Protection
08 JunCredit Repair
Credit repair begins with you. Many people have bad credit and they don’t even know about it or they think they have no way to repair it. Everyone has the right to see their credit reports and to repair their credit score.
I have listed the top 5 steps to credit repair and how to restore your credit today:
Top 5 Steps To Credit Repair
1. Pay Your Bills On Time – This sounds like a no-brainer, but I can’t stress how important it is. One little 30-day late payment will set you back a year or more. Set up automatic payments with all your creditors. If you can’t make a payment, call your creditor and make something work so that they won’t report it to the credit bureaus. You would be surprised how many times this works.
2. Dispute Negative Items – The main reason most people get denied loans is because of past negative items. A lot of the time these items aren’t even yours because of identity theft, reporting errors and other factors. The Fair Credit Reporting Act was implemented to allow consumers the right to dispute or verify any listing that is on their reports. 4 out of 5 credit reports contain errors, make sure yours is not one of them.
3. Increase Debt to Limit Ratio – Two ways you can do this, keep your balances low and increase your limits. Always make sure your balances are below 35% if possible. Increasing your limits will help the ratio as long as you don’t increase your debt on those accounts too.
4. Diversify Your Credit – This can difficult for some that can’t get a mortgage or car loan. Start with the basics, get a checking account with your bank with a line of credit. Get a credit card attached to your bank account. Then get a merchant store card. All these things will help your score by diversification A mortgage and car loan are the best ways to diversify, but take time to get up to.
5. Contact Your Creditors – Creditors want their money too and they will negotiate to get it. Make sure you have talked to your creditors before paying off a bill. Use your leverage to negotiate the removal of the negative items upon final payment.
There are many factors that can contribute to low scores, but credit repair can help bring it back up again. I urge you to use these steps to repair your credit today and get your finances back on track.
In 2009, the leading credit repair service forced the credit bureaus to remove over 1 million negative items. See how 500,000 clients used these credit repair methods to get the credit score they deserved.
26 AprYour Annual Right to All Three Credit Scores
The Fair Credit Reporting Act covers consumers because their private information about them and their spending habits are collected and placed within these reports. These credit reports are then provided to lenders, credit card companies, insurance agencies and anyone who requests a copy to evaluate your application for credit.
A consumer can now receive a free copy of their reports every year to see exactly what information is placed about them on these reports. Any discrepancies or incorrect information can cause a consumer to have a low score, which hurts their chances of getting the credit or loans they need.
In order to protect the consumer, the Fair Credit Reporting Act was passed so that the consumer had the ability to change those discrepancies and fix their reports to reflect what is truly correct and get their credit scores raised.
When their scores reflect accurate information, their chances for getting the credit they need at a lower interest rate increase. To obtain your free copy of your credit reports, you can order it online, by phone or by filling out a form that allows you to order the report for free.
You’ll need to provide some information to verify that you are who you say you are. Don’t fall for websites that say they can get you a free copy of your report. Most of these sites are scams and will end up charging you for it in the long run.
Sometimes you’ll be required to enroll in some program or purchase some product in order to get the free copy. It’s best to deal with the credit reporting agencies yourself to receive your free copy by going to annual credit report’s webpage.
After you receive your free copies and looked them over for items that you feel need to be changed, you can sign up with the credit reporting agencies to purchase another copy in 6 months or so, so that you can stay on top of what’s being reported to the credit agencies.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act helps consumers by only allowing certain agencies to gain access to your credit information. Only lenders, credit card companies, insurers, employers and landlords can access your reports to determine eligibility for a loan, credit, etc. They cannot access your information without your consent.
When you apply for credit or a loan, you sign your consent when you sign the application. Potential employers will require you to sign a consent form before gaining employment. Exercise your right today to receive a free copy of your credit reports.
William Brooks – Learn the fundamentals of debt destruction by downloading your Free Report, “The Underground “Debt” Railroad.”
William also wants you to have his 5 day Audio Quick Start Guide… Free!
Free Download Click Here: Free Report
05 AprImprove Your FICO Credit Score by Making Sure it’s Error-Free: a Guide for Military Men & Women
A strong FICO credit score gets you the best financing when buying used cars.
One of the factors lenders use when determining whether to grant a loan when buying your next POV (Privately Owned Vehicle) is your FICO credit score, otherwise known as your auto loan credit score. This score, maintained by the 3 leading credit reporting agencies (CRAs), reveals if you (the borrower) pay your debts (credit card, car payment, etc.) in a timely fashion.
Military borrowers – know your auto loan credit score before you start shopping for, and buying used cars.
It’s true for all, no matter your MOS (Military Occupational Specialty): credit scores affect your purchasing power. How do you make sure that your FICO credit score is correct?
Consumer reports are regulated under The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Recent amendments to this law give additional responsibilities to the CRAs and creditors who provide information for credit reports. One key provision is that all consumers may obtain one free credit report a year. You can obtain your free report by contacting 877-322-8228 or Annual Credit Report Request Service, P. O. Box 105283, Atlanta, GA 30348-5283. Note your report does not contain your FICO score.
If you find a mistake on your credit report, self help credit repair wisdom says fix it immediately.
You can follow one of several routes to correct a low FICO or auto loan credit score:
1. Smart military men and women engage in self help credit repair ASAP. First contact the CRA which reported the mistake in writing. The CRA is required to investigate within 30 days. If something is changed by the investigation, they are required to give you written results and a free copy of your revised credit report.
2. Contact the creditor who provided faulty information to the CRA. If the information they gave the creditor is wrong, they must correct it. If they disagree with you, they must provide a written statement to the CRAs with complete information.
3. If you believe that your low auto loan credit score is due to fraud, report it to the FTC, which will investigate for you. Their mission is to protect consumers against fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices. Visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).
Whether you’re buying used cars, motorcycles, or major appliances, a strong auto loan credit score will land you lower interest rates.
An auto loan credit score is the primary factor used by car dealers in deciding the terms of a loan, or even whether to give one. Check your credit score at least once a year, and quickly correct errors to ensure you get the best car for your budget.
© 2006 RK Auto Group
Tom Kline is Controller of RK Auto Group (RK Buick, RK Chevrolet, RK Subaru, RK Scion and RK Toyota).