On April 7, 2008 Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum announced a judgment of $1.3 million to be paid by a debt collector that violated collection laws. Ellis Crosby & Associates, including the owner Ted Ellis Crosby himself, engaged in willful violations of Florida’s Consumer Collections Practices Act and Deceptive and Unfair Business Practices Act. (more…)
Credit and Debt Blog
A Service of Debtors Unite, Inc.
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Archive for the ‘Consumer Protection’ Category
Lifetime Financial Scheme Shut Down
Several California mortgage companies were recently shut down by Attorney General Edmund Brown for duping homeowners into “illegal and unconscionable loans.” Lifetime Financial, Nations Mortgage, Greenleaf Lending, Virtual Escrow, Direct Credit Solutions and Olympic Escrow, all owned by Eric Pony and his family, have been forced to cease all operations and have had their assets frozen by the Los Angeles Superior Court. (more…)
Arkansas Boots Payday Lenders
In February, the Arkansas state Supreme Court declared that payday lending fees are indeed interest, and are thus subject to the state interest rate limit of 17%. Now Attorney General Dustin McDaniel is ready to enforce it. (more…)
Rhode Island Judge Disallows Sale of Structured Settlement
Stone Street Capital is one of many firms that specialize in the purchasing of structured settlements. They frequently advertise on late night television when ad spots are cheaper and financially troubled people are still awake due to stress.
There are few protections for people who unwittingly sell their stake in structured settlements for an upfront payment. However, a Rhode Island state law passed in 2001 requires judges to determine if such transactions are in the best interests of the payee. (more…)
IRS Rebates Focus of Scammers
Scammers have been contacting taxpayers while posing as Internal Revenue Service employees. The goal is to get valuable personal information, including your social security number in order to commit fraud and identity theft. (more…)
National Action Financial Services Penalized
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo successfully settled with a debt collector accused of abusing debtors. National Action Financial Services (NAFS) of Williamsville, NY has agreed to pay $85,000 in penalties and costs. (more…)
Retailers Charge More In Store Than Their Own Websites
Consumers who check prices online before shopping may find that many items are priced substantially higher in the store than online. Forget about EBay or other online retailers. Big box retailers sell the same merchandise on their own websites for cheaper than in their stores. (more…)
