Consumer Rights

Consumers have a right to place a credit freeze so that lenders can not pull their credit file. Credit is an important factor on whether a lender decides to extend credit to you and multiple...

Credit is borrowed money from financial institutions that you repay over time, based on an agreement that you sign with the financial institutions. The status of your credit can determine your...

The purpose of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) is to provide a set of consistent regulation for the sale of goods and other related transactions. This is especially important in interstate...

Credit is an important factor that financial lenders analyze to determine whether or not you are worthy of a loan. Credit scores are affected by a number of factors, including inquires from...

Your credit report might not reflect an accurate picture of your payment history. Some creditors, such as local retailers, credit unions, gasoline creditors and medical offices, do not report to...

If you suspect you are the victim of a credit card scam, there are ways to protect yourself while fighting back. Reporting the scam to credit reporting agencies, credit card companies and your...

Scams abound, particularly where easy money can be made and where unsuspecting consumers can get conned. With consumers seeking relief through debt consolidation, various debt negotiation scams...

Unsolicited credit offers are received every day. Your mailbox is filled with junk mail that contains offers for credit cards, satellite, alternative Internet access, insurance and a host of other...

Most credit card providers offer an honest, legal service to their customers, though some consumer advocates may question certain practices including excessive fees, high interest rates and other...

Your credit report can be important if you're looking to make a major purchase or apply for housing or jobs. It is a record of all your past dealings with creditors, whether you've paid as...

Most every adult at some point will enter into a rental agreement. Whether it be for an apartment, condo, office space, house or retail space, there is likely to be a contract with terms and...

The food stamp program also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income families to purchase food. Administered by the United States Department of Agriculture...

It is important to know the rules that debt collection agents must follow. Consumers are protected through the Federal Trade Commission in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

The credit reporting agencies--Equifax, Experian and TransUnion--maintain reports from creditors concerning various debts you may owe. This information is then compiled to form your credit report....

Passed by Congress in 1968, the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) became law to keep consumers informed about their lending options. Under Regulation Z of the act, creditors must disclose certain terms...

Regardless if a creditor files or claims to file a lawsuit, you can negotiate to reduce and settle most debts. You can work with creditors on your own to establish a feasible solution. For and...

You can sue a debt collector listed on your credit report for defamation and violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. You can successfully sue your...

The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act passed in 2003 permits everyone to receive a free annual credit report from the three major credit bureaus--and more frequently under special...

Shopping can be fun, but returning what you bought isn’t! Of course, you should never try to return merchandise to the wrong chain or do anything unethical However, you can increase your chances...

Purchases made with prepaid Visa cards may be declined or blocked due to insufficient funds, holds or unauthorized use.

Experian, Equifax, TransUnion and Innovis share certain credit information with marketers unless you stop them. This information is used to pre-screen you for credit and insurance offers and other...

Credit bureaus, such as Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, are organizations that compile information on your debts, and calculate your credit score. Each credit bureau must adhere to federal laws...

A debt collection agency primarily works by phone to contact consumers. The majority of a collection agency's calls are directed toward the debtor, but in certain situations, collection agency...

Although creditors have a legal right to be paid the money they are owed, their options are limited when it comes to garnishment. Social Security checks are government funds and as such are exempt...

If you find mistakes on your credit report, you can appeal to the three credit bureaus. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires that Equifax, Experian and TransUnion investigate all appeals,...

Medical billing errors can be surprisingly common, but it can challenge most people to spot them on a daunting stack of bills. Common mistakes include double-billing for a single procedure,...

Wondering if renting to own a house is right for you? Think of renting to own as leasing a car with the option to buy it when your lease is up. Many home sellers are happy to enter into...

Your credit report is a record of your debts for the past seven to 10 years. In addition to debt, your credit report will also contain a record of your personal information. such as your name,...

Errors on a credit report are more than just a minor issue; they can prevent you from getting approved for auto or mortgage loans, credit cards or low interest rates, among other things....

Vehicle warranty phone calls have been going on for years, although they did not attract the Federal Trade Commission's attention until 2007. Since then, Parija Kavilanz of CNN Money says more...

Debt collectors are illegally trying to scare consumers into paying back Internet payday loans, even if the loans were already repaid, according to the West Virginia attorney general's office....

Vehicles can be towed for a number of reasons, from unpaid parking tickets to police seizure. Whatever the reasons for impound, the bill has to be paid--and the vehicle owner is responsible for...

Credit bureaus put wrong information on your credit reports more often than you might realize. They don't publicly release their error rates, but the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that...

If you have allowed your credit card debt to go unpaid for long enough, your credit card company can opt to file a lawsuit against you for the balance. It is far more common, however, for credit...

Consumer education encompasses a range of subjects as diverse as consumer spending, debt management and consumer rights. By being an educated consumer, a person can lobby for wage increases and...

If you are being denied credit and you are not sure why, you may need to look at cleaning up your credit report. Contrary to popular belief, there is not a magic bullet to remove negative items...

If a collection agency files a lawsuit against you for a debt and wins, it may request that the court issue a bank levy. A bank levy is a form of garnishment in which a creditor can request that...

Enzyte is an herbal supplement manufactured by Vianda and sold under the premise that it provides "natural male enhancement" by improving blood flow and circulation and increasing sexual stamina....

The role played by loan companies is a controversial one in the financial industry. Short-term loan companies, often called payday lenders, are viewed by some as pariahs and by others as providers...

If you have delinquent account receivables, there is a chance you will need to a collection agency to collect the debt. A collection agency has more experience and capabilities when it comes to...

Occasionally, a consumer's debt may be transferred to collections by mistake. More often than not, however, an account is remitted to a collection agency due to lack of payment. Each credit...

Disputing credit report information is the right of every individual, as granted in 1971 by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Even if negative entries on your credit report correctly reflect...

Experian is one of the three major credit bureaus that maintains a copy of your credit report. The company offers several different products for consumers, ranging from the purchase of an...

Telephone Computer Printer

The three major credit bureaus--Equifax, Experian and Trans Union--help bring financial responsibility to bear in the United States. These three agencies report payment histories for most American...

Counterfeit or fraudulent checks have become more prevalent than ever with the aid of Internet scams. Oftentimes, the first sign that a check is bad is the bad feeling you get when you pick it up....

Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, your credit-card charge liability is limited to $50 in cases of a legitimate billing error. As defined by federal law, billing errors can involve charges for...

Technology is wonderful. It makes our lives easier and allows us to complete tasks in record time. It also gives thieves another way to cause havoc and distress. Identity theft does more than cost...

If an individual neglects to pay a debt that he owes, his creditor has the option to file a lawsuit against him to collect the unpaid balance. Once a lawsuit is filed, the debtor is either mailed...

In 2008, victims of online fraud lost more than $264 million according to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. Email scams involving car shipping and similar check-related scams were among the top...