Holiday gift cards are popular, but can be a lemon in your stocking if hidden fees make them worthless. Hidden “junk” fees can bring the value to zero if not used right away. Read the fine print, or, better yet, spend them now. Here are some of the consumer protections out there: (federal consumer protections)…
AmeriCredit is reporting thousands of California consumers to the Credit Bureaus (Experian, Trans Union, etc) for “deficiency” amounts on repossessed family cars. There’s just one problem: this money may not be owed! The Hanson Law Firm has filed a new case in federal court alleging that AmeriCredit is forcing consumers to either pay a debt…
The Federal Car-History Database: NMVTIS nmvtis.gov Almost everyone has heard of Carfax and similar car-history databases, but most would be shocked to learn how little protection they provide against the fraudulent sale of previously wrecked and flooded vehicles. Few, however, have heard about the important developing federal car-history database—the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System…
The National Consumer Law Center has listed the following “Top Ten” Consumer Law Violations: 1. Bogus affidavits, Robo-signed affidavits used in foreclosure and credit card collection lawsuits; 2. Entities foreclosing on mortgages lack standing or do not comply with HAMP mortgage modification requirements; 3. Employers pull consumer reports but do not send required notices; 4….
Merchants can’t ask you for your ZIP code or any other identifying information that they then record when you are using credit cards for purchase. The Song Beverly Credit Card Act of 1971 prohibits retailers from requesting and recording customer’s “personal identification information” during a transaction, and imposes statutory damages of up to $1,000 per…
California lemon law urged to help Toyota owners A Sacramento-based consumer advocacy group is urging consumers who have experienced multiple problems with runaway Toyotas to consider relief under California’s lemon law. The group, Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety (CARS), on Tuesday also urged Toyota officials to replace or offer refunds on vehicles with sticking…
Bank of America has decided to stop requiring its customers to resolve their disputes in the unfair system of forced arbitration. Forced arbitration clauses – which are buried in the fine print of everything from credit card terms and employee handbooks to nursing home admissions forms – eliminate consumers’ access to the courts and require…
The U.S. Department of Transportation is advising consumers taking advantage of the “Cash for Clunkers ” program not to sign contingency agreements promising to pay back up to $4,500 if dealers don’t receive payment from the government. No contingency agreement is required to participate, the Transportation Department, which administers the $3 billion Car Allowance Rebate…
As the Cash for Clunkers (CFC) program has taken off, so have Dealership frauds. Issue 1: Jumping the Gun… Dealers started advertising for CFC sales BEFORE the program details were set AND before they were changed! Now some cars that qualified for CFC no longer qualify! Dealers have been illegally calling people back in and…
The Consumer’s Friend has found out something of interest about the Chrysler bankruptcy: if consumers want to file lemon lawsuits against Chrysler currently, they are required to waive civil penalties, consequential damages, and other things! So Chrysler gets to use your tax dollars to insulate them from its own worst deeds!
