We’ve all heard the stories of people being the victim of an elaborate scam and we may wonder how they even occurred and how we can avoid being a victim. Unfortunately, scammers are getting better at their jobs every day and it can be hard to recognize them. There are...
Consumer Protection
What is creditor harassment and how can consumers stop it?
A creditor is an individual or entity that provides financing to another party. The creditor may allow the recipient of the loan to take some time before beginning its repayment. However, under the terms of standard loan agreements, a creditor will eventually be...
Consumer protections start with proactive awareness
According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, a consumer is someone who utilizes economic goods. Economic goods can be practically anything, from the food a North Carolina resident buys at their local store to the new furniture they order from an online vendor....
Examples of auto dealer fraud in North Carolina
When a Fayetteville area resident goes to buy a car, it is often a long and involved process that can also be stressful. A person may be wondering if they are actually receiving a good deal on the car or if they are losing money on the purchase. Car...
What are my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act?
The Fair Credit Reporting Act, or FCRA, is a federal law that is designed to make sure that the information on an individual’s credit report is correct and complete. The FCRA also ensures that this sensitive financial information is not shared except for legitimate...
What do I do if I think a debt collector is lying?
Even in the best of times, millions of Americans struggle with debt. Perhaps needless to say, the past couple years have not been the best of times. Many of us are struggling more than ever. While North Carolina and the federal government have offered some help in the...
Stop harassment from debt collectors
Debt is a way of life for many, if not most Americans. Homeowners live with mortgages, educated people live with student loans and many more of us live with car loans. No one likes debt, but we learn to live with it, and when times are good we make our regular...
Understanding identity theft
Identity theft is more common in the U.S. than consumers may realize. It occurs when a consumer’s personal information, including their name, social security number or other identifying data is stolen and used fraudulently. Common types of identity theft Identity...
What is the Telephone Consumer Protection Act?
No one likes to be bombarded with unsolicited telemarketing phone calls, text messages, and faxes. These communications are often more than an annoyance – they can be against the law. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) places restrictions on these types of...
Understanding deceptive and unfair advertising
Advertising and marketing claims must be truthful, cannot be deceptive or unfair and must be evidence-based. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sets out advertising guidelines to protect consumers. Deceptive and unfair ads According to the FTC, an ad is deceptive if...