| Volume 1 Number 8 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Are you being unlawfully threatened or harassed by a debt collector? In most states, taping his telephone conversations is legal, and good proof that he has violated the law. To see the law in your state Click here for more.
Your Credit Record: A Report Card on Your Personal Finances
Your credit history can affect your daily life, from where you live and work to how much you pay for a loan or insurance. Here's a guide to protecting your financial reputation. Click here for more.
FTC Releases Top 10 Consumer Fraud Complaint Categories
The Federal Trade Commission today released its annual report detailing consumer complaints about fraud and identity theft in 2005. Complaints about identity theft topped the list, accounting for 255,000 of more than 686,000 complaints filed with the agency in 2005. Click here for more.
Planning a Family or Personal Budget
Here are some tips on how to create your own home budget, complete with a sample budget form and a budget worksheet. Click here for more.
Free Video to Help Children of Divorce
A new project from the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) has generated acclaim. Kids in the Crossfire:Helping Parents Understand the Impact of Divorce is a 20 minute video that focuses on the effects of divorce on children, especially the impact of parents' behavior on children. The video outlines for parents behaviors to avoid and offers suggestions for communicating better and minimizing the stresses they inflict on their children. You can order a free copy on DVD or VHS, by contacting the TYLA office at (800)204-2222, ext. 6429 or writing:TYLA, P.O. Box 12487, Austin, Texas 78711-2487 or contact them on line Click here for more.
Your Money
Should I use a home equity loan instead of an auto loan? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Check Guarantee Company is a debt collector under federal law. The 8th Circuit has held that the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act applies to a check guarantee company. The court found that although the company was not a creditor, it was a debt collector. Click here for more.