| Volume 51 Number 2 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Are you prepared for hurricane season? Now is the time to review your insurance coverage. The Texas Department of Insurance has some helpful information, Click here for more.
Loan Modification: New Rules
On June 1, new Treasury Department guidelines went into effect that require loan servicers to verify financial hardship before allowing consumers to use trial modifications. If a consumer is stuck with unaffordable mortgage payments, the new rules make it harder to receive temporary relief. However, the new rules give those consumers that actually qualify for the trial modification program a greater chance of actually receiving long-term assistance. Are you having trouble affording your mortgage? Click here for more.
AT&T Set to End Unlimited Plan
Is AT&T your wireless service provider? If so, your internet usage may increase in price. Until now, for $30 a month, AT&T allowed consumers unlimited internet usage. Now, AT&T plans to charge consumers $15 a month for every 200MB of internet usage. For consumers that use AT&T wireless internet services for business, the monthly cost could increase dramatically. Forty-five percent of AT&T consumers currently use at least 200MB of data a month. For consumers that enjoy streaming videos, applications, social networking, and email, expect changes to your bill very soon. Click here for more.
Debt Collector Ordered to Pay $1.5 Million
Have you ever been harassed by a debt collector? If so, you know how stressful it can be. For one consumer, a disputed $200 debt led to numerous vulgar and racially charged phone calls and messages from the Advanced Call Center Technologies debt collection firm. The consumer saved the racially charged messages and contacted an attorney. Last Friday, a Dallas county jury award him $1.5 million dollars in mental anguish and punitive damages. To see a video report on this story, Click here for more.
Your Money
What is the true cost of paying your credit card minimum? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Business is not liable for sending junk faxes. The Seventh Circuit held that a media company wasn't liable for sending junk faxes because it had an "established business relationship" with the plaintiff. Click here for more.