| Volume 54 Number 1 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
If you are receiving emails that appear to be from Paypal a bank or a credit card company telling you about "a recent charge to your account," ignore them. Do not click on any link to verify your account or dispute the charge. If you want to check with your credit card company, the phone number is on your card. If you think the notice may be real, wait until you receive your credit card bill and then dispute it. These are scams designed to get your private information. Click here for more.
GMail Priority Inbox Reads Your Mind
If you use GMail, you've probably noticed that Google has the ability to pick up key words in your emails to target you with directed advertising. If the email mentions a lawyer, you'll probably see several ads for attorneys on the right-side advertisement bar. What you may not have noticed yet is Google's ability to know which emails you're more interested in reading. The new "priority inbox" acts like a spam filter, except rather than filter out email you definitely don't want to read, it prioritizes the emails in the order you'll want to read them. Does it actually work? Click here for more.
Consumer Confidence Rises in August
August was a surprising month for consumer confidence. Although consumer confidence remained low as a result of job concerns, it did rise slightly in August. The Consumer Confidence Index ("CCI"), which measures consumer confidence by tracking consumer spending and savings, rose from 51 to 53.5. Most economists expected the CCI to drop. What contributed to the rise in confidence? Will it continue? What does the CCI mean to you? Click here for more.
Credit Card Applicants Must Be 21 or Older
As a part of the new credit card rules that recently took effect, credit card issuers must now submit any contacts they have with collegiate groups to the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve will report on the relationship. In an effort to prevent young college students from spending their way into permanent debt, the law also requires all individuals under 21 years old to have an adult cosign in order to receive a credit card. Prior to the new law, most college students over 18 years old could easily get a credit card, often with few other requirements. Click here for more.
Your Money
Are you moving? Use this cost of living comparison calculator! Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Fair Credit Reporting Act requires showing that report is misleading to user of report. A federal district court held that a consumer credit report is misleading only when the consumer of the report is misled. The fact that the report may be misleading to a layperson is not relevant. Click here for more.