| Volume 57 Number 1 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Prepaid debit cards are a good way to avoid the interest and fees associated with credit cards, right? Wrong! Many prepaid cards include substantial fees to activate, review your account, use an ATM or reload the card. Be sure to shop around and read the terms before signing up for any prepaid card. Click here for more.
Online Shopping Horror Story
Rather than battle the crowds at the mall, many consumers look to the internet to make their holiday purchases. Internet shopping is convenient and often saves money. For one consumer, an internet transaction turned in to a nightmare. She was online to purchase eye glasses and was looking for a specific brand. When she received the glasses, she was shocked to find out she received counterfeit eyewear. She disputed the charge with her credit card company, only to have a business representative send threatening pictures of her home and leave abusive messages. According to the report, the business representative even called her credit card company posing as the consumer, and had the dispute reversed. Could this happen to you? Click here for more.
82 Websites Seized By Government
Federal authorities have seized 82 websites for allegedly selling or distributing counterfeits goods, including sports equipment, shoes, handbags, athletic apparel, sunglasses, DVD boxed sets, music, and software. If you try to access one of the sites, you will now see a banner notifying you the site has been seized by federal authorities. The crackdown includes several popular music, DVD and BitTorrent sites. Attorney General Eric Holder urges consumers to be cautious when looking for deals online. Click here for more.
Your Money
Which is better: Term or universal life insurance? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Arbitration clause found unenforceable. The U.S. District Court in Montana held a mandatory arbitration clause in an internet service provider's terms of service—which was presented in capitalized text in the ninth paragraph of the unsigned document—was an inconspicuous part of a contract of adhesion and unenforceable under Montana law. Click here for more.