| Volume 80 Number 1 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Are you paying more than you should for cell phone service? Thousands of employers have arranged for discounts for their employees, but many employees don't know it. Check your cell phone provider's website to see if you are entitled to a discount. Here is the link for AT&T / Cingular. Click here for more.
Avoiding Home Repair & Charity Scams
Unfortunately, every time a major disaster occurs, scam artists come out of the cracks to take advantage of those who want to help. With Hurricane Sandy behind us, and the road to recovery ahead, it is now time to be weary of some disaster-related requests.
The Federal Trade Commission has issued a warning to consumers with advice on avoiding charity and home repair scams. Likewise, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has issued tips on avoiding post-disaster
loan scams.
If you want to help those in need, research charities very carefully. If you need home repairs, you'll likely be better-off dealing with a contractor already known throughout your community. When in doubt, check with the FTC. Click here for more.
Black Friday Flyers Starting to Appear
Believe it or not, the holidays are rapidly approaching. Black Friday (the Friday after Thanksgiving) is traditionally the most popular shopping day of the year. Most retail stores offer significant savings on popular items, including door-buster deals for consumers who arrive early. Although many of the best deals go very quickly, that doesn't mean you're entirely out of luck. Black Friday ads are slowly trickling in, which means you can start planning ahead. If you want to start researching the best deals now, Click here for more.
Home Insurance Doesn't Cover Floods
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, many residents will be asking themselves whether their homeowner's insurance will cover flood damage from the storm. In most instances, it will not.
But why?
Homeowners generally need an entirely different type of insurance to cover against storm surge - flood insurance. Flood insurance is different from traditional homeowner's insurance in that it should cover rising water damage, as opposed to damage that results from water falling from the sky.
Please note, every policy is different. In order to know your specific coverage, read your agreement in detail. To read about what is and is not traditionally covered under a homeowners policy, Click here for more.
Your Money
How much are you spending? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Rented condominium fees qualify as “debt” under FDCPA. The Sixth Circuit held that an assessment owed to a condominium association qualifies as a "debt" under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act where the owner bought the property for his personal use and now leases it. Click here for more.