| Volume 85 Number 3 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Your landlord may have an obligation to make repairs to your apartment, but you must first give him written notice. To see what rights you have as a tenant,
Click here for more.
DEA Unable to Wiretap iMessages
If you don't want your text messages to be intercepted by others, consider an iPhone. According to a report out of CNet, an internal document from the Drug Enforcement Agency reveals that the iMessage app is "impossible to intercept."
iMessage is a text message service only available between two or more Apple devices, regardless of service provider.
To read about iMessage encryption,
Click here for more.
CFPB Accepting Money Transfer Complaints
There are many services available around the world that allow consumers to send and receive money. But what do you do if something goes wrong?
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is now accepting complaints if you have an issue sending or receiving money anywhere in the country, or abroad.
Was the money available when it was promised? Were you charged the correct amount? Were proper disclosures made? Were you the victim of a fraud or scam?
If you experience an issue transferring money, let the CFPB know!
Click here for more.
The Biggest Credit Mistake
What can harm your credit score?
Obviously, if you don't pay your bills on time, your credit score is going to suffer. Whether you simply forget to pay, or had to make difficult financial choices, failure to pay your bills on time can wreck your credit score in a hurry.
However, there is another way to harm your credit score, and you may not even know it!
Every time you close a line of credit, your credit score will suffer. When many consumers pay off a credit card, the first inclination may be to close the account. By closing the account, the consumer has reduced his total amount of available credit. Additionally, major credit bureaus assign about 15% of your credit score to the age of your credit history.
What can you do to maintain, or increase your credit score?
Click here for more.
Your Money
How long should you keep your vehicle?
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For the Lawyers
Payday lender can’t enforce online arbitration clause. The Montana Supreme Court held that a payday lender could not enforce an arbitration clause included in its online loan application form. The court noted, “[The defendant] has presented no evidence to suggest that [the plaintiff] qualifies as a sophisticated party with significant business experience. Further, it appears that economic duress compelled [the plaintiff] to enter into this contract for a $600 payday loan with a 780 percent APR…. It continued, “The arbitration clause qualifies as a contract of adhesion and falls outside [the plaintiff’s] reasonable expectations, and, therefore, the arbitration clause is unconscionable."
Click here for more.