| Volume 107 Number 9 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Most negative information stays on your credit report for seven years, a bankruptcy for ten. The time is not extended, however, when the debt is sold or assigned to a new person such as a debt collector. If a debt collector tries to "re-age" a debt, tell the credit bureau and demand they correct the incorrect information.
For more general information about the law, check out my website.
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Medical Identity Theft Becoming Big Problem
You've probably heard of credit identity theft. It's a problem that has plagued retail chains like Target and Home Depot and caused headaches for consumers across the nation.
But, have you heard of medical identity theft?
The concept is similar, but the consequences can be far more difficult to deal with.
Medical identity theft occurs when criminals use personal information including your name, social security number, and/or medical insurance policy number to receive medical services and prescriptions. Medical identity theft allows criminals to rack up large amounts of medical debt while leaving you on the hook for the tab.
Often times, consumers won't even find out about potential medical identity theft until months after the incidents occur. In fact, many targets have no idea they've ever been a victim of medical identity theft. Once it comes time to dispute the debts, it can be very difficult to prove that you're not the one who received services.
Unfortunately, the problems associated with medical identity theft don't end when the bills have been disputed and sorted out. When a criminal uses your information to receive medical services, those visits become a part of your medical record.
A study found that a staggering 65% of victims had to pay fraudulent bills to resolve the problem. The average cost? $13,453!
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New App Reunites Lost Dogs With Owners
If your dog is lost, you might have luck finding him or her with a unique new app. Finding Rover uses facial recognition software (yes, it works on dogs too!) to reunite lost dogs and their owners.
So how does it work?
Start by uploading a picture of your dog to the Finding Rover app. The facial recognition software will find the unique characteristics of your furry friend and keep them on file. Then, when somebody finds your dog, she can upload a picture to Finding Rover app. It will match the dog to the registered owner and let him know his dog has been found.
In order to use the Finding Rover app, you don't need to be a pet owner. Instead, if you find a lost dog, you can help reunite the dog and owner just by downloading the app and uploading a picture.
Although Finding Rover currently reunites dogs and their owners, it will expand to include cats and cat owners in June.
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Your Money
Should you exercise your 'in-the-money' stock options?
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For the Lawyers
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act does not apply to a manufactured home.
The Sixth Circuit held that a manufactured home was not consumer product as defined by Magnuson-Moss. The court recognized that although a manufactured home might be a “consumer product,” the size, construction, and permanence of this home at issue illustrate that it is not a “consumer product.”
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