| Volume 112 Number 6 |
Subscribe to the Newsletter
Forward this news alert to your family and friends
Helpful Links
Texas Consumer Complaint Center
Credit Reports and Identity Theft
Your Guide to Small Claims Court
Contact Us
1-713-743-2168
The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Many credit card companies that receive a complaint from a consumer reply, “Sorry, that’s between you and the merchant.” Fortunately for consumers, that is not always the law. Two federal laws give you substantial rights against credit card companies, for wrongful conduct of merchants. The Fair Credit Billing Act allows you to dispute charges for goods never received or inaccurate amounts, and the Consumer Credit Protection Act lets you assert claims against a credit card company for goods bought in your home state of within 100 miles of your home. Next time, let the credit card company know you know your rights. Click here for more.
U.S. Department of Education Announces Student Loan Relief for Victims of For-Profit Corinthian Colleges
Corinthian Colleges was one of the largest for-profit schools when the Department of Education closed some of the schools while allowing others to be sold before the chain filed for bankruptcy this past spring. Department investigators found that Corinthian schools charged students exorbitant fees, lied about job prospects for its graduates and, in some cases, encouraged students to lie about their circumstances to get more federal aid. The Department of Education announced Monday that the government would make it easier for former Corinthian students to erase their debt. While the law currently provides debt relief for students of schools that have closed, so long as they apply within 120 days, the new plan expands debt relief to students who attended a now-closed school as far back as a year ago, and streamlines the process for students whose schools were sold but believe they were victims of fraud. The Education Department will soon appoint a "special master" to oversee much of the program, who will support students at other for-profit schools who feel they've been victimized. This program may have a large impact since approximately $3.6 billion in federal loans have been given to Corinthian students since 2010.
Click here for more.
Your Money
What is the best way to have a happy and healthy retirement? The surprising answer may be to keep working. Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Demanding fees in foreclosure complaint in a way contrary to the underlying agreement is actionable under the FDCPA. The Third Circuit held that an attorney who in a foreclosure complaint attempted to collect fees for services not yet performed violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Kaymark v.Bank of America 783 F3d 168 Click here for more.