| Volume 134 Number 4 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Many debt collectors are now buying very old debts. If the debt collector threatens to sue you for a debt that is more than four years past due, he violates federal law, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
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The FTC won’t offer to fix your computer
Some cons send pop-up computer warnings to pitch unnecessary – and sometimes harmful – tech support services. Some make phone calls. Others – like one scammer the FTC just sued – send spam emails that falsely claim the FTC hired them to help remove problem software. In this case, announced today, the court has ordered the defendant to stop claiming he’s affiliated with the FTC, to shut down his websites and phone numbers, and inform current customers who contact him that he is not affiliated with the FTC. If you got one of those messages, please tell the FTC.
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Your Money
5 last-minute tax tips you need to know now: (1) Not filing a return at all is never the right answer. You should always go ahead and file a return, even if you can't pay the tax you owe. The penalties for not filing a tax return are 10 times greater than those for filing but not being able to pay taxes due. (2) It's easy to get some extra time to file. It’s trivial to get an automatic six-month extension of time to file your return, however, remember that an extension to file isn't an extension to pay. If you expect to owe tax this year, you should make an estimated payment with your extension request to get that balance paid off and avoid unnecessary additional charges. (3) There's help available for many taxpayers, like the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. (4) Take advantage of last-minute tax savings opportunities such as IRA contributions and health savings accounts. (5) Filing electronically has some key advantages, you'll get an acknowledgment of receipt from the IRS shortly after you file and the IRS processes electronically filed returns more efficiently and quickly, allowing refunds to come more quickly. Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Punitive damage award in wrongful debt collection case upheld. The Eight Circuit upheld a punitive damage award based on an invasion of privacy arising from wrongful debt collection practices. The court concluded that the $400,000 punitive damages award was not unconstitutionally excessive because of the reprehensible nature of Nationstar's conduct; the 8-to-1 ratio of the award was not unconstitutionally excessive; and the award did not violate due process. May v. Nationstar Mortgage, LLC (8th Cir. 2017). Click here for more.