| Volume 141 Number 92 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Many people think their “credit limit” is the maximum amount the credit company will allow them to charge. In fact, in most cases the company will allow you to exceed this limit, and then charge you a hefty fee. You must self-police your credit limit and not exceed it. If you need more credit, contact the card issuer about raising the limit. Click here for more.
New consumer loyalty study shows consumers expect more from brands
Over the last year, consumer trust has taken a beating over recent privacy and data security nightmares. In turn, consumers’ expectations for trust has increased an unprecedented 25 percent, according to Brand Keys annual Customer Loyalty Engagement Index (CLEI). The index notes that there are a dozen sectors that underperform in the trust department. First among those is social media, with a 300 percent jump in the expectation of trust. Online retail checks in at number two with 272 percent, followed by department stores, broadcast and cable news, instant messaging, credit cards, insurance, investment services, fast food restaurants, online payment platforms, and rideshare providers. Click here for more.
Your Money
Tax refund advances offer quick access to cash as you wait to receive your refund. However, you may want to think twice before agreeing to a tax refund loan, also known as an advance. Tax refund advances can come with hidden fees, a credit pull and even interest. What's more, they are increasingly irrelevant given the IRS's fast processing times. Before you agree to a tax refund advance, consider these factors. Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Gym member's reinstatement request denied. Fitness fans who claimed they had their gym memberships canceled after they sued the facility had their reinstatement requests turned down by the Second Circuit. The court basically said they could just exercise elsewhere. The plaintiff’s said in their proposed class action they were illegally retaliated against over their previous lawsuit that accused the fitness empire of ripping them off. A bid for an injunction requiring their memberships to be reinstated was rejected by the district court, and affirmed by the Second Circuit. "Consumers facing the prospect of lost access to a particular good or service can generally find an adequate replacement elsewhere in the marketplace," and if it's more expensive, they can win damages, the judges wrote. Pisarri et al. v. Town Sports International et al., case number 18-1164 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Click here for more.