| Volume 142 Number 30 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
If you’re in the market for a job, an investment, or a business to run in your off-hours or as an encore career, there are some mighty convincing promoters out there who promise high returns, low risk, and ‘golden’ opportunities just waiting for the right buyer. Take the time to ask the questions that can keep you from getting ripped off. Click here for more.
Protect Yourself From Hidden Fees
At least 85 percent of Americans have encountered an unexpected or hidden fee over the past two years for a service they had used, according to a recent nationally representative CR survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults. And two-thirds of them say they are paying more now in surprise charges than they did five years ago. As you might expect, almost everyone—96 percent—finds them annoying. Today these extra charges are being added to more and more transactions—hidden in the fine print of a contract, popping up when you reach the last page of an online purchase, or combined with taxes or other costs. And those tacked-on fees—some small, some large, but none that you recall being alerted about—can make you feel taken advantage of, especially when they add up, as they often do, to a lot of extra money. The good news is that in many cases it’s possible to fight back against fees, and win. Click here for more.
Your Money
It's hard to resist the allure of impulse purchases. While everyone knows the importance of making smart money decisions, many people fall into the trap of overspending even while trying to cultivate good financial habits. While some people may overspend by neglecting their savings, others may waste money on impulse purchases rather than focusing on priorities like family travel, retirement or college. The silver lining: Once you know the how and why behind overspending, you can break the habit. Read on to learn more about how and why overspending happens and expert-backed tips for eliminating wasteful purchases for good. Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
FCRA time period begins to run from date of entry. The Ninth Circuit held the seven-year period for reporting adverse items under § 1681c(a)(5) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) runs from the “date of entry” of an item and not the “date of disposition.” The decision offers a detailed analysis of how to report non-conviction criminal charges, specifically when the seven-year reporting window begins to run and whether a dismissal of an earlier charge constitutes an independent, reportable adverse item. Moran v. Screening Pros,(9th Cir. 2019) Click here for more.