| Volume 143 Number 5 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
With the start of a new year, many of us want to get our finances in order. We often think about budgeting, but what about credit? To help you get a handle on credit, the FTC put together a four-part blog series: Click here for more.
New BP app offers convenience and security when buying gas
BP gas stations are introducing an app that the company says offers both convenience and security -- not to mention an introductory 5 cents a gallon off fuel. The app is part of the company’s loyalty program, called BPme Rewards. It can be used at participating BP and Amoco retail stations nationwide. A unique feature of the app allows consumers to complete their fueling transaction directly through their mobile device, meaning they don’t have to swipe a credit card or enter a debit card PIN. That’s not only more convenient but could also be more secure. Visa recently warned that gas pump skimmers have gotten a lot more sophisticated, making it easier for thieves to intercept and steal your credit card information. Click here for more.
Your Money
As you approach retirement and consider applying for Social Security benefits, there are several steps you will need to take. The preparations for your Social Security application include gathering the right documents, filling out the paperwork, thinking about the timing of the application and considering the online process. Follow these guidelines to save time and make the most of the Social Security benefits available to you. Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Fair Debt Collection Act claim fails. The Sixth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act suit from a Michigan resident who said a law firm’s debt-collection letters made him feel anxious. Buchholz had argued that the letters misled him into believing that a lawyer had reviewed his debts and that the firm might sue him if he didn’t promptly pay up. The court found in its de novo review of the case that the firm’s letters did not threaten litigation and Buchholz had never indicated that he refused to pay those debts. “Rather, he fears what might happen if he does not pay. So far as we know, Buchholz might decide to pay his debts, warding off any prospect of litigation,” the order said. “Because Buchholz has neither alleged that MNT has threatened to sue him nor that he refuses to pay his debts, we cannot infer that litigation is ‘certainly impending.’” “So even if anxiety is a cognizable injury — and we have our doubts — the anxiety that Buchholz alleges is not traceable to anyone but him,” the judges said. Click here for more.