| Volume 22 Number 1 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
The Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act protects you whenever someone misleads or deceives you. This is our consumer protection law, but beware it applies to all sellers, including you when you sell at a garage sale, through a classified ad, or on the web. Don't say anything misleading or deceptive about what you are selling. It could cost you a substantial amount in damages.
Fight Sky High Cell Phone Bills
Want to win your battle with a cell company? Try this five-step plan. Click here for more.
Giving the Bounce to Counterfeit Check Scams
It's your lucky day! You just won a foreign lottery! The letter says so. And the cashier's check to cover the taxes and fees is included. All you have to do to get your winnings is deposit the check and wire the money to the sender to pay the taxes and fees. You're guaranteed that when they get your payment, you'll get your prize. There's just one catch: this is a scam. Click here for more.
IRS Confirms That Tax Fix Will Delay Refunds
More than 3 million people will have to wait until February to get their tax refunds because of Congress' late fix to the alternative minimum tax, the IRS said Thursday. Congress put a one-year freeze on growth of the alternative minimum tax last week, shielding many middle- and upper-middle income taxpayers from first exposure to the tax. But Congress' late action means the IRS won't be able to start processing five AMT-related forms until February, delaying potential refunds for those people until that month. Click here for more.
Obtain Free Income Tax Preparation
Organization provides Houston residents with free help with Income Tax Preparation and helps build relationships with financial institutions to open checking and savings accounts and loans. Click here for more.
Your Money
Should I pay off debt or invest in savings? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Bankruptcy Appellate Panel finds "disposable income" to be only the starting point in determining "projected disposable income." The court saw no reason to believe that Congress intended to eliminate the bankruptcy courts' discretion to deviate from an application of that formula where significant circumstances supported doing so Click here for more.