Items in the news
Going Beyond No Texting and Driving: Huron, South Dakota
By: Jeffrey Lapin
Cities and states have or are considering laws beyond just no texting and driving. One city, Huron, South Dakota, has adopted an ordinance that prohibits driver’s from activities that could be distracting, such as eating while driving. This is a good first step in trying to reduce distracted driving although enforcement could become an issue.
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NHTSA Wants Hybrid and Electric Vehicles To Get Louder
By: Jeffrey Lapin
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 141, which would require hybrid and electric vehicles meet minimum sound standards (volume) in order to help make all pedestrians and bicyclists more aware of these vehicles. These types of vehicles pose more danger at low speeds because they are relatively quiet. The NHTSA was mandated to create a volume standard by the bipartisan Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010 (PSEA). […]
The ABC’s Of Safe Winter Weather Driving
The forecast for eastern Nebraska, including Lincoln, calls for snow and winter weather. So far, Lincoln has been spared any snow or ice on the roadway. There are a lot more accidents the first snow and ice of the season as drivers forget the differences in driving on dry and ice and snow-packed roadways. Last year we discussed winter driving: Drivers Prepare: Winter Weather Is Arriving Soon and Drivers Take Care: Winter Weather Is Almost Here. This post is presents a new way, using the ABC’s, to help drivers stay safe while driving in winter weather, snow and ice. […]
12 Scams of the Holidays and 12 Ways To Protect Yourself
By: Jeffrey Lapin
As the holiday season is upon us consumers are decorating and buying gifts for family and friends. At the same time, scammers are preparing their holiday scams to “deck their halls” with your money, privacy or identity. Below are 12 common holiday scams as well as ways to make sure the scammers, and not you, end up with a bag of coal. […]
The CFPB: November 2012
By: Jeffrey Lapin
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regulates consumer financial products and services, such as mortgages and credit cards. Here are some of the more noteworthy actions and announcements by the CFPB from November 2012: […]
FTC Pulls the Plug on Robocall “Rachel”
By: Jeffrey Lapin
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it pulled the plug on five companies allegedly responsible for millions of illegal robocalls calls from “Rachel” and others from “Cardholder Services.” The FTC estimates that five companies collected approximately $30 million from “Rachel” robocalls by “allegedly deceived consumers” by making phony claims that they could reduce credit card interest rates in return for an upfront fee. After collecting an up-front fee they did little, if anything, to help the consumer. […]
FTC Issues $50000 Challenge To Stop Illegal Robocalls
By: Jeffrey Lapin
On October 18, 2012, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it will be launching a challenge, the FTC Robocall Challenge, with a $50,000 cash prize for the best technical solution. The Challenge is free and open to the public. The FTC is offering the Challenge as part of its ongoing campaign to stop illegal, prerecorded telemarketing calls.
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Disabled Vet: Debt Collector Said ‘You Should Have Died’
By: Jeffrey Lapin
Michael Collier, a disabled Army veteran, and his wife, Kim, recently sued Gurstel Chargo, P.A., a Minnesota-based law firm and debt collector, in Arizona for violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) as well as for other claims based on the law firm’s attempt to collect a debt. The Colliers claim that the law firm is illegally holding their money and one of its legal assistant’s told Michael that he should have died among many other things. In their lawsuit, the Collier’s are claiming damages under the FDCPA, punitive damages along with other items. […]
American Express to Pay Millions in Refunds and Fines
By: Jeffey B. Lapin
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) along with other federal agencies announced on October 1, 2012, that American Express Co. (AMEX) will pay $112.5 million in refunds and fines. These agencies alleged that three AMEX subsidiaries violated a number of federal laws with regard to credit cards, credit reporting and debt collection. Nearly $85 million of this money will go to approximately 250,000 customers eligible consumers. […]
