Consumer Protection

AMEX Changing the Rules: Arbitration Instead of Court

By |January 23rd, 2013|

By: Jeffrey Lapin

At least since October 2012, American Express (“AMEX”) has changed its Cardmember Agreement to permit it to select binding arbitration for consumer disputes. Before this change, cardmembers could select either arbitration or a trial by jury. Now, unless a cardholder opts-out, AMEX can require arbitration.
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12 Scams of the Holidays and 12 Ways To Protect Yourself

By |December 14th, 2012|

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 |December 7th, 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: […]

American Express to Pay Millions in Refunds and Fines

By |October 2nd, 2012|

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. […]

The CFPB’s First Fourteen Months

By |September 14th, 2012|

By: Jeffrey B. Lapin

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), has now been in existence for fourteen (14) months. It was created as part of the 2010 Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. So far, the CFPB has been praised by consumer advocates and criticized by businesses. […]

2011 Consumer Complaint Survey Report Released

By |August 3rd, 2012|

By: Jeffrey Lapin

The Consumer Federation of America (CFA), with assistance from the North American Consumer Protection Investigators (NACPI), has issued its 2011 Consumer Complaint Survey Report, which, among other things, lists the top 10, actually 12, consumer complaints from 2011. In addition, the Report identifies the fastest growing complaints, worst complaints, and newer types of consumer problems. Finally, it offers suggestions for new consumer protection laws and tips for consumers for dealing with many of these consumer problems. […]

Website Update: Consumer Financial Definitions Added

By |July 19th, 2012|

By: Jeffrey Lapin

Lapin Law Offices has updated its website (lapinlawoffices.com) to include definitions of some commonly used consumer protection and other financial words and phrases. It includes words and phrases involving the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). […]

CFPB Launches Consumer Complaint Database

By |June 19th, 2012|

By: Jeffrey Lapin

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) launched a Consumer Complaint Database that will provide basic information about complaints made against credit card companies. This is the first time this type of data is available to the public without the filing of a Freedom of Information request. The Database is located on the CFPB’s website, Consumer Complaint Database, which is available to view now.
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Protect a Deceased Relative from Identity Theft

By |June 8th, 2012|

By: Jeffrey Lapin

Dealing with the death of a relative is hard enough. Family members do not need the additional stress of having to deal with having the identity of their deceased relative stolen. Remember, family members are not responsible for the debts of their deceased relatives, unless they had specifically agreed to be. In addition, the estate of the deceased is not responsible for these types of fraudulent debts. […]

Debts Owed By Deceased Relatives: Do Not Pay

By |May 31st, 2012|

By: Jeffrey Lapin

Collecting on debts of the deceased has become a very profitable area in the debt collections industry. Using tactics and practices created specifically to convince anguished family members to pay, some of these debt collectors will stop at nothing to get money even breaking the law. In almost all circumstances you are not personally liable for the debts of a deceased relative despite what you might be told by a debt collector. This post will not cover which debts may be owed by the deceased’s estate, which would be paid through the probate process. Rather, I will discuss your individual liability for the debts of a deceased spouse, parent, child or other relative and what you should do if contacted by a debt collector trying to collect a debt owed by them. […]

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