Every year, people look forward to getting their tax refunds and expect to receive them without any major complications. Unfortunately, fraudsters who manage to steal Social Security numbers can steal tax refunds and use the information to cause other serious problems. Social Security numbers can also be used to open new credit cards, apply for
If you’ve ever had the misfortune of discovering inaccurate information on your consumer report (also known as a “credit report”), you likely know the significant negative impact this kind of inaccurate information can have on a person’s life. From causing higher interest rates on their mortgage or car loan, to giving a landlord a reason
When a consumer falls behind on credit or loan payments, debt collection agencies often become involved, either on behalf of the lender or as the result of purchasing debt from original creditors. Collection efforts generally begin with a debt collector contacting you by phone, through the mail, or both. Others may initiate a lawsuit in
The arrival of fall also ushers in the holiday shopping season, and no time is better for snagging deals on the year’s hottest gifts. With sales figures in the billions, the lure of Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping gives rise to a significant rise in consumer fraud, scams, and identity thefts. The week following
Francis Mailman Soumilas, P.C., recently filed a class action lawsuit against Roadmaster Drivers School alleging it violated Pennsylvania law by passing off its Commercial Driver’s License training program as capable of achieving a valid CDL for students who complete the program even though it was not licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to do
When courts or administrative agencies opine on whether a federal statute preempts state law, they usually do so in the wake of the statute’s enactment. But the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) interpretive rule issued mid-summer regarding the Fair Credit Reporting Act’s limited preemption of state laws comes 52 years after the FCRA became
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is refunding nearly $25 million to more than 240,000 people who have been defrauded by the Next-Gen lottery sweepstakes scam in the United States, Canada, and many other countries. The FTC is sending affected consumers, largely consisting of senior citizens: Over $19 million in paper checks to 221,687 individuals
The truck driving industry has been reporting a lack of available drivers for many years. However, the truck driver shortage exacerbated supply chain disruptions during the pandemic more than ever, which has resulted in congested ports and empty shelves for retailers. According to the American Trucking Association’s (ATA) annual survey, the average wages for truck drivers
Francis Mailman Soumilas, P.C., recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of a South Carolina man against TransUnion, Experian, Equifax, and Rushmore Loan Management Services in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, alleging that all four companies violated the U.S. Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”). According to the complaint in the lawsuit,
Identity theft is an all-too-common occurrence given the amount of personal information that can be easily culled online. Thieves steal someone’s identity in order to obtain credit cards, secure loans, open bank accounts, fund housing, and more, wreaking havoc on the victim’s finances and credit rating. Unfortunately, adults are not the only victims of identity