Marriott International experienced a breach of its Starwood guest reservation database that exposed the personal information of up to 500 million people. This incident is considered one of the largest data breaches in the hotel industry. If your information was exposed in the Marriott Starwood data breach, or you suspect it was exposed, learn what
After tragedy strikes or during the holiday season, you may feel inclined to donate to a charity that you want to support. Scammers know that people will be more determined to donate to charities at this time, and so they create fake charities in order to feed off the generosity of others. They will then
What is the difference between creditors and debtors? If you’ve ever had to take out a loan or a similar form of credit, you’ve likely heard the words “creditor” and “debtor” used to explain the account. But sometimes these terms and their meanings can be confusing. Being informed of what creditors and debtors are and
After the 2017 Equifax data breach, American consumers everywhere wondered how they could protect their personal information from identity theft. Some placed credit freezes with Equifax, TransUnion and Experian; however, this often came with a fee that many consumers didn’t want to pay. In a national survey, NerdWallet found that 71% of Americans had growing
When someone applies for a new credit card or loan for a new home or car, the lender will review the applicant’s credit history to determine their approval or denial of the loan. But what happens if this is the applicant’s first loan? What if the consumer doesn’t have much credit history yet? What Is
Identity theft and credit card fraud have devastating outcomes if you’re the victim. However, many consumers don’t know the difference between the two crimes. This guide defines what identity theft and credit card fraud are and how you can protect yourself from damages. What is Identity Theft? Identity theft occurs when someone uses your identifying
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report every 12 months. However, it can be daunting and confusing to examine your report if you don’t know how to read through the information listed. Although the exact format will vary between the three main agencies– TransUnion,
A summarized guide to consumer laws and what to do if your rights are violated. If any of your rights listed below have been violated, it’s time to contact an attorney and start fighting for your life back. Fair Credit Reporting Act The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) protects the accuracy and privacy of your
A background screening company has agreed to pay more than $1 million to settle a class action alleging it provided erroneous and expunged background information to people’s prospective landlords. U.S. District Judge John Padova of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania recently approved the accord in Stokes v. RealPage, which focused on claims that the defendant
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you have the right to dispute errors on your credit report and credit reporting agencies are required to investigate the dispute. It’s important to know what to do, and what not to do, when disputing in order for you to get your credit report fixed. These are the top