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New York City has adopted a law barring most employers from checking a job candidate’s credit reports. The law makes it illegal to request or use a job applicant’s credit history in making a hiring decision in almost all cases. “Just because you’ve struggled with credit cards, medical bills or student loans does not make you […]

Are you experiencing problems or getting frustrated with you bank? You are not alone. The federal consumer watchdog agency – the CFPB – recently published an article about banks with the most complaints. Some of the top complaints were: Complaints about overdraft fees and availability of funds: Consumers complained about overdrafts on their accounts occurring because […]

Over the last decade there has been an explosion of consumer scams related to “subprime” lending. Banks and other lenders trap struggling families into paying enormous interest on credit cards, car loans, payday loans and other types of loans. The New York Times invited me to discuss “subprime” lending on their live Facebook video platform. Here […]

Last month, Todd Penegor, the President and CEO of Wendy’s Company announced that some Wendy’s restaurants have been the victim of malicious cyber activity where customers’ credit and debit card information was fraudulently accessed. This activity was first detected in February this year and after an ongoing investigation, as many as 1,025 of its restaurants have […]

Police departments have reported an uptick in skimming devices on ATMs. Be sure to be wary of some ATM machines, especially those at convenience stores and gas stations. How The ATM Scam Works You need cash, so you stop at a convenience store or gas station. You head to the back of the shop and insert […]

The free credit scores you see on television and the internet are okay for generally tracking your credit. But, sometimes these “free” credit scores can be way off and wrong. If you want your real credit score if you are buying a car, applying for a mortgage, renting an apartment or applying for a job – […]

Did you know about an organization called Consumer Reports? They are an independent, nonprofit organization that serves consumers through unbiased product testing and ratings, research, journalism, public education, and advocacy. Consumer Reports is by far the best consumer rating agency. Since 1936, the company has been committed to empowering consumers with the knowledge they need to […]

National student loan debt is currently at a staggering $1.3 trillion. As this figure continues to grow, so does the percentage of accounts that are delinquent and in default as more and more borrowers suffer under this overwhelming debt. In an effort to provide relief to borrowers, the government has launched several federal loan assistance programs. […]

Did you know that your tax return deadline is later this year? The Internal Revenue Service has given most taxpayers three extra days to file their federal income tax returns this year. “Instead of April 15 as the drop-dead day for taxes to be completed and postmarked – or, increasingly, electronically filed – it’s April 18. […]

The IRS says that it issues 90% of taxpayer refunds in less than 21 days.  According to Forbes magazine, here is how you can check the status of your refund: “If you’re wondering about the status of your refund, check out the “Where’s my Refund?” tool at IRS.gov: www.irs.gov/Refunds When the IRS processes your tax return […]