Having your vehicle repossessed is stressful enough without a repo agent making the situation worse. While Maryland law allows a lender or its repossession company to take a vehicle after a default in certain circumstances, there are limits on how that repossession can happen. If a repo company uses force, threats, intimidation, or otherwise breaches…
You already know something is wrong. You have seen the accounts you never opened. You have sent the disputes. You may have sent them more than once, with the police report and the FTC report attached, and gotten back the same letter saying the account was verified as accurate and will remain on your file….
The panels are already on the roof. The loan is already reported on your credit. The savings you were promised never showed up, or the system never produced anything at all, or you are looking at a contract with your name on it that you do not remember signing. The salesperson has stopped returning calls….
Most people assume that if a thief drains their checking or savings account, the bank will make it right. That is usually how it works. But some consumers discover something different: They report the theft to their bank, wait a week or two, and receive a letter saying the bank investigated, found no error, or…
Owing money can be stressful, but debt collectors are not allowed to use intimidation, deception, or harassment to collect a debt. Federal and Maryland laws place important limits on how debt collectors may communicate with consumers, helping ensure that collection efforts remain fair and respectful. If a debt collector’s behavior feels threatening or abusive, it…
Most consumers expect businesses to deal honestly and fairly. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen. Misleading advertisements, false promises, and deceptive sales tactics can leave consumers with financial losses and little idea of what to do next. The Maryland Consumer Protection Act (MCPA) is designed to help protect consumers from unfair and deceptive business practices. Understanding…
Receiving a lawsuit over a debt you do not believe you owe can be stressful and confusing. You may be wondering how the debt collector or creditor could have made a mistake, what will happen next, and whether you have any options for protecting yourself. In Maryland, being sued for a debt does not automatically…
Your Social Security number is one of your most sensitive pieces of personal information. People steal your identity so that they can open fraudulent credit card accounts, obtain goods and services, and even apply for rent and other loans in your name. When that happens, those accounts go on your credit reports, and a collection…
Rental identity theft is when a thief pretends to be you for the purpose of renting property. Rental identity theft was not very common, historically, because landlords typically required ID to be shown in person in order to rent. During and after the COVID pandemic, many large landlords shifted to entirely online applications, taking images…
Consumers get confused when a company they’ve never heard of contacts them about a debt they supposedly owe, and may not have a record of. In many of these situations, a debt collector has purchased your debt from the original creditor. But there are protections for consumers: In Maryland, both federal and state laws set…