When a scammer convinces someone to transfer money, the transaction can happen quickly. By the time the victim realizes something is wrong, the money may already be on its way to the fraudster. A new Maryland law gives certain banks and other financial institutions additional tools to intervene when they suspect financial exploitation. The Vulnerable…
Most people think of identity theft as someone stealing a credit card or getting into a bank account. But your Social Security number can be much more valuable to an identity thief. With your SSN and other personal information, a thief may be able to open credit accounts, apply for loans, obtain employment, file a…
Getting a lawsuit from a company you have never heard of can be confusing. The complaint says you owe money, but you do not recognize the account, do not remember opening it, or never agreed to the debt in the first place. That does not mean the lawsuit is automatically valid. A debt buyer can…
Getting served with a lawsuit from a debt collector can be alarming. The papers may say you owe thousands of dollars, and the collector may be asking a Maryland court to enter a judgment against you. But a lawsuit is not the same thing as a judgment. The debt collector still has to establish its…
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…