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…
Spring is when many homeowners begin thinking about solar; the weather warms, air conditioning season approaches, and people start receiving their first air conditioning bills. Add in the unpredictability of global oil markets/broader energy costs, and it’s not surprising that solar interest spikes this time of year. Unfortunately, spring marks the beginning of solar fraud…
If you discover that someone has already filed using your Social Security number, the status quo tax season becomes far more complicated. If you’re wondering what to do if someone filed taxes in your name, you’re not alone, as the threat has grown in recent years. Tax identity theft is one of the fastest-growing forms…
Identity theft no longer fits a single stereotype; the crime finds its way into any avenue it can. Today’s fraudsters use a wide range of identity theft tactics, many of which leave victims facing debts, damaged credit, and legal disputes they never anticipated. Understanding how identity theft works is often the first step toward recognizing…
Student loan fraud identity theft occurs when someone uses stolen personal information to open or manipulate education-related debt accounts; this leaves victims being pursued to pay for balances/debts they never created. Unlike credit card fraud, student loan identity theft often goes unnoticed for years. Scammers will use stolen Social Security numbers to apply for federal/private…