Buying a new car is often stressful, but it becomes even more so when dealerships behave fraudulently. Accordingly, consumers should be aware of common scams that can accompany the sales process. The following schemes can cost you a significant amount of money and...
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Consumer Rights
Can you prevent vehicle repossession?
Facing potential repossession of your vehicle can cause frustration and uncertainty. You most likely rely on your car to help you maintain critical obligations in your life. While you cannot know for certain what will happen, there are things you can do to mitigate...
When may I remove information from my credit report?
Maryland’s statutes allow you to request and review your three consumer credit reports once per year. The Maryland Financial Regulations page notes you may also file a complaint when attempting to resolve disputes related to information on your credit reports. As a...
What are some signs of creditor harassment?
If you owe an entity money and do not pay, that company may send your account to collections. At this point, a debt collector will likely try to contact you to obtain money to cover what you owe. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a debt collector...
Federal government warns lenders against unlawful repossessions
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a warning to auto lenders to avoid repossessing vehicles before they are legally allowed to. A representative for the consumer watchdog said that the organization has only seen a small increase in repossessions but wants...
Does your financed car have a kill switch?
Like many other Marylanders, you have no choice but to drive to and from work. If you cannot afford to buy a car outright, you also might have no choice but to finance one. While it is advisable to purchase your vehicle from a highly-rated dealer, there are plenty of...
Can debt collectors use social media to shame you?
With the high cost of everyday items nowadays, it should come as no surprise that many Americans must reach for their credit cards to make necessary purchases. Indeed, according to reporting from Yahoo!, 14 million Americans have more than $10,000 in credit card debt....
What happens to the personal property in your repossessed car?
If you are delinquent on your car payments, you can expect your lender to repossess your vehicle. While traumatic for you, car repossessions are exceedingly common in the U.S. In fact, according to reporting from CBS News, even many Americans with good credit scores...
How much force can a repossessor use?
Financing automobiles is big business in the U.S. Indeed, according to Lending Tree, Americans collectively owe roughly $1.46 trillion on the cars, trucks and SUVs they drive every day. This means car loans account for approximately 9% of all the outstanding debt in...
What are my rights when debt collectors call?
Debt collectors can be incredibly diligent in trying to contact you about debt. You may become upset over calls you receive. Luckily, federal laws set the rules for how debt collectors may use the phone in their attempt to contact you. Time limits Debt collectors must...