Consumers have various protections under the law, not the least of which is the right to occasionally review their own credit reports. The information retained by the credit bureaus and reviewed by third parties can have a profound impact on the day-to-day life of...
Employers increasingly rely on third-party background checks to verify criminal and employment histories. Unfortunately, inaccurate or outdated information on these reports can unfairly disqualify qualified candidates—sometimes even before the company interviews them....
You noticed the unauthorized charges. You have called the company repeatedly. You have filed complaints that seem to disappear into bureaucratic black holes. Now what? When you have become a victim of consumer fraud, knowing the specific legal protections available...
Dealing with pushy debt collectors can be stressful, especially when their tactics cross legal boundaries. If you're facing aggressive collection efforts, you're not alone. You also have rights. The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Minnesota...
Consumer scams continue to evolve, targeting Minnesotans through increasingly sophisticated methods. You might consider yourself too savvy to fall victim, but scammers constantly develop new tactics to deceive even the most careful consumers. Understanding common...
Credit reporting allows businesses and individuals to make informed decisions. Landlords and lenders often perform credit checks before deciding if they want to do business with an individual. Employers may even review credit reports as a way of determining how...
Your credit report is a powerful tool that can make or break your financial future. It's a detailed record of your credit history, and lenders use it to determine whether to approve your loan applications, credit cards and even apartment rentals. But what if your...
Identity theft strikes without warning. You might check your mail and find credit card statements for accounts you never opened. Or lenders could deny you a mortgage despite careful planning, only to discover your credit score has plummeted due to someone else's...
Knowing that you owe a business money is a stressful situation. You know you’re going to have collection attempts, including phone calls, text messages and written communication. You may even have to deal with them trying to contact you at work or calling your...
Most people cannot afford to purchase a vehicle with their own savings. The sale prices of new and used vehicles have increased substantially in recent years. People rely on financing provided by a bank or a dealership to acquire a vehicle. That typically means that...