NYC Bankruptcy Blog

September 29, 2016

500 Million Yahoo Accounts Stolen / What You Should Do

Yahoo announced that the account information of at least 500 million users was stolen by hackers in the biggest known theft of one company’s computer network. Yahoo said that user information – including names, email addresses, telephone numbers, birth dates, encrypted passwords, and in some cases, security questions – was stolen. If you are a Yahoo […]
September 22, 2016

NYC Has Outlawed Running Credit Checks On Job Applicants

New York City has adopted a law barring most employers from checking a job candidate’s credit reports. The law makes it illegal to request or use a job applicant’s credit history in making a hiring decision in almost all cases. “Just because you’ve struggled with credit cards, medical bills or student loans does not make you […]
September 8, 2016

Complaints About How Banks Handle Checking Accounts Are On The Rise – What Banks to Avoid

Are you experiencing problems or getting frustrated with you bank? You are not alone. The federal consumer watchdog agency – the CFPB – recently published an article about banks with the most complaints. Some of the top complaints were: Complaints about overdraft fees and availability of funds: Consumers complained about overdrafts on their accounts occurring because […]
August 23, 2016

Charles Discusses Consumer Scams With The New York Times

Over the last decade there has been an explosion of consumer scams related to “subprime” lending. Banks and other lenders trap struggling families into paying enormous interest on credit cards, car loans, payday loans and other types of loans. The New York Times invited me to discuss “subprime” lending on their live Facebook video platform. Here […]
August 5, 2016

Wendy’s Data Breach / What To Do If Your Credit Card Information Was Stolen

Last month, Todd Penegor, the President and CEO of Wendy’s Company announced that some Wendy’s restaurants have been the victim of malicious cyber activity where customers’ credit and debit card information was fraudulently accessed. This activity was first detected in February this year and after an ongoing investigation, as many as 1,025 of its restaurants have […]
July 12, 2016

Use Caution Withdrawing Cash From ATM Machines

Police departments have reported an uptick in skimming devices on ATMs. Be sure to be wary of some ATM machines, especially those at convenience stores and gas stations. How The ATM Scam Works You need cash, so you stop at a convenience store or gas station. You head to the back of the shop and insert […]
June 9, 2016

How To Find Your Real Credit Score

The free credit scores you see on television and the internet are okay for generally tracking your credit. But, sometimes these “free” credit scores can be way off and wrong. If you want your real credit score if you are buying a car, applying for a mortgage, renting an apartment or applying for a job – […]
May 19, 2016

Consumer Reports – A Reliable Tool for Product Reviews and Rankings

Did you know about an organization called Consumer Reports? They are an independent, nonprofit organization that serves consumers through unbiased product testing and ratings, research, journalism, public education, and advocacy. Consumer Reports is by far the best consumer rating agency. Since 1936, the company has been committed to empowering consumers with the knowledge they need to […]
May 2, 2016

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Shuts Down Fraudulent Student Debt Relief Firm

National student loan debt is currently at a staggering $1.3 trillion. As this figure continues to grow, so does the percentage of accounts that are delinquent and in default as more and more borrowers suffer under this overwhelming debt. In an effort to provide relief to borrowers, the government has launched several federal loan assistance programs. […]
April 11, 2016

Taxes Are Due Monday, April 18, 2016, NOT Friday, April 15, 2016

Did you know that your tax return deadline is later this year? The Internal Revenue Service has given most taxpayers three extra days to file their federal income tax returns this year. “Instead of April 15 as the drop-dead day for taxes to be completed and postmarked – or, increasingly, electronically filed – it’s April 18. […]