Monday, August 22, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Homeowner Fraud
Press Release | State of California - Department of Justice - Kamala D. Harris Attorney General
Press Release | State of California - Department of Justice - Kamala D. Harris Attorney General
Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Sues Law Firms Engaged in National "Mass Joinder" Mortgage Fraud
SAN FRANCISCO --- Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today announced that the California Department of Justice, in conjunction with the State Bar of California, has sued multiple entities accused of fraudulently taking millions of dollars from thousands of homeowners who were led to believe they would receive relief on their mortgages.
And more in the article is here:
The Department of Justice has seized the practices of the following non-attorney defendants:
Attorneys Processing Center, LLC; Data Management, LLC; Gary DiGirolamo; Bill Stephenson; Mitigation Professionals, LLC; Glen Reneau; Pate Marier & Associates, Inc.; James Pate; Ryan Marier; Home Retention Division; Michael Tapia; Lewis Marketing Corp.; Clarence Butt; and Thomas Phanco.
The State Bar has seized the practices and attorney accounts of the attorney defendants:
The Law Offices of Kramer & Kaslow; Philip Kramer, Esq; Mitchell J. Stein & Associates; Mitchell Stein, Esq.; Christopher Van Son, Esq.; Mesa Law Group Corp.; and Paul Petersen, Esq.
Attorney General Harris is challenging the defendants' alleged misconduct in marketing their mass joinder lawsuits; her office takes no position as to the legal merits of any claims asserted in the mass joinder lawsuits filed by defendants.
Victims in the following states are known to have received these mailers, or signed on to join the case. This is a preliminary list that may be updated:
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington
The complaint, temporary restraining order, examples of marketing documents and photos of the enforcement action are available with the electronic version of this release at http://oag.ca.gov/news.
Press Release | State of California - Department of Justice - Kamala D. Harris Attorney General
Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Sues Law Firms Engaged in National "Mass Joinder" Mortgage Fraud
SAN FRANCISCO --- Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today announced that the California Department of Justice, in conjunction with the State Bar of California, has sued multiple entities accused of fraudulently taking millions of dollars from thousands of homeowners who were led to believe they would receive relief on their mortgages.
And more in the article is here:
The Department of Justice has seized the practices of the following non-attorney defendants:
Attorneys Processing Center, LLC; Data Management, LLC; Gary DiGirolamo; Bill Stephenson; Mitigation Professionals, LLC; Glen Reneau; Pate Marier & Associates, Inc.; James Pate; Ryan Marier; Home Retention Division; Michael Tapia; Lewis Marketing Corp.; Clarence Butt; and Thomas Phanco.
The State Bar has seized the practices and attorney accounts of the attorney defendants:
The Law Offices of Kramer & Kaslow; Philip Kramer, Esq; Mitchell J. Stein & Associates; Mitchell Stein, Esq.; Christopher Van Son, Esq.; Mesa Law Group Corp.; and Paul Petersen, Esq.
Attorney General Harris is challenging the defendants' alleged misconduct in marketing their mass joinder lawsuits; her office takes no position as to the legal merits of any claims asserted in the mass joinder lawsuits filed by defendants.
Victims in the following states are known to have received these mailers, or signed on to join the case. This is a preliminary list that may be updated:
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington
The complaint, temporary restraining order, examples of marketing documents and photos of the enforcement action are available with the electronic version of this release at http://oag.ca.gov/news.
Consumer Credit Counseling info
ID Theft Resources
Consumers
CREDIT COUNSELING
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According to the National Consumer Law Center and Consumer Federation of America, an estimated nine million Americans have contact with a consumer credit counseling agency each year. The numbers are likely to grow under requirements of new federal bankruptcy laws.
Considering the five-fold increase in complaints against credit counselors nationwide reported by the Better Business Bureau between 1998 and 2002, consumers will want to be careful in obtaining credit counseling services.
In California, the state Department of Corporations, oversees credit counseling agencies. The department's website offers information for checking on your credit counseling agency.
Here are some resources to help you get started in researching credit counseling agencies and what you should consider before entering into an agreement:
Federal Trade Commission Advice
Better Business Bureau Tips On Choosing A Credit Counseling Agency.
AARP Consumer Scam Alert - Deeper In Debt.
Things to look for:
Red Flags and Cautions
Big upfront fees. While set-up fees are common practice, avoid paying unnecessarily hefty fees by comparing prices and services.
Missing or Diverted Payments. Some companies may divert your first month's payments as a fee, instead of making payments to your creditors. This could result in missed payments and hurt your credit rating so get the details on how much and when payments will be made to your creditors.
Unrealistic Promises. Managed payment plans involve methodically paying off your loans. Don't believe false promises of wiping out your debt for little or no money, without hurting your credit rating.
No Accreditation. While not a guarantee of legitimacy, accreditation by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and/or Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies indicates the credit counseling agency meets specific standards for free or low-cost confidential services
Consumers
CREDIT COUNSELING
-------
According to the National Consumer Law Center and Consumer Federation of America, an estimated nine million Americans have contact with a consumer credit counseling agency each year. The numbers are likely to grow under requirements of new federal bankruptcy laws.
Considering the five-fold increase in complaints against credit counselors nationwide reported by the Better Business Bureau between 1998 and 2002, consumers will want to be careful in obtaining credit counseling services.
In California, the state Department of Corporations, oversees credit counseling agencies. The department's website offers information for checking on your credit counseling agency.
Here are some resources to help you get started in researching credit counseling agencies and what you should consider before entering into an agreement:
Federal Trade Commission Advice
Better Business Bureau Tips On Choosing A Credit Counseling Agency.
AARP Consumer Scam Alert - Deeper In Debt.
Things to look for:
Red Flags and Cautions
Big upfront fees. While set-up fees are common practice, avoid paying unnecessarily hefty fees by comparing prices and services.
Missing or Diverted Payments. Some companies may divert your first month's payments as a fee, instead of making payments to your creditors. This could result in missed payments and hurt your credit rating so get the details on how much and when payments will be made to your creditors.
Unrealistic Promises. Managed payment plans involve methodically paying off your loans. Don't believe false promises of wiping out your debt for little or no money, without hurting your credit rating.
No Accreditation. While not a guarantee of legitimacy, accreditation by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and/or Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies indicates the credit counseling agency meets specific standards for free or low-cost confidential services
Thursday, August 18, 2011
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