Many of us know of someone who has lost money and possibly their personal information to tax scams. The most important thing to share is that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will not initiate contact with a taxpayer by email, text message, social media channels, or phone call to request personal or financial information. Here are a few telltale signs of tax scams: A phone call demanding immediate Read More
Tips to Keep Your Banking and Financial Information Safe When Online
This month’s article offers a few tips on precautions for internet financial transactions. Tip 1: Take extra precautions for logging into banks and other financial accounts. Create “strong” user IDs and passwords by choosing combinations of upper-and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols that are hard for a hacker to guess. Your birth date, address, or other publicly available information can be easily Read More
A Few Tips on How to Complain Effectively
This month’s article offers tips on how to approach a business with a complaint when you have a problem with goods or services purchased. Everyone has a right to be given specifics about a product or service prior to purchase (including warranties) and about the process to resolve a problem if the promised product or service is not provided. Always ask about the process at purchase and get it in writing. Prior Read More
Helpful Tips to Avoid Repossession
Contact your Lender Promptly – If you are concerned about missing a car payment you should contact your lender as soon as possible. Many banks, auto manufacturer lenders, and other creditors have emergency relief programs to help borrowers who have been impacted by COVID-19. Borrowers who communicate early and honestly with their lenders demonstrate good faith and a good lender will work with you to keep your account Read More
Car Warranties: What You Should Know
You may be a victim of unfair and deceptive practices if you weren’t offered a refund or replacement vehicle when you were sold a lemon. You should know that federal and state laws protect consumers from cars that require constant repairs, even if the repairs are made for free under a warranty. If the dealer or manufacturer will not honor the warranty and comply with the law, you should seek the help of an Read More
Have you heard of the Franchise Rule or the Business Opportunity Rule?
Many of us dream of financial independence and might consider investing in a business opportunity. A promise of no risk and big profits is often indicative of a scheme that could be fraudulent. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has two trade regulations to help protect against deceptive business opportunity schemes, the Franchise Rule, and the Business Opportunity Rule. The FTC’s Franchise Rule, when first Read More
Do you know who buys the debt you owe?
Debt buyers purchase debts from original creditors, intermediaries, or other debt buyers. Debt buyers come in various shapes and sizes. There are many small debt buyers, but BIG debt buyers bring most collection lawsuits, large corporations that do business on a large scale, often collecting debts under multiple names, like Sherman Financial Group, L.L.C. (subsidiaries include LVNV Funding, L.L.C. and Resurgent Read More
A Buy-Sell Agreement, Why a Business Should Have One.
1. It is the plan to follow for the sale of the business. A business Buy-Sell agreement is the legal succession plan for selling a business. Buy-sell agreements can provide a reliable exit plan for business partners when they no longer want to have a stake in the company. 2. A Buy-Sell Agreement allows for tax and emergency planning. A Buy-Sell agreement should involve a tax strategy to help Read More
Home Warranties
Home warranties are intended to be insurance policies to protect against home system breakdowns. Prior to purchasing a home warranty, obtain a copy of the warranty to review and ask questions about coverage. Consider the following: Just like every insurance policy, warranties have exclusions. Determine what exclusions apply. For example, bathroom plumbing may be warranted, but the steam room or jacuzzi may be Read More
Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) Warranties
Prior to buying a new system, read the warranty, so there are no surprises when you need to use it! As with any warranty, ask questions about coverage of specific parts and the labor associated with repairing or replacing parts/components. An HVAC warranty should clearly explain coverage for labor and all service call charges included and excluded, including any minimum charges for labor to replace a Read More
