Maryland Foreclosure Prevention Project: Foreclosure Solutions Workshop Saturday, May 30, 2009 in Annapolis
April 30, 2009
There will be a Foreclosure Solutions Workshop on Saturday, May 30, 2009 in Annapolis from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. hosted by First Christian Community Church.
Homeowners who pre-register are guaranteed a free legal consultation.
Homeowners should bring: (1) all paperwork related to current and former mortgages (including loan application, settlement paperwork and lender statements); (2) all foreclosure notices or threats of foreclosure received; and (3) information about monthly household budget (income/expenses).
Date: SATURDAY, MAY 30
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location: First Christian Community Church
Address: 1800 Hall Brown Road Annapolis, MD 21401
To register: Homeowners should call (410) 224-5788
***This location is handicap accessible.
The above was excerpted from a Maryland State Bar Association Foreclosure Prevention Project email alert.
Have You Been the Target of a Consumer Scam (Phishing, Smishing, Identity Theft, Fraudulent Debt Collection)?
April 29, 2009
Our office hopes to use this blog to warn consumers about financial scams. So, If you are a Maryland or D.C. resident and you have been the target of a financial scam, tell us about it.
Our office has noticed an increase in scammers posing as debt collectors. The scammers’ techniques may include phishing, smishing, other forms of identity theft, and other fraudulent debt collection activities.
For example, the scammer may ask you to fax your financial information to him or her. Or, you may get an email or text message telling you to call a seemingly legitimate 800 number. But, when you call, you may be prompted to enter sensitive information like credit card or ATM card numbers.
If you have been a target and you’d like to share your story, email info@warelawllc.com.
Please note:Â this post is not an offer of legal services or a client solicitation.
New Maryland Law Prohibits Minimum Pricing Agreements
April 29, 2009
Following is an excerpt and summary of a Wall Street Journal article on this topic:
Maryland has passed a law prohibiting minimum pricing agreements.
The law takes effect Oct. 1, 2009, and prohibits manufacturers from forcing retailers to charge minimum prices on certain products.
Minimum pricing agreements have become much more common since a controversial 2007 U.S. Supreme Court ruling (Leegin Creative Leather Products, Inc. v. PSKS, Inc.)Â That case held minimum pricing agreements do NOT automatically violate federal antitrust law.
Under the new Maryland law, retailers doing business in Maryland and Maryland state officials can sue manufacturers that impose minimum-pricing agreements.
The law also covers transactions in which Maryland consumers buy goods on the Internet, even when the retailer is based out of state. Consequently, the law could potentially affect manufacturers throughout the country.
Update: Full Senate to Vote this Week on “Helping Families Save Their Homes Act” AKA Judicial Modification of Mortgages (Bankruptcy) Bill
April 29, 2009
The following is excerpted from a National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys Alert:
Later this week, the full Senate is scheduled to take up the House-passed Housing bill (“Helping Families Save Their Homes Act”), also known informally as the Judicial Modification of Mortgages in Bankruptcy Bill.
When it comes up for vote, Senator Durbin will offer a revised version of S. 61 as an amendment to the bill. Here is a summary of the Durbin amendment.
The revised language of the Durbin amendment narrows considerably the availability of mortgage modification in bankruptcy. Even so, it may be difficult to get the Senate to pass it.
If you would like to support the Durbin amendment, email your two senators and President Obama. To send an email, click here.
Support is particularly needed from citizens in these states:
* Arkansas
* Delaware
* Florida
* Georgia
* Indiana
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Missouri
* Montana
* Ohio
* Pennsylvania
* West Virginia
Maryland Foreclosure Prevention Project: Montgomery County Foreclosure Solutions Workshop May 21, 2009
April 15, 2009
Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center will sponsor a Foreclosure Solutions Workshop on Thursday, May 21, 2009.
Pre-registration guarantees a free legal consultation. To pre-register, Homeownes should call (240) 777-8400.
Homeowners should bring:
- All paperwork related to current and former mortgages (including loan application, settlement paperwork and lender statements),
- All foreclosure notices or threats of foreclosure received, and
- Information about monthly household budget (income/expenses).
Date: Thursdsay, May 21, 2009
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location:
Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center
3300 Briggs Chaney Road
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Handicap accessible? Yes.
To preregister: Homeownes should call (240) 777-8400.
The above post was excerpted from a Maryland Foreclosure Prevention Project announcement.
Debt Collection / Phishing Scam: “Mr. Ricky Watson” at phone number 1-407-506-0427 wants you to send him money
April 13, 2009
I ran across a new debt collection / phishing scam today.
The scammer, who identifies himself as “Mr. Ricky Watson,” contacts targets by phone and tells them they owe him money. He claims to be calling from phone number 1-407-506-0424 or 1-407-506-0427.
He claims he will “send an officer to arrest you” if you do not fax your banking information to him at fax number 1-407-650-3106.
We called “Mr. Ricky Watson” several times to try to figure out whether he is a legitimate debt collector. Mr. Ricky Watson would not identify the company he works for or the origin of the debt he is trying to collect. At various times, he said he worked for “the government agency,” or “a government legal department” or “a legal firm.”
When I asked which agency or firm he worked for, he demanded to know my name. When I gave him my name, he hung up on me.
When I attempted to call back, I got an outgoing message saying “card balance too low.”
Legitimate debt collectors are willing to tell you the origin of the debts they are trying to collect. By law, they must also tell you what company they work for.
It is illegal for them to say they work for a government agency (unless they do work for such an agency), and it is illegal for them to tell you they will have you arrested if you refuse to pay.
Do not send Mr. Ricky Watson your banking information, and do not give him any information over the phone.
If Mr. Watson is a legitimate debt collector, he should send you a written notice of the debt you owe. By law, this notice should be sent within 5 days of the first phone call.
If you receive a notice explaining the origin of the debt, then you can further evaluate whether the debt is legitimate. But, based on our office’s conversations with Mr. Watson, he does not appear to be a legitimate debt collector.
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