Everything that is wrong with a high-cost loan is only worse when the loan is larger and the terms are longer. New 36 percent interest rate caps in states that previously had no limits are an important step in the right direction, according to a new report from the National Consumer Law Center, an organization that works on behalf of low-income consumers.
It’s tough these days making money stretch in shifting economic times. Get help with smart money moves by taking a look at complaints filed with the CFPB for 2023. Last year, the CFPB sent more than 1.3 million complaints to over 3,400 companies for review and response, according to the agency’s “Consumer Response Annual Report.”
Homeowners could pay less to sell their homes after a realtors’ group agreed to cut commissions to settle lawsuits filed against it. On Friday, the National Association of Realtors agreed to pay $418 million in damages and to eliminate its rules on commissions. The $418 million agreement will make it easier for home buyers to negotiate fees with their own agents.
On Monday, I went with my daughter to arrange my funeral. Now, I’m a senior who’s spry, as my daughter says, so this is just advance planning not the need for a funeral soon. Should you arrange a funeral in advance? Not unless you have some safeguards in case the funeral home goes out of business or won’t help you if you move away.
Compare interest rates and terms when you’re going to sign up for a new credit card. There’s no need to pay 28 to 30 percent interest or an annual fee of $150. Large banks are offering worse credit card terms and interest rates than small banks and credit unions, regardless of credit risk, according to a report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
I know, I know. As a consumer and personal finance journalist, I should have had my will prepared a long time ago. I’ve had a handwritten will for years that was witnessed by two friends. It’s not sufficient, but it was something. People need to have a will because if they don’t, their assets, if any, will be distributed according to state law.
Recently, when I looked at my Comcast bill, it said my monthly bill would be going up $22.60 a month. I was upset. My bill already is high. I pay about $200 for TV, internet, and landline. For years, I had argue with Comcast every couple of years when my contract expired. I had the bundle: $33 for TV, $33 for internet, and $33 for the landline.
Citibank was charged Tuesday for failing to protect customers from fraud and for refusing to reimburse them. A lawsuit by the New York Attorney General’s Office alleges that Citi doesn’t have online protections to stop account takeovers, misleads customers about their rights after their funds are stolen, and illegally denies reimbursement to victims of fraud.
It’s a topic I’ve written about many times. Get familiar with funeral costs before you expect you may need to arrange a funeral. Funeral directors can take advantage of consumers who aren’t informed. And it can cost you a lot of money. A first-time, undercover investigation by the FTC showed that some funeral homes didn’t give accurate price information over the phone.
