Beginning in January 2014, new CFPB rules will provide homeowners and consumers shopping for a home mortgage new rights and greater protections from harmful practices.  These rules will help eliminate or  reduce the run around and painful surprises that have hurt so...

There are new statutory protections in place that will further protect consumers in mortgage and debt collection matters.  Read below for a general overview of these protections. Mortgage Servicing/Foreclosures This month substantive amendments to regulations...

Update:  The retail giant Target confirmed that it has identified a severe data breach that may have affected 70 - 110 million credit and debit card accounts used by consumers prior to Black Friday weekend and after in retail stores nationwide.   This is an increase...

The Alabama Attorney General's office has recovered at least $9.4 million in a multi-state settlement with one of the country's largest mortgage companies, Ocwen Financial Corporation.  Alabama joined 48 other states, the District of Columbia and the Consumer...

According to a recent AP report, a study by the government found that 1 out of every 14 Americans 16 years or older was a victim of identity theft.  According to a national household survey of 70,000 people by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, identity theft resulted...

By Alex Walsh awalsh@al.com A recent report that gave Alabama an "F" for the legal protections it affords consumers with debt failed to surprise one Mobile attorney. James Patterson is with Underwood & Riemer, PC, a firm that often defends consumers who find...

By Alex Walsh | awalsh@al.com http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/10/have_debt_good_luck_alabama_ho.html Alabama law contains only a few weak protections for its residents that find themselves with significant amounts of debt, a new report shows, making it one of the worst...