Are there rough seas ahead for you due to the pandemic? Foreclosures, bankruptcy, or predatory lenders? Our guest from the MS Center for Justice, Director of Consumer Protection, Charles Lee took questions for this podcast. https://www.mscenterforjustice.org/

Resource Information for Consumers

A resource on managing personal finances curing COVID19 for Mississippians created by the Mississippi State Extension Service.

 http://extension.msstate.edu/content/managing-personal-finances-during-covid-19

Coronavirus and dealing with debt: Tips to help ease the impact

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/coronavirus-and-dealing-debt-tips-help-ease-impact/

Sample Letters for Dealing with Debt Collectors

The following sample letters will help if you’re experiencing common problems that may come up with debt collectors.

• I do not owe this debt .
• I need more information about this debt .
• I want the debt collector to stop contacting me .
• I want the debt collector to only contact me through my lawyer .
• I want to specify how the debt collector can contact me .

If you use any of these letters, it’s important to do so as soon as possible after you’re first contacted, and to keep copies of any letters you send. In certain situations, you only have 30 days after you’re contacted to ask for certain information, but even if more than 30 days pass, it’s still a good idea to ask for what you need.

Credit Reports

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 3 national credit reporting companies are offering free weekly online credit reports through April 2021.

Link to https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action

Through December 31, 2026, all U.S. consumers can also get six free credit reports every 12 months from Equifax by establishing a "myEquifax" account at https://my.equifax.com/consumer-registration/UCSC/#/personal-info or by calling 866-349-5191

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How to Dispute Errors on Your Credit Report

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-dispute-an-error-on-my-credit-report-en-314/

Resources to Help Consumers Avoid Scams

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/coronavirus/avoiding-scams/

Tips to Cancel a Time Share Contract

https://www.debt.org/real-estate/timeshare-cancellation/

MPB’s Money Talks recently had a representative from the National Foudnation for Consumer Credit. https://www.nfcc.org/ You can hear their podcast from May 12th on their website http://moneytalks.mpbonline.org/episodes/money-talks-credit-counseling

National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via email at disaster@leo.gov _

 Report scams to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov

The Federal Trade Commission also has information  https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scams

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/scam-alerts

FTC.gov/complaint

The Mississippi Attorney General’s guide to Consumer Protection http://www.ago.state.ms.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Consumer-Guide-to-Mississippi-Consumer-Protection-Law.pdf

CARES Act: Temporary student loan relief: All loan and interest payments are deferred through Sept. 30 without penalty to the borrower for all federally owned student loans. https://www.npr.org/2020/03/26/821457551/whats-inside-the-senate-s-2-trillion-coronavirus-aid-package

Calls concerned:

• time shares
• title problems
• housing
• warning about scams
• more scams

Attorney Charles Lee can be reached at the Mississippi Center for Justice at 601-352-2269 extension 104

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