Have you been a victim of deceptive practises by mortgage adjusters, debt consolidators or unsavory attorneys?

Posted by Yardie Luke on September 14, 2010 under Saving Money | Comments are off for this article

The information presented here applies to residents of the USA.

While listening to the Winston Barnes show today (wavs1170.com) it became very obvious that many of our Caribbean friends have been taken advantage of by unsavory attorneys, mortgage adjusters, insurance adjusters, debt consolidators and some other licensed professionals.

Unfortunately the trusting and vulnerable among us (usually the elderly and immigrants) are seen as “easy preys” for skilled and corrupt professionals.

One person said on the “Open Mic” show that he paid $700 to an attorney to pursue a case and was told weeks later to pay $300 per month to keep the case open even after the attorney failed to show what he had done up to that point.

Another caller to the “Open Mic” show said that an Insurance Adjuster received $10,000 for an insurance claim but only gave her $5600. That amounts to a fee of 44% which seems excessive.

Many fellow Jamaicans and others have lost money to fraudulent mortgage adjusters and debt consolidation firms. Others have paid for home repairs that were either left incomplete or done in a sloppy manner.

AS A GENERAL RULE DO NOT HAND OVER YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY TO ANYONE BEFORE SERVICE HAS BEEN RENDERED.

CHECK YOUR STATE’S LICENSING AND REGULATION DIVISION TO SEE IF THERE ARE COMPLAINTS AGAINST A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL BEFORE AGREEING TO HAVE HIM/HER WORK FOR YOU.

If you feel you are the victim of fraud or deceptive practices contact the DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS/SERVICES in you state. Also get in touch with the Department of Licensing IF it is not part of the DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS.

If a case of fraud was committed across state line get in touch with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC.gov)

Here is a list of websites that may help you when a professional failed to deliver as promised:

NY – Consumer Protection Board

NYC – Department of Consumer Affairs (includes Department of Licensing)

Florida – Division of Consumer Services

Florida – Office of FL Attorney General Fraud Alerts

New Jersey – Division of Consumer Affairs

Illinois – Illinois Attorney General Consumer Protection Division

Illinois – Department of Financial & Professional Regulation

California – Department of Consumer Affairs (includes Department of Licensing)

Los Angeles County – Department of Consumer Affairs

Texas – Office of Attorney General Consumer Protection