william e lewis: Paint It Broward – Free Paint for Residents
- 07/28/11 05:15 AM
In tough economic times, homeowners cannot afford to pass up free paint and a potential savings of several hundred dollars. Between record foreclosures, high unemployment, and rising food and gas prices, the “Paint it Broward” program has hit all-time records in paint distribution county-wide. “Paint it Broward” is an initiative of Broward County’s Waste and Recycling Services allowing residents throughout the county to receive up to twenty gallons of high-quality recycled latex exterior paint yearly for residential projects. Latex paint collected through the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Program is transported to a paint manufacturer where it is recycled into high-quality … (2 comments)
william e lewis: Fund to help hardest-hit Floridians
- 04/10/11 04:22 AM
Are you unemployed or underemployed and unable to pay your mortgage on time? The Florida Housing Finance Corporation announced last week that Floridians having difficulties making their mortgage can apply for financial assistance from the Hardest-Hit Fund (HHF) beginning next Monday. On April 18 at 9 a.m., the program will become available to troubled homeowners in all 67 Florida counties. "We're now in the position to offer this financial assistance statewide to the people out there who are desperately struggling to stay in their homes," said Steve Auger, executive director of Florida Housing. "For the homeowners who qualify, this temporary relief … (0 comments)
william e lewis: Massive Internet fraud shut down by FTC
- 12/25/10 06:01 PM
The Federal Trade Commission has taken legal action against a far-reaching Internet enterprise that allegedly made millions of dollars by luring consumers into "trial" memberships for bogus government-grant and money-making schemes, then repeatedly charged them monthly fees for services they never agreed upon. According to the FTC's complaint, "I Works" utilized websites touting the availability of government grants to pay personal expenses or to pitch various money-making programs. The websites offered "free" information at no-risk with a small shipping and handling fee. When consumers provided their billing information, I Works charged them hefty one-time fees of up to $129.95 and monthly … (4 comments)
william e lewis: Civil Rights of the Convicted Felon
- 12/18/10 08:11 PM
In Florida, a felony conviction means the loss of civil rights, including the right to vote, hold public office, serve on a jury, possess a firearm or concealed weapon, and the right to be employed within certain occupations. These restrictions continue to exist following release from jail, state prison or probationary sentence. While Doors lead singer Jim Morrison was posthumously pardoned by Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Clemency Board on indecency charges, a request by the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for an executive order granting restoration of civil rights for … (6 comments)
william e lewis: Death and social networks
- 12/11/10 08:43 PM
Losing a friend or family member is painful enough, but imagine when that friend's social networking profile at Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace continues to appear on your personal wall or in searches. In the digital age, many of us publish our entire lives through profiles, status updates, networks, photographs, blog posts, etc. With more than a million social networkers dying yearly, family, friends and service providers are stuck trying to figure out how to deal with a deceased user's digital bits. As a social networking guru with over 40,000 contacts spread across six social networks, one of them - Barry Epstein, … (5 comments)
william e lewis: Foreclosure defense: Process servers allegedly filing false affidavits
- 11/06/10 06:31 PM
Recent reports indicate that approximately 462,339 foreclosure cases were pending in Florida as of June 30. Following foreclosure moratoriums by Ally Financial, Bank of America, J.P. Morgan Chase, and PNC Bank, the settlement of deceptive marketing charges by Wells Fargo, and the Attorney General's investigation into faulty foreclosure practices at the Florida Default Law Group, the Law Offices of David J. Stern, P.A.; the Law Offices of Marshall C. Watson, P.A.; and Shapiro & Fishman, LLP, investigators have turned up a new problem. Process servers are now alleged to have filed false affidavits in support of personal service in foreclosure matters. … (3 comments)
william e lewis: Foreclosure defense: Court rules bank must prove ownership
- 10/30/10 11:05 PM
Following foreclosure moratoriums by PNC Bank, Bank of America, J.P. Morgan Chase, and Ally Financial, the settlement of deceptive marketing charges by Wells Fargo Bank, and the Attorney General's investigation into faulty foreclosure practices at the Florida Default Law Group, the Law Offices of Marshall C. Watson, P.A.; the Law Offices of David J. Stern, P.A.; and Shapiro & Fishman, LLP., a Florida court ruled that banks must provide evidence of ownership when attempting to foreclose on a property. On Wednesday, a three-judge panel of the 4th District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach overturned an earlier summary judgment by … (1 comments)
william e lewis: Florida AG Investigates Five for-Profit Colleges
- 10/23/10 08:43 PM
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum announced last week that his office has begun investigating allegations of unfair and deceptive practices at five for-profit higher education institutions.The civil investigation focuses on consumer complaints made against the University of Phoenix, the MedVance Institute, Argosy University, Kaplan Inc., and Everest University. Allegations have been made that the colleges misrepresented financial aid, accreditation, graduation rates and future job placement in the recruitment and enrollment of new students. While some of the schools advised they have yet to be contacted about the investigation, they pledged cooperation. The University of Phoenix on Friday reported receiving a subpoena … (0 comments)
william e lewis: Mortgage and Foreclosure - Florida AG joins Mortgage Foreclosure Multi State Group
- 10/16/10 10:09 PM
Attorney General Bill McCollum announced last week an ongoing effort to rein in mortgage servicers and protect Floridians from purported deceptive and unfair practices. Along with 49 other attorneys general who are part of the Mortgage Foreclosure Multi State Group, McCollum is leading an effort to stop mortgage loan servicers from submitting alleged false affidavits in support of mortgage foreclosure actions. Homeowners, attorneys and investigators have long alleged that many of the affidavits contained within mortgage foreclosure complaints have been signed without personal knowledge of the facts asserted within them. Having recently come to light is the fact that many of … (2 comments)
william e lewis: Wells Fargo Settles Deceptive Marketing Charges
- 10/09/10 11:08 PM
Following news of a mortgage foreclosure moratorium by PNC Bank, Bank of America, J.P. Morgan Chase, and Ally Financial's GMAC Mortgage unit, Wells Fargo Bank has settled charges of deceptive marketing practices with attorney generals in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, Texas, and Washington state. Attorney General Bill McCollum announced last week a multi-state agreement with Wells Fargo over allegations of deceptive marketing regarding payment option adjustable rate (POA) mortgage loans. The agreement settles allegations of misconduct made prior to the acquisition of Wachovia and Golden West Corp., also doing business as World Savings Bank, by Wells Fargo. According … (0 comments)
william e lewis: Beware of Fake Debt Collectors - FDCPA May Not Protect You
- 06/28/10 12:29 AM
Over the last several decades, America has truly transitioned into a debtor society. Despite tough economic times, consumers are more likely to borrow than they are to delay when making a purchase. With consumers having financial obligations to multiple institutions, keeping accurate records and documentation can become a challenge. Opportunistic con artists posing as "fake" debt collectors recognize this as an area of vulnerability and are more than willing to use it to their advantage. These fake debt collectors speak English with a foreign accent and call themselves "Affidavit Consolidation Services," Criminal Bureau of Identity," "U.S. National Bank," "US Justice Department/Payday … (0 comments)
william e lewis: US Supreme Court Rules Against Debt Collector
- 04/25/10 01:59 AM
Debt collectors can no longer claim ignorance of the law as an excuse for violating the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) while attempting to collect a debt. On Wednesday, the United States Supreme Court handed down a ruling that severely restricts the "bona fide error" defense under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act for debt collectors that send erroneous collection notices. In a 7-2 ruling, the high court ruled that collection law firms could not use misinterpretations of the law in a "bona fide error" defense under the FDCPA. In the matter of Jerman v. Carlisle, McNellie, Rini, Kramer & … (0 comments)
william e lewis: Loan Modification Licensure in Florida - an Industry No Longer Without Regulation
- 01/06/10 01:18 AM
The days of simply opening up shop and starting a loan modification business have come to an end in Florida. Individuals or businesses providing loan modification services must now be licensed as a mortgage broker by the Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) in order to conduct business. The Florida legislature recently passed Senate Bill SB 2226. This law makes significant changes to Florida's mortgage brokerage law - Chapter 494, Florida Statutes - effective January 1, 2010. In particular, the new law specifically covers negotiation of existing loans as being part of the duties of a mortgage broker. As such, any … (0 comments)
william e lewis: Credit Card Act of 2009 - A Primer to Basic Consumer Protections
- 01/05/10 04:36 AM
In an ideal world, one would not worry about the recession, high unemployment rates, the foreclosure epidemic and the never ending debt load carried by the average American. In what has been commonly referred to as the "Year of the Consumer," 2010 has a lot to offer in the way of federally mandated "changes" as it relates to the credit card industry. With less than 30 days until enactment of The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 creditors and financial institutions are doing their very best at circumventing the new law, also known by its short title - … (0 comments)
william e lewis: Credit Repair for 2010 - A New Year for Better Credit
- 01/05/10 04:33 AM
Are you wondering how to protect your family through a recession and tough economic times? Families are scrambling to protect their financial security while watching their nest egg shrink. Between the foreclosure epidemic and closed or reduced credit lines, Congress has been left to bail out the financial industry. Many consumers are experiencing severe stress as it relates to their economic stability and general well-being. With unemployment at an all time high and an economy that is struggling with food prices and professional services that have increased at alarming rates, many families have scaled back on their spending to include only … (0 comments)
In tough economic times, homeowners cannot afford to pass up free paint and a potential savings of several hundred dollars. Between record foreclosures, high unemployment, and rising food and gas prices, the “Paint it Broward” program has hit all-time records in paint distribution county-wide. 
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