Gift cards have fewer hidden fees and expiration dates this holiday season, thanks to FTC action, Two consumer groups have asked Deborah Platt Majoras, the chair of the FTC, to There's still no official FCC strategy for the nation's switchover to digital television in February 2009, reports the General Accounting Office. We guess this will be one of those let-the-private-sector-sort-it-out "initiatives." [ The FTC's figure for identity theft in 2005 was 8.3 million Americans over the age of 18, a drop of about 16% from the 9.9 million it measured in 2003. (2005 is the most recent year for which they have data.) However, not only are consumer groups saying that these numbers are faulty, even the FTC admits in a footnote that "A debt-collection agency settled with the FTC for $1.3 million after thousands of complaints were lodged against the company for abusive and illegal practices. LTD used threatening language and racial slurs against debtors. They also threatened they would garnish debtor's wages, something that can't happen without a trial. Company managers were found to be complicit in its employees illegal actions. LTD collected debts for major credit card companies and retail chains.

LTD is said to be taking the federal action "seriously," and that, "One complaint is one too many."

Debt collector settles charges for $1.3 million [Star-Telegram] (Thanks to David!)

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Sample Letter For Disputing A Debt Collection Notice
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