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REAL ID is now required for air travel in America; CT House passes comprehensive climate bill; U.S. veterans who hold elective office want environmental investments restored; ME conservation groups seek more protections for temporary wetlands.

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Taxing millionaires could fund safety net programs, climate rollbacks raise national security concerns, India makes cross-border strikes in Kashmir, the Supreme Court backs transgender military ban, and government actions conflict with Indigenous land protections.

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DOGE is gutting a 30-year old national service program, cuts are likely but Head Start may be spared elimination in the next budget, moms are the most vulnerable when extreme weather hits and there's a croaking sound coming from rural California.

BBB Warns of Debt Relief, Credit Repair Company Scams

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Monday, September 11, 2023   

Ohioans seeking help from companies promising to reduce or eliminate debt or fix their credit scores are getting duped, and often are left financially worse off, according to a new report.

Judy Dollison, president of the Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio, said the rise in student loan, medical and credit card debt has increased demand for such services. The problem, she said, is not all companies are legitimate.

"BBB has had more than 12,000 complaints and negative reviews combined about credit and debit assistance companies," Dollison reported. "That just shows you that this is a problem."

The Better Business Bureau advised using a credit report service such as AnnualCreditReport.com, and calling the debt holders yourself to attempt to negotiate a lower payment or interest rate.

Dollison pointed out sketchy debt relief, debt consolidation and credit repair companies offer quick and extensive financial fixes and use high-pressure tactics to get consumers to quickly pay upfront fees.

"What we find is, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is," Dollison explained. "Credit and debit repair actually take months, if not years, to solve."

If a legitimate company has bad business practices, Dollison advised, people can file a complaint or do a customer review. But if they believe the organization is scam, she said they should use the Better Business Bureau's Scam Tracker site to report it.

"You cannot only report when you've been approached by a scammer," Dollison noted. "You can also look up the situation that you're in, to see if others have reported that as a scam."

She added if you are seeking out a company's services, do not be rushed, and avoid giving away any personal banking information until you have evidence it is operating legitimately.

Reporting by Ohio News Connection in association with Media in the Public Interest and funded in part by the George Gund Foundation.


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