Reports of cybersecurity and data breaches are often in the headlines. But none are as catastrophic as the most recent, massive, data breach that affected billions of accounts. News outlets like Forbes and Cybernews are reporting that billions of usernames and...

Dynamic Guidance And Advocacy Throughout Northern Virginia
Consumer Protection
Surprise medical billing: How to protect yourself from unexpected costs
Undergoing a comprehensive medical procedure is nothing short of an ordeal. A good deal of preparation goes into planned procedures. Unexpected emergency medical events are even more stressful. Throughout it all, you have to trust that your health care insurance will...
In Virginia, what happens if your contractor uses an unlicensed subcontractor?
Hiring a licensed contractor for your home renovation project should bring peace of mind, knowing that you are entrusting your home to a qualified professional. However, what happens when your licensed contractor hires an unlicensed subcontractor? This situation can...
Uncovering hidden burdens in identity theft: When identity theft leads to debt
Identity theft is a distressing experience. Having your identity stolen is an attack on your financial security and creates anxiety over your financial future. When someone steals your identity, they can accrue debt in your name, leaving you to have to prove your...
Building good credit provides financial flexibility and stability
Most individuals and families use credit as a regular financial tool to manage expenses and facilitate major purchases. “Credit” broadly is a transaction between a lender or creditor and a consumer-borrower where the lender allows the consumer to make a purchase or...
Dishonest VA vehicle inspector wrongly certify your car was safe?
The commonwealth of Virginia has one of only about 15 mandatory state passenger-vehicle inspection programs in the country. While sometimes compliance seems like a hassle for a vehicle owner, a 2020 national study found that when a state requires safety inspections...
Did your credit take a hit from credit-report errors? Fight back.
Most consumers expect to use credit for major purchases and needs. Common types of consumer credit include home mortgages, student loans, vehicle loans, home improvement loans, lines of credit and credit cards. People are careful to build good credit ratings through...
Mismerged credit reports can lead to unjust consumer credit denials
Many Virginians faced serious economic losses during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by another financial challenge from household budget-busting inflation. For some whose credit scores also took a hit, it may have taken months of careful money management to rebuild...
Homegrown Virginia debt collector settles charges of unlawful acts
In 1996, two bankers started giant debt-collection business Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC (PRA), with its headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, and other commonwealth offices in Danville and Hampton as well as in other states. In about 25 years, PRA has become one...
FDCPA bans debt collectors from trying to collect stale debts
On April 26, 2023, the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) reinforced its official stance that debt collectors may not attempt to collect stale consumer debts. The agency did so in a new Advisory Opinion about this prohibition of the Fair Debt...