• Fair Credit Reporting
        • Unlawful Debt Collection
        • Unlawful Trade Practices
        • Privacy Issues
        • Condominium / Landlord Tenant Law
 
Fair Credit Reporting & Unlawful Debt Collection

Robert Lombardo handle matters governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Rhode Island Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and other state and federal consumer protection laws that help to protect the rights of consumers.

The Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act says that a debt collector:

•  Can Not contact you directly if it knows you have an attorney
•  Can Not call you before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m., and can't continually call or harass you
•  Can Not use profanity or obscene language
•  Can Not call you at work if your employer objects to outside calls
•  Can Not threaten you with violence
•  Can Not lead you to believe that it's a government agency or a law firm
•  Can Not tell you that you've committed a crime
•  Can Not deposit or threaten to deposit a postdated check
•  Can Not contact you via postcard or use an envelope that indicates that the agency is trying to collect a debt
•  Can Not contact you again once you've written a cease and desist letter, unless it's notifying you that it is taking legal action or that it's no longer going to try and collect the debt

A debt collector:

•  MUST tell you their name and that they are trying to collect a debt.
•  MUST send you a written notice stating the amount you owe, the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money, Within five days of contacting you, and a statement telling you about your 30-day right to dispute.

If you've been the victim of illegal fair debt or fair credit practices, you should file a complaint with the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General.

Department of Attorney General
Consumer Protection Unit
150 South Main Street
Providence, RI 02903
401-274-4400
 
You should also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC is responsible for enforcing the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. 

Unlawful Trade Practices

Consumer protections laws exist to ensure that consumers are protected from unfair and anti-competitive practices.  Although most businesses operate in a fair and legal manner, many people continue to lose money to unscrupulous advertising, marketing, business and financial practices, as well as consumer fraud.

Rhode Island Attorney Robert Lombardo offers you aggressive consumer protection representation for:

• Auto Fraud
• Bait and Switch scam
• Binding Mandatory Arbitration Clauses in Contracts
• Credit Reporting Problems
• False advertising
• Foreclosure Rescue and Loan Modification Scams
• Identify Theft
• Lemon Law Violations
• Motor Vehicle Lemon Law
• Predatory Lending Practices
• Pyramid schemes
• Service Contracts and extended warranties
• Student Loan Collection Abuses
• Telemarketing fraud
• Verbal Contracts

Privacy Issues

• Data Breaches
• Internet Defamation
• Online Security Issues
• Personal information exposed

It seems that 2011 is destined to be “The Year of the Breach.”  Many of the major American corporations, multi-national groups and institutions have reported that they have been the victims of some kind of security breach in recent months. Companies are legally required to disclose to the public any type of security breach that fails to protect personal data. 

If your company has suffered a data loss or had a breach in security, Robert Lombardo will assist you in reporting the event to the proper authorities to insure compliance with the governing laws. He will also counsel clients to ensure the legality and success of existing security policies and protocols.

Internet Defamation affects more people than just about any other on-line issue and is one of the most personal and difficult issues for anyone to confront. Defamation on the Internet presents a number of unique legal challenges and time is of the essence if legal action is warranted.

If you have privacy concerns, contact attorney Robert Lombardo for a free consultation.

Condominium / Landlord Tenant Law

Robert Lombardo represents commercial and residential landlords, condominium associations and tenants in all eviction and landlord-tenant matters including:

•  5 day demand letters for non-payment of rent
•  30-day notice to terminate tenancy
•  commercial evictions
•  evictions after foreclosure
•  evictions for holdover tenants
•  evictions for non-payment of rent
•  evictions of problem tenants
•  housing discrimination
•  landlord failure to supply necessary services, including heat & electricity
•  restraining orders related to the landlord-tenant relationship
•  self-help evictions
•  tenants at will
•  tenants at sufferance

Renting a property does not have to be a hassle. Landlords and tenants have rights and duties under the law. Understanding the terms of a lease agreement is critical because in many disputes the terms are binding and guide the outcome. Robert Lombardo can assist you in carefully constructing a new lease or the governance of an existing lease in Rhode Island. 

Rental property owners can face many issues from late-paying tenants, eviction problems and needs, a destructive tenant, responsibility, or not, for repairs, the safety of tenants and visitors, and other liability matters.

Tenants may also be faced with a non-responsive landlord, an eviction notice, loud neighbors and/or dogs, and other complex issues.  Before signing a lease, tenants should consult a tenant-landlord attorney in Rhode Island. 

LINKS:

The Rhode Island Landlord-Tenant Handbook

Rhode Island's CHAPTER 34-18, Residential Landlord and Tenant Act

Multiple links of interest from the State of Rhode Island Housing Resources Commission

Rhode Island Condominium Ownership Law

Rhode Island Condominium Law