Thursday, October 29, 2009

Attorneys Warn Second Wave of Foreclosures Coming -- Urges Consumers to Know Their Rights

Tough times have put a strain on the economy, affecting even people with good credit, but there are legal safeguards designed to help consumers -- if they know where to go, said attorney E. F. Robinson. "Consumers armed with information can make smart choices, spot scams and frauds, and avoid problems," he explains at www.erobinsonlaw.com.

Washington D.C. (PRWEB) October 29, 2009 -- E. F. Robinson, an attorney who specializes in consumer law, is warning the public that a second wave of foreclosures is on the horizon, and he is urging that people prepare for any eventuality by knowing their rights-- before they need them.

The challenge, however, is that there are relatively few practitioners with deep and extensive knowledge about consumer-oriented law, said Robinson, whose law offices serve the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, communities around Tampa Bay, and Southern Florida. The Florida operations are managed by his daughter, Veronica Robinson-Gelin.

At his Web site (www.erobinsonlaw.com) he describes the specialty this way: "Consumer law encompasses areas governed by both federal and state consumer statutes coupled with the common law actions such as fraud, constructive fraud and other equitable remedies."

Regarding conventional wisdom that people facing foreclosure are getting what they deserve, Robinson offers this retort: "Poppycock!"

"Most did not understand what they were signing," he explains, adding that some homeowners signed off on loans after seeing the word 'fixed' and assumed it meant fixed-rate, when in fact they had unknowingly agreed to pay extravagant interest on interest-only loans. Once they did so, they had 'signed away their financial future.'"

Veronica Robinson-Gelin adds that there are statues designed to help consumers, among them the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and the Truth-in-Lending Act. But to get the full benefit of these acts, consumers must choose a law practice that fully understands the sometimes complex provisions and how best to utilize them.

"We have had lots of success, and I am real proud of all the cases that we take," Robinson said. "We don't always get everything we want, but we do well," later adding that, "Less than 2 percent have had to turn their house back in."

But the mortgage crisis is just one part of the equation -- and people with bad credit are not the only ones suffering. For example, identify theft has increased, affecting those with good credit who unexpectedly find themselves victims. And other good credit risks who invested in extended warranties are finding that some firms are not honoring service contracts.

"Such companies are getting less business, therefore making less money," Robinson said, adding that many are now reneging on warranties, and that normally did not used to happen.

"The economy has magnified these problems," Robinson-Gelin asserts.

All the more reason to find an attorney well-versed in consumer law.

"Our practice is concentrated in the areas of automobile dealer fraud, lemon law, foreclosure prevention, automobile repossessions, fair debt collection, fair credit reporting, consumer bankruptcy and personal injury law," Robinson said, adding that his goals is to, " Redefine Zealous Advocacy for Consumers."

To learn more about the ways consumers can get help regarding these and other topics, call 1 (800) 275-6164 or visit www.erobinsonlaw.com.


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[Via Legal / Law]

Posted by prolink at 12:45 AM

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