Most news articles on consumer law are needlessly confusing. Attorney Mike Cardoza takes a straight, no-nonsense approach on the current issues facing consumers today. Our blog provides an insider’s view on consumer rights, and explores topics such as threats to privacy and unfair credit reporting. Be sure to check back for regular updates.
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The Robot DanceWhat the credit bureaus call “verification” is nothing more than the Robot Dance — an automated, rigid, unthinking choreography where scanners, software, and databases fling coded messages at each other until one of them spits out the word “verified.”
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Why Credit Bureaus Deny Identity Theft ClaimsBecause their paying customers don’t want them to.
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The Identity Theft You Never See ComingA paid-on-time fraudulent credit card doesn’t drop your credit score. It doesn’t trigger alerts. It doesn’t set off alarms at Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax.
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Your Bank Knew. They Don’t Care.When banks set their “fraud filters,” they decide how much theft they’re willing to tolerate before it cuts into profit. They choose speed over safety, volume over vigilance — and when the filters miss, they make you pay the price.
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🚚 They Rented a U-Haul in Your Name — Now You’re in Debtthose contracts create a paper trail that makes their fraud look legitimate.
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💳 Thinking of Paying Identity Theft Debt? Don’t Do It.Bottom line: paying a fraudulent account is like pouring gasoline on the fire.
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Stolen Mail Leading to Credit Card Fraud Isn’t Your Fault!Under the California Identity Theft Act (CITA), Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.92: You do not have to pay a penny on any debt that comes from identity theft.
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Pizza Delivery in Canada and a “Big O Tires” Account in Arkansas?!Imagine waking up one morning to discover that someone has stolen your identity. Maybe they opened a credit card in your name, racked up hundreds of dollars in charges (the amount doesn’t even matter!),
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🚨 “Wait … You’re saying I did this?”The implication? The chip is flawless, so the only plausible crook is you. That moment of truth shock is exactly why I wrote this piece
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The Best Way to Monitor Your Credit Scores in order to Detect Identity Theft