Finance Globe

A debt and mortgage relief operation that allegedly sent 5.5 million illegal spam text messages has been halted by a federal judge at the request of the Federal Trade Commission. The unsolicited text messages were allegedly sent over a 40-day period by the defendant, Phillip A. Flora, at an average rate of 85 texts per minute ‘round the clock. The FTC calls the number of texts in such a short period, “mind-boggling.” According to the FTC’s...

In late December, the IRS had informed taxpayers who were affected by recent tax law changes to wait to file their returns until notified that the IRS was ready for them, which was estimated to be around mid-February.On Monday, IRS began to accept and process both e-file and paper tax returns claiming itemized deductions on Form 1040, Schedule A, as well as deductions for state and local sales tax, higher education tuition and fees and educator...

As a young person with little work experience, you might not really know what kind of work you like to do. While you may not expect a job to be enjoyable, know that working in the right environment and doing something you enjoy can make your first job a positive experience. Knowing yourself is the key to choosing the right type of job for you. Ask yourself a few questions to help narrow your job choices...

Establishments that offer a wireless internet connection are often bustling with customers who want to use their laptops, netbooks, and smartphones while taking their lunch break. Wi-Fi Hotspots will only continue to gain popularity with busy consumers looking to stay connected on the go. While very convenient, these public Wi-Fi networks are often not secure, potentially putting your sensitive personal information at risk. It’s safest to only send personal information that is encrypted through either a...

As troubled homeowners continue to face foreclosures through the mortgage crisis, shady mortgage relief companies have sprung up to “help” unsuspecting consumers - while charging advance fees without providing the services promised.But mortgage relief companies are no longer allowed to charge homeowners up-front fees, thanks to the Federal Trade Commission’s new Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS) Rule.“Banning the collection of up-front fees will protect homeowners from being victimized,” FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said. “This is especially...

Taxpayers using offshore accounts to hide money from Uncle Sam have been given a second chance to come clean and avoid criminal prosecution. The Internal Revenue Service’s 2011 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative (OVDI), which began last week, will be in effect until August 31 this year. The amnesty program is intended to bring tax revenue back to the U.S. and help people get current with their taxes before they get in trouble with the law. “As...

Sub-prime credit cards can offer consumers with a poor credit history a fresh start - a chance to improve their credit score while enjoying the advantages of using a credit card. Sub-prime cards work the same way as a regular credit card. The cardholder will get be able to make airline and hotel reservations online or over the phone, pay-at-the-pump at gas stations, and get “swipe, sign, and go” convenience anywhere credit cards are accepted. But...

Whether your poor credit score is caused by living beyond your means through overspending, or an unfortunate circumstance that made debt repayment difficult, your credit score can be repaired. But bad credit scores weren’t earned overnight. Your credit score may have gradually fallen over a period of months or years until it dropped to a point where obtaining new credit or qualifying for fair credit terms became difficult. Just as damaging your credit score was a...

New unemployment claims rose sharply last preceding week, reversing the drop from the previous week and surprising economic experts.For the week ending January 22, new jobless claims increased by 51,000 to 454,000 according to a report released by the Labor Department. The four-week moving average, which smooths out weekly volatility, increased by 15,750 to 428,750. The insured unemployment rate also crept up as a result - increasing to 3.2% from the previous week’s unrevised rate of...

It’s not only fun to get new clothes, but wearing a flattering new outfit can do wonders for your attitude. But to keep up with the ever-changing fashion trends can wreck havoc on your credit card balance. Here’s a few tips on how to keep your wardrobe fresh without going into debt over it:Develop your own personal style.You may be a t-shirt and jeans kind of gal or guy, but it doesn’t mean you don’t have...