If you are an active-duty member of the U.S. military, you are entitled to certain rights and protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The Act reduces the financial and legal burdens of servicemembers during periods of active duty and deployment so that they can dedicate their energy to serving the defense needs of the United States. Certain provisions are also extended to military spouses and Read More

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) extends certain legal protections to active-duty U.S. military personnel who are in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure. Although it does not relieve servicemembers from their mortgage-related obligations entirely, it does grant them enough time to address any issues. Here are the ways that the SCRA can help ensure that defending the country does not cause Read More

Bed bugs are a major and traumatizing issue throughout Missouri. They hide in crevices, cracks, mattress seams, gaps in furniture, under rugs, and other areas within a home, and inflict bites that are initially painless but soon become red and irritated. Although laws have been enacted to protect tenants from the financial, physical, and emotional toll associated with combating the bugs, landlords still turn a deaf Read More

When you rent a property in Kansas City, Missouri law grants you certain rights and protections that a landlord cannot change or violate at will. They are bound by state law and the terms of the lease agreement just like you are, although some landlords may try to convince you that they hold the upper hand because they own the property. With that in mind, here are five things you should know about your rights as a Read More

On the surface, it seems unfathomable, unethical: the idea that any lender would loan money without first evaluating the applicant’s ability to repay. Yet it happens. Student loans are a prime example. Another example is Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loans. Lack of concern about credit history on the part of the lender isn’t the only thing that PACE loans have in common with student loans. Both are also Read More

Extreme weather can result in extensive property damage. In the aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey ,Irma, and now Maria, tens of thousands of people have had their cars damaged by flooding, resulting in a frustrating situation that can create a major headache for future car owners too. Here’s why. The Post-Flood Process After the flood, the owner reports their damaged vehicle to the insurance company, which Read More

You really need a new car but your credit isn’t the greatest. Therefore, your relief is enormous when the dealer pushes a sales contract across the desk towards you. You sign it and take the car home, but several days later, the dealer calls to advise that the financing fell through and you have to either return the car or sign a new agreement at a much higher interest rate. This is a bait and switch tactic known Read More

In Kansas, there are several laws in place to protect consumers who buy a used car, only to get less than what the seller promised. Some of these laws are federal regulations while others are state-specific. The Federal Trade Commission's Used Car Rule is an example of the former. It applies to all motor vehicles, including but not limited to: Leased cars Demonstration cars Light-duty vans and Read More

When you want to know the mileage of a vehicle, especially a used one that you’re thinking about purchasing, you rely on what its odometer tells you. But what if an unscrupulous dealer or seller tampers with the odometer and makes you believe that the car you’re buying is “younger” by several miles? Also known as “busting miles,” odometer fraud is the illegal practice of rolling an odometer back to make it appear Read More

Most of us have been in this situation: We decide to buy a product, and at the checkout counter, the cashier asks if we want to purchase an extended service contract for it. Or perhaps we get a call from a telemarketer not long after the purchase, asking if we want to buy such a contract. Or perhaps we are sold an “extended warranty” on that used car so we can buy some peace of mind in case there is a mechanical Read More