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CONSUMER CORNER: Stop Systemic Abuse of Workers
Car Dealerships
Older Adult Employment Discrimination
Older Adult Employment Discrimination
July 2024-CURRENT
(True Story)
"Car Dealerships should not have this kind of Power."
Consumer purchased a used vehicle at this dealership. Two months after purchase, vehicle lights malfunctioned. Dealership refused to repair although consumer purchased warranty. Upon a requested vehicle diagnostic test, consumer discovered that purchased used vehicle was a "lemon". Consumer voluntarily surrendered vehicle. Car dealership then placed charge-off on consumer's credit. Car dealership refuses to remove charge-off. Consumer's credit score has now plummeted from 710- 590 due to this charge-off, hurting consumer's chances of moving forward financially.
This is happening to consumers across the United States.
Why are car dealerships being allowed to sell defective vehicles to the public with refusals to honor warranties or repair? Why are car dealerships persuading consumers to purchase warranties when they refuse to use this contractual agreement for repairs? Why are particular parts of the warranties for specific repairs for major work being eliminated from the process? Who is regulating the car purchasing process for consumers?
What the car dealership has done to the above consumer is not ethical or financially sound. It is simply an egregious attempt to make quick money at the expense of the consumer.
Consumer names withheld publicly. Consumer info given only for agreed Attorney Help and Retainer
Older Adult Employment Discrimination
Older Adult Employment Discrimination
Older Adult Employment Discrimination
November 2021--CURRENT
(True Story)
"Older Adults Deserve Better"
Former teacher was "constructively forced" and harassed into taking a buyout, due to age as an older teacher.
After leaving teaching, consumer returned to school to study technology and received certification in Data Science. Consumer switched careers. Consumer now has skills in Data Analysis, the Data Science and Machine Learning process (cleansing and organizing data, coding/no coding, Power B.I., Machine Learning, etc.) and Artificial Intelligence skill for building apps and chatbots. Soon after consumer posted on Linkedin and began sending out resumes for employment. However, because Applicant Tracking systems such as Ashby, Oracle Taleo, Lever, Greenhouse+Lever, iCIMS Talent Cloud, Workday Recruiting/SAP SuccessFactors, Handshake, Symplicity, etc., use criteria such as birthday dates, career dates and college date questions on employment applications, to help "weed" out older adult workers and block older adults from getting good decent paying jobs-- technology included, this criteria makes the employment process very difficult. Older adult consumers' lives have taken a very drastic turn. Older adults feel "frozen out" of the U.S. system due to age. This is also supposed to be illegal. But this seemingly APPROVED DISCRIMINATION, has also violated the Civil Rights of Older Adults as well. THIS NEEDS TO STOP!
But the act of "privatization" allows private employers to hire whom they desire and disregard the standard rules for employment. But shouldn't older adult employers who have received federal funding and contracts to start their businesses, be subjected to the same rules and criteria that they are subjecting other older adults to? Should they be allowed to even do business in the U.S. due to their older age? Furthermore, how is it that we still have U.S. Senators and Representatives who are 65+ still working in our Congress? This is a double standard and again, it needs to stop!
To date, consumer has now been forced to take a low paying, part time job just to make ends meet qualifications. Many other older adults are regretfully experiencing this same thing all over the United States. They are gradually losing a lifestyle that they have worked very hard to build because they can't get good paying, decent jobs. All citizens in the U.S. have the right to work, but is it dignified work? Older Adults are doing the work and receiving the training in an effort to help themselves in their later years, America, what are you doing?
Consumer names withheld publicly. Consumer info given only for agreed Attorney Help and Retainer
BANKS, CREDIT CARDS AND CREDIT UNIONS
UTILITY COMPANIES--A consumer nightmare
UTILITY COMPANIES--A consumer nightmare
BANKS ALLOWING MERCHANTS TO WITHDRAW FROM OLD CUSTOMER DEBIT CARDS
January 2026
If a customer debit card is no longer active, it is the bank's responsibility to immediately cancel or block the card from usage as banks have control over these transactions upon customer activation of a new debit card. Allowing merchants to withdraw from an expired debit card that is no longer active, is equivalent to MERCHANT FRAUD.
Contact: Office of the Comptroller of Currency
They have jurisdiction over National Banks and enforce consumer protection.
CREDIT CARD COMPANIES INCREASING INTEREST RATES TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR CONSUMERS TO GET OUT OF DEBT
Many credit card companies have been increasing interest rates, which poses significant challenges for consumers trying to manage their debt. This trend can make it particularly difficult for individuals to pay off their balances, leading to a cycle of debt. Inflation and rising costs of living often lead financial institutions to increase interest rates to maintain profitability but financial institutions must also comply with legal guidelines. If a credit card's interest rate exceeds the legal limit, it may be considered illegal. Also harassing consumers when consumers have made the effort to contact them for payment arrangements, is an illegal debt collection tactic.
Key Legal Considerations for Credit Card Companies
- Truth in Lending Act (TILA): This U.S. law requires credit card issuers to provide clear information about interest rates and changes. If a company raises rates without proper notice, it may violate TILA.
- Usury Laws: These state laws set maximum interest rates that creditors can charge. If a credit card's interest rate exceeds the legal limit, it may be considered illegal.
- Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices: Under the Federal Trade Commission Act, practices that are deemed unfair or misleading may lead to legal action. For instance, if a credit card company raises rates based on misleading criteria.
"CREDIT UNIONS ARE FUNCTIONING LIKE BANKS."
October 2025
Consumers are complaining about banks and credit unions allowing merchants to access and withdraw funds from customer accounts although the merchant may not have ever had a history of withdrawing funds from the customer before which has created many fraudulent transactions, unnecessary overdraft fees, other account security issues and insufficient customer wait times when doing business with credit unions. Credit Unions are not-for-profit organizations owned and operated by their members. No shareholders, unlike banks. But they do have a Board of Directors which should line up with member interests, rather than profits. The above members has been grossly neglected by allowing unauthorized withdrawals.
BANKS ALLOWING MERCHANTS TO WITHDRAW FROM OLD CUSTOMER DEBIT CARDS
(January 2026)
If a customer debit card is no longer active, it is the bank's responsibility to immediately cancel or block the card from usage as banks have control over these transactions upon customer activation of a new debit card. Allowing merchants to withdraw from an expired debit card that is no longer active, is equivalent to MERCHANT FRAUD.
Contact: Office of the Comptroller of Currency
UTILITY COMPANIES--A consumer nightmare
UTILITY COMPANIES--A consumer nightmare
UTILITY COMPANIES--A consumer nightmare
"Utility Bills should not be this high"
(True Story)
September 2025
When consumer checked the mail, consumer received a $700 electricity bill FOR ONE MONTH. Relatively sure that this was a mistake, as consumer worked practically all day and well into the evenings, and was practically never home, consumer called the Utility Company and was given a frivolous explanation and coldly offered a payment plan. Furthermore, consumer stated that it almost seems like working consumers almost have to be close to homelessness in order to get any kind of financial assistance in this state ...Consumer was highly upset as consumer is an older adult working two low paying jobs. The utility bill alone took more than half of one of the consumer's paychecks. The following months were about the same in charges $400-$700 a month. Nothing really changed. Why is this? For years, consumers have complained to the Utility Commission about the high electricity bills to no avail--even while living in a one-bedroom apartment.
Consumer now lives in a small, modest older home and has had wattage checked numerous times. Consumer's home has been clarified as environmentally viable. No energy leaks. New windows. Good foundation. Unplugged major appliances when not home--all to no avail. Yet, the high electricity charges remain the same.
When consumer began checking with other neighbors, neighbors also complained about the same thing: High electricity charges. One neighbor had even installed solar panels on his roof which did not help.
There are many utility companies across the U.S.--OVERCHARGING CONSUMERS.
- Low- and middle-income families are particularly affected, as rising electricity costs have outpaced income growth.
- Households in hotter regions face even higher bills due to increased air conditioning and heat used during summer and winter months.
Utility Profits
- Major utility companies across the United States have reported record profits even as consumer rates have skyrocketed, raising concerns about the fairness of pricing and regulatory oversight. What are these utility companies doing with the profits?
WHO IS REGULATING THESE COMPANIES? THIS IS A NIGHTMARE AND FINANCIAL ABUSE AT ITS FINEST.
Consumer names withheld publicly. Consumer info given only for agreed Attorney Help and Retainer
CONSUMER ANNOYANCES
Is Technology Worth It??
Technological outages. Data Breaches. Online scams and Identity Theft. A.I. Deep Fakes. Social media lies and misinformation. Is technology really worth it?
Furthermore,
WHAT TECHNOLOGY IS ACTUALLY BEING PRODUCED TO HELP CONSUMER LIVES?
Follow the money...
Retail and Grocery store Long Lines
It's the same thing every day during the evenings between the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and it's happening consistently across the United States. The event? LONG LINES. When consumers get off of work, the last thing they want to face is standing in long lines.
Simple solution: PEOPLE WANT TO WORK. HIRE MORE PEOPLE. PRODUCE COMPETENT MANAGERS. With all of the sudden layoffs, money has been saved. Use it to help shorten long lines.
OUR HEROES: Public School Teachers
They literally give their all to help our children. Yes, there are a few bad apples here and there, but that's in any industry. The point is public school teachers stand on the front lines daily to give life and breath to future generations. They face very rigorous challenges--DAILY. By the way, they need a raise.