Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Can A Homeowners Association Foreclose On My Home?
If you’re a member of a homeowners association, then it’s within the realm of possibility that the HOA can foreclose on your home. While rare, it does happen. In this article, the Columbus, OH foreclosure defense attorneys at Kohl & Cook, LLC will discuss HOA foreclosures and what you can do to stop one…. Read More »
Ohio Attorney General Sues Solar Power Company Over Aggressive Sales Tactics And Consumer Fraud
The Ohio Attorney General recently filed a lawsuit against a North Carolina-based company that sells solar panels. The attorney general filed their complaint after more than 100 customers complained about shoddy or substandard work and high-pressure sales tactics. Pink Energy, formerly known as PowerHome Solar, faces allegations of: Aggressive sales tactics Misrepresenting cost savings… Read More »
Common Violations Of The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)
The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) is a federal consumer protection law established in 1974 meant to safeguard home buyers from predatory lenders. RESPA ensures that disclosures are given to buyers and sellers during the mortgage application process. It also seeks to safeguard consumers against unethical business practices such as kickbacks, surcharges, and… Read More »
Can A Mortgage Loan Modification Attorney Help Me Keep My Home?
While mortgage loan modification was always an option for homeowners who were behind in their mortgages, it wasn’t a popular option until the Recession of 2008-2014. In 2009, America was facing a foreclosure crisis. To address the matter, the federal government enacted a measure to help borrowers modify their mortgages and make their payments… Read More »
Dollar General Accused Of Pricing Fraud
An audit of 20 Dollar General stores revealed that the company was charging more at the register than it was advertising on the shelves according to a recent inspection conducted by Butler County Auditor’s Office. All 20 stores with pricing discrepancies were located in Butler County. All 20 Dollar General stores that were surveyed… Read More »
Ohio Is Part Of A Nationwide Initiative To Stop Scam Robocalls
Ohio is part of a nationwide crackdown on illegal robocalls from telemarketers. Operation Stop Scam Calls is a concerted effort by the Federal Trade Commission and local authorities across the country targeting those who deceive consumers, collect phone numbers, and then provide their personal information to robocallers. Locally, the effort is being spearheaded by… Read More »
How Can A General Counsel Business Lawyer Help My Columbus Business?
While some larger companies can afford to hire in-house counsel, it will make sense for several smaller businesses to hire attorneys on a per-situation basis. This can be a more affordable option for several small businesses. Here at Kohl & Cook, we help small businesses with a wide variety of situational needs. In this… Read More »
Will Disputing Errors On My Credit Report Damage My Credit Score?
Some of our clients have asked us this question, so we decided to make a blog post about it. Disputing errors on your credit report will not damage your credit score. In fact, it is your right as a consumer to dispute any inaccurate reporting that is hurting your credit score now. The Fair… Read More »
Construction Company Ordered To Pay $2.4M In Consumer Fraud Case
The owner of an Ohio-based company was ordered to pay $625,873 to 19 customers who were defrauded by the company. The owner was also ordered to pay $1.7 million in civil penalties for 71 cases of consumer fraud, or about $25,000 per infraction. According to the Attorney General’s office, the owner of the business… Read More »
How To Stop A Foreclosure While Avoiding Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy attorneys will tell you that one way to stop foreclosure is to file for bankruptcy. However, the automatic stay that is afforded by a bankruptcy filing only lasts as long as the bankruptcy lasts. That means that you may only be delaying the inevitable. There are other ways to stop a foreclosure that… Read More »