Consumer Links
Bankruptcy
Other Consumer
Bankruptcy
National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys - advocacy group for consumer bankruptcy attorneys and their clients. Site contains useful links to other bankruptcy websites.
Website: www.nacba.orgUnited States Bankruptcy Court Official Forms - official bankruptcy forms for the US Bankruptcy Courts.
Website: www.uscourts.gov/bkforms/index.htmlU.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania - official website for the US Bankruptcy Court which covers the western region of Pennsylvania.
Main Office: 5414 U.S. Steel Tower
600 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: 412-644-2700
Erie Office: U.S. Courthouse, Room B160
17 South Park Row
Erie, PA 16501
Phone: 814-464-9740
FAX: 814-464-9747
Hours of Operation: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Johnstown Office: Penn Traffic Building
319 Washington Street
Johnstown, PA 15901
Website: www.pawb.uscourts.govCM/ECF (Case Management/Electronic Case Filing) for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania - system which allows attorneys to electronically file bankruptcy petitions and forms and provides access over the Internet to bankruptcy case dockets and documents.
Website: https://ecf.pawb.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.plPACER - Federal Judiciary's centralized registration, billing, and technical support center for electronic access to U.S. District, Bankruptcy, and Appellate court records.
Website: http://pacer.psc.uscourts.gov/13Network - electronic access to trustee information on Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases.
Website: www.13network.com
Other Consumer Links
I-CAN! E-File - a free online system that allows low-income people file federal taxes and apply for the EITC on-line. Volunteers will be available on Saturday, February 6, 2010, to assist with filings at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's Main Branch in Oakland from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. An appointment is required; call 1-888-443-4615 to schedule.
Help For Pennsylvania Homeowners Facing Foreclosure - Homeowners across the state who are facing foreclosure because of unaffordable adjustable rate mortgages and predatory lending practices will have two new resources to help them keep their homes. The two new loan programs — REfinance to an Affordable Loan, or REAL; and Homeowner Equity Recovery Opportunity, or HERO — will help thousands of homeowners facing foreclosure. The REAL program offers refinancing to homeowners whose adjustable-rate or other exotic mortgage has become unaffordable. By combining 100 percent financing with flexible credit uTuesday, January 19, 2010 9:12squo;t otherwise qualify for typical refinance programs. HERO offers loans for homeowners who, because of credit or other issues, can’t afford their current mortgage payments and are not eligible for other programs that could save their homes from foreclosure. Unlike the REAL program, HERO loans are directly made by PHFA, which may negotiate with current mortgage-holders to reduce the amount owed on applicants’ properties. (October 29, 2007, Press Release).
For more information on these programs, visit the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency website.New Program in Pennsylvania to Help Homeowners Reduced Energy Consumption and Costs - With the Keystone HELP® Energy Efficiency Loan & Rebate Program, most Pennsylvania homeowners who meet the program's eligibility guidelines can get a low cost loan or a rebate for energy-saving eligible improvements installed by a Keystone HELP® Approved Contractor. Visit www.keystonehelp.com to apply or for more information.
Withdrawal From Retirement Investment Requirement Waived for Some - Retired participants who turned 70.5 in 2008 will not be required to make withdrawals from their retirement investments in 2009. Usually, participants are required to start making regular withdrawals from their account balances after they turn 70.5. However, Congress passed a law to suspend that requirement for a year for all IRA or 401(k)-type programs. The law was meant to ease the impact of the economic downturn on retired people who might have to cash in retirement savings investments at a loss to satisfy the withdrawal requirements. The requirement for the withdrawals, called minimum distribution payments, will resume in 2010.
Federal and Pennsylvania "Do Not Call" Websites - allows user to register telephone numbers, including cell phone numbers, for the "Do Not Call" lists for telemarketers. Registration remains in effect for five years, so if you signed up when the lists first began five years ago, you will need to register your phone numbers again to remain on the lists.
Federal List - www.donotcall.gov
Pennsylvania List - www.nocallsplease.comFree Credit Reports available to PA residents as of September 1, 2005 - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has implemented rules that allow consumers to obtain one free credit report a year from each of the credit reporting agencies. For more information, visit the FTC website at www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/06/freeannual.htm. To request a free copy of your credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com. You can either make the request over the internet or print out a form to make the request by mail. You can also make the request via telephone at 1-877-322-8228.
National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) - advocate for low-income consumer justice and expert on low-income consumer issues.
Website: www.consumerlaw.org
2006 Consumer Action Handbook - This guide from the Federal Consumer Information Center can help with your consumer problems and questions. Find help on such topics as buying and leasing cars, shopping from home and protecting your privacy and yourself from fraud.
Website: www.consumeraction.govAssociation for Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) - is the nation's largest community organization of low and moderate-income families. Acorn is currently conducting a campaign against predatory lending.
Champion Commons
5231 Penn Ave. Suite 210
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
412-441-6551
Website: www.acorn.org
Email: paacornpiho@acorn.orgBetter Business Bureau - services include business reliability reports; dispute resolution; truth-in-advertising; consumer and business education; and charity review.
BBB of Western Pennsylvania
300 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 100-UL
Pittsburgh, PA 15222 -2511
Phone: (412) 456-2700
Fax: (412) 456-2739
Website: www.pittsburgh.bbb.org
Email: info@pittsburgh.bbb.orgAdvantage Credit Counseling Services - assists people to live within their income. Also assists people to apply for Act 91/HEMAP (Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program).
(866) 699-2227
Website: www.advantageccs.org
River Park Commons
2403 Sidney Street, Suite 400
Pittsburgh, PA 15203Credit Reporting Agencies - agencies that prepare credit reports. These agencies may charge a fee to obtain a copy of your credit report. As of September 1, 2005, everyone is entitled to one free credit report per year through www.annualcreditreport.com. To request a free copy of your credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com. You can either make the request over the internet or print out a form to make the request by mail. You can also make the request via telephone at 1-877-322-8228. You must use this phone number for your free report.
Equifax - (800) 685-1111, www.equifax.com
TransUnion - (800) 888-4213, www.transunion.com
Experian - (888) 397-3742, www.experian.com"DO NOT CALL" Lists - allow consumers to opt-out from receiving telemarketing calls. You may still receive calls from political organizations, charities, telephone surveyors or companies with which you have an existing business relationship.
Federal list - www.donotcall.gov
Pennsylvania list -www.nocallsplease.comNational Student Clearinghouse - verifies student degree and enrollment information. Can assist in locating a student loan.
Website: www.nslc.org
Student Loan Locator: www.nslc.org/secure_area/loan_locator.aspPennsylvania Office of the Attorney General Bureau of Consumer Protection - promotes consumer education and publicizes matters relating to consumer fraud, deception and misrepresentation. Based upon patterns identified through consumer complaints or investigations, the Bureau is authorized to take formal legal action against persons and organizations who engage in unfair and deceptive conduct in the advertisement or sale of goods or services within the Commonwealth.
14th Floor Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 717-787-9707
Fax: 717-787-1190
Toll-Free: 1-800-441-2555
Website: www.attorneygeneral.gov/ppd/bcp/index.cfm
Main Office: 928 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3799
Telephone: (412) 255-6700
Toll-Free: 1-866-761-6572
Fax: (412) 355-0168
