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The Consumer Protection Program fosters the financial stability of low income persons; preserves home ownership and home equity; and assists consumers in disputes involving predatory lending issues, foreclosures, unfair trade practices, unfair debt collection, auto fraud and other lending abuses.
The program focuses on the following issues:
1) Building wealth in low-income families by preserving home equity, protecting home ownership and enabling the accumulation of capital.
2) Targeting and preventing predatory and abusive lending practices aimed at the low income population, keeping families and individuals in their homes and providing transportation necessary to keep most working clients employed.
Case Work
The major issues addressed by this program are:
- Home preservation
- Foreclosure defense
- Home financing and mortgage servicing disputes
- Chapter 7 and 13 Bankruptcy to preserve home ownership
- Consumer Disputes
- Predatory Lending Practices
- Automobile financing, warranties and fraud
- Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices
- Unfair Debt Collection practices
The program provides services to low-income families and individuals, the elderly, disabled persons and immigrants who are residents of Mecklenburg County and eight surrounding counties: Gaston; Lincoln; Cabarrus; Iredell; Rowan; Stanly; Union and Catawba.
Advocacy
The project enforces existing laws and advocates for improvements in consumer protection law at local, state and national levels. Strategies include litigation, legislative advocacy in coordination with other agencies and community education to both the client community and to service providers. The program responds to questions and support requests from consumer advocates throughout the county and surrounding areas.
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