New ERA Article April, 1997

Legal Tidbits!

      During  January,  it was announced that Experian  (formerly
known  as  TRW  Information  System & Services)  will  no  longer
provide  free  credit reports to consumers as of March  1,  1997.
The  company will continue to provide free reports to a  consumer
only  if a consumer has been turned down for credit or is  facing
other  difficulties.  Experian reported that it was inundated  by
report  requests, prompted largely by credit repair clinics  that
advise  their  clients to dispute every negative  item  on  their
report,  even  if  the reported items are correct.   The  company
estimated that approximately 40% of the requests received  during
the past four years were spurred by credit clinics.  In addition,
the company's two principal competitors, Equifax and Trans Union,
did  match  not  match  the offer of providing  reports  free  on
request.

      The Consumer Credit Reporting Reform Act of 1996, passed by
Congress  in  September, 1996, will go into  effect  in  October.
This  Act will expand consumer access to free reports in  certain
situations.  Under current law, you have the right to  receive  a
free copy of your credit report if you have been turned down  for
credit, employment, insurance, or housing during the past 30 days
based on derogatory credit information.

      Under this new Act, you will the right to a free report  if
you   have  been  so  turned  down  during  the  past  60   days.
Additionally, you will be able to obtain a free report if you are
unemployed and looking for work, are receiving Welfare or believe
your credit file contains inaccuracies because of a credit fraud.

      The  names,  addresses and telephone numbers of  the  major
credit-reporting  firms  are as follows: (1)  Experian  (formerly
TRW)  Consumer Assistance, P.O. Box 949, Allen, TX  75013,  (800)
392-1122;  (2)  Equifax, Consumer Affairs  Department,  P.O.  Box
740256,  Atlanta, GA 20374, (800) 685-1111; and (3) Trans  Union,
Customer  Relations,  P.O. Box 7000, North  Olmstead,  OH  44070,
(800) 851-2674.

     Did you know that a dating service contract may provide that
if  the  buyer  moves more than 50 miles from the dating  service
office,  the  buyer  may be charged a predetermined  fee  not  to
exceed  $100,  or  $50 if more than half the  contract  life  has
expired?

      Although  many  contracts are required to include  language
providing for a buyer's 3 business day right to cancel,  did  you
know  that a dance studio service contract must include a  clause
allowing the buyer a 180 day right to cancel?





      Many  of  you may remember the saga I described in  dealing
with long distance telephone companies from Cabo San Lucas.   The
original  charges were $155.10 for 5 brief telephone  calls  from
Mexico  to  the Los Angeles area.  Did I tell you that  virtually
all  of  my travelling companions were employees of PacBell?   In
the  January  1997 issue of New Era Magazine, I reported  to  you
that   I   had  achieved  a  reduction  of  charges  to   $53.25.
Subsequently, in view of my pending complaint before the  Federal
Communications  Commission,  the charges  have  been  reduced  to
$4.17!  The moral of the story?  Don't let the bad guys wear  you
down!


[This column is intended to provide general information only  and
is  not intended to provide specific legal advice; if you have  a
specific  question  regarding the  law,  you  should  contact  an
attorney  of your choice.  Suggestions for topics to be discussed
in this column are welcome.]


Reprinted from New Era Magazine
Myles M. Mattenson © 1997-2002

	Myles M. Mattenson ATTORNEY AT LAW 5550 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Suite 200 Woodland Hills, California 91367 Telephone (818) 313-9060 Facsimile (818) 313-9260 *Email:* MMM@MattensonLaw.com *Web:* http://www.MattensonLaw.com	Legal Tidbits!
Myles M. Mattenson engages in a general civil and trial practice including litigation and transactional services relating to the coin laundry and dry cleaning industries, franchising, business, purchase and sale of real estate, easements, landlord-tenant, partnership, corporate, insurance bad faith, personal injury, and probate legal matters. In providing services to the coin laundry and dry cleaning industries, Mr. Mattenson has represented equipment distributors, coin laundry and dry cleaning business owners confronted with landlord-tenant issues, lease negotiations, sale documentation including agreements, escrow instructions, and security instruments, as well as fraud or misrepresentation controversies between buyers and sellers of such businesses. Mr. Mattenson serves as an Arbitrator for the Los Angeles County Superior Court. He is also past chair of the Law Office Management Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Mr. Mattenson received his Bachelor of Science degree (Accounting) in 1964 and his Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola University School of Law in 1967. Bi-monthly articles by Mr. Mattenson on legal matters of interest to the business community appear in alternate months in The Journal, a leading coin laundry industry publication of the Coin Laundry Association, and Fabricare, a leading dry cleaning industry publication of the International Fabricare Institute. During the period of May 1995 through September 2002, Mr. Mattenson contributed similar articles to New Era Magazine, a coin laundry and dry cleaning industry publication which ceased publication with the September 2002 issue. This website contains copies of Mr. Mattenson's New Era Magazine articles which can be retrieved through a subject or chronological index. The website also contains copies of Mr. Mattenson's Journal and Fabricare articles, which can be retrieved through a chronological index. In addition to Mr. Mattenson's trial practice, he has successfully prosecuted and defended appeals on behalf of his clients in various areas of the law. Some of these appellate decisions are contained within his website.