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Questions Answered by Matthew McKenna
2 Answers | Asked in Banking, Consumer Law and Identity Theft for Illinois on
Q: What steps can I take to recover stolen $400 from my bank?

I had $400 stolen from my bank account using an ATM at a Walgreens location 4 hours away from where I live. I've reported the theft to my bank, filed a police report, and contacted the FDIC. Despite being completely innocent and not authorizing the transaction, my bank is refusing to reimburse... View More

Matthew McKenna
Matthew McKenna
answered on Jul 24, 2025

Think about contacting a consumer protection attorney familiar with the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA). If there is a claim that falls under EFTA, there's a chance that an attorney would take the case without taking any un front fees. If you haven't done so, I would also complete a... View More

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Q: Can I sue websites for leaking my personal information?

I have discovered that my personal information, including bank account details, Social Security number, and email address, has been stolen and used by multiple companies and accounts. I have had unauthorized bank accounts opened, vehicles registered in my name, and received letters informing me of... View More

Matthew McKenna
Matthew McKenna
answered on Jul 21, 2025

Hello, my first question would be how you have been able to determine what specific websites resulted in these accounts being stolen?

My first step would be to pull as many consumer/credit reports as possible to determine the extent of the identity theft. This includes but is not limited to...
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2 Answers | Asked in Identity Theft, Collections and Consumer Law for California on
Q: Someone took out a loan in my name, and I'm worried about identity theft consequences with Net Pay Advance.

I am a victim of identity theft; someone took out a loan in my name with Net Pay Advance. The fraud department of Net Pay Advance is asking for my Social Security number and driver's license number, but I'm concerned about the misuse of this information. While I have placed fraud alerts... View More

Matthew McKenna
Matthew McKenna
answered on Apr 16, 2025

I would contact one of us Justia consumer protection attorneys that assist consumers with identity theft. You'll want to file a police report and an FTC Fraud Affidavit.

Make sure that any dispute that you have made to Net Pay Advance is in writing and save any correspondence that you...
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2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law and Gov & Administrative Law for Texas on
Q: How to report inaccuracies by a background check company based in Spring, TX.

I am dealing with issues related to a background search company. The phone number provided on my report doesn't exist, so I'm unable to speak with an agent. I've tried contacting them via fax and email all day without success. There are several inaccuracies in the report that I... View More

Matthew McKenna
Matthew McKenna
answered on Apr 16, 2025

I would contact a consumer protection attorney. You'll want to dispute the inaccurate information that is being reported by that background check company but a consumer protection attorney would likely be able to help you dispute the inaccurate information. I would recommend for you to reach... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Domestic Violence, Landlord - Tenant and Consumer Law for Massachusetts on
Q: Can my husband remove me from home, or can I remove his girlfriend? (MA)

My husband and I have been married for 18 years and live in the same house but on different floors. He resides in the basement, which is an in-law apartment. His girlfriend has been living there without any rental agreement for over two years, even though she has her own apartment through Section... View More

Matthew McKenna
Matthew McKenna
answered on Mar 9, 2025

My answer is only directed towards her taking out a cable bill and other debt in your name. I will let someone else address the other issues raised. You can file a police report and a FTC Fraud Affidavit detailing that these accounts were not taken out by you. From there, you'll want to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Collections, Identity Theft and Consumer Law for Maryland on
Q: Can I sue for damages from SSN identity theft affecting mortgage? MD

I discovered an account in collections on my credit report that was fraudulently opened using my SSN. I reported the identity theft to my local police department and disputed the account with Experian, which removed it. However, Transunion has not removed it, and as I'm applying for a... View More

Matthew McKenna
Matthew McKenna
answered on Feb 25, 2025

I would contact a consumer protection attorney familiar with the Fair Credit Reporting Act to determine if there is an actionable claim against Trans Union. If there is an actionable FCRA claim, there's a chance that this increased interest rate can be used as damages but tough to determine... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law, Identity Theft and Banking for California on
Q: How can I get a bank to give me back my money after I been in a identity theft
Matthew McKenna
Matthew McKenna
answered on Dec 16, 2024

You should immediately dispute the issue with the bank (and preferably in writing). You'll likely also want to complete a police report to give to the bank to verify the identity theft and respond accordingly if the bank asks for any follow up information from you. Keep track of everything on... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law for Colorado on
Q: Geico added a "undisclosed driver" to my policy despite me not knowing this person and increased my insurance premium.

I filed a complaint with the Insurance Regulatory Agency and received a very nasty letter saying I was responsible for the "services provided" to this person I have never met and does not live in my house. Geico told me to provide proof the person had insurance, which clearly I cant... View More

Matthew McKenna
Matthew McKenna
answered on Dec 10, 2024

I would ask Geico what consumer report that information came from and then contact the company to get a copy of that report. Sometimes insurance companies get this information from Lexis Nexis but could be somewhere else. The CFPB has a list of some consumer reporting agencies:... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law and Identity Theft for Virginia on
Q: Honda Financial attached my SSN to someone else's loan

No details regarding amount, if in state or not and they told me "We don't know if this is really you." After freezing my credit, submitting a report to the FTC, Honda Financial & taking time off of work to file a report with Local Law Enforcement, they still would not provide... View More

Matthew McKenna
Matthew McKenna
answered on Oct 2, 2024

I would certainly recommend contacting a consumer protection attorney as soon as possible that will offer a free consultation. It appears that you disputed this information with Honda Finance but I would also recommend disputing the information with the credit bureaus. You'll want to send the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Banking, Business Law and Small Claims for Illinois on
Q: I disputed a transaction involving 2 charges with my credit card co. A credit was given for 1 charge but not the other.

This dispute involved the same set of facts and documents. Since it involved 2 charges, 2 separate reviewers were assigned to my dispute. One reviewer granted a permanent credit for 1 charge. The other reviewer closed the dispute for the 2nd charge without a credit and said I was responsible for... View More

Matthew McKenna
Matthew McKenna
answered on Jun 13, 2024

I would contact a consumer protection attorney that is familiar with the Truth in Lending Act. Depending on the circumstances, you may have a case and a consumer protection attorney will likely offer you a free consultation and may not charge you anything up front if there is a case to bring.

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Identity Theft and Small Claims for Iowa on
Q: I was scammed out of $900 at my bank. Does the bank have to reimburse me ? They also took an online loan out in my

These people pretended to be my bank and called me saying my account was compromised. Said they would move my money to a secure account and they verified info. Needless to say, I got scammed as they made several charges on my debit card and even took out a loan on my account. Idk why my bank... View More

Matthew McKenna
Matthew McKenna
answered on May 14, 2024

I would consult with an attorney familiar with the Electronic Funds Transfer Act. Your ability to recover may be fact specific and will likely be tied to your dispute with your bank. If you haven't disputed the transactions with your bank yet, do so immediately. I would make a written dispute.

1 Answer | Asked in Banking, Business Law, Consumer Law and Contracts for Texas on
Q: BCHAPTER III - CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES Sec. 1681i - Procedure in case of disputed accuracy.. how to check

I might have a case for this but I wanna make sure...

Matthew McKenna
Matthew McKenna
answered on Apr 26, 2024

In order to get procedures from a credit reporting agency, you'll likely need to sue them and ask for the procedures in discovery. They will likely only hand them over under a protective order. I would contact a consumer protection attorney that is familiar with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law and Identity Theft for Michigan on
Q: My identity was stolen and someone used my info to open a credit card account with chase bank in October of last year.

Today I get an email from att that says that att has determined some of my information was compromised.

Can I sue att for not having the right tools to guard my personal info?

Matthew McKenna
Matthew McKenna
answered on Apr 16, 2024

Contact a consumer protection attorney that will offer a free consultation. Happy to talk.

You’ll want to dispute the account with Chase, as well as with any credit reporting agency that is reporting that account on your credit report. You should be able to pull your Experian, Equifax...
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1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Contracts and Banking on
Q: My boss has gotten txt messages about my private credit card twice now bank denies any legal action I can take?
Matthew McKenna
Matthew McKenna
answered on Apr 5, 2024

If it is the bank that originally loaned the money, it will likely depend on your state's consumer protection laws. If it is from a third party debt collector, it is likely governed by the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. I would consult with a consumer protection attorney as many... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law and Real Estate Law for South Carolina on
Q: I had a timeshare. I recently hired a layer and got out of it. Now my credit is ruined. Anything I can do?

I didn’t find out about my ruined credit until the lawyer had closed my case and I went for a home equity loan. The late payments only show when they are doing a credit check for real estate. I bought a new car with no problem. Now I can’t fix my house and sell it to move closer to family. I... View More

Matthew McKenna
Matthew McKenna
answered on Mar 15, 2024

There's a possibility that this timeshare company was only reporting to 1 or 2 of the credit bureaus and the auto loan company only pulled credit reports from 1 or 2 of the credit bureaus (or have different guidelines for approving a loan such as using the "middle score") but when... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Identity Theft, Civil Litigation and Consumer Law for Alabama on
Q: What can I do after TransUnion data breach caused loan applications in my name?

I've received a letter from TransUnion informing me that my personal information was leaked in their recent data breach. Since then, I've discovered that my information is being used to apply for loans without my consent, leading to numerous phone calls and a noticeable drop in my credit... View More

Matthew McKenna
Matthew McKenna
answered on Nov 6, 2025

If you haven't done so, you'll likely want to complete a police report and also dispute the inquiries with each credit bureau that is showing the inquiries. Attach the police report as part of your disputes. Also, I would recommend contacting an attorney familiar with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

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2 Answers | Asked in Banking, Identity Theft and Consumer Law for California on
Q: Is it legal for a bank to deny a refund after ATM fraud in California?

About two weeks ago, I was using the ATM outside my bank in California when a man distracted me by saying I dropped $20. During the distraction, I left my card in the machine. He possibly saw my PIN and took my card. When I returned home, I discovered $8,000 was taken from my checking account and... View More

Matthew McKenna
Matthew McKenna
answered on Nov 4, 2025

Immediately file a police report and bring that to the bank. If they don't return the money, consider contacting a consumer protection attorney familiar with the Electronic Funds Transfer Act.

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2 Answers | Asked in Collections, Identity Theft and Consumer Law for Georgia on
Q: Contacted by collection agency for unknown debt, possible identity theft?

I have been contacted by a collection agency regarding a debt they claim is mine. I sent a letter stating that I don't own the debt, but the agency replied with statements that I don't recognize. The email, address, and phone number they have aren't mine. The debt issue has been... View More

Matthew McKenna
Matthew McKenna
answered on Jul 24, 2025

Yes, I would file a police report and also think about contacting a consumer protection attorney. You might also want to pull your Experian, Equifax and Trans Union credit reports to ensure that no other accounts are reporting on there that aren't yours.

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2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law, Employment Law and Identity Theft for Massachusetts on
Q: Employer accidentally sent my credit report to another applicant in MA. Is this illegal?

I recently discovered through Facebook that my credit report was accidentally sent by a prospective employer to another job applicant in Massachusetts. I was not informed about this sharing by the employer. I am concerned about the potential impact on my credit. Is this action illegal, and what... View More

Matthew McKenna
Matthew McKenna
answered on Jun 25, 2025

I would contact a consumer protection attorney familiar with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. There could be a claim for impermissible purpose under the FCRA. Additionally, I might recommend freezing your credit to ensure someone else can't use your information to take out any loans in your... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law and Identity Theft for Wisconsin on
Q: Seeking legal help in WI to recover losses from an online scam.

I have been a victim of an online scam involving emails and texts, and I am seeking legal assistance in Wisconsin for recovery actions. I lost money and attempted to dispute a transaction with my credit card company, but it was closed without resolution. I have already contacted my bank's... View More

Matthew McKenna
Matthew McKenna
answered on Jun 17, 2025

I would contact a WI consumer protection attorney. Many of us will offer a free consultation to review the facts. It's tough to get a full picture based on the facts presented (i.e. the full details of the online scam and how the funds were transferred) but I would give a WI consumer... View More

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