In today’s tough economy many people are struggling to pay their bills, which can sometimes lead to problems with debt collectors. In some cases these debt collectors can harass, threaten and abuse consumers.

Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray explored this topic on this week’s segment of his weekly broadcast “Cordray’s Consumer Solutions” on WSYX-TV in Columbus.

“In a down economy, it’s harder for debt collectors to collect, and unfortunately, that can give way to frustration and abuse,” Cordray said.

Years of abuses on Wall Street not only sent the economy into a tailspin; they did severe damage to countless shareholders. Those shareholders aren’t just wealthy investors but teachers, local and state government workers and many others, as represented by the pension funds that they pay into to support their retirements.

Ohio Attorney Richard Cordray is representing two of those Ohio funds: the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) in a case against Bank of America over its acquisition of Merrill Lynch.

Are you having trouble making your house payment?  If so, you might hear from companies that promise to save your home for a fee. They say they’ll negotiate with your lender or buy back your house, but once they take your money, they’ll do nothing. Don’t fall for the scams. Real help is available, and it’s free. Learn the facts that will help you beat scammers at their own game.

Ohio’s Save the Dream program provides free assistance to homeowners.  For free help, call Save the Dream at (888) 404-4674 and tell your story. You’ll be connected to a housing counseling agency or legal help. The federal Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan also may allow you to refinance or modify your loan at no cost to you. Check www.MakingHomeAffordable.gov for more information. Remember, the government won’t charge you any money to help save your home.

Last year, the Ohio Legislature rightly cracked down on payday lenders. Before the passage of the state’s payday lending reform bill, House Bill 545, these lenders could charge what amounted to an exorbitant 391 percent annual percentage rate for short-term loans.

The legislation passed with healthy majorities in both the Ohio House and Senate and was signed into law in June 2008. The payday-lending industry launched a successful petition drive to put the legislation on the ballot. In November, more than three in five voters endorsed the Legislature’s efforts by voting to uphold the bill and protect consumers from crushing interest rates.

Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray spearheaded a letter sent to leaders of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees advocating for more federal support for state crime victim service agencies. The letter, signed by 54 attorneys general, including all 50 states, urges the passage of Senate Bill 1340 (HB 3402). The Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act of 2009 would increase the maximum amount of annual Victims of Crimes Act (VOCA) grants to states over the next five years. 

VOCA grants are allocated through the federal Crime Victims Fund, made up entirely of fines and penalties paid by convicted federal offenders. States receive the grants and administer programs that compensate victims and train law enforcement.  These grants fund services to more than 4 million victims of all kinds of crimes, including domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, drunken driving, stalking, identity theft and elder abuse. Grants also support survivors of homicide victims.

The amount of federal money allocated to state funds has not kept pace with the costs of providing victim services, forcing states to do more with less. The proposed act would raise the cap on federal VOCA grants to $705 million for fiscal year 2010 – and continue to increase it each year through 2014. The federal fund currently has a $2 billion balance to sustain the increased caps.