WOULD YOU SAY THAT IS POPULAR.

>> YES, I THINK CT CALCIUM SCORING IS A INTERESTING TEST THAT HAS GROWN IN UTILIZATION FOR IDENTIFYING WHO IS AT RISK.

OVER THE DECADES WE'VE TRADITIONALLY RELIED ON RISK PREDICTION WITH BLOOD TESTING LIKE CHOLESTEROL WE KNOW THAT MISSES THE BALL GAME.

CT CALCIUM SCORING CAN IDENTIFY THE PLAGUE BUILDUP AND IDENTIFY WHO MIGHT BENEFIT FROM PREVENTION, LIFESTYLE CHANGE AND SOMETIMES INTERVENTION.

>> Jeff: IS THERE A TRADE-OFF WITH RADIATION THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH CT SCAN CAT SCAN?

>> YES, SO MOST OF THE PROTOCOLS WE'RE USING FOR CT IMAGING FOR THE HEART REDUCE RADIATION 70, 80%, A QUARTER WHAT YOU GET FROM A NUCLEAR MEDICINE OR A CT SCAN IN A VISIT TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

THAT TRADE OFF IS THERE.

BUT I THINK AT THE BENEFIT OUTWEIGHS THE RISK.

>> Jeff: WHO SHOULD GET ONE OF THESE?

WHAT IS THE THRESHOLD?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

EARLY TESTING IF YOU ARE IN YOUR 20s AND 30s MAY NOT MAKE SENSE LIKE YOU MIGHT NOT GET A MAMMOGRAM UNTIL AGE 40.

SO MEN AGED 38 AND ABOVE, WOMEN 45 AND ABOVE, AND PARTICULARLY PATIENTS WHO HAVE RISK FOR HEART DISEASE THAT MAYBE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, HIGH CHOLESTEROL, DIABETES OR NONTRADITIONAL RISK FAMILIES LIKE FAMILY HISTORIES OF HEART DISEASE.

>> Jeff: THIS IS SOMEBODY WITH SYMPTOMS OR WITHOUT SYMPTOMS?

>> WE RECOMMEND CT CALCIUM FOR PATIENTS WHO HAVE NO SYMPTOMS BUT TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THEIR LEVEL OF RISK.

IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS TAKE THAT SCAN A STEP FURTHER AND DO A CT ANGIOGRAM.

IT GIVES DYE THROUGH THE ARTERIES AND ACTUALLY CAN SHOW YOU THE PERCENTAGE OF NARROWING WITHIN THE WALLS OF THOSE ARTERIES.

>> Jeff: AND THE BASE VERSION OF THE TEST DOESN'T DO THAT?

>> CORRECT.

IT IS A SCREENING TEST BUT HIGHLY ACCURATE SCREENING TEST.

>> Jeff: REMIND OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT HEART DISEASE SEND US AN E-MAIL TO LIVE QUESTIONS AT MPT.ORG.

THESE HAVE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH THAT YOU PROBABLY HAVE DATA ON THIS.

DO THEY SAVE LIVES?

DO THESE TESTS HELP?

>> SO CALCIUM SCORING WAS FIRST DESCRIBED IN THE 1990s.

ARTHUR ATKINSON DID THE INITIAL PUBLICATION IT IS HE ABEEN AROUND FOR 30 YEARS OR MORE.

FOR EVERY 12 PATIENTS WITH A CALCIUM SCORE OVER 100 WE CAN PREVENT ONE HEART ATTACK OR DEATH FROM HEART DISEASE.

>> Jeff: WHAT TYPICALLY HAPPENS AFTER THIS TEST?

>> YOUR DOCTOR IS LIKELY GOING TO RECOMMEND TREATMENT WITH STATIN MEDICATION THEY MADE ADD ASPIRIN AND TALK ABOUT BLOOD PRESSURE REDUCTION AND RISK FACTOR MODIFICATION CUTTING BACK ON SMOKING, EATING HEALTHY, EXERCISE, TO REDUCE YOUR RISK FOR HEART DISEASE.

>> Jeff: IF YOU STOPPED 100 PEOPLE ON THE STREET AND MY AGE BRACKET, HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD HAVE SOME CALCIUM IN THEIR HEART ARTERIES?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

WHEN WE DO THESE SCORES, WE WILL CORRELATE THE AMOUNT OF BLACK PLAQUE THE OLDER YOU ARE THE MORE CALCIUM DEPOSITS YOU ARE LIKELY TO HAVE.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT IT IN CONTEXT OF AGE.

>> Jeff: GREAT QUESTION A LOT OF WOMEN HAVE TO TAKE CALCIUM FOR BONE DENSITY WITH VITAMIN D. DOES THAT AFFECT THE HEART AND THIS TEST?

>> SO VITAMIN D IS PROTECTIVE FOR HEART DISEASE SUPPLEMENTATION WITH CALCIUM AND VITAMIN D DOES NOT LEAD TO CALCIUM DEPOSITS IN THE CORONARIES ARE OLD PLAQUE.

WHERE THERE'S OLD PLAQUE THERE'S FRESH PLAQUE THAT CALCIUM DEPOSIT IS NOT A PHENOMENON BUT OF STABILIZATION OF PLAQUE GROWTH WITHIN YOUR VESSELS.

>> Jeff: DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO REPEAT THIS TEST?

IF YOU PUT SOMEBODY ON STATINS AND LET'S TEST IT AGAIN IN A YEAR IS THAT SORT OF THING?

>> WE DON'T ENCOURAGE REPEAT TESTING.

THE WARRANTY PERIOD ON THE TESTS IS VERY GOOD.

WE EXPECT THAT ONCE YOU'VE ESTABLISHED PRESENTATION OF CALCIUM DEPOSITS THAT CALCIUM SCORE IS ONLY GOING TO INCREASE AS AGE.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO START TREATMENT, SET IT AND FORGET IT.

>> Jeff: HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT CHOLESTEROL NOW IN THE PRACTICE OF CARDIOLOGY?

THAT USED TO BE THE BIBLE, RIGHT?

>> CHOLESTEROL STILL HAS A ROLE.

IT PROVIDES A TARGET FOR HOW AGGRESSIVE YOU WANT TO BE WITH STATIN MEDICATION.

I LOOK AT THE CHOLESTEROL TO KNOW IF MY PATIENT IS GETTING A GOOD DOSE OF STATIN MEDICATION.

IF YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN 50% REDUCTION THERE MIGHT BE ROOM TO INTENSIFY THE STATIN THERAPY.

THE STATIN MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

>> Jeff: ANYTHING NEW ON THE STATIN FRONT IN TERMS THERE'S SOME MEDICATIONS EVERYBODY'S HEARD ABOUT THOSE ARE STILL FROM?

>> STATIN MEDICATIONS REMAIN THE FRONTLINE THEY ARE REDUCE THE INFLAMMATION WITHIN THE PLAQUE THAT MAKES THEM CAUSE A HEART ATTACK.

WHILE OTHER CHOLESTEROL MEDICATIONS MAY REDUCE RISK, REDUCING THE INFLAMMATION IS THE UNIQUE PROPERTY OF STATINS THERE ARE NEW THERAPIES FOR REDUCING CHOLESTEROL THAT ARE PROMISING.

INJECTABLE THERAPY IS CAN LOWER CHOLESTEROL 70-80% IT CAN BE AN ADJUNCT TO YOUR STATIN BUT IT MAY NOT REPLACE THE STAT CONTINUE ALTOGETHER.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE WE INJECTING?

>> THERE ARE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES, YOU ARE TEACHING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM TO BIND A CERTAIN PROTEINS AND BY DOING THAT YOU ARE INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY OF RECEPTORS TO BIND UP THE CHOLESTEROL IN YOUR BLOOD, AND TAKE IT OUT OF YOUR BLOODSTREAM.

>> Jeff: ON THAT VERY POINT, DEBRA WRITES I'M OVER 60 WITH GENETIC HIGH CHOLESTEROL STATINS AREN'T WORKING.

TRIED THE SHOT BUT HAD BAD SIDE EFFECT WHAT IS NEXT?

SHE DOES NOT SMOKE?

>> THE FIRST THINGS, OF COURSE, HEALTHY DIET, EXERCISE.

BUT, THERE MAYBE OTHER PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS THAT ARE NON-STATIN THEY MAY NOT BE THE INJECTABLES AS WELL.

THERE ARE OTHER TREATMENTS YOU CAN TALK TO YOUR CARDIOLOGIST ABOUT.

AS A LAST RESORT THERE IS SOMETHING CALL WHERE THEY CAN ACTUALLY SIPHON THE BLOOD, FILTER OUT THE BAD CHOLESTEROL AND FILTER THAT BLOOD BACK IN THIS IS ONLY DONE AT SPECIALIZED CENTERS.

A TREATMENT OF LAST RESORT.

>> Jeff: HOW MUCH DOES DIET PLAY A ROLE?

>> IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING A WHOLE FOOD, PLANT BASED DIET IS EFFECTIVE FOR RISK.

FOR SOME PATIENTS MAY NEED TO GO BEYOND JUST DIET.

>> Jeff: STROKE RISK IS THE QUESTION.

EVEN IF YOUR CALCIUM CT TEST IS NORMAL DOES THAT NECESSARILY RULE OUT A STROKE?

IS THAT TEST USEFUL FOR PREVENTING STROKES?

>> STROKES CAN HAPPEN FOR A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT REASONS.

SOME OF THAT IT'S LIKE A VEN DIAGRAM.

IT CAN HAPPEN IN THE HEART OR THE ARTERIES OR IN THE BRAIN.

SOME OF THAT PHYSIOLOGY IS THE SAME.

CHOLESTEROL REDUCTION BLOOD PRESSURE REDUCTION MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN BOTH AREAS.

BUT THERE MAYBE OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT PREDISPOSE YOU TO A STROKE SUCH AS AN IRREGULAR HEART RIBTD I AM.

>> Jeff: -- WRIST I AM.

>> >> Jeff: I'VE READY YOU ARE GETTING NEW COLLEAGUES AND GETTING A NEW KAGHT LAB WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

>> WE ARE GROWING.

WE ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND SERVICES IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, NEW CATH LAB.

WE STARTED A NEW CARDIAC CT PROGRAM WE PROVIDE NONINVASIVE AND INVASIVE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING FROM START TO FINISH.

>> Jeff: FOR SOMEBODY NOT IN THE AGE BRACKET WHERE YOU HAVE A CARDIOLOGIST OR YOU WOULD CONSIDER ABSENT SYMPTOMS AND ABSENT ANYTHING ELSE LOOKING AHEAD TO YOUR LATER DECADES, WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR 20s AND 30s TO PREVENT THAT PLAQUE FROM GETTING STARTED?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

SO I THINK IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING WHETHER YOU HAVE HEART DISEASE OR YOU DON'T WE ALL NEED TO BE FOLLOWING A HEALTHY BALANCED DIET.

FOR SOME PEOPLE, WHOLE FOOD PLANT BASED DIET MAY MAKE SENSE, THE PATIENT YOU REFERENCED EARLIER.

BUT FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE JUST LOOKING TO GET AN EDGE ON PREVENTION, INCREASING OUR FIBER INTAKE, LEAN PROTEIN, GETTING THE REGULAR EXERCISE, 30 MINUTES A DAY, MODERATE INTENSITY.

LOOKING TO SCREEN FOR HEART DISEASE, FAMILY HISTORY, THERE MAYBE BLOOD TESTS YOU CAN DO THAT GO BEYOND YOUR CHOLESTEROL PANEL THAT MAYBE A SPECIALIZED TEST YOU WANT TO TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT.

SOMETHING CALLED A LIPO PROTEIN TEST FOR SOME PATIENTS MAY IDENTIFY SOMETHING BEYOND A CHOLESTEROL PANEL.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN THAT TEST?

>> CHOLESTEROL CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO.

>> Jeff: I GET CONFUSED ON THE HDL AND LDL.

>> THOSE ARE TRADITIONALLY KNOWN AS YOUR BAD CHOLESTEROL AND YOUR HDL IS THE GOOD.

THE CHOLESTEROL THAT PREVENTS IT FROM DEPOSITING THE WALLS IN THE ARTERY.

IF WE BREAK THOSE MOLECULES DOWN, THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN JUST LDL AND HDL.

IT'S NOT MODIFIABLE BY DIET ALONE.

THIS IS MORE A FACTOR HOW YOUR LIVER PRODUCES CHOLESTEROL AND METABOLIZES THAT CHOLESTEROL AND SOMETHING MORE GENETIC RATHER THAN DIETARY.

IT CAN TELL YOU ABOUT RISK THAN WHAT YOUR TYPICAL LDL MIGHT TELL YOU.

>> Jeff: BEFORE WE GO THE MESSAGE ON THE CALCIUM SCORE THE CT EXAM WHO SHOULD THINK ABOUT GETTING IT SOONER?

>> BIG PICTURE AGE 38 MEN, AGE 45 WOMEN.

PATIENTS AT RISK FOR HEART DISEASE, NOT HAVING SYMPTOMS BUT ARE INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT THEIR LEVEL OF RISK.

>> Jeff: SOMEBODY NOT AT RISK IS THERE AN AGE FOR EVERYBODY WOULD BE A CANDIDATE?

>> I WOULD SAY ABOVE THOSE AGE CATEGORIES THAT IS WHERE THE TRADE OFF MAKES SENSE.

YOUNGER PATIENTS NOT SO MUCH.

>> Dr. ABID FAKHRI A CARDIOLOGIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE MEDICAL CENTER THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

A NEW VENUE FOR LANDLORD TENANT DISPUTES YOUR CREDIT REPORT.

WE SPOKE WITH ATTORNEY INGMAR GOLDSON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

LET'S START WITH CREDIT REPORTS WHICH ARE SUPREMELY IMPORTANT THESE DAYS ARE THEY NOT?

>> YES, THEY ABSOLUTELY ARE.

YOUR WHOLE FINANCIAL LIFE WHEN PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET A RENTAL, THE LANDLORDS AND MANAGEMENT COMPANIES TYPICALLY LOOK AT CREDIT REPORTS IF YOU WANT TO BUY A CAR, BUY A HOME.

AND GET A LOAN TO DO SO.

YOU KNOW, ANYTHING ON YOUR CREDIT REPORT THAT IS THE LEAST BIT DAMAGING WITH CAUSE YOU A LOT OF TROUBLE.

>> Jeff: YOU WERE QUOTED IN THE "WALL STREET JOURNAL" TALKING ABOUT A TREND WHERE ORDINARY LANDLORD TENANT DISPUTES ARE STARTING TO WINDUP AFFECTING PEOPLE'S CREDIT REPORTS.

DID THAT NOT HAPPEN PREVIOUSLY?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT NEW.

IT'S DEFINITELY NOT NEW.

IT'S JUST A TREND I'M NOTICING THAT IT'S HAPPENING MORE OFTEN NOW.

BUT LANDLORDS HIRING DEBT COLLECTORS TO COLLECT THAT DEBT AND INCLUDING IT ON A PERSON'S CREDIT REPORT IS NOT NEW.

>> Jeff: IF SOMEBODY AS A DISPUTE WITH A LANDLORD, SAY THEY I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DISPUTE COULD BE, YOU COULD TELL US, WOULD THAT TYPICALLY WINDUP ON A CREDIT REPORT?

>> IT CAN WINDUP ON A CREDIT REPORT.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I'M SEEING AT LEAST IN MARYLAND.

SO WHEN TENANTS HAVE A DISPUTE WITH THEIR LANDLORD, THERE'S TWO MAJOR KINDS OF DISPUTES.

ONE, THE APARTMENT OR RENTAL HOME BEING IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR AND THAT TENANT THEN HAVING TO RESORT TO GO TO THE COURTS FOR THE COURT TO INTERVENE AND OFTEN THE COURTS WILL OPEN UP AN ESCROW WHERE THE TENANT WILL PAY MONEY INTO ESCROW.

THE COURT EVENTUALLY WILL TERMINATE THE CASE AND DISPERSE THAT ESCROW MONEY AND AT TIMES THEY WILL ALLOW THE TENANT TO SEVERE THE LEASE.

WHAT I'M SEEING IS TENANTS WINNING THAT ESCROW CASE AND THE JUDGE SAYING OKAY, THAT $4,000 IN ESCROW WILL GO TO THE TENANT AND IT IS NOT THE LANDLORD'S MONEY.

THE LANDLORD THEN WILL TYPICALLY WAIT UNTIL THAT TENANT MOVES OUT AND HIRE A DEBT COLLECTOR TO COLLECT THAT $4,000 THAT THE COURT JUST SAID THE TENANT DIDN'T OWE AND THAT IS THE TENANT'S MONEY.

AND THOSE DEBT COLLECTORS WILL TYPICALLY REPORT THAT DEBT ON CREDIT REPORTS THE THREE MAJOR CREDIT REPORTING AGENCYINGS AND MAYBE OTHER CREDIT REPORTS THERE ARE DOZENS OF THEM OUT THERE.

>> Jeff: IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT DEBT COLLECTORS ARE MORE INTERESTED IN MAYBE THEY HAVE TO, I DON'T KNOW, FILING INFORMATION WITH THE CREDIT BUREAUS THAN THE LANDLORDS TYPICALLY SMALL LANDLORDS.

>> FIRST OF ALL I'M GLAD YOU SAID THAT ABOUT SMALL LANDLORDS I'M SEEING IT MORE WITH THE WIGGER LANDLORDS LIKE THE CORPORATE LANDLORDS.

I'M NOT SEEING AS MUCH OF THIS WITH THE SMALL LANDLORDS.

BUT, YES, THE LANDLORD ALSO HIRE THE DEBT COLLECTORS TO COLLECT THE DEBT AND TO OFTEN THEY KNOW THAT THE DEBT COLLECTOR IS GOING TO REPORT THAT INFORMATION ON THE TENANT'S CREDIT REPORT AND THEY KNOW HOW DAMAGING THAT CAN BE.

TENANTS OFTEN HAVE A LOT OF TROUBLE GETTING ANOTHER APARTMENT OR HOME IF THAT INFORMATION THAT NEGATIVE INFORMATION IS ON THE CREDIT REPORT.

>> Jeff: AND THE TROUBLE OF THE DEBT COLLECTION WORLD YOU ARE SORT OF PRESUMED GUILTY AND HAVE TO PROVE YOUR INNOCENCE LATER, RIGHT?

>> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

DEBT COLLECTORS WILL REPORT THAT DEBT USING ONLY THE WORD OF THE LANDLORD.

I HAVE ADMISSIONS FROM DEBT COLLECTORS ON DEPOSITIONS SAYING HEY IF THE LANDLORD OR CLIENT SAYS IT'S OWED AS FAR AS THEY ARE CONCERNED IT'S OWED.

THEY DON'T CARE WHAT SORT OF EVIDENCE THAT THE TENANT OR THE CONSUMER GIVES THEM THAT THAT MAY PROVE DEFINITIVELY THAT THE MONEY IS NOT OWED INCLUDING A COURT ORDER SAYING THE MONEY IS NOT OWED.

>> Jeff: WHAT DO YOU DO AT THAT POINT?

WHAT IS THE FORMER TENANT DO IF YOU CAN HELP SOMEBODY WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

>> SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO DISPUTE THE DEBT WITH THE CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES.

TENANTS CAN DO THIS BY THEMSELVES OR THEY CAN HIRE A CONSUMER PROTECTION ATTORNEY TO HELP THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS.

SO YOU DISPUTE THE DEBT.

YOU CAN DISPUTE THE DEBT ON-LINE OR WITH A PHONE CALL EVEN BUT I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU WRITE A LETTER AND SEND IT TO THE CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES.

THAT WAY YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE LETTER AND PROOF THAT YOU ACTUALLY SENT THIS DISPUTE.

WRITE A LETTER AND SEND IT CERTIFIED MAIL SO YOU HAVE THAT PROOF AND THAT EVIDENCE.

YOU NEED THE PROOF AND EVIDENCE BECAUSE IN MY EXPERIENCE MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THOSE DEBT COLLECTORS DO NOT DO AN INVESTIGATION LIKE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO ACCORDING TO FEDERAL AND STATE LAW.

TO DETERMINE WHETHER THAT MONEY IS ACTUALLY OWED.

THEY WON'T DO THE INVESTIGATION AND KEEP REPORTING IT AND AT THAT POINT YOU NEED TO HIRE A LAWYER AND FILE A LAWSUIT.

I ALSO HIGHLY RECOMMEND HIRING A LAWYER I'VE SEEN TOO MANY OF THESE CASES GET DISMISSED WITH PRO SAY LITIGANTS WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THEIR WAY AROUND THE LAW.

>> Jeff: AT THAT POINT SOMEBODY HAS TWO PROBLEMS.

THEY HAVE THE DEBT COLLECTOR IS COMING AFTER THEM FOR A PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T EXIST.

AND THEN THE CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES ARE DINGING SOMEBODY'S CREDIT SCORE WHICH IS GOING TO MESS UP THEIR LIFE IN ALL SORTS OF WAYS.

YOU TALK ABOUT THE CERTIFIED LETTER TO THE DEBT COLLECTOR, WHAT DO YOU DO IN TERMS OF DISPUTING IT WITH THE CREDIT AGENCY?

>> SO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS SEND THE LETTER TO THE CREDIT AGENT REPORTING AGENCY.

SO YOU CAN SEND IT TO THE DEBT COLLECTOR AND YOU CAN ALSO SEND IT TO THE LANDLORD OR THE KRET R CREDITOR BUT WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO WHAT I CALL TRIGGER LIABILITY SO YOU CAN FINALLY FILE THAT LAWSUIT TO GET THE ISSUE FIXED YOU HAVE TO SEND IT TO THE CREDIT REPORTING AGENCY.

AND BY LAW, THE CREDIT REPORTING AGENCY HAS TO SEND THAT LETTER TO THE WHAT WE CALL THE FURNISHER IN THIS CASE THE FURNISHER OF THE INFORMATION IS THE DEBT COLLECTOR THAT THE LANDLORD HIRED.

YOU SEND IT TO THE CREDIT REPORTING AGENCY AND THAT ALSO SENDS IT TO THE DEBT COLLECTOR.

>> Jeff: WHEN YOU SAY TRIGGER LIABILITY DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE FORMER TENANT THE AGRIEVED PARTY HERE MIGHT HAVE SOME LEGAL RECOURSE?

>> YES.

YES.

>> ARE I MEAN NOT JUST TO GET RID OF THE BAD INFORMATION BUT MAYBE TO PURSUE A CLAIM THAT THEY ACTED IN BAD FAITH?

>> YES.

YES.

SO THE CLAIM WOULD BE UNDER THE FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT.

AND TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU PRESERVE YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THAT LAW, YOU NEED TO SEND THE DISPUTE LETTER TO THE DEBT COLLECTOR.

AND ONCE YOU SEND A DISPUTE LETTER AND YOU ALLOW THE DEBT COLLECTOR 30-45 DAYS TO DO THEIR INVESTIGATION, AND YOU SEE WHAT THE RESULTS OF THAT INVESTIGATION ARE DEPENDING WHAT THE RESULTS ARE YOU MAYBE ABLE TO FILE A LAWSUIT TO FINALLY GET THE ISSUE FIXED.

>> Jeff: BROADLY SPEAKING IN THE VARIETY OF CONSUMER ISSUES YOU DEAL WITH, HOW CAN CONSUMERS BETTER PROTECT THEMSELVES?

IN OTHER WORDS WHAT MISTAKES DO PEOPLE MAKE?

>> SO ALL RIGHT SO THERE ARE THREE MAJOR CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES.

EXPERIAN, EXWHAT FAX AND TRANS UNION THERE ARE DOZENS OF OTHER REPORTING AGENCIES, CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO KEEP UP WITH ALL OF THEM.

IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO KEEP UP WITH THE THREE MAJOR ONES.

YOU CAN PULL FREE CREDIT REPORTS RIGHT NOW YOU CAN PULL THEM EVERY WEEK FROM ANNUAL CREDIT REPORT.COM.

LOOK AT YOUR CREDIT REPORTS AND MAKE SURE THERE'S NO MISLEADING OR JUST INCORRECT INFORMATION ON THERE AND THAT INCLUDES YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION.

LIKE WHERE YOU'VE LIVED AND WHERE YOU'VE WORKED.

KEEP UP WITH YOUR CREDIT REPORTS.

IF AT ANY POINT YOU'RE DENIED CREDIT OR OFFERED LESS THAN IDEAL TERMS ON A CREDIT APPLICATION OR DENIED HOUSING, MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THAT ADVERSE ACTION LETTER THAT EXPLAINS WHY YOU WERE DENIED.

AND ALSO BY LAW IT HAS TO STATE WHICH CREDIT REPORT THEY LOOKED AT IF THEY LOOKED AT A CREDIT REPORT.

THAT'S ONE WAY YOU CAN SEE WHETHER THERE'S SOME DAMAGING INFORMATION OUT THERE THAT MAY NOT BE TRUE.

SO KEEP UP WITH YOUR CREDIT REPORTS.

AND GET THOSE CREDIT REPORTS FOR FREE.

DON'T PAY FOR CREDIT REPORTS.

THAT'S YOUR OWN INFORMATION THAT IS YOUR OWN INFORMATION DON'T PAY FOR ACCESS TO YOUR OWN INFORMATION.

>> Jeff: THAT IS A BIT OF ITS OWN SCAM, ISN'T IT?

PEOPLE CHARGING FOR FREE CREDIT REPORTS?

>> YEAH, YES, YOU COULD SAY THAT.

AND ALONG THOSE LINES, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT THE CREDIT REPORTING AGENCY MAY OFFER YOU.

AND THEY MAY OFFER IT TO YOU FOR FREE AND BE WARY, BE CAREFUL.

I ADVISE MY CLIENTS NO THE TO SIGN UP FOR ANY OF THOSE PROGRAMS.

LIKE FOR INSTANCE, YOU KNOW THERE'S EXPERRIAN BOOST WHERE THEY SAY SIGN UP FOR THIS PROGRAM AND NOT JUST THAT ONE THERE ARE OTHERS BUT SIGN UP FOR THIS PROGRAM AND WE'LL INCREASE YOUR CREDIT SCORE.

WHAT THEY ARE NOT TELLING YOU IS THAT TO SIGN UP FOR THAT PROGRAM, YOU HAVE TO ENTER AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM.

YOU PROBABLY JUST CLICK THROUGH THE AGREEMENT.

AND YOU'RE AGREEING TO A FORCED ARBITRATION CLAUSE WHERE ESSENTIALLY YOU ARE AGREEING NEVER TO SUE THEM IN COURT YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT YOUR POTENTIAL CLAIM AGAINST THEM IN ARBITRATION.

WHICH FOR A MULTITUDE OF REASONS IS VERY UNFAIR TO CONSUMERS.

YOU REALLY WANT THAT THREAT OF A JURY TRIAL WHEN YOU BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE FURNISHERS AND THE CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES.

THAT IS ANOTHER PIECE OF ADVICE.

DO NOT ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH THEM.

GET YOUR CREDIT REPORTS FOR FREE, ANNUAL CREDIT REPORT.COM YOU CAN GET THEM FREE WEEKLY RIGHT NOW.

>> Jeff: WOULD YOU SAY IT'S GOOD ADVICE FOR SOMEBODY NOT INVOLVED IN A DISPUTE AND NEVER HEARD FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR TO LOOK AT THE CREDIT REPORT MAYBE WEEKLY IS NOT NECESSARY BUT AT LEAST ANNUALLY?

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

>> ABSOLUTELY AT LEAST ANUALLY.

LOOK AT THE CREDIT REPORT YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT IS ON THERE.

IF YOU DON'T APPLY FOR NEW CREDIT AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THAT ADVERSE ACTION NOTICE YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW THERE'S SOMETHING DEROGATORY ON THE CREDIT REPORT BUT THE PEOPLE WHO PULL THE CREDIT WILL KNOW.

IT'S NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO YOU APPLY TO CREDIT FOR WHO CAN SEE YOUR REPORT.

THERE ARE COMPANIES THAT PULL CREDIT FOR PROMOTIONAL REASONS, COMPANIES CREDIT CARD COMPANIES WILL PULL CREDIT TO SEE YOUR CREDIT PROFILE AFTER YOU'VE ALREADY GOT THAT CREDIT GOT THAT CARD.

YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT IS ON YOUR CREDIT REPORT.

>> Jeff: INGMAR GOLDSON IS A MARYLAND BASED CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWYER.

SIR WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> ANYTIME.

THANKS.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

JOIN US FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

REMEMBER YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND OUR PAST PROGRAMS AND VIDEO.MPT.TV.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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