Things To Do In SW Florida

Customers charged illegal fees by two of the largest credit repair firms will soon see a refund check, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced Thursday.

The CFPB says it will distribute $1.8 billion to 4.3 million consumers who were charged illegal advance fees by Lexington Law and CreditRepair.com, which used telemarketing to offer credit repair services to customers.

“Lexington Law and CreditRepair.com exploited vulnerable consumers who were trying to rebuild their credit, charging them illegal junk fees for results they hadn’t delivered,” CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in a news release.

What are credit repair services?

Credit repair services can help consumers build their credit by doing the tedious work of disputing outdated or incorrect information found on credit reports and following up on the results to be sure errors don’t reappear. It might cost more than $100 per month, with no guarantee of results.

There are a number of errors a credit repair service might look for on a person’s credit report, including accounts or legal actions that don’t belong to the customer and negative information that’s too old to be included. Typically, a consumer can perform these actions on their own behalf. read more

Many individuals, even those with significant assets, are negligent in establishing a comprehensive estate plan. A will, although necessary, is not sufficient.

In this column I will discuss wills and other documents that you should consider. Consult with your attorney about including the following documents in your estate plan.

Will

A will is the document that contains a written statement of your instructions regarding your estate. The individual(s) responsible for managing your estate is the administrator. He/she is responsible for following the instructions you specify in the will. Your instructions are not limited to property disbursement.

If you die without a will, aka “intestate,” state law determines how the estate assets are distributed. The court will then assign an executor. It is unlikely that this option will meet your best interests.

Probate is the process by which your will and estate are administered. The probate process is likely to be time- consuming and expensive. A properly designed estate plan can bypass probate, expedite the transfer of assets, and avoid unnecessary expenses. read more

Courtney Frazer | (TNS) Bankrate.com

Exchanging currency is vital to international travel, whether you’re visiting for leisure or business. Understanding the nuances of currency exchange can help you avoid costly mistakes and make the most of your travel budget.

Before you exchange money, you should know how to choose the right place to exchange your money, time your transactions for the best rates and estimate the money exchange fee.

Why knowing about currency exchange matters

Currency exchange involves converting one country’s money into another’s. Because currencies have different values from country to country, exchange rates fluctuate based on factors like political stability, economic performance and global market conditions.

Without proper knowledge of currency exchange, travelers risk losing money on unfavorable exchange rates, excessive fees and even fraudulent practices. It’s important to know how currency exchange works and where to do money exchanges so you can get the best deal.

Currency exchange fees

Exchanging money abroad often comes with various fees, so it’s important to understand what you might encounter. read more

Visit Orlando announced today the donation of $352,218 to Orange County charities supporting families experiencing hardship in Central Florida from funds raised through the tourism association’s Magical Dining program, a record-breaking total and a 30 percent increase over 2023.

“As we close the 19th year of Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining, we’re proud to see the growth of Orlando’s culinary scene and the support it gives our local businesses,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando.

“This was a record-setting year in more ways than one,” said Matej. “Not only did we have 150 participating restaurants, but we also raised more than $350,000 for The Mustard Seed of Central Florida and Orange County charities in our six commissioned districts.”

Conceived nearly 20 years ago as a way to boost business during traditionally slow months, Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining has since grown to not only incorporate a charity element but lean hard into celebrating what is Central Florida’s increasingly vibrant dining scene — and encourage locals to step out of their bubbles and try new venues. read more