Town of Bay Harbor Islands, Florida

Join us in recognizing all the Police dispatchers, around the world and in our local communities, this Public Safety Telecommunicator Week. They are the heart behind the headset! Thank you for all you do for us, every day. 💛#telecommunicatorsweek

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The Federal Trade Commission says H&R Block pressures people into overpaying for tax prep. Don't get pressured into paying for something you needn't. If you’re looking for free options for your taxes, check the IRS’s Free File program at https://lnkd.in/ektaaT3 first! #taxpreparation

Check out the latest episode of Soofa's podcast, "Bridging the Digital Divide"

Your tenant background check shouldn’t have mistakes Some mistakes are harmless, but mistakes on a tenant background check? Those are serious and can result in a denied application and the loss of housing opportunities. That’s why the FTC and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) are stepping in. Thousands of rental property owners and property management companies use tenant background checks from TransUnion Rental Screening Solutions, Inc. They get public record information for reports from several sources, including criminal records and records related to evictions. By law, TURSS must have reasonable procedures to make the information it reports as accurate as possible but the FTC and CFPB say the company didn’t have the procedures it should have. TURSS let eviction cases show up more than once, listed incomplete information about eviction cases, and didn’t take reasonable steps to keep sealed eviction cases off reports, according to the lawsuit. In a proposed settlement with both agencies, TURSS will pay $11 million to people affected by certain company practices — a process that won’t begin until after the court approves the settlement. It will also pay a $4 million fine, stop reporting certain kinds of eviction records, and make other changes. If you qualify for a payment based on TURSS’s records, you will get a payment automatically. There is no claims process. If someone says they can get you a refund if you pay them, that’s a scam. Report them at ReportFraud.ftc.gov Before you rent an apartment, read about your rights and what to do when someone checks your background report. If you think a landlord or property manager violated your rights, report it to the FTC.

Starting September 25, you can order four free test kits per household through COVIDtests.gov. You don’t have to pay for shipping, and you’ll never be asked for a credit card or bank account number. You only need to give a name and shipping address. If you’d like an email confirmation and delivery updates from the U.S. Postal Service, you can submit your email address. Anyone who asks for more information than that is a scammer.  For more info visit https://lnkd.in/eytTCt43?

Break the silence. Empower Yourself. End the stigma. Text 988

Jason Atkinson - bravo to you and your great team from Town of Bay Harbor Islands!