The Maryland Consumers Rights Coalition | the voice for Maryland consumers -

Help is on the way for some Maryland homeowners

who are facing foreclosure

Nov. 7, 2008 The Baltimore Sun reports: Amid the widening housing crisis, Gov. Martin O'Malley plans to announce today an agreement with some of the nation's largest loan servicers to help homeowners who have fallen behind in their mortgage payments to avoid foreclosure.

Under the accord, GMAC, Ocwen Financial Corp., Litton Loan Servicing and other companies have agreed to follow certain practices when working with borrowers seeking to modify terms of mostly subprime or adjustable-rate loans they can no longer afford. Significantly, the servicers have agreed to a "cooling-off" period to ensure that borrowers don't lose their homes before they can get help. --- read full story here

MCRC Annual Meeting and Awards Program

Honors Niemann, Robinson and Rappaport

MCRC held its sixth Annual Meeting and Awards program on September 25, 2008 at The Meeting House in Columbia, MD. Delegate Doyle L. Niemann was honored as Consumer Legislator of the Year. Delegate Niemann represents District 47 in Prince George's County. Phillip Robinson was named "Denis J. Murphy Consumer Advocate of the Year." Robinson is the executive director of Civil Justice, Inc. Sydell Rappaport received the award for Volunteer of the Year. She works in the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection.

At the meeting, officers for 2008-2009 were elected. Charles Shafer was elected president. He teaches at the University of Baltimore Law School. Mark Steinbach will be the Vice President. Becky Bowman was elected Secretary and Marty Wolf was elected Treasurer.


Delegate Niemann	Phillip Robinson	Sydell Rappaport

Legislative Review

This has been an exciting year. As many of you know, last October Stephen D. Hannan, former Administrator of the Howard County Office of Consumer Affairs, became MCRC’s new executive director. I know many of you may have seen him in Annapolis, where he worked hard to help protect the interests of consumers.

With session over, we wanted to give you an update and thank you for your continued support. Your donations and memberships helped us continue to work full time in Annapolis, fighting for consumer rights in Maryland. Here’s a sampling: more.

MCRC Report: Limiting The Cost of Being Poor

MCRC has issued the second half of our examination of financial practices that have a disproportionate impact on lower income Maryland residents. The report surveys laws in Maryland regarding pay day lending, refund anticipation loans, debt management services, check cashing and state bankruptcy exemptions. The report makes recommendations for enhanced protection of Maryland consumers.

Click here for PDF copy of the report.

Click here for our first report on Protecting Home Ownership.

NEW ADDRESS: PO Box 10485, Baltimore Md. 21209-0485