Gordon Leech joins Rose & deJong, SC, as a shareholder. As of July 1, 2009, Mr. Leech has joined the law firm of Rose & deJong, SC, as a shareholder, representing consumers and employees. He continues his practice of representing and advising people in the areas of consumer and employment law. Common issues relate to inaccurate credit reports, loss of a job because of a background investigation or arrest / conviction records, violations of family and medical leave laws, unpaid wages and overtime pay, discrimination and retaliation in employment, fraud and other consumer related matters.

Relief from some unfair credit card practices is coming. On December 18, 2008, the Federal Office of Thrift Supervision and the Federal Reserve issued rules barring unfair credit card practices. Among the new rules, credit card companies will not be allowed to increase a consumer's credit card interest rate just because a consumer has a late payment on another credit card. Currently, credit card companies are able to impose these "penalty rates" on consumers when the consumer is actually current on their account but late on some other credit card. Often times, this penalty rate takes a consumer from the introductory rate, which can be as low as 0%, up to a 27% rate. This new protection, along with others, unfortunately will not take effect until July 1, 2010. Click here to follow a link to the Office of Thrift Supervision's Summary of the new rule.