Medical issues, whether they happen to you or someone in your family, can have an extremely negative impact on your everyday life. Not only will you have to focus on healing and getting back to normalcy at work and home,…
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Whether it’s managing debt or being able to keep your finances in order, having an organized budget is essential. One of the best ways to improve your budgeting is to eliminate expenses that are no longer necessary. By focusing on…
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For Americans, dealing with debt is an all too familiar dilemma. Whether it’s student loans, personal loans, or credit cards, debt comes in many forms. With the majority of all three living American generations buried under mountains of debt, having…
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One of the most nerve-wracking aspects of a credit report is the moment between clicking “review” and waiting for when the report is generated. Whether you have good or bad credit, a credit report can always overwhelming, especially when it…
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Debt is a familiar problem for most Americans. Among the three eldest living generations, the Baby Boomers, Gen X’ers, and Millennials, all three groups are vastly indebted as a whole. From credit cards to mortgages to student loans, most Americans…
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Most people have a cursory familiarity with the concept of the statute of limitations. Essentially, the statute of limitations states sets an expiration date for when someone can be tried for a crime. Failure to initiate prosecution by the time…
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The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a federal law that limits the actions and practices of third-party debt collectors who collect debts on behalf of companies or people. Debt collectors have several rules they must follow per the…
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Are you afraid of what a debt collectors might tell you? It’s understandable to be apprehensive when one of them calls, but don’t give into their pressure tactics. Their job is to get you to pay an overdue debt. While…
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If you find yourself mired in the world of debt collection, you are likely to hear a lot of comments by people who may or may not know what they’re talking about. If you go online and do a search,…
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You’ve probably answered a call at least once with a phone number that looked local–probably very close to your own–only to be greeted with a recorded message for any number of unwanted products or services. You’ve answered the next-gen version…
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What do you do if you get a call from a debt collector for a debt you don’t remember, still can’t pay, or one that you paid off long ago? Check the date on it. If the debt is over…
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After years of telling taxpayers that they would never call about an overdue tax return or tax bill, things have changed. Now, you could actually get a call from a collection agency for an outstanding tax debt. The IRS has…
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People are living longer after retirement, meaning that you might find yourself talking to a collection agency as a senior citizen. Maybe you forgot to pay a bill. Maybe you had a month when your expenses outpaced your income and…
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It’s no secret that debt collection agencies use a variety of tactics to contact debtors regarding money that they owe. If you have found yourself in debt you are likely accustomed to repeated phone calls to your home or work,…
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The Second Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals recently defined what “capacity” means in regards to automatic telephone dialing systems (ATDS) under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). The court now says that “capacity” is restricted to a device’s…
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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the New York Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit against two entities involved in a phantom debt scam. The lawsuit includes debt sellers, debt brokers, buyers, and sellers from Hylan Asset Management and Worldwide…
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Debt collectors are authoritative and intimidating. When they contact you regarding debt, it’s easy to feel guilty and ashamed immediately. It’s important to stand up for yourself and remember that you have rights as a consumer. Under the Federal Debt…
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A debt collection agency’s goal is to get you to repay your debt through whatever means necessary. If you find yourself in debt, you’re probably no stranger to calls from debt collectors insisting you pay overdue bills. Debt collection agencies…
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Unforeseen expenses resulting from an injury or medical condition happen all the time. People who endure these expenses often can’t pay up front, therefore acquiring a significant amount of debt. Unfortunately, it’s easy to accumulate a great deal of medical…
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If you are surrounded by debt, and you’ve started doing some research on debt collection practices, you may hear a variety of acronyms thrown around. In Florida, two of the most important acronyms are the FDCPA and FCCPA. Consumer law…
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National loan servicer Navient Solutions, Inc. (formerly Sallie Mae Inc.) agreed to pay $19.7 million after a class action lawsuit for violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). Navient was charged with making thousands of automated voice calls to the…
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Debt collectors are well-versed in the rules and regulations surrounding debt and repayment. Unfortunately, most Americans are not as knowledgeable about these rules, and debt collectors take advantage of their naiveté. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Americans report debt collectors…
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Debt is a common occurrence in today’s society and causes stress to millions of Americans each year. Dealing with debt collectors is often overwhelming and seems to make everything a bit worse. If you do find yourself in debt, it’s…
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Similar to how law enforcement must read you your rights before an arrest, there are specific protocols third-party debt collectors must follow to ensure you understand the debt-collection process. When a debt collector contacts you by phone or mail, one…
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The Law Offices of Jibrael S. Hindi recently won a lawsuit for a Florida man after a debt collector violated the Federal Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The trial was about collection jurisdiction and who can collect a debt in…
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Have you recently started receiving debt collection calls for past due loan or credit card payments? If this is your first interaction with a debt collector, you may have many unanswered questions like “What happens if I ignore debt collection…
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The practice of jailing debtors was outlawed in 1833. Yet and still consumers in 2018 continue to share a pressing inquiry: “Can I go to jail for defaulting on debt payments?” As unfavorable as it may be to default on…
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Debt collectors are known for taking drastic measures to recover payment. Whether it be sending multiple text messages to your cell phone or calling relatives, they will do whatever they deem necessary to get you to pay up. However, debt…
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A call from a debt collector is rarely a welcoming one. They are likely calling as a result of several missed payments or to update you on the status of your account. These calls aren’t meant to be intrusive or…
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Our phones are sacred devices. More than a hunk of metal jam-packed with technology, cell phones have become intimate devices that people hold dear to their heart. This is understandable as spending almost a $1,000 for a cell phone has…
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The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) are statutes enacted to protect consumers from harassment and invasive practices. Having undergone multiple updates since their inception, the types of complaints that consumers report are ever-changing,…
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Living with debt has become a societal norm, but so has dying with debt. A recent study concludes that 73% of Americans will die with some sort of debt tied to their name. The average person leaves behind $61,554 in…
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You understand that you owe money on a particular account, but you just don’t want to be bothered at the moment. You may have other more immediate financial issues to address, or you’re not sure if the debt in question…
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One well-known fact about debt collectors is that they can be relentless. They will often try every method of contacting you about debt, whether that be via email, text, or phone call. Although all such means of contact are legal,…
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When a loved one dies, many decisions must be made: “When should the funeral take place?” and “Where should the burial site be?” are two of the most common questions presented. One question that rarely surfaces during this time is…
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When was the last time you’ve written a check to send to a creditor for debt payment? If you can’t recall ever doing so, you’re like a vast majority of debtors in America today. Debt payments have almost gone exclusively…
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Imagine this: You lose your wallet, spend days searching for it, and after flipping every pillow in the house, you decide to call your bank to cancel your cards. However, by the time you’ve reported the situation, a thief has…
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Third-party debt collector Expert Global Solutions agreed to halt harassment of consumers and pay a civil penalty of $3.2 million. This agreement came as a result of the company allegedly using debt collection practices that violated the Fair Trades Commission…
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Receiving debt collection calls is something that every one of the over 30 million Americans in debt has experienced. The calls may be from a familiar company or one you’ve never heard of; what remains the same is that they…
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Debt collection schemes are highly popular as roughly 80% of Americans currently live with some type of debt. The various forms of debt include credit card, medical, and student loan debts. They even extend to include utility bills, bank overdraft…
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Debt issues arise as a result of numerous circumstances and consumer debts are some of the most common. Maybe you fell behind on paying off one account as you were focused on fixing another, or went on vacation and forgot…
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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that they will be using private debt collectors to assist in collecting millions of dollars in past due federal taxes. They began outsourcing collection efforts in April of 2017, handing over about 100 accounts…
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Every day someone is trying out a new scheme to swindle consumers out of their hard-earned money. Although many of these attempts are unsuccessful, there are a few that result in an individual losing hundreds and even thousands of dollars….
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The Baltimore City Circuit Court ordered that Las Vegas-based debt buyer LVNV Funding, LLC (LVNV) pay $38 million to split among 1,590 individuals. This judgment is by far the largest in Maryland against a debt collector. Although they will have…
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Everyone with an email or a mailbox has been a victim of junk mail. Junk mail is usually comprised of letters, offers, promotions, and advertisements sent out to a wide demographic of people with no other purpose but to get…
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A Missouri woman was awarded $83 million after receiving a favorable judgment against Portfolio Recovery Associates — one of the largest debt buyers in the country. A few years back, Portfolio Recovery Associates began contacting Maria Mejia requesting that she…
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A creditor has the right to sue you if you fail to make payments on your debt. They can file a civil lawsuit to obtain a judgment against you in what is usually a last-ditch attempt to collect payment. A…
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Has your unpaid debt gone into collections? You may be receiving unrelenting calls from a debt collector as a result. Many people choose to simply ignore these calls and continue on with their lives. This is not the best option….
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Debt buying is a strong industry in America. Every day, there are companies that sell their debts to third-party agencies and banks that continue to pursue the amount owed. Many citizens have received phone calls from agencies they have never…
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Santander Consumer USA has been no stranger to Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) violations. Their website describes the company as a “full-service, technology-driven, consumer finance company focused on vehicle finance and unsecured consumer lending products.” The everyday person may…
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Millions of Americans graduate college with thousands of dollars in debt. This debt is usually scheduled to be paid on a monthly basis and has the potential of being a recurring bill for multiple decades. There are both private and…
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An improperly programmed register can easily print your sensitive information on the receipt, exposing you and thousands of others to fraud. This has happened to many Americans and continues to be an issue which is why Congress implemented the Fair…
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Fifty-six people were charged in an international scheme which resulted in over $300 million being extorted from Americans. The scammers presented themselves as IRS agents and immigration authorities. They requested individuals to pay a sum to clear non-existing debts and…
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Up until the mid-1800s in Colonial America, placing people in debt in real, brick-and-mortar prisons was a common way to deal with individuals who could not pay back their debts. In fact, several historical figures spent time in debtors’ prison,…
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Federal and state laws exist to protect people in debt from predatory and harassing behavior from banks, creditors, collection agencies, and other entities that exist to collect on debt. These laws aim to protect personal information and privacy, which has…
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If you are among the millions of Americans currently in debt, you may be growing weary of receiving collection calls. In a last-ditch effort to collect on debt, banks, creditors, and lenders can sell debt to debt buyers for just…
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Are you tired of receiving calls that you were not expecting to your landline or cell phone? Telemarketers, political parties, and debt collection agencies are among the top entities to place unwelcome phone calls. If you have registered your phone…
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Using a credit card comes with a lot of responsibility and can carry certain risks, yet recent data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York revealed that credit cards are being opened at an alarming rate. As of June…
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Consumers have many protections in the United States as incidents of fraud are rampant. As an increasing number of consumers rely upon credit and debit cards to make purchases, more sensitive information is released and put at risk of fraud….
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The amount of credit card debt owed by U.S. households continues to climb, with the average household debt reaching $16,061, up from $15,762 just last year. Millions of people struggle to keep debt at bay in America, and collection calls…
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Receiving calls from debt collection agencies is hardly a pleasant experience. Oftentimes, these collectors use predatory tactics to attempt to bully you into paying a debt, regardless of whether or not you really owe the debt, or if the debt…
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Debt collection harassment specifically refers to conduct by a debt collector that is intended to intimidate, abuse, coerce, or bully a person who is believed to owe a debt in order to get that person to pay up. More often…
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If you are receiving calls about a debt that you think you owe it can be tempting to pick up a small loan to get the debt collection agencies off your back. Payday loans are easy to get and payday…
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Payday loans are an enticing solution for people struggling to pay off debts. Unexpected medical bills and emergency car repairs can be difficult to pay off, and payday loans are readily available throughout the country to provide small loans. The…
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Chase Receivables is a collection agency from Sonoma, California that opened back in 1953 as the Credit Bureau of Napa County, Inc. Chase Receivables does not always respectfully collect on debt. The company has very poor ratings on Yelp and…
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One of the largest debt collection agencies here in America is Enhanced Recovery Services or Enhanced Recovery Company, with over a thousand employees nationwide. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville but has satellite offices throughout the U.S. including in Orange…
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When debt collection agencies persistently call consumers at all hours of the day, every day of the week that is considered harassment by federal law. Too many Americans are in between a rock and a hard place right now, with…
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When debt collection agencies persistently call consumers at all hours of the day, every day of the week, that is considered harassment by federal law. Too many Americans are in between a rock and a hard place right now, with…
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Are you being called every day of the week by a collection agency attempting to collect on your outstanding debt? Do they call at random hours of the day, even late in the evening or early mornings? Millions of Americans…
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When it comes to being in debt in Florida, there are unpleasant realities you often face. There are dozens of debt collection agencies throughout the country that don’t play by the rules. Collectors are on the prowl seeking to recover…
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Being in debt is a stressful enough time as it is without the attention of debt collection companies. Yet, if you have an outstanding debt, or even share the same phone number as someone who does, you could be the…
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When a debt goes to collections, it may mean that a collection agency has purchased the debt from a creditor, such as a credit card company or bank. A person’s debt is purchased for a fraction of the value of…
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Wage garnishment is a last resort approach that debt collectors utilize to gather the debt owed to them. The process begins when a court order, or judgment, is approved to be held against the debtor, at which point a percentage…
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Wage garnishment is permissible in all 50 states, with most states having their own set of specific rules and exemptions. Some states abide solely by the federal model and do not provide additional protections. Chapter 77 of the Florida Statutes…
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Every now and again there are instances in which a routine debt collection call sparks a series of unprecedented events that lead to a wild and unexpected outcome. In one such instance, a Missouri woman from Kansas City was targeted…
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A large investigation by ProPublica last fall uncovered a shocking fact: debt collectors target minorities; in particular, African Americans. Debt collection lawsuits were revealed to be much more common in minority communities in the large metropolitan areas where the investigation…
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These days, most people carry a debit card with them in place of cash to pay for purchases when they do not want to run up their credit cards. In fact, 185 million people in the United States are debit…
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