… an article in the Star-Telegram, the Better Business Bureau is warning consumers away from using debt settlement companies, which often worsen their financial condition and fail to deliver on their promises.

The article said:

“The Better Business Bureau at Fort Worth has just completed a report on debt settlement businesses and warns consumers that seeking their help is rarely a good idea. Debt settlement usually adds to the consumer’s debt load and rarely leads to a significant …

Category: Bankruptcy , Debt Consolidation , Economy

Tags: Bankruptcy Better Business Bureau Debt settlement Financial services

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… is to obtain a discharge of debts, which means the debtor is no longer personally liable for that debt.

Q:  What does a “discharge of debt” mean, exactly?

A:  The goal of bankruptcy proceedings is to obtain a discharge of debts, which means the debtor is no longer personally liable for that debt.

Q:  So what does “personal liability” mean, then?

A:  Having personal liability for a debt means that creditors who obtain a judgment against you can use legal means, …

Category: Bankruptcy Q&A , Debt and Tax Relief

Tags: Bankruptcy Questions Discharge of Debt

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Many debtors are intimidated by debt collectors who often cast themselves as these all powerful entities who can wreck havoc on a debtor’s life.  But the truth of the matter is that debt collectors aren’t as powerful as they seem, it’s just that many debtors’ lack of knowledge about their rights and the limitations of debt collectors make them vulnerable to debt collector tall tales.  Here are a couple myths and …

Category: Debt Collectors , Economy , Managing Your Finances

Tags: Debt Collectors facts Myths threatening

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The first step to conquering debt that has gotten out of control is to get honest with yourself.  Take the time to find out how much you owe, how much you earn and what the real gap is in between.  One of the biggest shockers debtors experience when they file bankruptcy is just how indebted they really are compared to what they had imagined.  Don’t engage in self-deception, get to the root of the truth now.

 Create A …

Category: Bankruptcy , Bankruptcy Q&A , Debt and Tax Relief , Economy , Filing Bankruptcy

Tags: Bankruptcy Attorney budget Debt

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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) successfully sued three debt collection companies who scammed consumers into paying money they did not really owe.   A total of $1.6 million was recovered from the debt collection scammers and will be distributed to 24,916 consumers.

In 2003, the FTC sued three companies, operating under the name National Check Control, charging them with harassing and abusing consumers, falsely threaten­ing criminal prosecution, …

Category: Breaking News , Debt Collectors , Economy

Tags: consumers debt collection

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There are several requirements that a debt must meet before it becomes governed by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act:

The debt must be a consumer debt that was incurred for personal, household or family reasons. For example: Medical debt incurred because of a spouse’s illness would meet this criterion; however, medical debt incurred because of an employee’s accident would not meet this criteria. …

Category: Debt Collectors

Tags: Debt Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Know Your Rights Threatening Collector

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According to an article in the Star-Telegram, American Corrective Counseling Services, a debt collection company has agreed to a $2.55 million judgment to settle a lawsuit brought by thousands of debtors who claimed they were wrongly led to believe they had to pay costly fees to avoid criminal charges for bouncing checks.

The article said:

“The company sent out letters as recently as last winter purporting to be from various Pennsylvania district attorneys’ offices to …

Category: Debt Collectors , Lawsuits

Tags: American Corrective Counseling Services Debt Collector Judgement

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… don’t plan on falling behind on their bills.  Then… to add insult to the financial injury, a debt collector with an attitude calls you.  Their job is plain and simple…to get you to pay.  Some collector’s though have the belief that their job is to get you to pay, regardless of what it takes.  You might owe the debt.  You probably feel guilty about what you haven’t been able to pay, because that’s how your parents raised you:  pay what you owe.  Even if you have guilty …

Category: Bankruptcy , Debt Collectors , Debt and Tax Relief

Tags: Consumer protection Debt Collectors Federal Trade Commission Know Your Rights

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… For those debtors with hefty credit card balances, now may be the best time to reduce your debt. The credit card industry is doing everything in its power to get as much money out of debtors as soon as possible which can cause financially strain for those already struggling to pay their bills.  Remember, bankruptcy allows your discharge credit card debt or repay it under reasonable terms in three to five years.  A qualified bankruptcy attorney can help you find out if bankruptcy is …

Comment by Jacob Decker: … any credit card debt? Allmand & Lee can make that …

Tags: Credit card Debt Money Management Personal Finance

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According to an article in the Gazette, the amount of medical debt afflicting Americans is on the rise as the number of job losses mount and the recession worsens. That’s why many Americans facing mounting medical debt are filing bankruptcy for relief.

The article said:

“A new national study showed that more than 60 percent of all personal bankruptcies in the country were related to medical problems and most of the people were middle-class and …

Comment by Marlene: … how much medical debt there is in the U.S. The amount at …

Category: Breaking News , Debt Consolidation , Medical Bills

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National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act of 2008 is an Act to amend the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act to exempt for a limited period, from the application of the means-test presumption of abuse under chapter 7, qualifying members of reserve components of the Armed Forces and members of the National Guard who, after September 11, 2001, are called to active duty or to perform a homeland …

Tags: bankruptcy law debt relieft act

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In troubled times many people turn to debt to make ends meet, take care of emergencies or just to relieve the stress of everyday life by charging shopping sprees to their credit card.  But more and more Americans are not only become more indebted, they are choosing to rack up large amounts of debt secretly.  Many hide their debts from their spouse, children and parents.  But hiding debt that is out of control can become a …

Tags: Bankruptcy Debt secret

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