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Beware If you have recently heard something like “This communication is from a debt collector attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained from you will be used for that purpose.” This statement is known as Mini- Miranda warnings and it exists to protect you. What is the Mini-Miranda? The name may be familiar to... View Article

Consumers who have fallen behind on paying their bills can often find themselves targeted by aggressive debt collectors who have been hired by their creditors. These situations can be confusing and stressful. There are laws in place to protect consumers – and make sure that they are properly informed during the debt collection process.

Wage garnishments are extremely rare in debt settlement programs. Here are some things to know about them and how we resolve them when they happen. WHAT IS WAGE GARNISHMENT? A wage garnishment is a legal proceeding through which a portion of a debtor’s earnings is withheld for the payment of a debt. This process allows... View Article

There is a high number of complaints involving debt scammers every day. It is safe to assume that these scammers continue their efforts because they are getting money from unsuspecting people. It is important for you to learn how to identify debt collectors from scammers and avoid being a victim of a debt collection scam.... View Article

If you are facing financial hardship, it is important for you to understand how to communicate with your creditors or debt collectors while you are in a debt settlement program. If you are enrolled in a debt settlement program, you must know how a debt settlement program works. During the program, you voluntarily will agree... View Article

Deb settlement programs and bankruptcy may have significant implications for your tax situation. HOW MAY A DEBT SETTLEMENT PROGRAM IMPACT YOUR TAXES? A debt settlement program can get a debtor out of debt fast and save them tens of thousands of dollars, but there are a couple of minor downsides, such as potential tax liability.... View Article

Consumers who have fallen behind on paying their bills can often find themselves targeted by aggressive debt collectors who have been hired by their creditors. These situations can be confusing and stressful. There are laws in place to protect consumers – and make sure that they are properly informed during the debt collection process.

In 1970, Congress adopted the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to protect consumers and regulate how credit information is used and disseminated. The FCRA was passed to address the growth of the credit reporting industry – which compiled “consumer credit reports” and “investigative consumer reports” on individuals.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) was enacted by congress in 1970 with the goal of protecting consumers from inaccuracies, unfair reporting practices, and privacy breaches by credit reporting agencies.  The FCRA helps to regulate the use of consumer reports by laying out rules covering dispute resolution, the dispersing of consumer information, how and when a party may request/use a consumer report, as well as various other consumer rights.

The FDCPA, also known as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, was enacted in 1978 by Congress because of a finding of “abundant evidence of the use of abusive, deceptive, and unfair debt collection practices by many debt collectors” 15 U.S.C. § 1692. In broad terms the FDCPA was put into place in order to protect debtors from being harassed by debt collectors.

It is no surprise that having debt can cause stress. However, those studying the effects of debt related financial pressure were surprised to see the dramatic impact on mental and physical health, including significant increased chances of suicide.

Anyone facing large amounts of debt, is under a seemingly insurmountable level of pressure.  Not only getting out of the debt seems daunting, but the options can be just as confusing and stress inducing as the debt itself. There are three terms most people are likely to hear when it comes to debt resolution...

I cannot emphasize the importance of a good credit score enough, however when minimum payments are taking over your life, you are most likely one slip up away from damaging that score, and not in a position to enjoy the benefits of a high credit score.

Consumers who have fallen behind on paying their bills can often find themselves targeted by aggressive debt collectors who have been hired by their creditors. These situations can be confusing and stressful. There are laws in place to protect consumers – and make sure that they are properly informed during the debt collection process.