Sometimes creditors go too far to collect a debt, crossing the line into harassment. If a creditor is calling you at all hours, making threats, or refuses to provide you with more information, they are in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). At a glance, your rights under the FDCPA prohibits a creditor from: Calling before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. Contacting you at your place of employment if your employer does not allow it Making misleading, deceitful or … [Read more...]
Pushing Back on Debt Collectors
Getting behind on bills can make every part of your life feel miserable and is only made worse when debt collectors start calling. While some debt collection agents are understanding, many are downright mean, but it is important to keep a cool head and not to let debt collectors intimidate you. Debt Collection 101 Of course if you have debt, you have a legal obligation to pay it. But, just because you may have made some financial mistakes does not give someone the right to abuse you - it … [Read more...]
Wages Not Keeping Up
Despite the fact that the economy is strong with unemployment down and millions of jobs going unfulfilled, many who are working just don’t earn enough to make ends meet. For many, wages have remained flat for decades making it difficult to keep up as the cost of living has increased across the country. Many Americans continue to turn to credit cards to bridge the gap, putting out one fire at a time as unexpected expenses pop up on top of everything else. With credit card debt cresting at $1 … [Read more...]
Unpaid Consumer Debt May Trigger Wage Garnishment
Old credit card debt, student loans or unpaid medical bills are catching up to many Americans. In fact, some employees in the U.S. may lose up to a quarter of their paycheck to collection efforts for unpaid debts. The recession, underemployment and a reliance on credit cards to bridge the gap during difficult times resulted in a number of Americans taking on substantial debt. Thousands of dollars spent on credit cards to make ends meet or pay for an unexpected event soon ballooned into higher … [Read more...]