The statute of limitations on debt limits how long a creditor can sue you for payment. All consumer debts, from outstanding credit cards to medical bills, have limits on how long creditors can sue you. This limitation prevents you from being sued over old debts, but keep in mind the debt remains on your credit report. It may sound like all you have to do is wait until the statute Read More
In this blog, we publish articles and stories that we believe you may find useful and pertinent to the areas of debt management, bankruptcy, debt collections, foreclosure, and creditor harassment. If you have any topic suggestions or ideas for articles that you would like to learn more about, please feel free to send us an email at advice@ohiodebthelp.com.
7 Most Common FDCPA Violations by Debt Collectors
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) was conceived to protect consumers from abusive, deceptive, or unfair tactics of debt collection agencies. Despite the fact that these agencies must follow federal law, they often neglect to perform within the standards to which the FDCPA holds them. In its recent annual report, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) stated that “The Bureau received approximately 75,200 complaints about first-party and third-party debt Read More
Attorney Heck On Debt Consolidation Offers – It’s Not a Real Check
Were you pre-qualified for a debt consolidation loan? Do you have to call in to redeem your check? Is this too good to be true? – Last week, Ohio Consumer law attorney Jeremy Heck appeared on The Baker Law Group’s SOL Podcast to discuss debt consolidation, deceptive marketing, bait and switch tactics, and the legitimate options to fix your credit. Listen to the episode here.
What Is an FDCPA Violation?
When you’re facing debt, it can feel like it’s taking over your entire life. Everywhere you turn, you’re faced with constant reminders of your financial issues. In many cases, these reminders are messages and visits from debt collectors. This near constant interaction can, on occasion, feel like harassment. While not every communication with debt collectors rises to this level, sometimes, that’s exactly what it is. To combat this unreasonable barrage, Read More
10 Things You Need to Know About the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act
Debt collectors, although attempting to collect primarily legitimate debts, have garnered a reputation for harassing consumers by using unfair, abusive, and sometimes deceptive practices. Due to the pervasive use of these tactics, Congress passed the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) in 1977 –– designed to stop illegitimate and harassing practices. Essentially, the FDCPA limits when and how debt collectors can contact customers and third parties about personal and household Read More
Can a Debt Collector Contact Me After I Get an Attorney?
If you have fallen behind on your bills or you have an old debt that you never paid off, chances are you’ve received a phone call or two from a debt collector. As long as people continue to have debt, there will be creditors and third party debt collectors trying to collect what they feel they’re owed. In order to keep these calls from getting out of hand, the Fair Read More
Consumer Protections For Veterans
Veterans, like other consumers, are potential targets for fraudulent, deceptive, or abusive practices. However, veterans and their families are often targeted specifically because of certain circumstances that are unique to them, such as frequent relocations and extended deployments. Additionally, many service members are young individuals with families who find themselves living on their own and earning a paycheck for the first time after leaving the military. If you believe you’ve Read More
How Can I Stop Debt Collectors from Harassing Me?
Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released its annual summary of consumer complaints, which identified debt collection as the most common issue raised in the complaints filed. FTC coordinated an initiative with state and local partners to address the problem of illegal debt collection practices and harassment, which resulted in the agency banning 30 companies and individuals from engaging in debt collection and nearly 100 million in judgments Read More
Can Debt Collectors Call My Employer?
Debt collectors can be very aggressive in their efforts to collect payment, especially third-party collection companies and collection lawyers. Generally, debt collectors are only permitted to discuss your debt with you, your spouse, or your attorney. If they attempt to speak with others regarding your debt, including your employer, they may be violating federal law. To put a stop to abusive and harassing practices by
What is Phantom Debt?
Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) brought a lawsuit against six companies believed to have created a major collections scam. These companies allegedly gathered a large amount of personal data from many consumers and used it to collect money that was never actually owed. The scam carried on for nearly 5 years, and the companies were able to pilfer $3.8 million from more than 1,000 consumers. A phantom Read More