Can a Debt Collector Message Me on Facebook?

Can a Debt Collector Message Me on Facebook?

If you are being pressured to pay a debt, you know that collection agents can be relentless. A collection agency may be constantly bombarding you with demands for payment. Letters, phone calls, and . . . Facebook? That’s right. Social media makes it even easier for debt collectors to find and pursue you. Over the last few weeks, […]

Washington DC Area Tops List for CFPB Complaints Nationwide

As of March 1, 2016, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) handled approximately 834,400 complaints, including approximately 22,800 complaints. The Washington, DC area has three of the top seven jurisdictions for CFPB complaints per capita. By a wide margin, Washington, D.C. leads the nation in CFPB complaints per capita with 713 complaints per 100,000 residents. […]

Restrict Debt Collectors from Calling Cell Phones

In November 2013, the CFPB issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking soliciting public comments on an array of issues relating to the debt collection practices of third-party debt collectors, debt buyers, and creditors. The CFPB should restrict debt collectors from calling cell phones. In a recent article, Todd Zywicki, law professor at George Mason […]

Your Best Debt Defense May Be Bankruptcy

Unresolved debts can take an enormous toll on your overall quality of life. If you feel anxious every time your telephone rings or get a knot in your stomach when retrieving your mail, you may gain peace of mind by seeking bankruptcy protection. In fact, your best debt defense may be bankruptcy. The two main […]

Feds Investigating Banks for Debt Collection Abuse

Feds Investigating Banks for Debt Collection Abuse

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency will investigate banks for filing hundreds of thousands of abusive debt collection lawsuits. In many cases, debt buyers use shoddy records or flimsy affidavits in support of these lawsuits. According to the Washington Post, a probe of JPMorgan Chase that started in 2011 will be expanded to […]

Debt Collection Companies and Negotiating Debts

Debt Collection Companies and Negotiating Debts -- Lee Legal -- DC-VA-MD

Many of my clients get debt collection calls and and debt demand letters, and many of these calls and letters come from just a few debt collection agencies. All of the big banks contract out their default and delinquent accounts to a relatively small number of large debt collectors. If you are sued on a […]

Should I Stop Paying My Bills?

Should I Stop Paying My Bills?

I often get asked the question, “If I am filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy, should I stop paying my bills?” The answer is Yes and No. Continue to Pay the Bills You Will Still Have After Bankruptcy First the No. You must continue to pay certain bills. These include your rent or mortgage, auto loans for any […]

Should I File Bankruptcy?

Should I File Bankruptcy?

Bankruptcy is not for everyone, and not a decision to take lightly. Over three quarters of a million Americans will declare bankruptcy in 2017. But how do you know if bankruptcy is right for you? If you find yourself asking, “Should I File Bankruptcy?” then read on. Here are a few questions you should ask […]

Be Prepared When the Collection Agent Calls

When the Collection Agent Calls

When the collection agent calls, be prepared. Thanks to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you don’t have to take abuse just because you owe a debt. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) strictly prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices. The FDCPA defines a debt collector as someone who regularly collects […]