Randall Ryder

I Can See Russia and Lots of Credit Card Debt

December 7, 2010
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Alaska, where you can allegedly see Russia from, has more consumer credit card debt per person than any other state in the nation, according to a new study. On average, every American citizen has $5,165 in debt. Alaska is well above that number—the average Alaskan owes $7,135.

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Dislike? Collector Contacts Debtor’s Relatives Through Facebook

November 30, 2010
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Facebook can be a wonderful way to keep in touch with old friends that live in faraway places. The danger, of course, is that if your privacy settings are not correct, all kinds of people can track down and view your digital identify—including debt collectors. In Florida, a consumer recently filed suit after a debt collector [...]

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Foreclosure Lawyer Investigated For Mortgages with Clients

November 15, 2010

Last week I wrote about the various ways that consumers can afford a foreclosure defense attorney. New York has passed a law allowing consumers to recoup attorney fees and at least one attorney in Florida is allowing clients, under certain conditions, to take a mortgage with his firm. That practice might be short lived—he is [...]

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New Mortgage to Pay Foreclosure Defense Attorney?

November 8, 2010

Even before a number of big banks stopped foreclosure proceedings because of issues with robo-signers, consumers with money were fighting foreclosures across the nation. New York recently passed a law (effective next year) that allows consumers to recoup their attorney fees if they fight a foreclosure and win. Not every state has a similar law, [...]

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Debt Collector Allied Interstate Pays $1.75 Million Fine

November 1, 2010

In an effort to resolve federal allegations, debt collector Allied Interstate has agreed to pay a $1.75 million dollar fine. Allied Interstate was accused of collecting on debts that people did not actually owe, contacting third parties, and threatening legal action that it did not intend to take. Unsurprisingly, this type of behavior is illegal.

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Illinois Gets $23.7 Million Judgment Against Debt Collection Law Firm

October 12, 2010

In a somewhat surprising role reversal, the state of Illinois was awarded a $23.7 million dollar judgment against the law firm of Friedman & Wexler and two attorneys from the firm. The state had previously used the law firm to collect debts on behalf of the state.

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Biggest Source of Consumer Debt? Student Loans

October 5, 2010

When people think of consumer debt, they think of credit card debt. According to the Federal Reserve, however, student loan debt has now surpassed credit card debt among consumers.

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Franken Seeks End of Abusive Debt Collection

September 29, 2010
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Senator Franken of Minnesota is set to introduce a bill this week with the hopes of stopping abusive debt collection practices. In many ways, the bill is designed to compliment and enhance the FDCPA, which is over 32 years old.

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Colleges Deceive Applicants

August 5, 2010

Applying to colleges is a stressful experience for most people. Where will you get in? How much will it cost and how will you pay for it? Unfortunately, according to a new report, some colleges are misleading students about their programs and even encouraging students to lie on their financial aid applications.

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Debt Collectors Use Social Media to Find Debtors

July 28, 2010

Debt collectors are pretty good about tracking people down and now they are turning to social media to find people that have escaped their grasp. What information have you posted about yourself online?

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