Posts tagged as:

collection

Coping with garnishment

March 27, 2009

Undoubtedly, one of the most frustrating aspects of debt collection for consumers is having their bank accounts garnished (or levied) by creditors. It is a process that is often misunderstood and my goal is to provide general information that I hope is helpful.
A creditor is entitled to garnish a consumers bank account to recover an [...]

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Florida collection agency Smith, Dean & Associates sued by the Illinois AG

January 26, 2009

Smith, Dean & Associates, Inc. (formerly United Processing), apparently has a few employees who can’t help but abuse the heck out of Illinois consumers. Besides using profanity, shaming consumers by calling friends and family, and lying about being an attorney, SD&A collectors threatened consumers with

Arrest;
Federal prison; and
Losing their children

The Illinois Attorney General got a restraining [...]

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Debt collector in the news: two sides to every story

January 26, 2009

Last night I posted a link to a New York Times story written by debt collector Pat Marshall. Then, this morning, I stumbled across this twitter post from blogger Bill Bauer:

I admit, reading “I feel that I’m helping people see that there are options for getting out of their situations—maybe by taking out a second [...]

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In Tough Times, a Debt Collector Sees the Pain

January 25, 2009

In Tough Times, a Debt Collector Sees the Pain | New York Times

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New York Couple Harassed by Creditors Trying to Collect Debt Their Dead Son Owed

January 16, 2009

N.B., this would not be a “small claim” by any stretch of the imagination. New York Couple Harassed by Creditors Trying to Collect Debt Their Dead Son Owed | Fox News (via Consumerist)

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Creditors willing to haggle with debtors in tough economic times

January 6, 2009

In anticipation of an increase in economic and credit turmoil, creditors and debt collectors are racing to collect as much as possible from their debtors and to minimize future losses. While many banks are cutting credit lines, raising fees, and reducing lending, creditors are also giving debt collectors more latitude to work with debtors in [...]

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Pity the poor debt collector?

December 14, 2008

Pity the poor debt collector? | Consumer Law & Policy

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Collectors hurt by recession as consumers walk away from unpaid bills

December 12, 2008

“This situation lets people in on a dirty little secret for a lot of firms, especially on the service side. Their collections efforts are really a bluff. They really aren’t going to pursue their borrowers very hard,” [David] Vang said. “When people see that, their morals adjust. I think this could snowball.”
Collectors hurt by recession [...]

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5 Things to Never Say to a Debt Collector

November 25, 2008

5 Things to Never Say to a Debt Collector | Brunette on a Budget

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How To Keep Debt Collectors Out Of Your Pockets

November 19, 2008

How To Keep Debt Collectors Out Of Your Pockets | New York Consumer Litigation

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Friday link roundup

November 14, 2008

If I am posting less than you would like, it is because I am busy working for my clients. Here are the links I haven’t had the time to comment on from the last week or two:

What’s Worse Than Inflation? Deflation. | Consumerist
The Wall of Debt (Financial Voyeurism) | StopBuyingCrap.com
Terrific Online Saving Sites | Terri’s [...]

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Debt collection reform pushed by the Minneapolis Star Tribune

September 1, 2008

Close on the heels of the Star Tribune article on Minnesota’s debt-friendly collection laws, the editorial staff urges reform of Minnesota’s unforgiving debt-collection laws.
I agree. As I was quoted in the article by Kara McGuire and Randy Furst: “Once you’re in danger of losing money, I think the court should be on top of it. [...]

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More on the fake debt collection scam

August 22, 2008

Pete Barry was on the Morning Show with Mike and Juliet this morning. His advice on making sure you are not dealing with a rogue debt collector: make sure you get an address and phone number, at least.
But in the end, it can be hard to know whether the collector on the phone is legitimate. [...]

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Chicago courts clogged with collection claims

June 11, 2008

Chicago joins California and Minnesota in the news, as its civil courts try to deal with moving more than 119,000 debt collection lawsuits through the system.

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Defendants in Debt Collection Scheme Aimed At Hispanics Agree to Settle FTC Charges

June 5, 2008

“Two defendants have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges for allegedly victimizing Spanish-speaking consumers nationwide by posing as debt collectors seeking money the consumers did not owe.” Defendants in Debt Collection Scheme Aimed At Hispanics Agree to Settle FTC Charges [FTC News]

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Vintage debt collection postcards

June 4, 2008

Along with its great article on Pete Barry vs. the debt collection industry, the City Pages dug up a couple of vintage postcards used by debt collectors of yore to shame debtors into paying up.
Check ‘em out:

The Avenger: Expanded Content [City Pages: The Blotter]

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Countersuits are acceptable losses for debt collectors

May 20, 2008

Speaking of screwing consumers, California consumer lawyer Jonathan Stein has an instructive story on what happens when corporations and debt collectors try to bully consumers into paying debts—even debts they do not owe.
His client sold a car that was later involved in an auto accident. Because the buyer did not register the title or obtain [...]

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Tax refund is (usually) happy season for debt collectors

April 22, 2008

You know who I’ll bet is really happy about the stimulus checks coming next month? Debt collectors. Tax refund is (usually) happy season for debt collectors, and this year they get two bites at the apple.

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