Abrahamsen Gindin LLC Acquires Embattled Debt Collection Mill Forster & Garbus

By: Robert J. Nahoum Pennsylvania based creditors’ rights law firm Abrahamsen Gindin LLC is dipping its toe into the New York State debt collection market with the announcement of its purchase of embattled debt collection mill Forster & Garbus. The announcement comes on the heels of a settlement between the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Forster & Garbus in […]

The Current Status of Medical Debt Credit Reporting

By: Robert J. Nahoum On April 11, 2023, the three major credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, (the CRAs) announced that that medical debt with an initial reported balance of under $500 has been removed from U.S. consumer credit reports.  This announcement comes after a 2020 file issued by the, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) requiring credit reporting […]

Notorious Debt Collector Portfolio Recovery Associates in Trouble Again with the CFPB

The infamous debt collector Portfolio Recovery Associates is reportedly settling claims brought by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for violating a settlement the debt collector reach with the CFPB 2015. According to the CFPB The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took action today against Portfolio Recovery Associates, one of the largest debt collectors in the nation, for violating a 2015 […]

Attempting to Collect Debt Discharged in Bankruptcy Is Illegal

By: Robert J. Nahoum Debt collectors are known for their persistence when it comes to collecting debts. However, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) imposes certain restrictions on the methods used by debt collectors to collect debts. In particular, the FDCPA prohibits debt collectors from attempting to collect debts that have been discharged in bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is a legal […]

Developments in Medical Debt Collection to Help Consumers

By: Robert J. Nahoum Medical debt collection has become a hot topic in recent years, as healthcare costs continue to rise, and more people struggle to pay their medical bills. According to a study by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPBâ€), around 43 million Americans have medical debt on their credit reports, with the average amount owed being around $579. […]

New York Attorney General Letitia James Announced Plans to Keep Stimulus Checks Out of the Hands of Debt Collectors

By: Robert J. Nahoum When the federal government passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES Actâ€) including stimulus checks of up to $1,200 per adult and $500 per child, it failed to protect that money from the reach of debt collectors.  Those of us in the consumer protection community immediately recognized the threat to working people and began […]

NCLC Resource – Protecting Against Creditor Seizure of Stimulus Checks

The consumer heroes at the National Consumer Law Center have issued the following resource to help consumer protect their corona stimulus checks from levy and seizure by heartless and unscrupulous debt collectors: “The CARES Act authorizes payments up to $1200 to individuals and $2400 for couples, with an additional $500 for children under 17 years old. The payments phase out […]