Know Your Rights: The Mandatory Disclosures Every Debt Collector Must Provide

By: Robert J. Nahoum If you are receiving phone calls or letters from a collection agency, it often feels like they hold all the cards. However, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a powerful federal law designed to level the playing field. While many people know that the FDCPA stops collectors from using harassing tactics, fewer realize that […]

Can Debt Collectors Threaten Jail for Unpaid Debt? Know Your Rights

By: Robert J. Nahoum Debt Collectors Threaten Jail: The Truth Debt collectors often use scare tactics like threatening jail time or criminal charges to pressure you into paying old debts. In reality, unpaid consumer debts are civil matters, not crimes, and such threats violate federal law. Understanding your rights can stop the harassment and potentially earn you compensation. Why Threats […]

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 […]

Debt Buyer Razor Capital, LLC Filed 1,575 New York Debt Collection Cases In 2014

By: Robert J. Nahoum Razor Capital LLC is an notorious “debt buyerâ€, buying up portfolios of old debt from banks, credit card companies, hospitals, doctors, cell phone companies and car companies for pennies on the dollar. According to the New York State Unified Court System, Razor Capital filed more than 1,500 New York debt collection lawsuits in 2014 alone.  Debt […]

Who is the Least Sophisticated Consumer?

By: Robert J. Nahoum   THE PROBLEM: You’ve fallen behind on bills and get a debt collection letter from a lawyer.  The letter says that if you don’t pay a $75 medical bill you will be sued. You’re a pretty smart guy and you know that the lawyer is just blowing smoke – he’s not really going to sue you for […]

Can Debt Collectors Call Me at Work?

By: Robert J. Nahoum THE PROBLEM: Times are tough for you as they are for so many of us these days.  You’ve fallen behind on bills and the debt collectors have been after you.  You get regular letters in the mail and your phone rings all the time.  Now, you’re getting those calls at work.  Even worse, the debt collectors are […]

World’s Largest Debt Collector Settles Federal Charges and Agrees to Pay $3.2 Million Penalty For Repeated FDCPA Violations

By: Robert J. Nahoum THE PROBLEM: Expert Global Solutions and its subsidiaries comprise the largest debt collection operation the world has ever known.  With an operation that big swimming in the muck of the consumer debt collection industry, it should come as no surprise that some nasty shenanigans have been going on.  What may be surprising is the price-tag attached to […]

Will Original Creditors Soon Have to Comply With Federal Debt Collection Regulations?

By: Robert J. Nahoum THE PROBLEM: Federal debt collection law known as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA for short), is designed to prevent debt collectors from using unfair, false, misleading and harassing debt collection tactics.  However, the FDCPA generally does not apply to original creditors.  In other words, with some exceptions, the banks issuing credit cards, the hospitals extending […]

Was I Sued in the Right Place?

By: Robert J. Nahoum THE PROBLEM: You have been sued by a debt collector for a consumer debt in a county, city, town or state where you don’t live.  Can the debt collector do that? The Rule: In legal jargon, the term “venue†refers to the proper geographic place where a court can hear a case.  State and federal venue laws […]

Calling a Consumer Debtor a Liar May Violate the FDCPA

By: Robert J. Nahoum THE PROBLEM: A debt collector has got you on the phone; you truthfully tell him that you simply don’t have the money to pay and he crudely and obnoxiously calls you a liar.  Can he get away with it? The Rule: Under federal debt collection laws known as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA for short), […]