By: Robert J. Nahoum THE PROBLEM: Post Covid, rising inflation and a tricky jobs market have all left you behind on debt. Perhaps you lost your job during Covid and relied on your credit cards to get you through. Now rising inflation has made everything more expensive including your credit card bills and you just can’t catch up.  Most Google […]
Bankruptcy Is Not Always Your Only Way Out of Debt
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. Â This announcement comes after a 2020 file issued by the, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) requiring credit reporting […]
Auto Loan Defaults and Repossessions Are on the Rise
By: Robert J. Nahoum The rising rate of auto loan defaults and repossessions has become a growing concern for in recent years. With the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and rapidly increasing rates of inflation, many consumers have been struggling to make ends meet, resulting in an increase in missed car payments and ultimately, vehicle repossessions. According to a […]
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. […]
Default in Consumer Debt is on the Rise in 2023
By: Robert J. Nahoum Consumer credit defaults have been on the rise in recent years, and this trend is causing concern among economists and policymakers. When individuals are unable to pay their debts, it not only affects their financial well-being but also has a ripple effect on the larger economy. One of the primary reasons for the rise in consumer […]
Consumer Credit Card Debt is on the Increase in 2023
By: Robert J. Nahoum Consumer credit card debt has been increasing at an alarming rate in recent years. According to the Federal Reserve, consumer credit card debt in the United States has increased by more than $70 billion since 2015, with the total amount of outstanding credit card debt now standing at over $1 trillion. I’ve seen this movie before […]
A New Pew Report Confirms the Horror of Debt Collection Lawsuits
By: Robert J. Nahoum Any reader of this blog knows I have been ringing the alarm on the threat and inequities of debt collection lawsuits for years. I and my consumer attorney colleagues are on the frontlines of this battle, day in and day out, on behalf of our clients, holding back the title wave of financial disruption debt collection […]