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), […]

Repeated Hang Ups May Violate the FDCPA

By: Robert J. Nahoum THE PROBLEM: You are being hounded by debt collectors, the debt collection calls are coming fast and furious but one of the callers repeatedly hangs up either prior to or as soon as you or your voice mail answers the call.  Due to the hang ups, you don’t know the identity of the debt collector or the […]

Should I Record Debt Collection Calls?

By: Robert J. Nahoum THE PROBLEM: You’re behind on your bills and debt collectors are hot on your trail.  The debt collection letters are pouring in the door and the phone is ringing off the hook.  Something about those debt collection calls doesn’t sound right.  You’re being told information that is false, misleading or harassing.  Can you record these calls and […]

3rd Circuit Rules Debt Collection Letter Violates The FDCPA Because It Can Be Reasonably Read To Have Two Or More Different Meanings, One Of Which Is Inaccurate

By: Robert J. Nahoum Consumer Ray Caprio filed a lawsuit in the Federal District Court for the District of New Jersey against debt collector Healthcare Revenue Recovery Group, LLC claiming that a debt collection letter he received violated Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) because it could confuse “the least sophisticated consumer†into taking two different courses of action.  The letter […]

Does a Debt Collector Violate the FDCPA When He Threatens to Take My Unemployment Benefits?

By: Robert J. Nahoum THE PROBLEM: You’re out of work, fallen on hard times and your only income is from unemployment benefits.  Now you’re being harassed or sued by a debt collector who has threatened to take your unemployment benefits.  Can he get away with it? The Rule: Under federal debt collection laws known as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act […]

What Property is Exempt From Debt Collection?

By: Robert J. Nahoum THE PROBLEM: You’ve been sued, there is a judgment against you and now the debt collector is coming to enforce the judgment.  You’re broke and out of work, can the debt collector take away your property? The Rule: In New York, as in most states, there is a laundry list of property exempt from judgment enforcement and […]

Are Debt Collectors Getting Away With Illegal Debt Collection Under The Watchful Eye Of A Chapter 7 Trustee?

by: Robert J. Nahoum I. SUMMARY A Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee represents the estate of Chapter 7 bankruptcy debtors and is responsible for recovery, preservation, liquidation and distribution of the Chapter 7 estate assets.  Among the property of the estate are causes of action or lawsuits for wrongful damage caused to the debtor.  For example, if the debtor was injured when […]

When Is A Residential Mortgage Loan Servicer A Debt Collector?

  By: Robert J. Nahoum I. SUMMARY Federal debt collection laws not only regulate the collection conduct of traditional collection agencies but attorneys and, in some circumstances, loan servicers. In the name of thin-profit margins, the current mortgage foreclosure crisis has pushed many loan servicers and bank attorneys to limits of these consumer protection laws. Those found to have violated debt […]