It has been a good summer for debt collectors. Profits have tripled for two of the largest companies in the industry, according to a report from Bloomberg. One of those companies is Encore Capital Group Inc., which took in $66 million more in revenue than anticipated....
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
A summer of debt collection abuse
When residents of Minnesota and Wisconsin look back on summer, it’s often with fond memories of sunny days, sparkling lakes and weekends at cabins up north. When the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently looked back with its summer edition of...
How to put a stop to creditor calls after filing for bankruptcy
Bankruptcy eliminates an individual’s obligations to pay any debts the court discharges. After successfully filing for bankruptcy, you were likely looking forward to the relief that comes with living debt-free and getting your financial life back on track....
Part II: Federal appeals court weighs abusive debt collection case revival
As regular readers of our Minnesota Consumer Rights Blog will undoubtedly recall, we recently published a post on a lawsuit that the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is considering. The court will decide if a lawsuit should be revived that question of whether a debt...
Part I: Federal appeals court weighs abusive debt collection case revival
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is weighing arguments it heard a few days ago about whether to revive a lawsuit over abusive debt collection. The suit raises the question of whether a debt collector can be held liable under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act...
Is it misleading if a debt collector says it ‘may’ report you?
Debt collectors do not have carte blanche. U.S. law prohibits the use of threats, harassment and falsities when dealing with debtors. These regulations shield regular consumers from untoward tactics and general unpleasantness. A recent ruling from the federal court of...
Debt collector harassment: how to know it when you hear it
Sometimes people think of debt collector harassment as U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart wrote of obscenity: “I know it when I see it.” The phrase simply means that the definitions of “harassment” and “obscenity” can vary from person to person, and are not...
Can Minnesota residents stop debt collection calls?
Minnesota residents have enough issues concerning bills past due without the phone ringing off the hook. Most people would pay their bills if they could. They don’t need someone calling them, insisting on payment and telling them what they owe every day. Many people...
What vehicle repossession tactics violate FDCPA laws?
Most car loans include provisions in case you miss payments and eventually default on the loan. With a defaulted loan, the creditor generally has the right to take your vehicle to recoup their lost funds. A creditor may do this by selling the car outright, leasing it...
3 countermeasures to take with predatory debt collectors
If you have ever been behind or unable to pay a consumer debt that you owe, you have probably had the unfortunate experience to deal with a high-pressure debt collector. At best, debt collector tactics are annoying, but at their worst, they can be unethical and, in...