No one in Minnesota likes being on the receiving end of nonstop collection calls. If you’re like most people overwhelmed by debt, you probably wish you could keep up with payments. However, unforeseen financial circumstances can lead to missed payments and a debt...
When consumers in Minnesota fall behind on debt, they risk getting turned over to collections, and they may get numerous calls from debt collectors. Some debt collection agencies make reasonable collection attempts, but others do not. Debt collectors cannot do...
People in Minnesota should be aware of their rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA. This law regulates practices in the debt collection industry, particularly when it comes to third-party debt collection agencies. This is particularly important...
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....
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...