Given the events of this previous year, many consumers have found that the loss of a job or change of personal circumstances has caused a negative impact on their economic status. Many are finding that these dire financial situations have led to increased credit card...
Firm News
Be wary of calls telling you you’ve overpaid your utility bill
Have you received an automated call telling you that you’ve paid too much on your utility bill? The caller probably told you that you were eligible for a refund or a discount on your future payments. If all of this sounds a bit fishy, that’s because it probably is....
2020 is the best year ever . . . for debt collectors
This has been a year like no other. The pandemic has left more than 200,000 Americans dead and millions more without jobs. Schools sent students home and moved classes online. Businesses closed their doors, many of them permanently shuttered. Amid the pain, turmoil...
How is your credit score calculated?
Upon checking your credit score, you might feel concerned if it is lower than you expected. A healthy credit history is crucial in getting approved for – and securing a favorable interest rate on – a car loan, mortgage or another credit card. If your credit habits are...
IRS Warns of Top Scams in 2020
The extended tax filing deadline in 2020 has come to pass. Unfortunately, this also means an uptick in criminals trying to take advantage of consumers who filed their taxes. It is important to remember that the IRS never contacts taxpayers online, nor by calls, texts,...
Stopping creditor harassment for debts you don’t owe
It’s baffling to find yourself targeted by creditors for a debt you’ve already paid off or for a purchase you never made in the first place. Ideally, you’d be able to politely point out their mistake and put an abrupt stop to the matter. Of course, things are rarely...
Questions to ask a debt collector who contacts you
It doesn't matter if you're surprised to hear from a debt collector or you were expecting the call, nothing changes the fact that you have legal rights that you need to protect. If you don't know what you should and shouldn't do, it's possible that you'll make a...
What’s included in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act?
Knowing that you owe someone money might bring up feelings of wanting to get them paid off as soon as possible. When the person you owe is a business or agency and you are unable to pay, you might end up having your account sent to a collection agency. Collection...
6 common mistakes found in credit reports
There are many reasons to review your credit report regularly, with the potential to pinpoint a mistake at the top of your list. It's difficult enough to obtain and maintain a good or excellent credit score without a mistake (or several) on your credit report. But if...
How do debt collectors get their money?
When a debt collector contacts you via phone, it's natural to have some fears about what will happen in the future. Before you do anything, you should learn more about the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). In short, this act is in place to govern debt...