The personal bankruptcy process is complex. People spend months, if not years, trying to regain control over their finances. They may have to liquidate some of their property or maintain a strict household budget as they complete a multi-year repayment plan. The...
How are creditors allowed to contact you?
If you owe an outstanding debt, it’s natural that creditors are going to try to contact you to collect. In some cases, consumers are unaware of the debt that they owe, so simple contact is all that is needed. In other cases, creditors may have been trying to collect...
Did a creditor report a late payment even though you paid on time?
A creditor reporting late payments on your record can significantly impact your credit score and, in turn, your ability to get credit in the future. Unfortunately, this may happen even when you pay on time. Here is what to know about inaccurate late payments on your...
Are you being harassed for a bill you already paid?
It's easy to overlook paying a bill. You likely receive your bills via mail and email and the ones automatically withdrawn from your bank account. So, when you receive notification from a debt collector about a bill you've already paid, you start to question...
When are calls at work creditor harassment?
Collection agents and creditors often use telecommunications to collect the money owed to them. Calling a person who owes money can remind them that they have fallen behind and may inspire them to rework their budget. Creditors must comply with rules restricting...
SSN leak involves millions of consumers
A recent hack has put millions of Americans at risk. According to reports, hackers broke into the records of a company called National Public Data. This is a background check company, so it had extensive information about billions of consumers. The hackers stole this...
4 considerations before sharing information with a debt collector
Receiving a call or other notice of a collection attempt from a debt collector can be a difficult experience. As a result, some people may be tempted to give a debt collector whatever information they want so they can be done with them. If you’re going through this...
Credit scores are more recent than people realize
Your credit score is issued based on an accumulation of data. Credit reporting companies will look at your borrowing habits and assign you a numerical score based on debt levels, income, past repayment issues, bankruptcy cases and a variety of other factors. Having a...
What are zombie debts?
Did you know what debts can expire? Under Minnesota’s laws, most consumer debt has a statute of limitations of just six years. That means that creditors cannot sue you for the debt unless they take action within six years from the last time an account was used or a...
Options if you are the victim of deceptive advertising
Deceptive advertising involves misleading or false claims to persuade consumers to purchase products or services. If you find yourself a victim of such tactics, knowing your options to seek redress and prevent further harm is essential. Here, you can learn what to do...