Month: October 2012

We hear many complaints from consumers concerned that a debt collector has gained access to their credit report.  Given that the consumer originally dealt with a creditor, and did not ever deal with the collector directly, they wonder why it is that the collector can dig into your personal, private credit report.  Pursuant to the […]

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is loaded with instructions on how collectors must act, and the dos and don’ts of how to collect a debt.  While many collection agencies do take steps to assure that they do not violate the law,  a very large amount willingly violate the law.  There are also parts of […]

For many consumers, buying a new car is no longer realistic as new cars have gotten more and more expensive. Purchasing a used car allows a consumer to buy the make and model of car they want that they may not have been able to have afford as a new car. Used cars can be […]

Debt Collectors like to contact a debtor’s employer because they know how much that worries the debtor and forces them into a payment agreement.  Once someone at work finds out about a debt, it can be quite embarrassing.  The boss and co-workers know about private information that is quite sensitive.  One may fear the employer […]

When a debt collector sues a consumer, the consumer has to answer that lawsuit by following the instructions on the Summons that is served. But here are some pitfalls and pointers: Make sure the case is handled.  It is one thing to settle the debt, but there is still a lawsuit out there with your name […]

Summer is barely in the rear-view mirror, and winter is right in front of us. Believe it or not, the holiday season will soon be upon us. You may not be ready to talk about that yet, but, for forward thinkers, now is a good time to consider your credit file. The holiday season brings […]

A Chicago family went  to Infiniti of Orland Park to buy a used 2005 Infiniti G35 as a gift for their son who was about to attend college.  The salesman told the family that the car only had one previous owner, had only been driven locally, and had sustained no prior damage.  Unfortunately, the family […]

Often people contact us complaining that they are be garnished, or otherwise collected upon, from a debt that is very old.  They ask why a collector can still come after them, and ask whether the “statute of limitations” helps them at all.  Its seems that these buzz words are giving consumers confidence that they are […]

It often happens that a person is served court documents informing them that they have to go to court because a creditor claims that they are owed money.  The common initial reaction is for the consumer to ask what this is about and want to talk to the creditor or the lawyers that filed immediately.  […]