Question: Dear Steve, Steve Vanderhoof’s widow Rayan Vanderhoof and her CURRENT STATUS with the Department of Justice and her company Olympus Medical Group Corporation for Medicare Fraud? Was Ms. Vanderhoof ever convicted? Answer: Many of the court records in the case of the United States of America v. Rayan Vanderhoof are sealed and not publicly … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I have a question about something I read that Dave Ramsey said. He said he went back and paid his creditors years after his bankruptcy even though he didn’t legally have to. Is that even possible? I’m only asking because now that we are in a better financial situation, we can afford … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, Hi, I’m currently in bankruptcy which will be done in a couple of months for my $20k in credit card debt. However, my next battle is to figure out how I will pay for my $190k in student loan debt. These are both federal and private loans. Private loans from Sallie Mae. … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I am $25,000 in debt. I gross $60,000. Should I use CCCS services or try to do this on my own? I’m overwhelmed, single mom, two kids, mortgage. I have no breathing room left. The very card is maxed, and now with interest, I will be over my limits. Should I use … Read more
The Federal Trade Commission is blanketing industry with a clear message that, if they use endorsements to deceive consumers, the FTC will be ready to hold them responsible with every tool at its disposal. “Receipt of the notice puts your company on notice that engaging in conduct described therein could subject the company to civil … Read more
Cases tossed out against Benjamin Zuckerman, Berger Singerman, Chantel L. Grant, GM Law Firm, Gregory Fishman, Julie Queler, Kevin Mason, National Legal Staffing Support. The cases involving the student loan assistance companies above were dismissed by the Court ending a previous flurry of suits attempting to recover money for consumers. The reason why it appears … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, Every once in a while, I get a weird voice mail threatening legal action through county court services claiming the caller’s client has attempted to contact me several times. The callback number given is 833-259-6457, which a search links to Bellman & Sterns, https://www.bellmanandsterns.com/. I’m not hard to find; having just purchased … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, My mother has severe Alzheimer’s, and I am her legal Guardian. When she was starting to get Alzheimer’s, she charged up her credit card to the point that it would have never been paid off. When I found out about it, I decided not to spend all her money to pay for … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, We have 12 yrs left on our 1st TD. It’s an ARM with a current rate of 2.75% and adjusts annually in June. We also have a HELOC with the entire 50k balance due as a balloon payment in 2023, interest-only payments at 4.5% until then. We presently have a fair credit … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I owe close to $40,000 in private student loan debt. The interests rates are 10% or more on some. The payments are way too high for me to make. I stopped paying in 2016. I am getting letters in the mail from U.S. Asset Management through the court of common pleas in … Read more
Consumer Statement: I had USA Student Loans assist with loan consolidation, which they did accomplish. They promised that they were assisting in setting me up in the Student Loan Forgiveness Program, which they did not do. They did change payments to an income-based repayment plan, which is part of the requirement to approach loan forgiveness. … Read more
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness federal student loan forgiveness program was designed to attract good people into lower-paying fields that serve the public good. These fields include teachers, firefighters, law enforcement, military, low-income medical care, etc. While President Bush created the program, it was all but murdered under President Trump. As a result, people that … Read more
The FTC made the announcement below that seems to open the door for students with federal student loans to explore the possibility of applying for a Borrower Defense Loan Discharge. The Federal Trade Commission put 70 for-profit higher education institutions on notice that the agency is cracking down on any false promises they make about … Read more
The Governor of California has just approved AB 1405 regarding debt settlement practices. Considering the number of debt settlement companies located in especially Southern California, this should create some new risks and liabilities for them. The new law targets not only the companies that sell and perform settlements but also the payment processors as well. … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I’m 70 years old with almost $250k in federal student loans. I’ve been on IBR and have a $0 payment so far and am on SS. When my IBR tenure is completed (25 years), will the amount that has been “forgiven” be considered Capital Gains, and thus will I have to pay … Read more