Question: Dear Steve, In 2015, I was 15/16 years old and went to two community colleges in Florida. Unfortunately, I did not graduate because my grandmother, whom I lived with (who supported me), got sick and died in 2019. At which point, I was homeless. I am currently living in a halfway house. I was … Read more
One of those companies that says they help people to get out from their timeshare has ended a suit against them on the verge of a jury trial. Reed Hein & Associates does business as Time Share Exit Team. Court documents filed by Westgate Resorts, Westgate Vacation Villas, Westgate Lakes, Westgate GV at the Woods, … Read more
Let me start by saying my impression and opinion of the Julie Queler mess is based on public records. These are court documents and ultimately the case will have to play out in court. According to a July 7, 2021 court filing, Julie Queler, a Defendant in a suit with GM Law Firm, National Legal … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I have student loans from 40 years ago that has gone from 18k to over 70k. I also have 1 loan for my son’s freshman year of college, now about 18k. I paid some of mine years ago but then went through a time of multiple layoffs and low-paying jobs in the … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I got a 1099-C from a bank headquartered in Malaysia for $970, but I never owed anyone that amount, and it is not on any of my credit reports. The 1099-C says forgiven debt for retail. Again, nothing on any credit reports like that. I filed my taxes to be on time, … Read more
California is getting ready to pass AB-1405 titled “Fair Debt Settlement Practices Act.” Ironically, a number of settlement companies are located in California, Irvine in particular. Unless something magical happens the bill will pass. As it stands today, the bill has some serious consequences for settlement companies. This can be of no surprise to an … Read more
The operators of a scheme that falsely promised participants could earn large sums of money from memberships sold to other participants will be permanently prohibited from engaging in any future business and investment opportunity as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. In a complaint first announced in November 2020 as part of … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, Earlier this year, I decided to resolve my mounting credit card debt finally and achieve a settlement. After checking various options, I chose Litigation Practice Group w/ Coast Processing – they gave me a payoff plan and a contract promising all will be resolved in about 2-3 years. Now I am paying … Read more
Most of us have seen a 7-Eleven or a Speedway retail store but I had no idea 7-Eleven bought Speedway. FTC Orders the Divestiture of Hundreds of Retail Stores Following 7-Eleven, Inc.’s Anticompetitive $21 Billion Acquisition of the Speedway Retail Fuel Chain Proposed order prohibits 7-Eleven from enforcing noncompete provisions for franchisees or employees working … Read more
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has announced new rules to assist homeowners to attempt to avoid foreclosure now that the protections against forclosing have phased out. CFPB Acting Director Dave Uejio. “An unchecked wave of foreclosures would drain billions of dollars in wealth from the Black and Hispanic communities hardest hit by the pandemic … Read more
On June 29, 2021, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) filed a proposed order in federal district court against Burlington Financial Group and its owners and executives, Richard Burnham, Katherine Burnham, and Sang Yi, for allegedly deceiving consumers into hiring the company to lower or eliminate credit-card debts and improve consumers’ credit scores. If entered … Read more
The State of Connecticut has flexed its muscle against New Jersey attorney Filipe Pedroso and Pedroso Legal Services for providing loan modification assistance. The State says Pedroso is a licensed attorney in New Jersey but not in Connecticut. According to official documents, Pedrosa states he only assisted one Connecticut resident in 2014 but now faces … Read more
An interesting development in the case filed against GM Law Firm, Chantel Grant, National Legal Staffing Support, Resolvly, Gregory Fishman, Julie Queler, Kevin Mason, JG Factor, Benjamin Zuckerman, and Berger Singerman. It turns out Julie Queler is the majority shareholder of National Legal Staffing Support and Resolvly but is not getting answers from her co-defendants … Read more
The FTC has obtained federal court orders banning the companies and people listed below from participating in all or specific types of debt relief businesses. Generally speaking, debt relief is any program or service that offers to change the terms of a debt between a person and one or more creditors or debt collectors, including … Read more
I was sent the following press release to publish for TurboFinance. I don’t know who TurboFinance is but the information in this press release makes no sense. A look at the TurboFinance website uncovers it is a lead generator. The site says, “TurboFinance is an independent, advertiser-supported website and may receive compensation for some links … Read more