Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an advisory opinion affirming that federal law often prohibits debt collectors from charging “pay-to-pay” fees. These charges, commonly described by debt collectors as “convenience fees,” are imposed on consumers who want to make a payment in a particular way, such as online or by phone. “Federal law …
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has published the final rules that modify the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. These rules amend Regulation F, 12 CFR part 1006, which implements the FDCPA. If you really want to take a deep dive into the changes, read CFPB Updates Fair Debt Collection Practices Act – What You …
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has issued its final rule to update the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The FDCPA provides the framework of rules that serve to protect consumers from abusive debt collection practices. [November 30,2020 – The final rules were published here.] The CFPB states the following important changes are part …
Question: Dear Steve, Loss of income, just need some relief. Once you enter the debt relief program, are creditors still allowed to contact you? Curtis Answer: Dear Curtis, While your question is missing a lot of detail and information, you raise a great question. The answer is not as easy as you would hope. I …
Following decisions by the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh circuits the Third Circuit has just issued an opinion that says if a creditor accepts a settlement offer on a time-barred debt it can violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The issue is if, or when, a debt settlement company who participates in facilitating such a …
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is taking action against two medical debt collection law firms and their president for falsely representing that letters and calls were from attorneys attempting to collect on a debt when no attorney had yet reviewed the account. The law firms also did not ensure the …
I was just reading a recent document filed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in another case. It brought up a point I hear all the time from people. If you are the subject of any debt collection activity over student loan debt you should listen very carefully for the debt collector to say …
An Account From a Real-Life Collector I arrive at work with a long list of people to call, knowing that if all goes well, I may call 125 people today. Today, I’ll hear stories of businesses gone sour, failed marriages and terrible illnesses. I’ll hear outright lies: “The check’s in the mail,” or “The stamp …
One of the common requests I hear from readers is for legal help with issues surrounding their debt problems when they feel they’ve been hurt or abused by a debt collector. In the past I’ve always referred people to the National Association of Consumer Advocates and the GetOutOfDebt.org legal friends and protectors to find an …
“Dear Steve, I have a medical bill thats on collection that doesn’t belong to me. I tried to dispute but the only one of the credit bureau. Its a medical for a doctor, i never been to. When i call the collection agency, they told me its for a yessenia torres, when she took her …