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USOBA Responds to New FTC Rules. What the Hell is Wrong With USOBA?

Yesterday I wrote about a statement that The Association of Settlement Companies (USOBA) made about the new consumer protection rules passed by the Federal Trade Commission covering debt settlement companies. Now today the other trade association, United States Organizations for Bankruptcy Alternatives sends out their press release on the new rules. First off, I was …

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Debt Settlement Companies Put Consumers in a Deep Debt Hole. “They Are a Ponzi Scheme.”

Peter Goodman from the New York Times had a piece published recently, excerpts below. It slayed the debt settlement industry as opportunists and harmful for consumers at large. Those that feel they offer a legitimate and fair debt settlement service are not going to like the long article much. But then again, the good guys …

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The Latest Delivery of TASC and USOBA Debt Settlement Horseshit to the FTC.

There were some recent interesting meetings over at the Federal Trade Commission. These involved the proposed telemarketing sales rules the Federal Trade Commission is going to put forward. The first meeting was with representatives of The Association of Settlement Companies (TASC) and the United States Bankruptcy Alternatives (USOBA) in attendance. At the June 3, 2010 …

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USOBA Suckers Republicans to Influence the Federal Trade Commission Against Debt Settlement Regulations

In a move that flies in the face of protecting consumers at large, the United State Organization of Bankruptcy Alternatives (USOBA) has enlisted the help of the following Republican Members of Congress to attempt to sway the Federal Trade Commission from issuing upcoming rules that will impact upfront fee debt settlement companies. The cover letter …

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USOBA Testifies in TX There Are “Bad Actor” Debt Settlement Companies That Need to Go Out of Business

The State of Texas recently held hearings on proposed debt settlement regulation. I wrote about them indirectly here. The hearing was hours and hours long but what you are about to hear are the last two people offering testimony. The first is Jeff Meek who previously wrote that USOBA members were told to not work …

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Many Debt Settlement Firms Lie and Defraud People Says Government Report

Reuters covered the hearing yesterday and published their take on the Senate Hearings on the debt settlement industry. Debt settlement Firms Rife with Fraud: GAO (Reuters) – A big percentage of debt settlement companies lie to and defraud people who contact them asking for help with credit problems, according to a GAO report and law …

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New York Times: Debt Settlement Industry is Nervous

If you are interested in the comings and goings of the debt settlement industry I think you’ll find the artcile in the New York Times titled “The Debt Settlement Industry Is Busy, but It’s a Bit Nervous, Too“, interesting. Noting “the legal firestorm that has subsumed the debt settlement industry” in recent years, Jeffrey Tenenbaum, …

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