Tag: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Bankruptcy Law, Debt Relief, Student Loans

Government Pays $1B a Year on Student Loan Debt Collectors

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According to a recent report, the federal government has spent $1 billion a year to pay debt collectors to help struggling borrowers make regular monthly payments on their student loan debt.  But based on the data, their efforts have been a waste of money.

Nearly half of the student loan borrowers who had defaulted on their student loan payments and worked with the debt collectors defaulted again in three years, according to a report in Bloomberg News.

The data came from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which also found that debt collectors get up to $1,710 in payments from the Department of Education in the U.S. each time a borrower makes good on a debt after working with a debt collector through a process known as “rehabilitation.”  The debt collector keeps the money, even if the borrower defaults again.

The CFPB told Bloomberg that the government should reexamine whether the program and the contractors awarded to private debt collection are working to truly help the millions of Americans suffering with crippling student loan debt that now stands at $1.4 trillion.

Click here to read more on this story.

For borrowers who are struggling with student loan debt, relief options are available. Many student loan borrowers are unaware that they have rights and repayment options available to them, such as postponement of loan payments, reduction of payments or even a complete discharge of the debt. It is important you contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

The High-Tech Methods Debt Collectors are using to Find you- and Your Money

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Debt collectors are using some new high-tech tactics to collect and track down consumers. New software is allowing debt collectors to insert voicemails into phones by the thousands without a single ring, bypassing regulations that restrict how often they can call consumers.

Ringless Voicemails

Companies such as Stratics Networks maintain that because no phone calls are made, regulations prohibiting auto-dialed collection calls do not apply.  But consumer protection attorneys disagree, arguing that just because the phone does not ring, does not mean it’s not a call.  The Telephone Consumer Protection Act forbids debt collectors from harassing consumers.

Avatars

Animated cartoon characters show up in borrowers’ inboxes and smooth-talk borrowers into paying up. Collections managers design personalities of avatars, who speak multiple languages and weigh debtors’ credit scores when negotiating payment.

Speech Analytics

Advanced language-recognition programs not only track keywords during a conversation but identify the emotion of the borrower.  Cursing out a debt collector?  Prompts generated by CallMiner Inc. software help steer conversations back on track.

Supervisors using the speech-analytics company’s system see color-coded boxes on call-center computer monitors. Small green boxes represent routine conversations. During those calls, agents are reminded to recite mandatory “mini-Miranda” statements that inform consumers of their rights.  But a box turns red and expands when a call contains expletives or long silences.

Skip Tracing, Spoofing and Scrubbing

In a practice called skip tracing, collection agencies search databases to find borrowers who have skipped out on paying their debts.  Some collectors track debtors on Facebook and other social media sites. A Texas agency is linking Social Security numbers to social media accounts, raising privacy concerns. Another tactic known as spoofing, debt collectors insert local area codes in caller-ID displays, enticing the person being called to answer the phone. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is proposing to ban the practice.

Click here to read more on this story.

If you have any questions on this topic or are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

 

Credit, Debt Relief, Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

New Lawsuit Accuses Ocwen Financial Corp. of filing bad foreclosures… Again

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A lawsuit filed by the State of Florida alleges Ocwen Financial Corp.’s errors have resulted in “significant harm to borrowers, including but not limited to improper late fees, inaccurate negative credit reporting and borrower frustration.”

Twenty states have filed similar actions, along with the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Florida lawsuit, filed by the state Attorney General and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, says the West Palm Beach-based company filed illegal foreclosures, mishandled loan modifications, misapplied mortgage payments, failed to pay insurance premiums from escrow and collected excessive fees.

“When Ocwen has sent escrow statements, in many instances the escrow statements have contained inaccurate information pertaining to the borrowers’ account histories, escrow balances, and escrow payments,” the lawsuit said.

The complaint filed in federal court in West Palm Beach alleges violations of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and Chapter 494, Florida Statutes.

This is not the first time Ocwen has been accused of foreclosure misconduct. In 2014, a court approved a $2.1 billion settlement between Ocwen and 49 states, as well as the District of Columbia and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, to address allegations of Ocwen’s mortgage servicing misconduct.

Click here read more on this story.

Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well-qualified Miami foreclosure defense attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Miami foreclosure defense attorney Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

 

Bankruptcy Law, Debt Relief, Student Loans, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Student Loan Forgiveness Letters May be Invalid

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More than 550,000 student loan borrowers who signed up for a federal program that promised to repay their student loans after they work 10 years in a public service job may be invalid, according to the Department of Education.

In a court filing last week, the Education Department suggested that borrowers could not rely on the program’s administrator to say accurately whether they qualify for student loan debt forgiveness. Even more appalling, the thousands of approval letters sent out by FedLoan Servicing are considered to be non-binding and can be rescinded at any time.

The filing adds to questions and concerns about the student loan forgiveness program, which offered major benefits and incentives for student loan borrowers who took public service jobs instead of more lucrative work in the private sector.

The American Bar Association and several borrowers have filed suit in the U.S. District Court in Washington against the department.  The plaintiffs in the case held jobs that they initially were told qualified for the debt forgiveness program; only later to find out the decision was reversed. The lawsuit seeks to have their eligibility for the forgiveness program reinstated.

The student loan debt forgiveness program covers people with federal student loans who work for 10 years at a government or nonprofit organization, and includes public school employees, museum workers, doctors at public hospitals and firefighters. The federal government approved the program back in 2007.  The first potential beneficiaries of the program reach the end of their 10-year commitment this October.

Approximately 25 percent of the nation’s workforce may qualify for the program, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Click here to read more on this story.

For borrowers who are struggling with student loan debt, relief options are available. Many student loan borrowers are unaware that they have rights and repayment options available to them, such as postponement of loan payments, reduction of payments or even a complete discharge of the debt. It is important you contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Student Loans, Timothy Kingcade Posts

What Actually Happens When You Default on Your Student Loans

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According to the Department of Education, eight million Americans defaulted on their federal student loans last year. Approximately 1.1 million of those former students did so for the first time which is a U.S. high.

The former student loan ombudsman at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Rohit Chopra, told Time Magaizine, “In spite of a booming stock market and falling unemployment, there is obviously a significant block of the labor force that is really struggling.” He went on to say, “New college graduates and new entrants to the workforce are facing a double whammy of flat or declining wages and higher debt.”

Defaulting on student loans is a growing problem for millions of borrowers. As a result, it is important to understand the consequences of doing so. Here are three things you need to know about defaulting on a student loan:

  1. It is more serious than a late payment. In most cases, default occurs when a borrower has not made a payment in 270 days, which is roughly nine months. However, loans that are offered by the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL) are considered to be in default after 330 days or 11 months. When this happens, the entire balance of the loan and interest is due immediately and you lose any eligibility for deferment or forbearance, or any additional financial aid.
  2. Your credit score will drop. The federal government will report your student loan delinquency to credit agencies. If this happens, it will be a long and difficult process to rebuild.
  3. The federal government may garnish your wages. If you default on a federal student loan, the government may take money out of your paycheck before you even see it. Your tax refund can also be held to collect some of your debt. If the debt persists for long enough, the government can also take money out of your social security check. Fortune reported that more than $1 billion has been taken from social security checks since 2001.

 

Click here to read more on this story.

For borrowers who are struggling with student loan debt, relief options are available. Many student loan borrowers are unaware that they have rights and repayment options available to them, such as postponement of loan payments, reduction of payments or even a complete discharge of the debt. It is important you contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Student Loans, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Phone Scam Targeting Student Loan Borrowers

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A phone scam promising to forgive borrowers’ student loans is making the rounds, again.  The scammer asks for an upfront fee to negotiate with the loan lender on your behalf, then takes the money and runs.

The best thing you can do if you are contacted, is to hang up the phone.  Student loans can be forgiven, but only under certain circumstances.  Here are some tips from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to help spot a student loan debt relief scam:

1.) Upfront fees. No upfront fees should ever be charged by a student loan debt relief company. In addition, you should not be required to sign a contract with the company. The CFPB notes that free assistance is available through your student loan servicer and advises that oftentimes taking upfront payment before debt relief services have been provided is illegal.

2.) Promises. Fraudulent student loan debt relief companies will promise borrowers loan forgiveness or even complete cancellation. The false promise of negotiating with your lender under federal student loan programs is a flat out lie.

3.) Signing documents. Student loan debt relief companies should not require that you sign a “third party authorization” or a “power of attorney.”

4.) Requests for your Federal Student Aid PIN: Borrowers should be extremely cautious of any student loan debt relief company that asks for this information. The CFPB states that, “honest companies will work with you to come up with a plan and will never use your PIN to access your student loan information.”

For borrowers who are struggling with student loan debt, relief options are available. Many student loan borrowers are unaware that they have rights and repayment options available to them, such as postponement of loan payments, reduction of payments or even a complete discharge of the debt. It is important you contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Related Resources:
http://www.wzzm13.com/money/beware-of-phone-scam-offering-student-loan-forgiveness/395483886

http://www.consumerfinancialserviceslawmonitor.com/2014/12/cfpb-issues-warning-to-consumers-and-springs-into-action-against-student-debt-relief-scams/

Bankruptcy Law, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

New Survey Finds Medical Debt is the No. 1 Reason Collection Agencies Contact Consumers

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Medical debt is the most common reason consumers receive calls from debt collectors, according to a first of its kind nationwide survey.

“The study by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that 59 percent of people who reported they had been contacted by a debt collector said it was for medical services,” NPR reported. “Telecommunications bills were the second most common type of overdue bill for which debt collectors pursued payment, at 37 percent, and utilities were third, reported by 28 percent.”

The study, which examined consumer experiences with debt collectors, included more than 2,000 people and was performed between December 2014 and March 2015.  The survey also found that more than one in four consumers felt threatened when a debt collector contacted them.

The study’s authors said medical debt is unique compared to other types of debt collection examined in the survey, as it was widespread across various demographic and credit-score groups.

Those who have experienced illness or injury and found themselves overwhelmed with medical debt should contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney. In bankruptcy, medical bills are considered general unsecured debts just like credit cards. This means that medical bills do not receive priority treatment and can easily be discharged in bankruptcy. Bankruptcy laws were created to help people resolve overwhelming debt and gain a fresh financial start. Bankruptcy attorney Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Related Resources:

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/medical-bills-are-the-most-common-reason-for-debt-collector/article_384da034-e33e-11e6-a5e0-17c0fcdce41b.html

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/medical-debt-is-no-1-reason-collection-agencies-contact-consumers.html

 

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

When Debt Collectors Call Know your Rights

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When a debt collector calls, it’s important to know your rights.  In July, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau required debt collectors to do their “due diligence” to help ensure they are collecting on legitimate debt and put a cap on their weekly attempts to reach a consumer.  The bureau also increased enforcement, bringing more than 25 cases on debt-collection tactics that deceive or abuse consumers.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a federal law that protects consumers against unfair collection practices, including:

  • Calling you repeatedly to annoy or harass you;
  • Trying to collect more than you owe;
  • Failing to send a written notice of the debt;
  • Threatening violence, using profanity or offensive language;
  • Threatening dire consequences (i.e. – lawsuits, criminal prosecution, wage garnishment, jail time, permanently ruining your credit);
  • Calling you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.;
  • Revealing debt to third parties (i.e. – family, neighbors, friends, co-workers, etc.);
  • Contacting you at your work, after you have requested them to stop;
  • Failing to verify disputed debts;
  • Ignoring cease communication requests.

It is important that consumers verify everything when it comes to a debt they may (or may not) owe.  In a recent CFPB survey, half of Americans contacted about a debt in the past year said they were given inaccurate information about what they owed. Debt collectors are legally required to follow up their phone call with a written notice detailing the debt.

Understand that just because someone is calling to collect a debt, does not mean you should pay it right away.  It is always important to verify.  The collection attempt could be for a so-called zombie debt that is past the statute of limitation or a debt collection scam.

If you do in fact owe the debt, make sure and take notes. Write down every name and employee number you speak with, including the agency, the number they called, the time of the call, etc. Take notes on what was said.  This detailed record keeping can prove helpful if you need to file a complaint about the debt collector’s behavior in the future.

If you are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Related Resources:

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/12/know-your-rights-when-a-debt-collector-calls.html

 

Bankruptcy Law, Debt Relief, Student Loans, Timothy Kingcade Posts

The Student Loan Crisis Facing Older Americans

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When we think of those struggling with student loan debt, we typically think of millenials still living with their parents.  However, many boomer parents are struggling, too.  According to a report from the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), older Americans are carrying an “unprecedented amount of student loan debt into retirement.”

In 2015, older consumers owed an estimated $66.7 billion in student loan debt.  Nearly 867,000 borrowers 65 and older owed federal student loans in 2015, now the fastest growing segment of student loan borrowers.

With these new findings, it seems the education debt crisis and retirement are closely tied.  A growing number of older borrowers are struggling to make their loan payments, oftentimes due to reduced incomes in retirement.

A growing number of federal student loan borrowers age 65+ had their Social Security benefits reduced or offset because of unpaid student loans – 8,700 in 2005 and 40,000 in 2015.   The vast majority of the older borrowers, approximately 73%, took out student loans to finance their children’s or grandchildren’s education.  Many of these loans were taken out under the Parent PLUS Loan Program, with a current interest rate of 6.31%, the only federal program that allows parents to borrow for the undergraduate education of their children.

Here are some tips for older borrowers struggling with student loan debt:

If you have co-signed your child or grandchild’s student loan, request the servicer send you an account statement so you can learn the outstanding balance and pay off the loan.

If you are struggling to make federal student loan payments, you may qualify for a payment plan that can substantially cut your costs.  For example, if you retire and your income drops substantially, you can apply for an income-based repayment plan.  This could reduce your payments and even suspend them.

Click here to read more on this story.

For borrowers who are struggling with student loan debt, relief options are available. Many student loan borrowers are unaware that they have rights and repayment options available to them, such as postponement of loan payments, reduction of payments or even a complete discharge of the debt. It is important you contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

How to Keep Debt Collectors from Ruining Your Holiday

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It is important for consumers to know that if you do not want to deal with a delinquent account over the holidays, you don’t have to. You can request the collection agency stop calling you.  Under The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) a debt collector must cease contact with you if you send a written request to do so.

However, it is important to note that this request does not eliminate your debt.  The outstanding bill can still end up on your credit report and the collector can elect to seek a judgment against you to recoup the debt, which could result in wage garnishment and further damage to your credit report.

That is why it is important to try and negotiate a payment plan with the debt collector. Doing so can prevent them from taking further action against you.  Make sure and have the collector put your agreement in writing and mail it to you.  Another tip: if you have an unpaid bill that has not yet gone to collections, you may want to reach out personally to the creditor.  They may be willing to waive fees, lower the interest rate or settle the debt for less than you owe.  Many creditors wait up to 90 days before turning a debt over to collections.

Finally, if you truly do not owe the debt or you think a debt collector has crossed the line, you can consult a consumer attorney about whether you have a FDCPA claim and what your next steps should be. Remember, when it comes to debt collectors, it helps to know your rights. If you believe a debt collector is violating the law by calling you outside the allowed times or by calling more frequently than they should, after you have asked them to stop calling or have sent a cease and desist letter, you can report them to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and your state Attorney General.

At the law firm of Kingcade & Garcia we want you to have a safe and Happy Holiday this year!   If you have any questions on this topic or are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Related Resources:

http://blog.credit.com/2016/12/can-a-debt-collector-call-me-during-the-holidays-163536/