debt relief Archives - Page 9 of 13 - Kingcade Garcia McMaken, P.A. Bankruptcy Attorneys

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

Student Loans Vs. Other Debt: Find your Most Powerful Debt Payoff Strategy

Posted on September 1, 2017by Admin

Many Americans struggle when trying to prioritize which debts to pay off first. Here is a helpful guide for deciding when to prioritize paying off student loans before other debts.

4 Reasons You Should Pay Down Your Student Loan Debt First

You have high student loan rates. If your student loans have the highest interest rate of all your debt, that is where you should begin. You may also want to explore refinancing your student loans if you qualify for a lower rate.
Your student loans have a small balance. Paying off your student loan with a small balance first is called the debt snowball method. This method allows you to see results and to stay motivated to keep up with your payoff plan.
You have private student loans. Private student loans are considered “riskier” forms of debt than federal loans, which is why you should pay them off sooner rather than later. The reason they are riskier is because they do not offer the same repayment protections and options as federal loans, such as income-based repayment plans.
You are close to defaulting on your student loans or declaring bankruptcy. Defaulting on a federal loan can lead to wage garnishment much more quickly than if you are not making credit card payments. Therefore, if you are struggling with student loan debt, make it a priority to make those payments first.

5 Reasons You Should Pay Down Other Debts First

You are following the debt snowball method. The debt snowball method may lead to you paying off student loans first, however; it may also lead you to target other debts with higher interest rates or lower balances first.
You value federal loan protections. Federal student loans offer repayment options and other protections that other types of debts do not offer.
You hope to qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF). The PSLF is slated to forgive federal student debt for more than 550,000 Americans, according to the Washington Post. Any balance remaining after 10 years will be forgiven to eligible borrowers. The more you pay on this debt, the less you will be left for the government to forgive.
You want to improve your credit. Decreasing your debt is a good way to improve your credit score. However, certain types of debt will increase your score faster than others. Higher balances on revolving debt will give you a higher utilization ratio – which can damage your credit. If you have your credit cards maxed out, you should target this debt first.
You want to claim interest tax deductions. When considering which debt to prioritize, it can help to consider the potential tax benefits you can claim. Most consumer debt cannot be claimed as a tax write-off, but student loan debt and home mortgages are exceptions.

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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 Handle Debt Collectors When They Call

Posted on September 1, 2017by Admin

Receiving a call from a debt collector can be stressful, especially if you are tight on money. However, sometimes collection agencies have the wrong contact information or may be trying to collect on a fake debt. Collection agencies may also use aggressive tactics to scare you into paying a debt. Here are some tips from the Better Business Bureau to help you respond to debt collectors correctly.

Your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act:

Debt collectors are required by law to provide information in writing. If you are contacted by a debt collector, ask to be provided with an official “validation notice” of the debt.
You must respond in writing within thirty days of receiving the debt notice to avoid further action by the collector. If you have proof that the debt has been paid, provide that as well.
A debt collector must prove that you owe the money before they can try to collect if you dispute the debt in writing within 30 days.
They cannot harass, oppress or abuse you. They are prohibited from swearing at you or calling repeatedly.
They cannot contact you at work if you tell them not to do so.
They cannot continue to call if you request, in writing, that they only communicate with you by mail.
They cannot collect a debt that you do not owe.

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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.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

6 Things Debt Collectors May Not Want You To Know

Posted on August 25, 2017by Admin

If you have been contacted by a debt collector in the last year, you are not alone. Nearly a third of all U.S. consumers have reported being contacted by a creditor or debt collector about a debt. As a consumer, your rights are protected by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Here are some key facts to know if a debt collector contacts you.

You do not have to reveal personal information. Debt collectors might ask you for your Social Security number, date of birth or other information. However, you are not legally required to provide this information. Collectors should use the information they already have available to them.
You have a right to ask for details – and you can ask a debt collector not to contact you. You should always ask that they verify the accuracy of the debt. This means the collector must provide details of the debt when they speak to you, or in writing, within five days of the call. This allows you to confirm that you actually owe the amount. If the information is inaccurate, you have 30 days to dispute the debt.
You can ask to have a settled debt removed from your credit reports. If you pay off an account in collections in full, it will not erase it from your credit reports right away. In fact, it will remain on your reports for seven years. However, if you negotiate with the debt collector to settle the debt, you can ask to have that debt removed from your credit reports.
Debts have a statute of limitations. State laws determine how long a creditor has to collect an amount owed to them. The time period ranges from two to six years. After this time, you still owe the debt, however; creditors can no longer come after you to collect it. This type of debt is sometimes called zombie debt or time-barred debt.
You can file a complaint. If you believe a debt collector is acting unethically or has violated your rights as a consumer, contact authorities. Some states have debt collection laws that differ from the FDCPA.

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Debt Relief, Student Loans, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Student Loan Debt Impact on Older Americans

Posted on August 24, 2017by Admin

Student loan debt is not just a problem for younger Americans; a new study shows older Americans are shouldering an increasing share of the nation’s $1.34 trillion student loan debt.

A new report released by FICO showed the percentage of Americans ages 65 and older with student loan debt increased 300 percent from 2006 to 2016. This jump is three times higher than the increase in student loan debt seen in Americans ages 35-64. The trend is expected to continue increasing as the population ages and older employees turn to workforce retraining programs to learn new labor skills.

The report also showed that the age group with the highest amount of student loan delinquencies is Americans aged 25-34, with a default rate of 25.1 percent. However, older Americans are also having a more difficult time repaying their debts. Delinquencies for Americans ages 65 and older were 13.5 percent last year, which is an increase of 3.6 percent from the prior decade.

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Debt Relief, Student Loans

Settlement Wipes Away Student Loan Debt for 41,000 Borrowers

Posted on August 23, 2017by Admin

Financial services firm, Aequitas Capital Management, Inc., will make refunds to the 41,000 students who borrowed money to attend Corinthian Colleges, per a settlement with federal and state agencies. The settlement is in the final stages and must win approval from the court in Oregon that is handling the Aequitas bankruptcy.

“Thousands of New Yorkers signed up at Corinthian College to build the skills they need to compete in today’s economy,” said New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. “But Aequitas Capital Management took advantage of their ambition and schemed with Corinthian to saddle these students with high-default loans at the now-bankruptcy college. This was nothing more than a sham that victimized unwitting students and deceived the government and taxpayers.”

According to the terms of the settlement, students who borrowed money from Aequitas Capital to attend a Corinthian school and were attending school when it closed in 2014, or students who defaulted on their loans, will receive a full discharge of their student loans, in addition to accrued interest.

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Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Student Loans

Over 44 Million People Affected by Student Loan Debt

Posted on August 22, 2017by Admin

According to a survey by LendEDU, a private firm that connects students and their families with student loans and loan refinancing, student loan debt affects more than 44 million borrowers, who owe about $1.3 trillion.

Student loan debt surpassed auto loan and credit card debt. However, mortgage debt remains higher than education debt.

The survey used data from 1,161 four-year colleges throughout the country and found that college students at in-state public schools paid an average of $20,090 in annual tuition for the 2016-2017 school year. This is up 2.6 percent from 2015-2016.

Despite these trends, the average amount of debt incurred by graduating students in the U.S. fell 1.5 percent to $27,975 last year.

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Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Law Firm Faces Debt Collection Lawsuit

Posted on August 21, 2017by Admin

On August 18^th, a federal appeals court reinstated a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) lawsuit against a law firm that misstated the principal and interest due on a credit card loan in a collection effort.

The FDCPA prohibits debt collectors from making false statements when collecting debts. It also states that any such false statement would be considered “material.” However, the FDCPA does not specifically define the term “material.” As a result, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit focused on that question when issuing a ruling in the case of Afewerki v. Anaya Law Group. The lawsuit came after the Anaya Law Group of Westlake Village, California attempted to collect on a debt from Robel Afewerki, who owed $26,916.08 on a loan with a 9.65 percent interest rate.

The Anaya Law Group sued Afewerki in state court, stating that he owed $29,916.08, which is $3,000 higher than the loan. The firm also misstated the interested rate, saying that it was 9.965 percent, which is 0.315 percent higher than the rate. Afewerki sued the firm under the FDCPA, but a district court held for the firm on summary judgment, said the misstatements were not material.

The Ninth Circuit Court disagreed and vacated that ruling, saying the misstatements were material based on how the “least sophisticated debtor” might react to the misstatements. The court said the least sophisticated debtor in Afewerki’s position, “may well have simply paid the amount demanded in the complaint and would have overpaid by approximately $3,000.”

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If you 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.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief

Pompano Beach “Debt Relief” Companies Scammed Victims out of $70 Million

Posted on August 7, 2017by Admin

A debt relief scheme headquarted in Pompano Beach has scammed nearly 15,000 people across the country, according the Florida Attorney General’s Office and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

A civil complaint filed in federal court in Fort Lauderdale alleged that telemarketers at several of the companies managed from the Pompano Beach office building offered to pay off personal debts for customers, settle or obtain dismissals for these obligations and loan consolidation- all while improving their credit scores.

The defendants in the case were Jeremy Lee Marcus, who was described by the receiver as the CEO and an owner of the group of companies in the debt relief operation; Craig Davis Smith, the COO and also an owner; and Yisbet Segrea, an executive who ran the office in Panama, plus dozens of corporate defendants. These included 321Loans Inc., Financial Freedom National Inc., Helping America Group, Marine Career Institute Sea Frontiers Inc., Instahelp America Inc. and Breeze Financial Solutions.

Customers were convinced to pay a few hundred to more than a thousand dollars per month to the “so-called” debt-relief companies and their operators who orchestrated the scheme.

After numerous customer complaints, it was discovered that in most cases no payments were ever made towards the customers' debts. Customers ended up becoming victims. As a result of the scam they incurred even more debt. Some customers were sued by their old creditors or were forced into bankruptcy.

The scheme used Internet advertising and websites, direct mail and unsolicited phone calls to market itself. The company bought presumably legitimate debt-relief firms and used their clients’ names as well as personal and financial information.

Here is how the scam worked:

Companies in the scam used ads on their website and sent out personal letters to the victims’ home addresses. These companies would go so far as to falsely identify themselves as nonprofits, offering low-interest loans so a consumer could combine all debts and make one payment at a lower interest rate;
Consumers would have to agree to have their bank accounts debited immediately for their first loan “repayment” or for a processing fee. Then monthly “repayments” were automatically taken from their accounts, ranging from $200 to over $1,000;
Few or no payments were ever made to creditors;
When consumers were told by original creditors that none of their bills had been paid, dismissed or settled, the scammers strung them along with false explanations, such as more time was needed to validate the consumers’ debts or to confirm payoff amounts. Clients who called to complain were given excuses and treated poorly. The only contact number available was disconnected.

Click here to read more on the scam.

The following website (www.321loansreceivership.com) has been set up to inform victims and the public about developments in the receivership process.

If you have any questions on this topic or are in a 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.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

The Surprising Debts Holding Many Americans Back

Posted on June 15, 2017by Admin

According to a recent survey, student loans and credit card bills are not the only debt holding many Americans back. Credit Sesame, a site consumers can use to check their credit score, analyzed more than 5,000 user accounts and found they had significant amounts of debt from medical expenses, utility bills and cell phone charges.

Consumers whose medical debt had gone into collections had an average of three accounts, with a combined total of $3,670 in collections. The average balance for customers who had cell phone bills in collections totaled $887 per account. Customers whose utility bills were in collections owe $368 on average per account, the study concluded.

Not surprisingly, having those bills in collections hurt consumers’ credit scores. The average credit score for someone whose medical debt is in collections is 552. Those who have delinquent cell phone accounts have average scores of 550. And those who have outstanding utility bills have a score of 542.

Lenders see applicants with lower credit scores as riskier than applicants with higher credit scores. They oftentimes make you pay for this risk by charging a higher interest rate. A poor credit score can affect your ability to rent an apartment, as landlords often check an applicant’s credit score before allowing you to sign a lease.

Utility companies may require you pay a deposit before setting up your service. Even certain jobs and employers can discriminate against applicants who have a less than perfect credit report. Certain jobs, particularly those in upper management or the finance industry, require a good credit history. Note: employers check your credit report and not your credit score. They are not necessarily checking for bad credit, but for items that could affect your job performance.

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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.

Bankruptcy Law, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Divorce Court Cannot Decide on Bankruptcy Obligations

Posted on May 23, 2017by Admin

A Superior Court judge in Georgia could not order that a divorce settlement be wiped out in bankruptcy, a federal bankruptcy judge has ruled. Even though the divorce decree provided that “the property division payments to the Plaintiff shall not be dischargeable in bankruptcy,” Judge W. Homer Drake of the Northern District of Georgia makes it clear that the Georgia court lacked jurisdiction to decide the effect of bankruptcy on the divorce.

There are certain kinds of debts that are non-dischargeable in bankruptcy. However, these bankruptcy exceptions include support obligations arising from divorce, but do not include property settlements distinct from support.

The divorce decree included provisions that the defendant would pay his ex-wife $1,300 a month for child support and $53,000 “as part of the property division,” the court said. But the decree also said that “the property division payments to the plaintiff shall not be dischargeable in bankruptcy,” it said.

The bankruptcy court rejected the Georgia court’s decree that the obligation would not be dischargeable because it violated public policy. In addition, it found that the state court lacked jurisdiction to make that call.

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