Tag: P.A.

Bankruptcy Law, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Prescription Costs Fuel Medical Debt and Rise in Bankruptcy Filings

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Last year, the federal government reported that Americans had $41 billion in out-of-pocket costs associated with prescription drugs. Experts agree that those prescription drug costs will continue to play a key role in medical related debt and bankruptcies despite the expansion of insurance for millions under the Affordable Care Act.

Even though more people will be getting their medications covered by insurance, there is a growing trend in both the individual insurance market and the employer-provided insurance market toward having insured people pay an increasing share of medical costs, including their prescriptions.

For many Americans, their individual monthly premiums can total a couple hundred dollars a month, combined with annual deductibles ranging in the thousands, out-of-pocket expenses can add up quickly. Yet many people, particularly those with low incomes are unfamiliar with the myriad of health insurance plans that can play a role in how much they pay for their prescriptions. Their lack of knowledge increases the likelihood they will fall into the medical debt trap.

A report from NerdWallet last year found that medical debt was the single leading cause of bankruptcy in the U.S. and that 56 million Americans had problems paying their medical bills. A new report last week by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that 52 percent of accounts sent to collections and placed on people’s credit reports stemmed from medical debt.

If you are in a financial crisis and are considering filing 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://www.cnbc.com/id/101686432

Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

North Miami Mayor Charged with Mortgage Fraud

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Before being elected mayor of North Miami last year, Lucie Tondreau was the co-host of several radio programs that federal authorities say led to an $8 million mortgage fraud scheme. According to court documents, the future mayor co-hosted with Karl Oreste, a mortgage company owner, and used Creole-language to bring in “straw borrowers” who filed fake loan applications to purchase 20 homes across South Florida and then cut Tondreau in on the profits of the scam.

The mayor faces criminal charges and a potential suspension from office by Gov. Rick Scott. This is just the latest legal trouble for the mayor, as her campaign faced state scrutiny last year. Prosecutors linked online absentee-ballot requests made in bulk to her campaign office. Florida law prohibits ballot requests to come from anyone other than voters themselves or their family. Tondreau has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged.

News of the federal charges have spread quickly through the community as Tondreau- the city’s first Haitian-American female mayor- has been a trusted voice on Creole-language radio and has built a reputation in the 80’s and 90’s as a vocal Haitian rights activist in South Florida.

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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.

Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

U.S. sees Fewer Foreclosures as Banks Reclaim more Homes

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A report from RealtyTrac confirms foreclosure activity across the U.S. fell 1 percent last month, as banks scheduled fewer auctions and reclaimed more homes. The most recent drop, which includes foreclosure notices, scheduled auction and bank repossessions, is 20 percent below its year-ago level. It was also the 43rd consecutive month foreclosure activity was down on an annual basis.

Bank repossessions, still down 14 percent from a year ago, were up 4 percent in April, a likely result of the state and government interventions that slowed down the foreclosure process. In total, 30,056 homes were repossessed. According to real estate experts, the rise in bank repossessions is a sign that those markets are working through the final remnants of foreclosures left over from the housing market crash.

In Florida, one in every 400 homes is facing foreclosure and continues to have the highest rate in the nation, followed by Maryland, Delaware and Indiana. A total of 49,239 homes were scheduled for a foreclosure auction last month, down 3 percent from March and 21 percent from a year ago. It was the 41st straight month in which scheduled auctions were down on a year-on-year basis.

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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.

Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Foreclosure: Bad for your Neighbor’s Health?

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According to research published in the American Heart Association Journal, Circulation, the stress associated with living near a foreclosed home increases the chance of developing high blood pressure. Foreclosures are known for decreasing the property values of neighboring homes, but new research suggests it can also affect the health of your neighbors.

The study tracked 1,750 Massachusetts residents from 1987 through 2008 and found that each foreclosure within 100 meters of a person’s home affected their systolic blood pressure, the top number in the reading. According to the study, neighbors may be worried that foreclosures are hurting their home values or the safety of their communities, and that this anxiety can boost blood pressure. The study was controlled for age, income, education, race, sex and other factors, including whether the participants were taking blood-pressure medications. It also considered alcohol consumption and weight and found that both increased when there were foreclosures nearby.

Homes that lapse into foreclosure but are quickly purchased do not appear to lead to a rise in blood pressure, whereas homes that are seized by banks and stand vacant do, according to the study. The increase was not significant enough to present a huge health risk, but it does suggest that the housing crisis extends beyond the economy into the public health arena.

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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, Credit, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Sallie Mae Faces Nearly $200 Million in Penalties for Cheating Active Duty Troops

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Sallie Mae and its former loan unit, Navient have struck a deal with federal authorities to resolve allegations that it cheated active duty troops and other borrowers who were being charged late fees.

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), service members have complained that companies such as Sallie Mae and Navient have told them they could not receive protections under the law unless their loans were in forbearance or deferment.

Sallie Mae and Navient more than doubled to $173 million- the amount they have set aside to cover settlements resolving these allegations brought by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) and the Dept. of Justice. Navient has acknowledged the federal government’s investigation into allegations the company cheated active-duty troops in violation of the Service Members Civil Relief Act from November 28, 2005 to present day.

Under the Service Members Civil Relief Act, loan companies must reduce the interest rate on student loans to no more than 6 percent upon request by active duty troops. As of 2008, the law extended beyond private student loans to include federal student loans.

In addition, troops have told the CFPB that their servicers wrongly told them the 6 percent interest-rate cap expired annually, and they were required to submit additional paperwork to retain it. Others were discouraged from applying for the protections contained in the service members’ law, while some were mistakenly told that the benefits are only available to those in combat zones.

Furthermore, some service members told the CFPB that they were told to provide end dates for their tours on active duty, a requirement that is virtually impossible to meet, since officers in the armed forces are usually not told when their tours will end.

Rohit Chopra, the consumer bureau’s top student loan expert, told the Senate “that companies that fail to comply with the service members’ law may be cheating borrowers in other ways.”

A settlement resolving the service members’ allegations would need to be approved by the Education Department and require the companies to establish a $60 million fund to compensate troops for violating the service members’ law when it comes to student loans.

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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 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, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Think Cash is King? Not according to a recent study

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A new report from Bankrate shows credit card debt is on the rise. Nearly 8 out of 10 Americans carry less than $50 in cash on a daily basis and nearly 1 in 10 customers do not carry cash at all. This study comes at the same time the New York Federal Reserve is saying U.S. household debt rose by $129 billion in the first quarter, totaling $11.65 trillion.

Many agree that paying with cash makes consumers more conscious of their spending. We are quickly moving to an all-digital age, subject to hackers. But not everyone is seeing the death of paper money as a bad thing. A Chief Risk Strategist for Chapwood Funds says, “Carrying cash guarantees that you are losing money over time with interest and inflation.”

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If you are in a financial crisis and are considering filing 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, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Seven Mistakes your Credit Card Company WANTS you to Make

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1.) Letting your rewards or miles expire. Letting your credit card rewards points or miles expire is a common mistake. Make sure you read the fine print and know the rules of redemption or you could lose out big time.

2.) Paying only the minimum each month. You know you should pay more than the minimum and cut down on the interest you are paying for “borrowing” the balance. Thanks to the Credit CARD Act of 2009, your bill tells you how much it is going to cost you to pay off the balance over time.

3.) Paying late now and then. The credit card company wants you to pay, but doesn’t mind if you pay late. The credit card company can raise the interest rate on your new purchases as long as they give you 45 days’ notice. Not to mention the late fees of $29 to $39 you can incur.

4.) Ignore the mail. Not paying attention to your statement is a mistake the credit card companies hope you will make. These statements can contain valuable information such as fraudulent charges, which you will not have to pay- as long as you inform the credit card company right away- or notifications that your interest rate has increased.

5.) Using a balance transfer to rack up more debt. You transfer your outstanding balance to a card with a low or zero percent interest rate thinking you will save money. Shifting your debt around does not mean you are debt free. If you decide on a balance transfer, make sure you pay off your balance before the end of the promotional period and avoid adding additional charges to the card. Also be aware of balance transfer fees associated with these cards.

6.) Opting to go over your credit limit. Under the new law, if you do not opt in and you attempt to buy something that will put your balance over your credit limit, the transaction could be declined at checkout. If you opt in to this trap, it can cost you. You can face over-limit fees and higher interest rates on your credit card balances.

7.) Paying more fees than you earn in rewards. The goal is to maximize the rewards offered by your credit card company. If you do not travel, why sign up for an airline credit card? It is best to choose a card with no annual fee even if it has no rewards points program. Keep in mind, if you carry a balance even for one month beyond any promotional interest period, the interest you will pay can quickly diminish any rewards points you may have earned.

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If you are in a financial crisis and are considering filing 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, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Actor Mekhi Phifer Files for Bankruptcy

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Actor Mekhi Phifer has filed for bankruptcy, TMZ reports. The 39-year-old actor, best known for his role as Dr. Greg Pratt on NBC’s “ER” has racked up approximately $1.2 million in back taxes, $50,000 in lawyer fees and $4,500 in back child support, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ.

Legal documents reveal he spends around $11,600 in monthly expenses, but only brings in $7,500. In addition to his role on “ER,” from 2002-2008 he is also well known for his role opposite Eminem in the movie “8 Mile.”

According to TMZ, Mekhi’s list of assets include: a leather bed, a 12-year-old Segway (valued at $1,500) and a large collection of firearms.

Click here to read more on this story.

If you are in a financial crisis and are considering filing 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, Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Top Five Home-Rescue Scams Revealed

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A recent report, called “Foreclosure Rescue, Inc.” has documented the ongoing problems of fraudulent foreclosure rescue businesses and how these companies have plagued unsuspecting consumers following the housing crisis. The report by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and the Loan Modification Scam Prevention Network says a database maintained by the committee has compiled more than 40,000 homeowner complaints since March 2010 from borrowers who say they have lost $90 million.

BEWARE of the following foreclosure-rescue scams:

1. Your modification is APPROVED! Send your payments to the following address… The homeowner is tricked into believing their lender has agreed to terms of a loan modification and is instructed to pay the “new” modified payment to the bogus company.

2. We volunteer all our hours with no payments. A purported non-profit agency contacts a homeowner, but after reviewing his or her mortgage sends the person to a law firm that the non-profit works with, which then begins collecting a fee.

3. You are eligible to join our lawsuit. Homeowners are told that they are eligible to join a lawsuit against their bank, but they have to pay an upfront fee and make monthly payments after that. The lawsuit is then never filed and the case goes nowhere.

4. Discount for military members and their families. Homeowners hesitant to pay for loan modification of foreclosure-rescue help are told they can use military discounts to get lower prices.

5. Pay us instead of your mortgage lender and we will protect you. Homeowners are told by the “foreclosure-rescue company” to make their mortgage payments to them and not their lender. Months later, they are blindsided by a foreclosure notice and out thousands of dollars.

Click here to 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, Credit, Timothy Kingcade Posts

New Rules Bring Fairness to Debt Cases

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A New York judge has proposed new filing requirements for debt collectors that will bring fairness to state consumer cases and put them in line with due process. Judge Jonathan Lippman says many debtors discover they have been sued only after their bank accounts are frozen or their wages are garnished. Others are never served a notice of a lawsuit and lose the case simply by default.

More than 100,000 consumer credit card lawsuits are filed in state courts annually, most from third party buyers of delinquent credit card debt. Some of this debt, which is referred to as “zombie” debt, is several years old. The new rules would be implemented by June 15th and are intended to stop default judgments based on what the judge refers to as “robosigned” affidavits, “containing few if any facts relating to the history of the debt at issue.”

Instead, plaintiff creditors would have to file detailed court affidavits identifying the specific content at issue, the credit agreement, the complete chain of debt ownership, an itemized list of the principle interest and other charges. Default judgments would be prohibited where notices are returned because of an unknown or wrong address.

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If you have any questions on this topic or are in a financial crisis and are considering filing 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.