Debt Collection Blog
Our debt collection blog keeps you updated with new information about dealing with debt collectors, including updates to our free e-book Debt Collection Answers: How to Use Debt Collection Laws to Protect Your Rights.
We also feature answers to debt collection questions from readers here.
Jan 20, 2020
Choose the right business credit card
If you are a small business owner, you'll want to make sure you use the right credit cards in your business. There are a number of advantages to considering small business credit cards as a source of short term funding and to earn rewards. This guide can help you choose the right one for your entrepreneurial endeavors.
Jun 27, 2019
How to Cope With Old Medical Bills
Reporter Beth Pinsker reached out to me after she received a bill for a 4-year old dental bill! It's not the first time I've heard of old medical bills popping up. Here's what I suggested:
Jun 19, 2019
How to Remove Yourself as a Cosigner From a Loan
If you've cosigned a loan for someone you may have discovered the debt affects your credit--even if it's paid on time. And if it's not, you're in trouble. Can you get yourself taken off the loan? Here Susannah Snider from US News explains your options:
Continue reading "How to Remove Yourself as a Cosigner From a Loan"
Jun 10, 2019
How This Couple Stays Out of Debt
While in physical therapy for my broken hand, I learned my therapist also taught budgeting classes on the side! Brad and his wife Kimberly are committed to staying out of debt. I'm so honored to share their story. I hope it helps you too!
Jun 05, 2019
Will the 50/30/20 Budget Work For You?
In her book All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan, Elizabeth Warren popularized the 50/30/20 budget plan. Will it work for you? In this interview with Kiplinger reporter Pat Mertz Esswein we talk about this popular budget plan."
Mar 25, 2019
What You Should Know About Credit Before Age 25
What are some essentials that young people need to know about credit? Debt Collection Answers cofounder Gerri Detweiler recently shared her perspective in this article...
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Sep 18, 2018
I loaned a friend $7000
I have some property of my friend's here at my home. Now I don't want to give it back because I loaned him $7000 in cash one year ago. Can I keep his property until he pays me back ?
Sep 06, 2018
Debt collectors calling me for girlfriend's ex
My phone is in my name. I live with my girlfriend for two years, a bill collector called today looking for her ex. How sis they know to call my number? Supposedly she hasn't talked to ex so he shouldn't have my number. Please help!
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Apr 02, 2018
My son's medical bills are on my credit reports
I received 2 collection letters for my son with my name on them. He doesn't live with me. When I looked at my credit report they put the to bills for in collections under me...
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Apr 01, 2018
Someone put my name on their credit application!
Years ago ago I started receiving phone calls from debt collectors and people looking for someone with the same last name as mine. They said there were civil complaints against her and she owed a lot of people money. It turns out this woman had listed me and my sister as her daughters on some paperwork and listed our phone numbers so that the collectors, etc would call US instead of her.
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Dec 30, 2017
How Do I Find Which Debts Are In Collections?
I am looking to find out what debts I have in collections? Reply from DebtCollectionAnswers.com: We don't have a super simple answer for you but we do
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Jul 05, 2017
Negative Information Will Fall Off Millions of Credit Reports
If you have a judgment or tax lien on your credit reports, you may be in for a pleasant surprise. Most judgments and half of tax liens are going to come off credit reports.
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Dec 16, 2016
Repair Bad Credit with Collection Accounts
A Brilliant Way to Rebuild Bad Credit If You Have Collection Accounts
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Sep 16, 2016
I Helped My Late Father Save His Home. What Now?
My father let his home go into foreclosure and I paid to get it out of foreclosure. My father signed the deed over to me. I have been making the payments on the home for the last four yrs and have put several thousands of dollars into the home to get it back into living conditions. Now...
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Sep 16, 2016
Best rated cash advance cards for 2016
When you’re looking to pay down debt, one of the best things you can do is transfer your balance from a high-interest credit card to one that offers a temporary (the longer, the better) 0 percent introductory offer. This allows you to pay down your debt without tacking on additional interest fees.
Additionally, you can look for cards that have no balance transfer fees or that offer 0 percent on purchases for a period of time.
Sep 16, 2016
Business Credit Cards For Bad Credit
There are some very good reasons to use business credit cards to pay for purchases you make for your business. Using personal credit cards can put your credit scores at risk and can make tax time a lot more complicated. But what if you have bad credit? Yes you may have options. Here's more about business credit cards for bad credit...
Jul 20, 2016
What Happens When Your Debt Goes to A Collector?
What do you do when your bills wind up with debt collectors? Should you pay them or not? We're pleased that our ebook is featured in this article in US News & World Report...
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Jun 23, 2016
The 12 Best Balance Transfer Credit Card Offers of 2016: Longest Terms
Have you thought about using a balance transfer to pay a debt collector or to consolidate debt with high interest rates? That strategy can work but you have to be very careful. You need to avoid expensive traps and choose the right card. This article, which quotes the co-author of the free Debt Collection Answers ebook Gerri Detweiler, provides essential advice.
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Mar 18, 2016
What is a debt collector?
Under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practice Act, a debt collector generally is a person or a company that regularly collects debts owed to others, usually when those debts are past-due. Debt collectors include collection agencies or lawyers who collect debts as part of their business. There are also companies that buy past-due debts from creditors or other businesses and then try to collect them. These debt collectors are also called debt collection agencies, debt collection companies, or debt buyers.
Under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practice Act, a debt collector generally is a person or a company that regularly collects debts owed to others, usually when those debts are past-due. Debt collectors include collection agencies or lawyers who collect debts as part of their business. There are also companies that buy past-due debts from creditors or other businesses and then try to collect them. These debt collectors are also called debt collection agencies, debt collection compani
This article by the CFPB was distributed by the Personal Finance Syndication Network.
Mar 16, 2016
Obama Proposes Tax Help for Student Loan Relief. Congress Says No.
In the budget the Obama administration has just sent to Congress there are some benefits for students who will face massive tax bills when their student loans might be forgiven under income based programs.
As it stands now, students are enrolling in income driven repayment programs to reduce their current monthly payments to a level based on their income. After 20-25 years, depending on the program, the remaining balance would be forgiven. As it stands now, that forgiven amount would be taxable up to the level the student becomes insolvent.
To make the problem even worse for the income driven plans, the balances are going up while they qualify for lower payments. So the balances due once they reach the forgiveness point in a couple of decades will be massive.
This article by Steve Rhode first appeared on Get Out of Debt Guy and was distributed by the Personal Finance Syndication Network.
Continue reading "Obama Proposes Tax Help for Student Loan Relief. Congress Says No."