Posted on April 17, 2019 in General Bankruptcy Topics

The actions that debt collectors in Maryland can and cannot take are governed by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA. While debt collectors are allowed to contact individuals about a valid debt, those who are contacted have a right to verify what the debt collector is saying. If a person makes a request to verify a debt balance, verification must be provided in writing. Collection agencies are also generally barred from making contact before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.

Furthermore, they cannot contact an individual about a debt at their place of employment. If an individual requests that a debt collector put a stop to collection calls or letters, the entity attempting to collect a debt must comply. It is also a violation of the FDCPA to contact a family member other than a spouse or a friend about a debt.

According to the terms of the FDCPA, a debt collector cannot threaten or harass a person. For instance, a person cannot be told that a lawsuit is forthcoming if the entity collecting the debt has no intention of filing one. Harassment may include abusive language or making multiple phone calls on the same day. If debt collectors violate the law in any way, complaints can be made to a state's attorney general or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

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 Posted on April 02, 2019 in Medical Debt and Bankruptcy

A recent study conducted by the Health Care Cost Institute reveals that one in five hospital patients in Maryland who received treatment at an in-network medical facility were sent an unexpected bill for out-of-network treatment or services. After analyzing almost 620,000 in-network admissions from hospitals in 37 states and the District of Columbia, only New Jersey, California, Kansas and Florida had a higher frequency of out-of-network charges.

The results of the HCCI study suggest that patients are frequently billed for out-of-network treatment despite taking steps to ensure that their doctors and hospitals are in-network and covered by their health insurance policies. The researchers behind the study say that this is because patients have no way of finding out whether or not the doctors who will be treating them and the laboratories that will be used for medical testing are in their networks.

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 Posted on March 20, 2019 in Credit Card Debt

Seniors can face many financial pressures in their retirement years. This includes strains from:

• Medical costs
• Rising levels of everyday living expenses for retirees
• Providing financial support to their adult children

Some seniors turn to credit cards to help with such costs. It appears that this has become increasingly common here in the United States. Research points to credit card debt having gone up among elderly Americans in recent years.

Now, credit card debt carries some risks for seniors. If a balance gets high, covering it and the interest it generates can be difficult on a fixed income. Overwhelming debt can expose seniors to significant financial hardships, and could even end up greatly cutting into what they would like to leave to their family when they are gone.

So, when people encounter credit card debt troubles in their retirement years, responding promptly to the situation is critical.

There are various ways seniors may be able to stabilize their finances in the face of overwhelming credit card debt. In some instances, cutting unnecessary expenses and prioritizing payments can return things to a manageable state. Other times, negotiations with lenders may be able to secure improved terms to make paying the debt back easier. And in some situations, bankruptcy may be needed to properly resolve the debt. Among the things Chapter 7 bankruptcy can help with is eliminating credit card debt.

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 Posted on March 12, 2019 in General Bankruptcy Topics

You certainly know that bankruptcy is an option for debt relief, and you may have even considered taking this step to find some breathing room in your financial struggles. What has held you back? Was it the stigma of filing for bankruptcy? Was it the hit on your credit score? Perhaps you simply didn't understand what bankruptcy could do for you.

Filing for bankruptcy is not always the answer to overwhelming debt. In many circumstances, you may have other options, including negotiating with your creditors. Trying every legitimate alternative first is often a wise course of action before diving into bankruptcy. However, there are some times when uptcy is appropriate.

Evaluating your circumstances

Your first step in making any decision about dealing with your debt is to learn as much as you can about your options. For example, bankruptcy offers several forms. With Chapter 7, a court-appointed trustee liquidates some of your assets and pays your creditors as much as possible. Chapter 13 allows you to create a repayment plan for a certain period with payments that fit your budget. Whatever debt remains at the end of these bankruptcies may be discharged.

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