Category: Debt Relief
When debt collectors keep calling, what can you do if you are not sure you owe the debt or at least the amount they claim? What if you are SURE you do not owe the debt? How can you make them stop calling? Of course, you can call a Florida debt collection defense attorney who will make the debt collector contacts top immediately. If it’s a large amount and you are not sure whether you owe it, that would be your best bet. Short of that, you can send an FDCPA (Fair Debt Collections Practices Act) cease-and-desist letter. What Kind… Read More
According to a 2021 report, the average American is $90,460 in debt. A recent survey reports that 47 percent of Americans carry a monthly balance on their credit cards. 70% of those people say they cannot pay it off this year. Despite debt being so common, we live in a society that stigmatizes those who owe money. People in debt are often so ashamed they do not seek the help they need. When people feel isolated in this way, they become a prime target for exploitation. We would like to tell you about some of the primary debt collector scare… Read More
It’s enough to increase your heart rate and make you break out in a sweat. The debt collector is calling! Debt collectors have tricks up their sleeves, so you are right to be concerned when debt collectors call. If you owe a lot of money, it very well may be worth your while to hire a debt collection defense attorney who knows the ins and outs. But if you are planning to speak with a debt collector yourself, you need to be prepared. Consider the following advice. Keep calm Debt collectors like to keep you off balance, and often they… Read More
We all know that medical debt drives many people into bankruptcy. It’s the largest category of debt in the United States. Even if patients recover, the weight of medical bills can ruin their lives. Well, it’s even worse than we or the government or anybody else thought. A study from JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) just published in July tells us that collection agencies held $140 billion in unpaid medical bills in 2020. (The study covers January 2009 to June 2020.) A previous study done in 2016 indicated the amount was almost half that — $81 billion. It gets… Read More
A debt collector has served you with a complaint for non-payment of debt. Before you were served, you tried to negotiate, but to no avail. What should you do now? Depending on the situation, here are some possibilities to defend against a debt collection lawsuit in Florida. 1. Consider Hiring a Florida Debt Collection Defense Attorney If the debt is substantial, you should at least consult with a lawyer. There may be defenses of which you may be unaware or need help arguing. See our blog post, Do I Need a Florida Debt Collection Defense Attorney? Many attorneys, including Attorney… Read More
In our recent blog post, What to Expect if You Face Wage Garnishment in Florida, we discussed the basics of wage garnishment in Florida. It included a discussion of how much of your wages can be withheld and sent to your creditors. You have a lot more options to deal with your creditors before they start garnishing your wages than if you wait. However, if that’s water under the bridge, and you are at the point where your wages are being garnished, you still have some limited options. Let’s explore the possibilities to fight wage garnishment as well as some… Read More
If you are having trouble making ends meet, the last thing you want is for your creditor to garnish your wages. A wage garnishment, also known as a wage attachment, is an order the court sends to your employer telling them to withhold money from your paycheck and sent it to the creditor. As you can imagine, this will not endear you to your employer. However, they can’t fire you for it unless you have more than one garnishment. However, under Florida law, your employer can deduct the amount from your paycheck that it cost them to obey a wage… Read More
How a Creditor Gets a Default Judgment Against You If a creditor is unable to collect a debt from you, eventually they will file a complaint against you in court. The court issues a summons notifying you of the suit. The plaintiff must then properly serve you with the summons and complaint within the procedures set out by Florida law. In Florida, once you have been served, you have 20 days to file a response with the court if you want to avoid a default judgment. Should you miss that deadline, the plaintiff will then request the court to order… Read More
If you’re accused of murder, you know you need to hire an attorney. But what if you just owe debts you can’t pay? When should you handle it yourself, and when do you need a Florida debt collection defense attorney? When you are already overwhelmed with debt, you may hesitate to get legal help, because you are afraid of just adding to your debt. But in many situations, a lawyer can save you money and give you a lifeline to getting your life back on track. That doesn’t mean you always need the help of a lawyer. Let’s look at… Read More
Have you received a debt collection letter from Midland Funding, LLC? Or maybe you received a complaint or court notice from Midland Credit Management (MCM)? You may ask yourself “Who are these people? I didn’t buy anything from any company called Midland!” When credit card debt, auto loans, bank debts and other consumer debts go unpaid, the holders of the debts often sell them to third-party debt buyers. If you didn’t pay your credit card, it’s a good bet that the credit card company sold it to a debt buyer. Midland Funding is one of the biggest debt buyers in… Read More
