I hear this comment a lot from clients. The level of stress that a mountain of debt can produce can literally be overwhelming. Credit cards, medical bills, payday loans, old utility bills, cell phone carriers, overdrawn bank accounts, deficiencies from a repossession, past due loans, etc. All of these things…
My suggestion would be, yes, you should appear in court on the day of your hearing. Not doing so can have negative consequences (even if you end up filing a Missouri or Illinois bankruptcy later on). let me explain why. If you fall behind on your debts, one of the…
In such a situation, you should be made aware of the pros and cons of filing bankruptcy, because depending on which chapter you file, you could possibly lose the asset. But then this is why it is so terribly important to seek out a lawyer who has a great deal…
Yes, you can. But you will be limited to a Missouri or Illinois Chapter 13 bankruptcy. The federal bankruptcy code states that an individual may not file a St. Louis Chapter 7 bankruptcy more than once every eight (8) years. Once the eight year mark is passed (this is the…
If you make it clear to the debt collector that you dispute the debt that they say you owe, then they may not contact you anymore until the dispute is resolved. If in fact the collector does contact you about the debt after such a dispute is made (but before…
No, they may not. In fact, it is unlawful for the collection agency to contact you several times in one day via the phone. This is described as ‘incessant calling,’ and is actionable in the courts. The area of law that governs what a debt collector may or may not…
You have a right to demand that the debt collector cease any and all communication with you regarding your debts, but the federal law governing this area states very clearly that such a demand has to made in writing. Assuming that you do indeed make a written demand, then a…
Not as bad as you think. But the more important question to focus on would be how long it will take to rebuild your credit. The answer to this may surprise you as well. To begin with, the filing of a bankruptcy will appear on your credit report for ten…
This would be a violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). Various court cases have determined that a collection agency using this type of technology is violation of the act, and damages can thereafter be assessed. But if such a violation occurs, there are several things that you can…
Yes, it can. And this is why it is so very important to make it clear to your bankruptcy attorney how many people live with you, whether those individuals include a spouse, children, parents, siblings, or other relatives. Because the number of people who live in your household can have…