by Ellen Mason, Hotline Attorney If bill collectors are bugging you remember: you do not have to talk to them. Federal law lets you demand that a bill collector stop calling you. So the next time a bill collector calls and you don’t want to talk to him or her say “Stop calling me!” The bill collector must not call you again except (1) to … Continue reading Stop calling me!
by Jadranko Tomic-Bobas, Managing Hotline Attorney Over the last decade, outstanding student loan debt has nearly tripled with the current total is $1.3 trillion. Households with a net worth of less than $8500 hold more than 60%. More than 3 million Americans ages 50-64 are in default on their student loans. According to data compiled by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, “Americans 50 and older … Continue reading I am 65 and stuck with student loan debt. What do I do?
by Miles Morley, MiCAFE Community Partner Liaison The Consumer Sentinel Network (CSN) has released their 2015 Data Book. CSN is a database of consumer identity theft and fraud complaints. The complaints are gathered from federal agencies, such as the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Internal Revenue Service, state law enforcement organizations, such as the Michigan Office of the Attorney General, and non-governmental … Continue reading Data Shows Fraud Complaints on the Rise in Michigan
by David Jones, J.D., Hotline Attorney It is all too common for sellers of used motor vehicles to simply sign the title over to the buyer, and assume the buyer will register it with the Secretary of State. However, if the buyer does not register the title, the seller can face some real legal problems because the seller is still the owner of title. I … Continue reading An Unknowing Trap for Sellers of Motor Vehicles
by Katie Burns, J.D., Attorney, Housing Counselor, and HUD Certified Reverse Mortgage Counselor The Step Forward Michigan program has helped thousands of homeowners avoid mortgage, reverse mortgage, and property tax foreclosure. It was created in 2010, after Michigan received $498 million of the Hardest Hit Loan Fund established by the US Department of Treasury. Michigan homeowners with a qualifying hardship receive a mortgage lien and forgivable … Continue reading Step Forward Receives Additional Funding
by Kathryn Larlee, J.D., Hotline Attorney The spectre of medical debts haunts many people and especially those who are living on fixed incomes. According to a study done at Harvard University, the leading cause of bankruptcy is medical debt in this country. The study also shows that 78% of filers had some form of insurance, so those with medical insurance are not immune to the … Continue reading Medical Debt and Non-Profit Hospitals
by Katie Burns, J.D., Attorney, Housing Counselor, and HUD Certified Reverse Mortgage Counselor To protect client confidentiality, all names have been changed in this post. Lifelong Detroit residents Ruby and Daniel, both turning 78 this summer, have been married for over 40 years. They purchased their home in 1977, after some medical issues forced Daniel to stop working for General Motors. He had a brain … Continue reading A Step Forward Michigan Success Story: Ruby and Daniel
by Miles Morley, Legal Assistant This is part five of a recurring series on the most common types of fraud reported in the Consumer Sentinel Network’s 2014 Data Book for the State of Michigan. Banks and Lender Scams accounted for five percent of all complaints from Michigan Residents and a total of 3,566 complaints in the Consumer Sentinel Network’s 2014 Data Book. These types of scams … Continue reading Banks and Lender Scams and Complaints
by Katie Burns, J.D., Attorney, Housing Counselor, & HUD Certified Reverse Mortgage Counselor Homeowners age 62 and older qualify for a reverse mortgage. A reverse mortgage is a loan that converts existing home equity into tax-free cash. Unlike a regular or ‘forward’ mortgage, however, there are no monthly payments required. In fact, depending on the type of payment plan selected, a reverse mortgage may actually … Continue reading Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Pros and Cons
Attorneys serving Clients who call the Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors listen to many accounts of seniors dealing with a variety of financial issues. It is disheartening to hear of seniors who have worked hard all their lives and are now living on a fixed income trying to budget all their financial liabilities. Here are some simple financial “No-No’s” which may minimize your financial burdens: … Continue reading Financial Literacy and Saying “No”
