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debt collection

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

September 20, 2016 By Liz Weston

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: How to save for college without sacrificing retirement. Also in the news: Recovering from a poor credit history, 3 ways to pay off a debt in collections, and the best savings strategies for your personality type.

How to Save for College Without Sacrificing Retirement
It’s possible to do both.

Poor Credit History? There Are Ways to Recover
Making a comeback.

3 Ways to Pay Off a Debt in Collections
Getting debt collectors off your back.

Here Are the Best Savings Strategies for Your Personality Type
Are you the gambling type? Or a goal-setter?

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: College Savings, Credit History, debt, debt collection, retirement savings, Savings, savings types

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

August 23, 2016 By Liz Weston

Life InsuranceToday’s top story: Life insurance questions you’re too embarrassed to ask. Also in the news: what to do with an IRA when you leave a job, when a debt collector calls to collect money you don’t owe, and the profitable business of lending to subprime borrowers.

5 Life Insurance Questions You’re Too Embarrassed to Ask
There are no dumb questions!

Why to Do an IRA Rollover When You Leave Your Job
Don’t leave money behind.

When a Collector Calls About a Debt You (Possibly) Don’t Owe
Get all the information you possibly can.

The profitable business of lending to subprime borrowers
Subprime borrowers bring in lots of extra money.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: debt collection, IRA, job changes, life insurance, subprime borrowers

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

July 20, 2016 By Liz Weston

money-vacation-saveToday’s top story: Overcoming the obstacles between you and retirement. Also in the news: What the President wants to tell college students, what happens when your debt goes to collections, and how to pay less for staying cool this summer.

5 Obstacles Between You and Retirement (and How to Overcome Them)
Clearing the pathway to a solid retirement.

5 Things the President Wants to Tell College Students
Messages for students and student loan borrowers.

What Happens When Your Debt Goes to a Collector?
Not every debt collection process is the same.

Stay cool, but pay less for electricity this summer
Your wallet’s hot enough.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: college, debt, debt collection, financial aid, Retirement, retirement planning, Student Loans

Can You Be Arrested for Debt?

February 24, 2016 By Liz Weston

handcuffgavel_istockphoto_thinkstock_12Owing money isn’t supposed to be a crime.

So why are people being arrested over delinquent student loans and other debts?

The official line for why U.S. Marshals confronted Houston resident Paul Aker earlier this month is that he failed to appear in court over a $1,500 student loan taken out three decades earlier — not that he owed the money. But that’s a distinction without a difference for many Americans who get caught in the gears of the highly profitable debt-collection industry.

In my latest for NerdWallet, find out how private law firms are convincing courts to turn civil cases into criminal ones.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: debt, debt collection, debt mills

Q&A: Getting rid of robocalls

February 22, 2016 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: We’re getting daily robocalls from collection agencies attempting to collect debts from people with names similar to our own. Generally we ignore the calls on the advice of a friend whose mother died heavily in debt and who said nothing can be gained from a conversation with Repo Man. Is that good advice?

Answer: Ignoring debt collectors isn’t always the best advice — but in this case, it is. Using autodialers and pre-recorded messages is a hallmark of scammers hoping to scare people into paying debts that aren’t theirs.

If you’re not already signed up with the federal Do Not Call Registry at www.donotcall.gov, then do so. If you are on the list, file a complaint at that site. You also can make a complaint at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint.

Another good option is signing up for a free service such as NoMoRobo, which detects many scam calls at the first ring and hangs up on them.

Filed Under: Credit & Debt, Q&A Tagged With: debt collection, q&a, robo calls

Friday’s need-to-know money news

November 6, 2015 By Liz Weston

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Steps you should take when you’re 20 years away from retirement. Also in the news: Collecting on a business debt, how to improve your budget, and how to give your investment portfolio a stress test.

8 Steps to Take When You’re 20 Years From Retirement
Time is critical.

Can a Debt Collector Come After Me for a Business Debt?
Assessing your personal risk.

Improve Your Budget By Focusing On How Much Satisfaction Your Money Buys
How much fulfillment will your purchase bring you?

Give Your Investment Portfolio a Stress Test
Hypothetical scenarios can display your portfolio’s strengths and weaknesses.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: budget, business debt, debt collection, investment portfolio, Investments, Retirement, stress test

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