Tag: westgate law Archive
Can Debt Collectors Demand Payment from Third Parties?
Justin Harelik
July 15, 2016
We know from a previous article that debt collectors are governed by strict guidelines; some of which restrict their contact with third parties in regards to your debt. Yet it is obvious that the reality of the matter has collectors breaking a lot of the rules a lot of the ...
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Bankruptcy Basics: Legality of Debt Collection from 3rd Parties
Justin Harelik
July 13, 2016
When it comes to debt collection, it all feels wrong. It feels mean and unjust and underhanded even when the collector is attempting to collect on a valid debt. This feeling of being “wronged” by the people and/or companies that are trying to get money out of you to pay ...
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Can a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Payment be Deferred?
Justin Harelik
July 11, 2016
When you declare Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the bankruptcy court determines a set pay schedule for a pre-determined amount of time. In cases where unforeseen events cause major dips and dives in the income of bankruptcy filers post-bankruptcy, they can come up against a major problem: the inability to make the ...
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Determining Whether You Owe on a 2nd Mortgage Post-Bankruptcy
Justin Harelik
July 7, 2016
Was your home equity loan reaffirmed during your bankruptcy? Have you been making payments towards the debt religiously ever since your discharge without being sure if they are being applied or not? Do you actually owe the debt or was it included in your bankruptcy discharge? These are huge questions ...
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You Co-Signed and They Defaulted, What’s the Next Step?
Justin Harelik
July 4, 2016
If anyone ever calls you and asks you to cosign a loan for them, regardless of who they are, your answer should be no. Don’t do it – unless you like the idea of financial trouble and pending bankruptcy proceedings. If you’re going to ignore this sage wisdom and become ...
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The Meaning of Surrender in Terms of Bankruptcy
Justin Harelik
July 1, 2016
When you’re filing bankruptcy, the word “surrender” doesn’t actually mean surrender. Bankruptcy has a way of altering the meaning of words that we all think we know under normal circumstances and surrender just happens to be one of them. For instance, many bankruptcy petitioners surrender their car or their property. ...
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The Four C’s: Analyzing a Credit Application
Justin Harelik
June 29, 2016
There are four major elements of a general underwriter’s guidelines in reviewing and analyzing a credit application for the lender. We like to call it the Four C’s: credit, capacity, collateral, and character. The Four C’s: Credit – The applications you submit immediately after bankruptcy, at the beginning of your ...
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What Makes Up Your Credit Score?
Justin Harelik
June 28, 2016
It’s one thing to decide that you are going to rebuild your credit score after bankruptcy, but it’s another thing to do it – particularly when you aren’t sure where credit scores come from. What makes up your credit score? Payment History (35%) Outstanding Debt (30%) Age of Your Credit ...
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Tell Your Bankruptcy Story: Your Very Own Sound Bite
Justin Harelik
June 27, 2016
According research, over 80% of bankruptcy petitioners have dealt with: illness, divorce, or unemployment. What’s your bankruptcy story? Prepare your very own 30-40 second sound bite explaining why you filed for bankruptcy protection. This is important because as you begin your quest towards a credit score of 720, you are ...
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Filing Bankruptcy: When To Stop Making Payments to Creditors
Justin Harelik
May 31, 2016
When you decide to declare bankruptcy, you must make a comprehensive list of all creditors to which you owe money. Every one of them must be listed in the paperwork as bankruptcy is designed to treat all creditors fairly in regards to payment and nonpayment. Depending on the petitioner’s specific ...
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