Author Archives: Jay Butchko
You Guessed It: Medical Debt Is The Leading Cause Of Bankruptcy
You might have a coworker who, given the opportunity, will grouse about her ex-husband who declared bankruptcy right after they divorced, and she thinks he only did it to reduce the amount of child support he would have to pay. After she filed for divorce, Mr. Wonderful bought a fancy new car and traveled… Read More »
Why Do Creditors Sell Your Debt?
When you get a call from a collection agency, it is natural to react by saying something like, “Who do you think you are? I don’t owe you money!” The more you think about it, the more infuriating it is. There are businesses the entire purpose of which is to harass people about debts… Read More »
Should You Negotiate With The Original Creditor After A Collection Agency Contacts You?
Collection agencies ask you all kinds of intrusive questions about your finances, but they are usually not especially forthcoming about how your debt became their business in the first place. There are several ways that a collection agency can get the right to seek payment of a debt from you. The trouble is that… Read More »
Philadelphia Home Contractor Allegedly Absconds With Victim’s Security Deposit
When you hire a contractor to make repairs to your house, you should first ask them to show proof of their licenses and insurance; if you hire an uninsured or unlicensed contractor, you face an uphill battle in getting your own homeowner’s insurance to pay for any damage the incompetent contractor causes. It is… Read More »
5 Ways To Make Your Parent PLUS Loan Balances Shrink Or Disappear
The business of selling a “college experience followed by a lucrative job” dream to prospective students and their families is a huge industry. Students are not the only ones whose dreams are dashed once the student loan bills begin arriving. Parent PLUS loans are among the most insidious types of student loans. Most applicants… Read More »
Mill Hall Roofing Contractor Faces Charges For Home Improvement Fraud
When you hire a contractor to make repairs to your house, choosing a contracting company wisely takes effort on the customer’s part. Unless someone you personally know has recommended the contractor to you, you should read online reviews, and red flags should go up not only if there are multiple negative reviews, but also… Read More »
The PSLF Program In Its Current State Is A Mess, But A Consumer Law Attorney Can Help
Student loan debt has been a national crisis for years, and millions of borrowers have hinged their hopes on the Biden administration’s promises to make student loan forgiveness more accessible to former students struggling to repay the federal loans they took out to fund their education. Promises to forgive a certain amount for all… Read More »
United Healthcare Institutes New Policy of Denying Claims of Patients Who Visited the Emergency Room for Non-Emergency Reasons
Among people without health insurance, avoidance of medical treatment has become a national epidemic. When people get sick, they often assume that the medical bills they will have to pay out of pocket will be more painful than the illness itself, so they stay away from doctors and hospitals until their symptoms become unbearable… Read More »
Beware Of Parent PLUS Loans
Saving money to fund your children’s college education is a dream for many parents, but as the cost of university tuition has skyrocketed since today’s parents were in college, that dream has become unattainable. You may have put checks that you received as wedding gifts or enclosed in cards attached to the crocheted blankets… Read More »
Public Universities In Pennsylvania Will No Longer Refer Unpaid Student Fees To Collection Agencies
Even if you have scholarships and grants, even if you hold paid employment every semester that you are in college, and even if your parents have lived below their means for your entire life in order to build a college fund for you, higher education has a way of hitting Generation X and everyone… Read More »
