Debt Settlement and Debt Consolidation vs. Bankruptcy

Is bankruptcy a better option for managing debt?

Is bankruptcy a better option for managing debt?

Debt settlement and debt consolidation rarely work in favor of consumers. There is no guarantee that they will work. So how does it work? Basically, debt settlement and consolidation companies have you pay them to settle your debts for you.

They have no special bargaining powers or authority to make your creditors settle. If a creditor does not want to settle, they can simply refuse, keep charging you late fees and interest, while you keep paying the settlement company to basically do nothing.

Bankruptcy gives you protection under the law. After your case is filed, the Federal Bankruptcy Court issues an Automatic Stay, which grants automatic and immediate protection from your creditors. From there on out, your debts are handled under court supervision and creditors cannot continue to charge late fees or interest.

Liz Weston from NerdWallet wrote a great article detailing why debt settlement and debt consolidation are BAD alternatives to bankruptcy, how they hurt you more in the long term.

The article is a few years old but still applies, check it out @ https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/business/2017/08/30/debt-settlement-a-bad-alternative-to-bankruptcy/46331397/

Dial 1-800-CALL-PFG for a free phone mini-consultation, or make an appointment online 24/7 at www.infotapes.com.  Bankruptcy laws are in place to help you.  Who knows bankruptcy like Geraci Law?  Geraci Law has 30,000 5-star reviews 5starsince November 2016!

Read ALL ABOUT DEBT RELIEF at www.bankruptcybookbypeterfrancisgeraci.com.

Wage Assignments & Deductions and How You Can STOP Them!

Creditors can collect from you in several ways. A favorite way is to take money from your paycheck. Most states provide for both wage assignments and wage deduction orders. Internet loans are the WORST!

Did you know you can be sued for a credit card bill? A medical bill? A balance on a car that you voluntarily gave back? Creditors will file a LAWSUIT against you in attempt to collect the balance.

Below is Chapter 31 from Attorney Peter Francis Geraci’s “The Complete Book on Bankruptcy,” titled, “Wage Assignments & Deductions and How you Can Stop Them.” Read this and more @ https://www.bankruptcybookbypeterfrancisgeraci.com/

CHAPTER #31 Wage Assignments & Deductions and How you Can Stop Them

Creditors can collect from you in several ways. A favorite way is to take money from your paycheck. Most states provide for both wage assignments and wage deduction orders. Internet loans are the WORST!

Wage assignments are voluntary authorizations many creditors make you sign when you make a loan. You are authorizing them to take an amount, up to 15% of your gross pay, if you don’t make your regular payments. Wage assignments last four weeks, and then must be renewed by the creditor. You get a warning before a demand is made on your employer.

Wage deductions are made after a judgment in court is entered against you, after a lawsuit. The creditor serves papers on your employer, who must then withhold 15% of your gross pay for about 10 weeks, and turn it over to the creditor.

Levies are used by governmental units. The IRS can take almost all of your paycheck. If you owe on a student loan, the state agency can take your income tax refund. If you work for the state, and owe on a state insured loan, they can take a large part of your paycheck.

A bankruptcy will stop all of these actions, even though most of the time, you have no defense to the collection efforts in the regular lawsuit in a state court. Bankruptcy also stops lawsuits. If the debt you are being sued for is one you cannot discharge in a bankruptcy, such as a recent student loan, you could pay it in a Chapter 13, or have your bankruptcy attorney make a deal to pay it after the bankruptcy gets rid of your other problems.

If the employer is holding money that was taken from your check, but it has not been turned over to the creditor, it may be possible to void the creditor’s right to get it, and have it turned over for your benefit. You should get a copy of the papers from your employer, and find out exactly how much has been taken and when it is due to be turned over.

If your only debt is one from a lawsuit, and you already have child support taken out, most states provide that no more than 15% of your gross can be subject to deduction. Therefore, if you are having 20% deducted for child support, no other deductions are permitted. Also, federal law provides that you cannot have a deduction if you make less than 30 times the minimum wage, so part time workers very often are immune from wage deductions.

If you are immune from wage deductions, the only thing a creditor can do is seize other property, such as bank accounts.

We get our first call from many clients when they receive a wage deduction summons or a wage assignment. This makes them realize that their problems are serious, and they then admit that they need help from a bankruptcy lawyer. If you are dumb enough to wait until you are sued, at least be smart enough to have some money saved to pay a bankruptcy attorney.

Problem: Chris has been sued, and now the creditor has a judgment, and issued papers that require the employer to take 15% of his paycheck to satisfy the judgment.

The Peter Francis Geraci Chapter 7 or 13 Solution: The filing of a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 will stop any wage deduction the date the bankruptcy petition is filed. Chris got his mom to pay the attorney to do the bankruptcy, and he is giving her his tax refund when it comes back.

Dial 1-800-CALL-PFG for a free phone mini-consultation, or make an appointment online 24/7 at www.infotapes.com.  Bankruptcy laws are in place to help you.  Who knows bankruptcy like Geraci Law?  Geraci Law has 30,000 5-star reviews 5starsince November 2016!

Read ALL ABOUT DEBT RELIEF at www.bankruptcybookbypeterfrancisgeraci.com

Do You Live in a Bankruptcy Assistance Desert?

Below is an article written by Attorney Peter Francis Geraci titled, “Do you live in a Bankruptcy Assistance Desert?” You can read more articles by Attorney Geraci at https://www.infotapes.com/Articles.

Below is an article written by Attorney Peter Francis Geraci titled, “Do you live in a Bankruptcy Assistance Desert?” You can read more articles by Attorney Geraci at https://www.infotapes.com/Articles.

Do you live in a “Bankruptcy Legal Desert”? According to the American Bar Association’s 2020 Profile of the Legal Profession, you may. 40% of America’s counties have less than 1 lawyer per 1000 residents, and some have way less.

And it gets worse depending on what you need a lawyer for. An article in the Indiana Lawyer journal says “simply having lawyers in a county doesn’t guarantee they are available to the public”, because many work for governments or corporations.

Depending on what you need an attorney for, it may be a real problem. You may have to drive for an hour, or even longer, to the location of an attorney that is able to represent you in a specific matter.

Take bankruptcy, for instance. Outside of major cities, there are usually only 1 or 2 lawyers who practice consumer bankruptcy law. And often, they don’t do much of it, only a case here and there, and may do only Chapter 7 cases, not Chapter 13 repayment plans which are at least 1/3 of bankruptcy filings nationwide.

One reason is, once you get away from the “big city”, there aren’t a large number of bankruptcies, because the population is thinner. In sparsely populated areas, there may not be any lawyers for any particular kind of matter. The lawyers in those counties, therefore, don’t get the experience of an attorney who practices exclusively in bankruptcy court.

They may be excellent lawyers, but your options are very limited, both by the lack of lawyers, and the lack of lawyers who actually practice bankruptcy law. It used to be even worse for bankruptcy, because the bankruptcy courts are Federal courts, and usually only located in downtown office buildings in the largest cities, such as Orlando, Indianapolis, Chicago, and Milwaukee.

Chapter 13 trustees for an entire region of millions of people may be 2 hours away from those living outside the downtown areas. Lawyers, as well as clients, had to waste an entire day traveling to court, standing around waiting for a hearing, and getting back to the office or home. But not any more!

What happened? COVID! Lawyers and courts discovered Zoom, and learned how to keep the courts running remotely, or “virtually”. Geraci Law was providing remote, or “virtual” bankruptcy services to its clients for years. Geraci Law bankruptcy clients enjoy the Geraci Law “Client Corner” client portal, and can set virtual or office appointments, message their attorney, sign and upload documents, and even attend bankruptcy hearings, remotely, on their cell phones!

This means that if you live in a rural area, or even in a big city, you don’t have to battle rush hour, find a sitter, take a day off work, or drive an hour to find a bankruptcy lawyer.

All you need is your cell phone or computer. Geraci Law is available to help you virtually! Use the Geraci Law Office Locator at www.infotapes.com to find a virtual or physical Geraci Law office near you. Get your basic information by going to www.bankruptcybookbypeterfrancisgeraci.com and using the Search tool. You’ll find the answers to the most often-asked bankruptcy questions, before you call to become a Geraci Law client, and get debt-free!

Dial 1-800-CALL-PFG for a free phone mini-consultation, or make an appointment online 24/7 at www.infotapes.com.  Bankruptcy laws are in place to help you.  Who knows bankruptcy like Geraci Law?  Geraci Law has 30,000 5-star reviews 5starsince November 2016!

Read ALL ABOUT DEBT RELIEF at www.bankruptcybookbypeterfrancisgeraci.com.

Stop Lawsuits!

Geraci Law can help you STOP a lawsuit with a Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. We can help with foreclosure, wage garnishments and judgments.

Stop Lawsuits!

Did you receive a notice about a lawsuit in the mail?  Did the Sheriff knock on your door and hand you a summons? Are you worried about foreclosure and your home?

Geraci Law can help you figure out what your options are regarding past due balances. We offer bankruptcy as an option to STOP the lawsuit.

Filing a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy will stop a lawsuit from a creditor. Geraci Law offers FREE consultations with our experienced attorneys to help you figure it out. Filing a bankruptcy can prevent:

  • Foreclosure
  • Garnishment
  • Judgments
  • Liens against personal property or bank accounts

If you are being garnished already or if a default judgment is already entered, filing a bankruptcy can STOP any future collections. If there is a suit filed, NOW is the time to consult with a Geraci Law bankruptcy attorney. We can advise if bankruptcy is a solution to your problem.

Even if you are getting threats for a lawsuit from collection agencies, give us a call. Solve the problem before a lawsuit is filed on public record. Geraci Law is happy to meet with you via video, in office or by phone.

Dial 1-800-CALL-PFG for a free phone mini-consultation, or make an appointment online 24/7 at www.infotapes.com.  Bankruptcy laws are in place to help you.  Who knows bankruptcy like Geraci Law?  Geraci Law has 30,000 5-star reviews 5starsince November 2016!

Read ALL ABOUT DEBT RELIEF at www.bankruptcybookbypeterfrancisgeraci.com.