August 2008

Bankruptcy Filings Nearing Million

by Jill Michaux, Kansas Bankruptcy Attorney

Almost a million bankruptcy cases were filed in the United States in the past year ending June 30, 2008, according to statistics released by the government. Consumer filings were up 28.4 percent and business filings were up 41.6 percent compared to a year ago.

A Simple Tip To Protect Against Identity Theft

by Jay Fleischman, New York Bankruptcy Lawyer

Identity theft is rampant in this country, and we’ve previously reporting on ways to reduce the risk of identity theft.  But we’re always looking for an easier way to get things done. Technology has made life in the 21st century a breeze in comparison to the lives our grandparents lived.  The Internet has been the [...]

BAPCPA Doesn’t Protect Mobile Home Lenders

by Wendell Sherk, Missouri Bankruptcy Attorney

Bankruptcy law allows the modification of a mobile home loan in Chapter 13, the Eighth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel ruled this week. The 2005 amendments to bankruptcy law did not add mobile homes to real estate mortgages which are generally protected from modification. Chapter 13 generally allows a person to modify the repayment owed to [...]

I Am Going To File (Or Am In) Bankruptcy. Can I List My House For Sale?

by Susanne Robicsek, North Carolina Bankruptcy Attorney

Listing your house for sale at the same time that you are filing for bankruptcy involves a number of issues, and the answer to the question is a case by case basis. Can you do it? Probably. Should you do it? That needs to be answered by an attorney in your area. Your bankruptcy attorney [...]

Congress Moves To Level The Playing Field Between Banks And Consumers

by Jay Fleischman, New York Bankruptcy Lawyer

Credit card company raise your interest rate without notice, pulling the rug out from under you?  If so, you may be in luck. Boston.com reports on a bill currently pending in Congress would stop credit card companies from just deciding it’s time for them to get more money by raising your interest rates and fees. [...]

Removing Old Information From Your Credit Report

by Jay Fleischman, New York Bankruptcy Lawyer

Old notations on your credit report are supposed to be removed after a specified period of time.  The problem is that most people don’t know just how long is too long. Under 15 USC 1681c, a credit reporting agency must remove information that is too old to be reported.  Such information that must be removed [...]