Oregon residents will be affected by the new means test/median income numbers announced by the United States Trustee Program Department of Justice. The numbers are adjusted periodically by the U.S. Trustee Program and generally have a negative impact on those wishing to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Many spouses are sued by debt collectors or medical providers for debts owed by another person–their spouse. The doctrine of “necessaries” allows the lawsuit to be filed against the spouse or parent of the treated person.

The Better Business Bureau is evolving into a consumer education and identity theft protection educational agency. Last week, the BBB joined with the National Foundation of Credit Counseling to educate the American public on prevention of identity theft.

The Oregon State Public Interest Research Group (OSPIRG) and Jeff Merkley announced the publication of a new report on issues facing consumers in Oregon from Oregon financial institutions. The report summarizes an analysis of checking accounts and found that financial institutions were charging fees without disclosing the potential for those fees to the consumer.

Debtors filing for bankruptcy protection should be concerned about their right to receive an inheritance within the six months after filing for bankruptcy (if some relative has died before filing bankruptcy or the relative dies within 180 days of the debtor’s filing), as the bankruptcy trustee can take that inheritance to pay creditors.

Karen Oakes, Southern Oregon consumer protection agency, explains five secrets about a consumer’s legal rights that the debt collection industry does not want you to know. Read the article to learn that you have rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Times have changed in the last ten years. Traveler check fraud is abundant and as a result, businesses are refusing to accept traveler’s checks in the United States. What does this trend mean for our society that businesses prefer that their customers use plastic as opposed to a classic substitute–the traveler check?

Your creditors are hoping that the consumer never finds out about the five facts listed in the article posted on Bankruptcy Law Network. The debt collectors may lie to you about these five facts about bankruptcy, hoping that consumers remain afraid that their employers, bosses, will find out about the bankruptcy filing or that the filing of a bankruptcy will affect a marriage or spouse. Don’t be misled, read more information on Bankruptcy Law Network.

Many debtors are surprised to learn that income to the bankruptcy court doesn’t just include taxable income. Income can be defined different ways depending on which section of the bankruptcy code is involved.

The American Bar Association has filed a lawsuit in the District Court in the District of Columbia seeking declaratory judgment against the Federal Trade Commission applying the new “Red Flag Rule” to attorneys. “Red Flag Rules” are supposed to protect consumers against identity theft by ensuring procedures are put in place by creditors to “flag” illegal activity.