Finding Your Creditors Prior to Filing Bankruptcy

Debtors across both Oregon and Washington often wonder how they will possibly discover all their creditors prior to filing bankruptcy. Luckily, Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act,  you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report each year.

While it is possible to access your credit report online, many  credit reporting companies require you to give up many of your rights prior to giving you access to your credit report through their websites. Even after they give you access to your report,  you have to make your way through a maze of offers to purchase services that you do not necessarily need. This being the case, the reality is that the best way to get your report is to request it by mail.

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Posted in Bankruptcy Information for Oregon and Washington, Consumer Protection in Oregon and Washington, Oregon and Washington Bankruptcy Issues in the News, Portland, Oregon Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Salem, Oregon Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Vancouver, Washington Chapter 13 Bankruptcy  |  By: Thomas McAvity

Payday Loans Cause Bankruptcy?

Payday loans are hazerdous to your financial health: People who take out payday loans are nearly eight times more likely to file bankruptcy than those who don’t.  Yet each year eleven million American families take out payday loans often at a 500% yearly interest rate.

Not suprisingly a clear correlation between payday loans and bankruptcy has now been established.  Recent studies have shown that upon approval, first-time payday loan applicants in both Oregon and Washington become nearly twice as likely to file bankruptcy.

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Posted in Consumer Protection in Oregon and Washington, Oregon and Washington Bankruptcy Issues in the News, Oregon and Washington Mortgage Issues, Portland, Oregon Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, bankruptcy portland  |  By: Thomas McAvity

Student Loan Relief?

A new report released Thursday on the private student lending industry offers a bit of deja vu.

The report entitled “Too Small To Help: The Plight of Financially Distressed Student Loan Borrowers,” notes regretfully that “unlike the lenders that made these loans” — potential beneficiaries of the government’s TALF and TARP bailouts — “the borrowers are ‘too small’ to help.”

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Posted in Consumer Protection in Oregon and Washington  |  By: Thomas McAvity

NEW LAW ALLOWS OREGON ATTORNEY GENERAL TO GO AFTER ILLEGAL DEBT COLLECTORS

A new law will allow the Oregon Department of Justice to crack down on debt collectors who illegally harass Oregonians.

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Posted in Consumer Protection in Oregon and Washington  |  By: Thomas McAvity