Category: Consumer Columnists

IN this week’s article, I would like to address a bad habit that we all tend to have at times. In dealing with debt, it can mean the difference between failure and success. What am I referring to? I am referring to this nasty habit called “procrastination”. “Procrastination” is defined by the dictionary as “putting…

Client seeks discharge of $68k credit card debt CLIENT migrated to the United States when he was 16 years, which was 49 years ago. At 17, he enlisted with the armed forces. He became a corporal in the army. He was stationed in different American bases all over the world working as a mechanic maintaining…

(Part 2) LAST week, we discussed the case of a class of “Review Appraisers,” employed by Bank of America (BoA), who recently obtained approval of a settlement for $5.8 million. The employees sued BoA for alleged overtime violations, itemized wage statement violations, meal and rest period violations, waiting time penalties, and civil penalties against the…

FOR a lot of people, financial concerns can be their number one cause of stress. But worrying without acting doesn’t really solve anything. If you feel that your finances are out of whack, it’s time to take charge and to hold yourself accountable for the results.  Here are two steps that may help you reduce…

White House will hire 1,000 more employees to implement Obama’s immigration action The 3 seniors who need bankruptcy relief THIS must have been my pre valentine seniors’ week for bankruptcy relief. The first senior who comes to see me only owes $15,000 of credit card debt. She is a widow and 75 years old. She retired…

A CLASS of “Review Appraisers,” employed by Bank of America (BoA) through its subsidiary, Landsafe, recently obtained approval of a settlement for $5.8 million. The employees sued BoA for alleged overtime violations, itemaized wage statement violations, meal and rest period violations, waiting time penalties, and civil penalties against the employer. The employees, who primarily proofread…

EVERYDAY, I meet with couples who are deeply in debt. In a lot of cases, I can feel the stress level that they are experiencing while the couple is in my office. Emotions often run high and you can feel the tension in the air. There can be a lot of finger-pointing, resentment, anger, etc….

Client seeks to discharge $200k of taxes CLIENT is an investment & financial broker who advises people how to invest their retirement accounts. He is now 60 years old. During the heyday of the stock market boom before it’s collapse in 2007, client made a lot of money. Year after year, he was making between…

MARIA Nucci slipped and fell at a Target store in Palm Beach, Florida. She sued Target for personal injury, claiming, among other things, that she has become physically handicapped experiencing emotional pain and suffering, that she lost the ability to earn money, and that she will continue to suffer losses and impairment in the future….

MOST people are unaware that credit card companies will negotiate with you if they believe that it is in their best interests to do so. Many times you can negotiate a reduction of your interest rate, elimination of late charges and annual membership fees.  If you are delinquent in payments, they may even agree to…

Single client seeks BK relief CLIENT is 48 years old, single and works as a licensed vocational nurse. She used to gross $75K a year with two jobs but recently lost the 2nd job, which used to pay her $24K a year. She owes $80K of credit card debt, which requires a minimum of $2,400…

MYRA Becraft was a full-time staff psychiatrist for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at its facility in San Diego. According to the Daily Journal, Ms. Becraft sued her employer for wrongful termination based on disability discrimination. She alleged that her workload increased so dramatically that by 2011, she had to take several leaves…

DO you want to get out of debt but are afraid that filing bankruptcy may only make things worse for you? Facing difficult financial times can be a frightening thing for a lot of people. When bill collectors are calling day and night, at some point, you realize that something must be done but you…

Senior raids retirement account CLIENT is 65 and still works as a registered nurse with $70K annual gross. She divorced 5 years ago. At that time, there was community property credit card debt of $60K. By divorce judgment ex-husband was to pay half, but never did. Client made monthly payments of $1900 for the last…

Stopping those pesky communications THE telephone is one of mankind’s most remarkable inventions. It has allowed people in distant locations to connect within seconds. But like most inventions, it can be a tool for abusive practices. With the invention of cellular phones, the list of communication benefits multiplied. So did the list of complaints about…

IF YOU’RE one of the many people who got approved for loan modification many years ago under the HAMP Program, chances are that you obtained a low interest rate of 2% for 5 years and then your interest rate is set to increase  after that time period. Other homeowners either did not qualify under HAMP…

I’VE been asked this question a few times lately so I decided to write an article on it.  If you have filed bankruptcy before, you may be wondering whether it’s possible to do it again.  Generally, the answer is that you can file bankruptcy as often as needed BUT subject to some limitations such as…

WE previously wrote an article about guards who worked at CPS Security Solutions, Inc. CPS provides “trailer guards” for construction sites in California. The guards spend the night at their jobsites in residential-type trailers. They are instructed to investigate alarms and to prevent vandalism and theft. The guards were asked to sign an On-Call Agreement…