Consumer Protection Law Podcast

You’ve been sued by a debt, and the lawsuit is dismissed. Can they come back at you again? It depends on how the first case was handled. In this 21 minute episode of Money Go Roundtable, Jay and Gene outline the ways in which a debt collection lawsuit can be resolved – and when you […]

Should I take out a home equity loan to pay off high interest rate credit cards?

Summer’s almost here, which means people nationwide are thinking about buying a house.  Our questions today are: Can I get a mortgage after filing for bankruptcy? How quickly can I start to rebuild my credit once Chapter 13 bankruptcy has been filed? You can get a mortgage after bankruptcy, but the timing depends on which […]

Double your pleasure with two questions about credit reporting as Gene and Jay explore Will a bankruptcy hurt my credit score? How long does negative information stay on my credit report? The Federal Reserve dropped a bombshell by releasing a major report comparing credit scores of people who filed for bankruptcy against those that did […]

Money Go Roundtable goes twice weekly, lightening your daily podcasting load without skimping on the answers you need to help keep your personal finances in order. On today's episode we answer the following questions: * Do I need to reaffirm my mortgage when I file for bankruptcy? * I'm in default on my federal student loans. The late fees are outrageous - can I get these fees adjusted and can I modify my loan? * A creditor has a judgment against me - what can they do to me?

Looking for a job is stressful, even if you’re already employed. You’ve got to get the right fit, negotiate a salary, and prepare for a learning curve at a new company. The last thing you need to worry about is whether the new employer is peeking at your credit report. Especially if you’ve got some […]

Ever notice how there weren't any characters on HBO's drama The Wire who were serving time for past due debts? That's because debtors prisons were outlawed in the United States nearly 200 years ago. And in 1983, the U.S. Supreme Court said that courts can't send people to jail just because they are too poor to pay their court fines. So you can't go to jail just because you don't pay your debts ... right?

Under federal law, the U.S. Department of Education can request that the Internal Revenue Service take your tax refund for repayment of your defaulted federal student loans.

  Why pay your rent if the landlord is in foreclosure? More important – who gets the rent if the bank is in the process of taking back the property? And what if you’re the property owner, struggling for dear life to hold on in the face of foreclosure? That rent money is probably all […]

They say that the best part of self-employment is that you are allowed to work whenever you choose. Unfortunately, with any benefit comes a burden. And for many self-employed people, budgeting is the massive burden to working for yourself. In today’s episode, Gene and Jay discuss some of the best ways to budget when you’re […]

That's one sweet ride. And you're looking for a new car, so you're ready to go for it. But as you sit down with the dealer to talk money, you wonder whether it's a better idea to pull out a credit card rather than apply for a car loan. Choose the wrong way to finance the purchase and you could be in for a load of trouble down the line. Here's our best thinking on the issue.

You want a great credit score, and you don't want to do anything to mess it up. How about that credit card you've got sitting in your sock drawer, the one you haven't used in the past few years? Close the account, or keep it open? One way protects your credit score, the other may trash it. Choose wisely.

Your boss calls you in and tells you that a debt collector has been calling about you. You're embarrassed ... but is it illegal?

If you don't pay your student loan, can your school refuse to give up your transcript? Not unless the student loan has a connection with your school.

Why Hasn't My Home Been Foreclosed After I Surrendered It In My Bankruptcy? Is it a zombie foreclosure, or something else? Learn about the difference between what you say you're going to do in bankruptcy and what really happens.