For people in Texas facing a serious medical diagnosis, debt may be a major concern. Medical debt poses a serious problem for far too many Americans, even those with health insurance. Around 20% of insured Americans continue to struggle to pay off medical debt. Many...
Year: 2019
Judgments and bankruptcy
When individuals living in Texas file for bankruptcy, they typically do so because they need a fresh financial start. While most types of debts can be discharged in bankruptcy, there are a few exceptions. One type of debt that can be nondischargeable is a court...
Lawmakers propose bill to allow discharging student debt
Texas residents who are struggling with unmanageable student loan debt might be able to get some relief if a proposed bill is passed by Congress. The legislation has backers from both the Republican and Democratic parties. Called the Student Borrower Bankruptcy Relief...
Can you continue to use a credit card in bankruptcy?
Bankruptcy generally has different connotations whether the filing party is an individual or business. When individuals file for bankruptcy, it generally means they have fallen too far into debt and need help getting out. Most people would probably not say they are...
Texas consumers increasingly unable to pay credit card balances
Credit card charge-offs increased to 3.82% in the first quarter of 2019, which was the highest rate since 2012. Capital One had a charge-off rate of 5.04% during that time period. Furthermore, the seven largest credit card companies said that the number of accounts 30...
A bankruptcy may fade over time
Filing for bankruptcy will have an impact on a person's credit score. However, there are scenarios in which a person in Texas will see his or her score increase after doing so. This is because most debts that were previously on a credit report will have been...
Trustee opposes bankruptcy protection for tv star
The television show "American Chopper" attracted many fans in Texas, but one of the reality show's stars has continued the real-life drama in bankruptcy court. Paul Teutul Sr., the famously cranky patriarch of the show, now faces opposition from the trustee of a...
How to repair credit properly after a bankruptcy
Filing for bankruptcy could be an effective way to help a Texas resident get control over their finances. However, it can also have an impact on a person's credit score. While it is possible to repair a credit score, the only way to do so is by spending time making...
FDCPA grants debtors rights when contacted by collectors
Although Texas consumers who are falling behind on payments might feel powerless when confronted by debt collection agencies, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act places limits on the behavior of these companies. This federal law establishes that collectors cannot...
Chapter 7 bankruptcy’s impact on medical debt
Chapter 7 is, by far, the most common type of bankruptcy individuals file for. According to data, 794,960 total bankruptcy filings took place between January 1st, 2016 and December 31st, 2016. Out of all those filings, 490,365 were Chapter 7. Chapter 7...