FDCPA LETTERS- SECOND CIRCUIT DECISION

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals, came out with a decision in the case

of  Avila v. RIEXINGER & ASSOCIATES, LLC, 817 F. 3d 72 – Court of

Appeals, 2nd Circuit 2016.

 

 

The Court held the following:

a collector sending a letter needs to disclose that the consumer’s balance

may increase due to interest and fees if the collection notice either

accurately informs the consumer that the amount of the debt stated in the

letter will increase over time, or clearly states that the holder of the debt

will accept payment of the amount set forth in full satisfaction of the debt

if payment is made by a specified date.

 

In simple terms, if there is going to be interest and late fees added to a

balance due on an alleged debt, the collector letter must state this fact.

 

A collection letter should use the following safe harbor information:

“As of today, [date], you owe $____ This amount consists of a principal of $____, accrued interest of $____, and fees of $____. This balance will continue to accrue interest after [date] at a rate of $____ per [day/week/month/year].”

 

In Connecticut, failure to properly disclose any fees and interest, which

continue to grow after the date of the letter will likely result in a Fair Debt

Collection Practices Act violation.

Attorney Robert M. Singer

Law Offices of Robert M. Singer, LLC

2572 Whitney Avenue

Hamden, CT  06518

203-248-8278

rsingerct@yahoo.com

 

ELECTRICAL DEREGULATION – HIGH COSTS – AND RIP OFFS

The State of Connecticut deregulated the electricity market.   What this means is that Connecticut residents can use third party electricity generation suppliers.

I remember when I was at a Chamber of Commerce meeting, and the electric company representative assured everyone that deregulation would lower rates.

It didn’t work out that way.  Connecticut has some of the highest rates for electric power in the country.

I had  switched to a third party supplier, several years ago.  As is common, the supplier offered a low rate for several months.  The low rate is a teaser rate.   Watch out after the teaser rate end.  You may be surprised to find that your rate goes way up, higher than you have ever seen.

After reviewing my bill, I switched back to United Illuminating.

Attorney Robert M. Singer

Law Offices of Robert M. Singer, LLC

2572 Whitney Avenue

Hamden, CT  06518

203-248-8278

rsingerct@yahoo.com

CREDIT COUNSELING – AT THE RIGHT PRICE

The Federal Trade Commission has information on dealing with debt on

its Website at

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0150-coping-debt#debt

 

As an attorney, I have seen too many clients pay too much money to

companies which claim to be “credit counselors.”   There are things you

can do to ensure that you get good counseling at a reasonable price.

 

First of all, make sure that any credit counseling agency is a “non profit

corporation,” recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.  You can contact

the IRS, to determine if the service is recognized.

 

Second, use a credit counseling service with a local office.  In many

instances, people send money to an agency which is out of state, and

getting very little, if any help in return.  This reminds me of the Nigerian

scam, where you are promised millions, if you only send a small

processing fee of a few hundred dollars.

 

Third, the credit counseling service should be paid as you are paying off

the debt.  I will now describe what I call ripoff scene #1.

  1. A debt management company tells you that you should stop paying all of your unsecured debt
  2. The company tells you that you need to save money to pay off the debt.
  3. The company claims that they can get the creditor to take 10% to 25% of the amount owed.
  4. The company indicates that you need to save money to pay off the debt, at the reduced amount
  5. The company claims that you can put the money into a trust account which they will establish for you.

NOW WATCH OUT FOR WHAT THEY DON’T TELL YOU COMPLETELY

  1. The company makes most of its money up front, from the fees you are paying.  Often you will first pay the company $2,000 to $3,000, before any money goes into the trust account
  2. There is no guarantee that any creditor will accept 10% to 25% of the principal and interest due.
  3. The interest charges continue to grow, while you are not paying the creditor.
  4. If you have many creditors, some of the creditors are likely to sue you, before you have enough money in the escrow account, to cut a deal

With a reputable credit counseling agency, such as Money Management

International, you pay no up-front charges. The agency works out a

payment plan to pay off of the creditors.  Many of the creditors accept a

reduced interest rate, in exchange for regular payments.

 

A honest credit counseling agency will tell you that you need to file

bankruptcy, because you cannot afford to pay off your creditors.

Attorney Robert M. Singer

Law Offices of Robert M. Singer, LLC

2572 Whitney Avenue

Hamden, CT  06518

203-248-8278

rsingerct@yahoo.com

 

AUTO  INSURANCE- FULL COVERAGE IS NOT GOOD COVERAGE

 

I have been told, many times, by clients that they have “full coverage” for their automobile.  What I have learned is that “full coverage” is not often the same as good coverage.  There are different types of coverage.  I am going to review some of the different types of coverage.

  1. Collision Coverage – Collision covers damage to your own vehicle, such as hitting another vehicle, a parked car, or an object (such as an item in the road), by collision or upset. When getting collision coverage  you need to first consider the deductible amount; raise the deductible and you lower the premium costs.  Also, for very old cars, with little value (under $1,000), collision is a waste of money.

However, I had a car with approximately 110,000 miles and a value of under $3,000.  I decided to drop the collision coverage, just before a hit and run driver totaled my car.  Fortunately, the hit and run driver was arrested by the police, and he had insurance.  I was lucky to get the $2,400 insurance reimbursement.

  1. Comprehensive Coverage –  covers damage to your vehicle from anything besides collision or upset.  Some common comprehensive situations include water damage, hail damage, theft, or fire damage.  You will have a deductible for comprehensive coverage.  Consider raising the amount of deductible, or eliminating comprehensive coverage for an old vehicle.
  1. MedPay (Or PIP in some states) is auto insurance coverage which pays for medical bills incurred as a result of an accident.  MedPay covers for people in the insured car, regardless of who causes the accident.

For people without insurance, this can be especially important, to get the necessary medical care after an accident.

In general, I have seen insurance with MedPay amounts of $5,000 to $10,000 per person.  In most situations, this is sufficient.

  1. Property Damage – This covers damage to personal or real property.   The most common situation is damage to another person’s vehicle.

Generally, in auto accidents cases, the damage is below $20,000; however it is wise to have at least $50,000 in coverage.  I have seen a property damage bill is excess of $100,000 where the damage was to a prototype vehicle, and custom made parts needed to be replaced.

  1. Bodily Injury – covers other peoples bodily injuries as a result of a driver’s fault (negligence).  If you are at fault, the bodily injury coverage does not cover your injuries; rather you can get medical care under your MedPay.

Many people have the state minimum amount of bodily injury coverage.  In Connecticut, the state minimum coverage is only $20,000 per injured person, and $40,000 per incident (to cover all person’s injured in an accident.  (“20/40” coverage)

Unless you have no assets to protect, you need to get more coverage.  “Full coverage” is not 20/40.   In my opinion, the minimum amount of protection a driver needs to $100,000 per person, and $300,000 per incident (often it is wiser to have even more coverage).

  1. Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UIM).  For your financial health – you must understand UIM coverage. The situation where you need this coverage can be described as follows

Mr. John T. Klutz is driving his 1998 Chevy Impala, with 258,000 miles on it.  John drives through a red light and slams into your car, a 2016 Buick, which just came off the dealer’s lot.  You are rushed to the hospital for car.  After treatment, your medical bills are $28,000.  You have a 14% permanent disability to your back, due to a problem in your back (disc), which was evaluated by a neurosurgeon.  In your state, you are entitled to recover your medical bills and money for pain and suffering.  Your attorney tells you that he thinks the total value of your case is $85,000.

If John has no insurance , and no assets, you will need to look to your own uninsured motorist coverage for recovery of your personal injury claim.

If John has insurance – a policy with a limit of $20,00 per person, his insurance company will likely pay you the $20,000, and you need to look to your own underinsured motorist coverage for further recovery.

The UIM coverage protects you, if you are in an auto accident, in which someone else is at fault.  Get UIM coverage of at least $100,000 per person, and $300,000 per accident, to protect yourself from other peoples negligence.  (To fully understand the terms of your policy, you need to talk to a property/casualty agent, preferably one who is not captive, works for only one insurance company).

  1. RENTAL COVERAGE – covers rental vehicles. This vehicle comes in handy when you are renting a car.  Don’t double pay for rental coverage, to a rental agency.

Attorney Robert M. Singer

Law Offices of Robert M. Singer, LLC

2572 Whitney Avenue

Hamden, CT  06518

203-248-8278

rsingerct@yahoo.com

STUDENT LOANS – INCOME BASED REPAYMENT PLANS

Unfortunately, too many former students are unable to pay back their loans, under the regular terms of the loan.

Anyone with too much student loan debt should consider a income based repayment plan.

For general information about the plans, see the webstie below

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/understand/plans/income-driven

What the plans provide is that someone who owes money on a federal student loan may be able to get into a payment plan to pay back the loan based on income.

These plans can be very helpful in a situation in which a debtor has a large debt load with not enough income to make the regular loan payments.

What is important to understand is that the payment plan is based on income, not the amount of the debt.    Therefore, the plan can drastically reduce the amount of the payment.

Attorney Robert M. Singer

Law Offices of Robert M. Singer, LLC

2572 Whitney Avenue

Hamden, CT  06518

203-248-8278

rsingerct@yahoo.com

CHECK CASHING – PAYING FOR A FREE SERVICE

 

According to  Consumerist.com, the legally allowed fees for check

cashing services range from 1% to 3% of the check amount, depending on

state law.   Nobody should doubt that some check cashing  business charge

much more than the legal fees.    Millions of Americans do not have a

checking account, so they are eating up their income with fees.

 

Walmart recently went into the check cashing business.  According

to an article on 8/9/2011 in www.dailyfinance.com, Walmarts fees are $3

for a check, less than $1,000.  Walmart may not offer this relatively

inexpensive service in all states.

 

For most people, there is little excuse for not having a checking

account, particularly when many banks offer free checking for customers

who keep a minimum balance, which may be as low as $1,000.

Law Offices of Robert M. Singer, LLC

2572 Whitney Avenue

Hamden, CT  06518

203-248-8278

rsingerct@yahoo.com

 

DISCHARGING STUDENT LOANS IN BANKRUPTCY

The Connecticut Bankruptcy Courts looks to the case of Brunner v. New

York State High Education Services Corp.   Brunner is a decision from 1987

by the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York.  The citation is 831

F.2d 395.

In simple terms, a debtor must prove that the student loans cause an

“undue hardship.”

There is a three part test to determine if there is an undue hardship.

  1. The debtor cannot maintain, based on current income and expenses, a “minimal” standard of living for herself and her dependents if forced to repay the loans
  2. That additional circumstances exist indicating that this state of affairs is likely to persist for a significant portion of the repayment period of the student loans and (two requirements)
  3. The debtor has made good faith efforts to repay the loans (emphasis added)

A debtor must satisfy all three parts of the test to get a discharge.

In many cases, the first part of the test is relatively easy to satisfy.

There are many situations in which debtors simply do not have any extra

money to pay off a student loan.

With regard to part 3 of the test, unfortunately ,  a debtor may have had

many student loan deferments.  In these cases , a court is likely to find

that there was no good faith effort to repay.

In my view, Part 2 of the test is the most difficult to satisfy.   The key

point is there must be “additional” circumstances  and the circumstance

is likely to persist for a “significant” portion of the repayment period.

I have seen rare but unique situations which satisfy both requirements

of this rule.   The additional situation typically involves health issues.

The health issues are long term problems which prevent a person from

working, and thereby paying back a loan or loans.

The circumstances must be likely to persist for a “significant” portion

of the repayment period.  Therefore, a temporary problem would not

satisfy this rule.   An argument that a person is unemployed or under-

employed should be insufficient, as an employment situation can change

at any time.

Attorney Robert M. Singer

Law Offices of Robert M. Singer, LLC

2572 Whitney Avenue

Hamden, CT  06518

203-248-8278

rsingerct@yahoo.com

MONEY ORDERS – NO ALTERNATIVE TO A CHECKING ACCOUNT

I have had clients tell me that they do not have a checking account.  Not only do these clients pay for check cashing, they use money orders to pay bills.  Most often, the clients are using the post office money orders

The cost for a Walmart Money Order is about $.60 each.  For the Post Office, the rate is about $1.15 for an order up to $500, and $1.55 for an order up to $1,000.  These fees can add up quickly.

What I have learned to do is pay bills electronically, through my bank account.  The electronic bill pay avoids the costs of the money order, and the postage fees.  My estimate of savings on 20 checks and 20 stamps is $16 per month.

Attorney Robert M. Singer

Law Offices of Robert M. Singer, LLC

2572 Whitney Avenue

Hamden, CT  06518

203-248-8278

rsingerct@yahoo.com

TAX REFUND LOANS- VERY EXPENSIVE SHORT TERM BORROWING

As the website for Jackson Hewitt states, a “refund anticipation loan” is a loan by a third party, typically a bank, and secured by a tax refund. You get your money immediately, rather than waiting for a refund from the IRS, and/or state tax authority.

As the same website states, the Bank charges a credit investigation fee, and a finance charge may apply.

This is a very expensive short term loan.  For example, if you receive a $1,000 refund for a $75 fee, and the refund takes the IRS 30 days to process, you are paying 7.5% for a 30 day loan.

According to IRS website, Publication 2046, the projected time from electronic filing your tax return to  direct deposit (of the refund money to your  bank account) is normally approximately 10 days.  You can provide your bank information on your return to the IRS.

Although there is no guarantee that you will get the IRS electronic refund in 10 days, in general, it is better to avoid the bank fees.

Attorney Robert M. Singer

Law Offices of Robert M. Singer, LLC

2572 Whitney Avenue

Hamden, CT  06518

203-248-8278

rsingerct@yahoo.com

CREDIT CARD CASH ADVANCES – FEES UP FRONT, INTEREST ON THE BACK

 

When receiving a credit card, consumers almost never look at the credit card agreement.  It takes a long time to read and understand the fine print; the print is not really fine, but small.  And the wording can be confusing, for everyone, including a lawyer.

In general, credit card companies allow consumers to take a “cash advance” against the card.

Usually, there is a separate borrowing limit for cash advances, as compared to purchases.

The website www.bankrate.com has an article on the “Cost of cash advances.”  Everyone should read the article.

There are four bad reasons to get a cash advance:

  1. Immediate processing fee for the advance – normally 2 to 4% of the amount of the advance
  2. Typically, the rates are much higher for cash advances than purchases,  commonly over 20% per year
  3. There is no grace period as with purchases – interest starts from the day you get the cash advance (with purchases, if you pay off the balance in the first billing cycle, you avoid interest charges)
  4. Payments on account are first applied to purchases before cash advances. You need to fully pay off your balance for purchases, before any money is applied to the cash advance balance.  As an example, if you have a $10,000 purchase balance at 10%, and a cash advance balance of $5,000 at 18% interest per year, you need to pay off the $10,000 purchase balance, before you get credit for payments to the cash advance balance.

Cash advances are to be avoided, at all times.

Attorney Robert M. Singer

Law Offices of Robert M. Singer, LLC

2572 Whitney Avenue

Hamden, CT  06518

203-248-8278

rsingerct@yahoo.com