How Do Creditors Manage to Find Debtors with Such Seeming Ease?

By Christopher C. Carr, Esq. Chester County bankruptcy* attorney.*

Tel: 610-380-7969 Email: cccarresq@aol.com Web: westchesterbankruptcyattorney.org

One of the prime indicators that someone may need to file bankruptcy is when they start to get bombarded by calls and letters from creditors.

Well, just how do creditors manage to locate debtors? Especially in our mobile society where that have moved to a different city or even state, with no forwarding address.

Social Media: Think creditors (and others) are not monitoring the information you post publicly? Think again, virtually any information you might post, such as where you work, live, shop, etc., can unwittingly provide vital clues as to your whereabouts.
Credit Card Applications: This is one of the most fruitful resources for your creditors. Not only is your residential address and contact information listed, so are references, contacts and acquaintances that creditors can use to track you down if you have relocated. Banks, credit references or relatives may also be detailed on the application and these also can provide promising leads.
Relatives, Friends, Acquaintances, Neighbors, Etc. These types of contacts are still acceptable if done properly. Collection agents may contact any number of people to get information on you, though there are some restrictions as to how/when they can do this under the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and correlative state laws regarding debt collection, such as Pennsylvania’s Fair Credit Extension Uniformity Act.
Self supplied information such as Phone Numbers. If a collection agency has or obtains your phone numbers, they may be able to then get your address using a reverse lookup. This is one reason why creditors will so frequently ask if they can add a phone number to your information on file.
Voter Registration Forms: Any time you register to vote in a new area, that information can potentially be accessed by your creditors. Even if you move, your old county retains these records.
Department of Motor Vehicles: These records are available to registered collection agencies in many states across the country. So when you get your license and register your car in that new state, you may be automatically giving them the information they need to find you.
USPS Change-of-Address forms: Many major credit agencies receive change of address forms when you move from your previous location. They may also take the initiative to check with the post office themselves. Obviously, this is one of the best ways for creditors to track you down because you thereby tell them exactly where you are going.
Skip Tracers: Creditors also employ skip tracers. These are professionals whose job it is to locate a person’s whereabouts for any number of purposes. The term “skip” refers to the person being searched for, and is derived from the idiomatic expression “to skip town”, meaning to depart (perhaps in a rush), leaving minimal clues behind to “trace” the “skip” to a new location. Records that “skiptracers” use may include phone number databases, credit reports (including information provided on a loan application, credit card application, and in other debt collector databases), job application information, criminal background checks, utility bills (electricity, gas, water, sewage, phone, Internet, and cable), social security, disability, and public tax information. Much of this information is not available or not easily obtainable by the general public or comes from data bases that are not widely known. Source: Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skiptrace

Once credit agencies do locate a debtor, their contacts are supposed to be in conformity with the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and correlative state laws regarding debt collection, such as Pennsylvania’s Fair Credit Extension Uniformity Act (PFCEUA), both of which prohibit debtor harassment. (The PFCEUA extends the requirements of the FDCPA to direct creditors.) However, many collectors are now evading the law by setting up shop in foregn countries and then calling in to the US.

Law Offices of Christopher C. Carr, MBA, P.C., is a quality bankruptcy and debt relief practice, located in Valley Township, west of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, where Attorney Christopher Carr, a Chester County bankruptcy attorney, who has over 30 years if diversified ;egal experience, concentrates on serving the residents of and businesses located within Western Chester County and Eastern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, including the communities in and around Atglen, Bird in Hand, Caln, Christiana, Coatesville, Downingtown, Eagle, Exton, Fallowfield Gap, Honeybrook, Lancaster, Lincoln University, Modena, New Holland, Parkesburg, Paradise, Ronks, Sadsbury, Thorndale, Valley Township, Wagontown & West Chester, Pennsylvania. If you reside or do business in the area and need assistance with a legal issue, please call Mr. Carr at (610)380-7969 or write him at cccarresq@aol.com today!

I also provide Mortgage Modification Services.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY

Jul20

WHAT IS A CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY?

By Christopher C. Carr, Esq. Chester County bankruptcy attorney.

Tel: 610-380-7969 Email: cccarresq@aol.com Web: westchesterbankruptcyattorney.org

13 by cappelmeister The avowed goal of bankruptcy is to give debtors a “fresh start.” What is a Chapter 13 bankruptcy and how does it go about accomplishing this? The “automatic stay” in bankruptcy applies immediately once a Chapter 13 case is filed and generally halts all collection activities, foreclosures, repossessions, sheriffs’ sales, and etc. while in effect. Let’s first look at the different types of bankruptcy proceedings.

The United States Bankruptcy Code offers two primary paths for consumers:

A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: In a so called “straight” bankruptcy, the Trustee in bankruptcy seeks to liquidate the debtor’s non exempt property and distribute the proceeds to the creditors in order of priority, in exchange for discharge of all eligible debt. (Exemptions for various property classifications are set out in federal and state law.) However, certain debts such as guaranteed student loans and domestic support obligations are non-dischargeable in bankruptcy. Most 7’s are “no asset” bankruptcies.

Certain higher income debtors who do not meet the new Means Test must instead file a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy.

A Chapter 13 “debtor in possession” Bankruptcy: Here, unlike in Chapter 7 proceedings, the debtor retains possession of the assets (hence its nickname). In order to be confirmed by the court, the debtor must prove sufficient income to support a 3-5 year plan wherein payments on secured debt such as mortgages and auto loans (including arrears) and non-dischargeable items continue and unsecured creditors typically get paid a small portion of their debts. For debtors facing mortgage foreclosure, Chapter 13 may be the only choice to halt the process while seeking other remedies within or outside of bankruptcy. However, recent statistics indicate that only about 35% of all 13 plans are ever completed.

There are overall limits as to how much unsecured and/or secured debt a debtor may have and still utilize Chapter 7 or 13.

Chapter 11, a third type of Bankruptcy, is primarily used to help in debt businesses restructure. An example is the bankruptcy from which GM has successfully emerged with the help of a massive US bailout. It is much more complex, time consuming and expensive than Chapter 7 or 13, but is the sole resort for individual debtors with debt which exceeds the limits mentioned above.

Other than consumer perceptions that bankruptcy is somehow unethical or “wrong”, the primary issue with filing bankruptcy is that it remains on the debtor’s credit for up to 7 (Chapter 17) or 10 years (Chapter 13) from filing and may interfere with efforts to obtain credit, purchase or refinance a home or even obtain employment. However, it should be noted that most who seek this relief already have impaired credit and, more importantly, in reality new credit is generally extended to debtors who keep their payments current for a year or two following discharge. So, in effect bankruptcy can work to “repair” credit.

In summary, the automatic stay provides an effective if temporary refuge from foreclosure and other debt collection activities and many debtors ultimately do obtain the permanent solution to their debt problems, the “fresh start” which is the ultimate objective of the US bankruptcy laws.

I also provide Mortgage Modification Services.

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“U” IS FOR UNLISTED CREDITORS

Apr26

By Christopher C. Carr, Esq. Chester County bankruptcy attorney. Tel: 610-380-7969 Email: cccarresq@aol.com Web: westchesterbankruptcyattorney.org

NLISTED CREDITORS IN A “NO ASSET” CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY CASE

You filed your “no asset” chapter 7 bankruptcy and thought you obtained a discharge from all your past debts. But you unintentionally omitted a trade creditor from your petition and that creditor has been calling daily demanding payment in full and threatening suit, claiming it was never notified of the bankruptcy. You are wondering now whether you must pay the claim and if not what you can do to stop the calls and demands.

DO NOT PAY OR AGREE TO PAY THIS DEBT WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING WITH LEGAL COUNSEL

Most jurisdictions have adopted a “no harm , no foul” rule , whereby a debt will be discharged in the bankruptcy case, even if the debt is not listed in the bankruptcy and the creditor is not notified of the bankruptcy, if the following apply:

The Court never set a deadline for creditors to file a proof of claim. This is the case in virtually all no asset cases. In a no asset case the unlisted creditor is not harmed, because there was no distribution for the creditor to receive. However, if the court did set a deadline for filing proofs of claim, then the obligation to the creditor is not discharged if the creditor was not listed in the bankruptcy and did not otherwise receive notice of the bankruptcy in time to file a proof of claim. It is the setting of a deadline for the filing of a proof of claim that is the key. Ironically, it does not matter whether the creditor would not have received any distribution from the trustee on the claim. Nor does it matter that no distribution was made by the trustee to any creditors. It is also irrelevant that a distribution was made by the trustee, but the omitted creditor would not have been paid anything even if a proof of claim had been timely filed, for example if the distribution all went towards administrative costs and priority claims. In any of these instances, the debt survives the discharge.
The creditor does not have the type of claim for which the creditor could have filed a lawsuit in the bankruptcy court to have the debt declared not discharged, such as for fraud or intentional injury.
The creditor does not have the type of claim which is never discharged in bankruptcy, such as child support, spousal maintenance, most taxes, etc.

DEALING WITH THE OMITTED CREDITOR:

The biggest difficulty is often convincing an omitted creditor that its claim was discharged and that the post-discharge injunction of 11 USC §524 prohibits collection efforts. Typically, this will require the assistance of competent counsel. At a minimum the creditor should be sent a legal letter advising of the law and the applicable court rulings in your jurisdiction.

The bankruptcy courts will not normally allow a closed case to be reopened for the purpose of listing an omitted creditor, since the matter is considered moot, butthe debtor may re-open the bankruptcy and request sanctions against a creditor that refused to stop collection efforts, in violation of 11 USC §524. In addition, since the creditor is attempting to collect on an invalid debt, the harassment may also constitute one or more violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and/or applicable state consumer protection, especially if it continues after receipt of the lawyer’s letter.Again however, this is a matter you should bring up with your local counsel.

I also provide Mortgage Modification Services.

Other Attorneys Blogging on the Letter U Include:

U.S. Trustee Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska Bankruptcy Attorney, Ryan D. Caldwell http://bankruptcyblog.caldwell-lawfirm.com/2011/11/23/bankruptcy-alphabet-u-is-for-u-s-trustee.aspx Unauthorized Practice of Law Cleveland Bankruptcy Attorney Bill Balena http://ohiobankruptcysource.com/?p=2601 Underwater Jay Fleischman, bankruptcy attorney in New York City http://www.consumerhelpcentral.com/bankruptcy-alphabet-underwater/ Underwater Metro Richmond Consumer and Bankruptcy Attorney, Mitchell Goldstein http://www.morethanbankruptcy.com/u-underwater.html United States Trustee Maui Bankruptcy Attorney, Stuart Ing http://www.bankruptcyhi.com/2012/02/u-is-for-the-united-states-trustee/ Unsecured Cathy Moran, Bay Area Bankruptcy Lawyer http://www.bankruptcysoapbox.com/bankruptcy-alphabet-2/ Upside-Down Vehicles Wisconsin Bankruptcy Lawyer, Bret Nason http://nasonlawfirm.com/archives/962 Unlisted Asset Allen Park, Michigan bankruptcy lawyer, Christopher McAvoy http://downriverbankruptcy.com/unlisted-undervalued-assets-bankruptcy/#axzz1uLBcDSOL Unsecured Creditor Livonia Bankruptcy Attorney, Peter Behrmann http://www.livoniamichiganbankruptcy.com/u-is-for-unsecured-creditor-in-bankruptcy/

Law Offices of Christopher C. Carr, MBA, P.C., is a quality Chester County Bankruptcy Practice, located in Valley Township, west of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, where Attorney Carr, who has over 30 years if diversified experience as an attorney, concentrates his practice on serving the residents of and businesses located within Western Chester County and Eastern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, including the communities in and around Atglen, Bird in Hand, Caln, Christiana, Coatesville, Downingtown, Eagle, Exton, Fallowfield Gap, Honeybrook, Lancaster, Lincoln University, Modena, New Holland, Parkesburg, Paradise, Ronks, Sadsbury, Thorndale, Valley Township, Wagontown & West Chester, Pennsylvania. If you reside or do business in the area and need assistance with a legal issue, please call Mr. Carr at (610)380-7969 or write him at cccarresq@aol.com today!

Photo by Striatric

Filing Bankruptcy: Pros and Cons

Oct9

Christopher C Carr, Bankruptcy Guest Contributor

By Christopher C. Carr, Esq., Chester County Bankruptcy Lawyer

Tel: 610-380-7969 Email: cccarresq@aol.com Web: carrlaw.org

NACBA 1f18af63-1ee5-4ce2-8294-7eae8365f678

Christopher C. Carr , Esq., MBA explains the types of bankruptcy and weighs the pros and cons of filing bankruptcy.

Lawyer Christopher Carr | Lawyer Chapter 13

In these troubled economic times many people are having difficulties paying their bills and may be wondering whether a bankruptcy will help them. To examine the various strategies available to avoid bankruptcy, we must first understand what bankruptcy is and what it can and cannot do. The United States Bankruptcy Code offers several types of debt relief. The United States Bankruptcy Code offers two primary paths for consumers:

A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: In a so called “straight” bankruptcy, the Trustee in bankruptcy seeks to liquidate the debtor’s non exempt property and distribute the proceeds to the creditors in order of priority, in exchange for discharge of all of the debtor’s eligible debt. (Exemptions for various property classifications are set out in federal and state law.) However, certain debts such as guaranteed student loans and domestic support obligations are non-dischargeable in bankruptcy. Most 7’s are “no asset” bankruptcies.

Certain higher income debtors who do not meet the new Means Test must instead file a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy.

A Chapter 13 “debtor in possession” Bankruptcy: Here, unlike in Chapter 7 proceedings, the debtor retains possession of the assets (hence its nickname). In order to be confirmed by the court, the debtor must prove sufficient income to support a 3-5 year plan wherein payments on secured debt such as mortgages and auto loans (including arrears) and non-dischargeable items continue and unsecured creditors typically get paid a small portion of their debts. For debtors facing mortgage foreclosure, Chapter 13 may be the only choice to halt the process while seeking other remedies within or outside of bankruptcy such as a Home Affordable mortgage modification is obtained. However, recent statistics indicate that only about 35% of all 13 plans are ever completed.

There are overall limits as to how much unsecured and/or secured debt a debtor may have and still utilize Chapter 7 or 13. If either is exceeded then the debtor will have but one alternative if they wish to file for bankruptcy:

Chapter 11, a third type of Bankruptcy, is primarily used to help in debt businesses restructure. An example is the bankruptcy from which GM has successfully emerged with the help of a massive US bailout. It is much more complex, time consuming and expensive than Chapter 7 or 13, but is the sole resort for individual debtors with debt which exceeds the limits mentioned above.

Other Advantages to Bankruptcy: The overall goal of every bankruptcy case is to give the debtor a “fresh start.” The “automatic stay” in bankruptcy will apply once your case is filed. This generally halts all collection activities, foreclosures, repossessions, Sherriff’s sales, etc. while in effect.

Disadvantages to Bankruptcy:

Many people wish to avoid bankruptcy because of the social stigma perceived to be associated with “going bankrupt” even though it is perfectly legal and in fact is guaranteed by the US Constitution.
Bankruptcy remains on the debtor’s credit for up to 7 (Chapter 17) or 10 years (Chapter 13) from filing and may interfere with efforts to obtain credit, purchase or refinance a home or even obtain employment. However, it should be noted that most who seek this relief already have impaired credit and, more importantly, in reality new credit is generally extended to debtors who keep their payments current for a year or two following discharge. So, in effect bankruptcy can work to “repair” credit where nothing else can.

A real life example would be where the debtor has amassed so much debt that they cannot qualify for a mortgage. Their debt to income ratio is just too high. At tins point there is little reason to hold off from filing as the likelihood of obtaining credit resources at competitive rates are almost nil. However, once the debt is cleared by a discharge in bankruptcy this ratio can return to normal or better and given sufficient time and a good post petition payment profile, the debtor will once again be an attractive loan candidate.

Homeowners, who have racked up large arrears in their mortgage payments which have to be repaid in full over the 3-5 year plan period in a chapter 13 , may find the payments too high to afford causing the bankruptcy ultimately to be discharged or converted, perhaps thus only delaying the ultimate loss of their home in contrast to a Home Affordable (HAMP) mortgage modification where as the name implies ideally a long term affordable solution is reached.

Not all types of debt are dischargable in bankruptcy, a good example being guaranteed student loans.
While perhaps not strictly speaking a disadvantage, there is a substantial waiting period once a bankruptcy has been discharged…the debtor has to wait to file if they wish to again obtain a discharge from new debt, the timeframes varying with the type of bankruptcy initially undegone. For this reason, bankruptcy should be considered strategically. When its gone, its gone, at least for a good long time!

The key point is that each debtor’s situation is unique and deserves special consideration. Further, because the process is hardly ever as smooth as it is supposed to be because of the complexities and pitfalls involved, it is advisable to consult a competent and compassionate attorney who has experience in bankruptcies and/or in negotiating modifications to guide you through the process and help you properly complete the paperwork.

MY AVVO.COM ANSWERS FEED:

Christopher C. Carr, Esq. is a Chester County Bankruptcy Attorney owner of Law Offices of Christopher C. Carr, MBA, P.C., a quality Bankruptcy & Debt Relief Practice, located in Valley Township, west of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, where Attorney Carr, who has over 30 years of diversified experience as an attorney, concentrates his practice on serving the residents of and businesses located within Western Chester, Southern Berks and Eastern Lancaster Counties in South Eastern Pennsylvania, including the communities in and around Atglen, Bird in Hand, Caln, Christiana, Coatesville, Downingtown, Eagle, Exton, Fallowfield Gap, Honeybrook, Lancaster, Lincoln University, Modena, New Holland, Parkesburg, Paradise, Ronks, Reading, Sadsbury, Sinking Spring, Thorndale, Valley Township, Wagontown, West Chester, West Lawn, & Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. Carr also has experience in many other areas of the law. If you reside or do business in the area and need assistance with a legal issue, please call Mr. Carr at (610)380-7969 or write him at cccarresq@aol.com today!

I also provide Mortgage Mod and Debt Settlement Services.

IMPORTANT NOTE: I am not your bankruptcy lawyer, and nothing within this site creates that relationship. Bankruptcy law requires that for me to be your lawyer, you and I must have a written contract. So, unless we both agree in writing, you are not my client. Therefore, nothing written herein is to be relied upon as legal advice such as I might give to a client.

I am a debt relief agency. I help people file for bankruptcy relief under the bankruptcy code.

Christopher Carr, Esq. on Debt Relief

A Frank Discussion of Debtor's Rights & Consumer Bankruptcy

Category Archives: Fair Debt Collection

How Do Creditors Manage to Find Debtors with Such Seeming Ease?

By Christopher C. Carr, Esq. Chester County bankruptcy* attorney.*

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY

“U” IS FOR UNLISTED CREDITORS

Filing Bankruptcy: Pros and Cons

By Christopher C. Carr, Esq., Chester County Bankruptcy Lawyer

Tel: 610-380-7969 Email: cccarresq@aol.com Web: carrlaw.org

I also provide Mortgage Mod and Debt Settlement Services.

By Christopher C. Carr, Esq. Chester County bankruptcy attorney.

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By Christopher C. Carr, Esq., Chester County Bankruptcy Lawyer

Tel: 610-380-7969 Email: cccarresq@aol.com Web: carrlaw.org

I also provide Mortgage Mod and Debt Settlement Services.

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By Christopher C. Carr, Esq. Chester County bankruptcy* attorney.*