Category: Illinois - page 12

If you are experiencing financial difficulties, the last thing you need is to be taken in by a scam. Unfortunately, debt elimination scams are an increasingly popular way for fraudsters in Illinois to take advantage of people when they are most desperate. One of the most important things to look out for is the general…

The stress of being in debt is exacerbated if you are also unemployed. How can you repay your loans if you don’t have a steady income? Don’t worry – you still have options. You don’t have to be employed to file for bankruptcy. You can still file without having a job, although it may complicate…

The only thing worse than having a debt in collections may be having a debt that’s become a judgment. A judgment is a court decision that allows a creditor or debt collector to take legal steps to collect payment from a delinquent debtor. This can include freezing your bank account, garnishing your wages, and…

Most people have the best of intentions when they ask a loved one to cosign a loan. But what happens when a well-meaning borrower can no longer afford to make loan payments? All too often, co-signers bear the burden when a family member defaults on a debt. It’s hard to say no when a child,…

If you’re anything like millions of Americans, your car is one of your most loyal companions. You rely on your car, truck or SUV to get you to work, to school, or wherever it is you need to go each and every day. But what if your vehicle – and your freedom – were taken…

There’s a new reason to be stressed about phone calls from debt collectors: a growing number of debtors are being scammed into paying off debts they don’t owe by phantom debt collection agencies. Thousands of Americans have reported receiving calls from fake debt collectors, according to the Federal Trade Commission. In response, the FTC has…

For many debtors, Chapter 13 bankruptcy is truly the most effective way to find lasting debt relief. But in the three to five years it takes to work your way through a Chapter 13 repayment plan, your financial situation may change, whether you get married, switch jobs or – as many folks unfortunately do -…

No one gets away with lying on a bankruptcy schedule – not even celebrities. The proof: Teresa and Joe Giudice, stars of the Real Housewives of New Jersey, recently confessed in a federal court to committing bankruptcy fraud by neglecting to list income and assets. Sources say the couple lied about Teresa’s income from the…

With tax day fast approaching, many folks are understandably concerned about their finances. In fact, one of the most common questions we get asked around this time of year is whether income taxes can be wiped out with bankruptcy. The short answer is that it depends. Federal and state income tax debt can indeed be…

Debt is big business. Companies and individuals use your debt as way for them to make money, but tend to leave you in further debt. Debt consolidation loans in Illinois, which compile all of your debt into one monthly payment, are often used in this manner. These loans lure homeowners into using their houses as…