-
The Dangers of a Reverse Mortgage
Although the number of reverse mortgages backed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) significantly dropped in the past year, ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Don't Let Overspending Ruin Your Holiday
During the holidays, we often feel the pressure of gift-giving. Not just any gift, but the perfect, in demand and, in all likelihood, expensive gift. ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
CFPB Report Reveals Mortgage Servicers Using Deficient Technology
Earlier this year, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) reported that some mortgage servicers were violating the new servicing rules with ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Wells Fargo Settles TCPA Class Action
Wells Fargo Bank recently settled a class action lawsuit that alleged they called plaintiffs on their cell phones through an automatic telephone ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Ninth Circuit Court Rules that all Collectors Must Provide Disclosures within Initial Communication
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court’s summary judgment in favor of a defendant regarding the Fair Debt Collection Practices ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Hope For Student Debtors?
Unlike other types of debt, student loans are notoriously known for being near impossible to discharge, with the debtor given the burden of proving ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Trash and Lock Out - Banks Try to Bypass the Law
If you miss a couple of mortgage payments, there are a few things a bank can legally do – from changing the locks with a court order to sending ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
$9.25 Million TCPA Class Action Settlement Against American Express
Earlier this year, in July, Judge John Z. Lee approved a $9.25 million settlement between American Express Co., American Express Centurion Bank, and ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Supreme Court in Colorado Issues Ruling On Possible Deceptive Practices
In Colorado, the state’s attorney general has secured a victory against a firm over alleged deceptive foreclosure practices. Two justices in the court ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
CFPB Hearing on Debt Collection
Debt collection is a $13.7 billion industry in the United States that employs over 130,000 people. At the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Case Law Update: RESPA Claim Dismissal Denied
In a new case, a plaintiff alleged that two defendants violated regulations set forth by the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. The lawsuit ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Minnesota Automatic Dialing Statute: Liability for Calling a Wrong Number
According to an insideARM article , any and all companies and debt collectors who use automatic dialing and recorded messages to contact Minnesota ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Illinois Joins California in Suspending Wells Fargo from Bond & Investing Work
Illinois has announced that it is taking after California and suspending Wells Fargo & Co. from investment and bond work, taking away their capability ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
$9.25 Million American Express Settlement Preliminarily Approved in Illinois
In July, an Illinois federal court approved a preliminary TCPA class action settlement between American Express and consumers who accused the company ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Foreclosures from Financial Crisis Remain
On the National Public Radio special series Planet Money , a discussion occurred regarding the housing market crash and the foreclosure cases started ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Case Law Update: Smith v. Stellar Recovery, Inc.
In the case of Smith V. Stellar Recovery, Inc., the plaintiff, Lakisha T. Smith, alleged that the defendants, Stellar Recovery, Inc. and Comcast ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Nick Wooten of Atlas Consumer Law Suing Illinois Banks for Allegedly Breaking Into Homes
Nick Wooten, a Chicago foreclosure defense attorney and Of Counsel to Atlas Consumer Law, is making recent headlines as he is aiming to sue banks ...
Posted By
Atlas Consumer Law
Continue Reading
-
Senator Warren Says Wells Fargo Should Give Bonuses Back
Last week, Democratic lawmakers amplified the Wells Fargo controversy by taking aim at the senior executives who earned millions of dollars in bonuses ...
Posted By
Atlas Consumer Law
Continue Reading
-
Preventing Robocalls Or Fighting Back
If you are like most of the people throughout the nation, you have received one of the annoying — but sometimes worrisome — phone calls telling you ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Some U.S. Wal-Marts Already Have Law Firms Inside
In the May 2016 edition of the ABA Journal, there was a story discussing Axess Law opening up on of their offices in a Canada-based Wal-Mart. At the ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
insideARM Spotlight: June FDCPA Case Law Review
Each month, insideARM puts out a list of some of the most influential FDCPA cases for the month. It is a resource regarding both positive and negative ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Angelo Mozilo Fraud Case Dropped By Justice Department
According to a recent article, the United States Justice Department has decided to drop the civil fraud case against Angelo Mozilo. The lawyer for ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Black Knight Financial Services Spending Foreclosure Profits On NHL Hockey Team
According to recent reports, a new NHL team is on the horizon: the Las Vegas Black Knights. The rumors began 18 months ago, but now it is becoming a ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Telephone Consumer Protection Act Multi-District Litigation Settlement Reached
In a case involving alleged violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Midland Credit Management Inc. — a subsidiary of Encore ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Did Sports Agent Uncover Greatest Financial Fraud in U.S. History?
A new post by the New Republic details how Nye Lavalle, a sports agent and founder of Sports Marketing Group, was the victim of the greatest financial ...
Posted By
Atlas Consumer Law
Continue Reading
-
Case Law: FCRA Investigation May Require Examination of Account-Level Documentation
The 11 th Circuit Court recently reversed in part a trial court’s ruling granting summary judgment in favor of a debt buyer, its affiliated debt ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
What is Charge-Off Date Fraud?
When a consumer fails to make timely payments and becomes severely delinquent on a debt, their creditor may “charge off” the account, meaning that the ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Debt Collectors May Be Penalized for Filing Claims in Bankruptcy
Bad news for debt collectors: the 11 th Circuit Court held in Johnson v. Midland that debt collectors may face penalties under the Fair Debt ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
FBI Investigation of Foreclosure Fraud in Florida
When Jacksonville, Florida FBI agents sent a memo to higher-ups in Washington D.C. six years ago, it could have been the discovery of what would have ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Case Law: Bazemore v. Jefferson Capital
In 2005, Christina Bazemore applied for a credit card online through First Bank of Delaware. She charged several items to the card, but was unable to ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
The Federal Trade Commission Stops Large Mortgage Relief Scam
According to a recent article published by Housingwire , the Federal Trade Commission stopped a large mortgage relief scheme enacted by a variety of ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
What "The Big Short" Missed about the 2008 Mortgage Meltdown
The Academy Award-winning and Oscar-winning film “The Big Short” received praise from audiences and critics alike, and for good reason – it did a ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
FL Court Reverses Decision in Foreclosure Case
The District Court of Appeal of the State of Florida, Fourth District, has reversed the final judgment of foreclosure in favor of the defendant ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Case Law: Garmou v. Kondaur Capital Corp.
In the case of Garmou v. Kondaur Capital Corp. , which was heard in the United States District Court, E.D. Michigan, Southern Division, the ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Case Law: Alleyne Sylvester and Celeste Wenegieme v. Bayview
According to a recently published opinion regarding the case of Alleyne Sylvester and Celeste Wenegieme v. Bayview Loan Servicing LLC , District Judge ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Florida Attorney General & FTC Take Action Against Robocallers
The Office of the Florida Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission have charged a number of Orlando defendants with bombarding consumers with ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Caribou Coffee to Face Class Action for TCPA Violations
Caribou Coffee Co. Inc. was recently hit with a class action lawsuit out of Wisconsin alleging that the company violated the Telephone Consumer ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Motions to Dismiss Denied in FDCPA/FCRA Case
A recent FDCPA/FCRA case out of the U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division resulted in a denial of all attempts by the ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
insideARM Spotlight: April FDCPA Case Law Review
Each month, insideARM provides a case law review highlighting positive, and some negative, outcomes for the accounts receivable management industry. ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Private Equity Firms Repeating Banks' Mistakes After Housing Crisis
Millions of people lost their homes when the housing crisis struck in 2008. After the banking system thoroughly failed American families, private ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Fighting Foreclosures on FHA Loans
In an insightful and intelligent article for the Harvard Law and Policy Review, Rachel Labush, a staff attorney at Community Legal Services of ...
Posted By
Atlas Consumer Law
Continue Reading
-
We're Seeking a Paralegal - Apply Today!
Atlas Consumer Law is currently looking for an outstanding paralegal to add to our dynamic team. If you are looking for an exciting career at a ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Consumer Defense: A Tactical Guide to Foreclosure, Bankruptcy, and Creditor Harassment
Attorneys Ahmad T. Sulaiman and Matthew H. Hector are the authors of Consumer Defense: A Tactical Guide to Foreclosure, Bankruptcy, and Creditor ...
Posted By
Atlas Consumer Law
Continue Reading
-
Motion to Dismiss Denied in FDCPA Case
In December of 2015, Latonia M. Foster filed a lawsuit against Allianceone after receiving a collection letter that violated Section 1692e of the Fair ...
Posted By
Atlas Consumer Law
Continue Reading
-
Legal & Economic Issues in Subprime Litigation
A Harvard Law School discussion paper from 2008, right around the time of the subprime mortgage industry crisis, highlights the legal and economic ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Millions of Borrowers Facing Crushing Loan Costs
If you’ve ever had to take out a payday loan, you know how expensive they can be. A loan for only a few hundred bucks could easily end up costing a ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
ROBOCOP Act Brought Before Senate
Back in April, a bill was introduced in the House of Representatives that would force phone service providers to make it simpler for customers to ...
Posted By
Atlas Consumer Law
Continue Reading
-
Kansas Supreme Court Ruling Challenges Validity of MERS
Systemic foreclosure fraud was rampant in the years leading up to the 2008 financial crisis, throwing into question our nation’s entire property ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
New Data Furnisher Reporting Requirements Effective Soon
Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax issued a memo in March to all data furnishers providing notification of upcoming changes and new initiatives to ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
John Oliver Gives Away $14M on Last Week Tonight
On last night’s episode of Last Week Tonight, host John Oliver gave away $14 million as part of an effort to increase awareness of debt, debt buyers, ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Student Loan Firm Accused of Borrower Abuse
A group of more than two dozen state attorneys general has accused Navient Corp. (formerly known as Sallie Mae), America’s largest student loan firm, ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
How the Telemarketing Sales Rule Protects Consumers
Let’s face it, telemarketing calls can be annoying. One way the Federal Trade Commission protects your rights is by putting you in charge of how many ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
New Rules Could Overhaul the Payday Lending Industry
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has proposed a set of new rules aimed at protecting consumers from the cycle of long-term debt that often ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
How Wall Street's Foreclosure Fraud was Uncovered by Three Ordinary Americans
David Dayen of the Daily Kos recently published a book on the story of three South Floridians and their role in uncovering the largest crime against ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Deputies Seize Bank of America's Assets After They Unjustly File Foreclosure on Couple's Home
Recently, WINK News reported a story about a couple who had deputies foreclos e on Bank of America after the bank filed foreclosure papers on the ...
Posted By
Atlas Consumer Law
Continue Reading
-
ProPublica Reports Unsettling Findings about Debt Collection Lawsuits
Millions of Americans struggle with old debts they can’t pay back, and live with the uncertainty of knowing that at any moment, they could have their ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
SCOTUS Throws Out Ninth Circuit Decision in Spokeo v. Robins
The Supreme Court recently threw out the decision made by the Ninth Circuit Court in the case of Spokeo Inc. v. Thomas Robins , which held that a ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Supreme Court Backs Privacy Rights of Consumers
According to a recent United States Supreme Court decision, consumers can file lawsuits for statutory damages if a corporation commits an unlawful act ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Justices Wrestle with Debt Collection Tactics
The Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in a case involving an Ohio law that allows the state attorney general to use “special counsel” ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
The CFPB Orders A Law Firm and A Debt Buyer To Discontinue Illegal Processes
According to an article published by Time , the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered two different firms to discontinue an illegal ...
Posted By
Atlas Consumer Law
Continue Reading
-
Father Wins Student Loan Debt Relief
A federal appeals court has urged a bankruptcy judge to consider a settlement that would allow a Duxbury father to erase more than $246,000 in student ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
How Judges Can Help Prevent Zombie Foreclosures
According to RealtyTrac, 25 percent of foreclosures in the U.S. are “zombies” – homes with no clear ownership of title. This happens when the owner ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Judge Orders Rapper to Stop Flashing Wealth He Doesn't Have
Rapper 50 Cent’s flamboyant displays of wealth on social media were recently taken to task yet again by a bankruptcy judge. At the beginning of this ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Federal Judge: Broke Lawyers Can Have Their Student Loan Debts Cancelled
This March, The Wall Street Journal reported that law school graduates who file for bankruptcy can receive a discharge of the debt they racked up ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Lenders Make Mistakes, Too
According to an article published by The Wall Street Journal , Ocwen Financial Corporation, a business that specializes in risky loans, will become ...
Posted By
Atlas Consumer Law
Continue Reading
-
Beware of This New Debt Collection Scam
The Federal Trade Commission is warning consumers of a new debt collection scam involving fake collection notices for phantom debts. According to the ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
How Courts Punish People for their Poverty
Think debtors prisons no longer exist? Think again. One way that court systems commonly raise revenue is to impose fees and fines on those who commit ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac to Offer Principal Reductions Under New Loan Modification Program
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have announced the first-ever principal reduction loan modification program for homeowners with underwater mortgages – ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Midland Credit Management Hit with Proposed Class Action Lawsuit
One of the largest debt collectors in the United States, Midland Credit Management, Inc. is facing a potential class action lawsuit from consumers ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
What Standards Must Every Item on a Credit Report Meet?
It is extremely important to check your credit report on a yearly basis. The three major credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Supercomputer Gives Insurers a Full Picture of Your Life
Thanks to a supercomputer owned by data analytics company LexisNexis, your insurance company can find information on just about every aspect of your ...
Posted By
Atlas Consumer Law
Continue Reading
-
Fannie Mae Lowers Mandatory Waiting Period to Two Years
New changes from Fannie Mae will make it easier for people to get approved for a mortgage after a bankruptcy, foreclosure, or short sale. The ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Our Chicago Debt Relief Lawyers Defend Client Sued by a Creditor
Recently, our Chicago consumer law attorneys, Attorney Paul M. Bach and Attorney Penelope N. Bach asked the bankruptcy court to review a case for our ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
How Did Three Credit Agencies Gain a Monopoly?
The practice of extending credit dates back to the 19 th century when industrialization led to the mass production of expensive machines that most ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Myths & Facts About Payday Loans
It is pretty common for those who are considering bankruptcy to have taken out one or more payday loans in the past. Payday loans, also called cash ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
HANGUP Act to End Unwanted Robocalls
Two House Democratic Lawmakers introduced a new law that would roll back a budget bill provision of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 allowing ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Justice Scalia's Death Causes Disarray in Supreme Court
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s unexpected death in February at the age of 79 threw into disarray the fate of many of the Supreme Court’s ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
TCPA Exemption for Fed-Backed Loans Circulated to FCC
On February 17, a draft rule to exempt robocalls to collect federal debt from TCPA rules was circulated to the FCC. This proposal is looking to create ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Rapper 50 Cent Ordered to Bankruptcy Court Over Instagram Photos
A bankruptcy judge has ordered 50 Cent into her courtroom to explain a number of photos of the rapper posing with large stacks of cash, suggesting ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Will Your Children Have to Face Unpaid Creditors in the Future?
A topic that is often overlooked regards debts for people over the age of 65. If debts are large enough, who will be responsible for paying such debts ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Ocwen Lawyer Accused of Feeding Questions & Answers to Witnesses
Ocwen has been in enough hot water lately without adding to their long list of questionable activities. You may recall from our previous blog that ...
Posted By
Atlas Consumer Law
Continue Reading
-
What Will the Supreme Court Do Without Justice Antonio Scalia?
Justice Antonin Scalia unexpectedly passed away on Saturday, February 13. Unfortunately, this death is not only disheartening, but it may cause ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
U.S. Marshals Arresting Student Loan Borrowers
The U.S. Marshals Service is arresting people in Houston for not paying their outstanding federal student loans. According to a Fox 26 article on the ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
How to Fix Your Credit Report After Bankruptcy
One of the most frequently asked questions we receive from clients is how to fix a credit report after bankruptcy. While it is very important for ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's October 2015 Complaint Report Highlights Credit Cards and Chicago Consumers
The CFPB issues monthly complaint reports. These reports highlight the types of complaints that the Bureau receives and the number of complaints for ...
Posted By
Matthew Hector
Continue Reading
-
Rising Drug Prices Hurting American Families
Martin Shkreli-style drug price hikes are everywhere , according to an article published by CBS News. You may recall from recent news that Martin ...
Posted By
Atlas Consumer Law
Continue Reading
-
Can A Company Shut Down a Class Action by Making a Settlement Offer?
According to an article published by Consumerist, if a company causes harm to consumers, that company cannot preempt an entire lawsuit by offering ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
America's Foreclosure Crisis is Far From Over
In our previous blog , we talked about the $5.1 billion settlement that Goldman Sachs is responsible for paying as recompense for its part in the 2008 ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Are Income Taxes Dischargeable in Bankruptcy?
Contrary to popular belief, income taxes can be discharged at bankruptcy under certain circumstances. In fact, local, state, and federal income taxes ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Goldman Sachs to Settle Federal Probe for $5.1B
Investment bank Goldman Sachs Group is set to settle a government probe into how it handled mortgage-backed securities to the tune of $5.1 billion ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Here's What You Should Know About Reverse Mortgages
Reverse mortgages are mortgages available to older adults (age 62 and older) that allow them to borrow money based on the value of their homes. By ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
FHFA Finds Principal Forgiveness Ineffective
Are you an underwater borrower? Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have several tools that may be useful in these situations, one of which is known as ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
Most Americans Unable to Handle a $500 Surprise Bill
The U.S. economy has recovered from the latest recession, but many Americans are still living paycheck to paycheck, putting them one unexpected bill ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading
-
What is a Designated Lender Counsel?
According to an article published by The New York Times, titled “A Growing Conflict in Wall St. Buyouts,” it is crucial for people to understand the ...
Posted By
Sulaiman Law Group, LTD
Continue Reading