Oak Park Real Estate & Estate Planning Blog

When you are being contacted by debt collectors, regardless of whether or not you owe the debt the collector is seeking, it is essential to know that you have rights as a consumer. Indeed, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) provides numerous protections to consumers, including protections against harassment from debt collectors, fraudulent or deceptive debt collection practices, and contact at odd hours of the day or at your place of employment. However, new rules that have been approved by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) allow debt collectors to make more forms of contact. Those rules recently took effect, according to an NPR report . Our Oak Park consumer protection attorneys want to say more about the rules, what you should expect, and how to get help if you are facing unfair debt collection practices. Debt Collectors Can Make Contact through Social Media and Other Sources Have you noticed a new follower on Instagram, or a new friend request on Faceb...

It might not sound immediately obvious that your social media activity could impact your personal bankruptcy case. However, it is important to think about the ways in which your image and your lifestyle are developed on sites like Facebook and Twitter, and to take care about how you present yourself when you are planning to file for bankruptcy. Specifically, when you file for consumer bankruptcy in Illinois, you will need to give the court information about your finances. If you fail to mention certain assets, you could be accused of bankruptcy fraud . If you are accused of bankruptcy fraud, not only can you risk losing the ability to seek a bankruptcy discharge, but you could also be charged with criminal offenses. We will say more about how you should be careful on social media to ensure that your profiles do not negatively affect your bankruptcy. In the meantime, if you have questions about filing for consumer bankruptcy , you should speak with an Oak Park bankruptcy attor...