In a previous post we discussed the problem of zombie foreclosures in Florida. Zombie foreclosures are homes that are in some phase of the foreclosure process but have been vacated by their owners. Florida has the highest number of these types of properties in the...
Month: April 2013
Debt collection firms implicated in robo-signing scandal
We've written in the past about the hasty and careless practices at debt collection firms. In a previous post, we discussed a Florida company that was harassing a woman who didn't even have an active debt. Recently, reports have emerged that debt collection companies...
Federal government seeks to regulate payday loans
Payday loans are a frequent cause of trouble for struggling debtors, both in Florida and throughout the United States. The short-term loans often carry significant fees and interest rates that greatly exceed those which apply to most credit card agreements. Borrowers...
More than 300,000 homes in zombie foreclosure
In a previous post we discussed the problem of zombie foreclosures in Florida. The problem of these lingering foreclosures has persisted, and experts now estimate that over 300,000 homes are in a state of partial foreclosure, which adds up to more than one-third of...
Casey Anthony’s involvement in two civil cases blocking bankruptcy petition
When the much talked about Casey Anthony trial finally ended in 2011, Florida residents thought that they had heard the last from her. Even Florida court judges thought they had seen the last of her. But with two civil cases on the docket, judges are saying that these...
Lawsuit alleges debt relief company was a scam
A recent lawsuit alleges that a company called the National Mortgage Help Center is s scam. The lawsuit was filed by a company that says it actually assists borrowers around the country with loan modification services, but that they were suffering from unfair...
A growing debt struggle for older Americans
A recent report from the AARP revealed that, in the United States, people who are 50 years of age or older carried more debt than those who are 50 or younger. People over 50 have an average balance that is about $2,000 higher than the younger people, raising concerns...
Mortgage bill put on hold in Florida legislature
A bill in the Florida legislature dealing with the mortgage foreclosure process has been delayed for the time being. The bill was set to be discussed during the Senate Judiciary committee meeting earlier this month, but was withdrawn by the sponsor at the last minute....
Florida residents have $61 million in unclaimed tax returns
A spokesperson from the Internal Revenue Service told reporters recently that Florida residents are owed about $61 million in unclaimed tax returns from 2009. Over 62,000 Floridians did not file an income tax return that year and would have received a refund if they...
Florida debt collectors under scrutiny for harassing calls
A Florida debt collection firm is facing scrutiny after a woman recorded some of their calls and submitted them to a local television news station. The woman contacted the station because she was frightened by the legal-sounding words used in the repeated phone calls...