Consumer Scams Story

Story

I heard a knock on the door and opening it saw a nice looking young man with a kind voice and solid handshake. He told me that he had heard about the loss of my husband and knew that he had suffered with cancer. He asked how I was doing, (he was so kind), I invited him in. He explained that he understood how financially draining long illnesses can be on the family budget and he knew I didn't want to be a burden to my children. He told me that I could actually get all the money I needed by using my home as collateral, said he knew that my late husband wouldn't want me worrying about money.
I couldn't believe I was fooled. Maybe it was because I was so desperate, but the thought that I came so close to being homeless is devastating. I felt like an old fool. I am so glad I asked for help because I couldn't bring myself to tell the kids. The volunteer attorney got them to forgive all the prepayment penalties and the local bank gave me a new loan that I could afford (the one the nice young man offered cost $100 more a month than I received to live on!) I am so grateful for the help. I still have my home and my memories.

by: Francis

QUESTIONS

  • As a 67 yr. old retiree with an income of 11,645 yearly from S.S. and a small retirement pension, are these monies subject to credit card debt collection? Other than two older vehicles, I have no assets.
  • My wife has a debt that she has not been able to pay because she has no income and has not had income for 5 years. The collection company has frozen our bank account and I cannot pay our bill now. She has not made any deposits to this joint account. How can I get this hold off of our account? she does not want to contact the collection company. All funds in this bank account are mine not her's. Thank you
  • Can't pay Credit Card Debt? What do My wife 71 years old and I do? We don't want to loose our home.
  • I bought a car and I made a mistake on buying it and the dealer won't take it back after a week. I am disabled and Deaf and I believe I was being coerced and the payments is too high for me to handle. The cost of loan is 23,000 and payments is 361.00. The trunk is too high for me to put in my walker. I have contacted the Attorney General with no luck. The blue book value is 12,000. I saw an ad for the 2017 car same as mine for much lower at 13,000. Please Help me.
  • My 34 year old son is in debt and lives under my roof in a room I provide. I help him financially by gifting him funds from time to time. I do not claim him as a dependent and his finances are segregated from mine. I did not cosign any loan. He has been served and I expect that the court will issue a judgment. My question is, do I have to do anything special to protect my and my wife's goods from execution. Legally, they are ours, but how do I proceed if the sheriff attempts to grab them? Can he?
  • I was in a joint checking account with my 90 yr. old mother. She has no assets or income other than social security. She took out a $10,000 loan. I am not a joint account on this loan. She will need to default b/c she can no longer afford the payment. Will the bank come after me to pay the loan even though I did not co-sign on the loan? It is the same bank that I had a joint account with. it is the bank I do all my bank business with in conjunction with my husband?
  • I am on permanent disability. I own a 2009 car (my only car) and owe back taxes. I am single. Can IRS seize my car or my disability income?
  • Our income is social security only. Is it safe from garnisement? I am currently paying 228 per month on a credit card settlement arrangement, and I can no longer afford it since I can no longer work. My health has failed. Please advise. Thank you.
  • Mt mother is in an assisted living home. Her retirement income and social security combined barely cover those costs. If she defaults on her mortgage can her retirement income be garnished?
  • I'm 66 and have applied for a Loan Modification (it was approved) however, the service r is asking for "Good Faith" money up front before they will finalize the Modification Agreement. This up-front money was NEVER mentioned in any of their correspondence and when I received my Modification packet this past Saturday ...in their cover letter they mention this "good faith" money....but it is NOT part of the Modification Agreement. Is this legal for them to ask for 4 months of payemnts and then start the actual modification payment 12/1/2015? They want this money AND the agreement before Tuesday the 17th ..so this is VERY URGENT for me to receive some advise ...and should I sign the agreement. I'm also searching for a Pro Bono attorney to review these documents. ###

STORIES

  • Age discrimination in the workplace. . .
  • I just helped my mother, age 89, deal with her Medicare HMO. . .
  • He told me that I could actually get all the money I needed by using my home as collateral. . .

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OTHER LEGAL RESOURCES

  • State Bar of Arizona
    www.azbar.org
  • Maricopa County Bar
    www.maricopabar.org
    Referral number 602-257-4434
  • Pima County Bar
    www.pimacountybar.org
    Referral number 520-623-4625
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline
    800-799-7233
  • Bankruptcy Court Self Help Center
    866-553-0893
  • Certified Legal Document Preparer Program
    Link

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