All Issues

Debt & Bankruptcy

Debt collectors hound struggling families. Debt settlement and relief services are too often scams. Medical debt and criminal justice fines and fees push people further behind. And access to the fresh start in bankruptcy can be difficult for some. NCLC works to protect financially distressed families and to give them the opportunity to recover.

Key Topics

Bankruptcy

Improving access to bankruptcy for low-income consumers and expanding the relief available.

Consumer Protections for Renters

Protecting renters from abuses in tenant screening, rental debt collection, junk fees, and more.

Criminal Justice Debt, Fines & Fees

Addressing harmful debts resulting from criminal justice system involvement.

Debt Collection

Protecting consumers from abusive debt collection practices.

Debt Settlement & Relief Services

Striving to protect consumers from deceptive debt settlement and relief services.

Medical Debt

Working to reduce the burden of medical debt on individuals and families.

Featured

Recent Resources

View All for Recent Resources
NPR: Life and Debt: Getting the hospital bill

May 17, 2023

The Washington Post: 9 tips to help you negotiate a medical bill

May 15, 2023

The New York Times: More Options to Pay for Medical Care, but Some May Be Costly

May 12, 2023

USA Today: Can medical bankruptcy help with medical bills?

May 9, 2023

Digital Library: 28 Consumer Rights to Request Information, Company Record Retention Requirements

May 8, 2023

Letter Supporting California’s AB 1119

March 16, 2023

New Process to Discharge Student Loans in Bankruptcy

March 7, 2023

Digital Library: New Supreme Court Ruling–When Is a Bankruptcy Debtor on the Hook for Partner’s Fraud?

March 2, 2023

An Arm and a Leg Podcast: Wrestling With a Giant: April Kuehnhoff discusses how to dispute a hospital bill

March 2, 2023

Comments & Letters

View All for Comments & Letters
Comments to New York Department of Financial Services Regarding Draft of Revised Proposed Amendment to 23 NYCRR 1

February 13, 2023

Comments Regarding New York City’s Proposed Amendments to Rules Related to Debt Collectors

December 19, 2022

Group Letter to MA House Regarding S. 2858/H. 4749: the Debt Collection Fairness Act

June 30, 2022

Group Letter to MA Senate Regarding S. 2858/H. 4749: the Debt Collection Fairness Act

June 30, 2022

Letter to Rohit Chopra Regarding Additional Actions the CFPB Should Take to Protect Consumers with Medical Debt

March 22, 2022

NCLC Comments to the Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules Concerning Proposed Changes to the Mortgage Claim Rule

February 15, 2022

NCLC Comments to DOJ Regarding Policy Initiatives Concerning the Ability of Americans in Financial Distress to Access the Bankruptcy System

January 7, 2022

Group Letter Urging the FCC to Reduce Phone Call Costs for People Who Are Incarcerated and to Ensure Accessible Communications for Incarcerated People with Disabilities

December 17, 2021

Comments to New York Department of Financial Services regarding Draft of Proposed Amendment to 23 NYCRR 1

November 8, 2021

Reports

View All for Reports
Don’t Add Further Insult to Injury: Medical Debt & Credit Reports

January 6, 2023

No Fresh Start 2022: Will States Let Debt Collectors Push Families Into Poverty as the Cost of Necessities Soars?

December 21, 2022

Unfair Debts With No Way Out: Consumers Share Their Experiences With Rental Debt Collectors

October 7, 2022

The Racial Health and Wealth Gap: Impact of Medical Debt on Black Families

March 9, 2022

Sentenced to a Life of Debt: It Is Time for a Reassessment of How Bankruptcy Law Intersects with Fines and Fees to Keep People in Debt

February 16, 2022

The High Cost of a Fresh Start: A State-by-State Analysis of Court Debt as a Bar to Record Clearing

February 1, 2022

Report: An Ounce of Prevention

November 1, 2021

Collecting Criminal Justice Debt Through the State Civil Justice System

May 12, 2021

No Fresh Start 2020: Will States Let Debt Collectors Push Families Into Poverty in the Wake of a Pandemic?

October 29, 2020

Issue Briefs

View All for Issue Briefs
New Process to Discharge Student Loans in Bankruptcy

March 7, 2023

2023 Consumer Protection Federal Priorities

January 13, 2023

H.R.9224: Protecting Wages of Essential Workers Act of 2022

October 27, 2022

Pandemic Lawsuits in California: Credit Card Issuers & Debt Buyers Top Litigants in 2021

July 15, 2022

Why We Need the Debt Collection Fairness Act

March 9, 2022

2022 Consumer Protection Federal Priorities

February 18, 2022

Assisting Consumers with Rental Debt During COVID-19: Legal Aid and Non-Profit Attorneys Share Their Experiences

December 14, 2021

Consumer Protection and Court-Sponsored Online Dispute Resolution in Collection Lawsuits

June 1, 2021

Feed Families, Not Debt Collectors: Protect New Stimulus Payments and Child Tax Credits from Garnishment

March 1, 2021

Testimony

View All for Testimony
Letter Supporting California’s AB 1119

March 16, 2023

Testimony on House Bill 5427

March 10, 2020

Testimony Before Joint Financial Services Committee in Support of S.578/H.919: An Act Relative to Fairness in Debt Collection.

May 2, 2019

Testimony in Support of House Bill 3076

April 29, 2019

Testimony Before the Judiciary Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly, 2019 Regular Session

March 25, 2019

GAO Testimony Regarding Debt Settlement: Fraudulent, Abusive, and Deceptive Practices Pose Risk to Consumers

April 22, 2010

Testimony Responding to the Proposed Amendments to the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure Regarding Credit Card Debts

Press Releases

View All for Press Releases
NCLC Publishes 2023 Edition of Surviving Debt: Expert Advice for Getting Out of Financial Trouble

February 1, 2023

Rep. Adams Introduces Bill to Protect Essential Workers from Wage Garnishment

December 5, 2022

Consumer Groups Applaud Federal Legislation to Protect Workers from Excessive Wage Seizure

October 27, 2022

New Limits on Wage Seizures Will Help California Workers

September 30, 2022

Biden Administration Issues Order to Reduce Impact of Medical Debt on Federal Loan Programs

August 25, 2022

Advocates Applaud CFPB Report Highlighting the Toll of Inaccurate Medical Billing on Consumers

April 20, 2022

Consumer Advocates Applaud Biden Administration’s New Actions to Lessen the Burden of Medical Debt 

April 11, 2022

New Report Examines Impact of Medical Debt on Black Families

March 14, 2022

President Biden’s Announcement on Veterans’ Medical Debt Will Lift a Burden from Veteran Families

March 1, 2022

Amicus Briefs

View All for Amicus Briefs
Amicus Brief in Salcedo v. Hanna

September 25, 2019

Slip Opinion in Obduskey v. Mccarthy & Holthus LLP

March 20, 2019

Rotkiske v. Klemm

January 8, 2019

Amicus Brief in Ricky Henson, et. al C. Santander Consumer USA, Inc.

February 24, 2017

Amicus Brief in Sheriff v. Gillie

March 2, 2016

Amicus Brief in Marx v. General Revenue Corporation

April 27, 2012

Amicus Brief in United States Aid Funds, Inc. v. Espinosa

October 20, 2009

Amicus Brief in Jerman v. Carlisle

September 28, 2009

Support NCLC

Please support NCLC's work to advance consumer rights and economic justice with a tax-deductible contribution today!

Donate