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

December 5, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) has introduced the Protecting Wages of Essential Workers Act of 2022. The Protecting Wages Act will protect $1,000 or 75 percent, whichever is greater, of take-home earnings per week from seizure and index that net amount annually based on inflation. Text of the bill is available here. “Wage…

Federal Student Loan Payment Pause Extension a Critical Step to Protect Borrowers Pending Resolution of the Lawsuits Against Cancellation

November 22, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the Biden Administration’s extension of the pause on federal student loan payments pending resolution of the lawsuits against cancellation, Alpha Taylor, staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, issued the following statement: “We applaud the Biden Administration for taking this critical step to protect student borrowers as it…

Victory! FCC Agrees with NCLC Advocates: Ringless Voicemail Covered by Robocall Rules

November 22, 2022

This week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made “crystal clear” that ringless voicemail is subject to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and to the same rules prohibiting callers from making calls to cellphones without consumers first providing consent. In a Declaratory Ruling, the FCC highlighted comments submitted by NCLC, writing, “We thus agree with…

Advocates Cautiously Optimistic About Administration’s Plan to Improve Student Loan Bankruptcy

November 17, 2022

Concerns Remain about Consistent and Fair Implementation WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice announced new guidance for when the government should allow a student loan borrower who has filed bankruptcy to be relieved of a federal student loan debt. These guidelines aim to enhance consistency and ensure greater equity in the…

Karen Meyers, New Mexico consumer advocate, awarded consumer law’s most prestigious honor

November 12, 2022

Lawyers from Massachusetts, Oregon, and Maryland earn ‘Rising Star’ awards SEATTLE — In recognition of her contributions to the practice of consumer law, New Mexico attorney Karen Meyers accepted the National Consumer Law Center’s 2022 Vern Countryman Award. The prestigious annual honor recognizes an attorney whose special contributions to consumer law have strengthened and affirmed…

More Massachusetts Residents Fall Behind on Utilities, With Record Winter Bills on the Way

November 8, 2022

COVID Created New Class of Struggling Customers at Risk of Shutoffs BOSTON – According to a new analysis from the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC), Massachusetts residential utility customers are increasingly falling behind on their utility payments and are at increased risk of having their utilities shut off– with record winter fuel prices on the…

New U.S. Department of Education Regulations Will Make It Easier For Borrowers Harmed By Their School To Obtain Relief

October 31, 2022

WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Department of Education announced its final rules on the borrower defense to repayment, closed school, false certification, total and permanent disability, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness discharges, as well as arbitration and interest capitalization. The new rules will: Expand the eligibility criteria for discharges so that more borrowers are able…

Op-Ed in The Hill: Before winter sets in, the Biden administration can cool heating prices

October 28, 2022

In an op-ed appearing in The Hill on October 28, 2022, Berneta Haynes explains how new standards from the Department of Energy to phase our inefficient gas furnace models will help ensure homeowners and renters aren’t paying needlessly high bills.

Need Help With Debts? Don't Get Burned by Scammers - Know the Facts About Debt Relief

March 29, 2018

Debt relief is the generic name for different ways you can manage your bills. This fact sheet covers different types of debt relief and what you should watch out for. Debt relief scammers often target people in financial distress, such as those affected by a natural disaster. So people looking for assistance after a hurricane,…

Deciding Whether to File Bankruptcy

September 18, 2018

This article describes how bankruptcy can help consumers, and when it may be the wrong solution. It also describes the difference between chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcies, the best time to file for bankruptcy, and what a bankruptcy will cost. The article also corrects common misconceptions about bankruptcy.

Essentials About Credit Reporting

September 6, 2018

Understanding how a credit report works and how it affects a family is critical in allowing families to make the right choices in dealing with debt and other obligations. This article sets out what families in financial difficulty should know about credit reporting and credit scores, including what they are, at what point non-payment affects a…

Student Loan Repayment Rights

August 2, 2018

The federal government has extraordinary powers to collect federal student loans if borrowers don’t pay. This article explains consumer rights to cancel, reduce, or delay federal student loan payments. Also covered are ways to get out of default short of paying past due amounts, how to respond to the government’s collection methods, and rights concerning private student loans.

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