Blunt on Bankruptcy (and Divorce): Joint Debts
Question: I had a joint debt with a family member who filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. She included the debt in her bankruptcy, so why is it still showing up on my credit report? Read more…
Stupid Traditions (Like Valentine’s Day) Make You Poor
Valentine's Day is not all it's cracked up to be.
I have a confession to make: I hate Valentine’s Day. It’s the dumbest “Hallmark holiday” ever, and it’s making you miserable. And poor. Read more…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/betsssssy/448027267/
Happy 2012 everyone! Starting a new calendar year is an exciting time for many, whether you’re into making New Year’s resolutions, are exhausted from the holidays, or are just happy we’re that much closer to spring/summer. If you’re like me, though, it will take a bit of practice to write the new year correctly when signing forms, sending letters, etc. Most will forgive your gaffe, but banks are less flexible in this regard. Here’s how to make sure New Year’s doesn’t mean less money in your checking account. Read more…
Year in Review: Top Hansen Law Blog Posts of 2011
I couldn’t end the year without one final post, and I figured why not be a bit cliché and do a year-end review. Here are my top/favorite posts for 2011: Read more…
Last Minute Shopping Tip: Buy. Renter’s. Insurance. Now.
Shanghai apartment fire kills 58, injures 70.
Sorry for being dramatic with the one-word sentences, but it really is THAT important to get renter’s insurance. While you may have a to-do list a mile long before Christmas, getting renter’s insurance should be higher on your list of priorities than picking up stocking stuffers and other holiday goodies. It’s cheap and it will make a huge difference in your ability to get back on your feet in the event of an apartment fire, burst pipe, etc. So which tenants are most at risk?
Should I pay my credit cards or my mortgage?
TransUnion recently came out with a report that more people are keeping up on their credit card payments and letting their mortgage bills pile up. But is that a good thing? If your expenses surpass your income, how should you prioritize your spending? Read more…
Blunt on Bankruptcy: Student Loans
It's all fun and games until the student loan bills arrive.
Student loans are a special kind of evil. They’re almost always necessary to pay for your higher education, but not every degree leads to a well-paying job. Or any job. This applies to liberal arts degrees, tech school programs, even law school. So what happens if you can’t afford to pay your student loans? Can you file for bankruptcy? Yes, but …. Read more…
Cheaper to be Paranoid: Don’t Lend Money to Friends or Family
Nothing ruins Christmas like debt troubles between loved ones. Except, perhaps, an ax-wielding Santa.
Money and family don’t mix. Or at least they shouldn’t. Same goes with friends. Lending money to loved ones can and does lead to big problems. Here are two examples of how good intentions can bite you in the behind. Read more…
Address Your Debt Issues Before the Holidays
Christmas Kitty says, "don't get tangled up in your debts."
It’s that time of year again. Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and then we’ll have parties for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Festivus (or whatever you celebrate). There’s decorations and cookies and gift exchanges and toy drives and traveling to visit loved ones. Whew. December is a time when most of us lose our sanity, at least a little. NOW is the time to come up with a game plan for your finances. Read more…
Tomorrow: Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
Tomorrow is your chance to safely dispose of old and unwanted medications through the Drug Enforcement Agency’s anonymous prescription drop-off program. The 3rd National Drug Take-Back Day builds on the success of the previous two events where 309 TONS of pills were collected. It’s easy to drop off your unused medications at a location near you. The site I visited last year is the State Fairground’s International Bazaar parking lot at Como Ave. and Underwood St.
How does it work? Just pull into the parking lot and hand the officer your container(s). That’s it. It’s a quick drive-thru process and you don’t have to show your ID or sign anything. It’s totally anonymous. If you can’t make it to the drug take-back day, you can wait six months for the next event, or learn how to properly dispose of your medications [hint: it doesn't involve flushing them down the toilet]. Read more…
Cheaper to Be Paranoid: The danger of making payment on an old debt
Paranoid Park: A movie, and a good place to visit before making payment on an old debt.
When debt collectors keep calling and calling (and calling some more), making even just a small payment on an old debt seems like the easiest way to relieve some of the pressure. In reality, it could wind up costing you a LOT of money. Here’s why: Read more…
A bank freeze can leave you with just the change in your pocket, but you can get some of the money back if it belongs to someone else.
A couple came to me for bankruptcy assistance, and the husband said their joint bank account was frozen by a creditor with a judgment against him individually. The garnishment notice instructed him to claim any exemptions he may have that would protect the funds, such as if he receives government assistance, if the money is from child support payments, etc. But what about the fact that the money taken from his joint bank account was all attributable to his wife’s last paycheck? Read more…
The Personal and Community Benefits of Bankruptcy and Debt Management Plans
A serving of happiness? Yes please.
When you’re drowning in debt, life can seem hopeless. You’re screening calls and leaving collection letters unopened, hoping you don’t get sued. But it doesn’t have to be that way. If you qualify for bankruptcy or a debt management plan, you can take control of your finances. By doing so, you can improve your family’s quality of life and your neighborhood. Here’s how: Read more…
UPDATE: Bankruptcy Faux Pas, the Celebrity Edition
In one of my more popular posts last year, I dished on the bankruptcy-related missteps of three celebrities (of varying degrees): former British royal Sarah Ferguson, Minnesota auto mogul Denny Hecker, and reality star Teresa Giudice. Let’s check in on them, shall we?
A hero is not an extraordinary person …
That was the first line of something I wrote after my volunteer stint with the Red Cross in the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. I was no hero — heck, I was just a disaster public affairs staffer — but I saw a lot of heroic things that inspired my writing. Read more…
Scam Alert: Payday Loan Collection by “Government Lawyers”
Scary tricks come all year round, not just on Halloween. Image (c) Cayusa via Creative Commons.
Get a frightening call from a “criminal investigator” threatening to “download your case file” with the courthouse if you don’t immediately pay off a loan you don’t remember getting? Or an e-mail from an “attorney” saying you’ll be prevented from getting work anywhere in the United States if you don’t call her immediately to settle charges made against you by a payday lender you’ve never heard of? It’s scary because they have personal details about you, perhaps even your Social Security number. But it’s just a scam. Don’t fall for it. Read more…
Why You Can’t Wait to See a Bankruptcy Lawyer
Image (c) luxomedia via Creative Commons.
A debt collection defense client of mine is being sued on two old credit card debts. If either creditor gets a judgment, he risks wage garnishments and/or bank levies. In Minnesota, a creditor can garnish up to 25% of your wages, and if they serve a non-wage garnishment on your bank account, the bank will freeze 110% of the judgment balance. That, of course, would leave him unable to support his family. When I suggested he get a free initial consultation to see if he qualifies for bankruptcy, he said he needed some more time to wrap his head around things. Here’s why that’s not such a good idea: Read more…
DIY Bankruptcy v. Petition Preparers v. Attorneys
(c) Wallula Junction via flickr
When money is tight, the idea of a “cheap” bankruptcy can be appealing. But for me, the saying “penny wise, pound foolish” comes to mind. Sometimes people are so focused on the upfront cost that they don’t understand the potential total cost. Here’s a breakdown of your options and why DIY bankruptcy or hiring a petition preparer can cost you more than hiring an attorney. Read more…
From the EHLP Minnesota website: The Emergency Homeowners Loan Program (EHLP) offers a zero interest, forgivable loan to eligible homeowners. But you must apply ASAP because applications are only being accepted until July 27th (changed from July 22nd). Read more…
Good Karma: The Kindest Cut
One of the most responsible thing a pet owner can do is to have his/her pet spayed or neutered. As Bob Barker said at the end of every episode of The Price is Right (for 35 seasons!), we need to “help control the pet population.” The Kindest Cut, a new service offered Read more…
Good Karma: Heat Wave Safety Checklist
Water is your friend. (c) mag3737
Ugh, the heat wave continues. As I mentioned last week in my article about checking on neighbors and loved ones during this crazy-hot weather, I had heat exhaustion once as a teenager. My cousin and I rode our bikes from her farm into town on a blazing-hot day, and didn’t bring water bottles. Not the smartest thing. And according to the Red Cross, in recent years extreme heat has caused more deaths than all other weather events, including floods. Check out this heat wave safety checklist to prepare for this nasty weather and recognize the signs of heat-related medical emergencies.
It’s going to be a very hot, humid weekend. We’re talking heat index values in the mid-90′s to 115+. Yikes. I plan to spend much of this weekend indoors because hot, humid weather makes me cranky. The news always makes a big deal about checking on the youngest, the oldest and the unwell at times like these, and here’s the science behind that. Read more…
ACT NOW: Emergency Homeowner Loan Program
From the EHLP Minnesota website: The Emergency Homeowners Loan Program (EHLP) offers a zero interest, forgivable loan to eligible homeowners. But you must apply ASAP because applications are only being accepted until July 22nd. Read more…
REVISITED: The True Cost of Debt Settlement Services
UPDATE: I hate (yes, hate) debt settlement companies. Loathe them with every fiber of my being. I’m not losing money to these yahoos, since many who sign up with a debt settlement company wind up in bankruptcy anyway. I just get mad about the tens of thousands of dollars my clients lose to these scammers promising to settle their debts for pennies on the dollar. Here’s the real math, from an article I wrote last summer: Read more…
MN Shutdown: Can I still get my car tabs?
Like many Minnesotans, I’ve been scrambling to understand how the MN government shutdown affects my daily life. For one thing, my car tabs expire this month but the State’s DMV website is shut down. What’s a driver to do? Read more…
Guys who are not Samuel L. Jackson or Colin Farrell.
News sure does travel fast, even when it’s (partially or totally) incorrect. Earlier this week a California TV station* reported that a SWAT team raided a Stockton man’s home due to his estranged wife’s defaulted student loans. Turns out, that wasn’t accurate, but the story went viral before it could be corrected. Read more…
For this week’s advice on filing for personal bankruptcy, I wanted to talk about the emotional side of dealing with debt. It’s ingrained in most of our psyches that we’re personally responsible for the debts we incur, and we shouldn’t leave others in a lurch. That’s true whether our creditor is a family friend or a bank, our dentist or even Target. Wanting to repay your debts is a good thing, but sometimes it’s just not feasible. Here’s some advice I give potential clients: Read more…
Saturday: Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
What are you doing this weekend? If you’re like me, you’ll find a few moments to take advantage of the Drug Enforcement Agency’s anonymous prescription drop-off program on Saturday. I did this last fall, when the DEA collected over 4,240 pounds of unused and expired medications in Minnesota alone. Since then I’ve accumulated a few more things that need to be disposed of, like leftover sinus infection antibiotics after my doctor switched me to a stronger prescription.
There are no Minnesota collection sites listed as of right now, but check here later in the week for a list of the 46 locations. In September there were 11 sites in the Twin Cities. Yes there are cops standing around at the locations, but it’s a quick drive-thru process and you don’t have to show your ID or sign anything. It’s totally anonymous. If you can’t make it to the drug take-back day, learn how to properly dispose of your medications [hint: it doesn't involve flushing them down the toilet].
Announcing …. Myself (Again)
Photo courtesy of Amy Carroll Photography
Hello everyone, just a quick update to let you know I got married earlier this month (hence the two-week break in blog posts). Although I’m changing my legal name from Anne Marie Hansen to Anne Hansen Gathje, I will continue to do business as Hansen Law LLC. Why? Well, because few people can pronounce Gathje [GHET-kee, and yes that's a K not a J].
The bulk of my cases are currently consumer bankruptcy and debt collection defense. If you are looking for an FDCPA or other plaintiff’s side attorney, I am happy to review your case and may provide a referral if I think another attorney could better assist you. My e-mail address remains the same, anne@mnconsumerattorney.com. Please feel free to write anytime, or call me at 651-252-4611.
Thank you,
Anne Hansen Gathje
Blunt on Bankruptcy: Credit Scores
(c) http://www.flickr.com/photos/ameriswede/2500097744/
If you cannot afford to repay your debts, it’s worth challenging your assumptions to learn about your options. In this week’s installment of Blunt on Bankruptcy, I offer some tough-love responses* to four common concerns about bankruptcy and credit scores. Read more…
MN Attorney General Sues Midland Funding LLC
News Flash: Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson sued Midland Funding LLC, a large-scale debt buyer that has been suing the pants off of Minnesotans with little to no proof of that they legally own the right to collect on defaulted credit card debts. The State’s suit alleges that Midland has been defrauding consumers and the courts, obtaining judgments based on false affidavits of account ownership. And the price Midland has been paying Read more…
Blunt on Bankruptcy: Credit Card Edition
As a consumer bankruptcy attorney, I hear a lot of misconceptions about credit, debt and bankruptcy. So I thought I’d start a weekly series, Blunt on Bankruptcy, with straightforward responses to common concerns and questions. Today I’m kicking off with four “but I ….” thoughts folks have regarding credit cards. Read more…
Do’s and Don’ts for Disaster Donations
Disasters pull at your heart-strings (if they don’t, you probably don’t have a pulse). The urge to “do something” can be quite strong when you see endless video footage of death, despair and destruction. As a former American Red Cross fundraising employee and disaster volunteer, I’ve raised money and awareness in response to disasters, and responded directly to local house and apartment fires. After Hurricane Katrina, I took almost a month off from law school to volunteer in the Mississippi Gulf Coast doing disaster public affairs. Later that school year, I spent spring break with other law students volunteering at legal aid organizations in New Orleans. Here are my tips and traps for disaster donations, based on my experience and observations.* Read more…
When life gets in the way ….
…. you focus on what’s absolutely necessary. In February, that mostly meant taking care of my cat Nevis. I’ll spare you the gory details, but he was in and out of the animal hospital three times and had surgery. When he wasn’t at the hospital he needed 24-hour supervision and multiple medications given several times a day. Being a mommy became my full-time job. I neglected my blog, had my legal assistant respond to calls and e-mails on my behalf, and my house became a disaster. I was a great mommy, but I was not a great lawyer or business owner. Read more…
Cool (Free) Tool: Medication Reminder Service
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dvortygirl/2661856343/
As a consumer attorney, I talk to a lot of people who are stressed. That, naturally, can make me stressed. With a busy schedule, it can be easy to forget to take care of myself. Most days I’ll remember the multivitamin but forget the Claritin (or is it the other way around?). Setting daily calendar reminders would make my schedule seem even more cluttered, and I didn’t want to set multiple alarms on my phone. But still, I needed a reminder system for my meds/vitamins, and I found a cool tool that does the trick. Read more…
Test-Driving ClearCheckbook.com
Earlier I posted about my experience trying out Mint.com, an online financial management tool. I’ve also been trying ClearCheckbook.com, to see which tool I prefer. When I started this experiment, I had a clear favorite, but I’ve changed my mind after the past week. Read more…
Test-Driving Online Money Management with Mint.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/summertomato/3570433046/
Last week I decided to test-drive two online money management tools, to see which would better help me track my spending … without driving me bonkers in the process. I’m good at keeping receipts and pretty good at regularly entering transactions into my check register (a spreadsheet), but I wanted to track spending by category with a few clicks, not a lot of manual work. Here’s my early review of Mint.com. Read more…
New Year = Accidentally “Stale” Checks = Bank Headaches
http://www.flickr.com/photos/betsssssy/448027267/
Happy 2011 everyone! Starting a new calendar year is an exciting time for many, whether you’re into making New Year’s resolutions, are exhausted from the holidays, or are just happy we’re that much closer to warmer weather. If you’re like me, though, it will take a bit of practice to write the new year correctly when signing forms, sending letters, etc. Heck, I sent one of my sisters a text message this weekend wishing her a “happy 2010.” Most will forgive your gaffe — although my sister did tease me — but banks are less flexible in this regard. Here’s how to make sure New Year’s doesn’t mean less money in your checking account. Read more…
A Look Back at Larry King’s Career – and Bankruptcy
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/king.larry.html
Larry King’s face is plastered all over TV and the Interweb this week as the media notes his retirement and pays homage to his 25 years on CNN. To be honest, I thought they were announcing his death until I turned up the volume. As Larry King steps down from his popular interview show, his estimated net worth is reportedly $144 to $150 million. Not to shabby for a man who was once accused of grand larceny and filed for bankruptcy. Read more…
Poverty Happens. Everywhere.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/notionscapital/3692095103/
A recent Star Tribune article reminded me of something very important: poverty happens everywhere, even in the ‘burbs. As a bankruptcy and consumer rights attorney, I’ve represented clients and spoken with others who live in the Cities, in ‘the sticks’ (I grew up in a house on a gravel road, and don’t mean ‘the sticks’ as an insult) and even suburbs that have an aura of affluence. Their stories may differ, but their needs are similar. Read more…
No Excuses: Renter’s Insurance
Shanghai apartment fire kills 58, injures 70.
Colder temps and holiday festivities typically cause an uptick in residential fires. Although many renters skip insurance that would cover many of their losses, renters living in multi-unit dwellings are more likely to find their home up in flames than those in single-family homes. Why?
Balance Your Checkbook for Fewer Financial Headaches
Balancing your checkbook traditionally required sitting down with your check register (regularly), entering each transaction, doing the math, and updating the balance. There were no automatic bill-pays, no plastic to whip out, and balancing a checkbook was much easier “back in the day.” But how do you balance your bank account when you use your checkbook so infrequently that you can’t even find it? Read more…
Bankruptcy Profile: Toni Braxton
Chapter 7 bankruptcy is meant to give the honest debtor a “fresh start” in life. But it’s no guarantee anyone can keep his or her head above water permanently. Failed business ventures, health problems, unemployment or underemployment, lawsuits and poor spending habits can all lead some debtors back to bankruptcy court. Such is the case for singer Toni Braxton, who filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in 1998 and again in 2010. How did she get there, and what can you learn from it? Read more…
Cheaper to be Paranoid: Research Trumps Trust (Always)
It’s embarrassing to admit, but I’ve been scammed before. When I was a recent college grad, a friend suggested I meet with his buddy, a financial planner. The guy helped me figure out my budget (sweet), and suggested I apply for life insurance to protect my parents if I died before paying off my student loans. The financial planner even read me the application questions and filled in the answers. Helpful, right? Wrong. Read more…
This little piggy went to the market … to pay off a woman’s debt.
A Russian woman was unable to pay a judgment debt of 13,000 roubles (approx. $432 US), so a court bailiff seized a seven-month old piglet that should fetch up to 10,000 roubles. According to news reports, she had been given the piggy “for safekeeping” — meaning she wasn’t the rightful owner — but it was the most valuable thing in her possession so they took it. What do Minnesotans risk losing when they can’t pay a judgment debt? Read more…
Shenanigans: US Bank Stacks the Deck for Higher Fees
Earlier this week I wrote about Rachel, who bounced a single check twice. During my chat with the U.S. Bank rep about Rachel’s account, he happened to point out something even more frustrating: the bank processes the largest transactions first regardless of chronological order. Here’s why it matters to your bottom line (and theirs). Read more…
How Many Times Can One Check Bounce?
Rachel* wrote a check for $25.00 and it bounced. The next day, it bounced again. Both times she was hit with a $33.00 “returned item” fee. I called U.S. Bank on Rachel’s behalf and was told the check would continue to bounce Read more…
Nix Delivery of the Yellow Door Stops, Er, Phone Books
I can’t tell you the last time I used the phone book for anything other than a door stop. As an apartment dweller during law school, I noticed most phone books went unclaimed sitting near the mailboxes. It’s money down the drain for the yellow pages publishers, and a huge waste of paper, ink and other resources. But did you know it’s illegal to throw away a phone book? If you don’t use it, recycle it. Better yet, here’s how to stop delivery of those large bricks of yellow paper to your home. Read more…
Reminder: Drop Off Unused and Expired Meds Tomorrow
Tomorrow from 10am to 2pm, drop off your unused and expired medications as part of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Take-Back Initiative. Read more…
Appraisal Roadshow: Learn Value of Your Stuff for $5 (For Charity)
Ever wanted something appraised? Maybe it’s an antique mirror, Grandma’s wedding ring, or a painting by a semi-famous artist. Whatever the item, you can get an appraisal this Saturday for just $5.00 per item. Antiques Roadshow* + Charity = Good Karma.
Bankruptcy: Will they take all of my stuff?
Comic books. Precious Moments figurines. Antique furniture you inherited. Wedding china. We all have “stuff” that we think is valuable, things we would be especially worried about losing in a bankruptcy case. Which thingamabobs and doohickeys can be protected? Will the bankruptcy trustee take all of your stuff? Read more…
Upping the Fear Factor: “We’ll only give the details of your debt to your criminal defense attorney.”
Earlier I blogged about a wave of fraudulent collection calls that appear to come out of California. Now they’ve upped the fear factor, telling consumers they will only provide information about the debt to the individual’s criminal defense attorney. Say what? Read more…
Have you moved … ever? You could get sued and not even know it.
Rebecca* contacted me after she received a notice of intent to garnish her wages. She had never heard of the lawsuit or the plaintiff, a third-party debt collector that claims it purchased an old credit card debt that allegedly belonged to Rebecca. How does this happen? Easily. And often. Read more…
Safely Get Rid of Old Medications — Free
[Note: With the end of summer and this darn whatever-I-have sickness, I fell off the blogging bandwagon a bit. I'm working on a few posts and will have one up tomorrow.]
Unused antibiotics from your sinus infection in April. Expired pain medication from when you threw your back out in 2008. Nearly a month’s worth of a prescription you stopped taking because you couldn’t tolerate the side effects. OTC liquid gels that congealed in your glove box this summer. We all have unused, unusable and expired medications stashed away at home, work and our vehicles. How do you safely dispose of them? Read more…
Presidents Who Declared Bankruptcy
Four U.S. Presidents found themselves up to their eyeballs in debt — before, during or after their terms in office. Which ones? Pull out your wallet. Read more…
BBB Alert: Beware of Fraudulent Collection Calls
Question: I’ve started getting calls from some guys out in California saying I’ve been sued on a loan and they have a warrant out for my arrest. They said I must either appear in court on Thursday IN CALIFORNIA or settle with them. I have no idea what loan they’re talking about and I asked them to fax me information about this debt I supposedly owe, but they refuse. What should I do? Read more…
The Cost of Online Legal Advice
When people feel hopeless about their mountain of debt, free or cheap Internet advice seems like the best alternative to calling a lawyer. Knowledge is power, but too much information from inaccurate or misleading sources can in fact be more harmful than no information. For example: Read more…
Shenanigans: Montel Williams Shills for Schmucks
I want to like Montel Williams, I do. But when I see his MoneyMutual.com ads, I can’t help but think he’s a total schmuck. Read more…
Bankruptcy Faux Pas, the Celebrity Edition
I dig celebrity gossip, most of the time anyway. Occasionally my fascination pays off when I can use famous people as examples for explaining legal issues. Three headline-making debtors — one local, one national, one international — have recently stumbled in their quests to get back on their feet financially. Here are their bankruptcy faux pas, and the lessons learned: Read more…
Added Benefit of Donating Blood — A Chance to Win a New Car
Donations can take many forms — money, time and talents, household goods, used cars, clothing — and some are easier to afford in tough times. One gift you can give pretty regularly no matter your financial circumstances is blood. The cost to you is limited to the time necessary to make the donation, and you could even win a car. Say what? Read more…
The Cost of Multitasking
UPDATED: Check out this video, the most powerful reminder of the dangers of distracted driving that I’ve ever seen.
Americans are obsessed with multitasking. Employers demand it, and technology makes it both easier and harder to get more things done in a day. Although most of us are convinced we’re pros at juggling several tasks, the ability to multitask is essentially a myth. So what’s the cost? Read more…
The Cost of Free Stuff (Including Credit Scores)
As the saying goes, the devil is in the details. When a company or individual offers a product or service gratis, think of their free item as compensation for …. something. What is this person or business paying you for? Are they asking for your full name, age, date of birth, mailing address, e-mail address, driver’s license and /or social security number? Read more…
The True Cost of Debt Settlement Services
Last week I wrote about debt settlement companies (DSC’s) evading state restrictions. They fly under the radar as long as possible while draining your bank account and trashing your credit score. But just how much does it cost honest, well-intentioned consumers? A heckuva lot more than you ever imagined. Read more…
Like this:
The Minnesota Independent posted an article about how debt settlement companies scam folks who are already in tight financial situations, an issue I’ve written about lately and am pretty passionate about. It tells the story of a man who made monthly payments to a debt settlement company for about a year, only to learn Read more…
Good Karma: Budget Counseling with LSS
I’ll admit it. I have no idea how much money I spent on Gatorade this summer, because I used cash most of the time. At $3 a crack for two 32-oz bottles of low-calorie grape-flavored deliciousness, it’s safe to say I spent at least $60. Probably more. Why? Read more…
Why you can’t afford to skip renter’s insurance
Smoke damage caused by a fire in your neighbor’s unit made your apartment temporarily unlivable. Your garage-sale space heater malfunctioned and torched everything in your bedroom. A pipe burst while you were on vacation, ruining everything you’ve been storing in the basement. Mother Nature threw a hissy fit, and a tornado tossed the contents of your apartment across a three-mile radius. Could you afford to Read more…
Want to trim your bills? Just ask.
Saving money is one of those seemingly never-ending goals, like losing weight or keeping your house clean. Interest rates keep rising, small purchases that are easy to forget about add up quickly, and it’s hard to create a rainy day fund when it’s always raining.
Lifehacker has a list of its top 10 ways to trim your bills. Read more…
Top Consumer Complaints of 2009
According to a report by three major consumer groups, the fastest-growing consumer complaint of 2009 was bogus offers to save homeowners from foreclosure. Complaints about all things car-related — lemon law, deceptive advertising, misleading sales pitches, shoddy repair jobs — top the list. Read more…
Good Karma: Cancer Legal Line
If you know a Minnesotan who has cancer, please tell him or her about Cancer Legal Line. It’s a great non-profit whose mission is “to alleviate the non-medical stressors faced by cancer patients and their loved ones by educating and providing them with cancer related legal information, resources and referrals.” Read more…
YesIAmCheap.com has outlined four specific ways your social networking can come back to bite you in the bum. Hint: it involves employers, debt collectors, divorces and libel (defamation). Read more…
Shenanigans: Debt Help Center USA
Here in MN, Debt Help Center USA has been airing a two-part commercial about their “new national debt relief program.” It starts with President Obama, standing behind a podium, talking about credit card debt and rising interest rates. You can kinda see the disclaimer at the top of the screen: Read more…
Shenanigans: Why I Can’t Stand PC Pro Grad Justin
Every day I hear radio ads where “PC Pro Grad Justin” happily proclaims he’s making lots of money in the IT field after attending PC Pro. In fact, PC Pro has more job orders than they can fill! Justin, who is just so darn chipper, wants you to know that YOU too can become a Microsoft certified IT professional in just SIX SHORT MONTHS! Pretty sweet, eh? Maybe not. Read more…
Good Karma: Davis Means Business
As a consumer rights attorney, I talk to folks every week about their personal and business financial struggles. The unfortunate reality is that if the business does not succeed, the individual (and his or her family) may need to consider personal bankruptcy.
My colleague and friend Kathy Davis, of Davis Law Offices, is dedicated to helping small businesses, individuals and non-profits succeed. Like me, Davis provides many services for a flat fee. She also offers Read more…
Don’t Give Debt Collectors Your Bank Account Info
Setting up a payment plan with a debt collector? Don’t give a total stranger your bank account number. You never know what they’ll do with it. A client of mine once called a collector to ask why their auto-debit was higher than what she authorized, and he said “well it wasn’t enough.” He took all but two dollars out of her account. Read more…
Worried about affording your mortgage and other consumer debts? Facing foreclosure? For-profit companies have been popping up all across the country, promising to take care of your debts, even your mortgages, for pennies on the dollar. These scammers refer to their services as debt negotiation, debt management, debt settlement or even legal services. Read more…
Cheaper to be Paranoid: A Series on Saving Money
With the launch of this blog comes an ongoing series of articles called Cheaper to be Paranoid. It’s a phrase I find myself using frequently to describe how a little bit of effort and/or money now can save you a lot of time and money down the road. For example: Read more…
Debt Collector: “I had a black heart.”
Money/CNN recently posted a slideshow with tidbits from former debt collectors. The interviews illustrate the toxic environment these former collectors worked in, and why they got out. Interestingly, some of them went on to become credit counselors, working with consumers in a more productive manner. Some excerpts from the story: Read more…
What’s Your FICO Score?
Why did that lender turn you down? Why is your auto insurance premium higher? Thanks to the new financial reform legislation, you’ll be able to get your actual credit score used by the lender or other business to make that decision. Read more…
Congress passed the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, which President Obama is expected to sign today. But how will it affect you? Read more…
Seniors Targeted by Scammers
Twenty percent of Americans over 65 have been victims of financial scams. I’m surprised this number isn’t higher, actually. Seniors make “ideal targets”, especially those who suffer from isolation and/or diminished capacity. Increasingly, it’s elderly con artists who are targeting other citizens. Read more…
Welcome
Hello and welcome to my blog.
My name is Anne M. Hansen and I am a Minnesota consumer rights attorney at Hansen Law LLC. As a lawyer, my goal is to represent everyday consumers as they deal with frustrating financial issues such as debt collection defense, Chapter 7 bankruptcy and debt collector abuse/harassment. I also help consumers who have been taken advantage of by companies that use unfair and deceptive practices. I represent the little guy (and gal), and I love my job.
