One of the best things about summer is the local produce you’re likely to find not just in the supermarket, but on road side stands. While I admit I’m a bit biased, when I was a kid, there was no better place to get tomatoes and sweet corn than the small farms on Aquidneck Island. That’s probably going to tick-off the good folks in Little Compton, but hey, I know what I know. I am sure that I can find a place online that would ship them to me, but it’s not the same as pulling over to the side of the road, smelling the air, and reaching into your pocket for a few bills to get some good stuff. Law firms advertise online, as do credit counselors and so-called debt settlement and consolidation firms…and there are hundreds if not thousands of companies and firms offering assistance to people struggling with debt. Is it a good idea for Massachusetts consumers stay “local” when they are looking for resources to help them deal with their debt? This very question came up today when I was talking with a prospective client.
For a variety of reasons, the family is in a lot of debt and exploring options. There’s bankruptcy (and I can help them with that), and there’s credit counseling (which I can offer a recommendation). There’s also debt consolidation and debt settlement, but ironically, there do not seem to be too many local companies that offer such services. Perhaps it is because those services are usually little more than a scam. Perhaps it’ because it’s been tried
The clients were considering the “Consumer Law Group, PA” located in Florida. I like Florida – I have not been there in years – but it’s a pleasant place to be. And while I like oranges, I don’t feel the need to go to Florida to get them.
Fortunately, the client did some research on this outfit on their own. They learned that the “Consumer Law Group, PA” had only been around since November 2007. They found websites where people had some very unfavorable things to say. More than one person, actually. They also learned that in less than two years period, they earned an exceptionally low BBB rating. That was their wake up call. It dawned on them: “why are we not dealing with a local business who can help us?”
While this is arguably yet another reason to stay clear from any outfit claiming to offer debt consolidation or debt settlement services (which again, are a scam), I think it is also important to consider going with someone local. It doesn’t matter if it is an attorney, a credit counselor or a lender who may be trying to help you refinance…. why go with an out of state outfit state? After all, we are talking about your money, your life, your family and your future.
For those reasons, it’s important to get good help from someone who knows what they are doing. And frankly, if these issues are important enough for you and your family, then you should be able to look that professional square in the eye. That’s hard to do when they are a few states away.
The Elephant in the Room: Married Same-Sex Debtors
The decision to seek bankruptcy protection is never easy, and when two people are involved, it is not necessarily easier. Married opposite-sex debtors have the option of seeking bankruptcy protection jointly in one case. But as a growing handful of states recognize same-sex marriages or its legal equivalent (“unions”), and as the legitimacy and constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (or DOMA) continues to be litigated in courts across the country, same-sex debtors seeking bankruptcy relief face even tougher decisions.
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Tags: Commentary - Legal, Consumer Rights, Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), Joint Debtors
Posted in Bankruptcy, Chapter 11, Chapter 13, Chapter 7, Consumer Rights | No Comments »