It wasn't so long ago that retirement for most people was an opportunity to do some travel, maybe get more involved in personal interests and hobbies that have nothing to do with collecting a paycheck. You might have envisioned a time when you wouldn't have to answer to anyone and life would become simple. The reality is that as you grow older life becomes more complicated, not less.
I don't know of too many seniors that don't spend a considerable amount of time in worry. Dealing with health issues, the cost of prescriptions, trying to jump through all the hurtles over Medicare, Medicaid, prescription coverage, gap coverage, rising property taxes, rising grocery costs..etc
Then the economy tanked at a time when the millions born during the post war baby boom are just entering retirement age. The money they had been putting away in IRA's and 401K plans just melted away. Many had to find work if they are still able. Many can't because the opportunities to work just aren't there. Those circumstances have led seniors to chose between paying the grocery bill or buying medicine. Those who have the option to use up available credit have amassed large debt that they simply can't repay.
Then the phone calls and letters start. The same institutions that participated in the destruction of pensions and the obliteration of retirement income now want their money. They are relentless. They hire agencies that will say anything to a senior to get that money. They threaten jail. They threaten to call friends and relatives to embarrass the senior into paying what they can't pay. The collectors threaten to take away Social Security money. The fact is they can't do any of those things because seniors and the disabled are protected. There are no work houses or debtor prisons in this country. That doesn't stop the lies those bill collectors tell.
There is a way to put a stop to it. If you are a protected senior or disabled person all you need is a lawyer. Once you have legal representation those phone calls and letters stop coming to you and go to your lawyer.
Of course, since most seniors believe in paying their obligations, if you have the money to retain a lawyer that means you probably have the money to pay your bills. If only that were true.
Enter Portland bankruptcy attorney Eric Olsen who says seniors often end up filing bankruptcy when it really doesn't make sense to do that. Olsen thinks seniors should be protected from the collection agencies and the blatant lies they tell. He has formed a non-profit organization called HELPS that, for a very small fee, and a very small monthly service charge will make the letters and phone calls stop. He says there are millions of Americans facing this issue.
Monday February 6th Olsen will be my guest on KAST 1370 at 8:30am and will explain how this works. In the meantime there is a web site where you can get more information http://helpsishere.org/
I don't know of too many seniors that don't spend a considerable amount of time in worry. Dealing with health issues, the cost of prescriptions, trying to jump through all the hurtles over Medicare, Medicaid, prescription coverage, gap coverage, rising property taxes, rising grocery costs..etc
Then the economy tanked at a time when the millions born during the post war baby boom are just entering retirement age. The money they had been putting away in IRA's and 401K plans just melted away. Many had to find work if they are still able. Many can't because the opportunities to work just aren't there. Those circumstances have led seniors to chose between paying the grocery bill or buying medicine. Those who have the option to use up available credit have amassed large debt that they simply can't repay.
Then the phone calls and letters start. The same institutions that participated in the destruction of pensions and the obliteration of retirement income now want their money. They are relentless. They hire agencies that will say anything to a senior to get that money. They threaten jail. They threaten to call friends and relatives to embarrass the senior into paying what they can't pay. The collectors threaten to take away Social Security money. The fact is they can't do any of those things because seniors and the disabled are protected. There are no work houses or debtor prisons in this country. That doesn't stop the lies those bill collectors tell.
There is a way to put a stop to it. If you are a protected senior or disabled person all you need is a lawyer. Once you have legal representation those phone calls and letters stop coming to you and go to your lawyer.
Of course, since most seniors believe in paying their obligations, if you have the money to retain a lawyer that means you probably have the money to pay your bills. If only that were true.
Enter Portland bankruptcy attorney Eric Olsen who says seniors often end up filing bankruptcy when it really doesn't make sense to do that. Olsen thinks seniors should be protected from the collection agencies and the blatant lies they tell. He has formed a non-profit organization called HELPS that, for a very small fee, and a very small monthly service charge will make the letters and phone calls stop. He says there are millions of Americans facing this issue.
Monday February 6th Olsen will be my guest on KAST 1370 at 8:30am and will explain how this works. In the meantime there is a web site where you can get more information http://helpsishere.org/
Oregon Department of Justice says:
ReplyDeleteWithin five days after the first time a debt collector contacts you, the debt collector must send in writing a notice telling you:
•The amount of money you owe;
•The name of the creditor to whom you owe the debt;
•That unless you dispute the validity of the debt, or any part of the debt, within 30 days of the date you receive the notice, the debt will be assumed to be valid;
•That if you notify the debt collector in writing that you dispute all or part of the debt within those 30 days, the debt collector must mail you a copy of a verification that you owe the debt; and
•That if you ask the debt collector, in writing, to provide the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor, the debt collector must provide you with that information.
If you notify a debt collector in writing that you want the debt collector to stop contacting you or that you are not going to pay the debt, the debt collector must stop contacting you, except to either notify you of potential legal action to collect the debt or to notify you that the debt collector will no longer be trying to collect the debt.
So basically you have seniors citizen/retirees on fixed incomes paying vigorish on a monthly basis to "MAYBE" stave-off uncrupulous bill collectors when you have certain rights and protections with the Oregon Department of Justice to assist you with your own ability to stop the harassment?
Hmmmmmmmmm!
Not so sure who HELPS is benefitting here other than Mr. Olsen's non-profit, Profit/Loss Statement
As he stated, it's a niche market and not everyone needs to go this direction. I'm thinking about people who are no longer capable of defending themselves effectively against an aggressive collector.
ReplyDeleteA "Niche Market"?
ReplyDeleteSenior citizens, likely on fixed incomes, paying an intital fee and then a monthly fee on the prospect that they may or may not be harassed over their debts by a debtor when the State of Oregon itself provides ample consumer protections under law?
No longer capable of of defending themselves and their finances effectively? And they want to use this guy who promises nothing more than, as an attorney he will write a cease and desist letter on their behalf to debtors who likely know the laws of this state to the letter and exactly how far they can go with it?