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1 Answer | Asked in Collections and Landlord - Tenant for Missouri on
Q: I am being charged for the smell of smoke in my old apt, I do not smoke, nor was anyone in my apt that smoked what

(Con’t)...are my options in fighting this as I dont want it to go to collections

Ronald J. Eisenberg
Ronald J. Eisenberg answered on Apr 28, 2020

Your options include

1. Paying your landlord or not opposing deduction of the money from your security deposit

2. Paying an attorney to negotiate with the landlord but this might cost more than the charge you are fighting

3. Filing suit to seek the refund of your security...
Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Civil Litigation and Collections for Virginia on
Q: Do credit card companies typically renew judgements after 10 years in VA? I'm 3 years away from the 10 year mark.

I want to know my best move. I'm looking to buy property in 3-4 years and am concerned about the judgements against me. They are 7 years old for 6k and 4k at time of judgement. Do they automatically renew? What is the process for renewal and how would I know if it was renewed? They already... Read more »

F. Paul Maloof
F. Paul Maloof answered on Apr 25, 2020

Generally credit card companies and their attorneys will renew judgments just before the 10 year period arrives. It is not automatic and counsel must file pleading with the court.

2 Answers | Asked in Collections and Probate for Florida on
Q: I have a final judgment on an ex. He owned property but signed QCD to girlfriend days before recent death. Can I collect
Seril L Grossfeld
Seril L Grossfeld answered on Apr 24, 2020

That may depend on whether the judgment was a lien on the real property. In order for the judgment to be a lien on real property you have to have had recorded a certified copy of the judgment on the public records in the county where the property is located. This serves as a lien with limited... Read more »

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1 Answer | Asked in Collections for Pennsylvania on
Q: Is this debt collector legitimate and should I pay?

I received a call from a debt collector for a small debt of 167 dollars. I was given a registration code and website link to pay the debt. When I go to the website, it requires the last 4 of my SSN and my ZIP code. Is this information safe to give out and should I pay the debt to them? The... Read more »

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing answered on Apr 24, 2020

Transworld is big, and I wouldn't give them your information. Tell them you want to know the basis of the debt.

Who is it from. What's the documentation. etc. You want the dates of service, etc.

Get the address, write them a mail letter. keep a copy.

Your mantra is "you...
Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Collections and Sexual Harassment for Pennsylvania on
Q: I receive two letters from two different lawyers and I need a lawyer

I was hired to write and direct a stage play. The guy promised to pay me and the actors even if the play was canceled. The man ha yet to pay me or the actors. and I received two letters from lawyers on his behalf. both of his claims are false. however, I have been giving a week to respond to one. I... Read more »

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing answered on Apr 23, 2020

The "one week to respond" is baloney---but hard to tell if they are saying you have one week to do something you are obligated to do under the contract....different.

It's hard to tell without knowing the facts. You can call for a free consultation and I can better direct you.

2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law, Collections and Identity Theft for Illinois on
Q: I'm a college student that had a Fake ID confiscated at a bar. Police want to charge me 350, can they?

They sent me mail June of 2019 saying I should pay where I said what are the next steps, then I did not hear from them again till 2 months ago where the officer said he put my papers in the wrong file. I honestly forgot about it and would have paid if they contacted me again but I didn't hear from... Read more »

Juan Ooink
Juan Ooink answered on Apr 21, 2020

Possessing a fake ID is a felony offense in Illinois. They do not have to prove that you bought it, just that it is fake and you possessed it. I suggest calling them and explaining to them, that you would have paid it if you heard back and that you are willing to pay the original fine amount.

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Collections, Identity Theft and Internet Law for Missouri on
Q: Is it legal for a lawyer to ask for a SSN online through an email address?

My boyfriend has some inheritance coming in and can’t touch it unless he’s married... he has asked me to pretend to be his fiancée in order to get his inheritance and to contact his lawyer and I emailed his lawyer but I never met his lawyer in person... his lawyer emailed me back and wanting... Read more »

Ronald J. Eisenberg
Ronald J. Eisenberg answered on Apr 21, 2020

Two things.

1. I suggest you ask the lawyer why he is requesting this information. Perhaps he needs it for the work to be done. Perhaps he wants that information so that if you and your bf hire him and then don't pay having this information will make it easier to collect a judgment...
Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Collections for Connecticut on
Q: I am Conservator for my adult son. Can I be held liable for any of my son's unpaid bills?
Joseph Maya
Joseph Maya answered on Apr 19, 2020

A conservator is a person appointed by the Probate Court to oversee or handle the financial or personal affairs of an adult. Connecticut recognizes two types of conservators. A Conservator of the Person supervises or manages the conserved person’s personal affairs and ensures that the person's... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation, Collections, Domestic Violence and Small Claims for North Carolina on
Q: Can my ex take me to a collection agency for this?

My (now) ex and I share the same phone plan. It is under his name and he pays for it. I used to just give him my half every month. Now that we are broken up, I blocked him on everything. I am figuring out getting my own phone plan but there is technically still money that I owe him to date.... Read more »

Paige Kurtz
Paige Kurtz answered on Apr 16, 2020

If you had agreement that you would pay half of the bill, then yes, he can seek to collect from you. Given the amount, he would probably file an action in small claims.

2 Answers | Asked in Contracts, Civil Litigation and Collections for Ohio on
Q: Ohio sued for debt that isn’t mine. Stated that I was victim of mistaken identity or ID theft. P hasn’t responded to

Discovery requests but they sent paperwork to start an ID Theft investigation. I don’t even know that the debt exists & not comfortable giving them any information or attesting to a theft with no knowledge a theft occurred. I have already stated under oath that the debt is not mine since I... Read more »

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss answered on Apr 9, 2020

There is really no downside to filing a theft report and it can only help your case. There is a debt on your name. You say that it's not yours. If it's not yours there are only two options: 1) The Creditor made a mistake or 2) your identity was stolen. In either case, it's in your interest to file... Read more »

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Collections for Indiana on
Q: I have 2 ER bills.I can't pay off but am sending in payments each month.Can they send me to collections?

Went to two different hospitals, billed for them and ambulance ride. I cant pay what they want, asked for a payment arrangement and what they wanted was too high. So I am sending in $25-50 each bill each month.

Troy Tyson
Troy Tyson answered on Apr 9, 2020

They could send you to collections at any time for a bill that is not timely paid. However, keeping in contact with the company and continuing to make regular payments are good actions to take to prevent them from doing so.

4 Answers | Asked in Contracts and Collections for Florida on
Q: I joined a gym and was told it would be month by month and not a year long contract. I'm now being told it was year long

When I joined the gym they told me it was a month to month thing and not a year long contract. In fact I was told that this specifically was not a contract. I was not shown a contract nor did I receive a copy of anything. In January I stopped attending the gym and didn't update my payment... Read more »

Jeffrey Snyder
Jeffrey Snyder answered on Apr 6, 2020

Do you have a copy of the contract that you signed? If not, get a copy and go from there.

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1 Answer | Asked in Products Liability and Collections for Tennessee on
Q: ticket and also the truck was in my brother's name but now they're saying that they got a judgement against my father

my brother and father have the same last names except for the middle name and my dad has money and they're saying that they have a $14,000 judgment against my father but you're not on the truck did not get the ticket can you please tell us what to do

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar answered on Apr 4, 2020

Set up a consult with a Tennessee attorney before this develops further. It isn't something on which someone could advise based on these facts alone, and your post remains open for a month. A lot must have already happened for the matter to reach the judgment stage - maybe mail going to the wrong... Read more »

2 Answers | Asked in Collections for Missouri on
Q: HAD A DORMANT JUDGEMENT DATED 2012, RECEIVED GARNISH THIS WEEK, HASNT TIME TO COLLECT RAN OUT?
Ronald J. Eisenberg
Ronald J. Eisenberg answered on Apr 3, 2020

I judgment from. Missouri state court lasts 10 years from entry. A payment on the record in the interim automatically revives it as well.

You didn’t provide enough information for me to opine on whether the garnishment was issued on an expired judgment. If so, consult with an attorney...
Read more »

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1 Answer | Asked in Collections for Virginia on
Q: Can a company back bill me 3 yrs later?

I rented a mobile storage unit. I was to be on auto billing monthly. I was auto billed for the first 9 months after that the inadequate employee stopped doing his job and did not bill me monthly for auto billing. 3 yrs later they pick up the unit. Six months after pickup they send a bill for... Read more »

Gregory Byrnes
Gregory Byrnes answered on Apr 2, 2020

Generally yes, they can still collect because you have not fulfilled your requirements under the contract. However, there are two areas of law you should look at in Virginia: 1) what is the statute of limitations on breach of contract and debt collection, and 2) did they waive their right to... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Bankruptcy and Collections for North Carolina on
Q: I have a money judgement from Florida and I live in North Carolina. What are my next steps in resolving this debt?

I do not have the full amount but can make payments. Do I initiate the payment plan or wait until the lawyers go through discovery?

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison answered on Apr 1, 2020

Contact your lawyer and initiate a compromise settlement or payment plan with the creditor.

2 Answers | Asked in Contracts, Civil Litigation, Collections and International Law for Florida on
Q: Can an American living in Germany be successfully sued or have collections put against them from someone in the states?

Im an American living in Germany and do not plan to return to the states. I signed a contract with a company out of Florida regarding medical consulting in relations to a claim with the Veterans Administration (Im a vet). The company did not do as advertised and thus we are in a dispute over... Read more »

Barry W. Kaufman
Barry W. Kaufman answered on Mar 30, 2020

Of course you can be sued. The creditor will have to jump thru some hoops to get you served in Germany though. But regardless, once you are served, its just like you lived in the states. If the creditor obtained judgment, and wanted to enforce the judgment, it would have to go through a process to... Read more »

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2 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy and Collections for Michigan on
Q: My wages are being garnished from my check. Can I just raise my federal withholding a lot and get it back next year?

I have a garnishment from my employer. They take payroll taxes off before determining disposable income. What's to stop me from just raising my additional federal withholding by a lot to make my disposable income too low to garnish and then get huge federal refund next year?

Edit: Mark,... Read more »

Mark Bredow
Mark Bredow answered on Mar 29, 2020

No. A creditor receives up to 25% of your gross income by wage garnishment. This is taken from each check. By increasing our withholdings, you would not impact the amount taken, and would reduce your takehome income even further. You should consider setting up a payment plan and consulting... Read more »

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1 Answer | Asked in Contracts and Collections for New York on
Q: Can i sue my dentist for making my credit go down alot after me asking alot for them to pay my loan back

I nver got the work done and called them multiple time and they keep saying there going to and never do

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar answered on Mar 27, 2020

It would be difficult for an attorney to answer without knowing the terms of your loan agreement, the underlying agreement for work to be performed, how it came to be that the work was never performed, communications between you and the dentist involving these things, and other factors. Good luck... Read more »

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