Medical expenses are often due to unexpected accidents or illnesses. As any New Jersey resident who has experienced a sudden illness or injury can attest, the costs quickly run into the thousands of dollars and higher -- even with medical insurance. By 2013, the...
Between the Great Recession and Super Storm Sandy, the New Jersey housing market was hit particularly hard in comparison to the rest of the country. While foreclosures dropped in 2014 for the nation as a whole, they rose to 71 percent in the state. That means that an...
Debt collectors will do just about anything to convince consumers to pay a debt -- even if it does not belong to them, but, instead, to a deceased relative. Many New Jersey residents do well just to stop harassing phone calls from creditors, but, now that one company...
Every single day, some New Jersey residents looking to buy their first home are turned down by lenders. The reasons for the denials could be a warning sign that they are in -- or headed for -- serious financial trouble. These individuals could be at a tipping point...
Most of the attention during the housing crisis rightly went to first mortgages. However, numerous New Jersey homeowners also took out second mortgages in better economic times. In the aftermath of the Great Recession, those second mortgages add to the overwhelming...
Regardless of the fact that most information shows the economy is steadily recovering, foreclosure and mortgage delinquency numbers do not paint as optimistic a picture. Between Oct. 2014 and Nov. 2014, delinquent mortgage debt rose approximately 11.8 percent. That...
Every day, New Jersey residents struggle to make ends meet and pay their bills. Yet, many of them do not think about filing bankruptcy because they have misconceptions about the process and may fear what it means for their futures. Some people even think that filing...
In the past, people were supposed to be ashamed of filing for bankruptcy. Fortunately, filing for bankruptcy has become more acceptable -- especially since the recession. Unfortunately, this acceptance has not eliminated misconceptions about life after bankruptcy....
Most New Jersey residents are keenly aware that the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy continues to wreak havoc on people's lives. In response, the New Jersey legislature is working to temporarily stop foreclosure on homes that were damaged in the storm. If the...
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) takes complaints from consumers about financial institutions and their products. This includes consumers here in New Jersey and around the country who are dealing with debt relief companies, creditors and collection...
