People in the Bethesda area who were once financially secure can suddenly find themselves in the difficult position having to make decisions about what bills to pay and which to put off if a serious life event occurs such as a major illness or job loss. Being forced to make these tough choices is only compounded when debt collectors start calling, demanding payment on what is owed. Fortunately, federal law protects debtors from debt collector harassment and misrepresentation. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), debt collectors are not permitted to…Read More
The US economy, which lost 20 million jobs last month, has made keeping up with mortgage payments even more challenging for many homeowners in Maryland. Forbearance, under certain circumstances, may be a reasonable option to prevent mortgage foreclosure. With forbearance, borrowers may temporarily suspend their mortgage payments because of financial difficulties. These payments are delayed and not eliminated and must be paid in the future. A forbearance is often confused with a modification or repayment plan. Forbearance policies must be followed, and their terms are usually nonnegotiable. The Care Act requires that…Read More
This year, the deadline for filing federal income taxes has been pushed back to July 15, 2020, which gives Maryland residents an additional 3 months to turn in their annual returns. However, getting this year’s returns in may be the least of some people’s tax worries. Past tax debts may still be looming for some Bethesda residents who have not been able to satisfy their past due obligations. A tax debt can be a financial headache for an individual who just does not have the money to catch up on…Read More
The pandemic of 2020 has created financial troubles for many. Some of the financial problems are caused by being laid off or furloughed. If you and your family have been hard hit by the pandemic through job loss and mounting debt, you probably looking for answers about how to handle this situation. Questions to keep in mind Here are some questions to consider: Is your layoff a short-term problem or are you likely to be rehired soon? Would a restructured payment plan help you pay bills? Given more time, could…Read More
