Florida Bankruptcy Lawyer Blog

The best way to do this is with a Debit Card tied to your bank account. Naturally, this comes with a bit of responsibility. Debit cards allow you to pay for items by automatically taking money out of your account and sending it to the creditor, so you are not incurring debt at all. Likewise, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express will not have the ability to charge you interest on the outstanding balance at the end of the month. So, that $5 coffee this morning from Starbucks doesn't wind up costing you $35 in an over the limit fee. This is where I ask my clients to analyze the true cost of things.

Continue reading "Debit Card Do's And Don'ts Part II" »

Posted by Carmen Dellutri | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Consumer Protection , Credit Card Industry , Credit Cards , Life After Bankruptcy

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As a Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney, it seems as if a couple of questions are on everyone's mind. One of those questions is: After bankruptcy, how will I rent a car or secure a hotel room if I cannot keep any of my credit cards? My reply is simple: Use your debit card. People are often shocked that yes, they can use their debit cards for this purpose. Yesterday, my friend and colleague in Connecticut, Eugene Melchionne, wrote a blog for the Credit Law Network, titled "Using Debit Cards and ATM's Effectively". After reading Gene's article, it made me think of several reasons why people using debit cards need to be careful.

Continue reading "Debit Card Do's And Don'ts Part I" »

Posted by Carmen Dellutri | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Consumer Protection , Credit Card Industry , Credit Cards , Fair Credit Reporting Act , Life After Bankruptcy

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As a Board Certified Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney, I am seeing bankruptcy clients each and every day who are surrendering their homes in the bankruptcy process. Some individuals are choosing not to file bankruptcy and are deciding to leave their homes. Right now, Southwest Florida is experiencing one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country. People are literally walking away from their homes each and every day. Port Charlotte, Cape Coral and Lehigh are experiencing higher rates of foreclosure than other areas of Florida. Each day I speak with the people who are suffering through this problem, and they all tell me the same thing. I am going to mail the keys to my mortgage company or servicer.

Continue reading "What is Jingle Mail?" »

Posted by Carmen Dellutri | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Bankruptcy Myths , Consumer Protection , Life After Bankruptcy , Mortgage Foreclosures , Southwest Florida News

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Why do companies, especially credit cards, market to individuals in Bankruptcy? The simple answer is that individuals who file for bankruptcy (7) are prohibited from receiving another discharge for 8 years. But, is that really the answer? Are these companies afraid that the individual will file bankruptcy again? I don't think so. The credit card companies like Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover know that individuals will have a tough time changing their spending habits, and therefore, why not try to lure these individuals back into the charge and pay lifestyles that they may have once led. Kind of like a dope dealer pedaling dope to someone recently out of rehab.

Continue reading "Why Do Companies Market to Individuals in Bankruptcy?" »

Posted by Carmen Dellutri | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Bankruptcy News , Consumer Protection , Credit Card Industry , Credit Cards , Life After Bankruptcy

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January 2008 was the beginning of the new year for most people in Southwest Florida, and for of our other citizens, it was more bad news of the same old variety. In January 2008, 1,833 foreclosure lawsuits were filed in Lee County. This is a very depressing statistic. Lee County had approximately10,700 foreclosure lawsuits filed in 2007. In 2006, the number was approximately 3, 920. The increase is dramatic, but understandable. Unless you have been living under a rock for the past 36 months, you know what happened in the Lee County real estate market.

Continue reading "New Foreclosure Record Set For January 2008 In Lee County, Florida" »

Posted by Carmen Dellutri | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Bankruptcy Myths , Life After Bankruptcy , Mortgage Foreclosures , Southwest Florida News

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As a Board Certified Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney, I definitely march to the beat of a different drummer. I like what bankruptcy can do for people, and I love educating people about the myths of bankruptcy: My favorite is when I hear the myth that all people who file bankruptcy are looking to abuse the system. On the contrary, in today's society, the next person that files for bankruptcy protection could be your neighbor, brother, co-worker, and/or best friend. I really enjoy speaking with people who work in retail, and they ask if you would like to save 10% by applying for a "Store Visa Card"? Here is where you insert nails scratching down a chalkboard. Nothing is more irritating for me to hear.

Continue reading "Bankruptcy And Christmas Shopping" »

Posted by Carmen Dellutri | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Bankruptcy Myths , Good News , Life After Bankruptcy

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As a Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney on the West Coast of Florida, I see many people deciding to file bankruptcy everyday, and these individuals make the tough choice of surrendering their homes in the bankruptcy process. As if bankruptcy alone isn't enough, these individuals are making another tough choice and walking away from their homes. For most, it is the best financial decision because they quite simply cannot afford the homes with the exotic mortgage that they were coaxed into using (that's the subject of another blog or blogs).

Continue reading "After Bankruptcy: Is Renting A Viable Option" »

Posted by Carmen Dellutri | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Life After Bankruptcy

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