Greetings!
Welcome to our October newsletter! For over twenty five years we have helped people facing identity theft, abusive debt collectors, predatory lenders, credit reporting errors, wrongful foreclosure, student debt collection and car repossessions. This newsletter and our website are full of information on how to protect yourself in the constantly evolving world of consumer privacy and financial abuse. If you find them useful, we hope you will share our tips!
SPOTLIGHT ON MEDICAL DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES AND ARREST WARRANTS
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In Coffeyville, Kansas there is one day a month that medical debt collection brings debtors to the courtroom sued over unpaid medical bills. In a newly released article from ProPublica,  the practice of issuing arrest warrants in order to collect medical debt raises serious legal questions in many states, including Maryland. Peter Holland of The Holland Law Firm in Annapolis is quoted in the article, " If the judge is upholding the rule of law, he would give the bail money back to you when you appear in court. Instead, he is using his power to take money from you and hand it to the debt collector. It raises constitutional questions.”
LEGISLATION THAT PASSED WITH A
POSITIVE  IMPACT ON CONSUMER RIGHTS!
Emanwel Turnbull, a trial attorney at
The Holland Law Firm,  is on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition (MCRC). Here are highlights of some of MCRC’s legislative efforts in 2019:



STOPPING FOR-PROFIT SCHOOLS FROM PRETENDING TO BE NONPROFIT
Maryland is the first state in the nation to pass legislation preventing for-profit schools changing to nonprofits status. The regulation has brought more transparency to schools that are trying to take advantage of students with predatory loan practices. At least now the student will be aware of the for-profit status and make a more informed decision about attending the school.

STUDENT LOAN SERVICING
Have you been misled by a loan servicer when it comes to payment options for your loan or you have lost the battle when you tried to have your loan payment applied correctly when there was a mistake? This predatory practice has caused millions in late fees to be added to the already burgeoning student debt crisis. The new law will not allow a loan service company to “knowingly, recklessly or (even) refuse to correct a misapplication of a student loan borrower.”

The new law will also, and this is huge, “r equire a student loan servicer to  acknowledge  receipt of a written inquiry or complaint from a certain borrower within  10 days. ” Welcome support to students who need help making sure they can be heard when there are issues with the payment process for their student loan.

TAX SALES IN BALTIMORE CITY
Newly passed legislation has done away with a tax sale due to an unpaid water bill in Baltimore City. Previously in Baltimore City, a house could be foreclosed on due to an unpaid water bill. Reports of inaccurate billing compounds the issue in Baltimore City. The new bill removes water bills as part of the tax sale process so homeowners don’t lose this priceless asset.

MORTGAGE FORGIVENESS DEBT RELIEF TAX IS PERMANENT
After the mortgage meltdown in 2008, the federal government initiated a program to help consumers not pay income tax on negative equity in their homes from a foreclosure sale. Maryland had a similar law enacted that had sunset in 2018. Now it will be permanent.
CAN YOU GO TO JAIL FOR DEBT?
Photo by Min An from Pexels
It is often said that we don’t have “debtor prisons” in this country. But we also hear that people get arrested in cases that involve debt collection.  So, which is it?  The truth is that in some states after a debt collector obtains a judgment against you, they can force you to come to court to answer questions about any assets you have: cars, bank accounts, jewelry, interests in property, etc. And if you don’t show up to court, ultimately they can ask the court to issue a “body attachment” directing the Sherriff to arrest you and bring you before the court. Read more about this here: 
HOLLAND LAW FIRM: BOARD MEMBERSHIPS
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Peter Holland is on the board of directors for the National Association of Consumer Advocates . Emanwel Turnbull is on the board of directors for Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition . Both Peter and Emanwel are members of Law Zebra , a new groundbreaking consumer rights organization of independent consumer rights lawyers who hail from several states across the country.
We Are Here to Help. Call Us!
Do you know someone being hounded by debt collectors for a mortgage, student loan, medical debt, residential lease, car loan, or credit card debt ? Do you know someone who is the victim of Identity Theft or Credit Reporting Errors? We can help. Call us at 410 280 6133!
Check Out Our New Website
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We recently revamped our entire website and launched a LinkedIn page. 

Check them out and let us know what you think!
Peter A. Holland
The Holland Law Firm, P.C.
914 Bay Ridge Road, Suite 230
Annapolis, MD 21403
410 280 6133

NOTE: This newsletter may be considered to constitute advertising under Rule 7.2 of the Maryland Code of Professional Conduct and other state rules. Peter Holland is responsible for the content.