The Montana Supreme Court recently entered a decision in Morrow v. Bank of America, N.A., that may help Montanans who have experienced abuse or misconduct at the hands of their mortgage loan servicers and/or are in the foreclosure process. The homeowners in the case, the Morrows, made several claims in District Court against Bank …
Text with Caution: Direct Express Scam
A recent press release by the the Social Security Administration has warned consumers of a texting scam involving “Direct Express” cards. The Direct Express card is used by the U.S. Treasury as an alternative to direct deposit for those who do not have a bank account. The texting scam attempts to dupe people into giving …
Need Low-Cost Health Insurance? You may be eligible for Health Insurance Marketplace coverage
Under the Affordable Care Act (sometimes called “Obamacare”), many low-income Montanans may be eligible to get help to pay for health insurance. The help comes in the form of subsidies or tax credits. The amount of the subsidy or tax credit depends on your income and other facts. The subsidy and tax credits would apply …
MLSA’s File Your Own Bankruptcy Program: A New Approach to Helping Debtors Find a Fresh Start
By: Jessie Lundberg, Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellow, Montana Legal Services Association – Consumer Law Unit Bankruptcy is a powerful word. It carries many connotations, most often negative. For many, it symbolizes failure. Crisis. Even personal and moral shortcomings. After all, what kind of a deadbeat runs up a bunch of bills they can’t pay?Everyday Montanans like:Bill, a Viet …
Bankruptcy in Montana: Increasing Demand Necessitates Innovation in Services
A large percentage of the clients that seek services from MLSA each year have some sort of consumer related issue. Of our clients with consumer issues, many of them are asking for assistance with filing for bankruptcy. What we experience at MLSA is similar to what Rural Dynamics Inc reported in their recent blog entry. …
Don’t Touch My Check! New Rule Protects Seniors, Veterans, and the Disabled From Creditors
By Klaus Sitte, MLSA Litigation DirectorJohn and Mary are “closely approaching advanced age,” in Social Security parlance, age 64 and 63 respectively. Because of a serious heart condition, John is disabled and receives Social Security Disability benefits of $1280 per month. Mary retired at age 62 because of John’s failing health. Mary gets about $850 per month Social …
The Root of Bankruptcy in Montana
By Jolene Bach, Rural Dynamics Inc.Last week, Montana Legal Services highlighted that the vast majority of consumers who file for bankruptcy do so as a direct result of medical debt and that three-quarters of those filers had private health insurance. Either these consumers were underinsured; were sick for an extended time period and lost their …
Dispelling the Myths Surrounding Bankruptcy: Many Montanans Truly Have Nothing Left to Give.
1.5 million people in the United States filed for bankruptcy in 2010, an increase of 13.8% from 2009. Would you have guessed that 42% of all personal bankruptcies were a result of medical expenses and that 78% of the individuals who filed had health insurance? A Visual Tour of the Leading Causes of BankruptcyThere is …
It is Time to Start a Consumer Law Conversation
Over the last few months, MLSA has spotlighted the importance of self-help resources for low-income Montanans. In doing so, we have emphasized the true need for access to the courts for those who are unrepresented.Now, we want to start a different, but related, conversation about consumer law issues. We want to get the community talking …