Dealing with Debt | Live Q&A with Arizona Attorney John Skiba

TL;DR

This video offers legal advice and resources for dealing with debt-related issues, including debt collection lawsuits, bankruptcy, and wage garnishment.

Transcript

hey everybody and welcome to Thursday night welcome to Thursday night once again John skiba here from the consumer Warrior YouTube channel we're here once again on a Thursday night doing our live stream to answer all questions debt related I always say we deal with the we don't just dabble in debt we deal with the serious stuff like debt collection... Read More

Key Insights

• 👮 John Skiba's law practice in Arizona focuses on bankruptcy and defending clients sued by creditors.
• 💌 Solo Suit is an online platform that helps with drafting legal documents related to debt collection, providing resources for debt settlement letters, validation letters, and more.
• 🦟 The means test determines eligibility for Chapter 7 bankruptcy based on income, and quitting a job may reduce income but may also require a waiting period.
• 👨‍💼 Personal bankruptcy does not generally affect business credit, and assets of a small business may not be touched in a personal bankruptcy.
• 🤱 The filing fees and attorney fees for bankruptcy vary depending on the state, type of bankruptcy, and complexity of the case.
• 🐕‍🦺 Proper service is crucial in debt collection lawsuits, and avoiding service can lead to default judgments.
• 🧭 Creditors can continue reporting certain debts on credit reports even if the statute of limitations has passed.

Questions & Answers

Q: Can quitting a job before filing for bankruptcy help qualify for Chapter 7?

Quitting a job can potentially reduce income and affect bankruptcy qualification. However, the means test still considers the average income over the last six months. Therefore, there may be a waiting period before qualifying for Chapter 7.

Q: Can creditors continue reporting on credit reports after canceling a debt?

If a debt is canceled, creditors should not continue reporting it. However, if the debt is settled, the credit report may indicate it as "settled for less than amount owed."

Q: Can a debt collector garnish wages of a spouse if only one person is pursued in arbitration?

No, unless there is a judgment against both spouses, a debt collector cannot garnish the wages of a non-debtor spouse for an arbitration award.

Q: How can one ensure proper service when being sued by a debt collector?

It is best not to avoid service. Embrace it and respond accordingly. If service is not properly executed, it is important to raise the issue with the court to protect your rights.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video features John Skiba, a consumer protection attorney, discussing his law practice in Arizona, which focuses on bankruptcy and defending people sued by creditors.

• He introduces a new segment where he provides a resource each week to help viewers deal with debt issues. The resource mentioned in this video is Solo Suit, an online platform that helps with drafting legal documents related to debt collection.

• Skiba answers several questions from viewers, addressing topics such as bankruptcy eligibility, debt collection reporting, and proper service in lawsuits.