questions & answers

Question: My father has become unable to live independently. He has no estate, nothing of value-only his 1440 SS monthly income. He has 7000$ in credit card debt as well as 4000$ in medical bills. I am looking into placing him in an assisted living or nursing home as it's too difficult for us as a family. My question is -how do I absolve his debt? Chase calls MY home phone daily-despite my discussing the situation with them, as well as the medical bill.

Answer: Bankruptcy allows individuals to absolve certain types of debt. If this is the route you and your family choose to take, you can demand the creditors stop communicating with you (based on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act). The Act was implemented to stop harassment by creditors. Here are two sections of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act that may relate to your situation.   Communication in connection with debt collection a) Communication with the consumer generally Without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, a debt collector may not communicate with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt (1) at any unusual time or place or a time or place known or which should be known to be inconvenient to the consumer. In the absence of knowledge of circumstances to the contrary, a debt collector shall assume that the convenient time for communicating with a consumer is after 8 o'clock antemeridian and before 9 o'clock postmeridian, local time at the consumer's location (2) if the debt collector knows the consumer is represented by an attorney with respect to such debt and has knowledge of, or can readily ascertain, such attorney's name and address, unless the attorney fails to respond within a reasonable period of time to a communication from the debt collector or unless the attorney consents to direct communication with the consumer; or (3) at the consumer's place of employment if the debt collector knows or has reason to know that the consumer's employer prohibits the consumer from receiving such communication. (b) Communication with third parties Except as provided in section 1692b of this title, without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector, or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, or as reasonably necessary to effectuate a postjudgment judicial remedy, a debt collector may not communicate, in connection with the collection of any debt, with any person other than the consumer, his attorney, a consumer reporting agency if otherwise permitted by law, the creditor, the attorney of the creditor, or the attorney of the debt collector. c) Ceasing communication If a consumer notifies a debt collector in writing that the consumer refuses to pay a debt or that the consumer wishes the debt collector to cease further communication with the consumer, the debt collector shall not communicate further with the consumer with respect to such debt, (1) to advise the consumer that the debt collector's further efforts are being terminated 2) to notify the consumer that the debt collector or creditor may invoke specified remedies which are ordinarily invoked by such debt collector or creditor; or (3) where applicable, to notify the consumer that the debt collector or creditor intends to invoke a specified remedy If such notice from the consumer is made by mail, notification shall be complete upon receipt (d) “Consumer” defined for the purpose of this section, the term "consumer" includes the consumer's spouse, parent (if the consumer is a minor), guardian, executor, or administrator The following is the FTC’s website with the full text of the law. I would advise you to speak with an attorney that specializes in bankruptcy to help guide you through that process (and more than likely have experience with Fair Debt Collection Practices Act).