Reducing Debt

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Millions of Americans struggle with debt, and finding a way out of what can feel like an overwhelming obstacle can feel difficult, if not impossible. Luckily, members of our Legal Protection Subscription Plans for Individuals & Families can get legal advice and assistance to negotiate debt settlements with your creditors or help with a collection issue, all for just one, low monthly fee. Learn more about the benefits of membership and read on for a few tips about managing debt.

Gather Your Information

The first step is almost always the hardest, so start by making a list of your creditors and how much you owe. If some debts have gone to collections, take note of the original creditor and the company managing the collection action. Gather letters, invoices, bills, and other pertinent documents as your attorney will need to review them.

Make Sure The Debt Is Yours

It happens more often than people think. An entire cottage industry of fraudulent collection companies use intimidation tactics to convince people to pay debts that aren't theirs. Some of these companies will try to get you to pay for a family member's debt. Additionally, cases of mistaken identity do happen in the collection business, so carefully examine all bills you receive to ascertain if the debt really is yours.

Create A Budget

Managing debt means knowing what you owe and how much you can afford to pay to whittle down your debt. This requires taking a long, hard look at your finances and cutting unnecessary purchases and expenses where possible, as well as committing to a certain amount each month toward your debt repayment. Even a small amount will make a difference over time.

Decide Which Debt Is A Priority

Developing a strategy for paying back your debts can also be helpful. Know which debts are secured and which are unsecured. Secured debts are typically for larger purchases, such as your house or your car, so making these your top priority will mean that you don't lose these assets. Your next priority will be to any court-ordered payments, such as child support or alimony, as you don't want to risk an issue with the courts. After these, it's often helpful to organize debts by interest rate so that you are paying more to your highest interest rate debts, thus paying them off faster, lowering your total debt over time. Lastly, any debts that are already in collections or are soon headed that way will need to be dealt with either through negotiating a payment plan or some form of consolidation in order to avoid any additional legal fees.

Negotiate Payment Plans

Many creditors are happy to negotiate payments or a settlement amount that is lower than what they say you owe them. Make sure to get the agreement in writing, and your attorney through our Legal Protection Plans can help you negotiate with creditors, collection agencies, and others to lower your monthly payments. Your attorney can also review contracts and documents for such agreements you've negotiated yourself to protect your rights and your money.

Consolidation

While consolidation is one way to handle mounting debt, it is worth noting that there are fraudulent entities in this industry, as well; our attorneys hear from members all the time who were taken in by promises from consolidation companies to reduce or eliminate debt and the promises never materialized. Review contracts and agreements with consolidation companies with your attorney to make sure that you're not being taken advantage of - or will end up paying more than you owe - before you sign any paperwork with a consolidation company.

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy isn't the black mark that some people think it is; it doesn't mean that you're a failure if you have to declare bankruptcy. In fact, bankruptcy can provide you with the recovery and new start that you may need. As always, your attorney through our Legal Protection Plans can help you decide if bankruptcy is the right choice for your financial well being and assist you with the paperwork and documentation needed to file for bankruptcy in your state and county.

In the end, there are many ways to manage debt and your attorney will be able to help you in numerous ways to get you back on your feet and thriving again, all for one low, monthly subscription fee. Learn more about all the benefits of membership in our Legal Protection Subscription Plans for Individuals & Families or sign up today!

Navigating Inflation

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Rising inflation is causing American families additional added stress this fall. With back-to-school shopping and the holidays coming up, families are feeling the pinch at the pump and the register. Everyone is trying to find ways to make their dollars stretch further and minimize costs, and with prices on consumer goods spiking, despite many families cutting back on additional spending this year, experts predict a 35% increase in spending compared to 2019. Even in an economy that favors consumers, the holiday season can place a financial burden on families. How can an attorney help you through high prices? Many retailers offer special deals if you sign up for various programs, and your attorney can review those contracts for you, to help you understand all the legal intricacies of what you're agreeing to when you sign up, all for no additional fee when you're a member of our Legal Protection Subscription Plans for Families & Individuals. In the meantime, here are a few tips that may help you and your family manage inflation.

Take Advantage of Discounts

Some retailers offer special discounts and limited time specials throughout the holiday shopping season. Many offer discounts for veterans, teachers, college students, and more. Take advantage of every discount you're entitled to and consider participating in retailers' rewards programs, as well, particularly if you already shop at that store. Make sure to read the fine print or have your attorney review the contract before you sign on the dotted line.

Try To Time Your Spending

Watch for sales and try to time your purchases of non-essential items to when they're on sale. Retailers have many sales, closeouts, and special promotions throughout the holiday shopping season, so keeping an eye out for when the items you want will be on sale is a great way to save some money.

Watch Overspending

Think about things you might need that could be purchased used, or trade with other families for things you need with things you don't use anymore. Joining "buy nothing" groups on social media is one way to find out about these trading opportunities. Second hand shops, consignment stores, and thrift shops are other alternatives to getting items you need but don't want to pay full price for, and maybe make a little back by selling things you no longer need.

Re-purpose Things You Already Own

There are many times we go through closets, attics, basements, sheds, garages, and storage units and find things that we already own but we forgot we had. Many of these items can be put to use, used for something else, or sold online for cash.

During a high inflationary period, it's important to have protection in place so you're not taken advantage of in an already trying time. Maximizing financial stability starts with making sure you, your family, and your rights are protected, and an attorney will be able to help you navigate consumer finance legal issues quickly and easily and prevent you from losing more money over a sour deal. Learn more about our Legal Protection Subscription Plans for Individuals & Families, or sign up today!

Medical Billing Errors & Mistakes - What You Need To Know

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Some real talk: medical costs in the United States can be expensive and complicated, and getting through a difficult healthcare system that includes co-pays, insurance, and possibly Medicare or Medicaid regulations is, very often, confusing, at best. But what happens if you get an erroneous bill, such as a bill that isn't yours or a bill that is much more than you anticipated? Sorting through a surprise or incorrect medical bill can be stressful and confusing, but members of our legal subscription plans have legal help at their fingertips when situations like these occur. The first thing you should do is to keep all documents, quotes, and bills together for easy reference by you or your attorney. Read on for a few more tips.

Billing Mistake or Fraud?

One of the surprising things that can happen in cases of identity theft is medical billing fraud. Here's how you can tell the difference between medical billing mistakes and medical billing fraud:

Are the billed services for treatments you actually received but on a different date? This is an example of a billing error. If you receive a bill for treatments, services, or visits but you do not remember those treatments, or the services are on the wrong date or the wrong location, or are for far more than what you were told you would pay, it may be some form of fraud scheme and you should contact your attorney right away. Sometimes, scammers sell or use stolen identity documents, and those credentials are used by someone other than yourself to procure medical services while you get the bill. In cases like these, you should definitely contact your lawyer as soon as possible, as well as credit reporting agencies. We also offer identity theft services that can protect you.

Contesting A Bill

In emergencies, it is easy to overlook things at admission, but if you don't recall something that appears on a medical bill, the first thing you should do is gather relevant documents and insurance information and review those documents. If you are missing documents, it is likely that the documentation is stored electronically, and you should be able to request copies of your medical records from the facility.

Next, contact your insurance company to see if they covered the correct amount. There may have been a mistake concerning a billing code, or incomplete or incorrect information was sent to the insurance company. This happens more frequently than you might think! Next, reach out to the medical provider's billing department for an explanation and to correct any mistakes. Make sure to take notes of your conversations with billing personnel, including the name and title of the person(s) you spoke to. Follow up with an email to the person you talked to so there is a record of what you talked about and any misunderstandings can be cleared up in writing. Some facilities use an online chat and you can download those conversations for your records.

After contacting your insurance company and the medical provider's billing office, you can go over your options. You can work out a payment plan with the provider, or you can dispute the bill. If you choose to dispute the bill, your attorney will be an invaluable resource. Often, lawyers are able to get results most of us just can't get, and the resolution is often cleared up in less time.

Legal Options

Your attorney through our legal subscription plan can help you in many ways:

• Review your documents and give advice

• Make calls or write letters on your behalf

• Assist with dispute resolution through mediation or arbitration, depending on your situation

Do not ignore incorrect billing statements or demands for payment, regardless of the situation. Medical bills get sent to collections all the time and may impact your credit.

Receiving an enormous, incorrect, or even fraudulent bill from a medical provider can cause a lot of stress and anxiety, but members of our legal subscription plans can get access to dedicated, experienced attorneys familiar with insurance companies and medical billing to help. Our plans start at just $29.95 per month and pay for themselves the first time you use them. Work with a medical billing lawyer quickly and easily and get answers to questions and concerns, have phone consultations, get documents reviewed and explained, and much more. Learn more about all the benefits of membership or sign up today!