Consumers in Oregon who face overwhelming debt and are unable to continue making payments may face consequences like creditor harassment, negative reporting to credit bureaus, and wage garnishment. If a person cannot afford to pay debts, bankruptcy offers an option for a fresh financial start. For those who are concerned about their financial future and the effect that their debt will have on their ability to borrow money in the future, a new law may make them more optimistic about the future.
Lawmakers are debating a bill that would work in tandem with the Medical Debt Relief Act for consumers who are facing mounting medical bills. Under current law, debtors can report an unpaid bill within thirty days of the bill being past due, and the mark stays on the person’s credit even after the bill is paid.
When consumers move unexpectedly, or information is missing from an account, negative reports may be made to a credit agency before the consumer is even aware of the debt. With the new law, which is also intended to improve the credit reporting process and make it more accurate, consumers would have 120 days to prove they were unaware of the debt, or that they are making arrangements to take care of it.
Many consumers are overwhelmed with medical debt, and face an uncertain future as they deal with medical bills that they can’t pay. In these situations, bankruptcy may be an ideal solution to an overwhelming problem. Any person who is facing personal debt that can’t be paid and is considering ways to get a fresh start may benefit from meeting with a bankruptcy attorney to discuss their options.
Source: Source: Consumerist, “Legislation would give consumers 120 days to resolve medical debts before dinging credit reports,” Chris Morran, May 28, 2013
