Scout overcomes injuries to “fly with the eagles”

by John Feller on February 22, 2010

Clayton Hildreth being congratulated by his niece

I like to think I am a pretty tough hard nosed guy, but I have to admit I got a little teary when I read this Omaha World Herald article about Clayton Hildreth.  Clayton just got his Eagle Scout badge. Only 3 percent of boys who start Scouting earn Boy Scouts’ highest rank.  If that is not special enough, Clayton earned his Eagle Scout badge even though at the age of 3 he was severely burned in a house fire. He survived, but was left with one eye, one ear, only one thumb and no fingers, and no toes.  What an inspiring story of courage by a remarkable young man.  I feel a little guilty about getting down when I experience a set back or difficulty.

Hoping to make my bankruptcy clients feel a little better about their difficult circumstances, I sometimes make a weak joke saying don’t worry, it’s just money. After reading about Clayton I can say, truthfully and emphatically say, really, it’s just money.  Clayton Hildreth has defied all odds since he was 3 years old.  He has never given up, never quit, never given in.   There are things more difficult to overcome than loosing your job, or your car or even your home.  Clayton Hildreth has faced adversity all his young life and time after time he has just gone out did what needed to be done.  I will always be empathetic to my clients difficult financial problems, but will try to remember it is after all “just money”.  Young or old, rich or poor it is never too late to start over.

At Feller Law Office we are all about second chances and starting over.  Contact Feller Law Office today at 1-800-457-9680.

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Loan sharks use “enforcers” to collect debts. Credit card companies use “third-party collectors”.

by John Feller on January 19, 2010

Other than not being able to break your leg or do other violence third-party collectors can still be pretty darn nasty.  The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a federal law that applies to third-party debt collectors prohibits what it refers to as “harassment.”  A debt collector can’t use obscene language or threaten violence, but can still make a debtor feel pretty bad.  Even with the possibility of a FDCPA lawsuit plenty of collectors still cross the line.   If a debtor feels harassed or threatened,  it may be necessary to hire a lawyer familiar with the FDCPA to stop outrageous conduct by third-party collectors.  Lots of good people get behind on their bills.  Some may even need to file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, but nobody deserves to be disrespected by bill collectors.

Contact Feller Law Office today at 1-800-457-9680 to STOP HARASSMENT NOW.

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Tough Year for Celebrities Too

January 7, 2010

I like to read all of the year in review articles that come out this time of year.  We all like to hear gossip about celebrities (come on admit it you do) and I kinda enjoyed this one by Katie Adams in Forbes.com.  She shows us that not even celebrities were immune to the economic [...]

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Loan Sharks in Pinstripes

January 6, 2010

Just read What Used to be a Crime is now just Banking by Al Lewis in the Denver Post online.   This kind of confirms what I have thought for a long time.  In the article Terry Smiljanich who was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Tampa, Fla., in the 1970s, prosecuting loan sharks was interviewed. [...]

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Are your physical and fiscal health connected?

December 21, 2009

Some debtors filing a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 Bankruptcy lost a job or got a divorce.  Other debtors had to file because they spent money beyond their means.   But all too often, they filed simply because they, or their children, got sick.  So says the New York Times article From the Hospital to Bankruptcy [...]

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Another Top 10 Bankrupcty List (cont’d)

December 14, 2009

Last week we looked at items 1 thru 5 of 10 Things Bankruptcy Court Won’t Tell You from  SmartMoney.  Here is a my run down of items 6 thru 10. 6. “Don’t settle with Mom first or fudge the condo in Boca.”  It is oh so tempting to pay debts owed to friends and family [...]

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Another Top 10 Bankrupcty List

December 7, 2009

I love lists, and here is a new one from SmartMoney.  Here is a quick run down of the 10Things Bankruptcy Court Won’t Tell You. 1. “Personal Bankruptcy’s not just for the poor.” The old saying about the bigger they are the harder they fall is certainly true.  Take a look at Celebrity Recession: Who Lost [...]

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