Mae Koppes
Managing Editor
Mae Koppes (she/her) is the Content Director at Upsolve, where she focuses on producing accessible and actionable content that helps empower people to overcome financial hardships. Since joining the team in 2021, she has played a pivotal role in creating free educational content that has reached and empowered over 10 million people navigating financial challenges. Mae is currently pursuing her Certified Personal Finance Counselor® (CPFC) certification to deepen her expertise in helping individuals navigate personal finance challenges.
Articles written by Mae Koppes
When Will a Debt Collector Sue for Unpaid Debt?
Written by Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated February 26, 2025
Though there's no standard timeline, you may be most at risk of a debt collection lawsuit after six months of not paying your debt. If you stop making timely payments on a debt, your creditor will first attempt to collect it by sending you notices of nonpayment. This may go on for several weeks before collection attempts intensify. Eventually, the creditor may charge off the debt to a third-party collection agency. If the debt collector can’t successfully collect the debt, you may be at risk of a lawsuit.
Read More →What To Do if a Debt Collector Threaten You With a Lawsuit
Written by Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated February 25, 2025
If a debt collector threatens to sue you, first verify that the debt is real and not past the statute of limitations. If the debt is valid and the threat seems serious, try negotiating a settlement or payment plan to avoid a lawsuit. Federal law protects you from false threats and harassment, and you can report collectors who violate your rights.
Read More →Stop Debt Collectors With a Cease and Desist Letter (+ FREE Template)
Written by Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Attorney Paige Hooper
Updated February 25, 2025
A cease and desist letter is a formal written request that you send a debt collector telling them to stop contacting you about a debt. Once the debt collector receives a cease and desist letter, they must stop further contact save for one final call to tell you what actions they intend to take. While sending a cease and desist letter is a good way to stop debt collectors from harassing you, it doesn’t make your debt disappear. If the debt is valid, the debt collector may choose to take legal action to recover the debt.
Read More →Can Debt Collectors Garnish Your Bank Account?
Written by Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated February 25, 2025
Creditors can garnish your bank account through a bank levy, which allows them to take money directly from your account. Most creditors must sue you and get a court judgment first, but government agencies like the IRS and state child support offices can garnish without a court order. Unlike wage garnishment, which has limits, a bank levy can take all non-exempt funds. However, certain income, like Social Security and veterans' benefits, is protected. Filing for bankruptcy can stop most garnishments immediately, and Chapter 7 may erase eligible debts so they can’t be garnished in the future.
Read More →How Much Debt Do I Need To File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?
Written by Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated February 25, 2025
There’s no minimum or maximum debt required to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy — eligibility is based on your financial situation. However, for Chapter 13, your total debts must be less than $2,750,000, according to U.S. Courts.
Read More →What Is a Debt Verification Letter? (+ Free Template)
Written by Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Attorney Paige Hooper
Updated February 19, 2025
A debt verification letter is correspondence you can send to a debt collector to get more information about a debt or to start the dispute process. If you’re contacted by a debt collector and something doesn’t seem right about the collection agency or the debt itself, you can use a debt verification letter to learn more about the agency and the debt. This can help you dispute debts you don’t actually owe or identify potential debt collection scams.
Read More →What You Need To Know About Renting During and After Bankruptcy
Written by Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated February 18, 2025
Filing for bankruptcy can affect your ability to rent since landlords check credit, but it’s still possible to find a new home with the right approach. Your chances of approval depend on factors like how recently you filed, your credit score, and your rental history. Private landlords are often more flexible than large management companies in renting to bankruptcy filers.
Read More →My Bankruptcy Was Dismissed. What Happens Now?
Written by Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated February 18, 2025
Your bankruptcy case may be dismissed if you don't complete all your obligations as a bankruptcy filer under the Bankruptcy Code. This includes filing all the required documents correctly and completely, doing your required credit counseling and debt management courses, and going to the 341 meeting with your trustee. If you file Chapter 13, you also need to stick with your approved repayment plan. If you don't do all this, you risk having your case dismissed.
Read More →How To Write a Debt Settlement Letter (Step-by-Step Guide + Template)
Written by Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated February 2, 2025
It's usually most effective to negotiate a debt settlement over the phone with the debt collector. Once you negotiate a settlement, it's important to get the agreement in writing.
Read More →What Happens to the Co-Signer of a Car Loan in Bankruptcy?
Written by Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 30, 2025
When you file for bankruptcy, your co-signer stays legally responsible for the co-signed debt, even if your obligation to repay it is discharged. In Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the lender can still pursue your co-signer if the car is surrendered or the borrower defaults on the loan. Options like reaffirmation or redemption may reduce your co-signer’s risk if payments continue. In Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the co-debtor stay may temporarily stop the lender from going after your co-signer, but this protection is lost if payments aren’t made.
Read More →Should I Pay the Debt Collector or the Original Creditor?
Written by Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 30, 2025
If you’re able to do so, pay the original creditor before your debt goes to collections. Having a debt sent to collections will damage your credit score and may limit your options for repayment. In most cases, the original creditor will offer better repayment options than a debt collector will. However, if your debt has been sold to a debt buyer and the original creditor no longer owns it, you’ll need to pay the collection agency to clear up the debt.
Read More →What Can I Do if My Car Is Repossessed With My Personal Belongings In It?
Written by Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated January 24, 2025
If your car is repossessed with your personal belongings inside, you have the legal right to retrieve your items. Repo companies cannot keep or sell your personal property, and they generally can’t charge you a fee to collect your belongings unless you delay for an extended period. After repossession, the lender will send you a notice with details on how to retrieve your car and personal items.
Read More →How Can I Get Free Legal Aid Help To File Bankruptcy?
Written by Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Attorney Paige Hooper
Updated January 23, 2025
Legal advice can be very helpful as you navigate the bankruptcy process, but not everyone can afford to hire an attorney to help them. That's where legal aid comes in. Legal aid organizations offer free or low-cost legal help to certain individuals. Eligibility is often based on income, but sometimes age, veteran status, or other factors come into play as well. This article will describe what legal aid is, how to find out if you qualify, and what it's like to work with a legal aid organization.
Read More →Stop Unwanted Calls From 888-899-6650: A Step-by-Step Guide
Written by Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 22, 2025
Are you getting repeated calls from 888-899-6650? This number belongs to the debt collection agency Transworld Systems Inc (TSI). They usually call on behalf of creditors to recover unpaid debts. If you’ve missed payments on a loan or medical bill, TSI may be contacting you to try to collect it. This guide will help you understand why they’re calling, what your rights are, and how you can stop the phone calls while protecting your financial well-being.
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