All Issues

Debt & Bankruptcy

Debt collectors hound struggling families. Debt settlement and relief services are too often scams. Medical debt and criminal justice fines and fees push people further behind. And access to the fresh start in bankruptcy can be difficult for some. NCLC works to protect financially distressed families and to give them the opportunity to recover.

Key Topics

Bankruptcy

Improving access to bankruptcy for low-income consumers and expanding the relief available.

Coerced Debt

Protecting domestic violence and trafficking survivors and older adults from financial abuse.

Consumer Protections for Renters

Protecting renters from abuses in tenant screening, rental debt collection, junk fees, and more.

Criminal Justice Debt, Fines & Fees

Addressing harmful debts resulting from criminal justice system involvement.

Debt Collection

Protecting consumers from abusive debt collection practices.

Debt Settlement & Relief Services

Striving to protect consumers from deceptive debt settlement and relief services.

Medical Debt

Working to reduce the burden of medical debt on individuals and families.

Featured

Recent Resources

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No Fresh Start: Will States Protect Families from Debt Collectors Seizing Wages and Bank Balances? (2024)

December 18, 2024

Weak State Exemption Laws Allow Debt Collectors to Push Families Into Poverty

December 18, 2024

CFPB To Create Rule To Aid Victims of Coerced Debt, Financial Exploitation of DV Survivors and Older Americans

December 9, 2024

Digital Library: Extensive Bankruptcy Rules Changes Now In Effect

December 3, 2024

Alabama Congressman Joins Debt Collectors in Support of Deceptive and Unfair Collection of Medical Debt

November 19, 2024

Comments to Massachusetts Division of Banks on Proposed Amendments to Debt Collection and Mortgage Servicing Rules

November 12, 2024

The Hill: ‘Positive’ medical debt credit reporting is a Trojan horse

November 6, 2024

State Policy Resources: Consumer Debt Collection

November 1, 2024

Nursing Homes Aggressively Pursue Family Members and Friends When Residents’ Bills Go Unpaid, Often Violating the Law

October 31, 2024

Comments & Letters

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Comments to Massachusetts Division of Banks on Proposed Amendments to Debt Collection and Mortgage Servicing Rules

November 12, 2024

Comment on Proposed Amendments to Wisconsin’s Debt Adjustment Services Rule

September 27, 2024

Suggested Amendment to Bankruptcy Rule 3001(c) Submitted to Bankruptcy Rules Committee

September 11, 2024

Comments on Proposed Medicaid and Medicare Program Rules Amending Definition of Custody for Purposes of Medicare Exclusion (CMS-1809-P)

September 9, 2024

NCLC Comments Supporting CFPB Proposal to Ban Medical Debt From Credit Reports

August 12, 2024

NCLC Petition for Rulemaking under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to Protect Renters

August 12, 2024

Coalition Comments to DOJ, FTC, HHS on Consolidation in Health Care Markets

June 4, 2024

Comments on Healthcare Consolidation RFI to DOJ FTC HHS

May 30, 2024

Healthcare and Consumer Groups Comments on Facility Fee Junk Fees

February 7, 2024

Reports

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No Fresh Start: Will States Protect Families from Debt Collectors Seizing Wages and Bank Balances? (2024)

December 18, 2024

Nursing Home Debt Collection Practices Put Residents’ Family and Friends At Risk

October 30, 2024

Medical Debt Behind Bars: The Punishing Impact of Copays, Fees, and Other Carceral Medical Debt

September 6, 2024

No Fresh Start 2023: Will States Let Debt Collectors Push Families Into Poverty as Economic Uncertainty Looms?

December 11, 2023

An Ounce of Prevention: A Review of Hospital Financial Assistance Policies in the States

August 25, 2023

Don’t Add Further Insult to Injury: Medical Debt & Credit Reports

January 6, 2023

Unfair Debts With No Way Out: Consumers Share Their Experiences With Rental Debt Collectors

October 7, 2022

The Racial Health and Wealth Gap: Impact of Medical Debt on Black Families

March 9, 2022

Sentenced to a Life of Debt: It Is Time for a Reassessment of How Bankruptcy Law Intersects with Fines and Fees to Keep People in Debt

February 16, 2022

Issue Briefs

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State Policy Resources: Consumer Debt Collection

November 1, 2024

2025 Consumer Protection Federal Priorities

October 21, 2024

NCLER Tip Sheet: Nursing Home Debt Collection: Issues and Defense

July 31, 2024

Take Action to Support the CFPB’s Medical Debt Credit Reporting Proposal

June 27, 2024

Debt Collection Fairness Act 2024

March 13, 2024

New Process to Discharge Student Loans in Bankruptcy

February 15, 2024

No Clear Relationship Between Wage Seizure Protections and Access to Credit

February 6, 2024

Consumer Protection and Court-Sponsored Online Dispute Resolution in Collection Lawsuits

September 1, 2023

Protecting Older Adults from Surprise Medical Bills

July 31, 2023

Testimony

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Testimony in Support of HB 673 (Maryland)

February 14, 2024

Written Testimony on Nursing Home Debt Collection in New York for the Chief Judge’s 2023 Civil Legal Services Hearing

September 13, 2023

Letter Supporting California’s AB 1119

March 16, 2023

Testimony on House Bill 5427

March 10, 2020

Testimony Before Joint Financial Services Committee in Support of S.578/H.919: An Act Relative to Fairness in Debt Collection.

May 2, 2019

Testimony in Support of House Bill 3076

April 29, 2019

Testimony Before the Judiciary Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly, 2019 Regular Session

March 25, 2019

Testimony Responding to the Proposed Amendments to the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure Regarding Credit Card Debts

February 20, 2017

GAO Testimony Regarding Debt Settlement: Fraudulent, Abusive, and Deceptive Practices Pose Risk to Consumers

April 22, 2010

Press Releases & News

View All for Press Releases & News
Weak State Exemption Laws Allow Debt Collectors to Push Families Into Poverty

December 18, 2024

CFPB To Create Rule To Aid Victims of Coerced Debt, Financial Exploitation of DV Survivors and Older Americans

December 9, 2024

Digital Library: Extensive Bankruptcy Rules Changes Now In Effect

December 3, 2024

Alabama Congressman Joins Debt Collectors in Support of Deceptive and Unfair Collection of Medical Debt

November 19, 2024

The Hill: ‘Positive’ medical debt credit reporting is a Trojan horse

November 6, 2024

Nursing Homes Aggressively Pursue Family Members and Friends When Residents’ Bills Go Unpaid, Often Violating the Law

October 31, 2024

Digital Library: When (and When Not) to File Bankruptcy

October 14, 2024

White House Efforts Will Reduce Medical Debt, Protect Consumers from Harmful Debt Collection

October 1, 2024

NCLC Digital Library: Best Practices in Responding to IRS Debt

September 26, 2024

Amicus Briefs

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Amicus Brief: Ochoa v. Ford Motor Company

May 6, 2024

Amicus Brief in Salcedo v. Hanna

September 25, 2019

Slip Opinion in Obduskey v. Mccarthy & Holthus LLP

March 20, 2019

Rotkiske v. Klemm

January 8, 2019

Amicus Brief in Ricky Henson, et. al C. Santander Consumer USA, Inc.

February 24, 2017

Amicus Brief in Sheriff v. Gillie

March 2, 2016

Amicus Brief in Marx v. General Revenue Corporation

April 27, 2012

Amicus Brief in United States Aid Funds, Inc. v. Espinosa

October 20, 2009

Amicus Brief in Jerman v. Carlisle

September 28, 2009

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