I often come across debtors dropping the hint of filing, or actually filing, a case for insolvency or bankruptcy just to bring home the (alleged) point that they have nothing more to cough out. It is true that once a petition for insolvency is granted, the debtor-insolvent is discharged from all his existing debts. The decision to file for insolvency, however, should not be taken lightly. Here are a few reasons why:
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Credit Cards and Unfair Collection Practices in the Philippines
There are a number of good reasons in favor of having and using a credit card. Still, we all know the possible adverse results in the unchecked use of “plastics” or credit cards, such as this one: “THERE’S a credit-card horror story that’s become some sort of an urban legend: A television personality, after losing his job in a top network, resorts to using his plastic money. By the time he finds employment in the rival network, he has wracked up P58,000 in credit card bills. But he figures he’s not yet ready to pay in full, so he pays just the minimum amount due. Yet after five years, he is shocked to realize that his credit card debt had ballooned more than 10 times to P700,000.”
Continue readingTask Force to Target Credit Card Fraudsters
The PIA reports that the President issued Executive Order No. 573, creating an Anti-Fraud Task Force composed of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strengthen Republic Act 8484, or the “Access Device Regulation Act of 1998“.
Continue readingConsumer Protection in Electronic Banking (e-Banking), e-Commerce
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recently issued Circular No. 542, providing for consumer protection for electronic banking. The salient features of Circular No. 542 are:
Continue readingUsury and Unconscionable Interest Rates for Loans in the Philippines
With the suspension of the Usury Law and the removal of interest ceilings, the parties are generally free to stipulate the interest rates to be imposed on monetary obligations. As a rule, the interest rate agreed by the creditor and the debtor is binding upon them. This rule, however, is not absolute.
Continue readingExcessive and Unconscionable Interest Rates in the Philippines
Everybody knows about “5-6” and similar lending schemes. Everybody also knows that, ironically, those who are in financial trouble are forced to accept ridiculously high interest rates – which, in many (almost all?) instances, leads to more trouble (financial or otherwise).
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