Announcing the VA Accreditation of Ed Boltz to Assist North Carolina Soldiers and Veterans

Ed Boltz accredited by VA to help veterans and service members

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The Veterans Administration accredits select attorneys to help veterans pursue their rightful benefits and protections under the law from only the most qualified legal representatives. The Law Offices of John T. Orcutt is pleased to announce that attorney Ed Boltz has been accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to assist veterans, specifically in regards to financial problems, including bankruptcy, foreclosures, illegal debt collection and student loans.

Service Members and Money Problems

Veterans and military members are more likely to deal with financial challenges than non-veterans. A survey by The National Foundation for Credit Counseling showed that service members have an increased instance of financial troubles and this carries over to when they are veterans. These include the following issues:

• 77% of service members have financial stresses
• 57% worry about loss of income and job security due to defense cuts
• 28% are more concerned about their finances than they were a year ago
• 55% believe they are not prepared for a financial emergency
• 60% say they have had to turn to non-traditional lenders
• 49% have taken out loans in the past year from sources including payday lenders, friends and family, or credit card cash advances
• Twice as many servicemen as civilians applied for credit cards last year
• 58% carry credit card debt month to month compared to 34% of civilians
• 6% of service members have paid less than the minimum on credit cards compared to 3% of civilians
• 5% obtained cash advances from their credit cards compared to just 2% of civilians

Causes of Veteran Financial Problems

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began to close down at the same time that the US economy was struggling. That meant those transitioning from active duty to veteran status struggled to find jobs. 66% of veterans surveyed said that the transition was difficult and roughly 50% were not prepared for the transition. 66% of veterans also said that health problems resulting from their military service impacted their ability to find a job as a veteran and led to financial issues.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is actively concerned with protecting veterans and their families. The CFPB collects complaints and the top three complaints from veterans and their family members include debt collections, credit reporting issues, and student loans. To help combat the financial struggles of affected veterans, the CFPB has launched a financial coaching initiative that placed certified financial coaches at Department of Labor American Job Centers around the country.

Financial Solutions for Veterans

For service members and veterans struggling with debts they cannot pay, there are legal remedies available that offer relief and peace of mind. The Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA) offers military personnel protections and privileges as it relates to debt, debt collections, interest rates, and collection lawsuits, among other issues. Further, other state and federal consumer rights laws provide additional protection for service members, veterans and civilians alike against abusive debt collectors, including illegal contacts to a service member’s chain of command.

And for those service members and veterans whose debts are so great that they cannot afford to pay them? Bankruptcy can help protect the security clearance of those who are on active duty or are veterans working in a civilian position that requires a clearance. Chapter 13 bankruptcy offers time to catch up on past due bills while Chapter 7 offers complete discharge of most unsecured debts, including credit cards, medical bills, and most collection accounts. Additionally, there are student loan plans and foreclosure prevention programs that can help prevent loss of homes, garnishment of wages or further damage to credit scores and security clearance.

Contact the Law Offices of John T. Orcutt for Veteran's Assistance

Mr. Boltz's accreditation by the US Department of Veteran Affairs continues the proud history that the Law Offices of John T. Orcutt has in serving both current and past members of the Armed Forces at their Fayetteville office and throughout Eastern and Central North Carolina at our other locations, including Raleigh, Greensboro, Garner, Wilson, and Durham. Call +1-833-627-0115 to speak to Ed Boltz or one of our other North Carolina bankruptcy professionals. Be sure to ask about zero down bankruptcy solutions.