Debt Relief Industry News

Iran Ceasefire Extended but Gas Prices Still Rising — The Credit Card Trap Is Getting Worse (April 2026)

Steve Rhode — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:50:42 +0000

The Iran ceasefire was extended but the naval blockade stays, oil is above $100, and gas prices are not coming down. Every month you carry the extra cost on credit cards at 24% APR, the hole gets deeper. Here is what to do now.

100% Drug Tariffs Start July 31 — The Prescription Debt Trap Nobody Is Talking About

Steve Rhode — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:50:38 +0000

Trump signed 100 percent tariffs on patented drug imports starting July 31, 2026. Generics are exempt for now. If you put prescriptions on a credit card at 24 percent APR, the tariff could double charges you are already financing. Switch to generics before the deadline.

The Housing Trap for People Over 50: Why Your Home Equity Cannot Save You From Debt

Steve Rhode — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:50:36 +0000

Homeownership dropped 8 to 10 percent across all age groups since 2000. People over 50 face a three-way trap: cannot sell, cannot refinance, cannot tap equity without risk. Never convert unsecured credit card debt into secured HELOC debt against your home.

Court Orders Timeshare Exit Scheme Operator to Pay $140 Million — What Victims Need to Know

Steve Rhode — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:49:54 +0000

Court ordered Christopher Carroll to pay $140M over a timeshare exit scheme that stole $90M from older adults — what victims should do now.

FTC Stops $8.8 Million Student Loan Relief Scam — NERD Solutions Impersonated the Department of Education

Steve Rhode — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:49:50 +0000

The FTC stopped NERD Solutions and ED REF from collecting $8.8 million in illegal student loan relief fees — here's what to do if you were targeted.

Medicare GLP-1 Coverage Is Coming — But the Financial Trap Between Now and Then Could Cost You Thousands

Steve Rhode — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:35:16 +0000

The Trump administration just signaled a shift on Medicare GLP-1 coverage. But policy changes take 60-90 days to reach your pharmacy. The most dangerous thing you can do right now is put that prescription on a credit card while you wait.

Tariffs Just Killed Jobs in Minnesota and Florida — Here Are the 3 Mistakes That Turn a Layoff Into a Debt Crisis

Steve Rhode — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:30:45 +0000

Tariff-driven layoffs hit Minnesota's Iron Range and Florida's Treasure Coast this week. The layoff isn't what destroys people financially — it's the three decisions they make in the first 30 days after. Here's what to do instead.

P&G Just Warned Prices Are Going Up — Here Is the Part That Actually Hurts Your Budget

Steve Rhode — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:24:55 +0000

P&G just confirmed price increases on 25% of their products. The real danger isn't the price tag — it's when families put groceries on credit cards and a temporary price spike becomes permanent high-interest debt.

How to Pay Off Debt When You Have No Extra Money

Steve Rhode — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:46:13 +0000

How to pay off debt when there's no extra money. Real options that work — from free government programs to the one move that eliminates debt in months.

Credit Counseling vs. Bankruptcy: What I Learned Running One Side and Filing the Other.

Steve Rhode — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:52:18 +0000

I founded a credit counseling org and I filed bankruptcy. Here is the side-by-side comparison the enrollment process does not show you.

I Founded a Credit Counseling Agency. Here Is How They Actually Make Money.

Steve Rhode — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:52:16 +0000

Fair share payments, setup fees, and a revenue model tied to enrollment — not outcomes. From someone who built one of these organizations.

Will I Lose My Security Clearance if I File Bankruptcy?

Steve Rhode — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:29:25 +0000

What the military, federal law, and 30 years of first-hand experience actually show. The complete guide — with every source linked.

Chronic Illness Took Your Income and Left You With Debt. Here’s What to Do First — and What Can Wait.

Steve Rhode — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:56:37 +0000

When illness breaks the math, standard debt advice fails. Survival first, legal protections second, debt strategy third. From someone helping since 1994.

I’ve Helped People With Gambling Debt Since 1994. Bankruptcy Is the Option Nobody in Recovery Mentions.

Steve Rhode — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:55:51 +0000

Gambling debt is ordinary unsecured debt — fully dischargeable in Chapter 7. From someone who has helped gambling debt survivors since 1994.

GAO Report: Nobody Is Checking Whether Your Student Loan Servicer Has Accurate Records

Steve Rhode — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:43:56 +0000

The Government Accountability Office confirmed that the Department of Education stopped checking student loan servicer accuracy after cutting 46% of its staff. Four of five servicers were already failing.

IRS 2026 Dirty Dozen: 12 Tax Scams to Watch For — Especially #12 If You Have Tax Debt

Steve Rhode — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:06:24 +0000

The IRS released its 2026 Dirty Dozen list of the twelve most dangerous tax scams this filing season. From AI-powered phone impersonators to fake charity schemes, here's what each one looks like — and why Offer in Compromise mills are the one that matters most if you have tax debt.

Turnbull Law Group Charges 28% in Debt Relief Fees. Georgia Is Investigating.

Steve Rhode — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:42:07 +0000

Turnbull Law Group charges 28% of total enrolled debt — nearly 4x Georgia's 7.5% legal cap — using a law firm exemption. The Georgia AG has confirmed both Turnbull and Freedom Debt Relief are under investigation. Two consumers document what happened.

Your Student Loan Servicer May Have Wrong Records — And Nobody Is Checking

Steve Rhode — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:38:27 +0000

A March 2026 GAO report reveals the Education Department stopped quarterly reviews of student loan servicer accuracy in February 2025 — as FSA cut staff by 46%. Four of five servicers had already failed standards. With 43 million borrowers affected and major repayment changes in July 2026, here's what you need to know.

Former Employee Sues Milwaukee, The Credit Repair Shop, Says Commission Records Prove Illegal Upfront Fees

Steve Rhode — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:06:10 +0000

A former employee of The Credit Repair Shop in Milwaukee filed a federal lawsuit alleging the company charged illegal upfront fees for four years — and has the internal commission spreadsheets to back it up.

The FTC Case Against Financial Education Services Is Still Open. Here Is the Full Story.

Steve Rhode — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:32:25 +0000

Quick Answer: The FTC case against Financial Education Services (FES) is still active. A $324 million judgment was entered in August 2024, but the case is not closed — the FTC is now sending $10.9 million in refund checks to 443,048 affected consumers, the founders are under active compliance monitoring, and a $312 million suspended ...

H&R Block Lawsuit: Military Members Hit With Illegal Tax Loan Fees

Steve Rhode — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:34:11 +0000

A federal class action filed in February 2026 claims H&R Block’s Refund Advance and Emerald Advance loans charge active-duty military members fees that push the true rate above the Military Lending Act’s 36% cap — despite being marketed as free.

Student Loan Balance Doubled on Credit Report? DOE Faces Class Actions

Steve Rhode — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:32:57 +0000

Two federal class action lawsuits claim the U.S. Department of Education is reporting inaccurate student loan data to credit bureaus — including balances that appear doubled and delinquency flags affecting 5 million borrowers who did nothing wrong.

Banks Are Asking Congress to Rein In Debt Settlement Companies — Here’s What That Means for You

Steve Rhode — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:09:58 +0000

Seven major banking trade groups sent Congress a letter warning that debt settlement companies are harming consumers with strategic default tactics, fees of 15–25% of enrolled debt, and a 25% failure rate. Here's an honest look at what's really going on — and your actual options.

Supreme Court Lets $134 Million CashCall Judgment Stand — Tribal Lending Shield Fails Again

Steve Rhode — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 21:23:05 +0000

The Supreme Court today declined CashCall's appeal, finalizing a $134 million restitution award for consumers charged up to 343% interest through a tribal lending scheme.

Bankruptcy Filings Jumped 9% in January 2026 — Here’s What the Numbers Are Telling Us

Steve Rhode — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 20:40:20 +0000

Consumer bankruptcy filings rose 9% in January 2026, with 44,282 filings. Commercial filings jumped 49% — the highest January level since 2018. The numbers signal slow-burn financial strain. Here's what it means and what your options are.

Appeals Court Signals CFPB Will Likely Survive — What It Means for Your Consumer Protections

Steve Rhode — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 20:26:35 +0000

The D.C. Circuit's full 11-judge bench heard arguments on the CFPB shutdown Feb. 24 and appeared deeply skeptical. Even the government conceded it can't fully eliminate the CFPB. Here's what it means for consumers.

Walmart Spark Driver Settlement Update: $100 Million — Are FTC Checks Being Mailed to You?

Steve Rhode — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:50:47 +0000

Walmart agreed to a $100M FTC settlement over Spark driver pay deception — and checks are now being mailed. Here's how to find out if you're getting one.

The Education Department Made 3 Promises in Court — Then Asked to Break Every One

Steve Rhode — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:55:40 +0000

Court records show the Education Department's own attorneys promised 170,000 student loan borrowers full automatic relief at three federal court hearings in 2025. Five months after the last promise, they asked for 18 more months. A federal judge called it 'eleventh hour,' documented 'repeated failures,' and closed with: 'No further motions will be entertained.'

Student Loan Automatic Discharges to Proceed After Two Court Wins

Steve Rhode — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:32:39 +0000

Two court rulings in 48 hours cleared the path for automatic student loan discharges to proceed for 170,000+ borrowers. The Supreme Court upheld the Sweet v. McMahon settlement, and a federal judge denied the Education Department's second attempt to delay. Here's who qualifies and what to do.

Lawsuit: PenFed Repossessed the Wrong Car — Owner Had No Loan With Them

Steve Rhode — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 22:19:38 +0000

A federal lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania alleges PenFed Credit Union repossessed a 2021 Jeep Compass belonging to a woman who never had a loan with them. Her actual lender confirmed her account was in good standing — and the repo company admitted the mistake the same day.