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https://www.marketwatch.com/story/as-yellow-taxi-drivers-struggle-city-announces-six-month-pause-on-new-licenses-2020-09-17
Originally appeared on MarketWatchTaxi drivers struggling to make ends meet have demanded medallion debt forgiveness and limits on ride-share apps 
Helicopters circled and horns blared in solidarity as a fleet of yellow cabs shut down traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge on Thursday, the latest effort by the city’s beleaguered taxi drivers to draw attention to their cause and demand debt relief for their high-price medallion loans. “Seventy percent of the drivers are not working. The taxi fleets have most of the taxis in storage,” said Sergio Cabrera, a longtime cabdriver and member of advocacy group Yellow Taxi United. “In 21 years of driving, I’ve never seen it like this.” With anger among taxi drivers hitting a breaking point, the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) planned to announce a six-month pause on new licenses for for-hire vehicles, a move that could stem the tide of new competition, including from disrupters Lyft LYFT, +0.94% and Uber UBER, +1.80% . A formal announcement is expected on Friday. But the move does little to address drivers’ main demand for debt relief. The city’s yellow-cab drivers felt the full force of the blow when the coronavirus pandemic hit New York, with trips plummeting 84% from their pre-COVID levels by early April. And while there’s been a slow trickle of returning passengers over the past several months and new relief efforts by the city’s TLC, drivers say it’s still not nearly enough to sustain business as usual — or to pay back expensive medallion loans. With Manhattan still largely devoid of office workers and tourists, Cabrera said, drivers are turning to the outer boroughs for fares. “In the outer boroughs where the average people live, there is much more movement,” Cabrera said. “Manhattan is not busy, it’s not functioning the way it should be. I don’t know when it’s going to come back.” The strain on the city’s taxi drivers is compounded by years of tightening margins and spiraling debt, as competition from apps like Uber and Lyft has flooded city streets, and declining values of the high-price medallions required to operate have left many drivers hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. In 2018, then-taxi commissioner Meera Joshi characterized a spate of driver suicides as "an epidemic" in the industry. “COVID is just the latest problem,” said Carolyn Protz, a driver and member of Yellow Taxi United as well as the NYC Taxi Medallion Owner Driver Association. “Our problems as medallion owners go back much longer.”Members of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, a union representing both yellow cab and Uber/Lyft drivers, had staged Thursday’s slowdowns on the Brooklyn and Queensboro bridges to draw attention to demands for debt forgiveness for medallion owners. Representatives of alliance did not respond to multiple requests for comment. As with many issues facing small-business owners in the pandemic, city officials say that further support and bailout money should come from the federal government and financial institutions. rather than local government agencies already facing budget cuts and potential layoffs. “The city is obviously in a financial crisis. There’s not a current opportunity for a traditional bailout for medallion owners who are indebted to banks,” TLC Commissioner Aloysee Heredia Jarmoszuk told MarketWatch. “It would require federal action and some regulation for banks that may have taken advantage of medallion owners who find themselves with higher interest and untenable loans.” Last week, it was reported that Connecticut-based investment firm Marblegate Asset Management LLC has recently forgiven $70 million worth of medallion debt, and in some cases capped individual owners’ debts at a ceiling of $300,000. The average driver-owner carries $600,000 in $600,000 in medallion debt, according to the TWA, and over the past decade, medallion prices had been inflated from around $200,000 to as high as $1 million, an investigation from the New York Times found last year. Advocates say it’s a helpful step, but more aid is needed. “Even the amount that they’ve lowered the debt, it’s an undoable amount of money to make those payments on a monthly basis,” said Cabrera, the cabdriver and advocate. “Most of the banks have a forbearance going on medallion payments right now, so that has helped. But we need massive debt relief. We need the city to step in.” At the height of the pandemic, the TLC launched the Get Food NYC food delivery program, paying licensed taxi drivers to deliver meals to vulnerable New Yorkers. More than 20,000 drivers have participated in the delivery of over 100 million meals since March, according to city data, collectively earning close to $40 million, Jarmoszuk said. “We have a lot of problems, we cannot deny that,” Jarmoszuk added. “These things did not happen overnight. It could have been far worse, but we were able to put supports in place to lessen the blow. Solutions [will take time] but they will happen.” Still, drivers are concerned about their debt, and what the industry will look like on the other side of the current crisis. “My concern is for the future, after COVID,” Protz said. “Going forward, there need to be many less for-hire vehicles [on the road].” “I’m in the Bronx by the [Bronx Terminal Market],” Cabrera said. “I’ll sit here until a call comes through or someone comes out of the mall. The days are long. The income is not where it needs to be to make any kind of payment on what I owe.”
“Thank you so much for all your hard work” M.C.
Thank you so much for all your hard work on my case. I appreciate all your support and compassion through a very difficult process.
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The post Diane Drain knows her stuff appeared first on Diane L. Drain - Phoenix Arizona Bankruptcy Attorney.
Financial writer Liz Weston (@LizWeston) writes that many people who could benefit from bankruptcy don’t file because of fear and misplaced optimism. See Fear of Bankrutpcy Holds Too Many People Back.
This is the second time that Liz Weston has suggested that more people consider filing bankruptcy (Do Debt Management Plans Work?), and this is notable since she is something of a financial guru with a long track record of encouraging Americans need to create spending budgets and advising many to seek assistance through credit counseling.
But something has changed in her approach. Maybe she is just seeing the futility of trying to dig out of debt when wages are stagnant, health insurance is non-existent or insufficient to cover ongoing medical bills, and it just seems like wasted effort to pay debts when new ones just spring up overnight.
About 14% of U.S. households — or roughly 17 million — owe more than they own, according to Federal Reserve Bank of New York estimates. Many of these households could benefit from having their debts wiped out, but fewer than 1% of U.S. households actually file for bankruptcy each year. Last year, there were 752,160 personal bankruptcy filings. Researchers refer to this gap as “missing bankruptcies” — the filings that could be happening, but aren’t.
THE FEAR FACTOR:
So what is holding Americans back from filing more cases? In a word, fear. Fear of living with bad credit. Fear of the judgment of future employers. But Weston says much of this fear is misplaced.
A bankruptcy filing remains on your credit reports for up to 10 years. But credit scores can start to recover soon after you file. It’s possible to get a VA or FHA mortgage two years after a bankruptcy. Most loans require you to wait at least four years.
People can start to rebuild credit a few months after their bankruptcy case is discharged by getting secured credit cards, which require a deposit, or credit-builder loans, available from some credit unions, community banks and online.
Yes, credit scores begin to recover as soon as the case is filed. Why is that?
There are two reasons bankruptcy enables the healing of credit scores. First, once a case is filed all negative reporting stops. Creditors no longer report late payments, collection accounts, judgments, and other negative information.
Second, filing bankruptcy improves the single biggest factor in your credit score–the Debt-to-Income Ratio. About one-third of your credit score is based on how much debt you owe compared to how much income you earn. The higher that ratio the lower your credit score. Filing bankruptcy eliminates the debt, so the debt-to-income ration is immediately improved.
UNREALISTIC OPTIMISM:
Weston claims that too many people have an irrational belief that things will get better.
Misplaced optimism can also be a problem. The same hopefulness that causes people to take on too much debt also can lead them to put off the reckoning.
What Weston calls “misplaced optimism” is what I call Around-The-Corner Thinking. “As soon as I get this debt paid then I can start saving money.” The problem is, once you pay off that debt or solve that problem, a new set of problems pop up. So you adjust your plan and will start saving money after that problem is solved, but before you know it yet another problem arises.
The problem with around-the-corner thinking is that it fails to recognize that new problems ALWAYS continue to arise. That’s actually the norm. The concept that we can start to achieve financial goals AFTER today’s problems are solved is delusional. Today’s financial woes never end. Employers continue to lay off workers. Health insurance companies continues to not pay claims. Recessions continue to occur.
So instead of delaying making contributions to that retirement plan, instead of delaying saving for the house down payment, instead of delaying college until after the credit card debt is paid, start doing that today and consider filing bankruptcy to solve a debt problem that is not going away. Stop being overly optimistic and face the music of you debt problem. It’s not going away.
Am I taking Liz Weston’s advice too far? Gosh, this sounds so bleak! Well, by all means, we should find ways to pay back debt if possible. But do you really have a Plan to get out of debt, or is it just unrealistic optimism?
It’s time to stop fearing the debt problem and time to start addressing it realistically.
Did you know that it’s possible to file bankruptcy more than once? For former debtors, a bankruptcy petition paves the way for a fresh start and a bright financial future. However, an unexpected turn of events such as sudden illness in the family, loss of income, or closure of business can spark another round of financial burden.
The good news is that even if you have a prior bankruptcy record, you may still submit a new petition after you fulfill the time requirement specified under the bankruptcy code.
The sections below will help you determine if declaring bankruptcy the second time is the best option given your unique situation. You’ll also find valuable insights as to which types of bankruptcy you can consider depending on the former chapter you filed.
The bankruptcy act stipulated a set number of years that must pass between bankruptcy filings geared towards abuse prevention. Essentially, once you receive your discharge notice from the court, your “bankruptcy” clock is reset and you won’t be eligible for another bankruptcy court discharge until you get past the time gap.
Time Requirements Before Another Bankruptcy Discharge
How long you’ll have to wait before your loan debt becomes discharged under a second bankruptcy filing will depend on the filings in your credit history, filed chapter, and bankruptcy case outcomes (discharge or dismissal).
For instance, if you have filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 in the past, you’ll wait for a fewer number of years than if you’re refiling a Chapter 13 petition in bankruptcy. However, the opposite is true for Chapter 13 filers: the waiting time is shorter if they file a bankruptcy petition under Chapter 13 instead of Chapter 7.
To avoid complications during a refiling, it’s best to contact a bankruptcy law firm in your area who can advise you on when and how you should begin your second bankruptcy application.
The main rule is that these time limits apply only to debt discharges and not to your bankruptcy filing per se. To understand this, consider the situations below:
Scenario #1: An individual struggling with debt file for bankruptcy but the case gets dismissed because there was an improvement in his financial problems.
Scenario #2: A filer received a case dismissal after filing bankruptcy under Chapter 7 and then failing to abide by bankruptcy laws and procedures such as attendance in the meeting of creditors, payment of filing fees, or incomplete paperwork.
Which of the two scenarios would allow you to refile bankruptcy? Although the latter is a negative dismissal, the truth is, both scenarios allow you to file yet again, and since there was no discharge, the time limit does not apply. However, an exemption applies to individuals falling under the second scenario, who must wait 180 days before starting the second bankruptcy process.
If you successfully pay all your unsecured debts, pay back to lenders what you owe, or faithfully abide by your repayment plan, you may be able to qualify for other exemptions from the time requirement. Talk to an experienced bankruptcy lawyer to know if you’re eligible.
Reapplications for Bankruptcy
The biggest hurdle that prevents people from filing for bankruptcy again is the belief that they are ineligible for various reasons as simple as a notation on their credit report. What they don’t know is that they’re missing out on an opportunity to wipe dischargeable debts such as medical bills and credit card debt.
If you are overwhelmed by such debt problems, reach out to a Northwest Debt Relief Law Firm bankruptcy attorney who can clear these matters for you. If you’re worried about how this affects credit-reporting, your lawyer can inform you on how you can rebuild your credit after bankruptcy.
Another possible roadblock in refiling is the lack of knowledge on bankruptcy options that a debtor can take. If you’ve chosen to declare personal bankruptcy before, you can still consider the same path or explore other chapters of bankruptcy with the help of our law firm. Our bankruptcy attorneys will help protect your assets and properties, discharge your nonexempt loans, or repay your creditor under a new agreement.
Find a reliable partner in debt management. Contact our office for a free consultation today.
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The post Can You File Another Bankruptcy After a Court Discharge? appeared first on Vancouver Bankruptcy Attorney | Northwest Debt Relief Law Firm.
Consumer Finance Protection Bureau Announces They Don’t Chase Underground Debt Collectors “We are unable to send your complaint to the company for a response.” That’s what the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau told Chuck Sterling. “The company is not in our complaint system.” Chuck, a former client, received an email today, threatening to “take him into […]
The post Consumer Finance Protection Bureau Won’t Chase Underground Debt Collectors by Robert Weed appeared first on Northern VA Bankruptcy Lawyer Robert Weed.
Consumer Finance Protection Bureau Announces They Don’t Chase Underground Debt Collectors “We are unable to send your complaint to the company for a response.” That’s what the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau told Chuck Sterling. “The company is not in our complaint system.” Chuck, a former client, received an email today, threatening to “take him into […]
The post Consumer Finance Protection Bureau Won’t Chase Underground Debt Collectors by Robert Weed appeared first on Northern VA Bankruptcy Lawyer Robert Weed.
Business owners in California could lose their business assets if they file for personal bankruptcy under certain circumstances. Whether your bankruptcy places your business in jeopardy will depend on the type of bankruptcy you file, the structure of your business, and the value of the assets. The Bankruptcy Group has years of experience helping business […]
The post Will I Lose My Business Assets if I File for Bankruptcy in California? appeared first on The Bankruptcy Group, P.C..
If you decide to file for bankruptcy in California, one of the first choices you will have to make is whether you wish to file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. This decision will impact your ability to keep possession of your real estate investments. Typically, if you file for Chapter 7, the bankruptcy trustee […]
The post Will I Lose My Real Estate Investments if I File for Bankruptcy in California? appeared first on The Bankruptcy Group, P.C..
People file for bankruptcy for many different reasons in California, under many different circumstances. In some instances, the trustee and court will review a bankruptcy with more scrutiny because the debtor has additional real estate besides their home. If you own investment or rental properties, it might be challenging to protect them in bankruptcy. The […]
The post Will I Lose My Owned Rental Properties if I File for Bankruptcy in California? appeared first on The Bankruptcy Group, P.C..
A common question people in California who are considering filing for bankruptcy have is, “how much debt to I need?” This question is a reasonable one, as most people anticipate that there are specific rules and regulations governing bankruptcy. However, there is no minimum debt requirement to file for bankruptcy. The real question our attorneys […]
The post How Much Debt Do You Need to File for Chapter 7 in California? appeared first on The Bankruptcy Group, P.C..
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