Pub. 2 2011 Issue 1

spring 2011 23 We’re fortunate to do business in West Virginia. With a foreclosure rate among the lowest in the country, it’s clear that residents of the Mountain State have the right idea about homeownership. Buying a house is not a get-rich-quick-scheme or surefire way to early retirement. It’s a long-term investment that’s about far more than money. Home for us is a place where we watch our babies take their first steps, host Sunday dinners, have cookouts on the Fourth of July and enjoy all of those things that make our state special. Though the upcoming year, David Rathbun, our Senior Direc- tor of Single Family Loan Originations, says we will continue to strengthen our relationships with our lending partners and reach out to every stakeholder in the housing industry. “What makes our Single Family program successful are the strong bonds we’ve formed among this state’s banking and lending community,” Rathbun said. “At the end of the day, we all want one thing – to make certain our customers are able to purchase the home of their dreams. It’s not always an easy process, but when you’ve closed the loan, the contract has been signed, and a family receives the key to their new home, it’s worth it.” Eric Stewart was able to turn his dream of homeownership into a reality using a loan from the Fund. He’s just one of many unique and wonderful stories from across this state. We know that strong families build strong communities, and strong communities make a strong state. Q “At the end of the day, we all want one thing – to make certain our customers are able to purchase the home of their dreams.” Resourceful. Responsive. Reliable. Do business with someone who thinks like you. www.CBBonline.com 804.239.0452 Q Debt Collection — continued from page 18 7 Id. at 2-126 (including, but not limited too, (a) impermissibly disclosing indebtedness to an employer outside of legal proceedings and (b) impermissibly disclosing indebtedness to a family member). 8 Id. at 2-127 (including, but not limited too, (a) using a false business name, (c) failure to disclose the name and address of the business that has been assigned the claim or to whom the claim is owed, (d) false representations about the “character, extent or amount of a claim” or the status of legal proceedings, and (g) statements that the debt may be increased by various fees that cannot legally be added to the debt). 9 Id. at 2-128 (including, but not limited too, (c) collecting or attempting to collect all or part of a collector’s fee, (d) collecting or attempting to collect fees or charges not permitted by the agreement, and (e) communicating with a consumer that is represented by an attorney, whose name and number are known or could easily be discovered). 10 Id. at 2-129 (stating that a collector shall not remit any communication that “violates or fails to conform to United States postal laws and regulations”). 11 W. Va. Code § 46A-2-129a (making it impermissible to claim that a call is “’urgent’ or an ‘emergency’”). Joe Hatfield, a native of southern West Virginia, has been with the Fund for almost 40 years. He was named Executive Director in 1981.” Angela L. Beblo is a Senior Attorney at Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC. Her primary areas of practice are consumer finance, litigation and mine safety law. Contact Angela Beblo at 304.340.3852. Patrick R. Barry is an Associate at Spilman whose practice focuses on consumer credit and protection litigation, labor and employment, and general civil defense litigation. Contact Patrick Barry at 304.340.3884.