Debt Management Info Blog

posted by on Dec 29

There are many different ways for an individual to get out of serious debt.  Options include using personal loans, home equity loans, high-limit, low- interest credit cards, and debt consolidation services.  Taking advantage of government grants is another very interesting method with which debt can be diminished.

Advertising on the Internet, television, and radio all claim that debt consolidation is one of many things that money from a government grant can help you pay for.  This however, is not always true.  Even when it is, debtors will not have an easy time putting government grants to use for debt consolidation.

What kind of grants are they talking about?

Government grants are usually released to individuals who are trying to buy there first home or open a small business.  There is not any grant program that was designed with intention to help people pay off the debt that they owe.

A small business grant is the only type of government grant that is in any way related to debt alleviation.  It is conceivable that a person may open a small business in an attempt to earn extra income to be used in the payment of debt.  The government does not give out a large number of these grants, however, and being considered for one requires that the small business being opened fit the government’s criteria.

Where Can Additional Grants Be Found?

Apart from the government, individuals can receive grant money from private corporations.  Such corporations have specific requirements that whoever wants to receive their money must be able to meet.  Attempting to eliminate personal debt tends to be unrelated to the needs of a large business corporation and therefore not a valid reason to receive a grant on their part.

Charitable donations, however, are rather commonly made by large corporations.  Acts of charity are done by businesses in an attempt to improve the public’s opinion of them or to support the local community.  Giving of this nature is not a reliable and therefore should not be considered as a way for debt relief.

Where Can You Find Help for Debt?

There are several sources of help available for individuals in debt.  Though finding someone to pay off your debt for you would be very unusual, you may be able to reduce your minimum monthly payment and interest rates on credit cards by speaking with the credit card companies personally or by using a credit counseling agency.

Available for free on the Internet is information on how to create a personal budget that will allow you to have extra money each month that you can use to pay off debt.  You can take control of debt yourself, even without the government’s assistance.

posted by on Dec 14

posted by on Dec 7

Debt settlement is one of the simplest tools that can be used to reduce debt balances for a borrower. In essence, debt settlement means contacting a creditor or a debt elimination company and settling on a reduced loan balance. If a consumer owes $18,000 in credit card debt and has other obligations that make it impossible to make timely payments, debt settlement is a very attractive alternative to declaring bankruptcy.

For the borrower, debt settlement reduces that balance that is owed to the creditor. For the creditor, it increases the likelihood of receiving at least a portion of what is owed. There is something in it for both sides, but consumers need to be careful when pursuing settlement as a debt solution.

Debt settlement is most viable as an option when the debt has been passed on to collectors. Although it doesn’t feel like it to the consumer, the borrower is in a position of power in negotiating a debt settlement. Ultimately the creditor has to approve the deal, but the borrower is the one who could walk away from the table, drag their feet, and finally file for bankruptcy - a very costly consequence if a creditor fails to negotiate.

Many borrowers feel that attempting to settle their debts puts them at the mercy of the creditor, but this simply is not the case. The creditor is dependent solely on the borrower to receive their payment.

There are several important factors to remember if you’re considering negotiating a debt settlement. First, do your homework. There are countless companies who will make tempting promises about what they can do for you that simply won’t deliver. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Find a debt elimination company that can show a track record of successful settlements. Talk to several companies about your specific situation to weigh their recommendations against one another. Also, talk to people who have successfully negotiated debt settlements and learn from their experiences. You can save money by skipping hiring a negotiator and working on your own if you feel comfortable dealing with collectors. Keep a paper trail to make sure you can prove the details of the deal that is reached.

The downsides of debt settlement need to be understood as well. First, this can be an expensive option. Many negotiators charge an upfront fee as well as a percentage of the amount saved by the borrower in the settlement. Many programs charge fees monthly, even if no progress is being made. Second, the amount forgiven in a debt settlement is considered income and is taxable to the borrower. Once you factor in the taxes due and the fees, a borrower may not be saving nearly as much in a debt settlement as they thought. Finally, debt settlement can hurt your credit score, as paid off debt show up as “settled” rather than “paid in full.”

Getting out of debt through debt settlement is a much better option than bankruptcy. However, there are pitfalls that consumers need to understand before pursuing this strategy.

posted by on Dec 1

Many people currently find themselves stuck deep in quite the financial quandary.  This is because these people do not make enough money at their current jobs to be able to afford to pay for a college education that they desperately want.  At the same time, however, they are not able to get a better paying job due to the fact that they do not have a college education.  Alaska student loans, however, can help you pay for college expenses even if you don’t have a great job right now.

Individuals who are not currently living in Alaska may have to pay double tuition at colleges in Alaska.  For current Alaskan residents, Alaska student loans can help you to be able to pay for your college education at any of the colleges in Alaska you wish to attend.

Out of State Residents

For individuals who would be interested in attending a college or university in Alaska but do not currently live there, it is important that they understand that Alaska student loans probably will not cover all of their education related expenses.  Tuition costs often double when you attend an out of state college as well.  If you want to get an Alaska student loan, remember that you will be considered a state student after you have lived in Alaska for six months.

What to Pay for with Your Loan

The money you receive with your Alaska student loan can be used to pay for expenses you incur as part of your college studies.  Remember that, regardless of how much money you ask to borrow, you will have to pay back 100% of your student loan plus any applicable interest.  Take that into consideration when deciding how much you should borrow to cover the cost of tuition, books, food, and housing. Just be heedful in choosing the right debt elimination company whom you think can really help you.

When the Loan Must Be Paid Back

Most Alaska student loans do not have to be paid back until you have already graduated from college.  From the time you graduate, you will normally have a six month grace period during which you do not have to pay on your student loans.  If you choose to stop attending school before you graduate, the six month grace period starts at the time you quit.  When you are applying for a loan, be sure to pay close attention to the interest rate you will be charged.

posted by on Nov 2

posted by on Oct 28

Debt can be a stressful thing and hard for you to get under control by yourself. There are some people who can get a hold of their debt problems. They can work it out on their own and some people cannot. Some people need the help of a debt consolidation loan to get help for high debt. Now you can get an free debt consolidation quote online and get the same help you would with a land based company.

Where To Look

If you have access to the Internet, then you have all the tools you need in front of you to find out about online debt consolidation companies. There are plenty of resources online to research about debt. Many of the companies offer credit card debt loans to consolidate into one lower payment every month.

How to Apply

Once you have found the right loan companies for you, the next step is to apply for the loan. You will need important personal information when you fill out this application. This information is the same stuff that you would need for land based consolidation loans. You will need to have all of your debt account numbers and pay offs amounts. Once you have entered all of the information about how much money you need to consolidate, you may be asked about where you work and how much you get paid. Most companies will have an answer for you within a short period of time.

Handling Payoffs

Upon approval, your debt consolidation lender will begin sending the payoff amounts to your creditors. This makes it easier for you because you do not have to worry about issuing any checks. Now you have one loan instead of several, one monthly payment and a much lower interest rate. This is so much better than carrying around balances on credit cards with high interest rates.

Problems or Concerns With the Loan

Good customer service is important, and you should research this before accepting a consolidation loan from a company. You want to be sure that you will be able to speak to a person and get answers to any questions you have during the life of your loan. You do not want to sign an agreement with anyone who will be inaccessible once the money is disbursed. It is important to be able to reach them during normal business hours with any concerns you may have.

posted by on Oct 5

Sure, we all love them but when misused, a credit card can break us.  Too often, there is no self-control associated with credit card use, which means you are quickly in debt and then losing sleep over it.  If you are tired of being drug down by credit card debt, we have good news.  Credit card debt assistance services are offered throughout the country, providing services online and in person.  Although not every company is honest, the Federal Trade Commission or FTC has developed a number of safety guidelines that help consumers choose a reputable company.

What to Look for in a Scam

Just as there are many different options of credit cards, you will find as many, if not more debt reduction companies to match.  When looking for a service to help you, make sure they follow federal laws.  Most importantly, if a company makes outlandish promises, you should be suspicious.  These companies should have one goal in mind  teaching you better money management for life, not using various services to fix the problem temporarily.  Therefore, if you read advertisements for quick fixes, rather than financial education, beware.  Some of the more common statements made associated with a scam include the following:

Repair your credit ” 100% guaranteed (this is impossible) Get a new credit identity (this is illegal) Get all bankruptcies, low credit scores and liens from your credit file eliminated (ditto) No credit problem to bad for us to fix (this means they are stupid)

To help get rid of your debt by credit card, credit repair services are required by federal law to let you know of what actions you can undertake for free.  For example, if they insist that you have to pay to get your own credit report, get up and leave.

All you have to do to get a copy of your reports from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion is to request one in writing, fill out an online form, or call them on the phone.  Now, if you want to find your credit score, which is different from the credit report, you would typically be charged a small fee.

Understanding the Credit Repair Organizations Act

Just like credit cards, credit repair services are big business.  The FTC regulates them firmly.  And, for your protection, there is such a federal law called The Credit Repair Organizations Act, which you should be aware of.  All debt reduction services are required to let you know your rights BEFORE you pay any fees.

In addition, these companies are not allowed to charge you until all of the work is done.  Therefore, if any false claims are made regarding the services offered, you have the responsibility to let the FTC know.  After all, this would be illegal action on the part of the debt reduction company.

posted by on Sep 27

posted by on Sep 21

posted by on Sep 19

Television commercials and mass mailings may make debt consolidation seem like a simple process. Often by the end of a 30 second ad, the formerly anxious, debt ridden consumer is smiling and shaking hands with a caring debt consolidation counselor, and all their problems seem to have vanished. It’s not always that easy though, and there are some problems with debt consolidation.

While there are many options available to consumers, the three most commonly advertised forms of debt consolidation are: credit counseling, debt management programs, and debt settlement. Consumers sometimes mistakenly assume that these options mean the same thing, involve the same process, and are interchangeable. This idea is wrong on all accounts.

Credit Counseling is often the first stop for those interested in eliminating debt. It is simply professional help to develop a budget, encourage discipline, and reevaluate spending. This is a good option for people who have a steady income, and have just made some poor financial decisions.

Counselors offer advice and explain your options, however, they do not cut your monthly payments, or reduce the amount you owe. They can contact creditors to lower interest rates, but you can do that yourself. Most importantly, credit counselors can help you to know when declaring bankruptcy is your best option. It is now necessary to meet with a certified credit counselor for six months prior to declaring bankruptcy.

Debt Management Programs are the way that credit counselors help to pay down your debts. They take one monthly sum, and redistribute it to cover all your bills. Basically, the counselor takes your paycheck, keeps what is needed to pay your bills, and gives you an allowance. These programs ensure that your creditors are paid, and you are making progress toward getting out of debt. Only about 35% of all the people involved in credit counseling qualify for a debt management program.

Debt Settlement is the third option available to consumers, but experts advise caution when using these types of programs. Basically, consumers make payments to the agency, where the money will sit until the creditors demand payment. The debt settlement agency will then renegotiate your debts agreeing to pay pennies on the dollar. The creditors usually agree to these terms, as the alternative is to receive nothing at all.

Frankly, this is a dangerous, and unethical way to go. First, you are not saving any money, as you make full payments to the debt settlement agency, who is earning interest on the held money. Second, if you miss even one payment to the agency, oftentimes you lose all the money youve paid to them as a fee. Finally, it is your credit, not the agencys that takes a beating in the process; this option can reflect as poorly on your credit score as declaring bankruptcy.

Understanding the programs available to you is essential as you begin the process of debt consolidation. Credit counseling can be a great tool in helping to discipline spending, and create a plan for the future–just make sure you know what youre getting into.