A recent study by Fidelity Investments has uncovered some intriguing paradoxes about women’s relationship with money. Despite the fact that 92 percent of the women involved in the study want to learn more about financial planning, and 83 percent want to get more involved in their finances in the next year, a whopping 80 percent […]
5 Ways to Fix the Student Loan Debt Problem
The U.S. Department of Education recently unveiled a new and improved methodology for calculating student-loan payment delinquencies. Where it once figured the late-payment rate of student loans as a whole to be 17%, the department has now determined that when the same data is expressed in terms of individual borrowers, it’s as high as 38%. […]
9 Plead Guilty to $20M Scheme to Defraud Soldiers.
Eight Alabama residents and one Georgia resident pleaded guilty to participating in a scheme in which they stole thousands of identities to file more than 7,000 false tax returns, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Middle District of Alabama. Over the course of nearly three years, the group defrauded the government of approximately […]
How to Interview and Find the Bankruptcy Attorney You’ll Hire
Not all bankruptcy attorneys are created equal. That is not shocking. The same could be said about finding help in any profession or job that requires expertise and training. That said, finding the right bankruptcy attorney for you is not something that should prove difficult for most of us. But there are some things I […]
Debt Help Hotline
Having worked in the debt and credit relief industry for as long as I have has helped me to form relationships with other like minded professionals. There are some truly awesome people out there making the world a better place for consumers. Some are dedicated to publishing educational tools and helpful debt guides. Others are […]
How Much Can I Expect To Save Settling Debt With My Bank?
If you have read through the previous 7 articles in my settling debt series (linked below), you should now be prepared to settle debt on your own, but with what expectations? How much should you expect to save, percentage-wise, on your settlement, and how will your bank respond? These are great questions, and the reason […]
How to Negotiate Credit Card Debt Successfully Yourself
Short answer Most of the heavy lifting happens when you are between 150 and 180 days late on the card. Have the money ready before you call, know roughly what that bank approves, and make your offer as a round dollar figure rather than a percentage. Key points on this page The best window to […]
Should I settle my Discover credit card or request debt validation?
Short answer If your goal is to resolve the debt, and you have the means, settle it. Sending canned dispute or validation letters, or electing arbitration, is a good way to lose a settlement you could have had at 40 to 50 percent before the account charged off. Key points on this page Current trends […]
How To Reduce Debt Buyer Collection Lawsuits
Last week the CFPB and the FTC held a workshop to address what happens to unpaid debts at different stages of the debt collection cycle. Part of which discussed the frequency and challenges faced by consumers when debt buyers file lawsuits in order to collect. The workshop brought together state and federal regulators, economists, major […]
How to Talk to a Debt or Bill Collector
In the previous article, I left off with the fact that you will get a ton of collection calls from your credit card bank once you miss a payment. Credit card bill collector calls are just part of the process. You know collection calls are going to occur, so you may as well roll with […]