Saturday, August 30, 2008

If None Of These Options Is Possible, Bankruptcy May Be The Likely Alternative

Category: Finance, Credit.

Whether your debt dilemma is the result of an illness, or simply overspending, unemployment, it can seem to be overwhelming. While the ads pitch the promise of debt relief, they rarely say relief may be spelled b- a- n- k- r- u- p- t- c- y.



In your effort to get solvent, be on the alert for advertisements that offer seemingly quick fixes. And although bankruptcy is one option to deal with financial problems, it s generally considered the option of last resort. Bankruptcy information( both the date of your filing and the later date of discharge) stays on your credit report for 10 years, and can hinder your ability to get credit, insurance, a job, or even a place to live. The reason: its long- term negative impact on your creditworthiness. The Federal Trade Commission( FTC) cautions consumers to read between the lines when faced with ads in newspapers, magazines or even telephone directories that say: "Consolidate your bills into one monthly payment without borrowing. " "STOP credit harassment, repossessions, foreclosures, tax levies and garnishments. " "Keep Your Property. " "Wipe out your debts! How?


Consolidate your bills! By using the protection and assistance provided by federal law. If you re having trouble paying your bills, consider these possibilities before considering filing for bankruptcy: Talk with your creditors. For once, let the law work for you! " You ll find out later that such phrases often involve filing for bankruptcy relief, which can hurt your credit and cost you attorneys fees. They may be willing to work out a modified payment plan. These organizations work with you and your creditors to develop debt repayment plans.


Contact a credit counseling service. Such plans require you to deposit money each month with the counseling service. Some nonprofit organizations charge little or nothing for their services. The service then pays your creditors. Carefully consider a second mortgage or home equity line of credit. If none of these options is possible, bankruptcy may be the likely alternative. While these loans may allow you to consolidate your debt, they also require your home as collateral.


There are two primary types of personal bankruptcy: Chapter 13 and Chapter Each must be filed in federal bankruptcy court. The consequences of bankruptcy are significant and require careful consideration. As of April 2006, the filing fees are$ 274 for Chapter 13 and$ 299 for Chapter Attorney fees are additional and can vary. Other factors to think about: Effective October 2005, Congress made sweeping changes to the bankruptcy laws. In Chapter 13, the court approves a repayment plan that allows you to use your future income to pay off your debts during a three- to- five- year period, rather than surrender any property. The net effect of these changes is to give consumers more incentive to seek bankruptcy relief under Chapter 13 rather than Chapter Chapter 13 allows you, if you have a steady income, such as a, to keep property mortgaged house or car, that you might otherwise lose.


After you have made all the payments under the plan, you receive a discharge of your debts. Exempt property may include cars, work- related tools, and basic household furnishings. Chapter 7, known as straight bankruptcy, involves the sale of all assets that are not exempt. Some of your property may be sold by a court- appointed official- a trustee- or turned over to your creditors. The Chapter 13 waiting period is much shorter and can be as little as two years between filings. The new bankruptcy laws have changed the time period during which you can receive a discharge through Chapter You now must wait eight years after receiving a discharge in Chapter 7 before you can file again under that chapter. Both types of bankruptcy may get rid of unsecured debts and stop foreclosures, garnishments and utility, repossessions shut- offs, and debt collection activities.


Personal bankruptcy usually does not erase child support, fines, alimony, taxes, and some student loan obligations. Both also provide exemptions that allow you to keep certain assets, although exemption amounts vary by state. Also, unless you have an acceptable plan to catch up on your debt under Chapter 13, bankruptcy usually does not allow you to keep property when your creditor has an unpaid mortgage or security lien on it. You must get credit counseling from a government- approved organization within six months before you file for any bankruptcy relief. Another major change to the bankruptcy laws involves certain hurdles that you must clear before even filing for bankruptcy, no matter what the chapter. Also, before you file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, you must satisfy a" means test. " This test requires you to confirm that your income does not exceed a certain amount.

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It Is A Short Term Small Consumer Loan - Finance and Credit:

A payday loan is a solution if you are trying to feed your family or if you are between jobs.

Bank- Sponsored Credit Cards - Finance and Credit Articles:

We all love the idea of air miles credit cards. The goal, is to use, of course those miles to get a free flight at some point in the future, allowing customers to effectively take an unplanned vacation.

Friday, August 29, 2008

Some 0 APR Credit Card Offers Are For A One Time Deal

Category: Finance, Credit.

Applying for a credit line offered at 0 APR is an outstanding way to save money. 0 APR credit cards mean that no finances charges are applied to your balance, when used according to the terms of the agreement. Often it is through a one time deal, an introductory offer or perhaps a special promotion to encourage you to sign up for the credit card.



There are several instances when lenders will offer this type of scenario to their cardholders. In all cases, the terms and conditions on any 0 APR credit card must be adhered to in order to truly be beneficial to the applicant. So above all, do not miss or be late on any payments for this type of offer. Even one late payment can disqualify the introductory 0 APR period and force you to start making high interest payments on any balance that you have accrued. Who Gets Them? Qualifications for these types will vary based on the type of credit card it is and the special offer being provided. There are several types of credit cards offered that are 0 APR.


Carefully consider the following examples of 0 APR credit cards to determine if you may qualify. Some 0 APR credit card offers are for a one time deal. One Time Offers. For example, if you are shopping for a new refrigerator, a store credit card may offer 0 APR credit card with your purchase if you apply the charges today. These one time deals often include no financing charges for a set amount of time, after which payment on the balance and interest will on that balance will accrue. To qualify for these offers, you will need to have decent credit and you will need to meet other qualifications set by the store offering the card. Introductory Offers.


These 0 APR credit cards offer three months, six months or sometimes 12 months of no finance charges on balances that are transferred and sometimes also on any purchases that you make during the introductory period. Another type of 0 APR credit card is that of the specialized introductory offers offered by many lenders. Be sure to read the fine print to know if the introductory offers are based on balance transfers or on purchases. Most often, people with good or excellent credit or best suited for this type of credit card. Typically, even the best card offers will not offer 0 APR on both the balances transferred and purchases made, usually only one or the other. Special Promotions. For example, you may receive offers from existing lines of credit offering 0 APR for a limited time on balance transfers you make with the line of credit.


Lenders of all types offer special offers to their borrowers, sometimes to help them increase their available credit line. Sometimes, contacting your lender directly will allow you to qualify for such offers if you simply ask. The value proposition of 0 APR introductory financing offers is tough to deny. Again, you need to know the specifications of the offer including fees and how finance charges will be applied if you do not pay the balance in full. Most lenders will sometimes offer 0 APR credit cards to those that have decent credit but most times will only be willing to approve those with much better than normal credit profiles who have shown a track record of responsible borrowing practices. When applying for a 0 APR credit card, find out what the terms are so that you fully understand the opportunity you are applying for and therefore use it correctly. 0 APR offers can help you to save a significant money on finance charges but only if you strictly adhere to the payment schedule and terms and conditions of the offer.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

That Is Why Debt Help Agencies Have Sprang Up

Category: Finance, Credit.

Every person is an entrepreneur in his own right. And he has a budget as well so that he spends his money properly.



No matter whether he has a fortune or not, a person has his own income and expenditure. But the problem is that in spite of a clear cut budget, many people cannot manage their personal finance well. Those people who cannot manage their personal finance properly will surely be unable to deal with debts successfully. They just mess it up and procure large amount of debts. That is why debt help agencies have sprang up. Before they sell any programme, these agencies provide debt advice, often free of cost.


They offer help to people who cannot manage their debts properly. Free debt advice is not something that you can get everyday and from anybody. All the other agencies that claim to offer free debt advice offer it for the sake of it. There are only a few reputed debt help agencies that offer advice without taking anything from the clients. The advices offered by them may not be of any use. In reality, they may not be able to provide something substantial. Their claim of offering debt advice without taking a pie from the client is just an advertisement to pull in more clients.


This, does not mean, however that all the agencies that offer free debt advice are worthy of nothing and the solution they suggest are not of any values. By putting into use the plans they offer, one can easily sort out his debt problem. Contrary to this, some of the debt help agencies are capable of realistic debt solutions and they are ready to offer it without any single penny. But for this one needs to know the sign of a genuine debt help agency. And this he can do through research and comparison.

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It Should Never Be Funded By Debt - Finance and Credit Blog:

It is essential that you get in control of your finances from an early stage- but does that mean not having any debt?

Monday, August 25, 2008

However, The Peak Saving Available On Such Loans From The Same Survey Carried Out Three Months Was Reported To Be 386 Pounds

Category: Finance, Credit.

Young people are more likely to make use of personal loans, new figures have indicated. Meanwhile, catalogue debt was reported to be another way of accruing debt for the age group making up 1 per cent, with" other borrowing" accounting for two per cent.



According to research carried out by the Consumer Credit Counselling Service( CCCS) , such loans account for 54 per cent of the debts owed by those aged between 18 and 2Overall, consumers in this age group were reported to be some 12, 790 pounds in debt, with credit card use making up 25 per cent of borrowing, while overdrafts and store card use accounts for 3 and 3 per cent respectively. The research excluded any money owed via student borrowing and secured loans. Meanwhile, figures from the CCCS indicated that credit cards made just about half( 56 per cent) of the personal debt accrued by those aged 40 to 5These older consumers were reported to be less likely to use personal loans( 39 per cent) and overdrafts( 3 per cent) than their 18 to 24- year- old counterparts. Chief executive of the Trading Standards Institute( TSI) , Ron Gainsford, said: "Young people want to live for the day but the problem with debt is that it affects consumers many years afterwards. " "When buying on credit you should try to shop around for the best rate, check on repayments and if you get into difficulty get advice as soon as possible, " he added. Store cards and catalogue debt accounted for 3 and 1 per cent of borrowing respectively, with the financial advisory service also revealed that the under- 25s account for nine per cent of all their counseling sessions. Earlier this week, senior editor for, Robin Amlot Moneyextra reported that by shopping around for the best rate available consumers could save hundreds of pounds on their personal loan costs. The news comes ahead of the TSI s Young Consumers of the Year competition which aims to increase public awareness in areas such as money and personal finance.


Figures from the financial firm indicated that for a personal loan of 9, 000 pounds repaid over 60 months, borrowers could save up to 279 pounds if they opt for the most competitive deal on the market. This decrease was attributed to a" narrowing" of interest rates between leading and uncompetitive deals. However, the peak saving available on such loans from the same survey carried out three months was reported to be 386 pounds. Mr Amlot claimed that on the whole interest rates on personal loans remain" highly competitive" . He said: "Getting your mortgage right is the key financial decision in terms of financial efficiency. Research from Moneyextra also revealed that choosing the best mortgage deal could save homeowners over 3, 100 pounds a year, which consequently may help them to pay off their secured loans quicker. The potential savings on your mortgage account for almost 70 per cent of the total savings to be made. " Overall, the study showed that replacing some of the worst financial products available for more competitive deals, could save some 4, 477 pounds- a rise of 150 pounds from the same survey published three months ago.

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The Credit Card Companies Sure Didn T - Finance and Credit:

I couldn t believe what I was seeing.

The Capital One Credit Cards Offer A Variety Of Cards - Finance and Credit Articles:

The Capital One Credit Card Company started back in 1995 and over the past ten years, it has become one of the top credit card companies.

One Can Think Of This Card As A Shopping Tool - Finance and Credit Articles:

A credit card is a usual mode of transaction these days.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

S. Military( Partial Cancellation For Perkins Loans Only)

Category: Finance, Credit.

Under certain circumstances, you may be able to cancel your obligation to repay your federally guaranteed student loans, or enter into, defer your payments a payment schedule that fits with your income.



The student loan scheme is quite complex, depending on the type of loan you have and when you obtained it. If you re in default, you may be able to get out of default and avoid a lawsuit, or loss of, wage garnishment your tax refund. Before taking action on your loan, you must understand what kind of loan it is. There are three primary kinds of federally guaranteed student loans: campus- based loans, and Department of, bank loans Education- issued loans. Your ability to negotiate with your lender, or possibly cancel, defer your payments your loan may depend on the type of loan you have. Campus- based loans are called Perkins Loans or the older National Direct/ Defense Student Loans( NDSLs) .


Loans issued directly by the Department of Education are called Direct Loans and include Stafford, and consolidation loans, PLUS. Bank loans are called Federal Family Education Loan Program( FFELP) loans and include Stafford Loans( previously called Guaranteed Student Loans( GSLs) or Federal Insured Student Loans( FISLs) , PLUS Loans( loans for parents) , SLS Loans, and consolidation loans. Depending on the type of loan you have and when you obtained it, you may be able to cancel all or a portion of your loan under one of the following circumstances: The former student for whom the loan was taken has died. Your school closed before you could complete your program of study. You become totally and permanently disabled. Your school falsely certified that you were eligible for a student loan. You teach in a Department of Education- approved school serving low- income students or in designated teacher shortage areas( other types of teacher cancellations are available for Perkins loans) .


You left school and were entitled to a refund but never received the money. You serve in the U. You re a full- time employee of a public or nonprofit agency providing services to low- income, high- risk children and their families( Perkins loans only) . S. military( partial cancellation for Perkins loans only) . You re a full- time nurse or medical technician( Perkins loans only) . 1You re a full- time law enforcement or corrections officer( Perkins loans only) . 1You re a full- time staff member in a Head Start program( Perkins loans only) . 1Your a Peace Corps or VISTA volunteer( Perkins loans only) .

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Thanks To The Internet, A Credit Card Application Is Just A Few Mouse Clicks Away - Alyson Longacre about Finance and Credit:

Applying for a credit card online is probably the most convenient and easiest way to get that credit card that would suit your own needs. Whatever type of credit card you need, from a business credit card, a rewards credit card to a student credit card, there will always be a credit card offer that would best for you.

There Was A Time When There Where Only Two Real Features That People Compared When Choosing A Credit Card - Finance and Credit Articles:

There was a time when there where only two real features that people compared when choosing a credit card. The second was the interest free balance transfer deal, where you could move your debt from a bank account or other credit card, and not have to pay any interest on it for the period of the introductory deal, which tended to be around 6 months.

Credit Rating Agencies Use Algorithms To Determine Credit Scores And Reports - Araceli Teems's Finance and Credit blog:

As the world got more systematic and organized in various aspects of life, a system known as credit scoring and rating was introduced into the financial sector and this gained popularity in the 1980s. This helped banks and other lenders of money to determine whether or not a person was worthy of a loan and what their chances were of recovering the loan.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Low Interest Balance Transfer Cards Are A Good Example

Category: Finance, Credit.

According to statistics in a recent survey, less than half of those who apply for a credit card shop around at all.



Is that any way to find the best credit card deal? They either accept the card offered by their bank or another organisation, or they fall prey to an advert that lands in their post box. The question is rhetorical, obviously- but what s not rhetorical is the need to do a bit of homework before you apply for a card. Some wrong choices jump right out at you. The wrong choice can cost you thousands of pounds over the course of a few years. If you can qualify for a low interest credit card, you d be a plumb fool to apply for one with an APR of 34% . Other times, though, it s not so easy to recognize which to avoid.


Keeping your eye on the average typical interest rates can help you avoid applying for cards that offer outrageously high interest rates. As often as not, it s a matter of using a perfectly good credit card for the wrong purpose. Most people are drawn to these because of the low APR on transferred balances. Low interest balance transfer cards are a good example. They usually carry a higher rate of interest on new charges to your card. That means that until your transferred balance is paid off in full, any new purchases that you put on the card will sit and accumulate interest- on which you ll pay interest.


They also usually apply your payments to the balance transfer first. Bottom line: avoid using a balance transfer credit card to make purchases. Those high APRs are often hidden behind a special offer- pay for your purchase on a store credit card and get no interest for three months, or until the end of the year. Store cards offer some of the highest interest rates of all types of lending. Be careful to read all the fine print on those offers. If it s not, you could find yourself whacked with the entire interest from the date of purchase. It s not unusual for the no interest to be contingent upon having the balance paid in full by the end of the interest free period.


Other things that may invalidate a no interest store card offer include late payment, going over- limit or missing a payment. If you make it a practice to research credit cards before you apply for one, you ll be able to spot which ones to avoid on your own. Bottom line: Avoid using a store credit card unless you use it for a special promotion- and abide by all of the stated terms. Comparison sites make it easy to compare credit cards and find the best deal- and the ones to avoid.

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For Starters, Consider The Need To Get Approved For A Loan - Susie Dedios about Finance and Credit:

A car purchase has to be clubbed with the bigger investments of life. Getting a car loan may be easier than getting a mortgage, but it still involves a certain amount of running around and maybe a large pile of documents.

So, We Have To Fill Up With Gasoline - Finance and Credit Articles:

Gasoline credit cards have become very popular in recent years. If you want to save money like many Americans, you may get credit card deals to save a lot on gas.

Never Avail More Than One Student Credit Card - Finance and Credit Blog:

The foundations of building a debt free society is in the generation next.

Friday, August 22, 2008

A Business Credit Card Is That Which Caters Only To Business Owners And Is Utilized By Them To Invest Cash Related To Their Businesses

Category: Finance, Credit.

First off, failing to pay the entire amount of your bills as incurred through your credit card results in the charge of an interest rate on the money being owed. Online credit card application is now possible, thanks to the advances made on the discovery scene and essentially makes certain that the form is completed, submitted and processed by the credit card company on the World Wide Web.



Nonetheless, if you were to pay the entire money at the pre- determined time, you would not be charged with any interest rate. A majority of credit cards include rewards in form of points which can be redeemed as gift certificates or cash rewards for the purchase of a particular product at a particular asking price and serve as far reaching incentives to own one. A business credit card is that which caters only to business owners and is utilized by them to invest cash related to their businesses. Credit card processing machines are those machines that are equipped with verification in addition to validification software that enables them to confirm the secret information on a credit card once it s passed through them. they re starting to be a repeated feature everywhere now, especially in commercial centers. If you re a store owner or a business proprietor, looking to experience a success in the sales of your services, you have to check out getting a credit card processing machine due to the fact that the practice of paying for services with cash is swiftly starting to be obsolete. Delays in the obtainance of your credit card may perhaps come from factors such as, illegible writing on the application paper, or failure on the part of an agent to deposit the form correctly. You have to target the credit card company that charges the highest interest rate on your debt and get rid of it first before paying attention to the rest of your debts if you re set to say goodbye to them.


The seven most acknowledged credit card firms that have tentacles spread out in just about all countries are: American Express, Diners Club, Citi, JCB, VISAin addition to, MasterCard Discover. This decision will truly assist you pay off your debts faster. To culminate, if you re in credit card debt and are planning to consolidate your credit card debt, you have to make a decision to use cash wisely and meet payments on time.

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Extension Card - Beatriz Toohey's Finance and Credit blog:

Credit cards have been one of the most widely used forms of paying various types of bills. This is different from debit cards in the sense that the former may purchase in its behalf even if the owner does not have a corresponding amount credited to the card.

Credit Repair Is Defined As The Process Of Eliminating, Unfair Or Unpaid Dues From Your Credit Report - Jaclyn Lastinger about Finance and Credit:

Credit repair is defined as the process of eliminating, unfair or unpaid dues from your credit report.

Credit Card Spending Limit - Finance and Credit Blog:

Almost, every credit card advisor worth his salt will tell you to read fine prints carefully before deciding on the credit card. How fine prints can affect the ownership of credit card?