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Thursday, November 18, 2010

CONSUMER DEBT IN AMERICA

Consumer debt in America is growing and causing an enormous amount of stress to consumers; especially those who have weathered a job lay off or job loss. The complicating factor is that with loss of income, many consumers are making only the most minimal payment (only paying the interest but nothing on the debt itself) thus leaving the amount of debt intact and, in some cases, continuing to grow.

Types of debt that the average American citizen may incur can include student loans (sometimes the first debt for a young adult), taxes, medical bills, judgments and, of course, credit card debt.

Credit card debt is usually at a higher interest rate than that of a long term secured loan such as a mortgage, for instance.

Many credit card companies are increasing interest rates and explaining it away with rather vague language about company policy, etc. Thousands of consumers have been affected by these types of changes, causing lifestyle upheaval and leaving them to deal with a very shaky budget.

According to a recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release, Consumer credit declined 1-1/2 percent at an annual rate in the third quarter of 2010. Revolving credit (credit which is repeatedly available as periodic repayments are made) declined 8-3/4 percent at an annual rate. Credit card debt is the most common type of revolving credit.

(Debt from loans that are not of the revolving type would include student loans, loans on cars, boats, trailers, etc.)

There are several types of debt relief:

• Credit counseling. - A credit counselor will evaluate your situation and develop a plan (customized according to your budget) for debt reduction.
• Debt management. – A debt management professional will create a strategy and develop a plan to prioritize your debts according to a certain set formula (interest rate, balance, etc.). As you pay the management company on a monthly basis, they will in turn begin to pay off your creditors in a pre-planned order.
• Debt consolidation. – Debts are combined into a single loan which is gradually paid off by paying just one bill a month.
• Debt settlement. – When debts become too high to manage, too difficult to maintain, a debt settlement service can make creditors stop calling. This impartial third party service will work with you and your creditors to reach an agreement – usually a lower amount of money than is owed.

Which strategy is best for you?

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Overwhelming Credit Card Debt Is Not the End - It's the Beginning of a Whole New World

Overwhelming Credit Card Debt Is Not the End - It's the Beginning of a Whole New World

By Phillip Emerson

The inability to pay credit card debt during this depression makes many people feel they have been mortally wounded by a financial bomb. But, the good thing is there are always survivors! If you can still see yourself in the mirror, then your financial life has not totally evaporated. There is hope and lots of it!

It's time to get up off your knees and stop begging the banks for more time to pay. They don't care if you lost your job because they are the reason all our jobs were sent overseas. It's time to stop begging harassing debt collectors not to sue you. It is time for you to learn the truth, take action and end financial oppression!
While some consumers are out begging for consolidation loans or looking for credit counseling because they believe they've done something wrong, others know they've done nothing wrong in chasing the American dream and they are tired of being beat over the head by a piece of plastic that's forced them into slavery!
Innovative hard-working free people who put man on the moon, fight wars against oppression all over the world are what made this country great but now we are facing financial destruction from with in. To survive you must know who the enemy is and how to deal with him quickly and effectively.

For over 200 years a battle has been raging to establish financial supremacy in our country and you probably didn't even know about it. If you're willing to spend time educating yourself you can quickly discover how to defend yourself against this unseen force and make our country strong once again.

Use the search term "the gig is up - money the Federal Reserve and you" to see this eye opening history lesson presented at The University Of Colorado School Of Law in December 2008. This is "gun to the head" information the financial powers that be do not want you to know and it is life changing!
You're probably ready to take up arms now and try to immediately change the situation but there's a much better nonviolent way. The government and nearly all politicians look the other way and many take money from lobbyists under the table to insure their life of luxury provided at taxpayer's expense. Yes, many politicians got a little piece of the bailout pie!

We the educated people can destroy this financial monster easily using the most unexpected and underrated weapon of all time. It's called "honesty" and it is the foundation upon which our country stands. Invented back in 1966 this "bomb" is available to every citizen to use on the army of debt collectors the financial rulers have unleashed upon us.

Use the search term "FTC debt video" which is a government cartoon show revealing your rights against collectors. Do not underestimate the power you have just been handed! Collectors believe themselves to be the "Gestapo" of the financial elite but they are nothing more than commissioned mercenaries scaring people into giving them money!

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is literally a noose around their neck and should they stray and either direction they'll hang themselves! The smallest act of unkindness to any consumer on the phone is their demise. Use the search term "man wins $1.5 million from collector" to see the results of a misspoken word.
Record the collectors call as evidence. Throw your nonexistent money on the floor and dare him to pick it up! Bye-bye Mr. Collector. Demand he show you "proof of debt" when he throws written paper collection notices at you. None exists!

Yes, all that credit card debt you were so afraid of doesn't even exist but you thought it did until you found out the "honest" truth. Perhaps history really repeats itself. Now that you're armed with a little nuclear truth bomb to destroy those plastic demons you might find yourself waking up in a whole new world of debt freedom, like you were once upon a time!

If you want affordable expert professional legal help to beat collectors, restore credit scores, answer your collection calls and legal notices plus get the most advanced cutting edge educational materials to regain your financial integrity then visit http://www.philscircle.com or http://www.creditcarddebtprotection.com and never worry about money again!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phillip_Emerson


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Treat the Cause, Not Just the Symptom

Treat the Cause, Not Just the Symptom

By Christopher Scully


There are several ways to get out of credit card debt. You can do any of the following to pay off your credit cards.

Debt Consolidation Mortgage - this can be either a refinance of your first mortgage or a home equity loan or home equity line of credit.

Unsecured Consolidation Loan or Balance Transfer - Can be beneficial if the overall rate is lower and the monthly payment is lower than the combined credit card payments.

Debt Snowball Method - you pay more than the minimum balance on one card until it's paid off. Then you add the amount you were paying on the first card to the minimum payment on the next one and pay that amount each month until that one is paid off. Repeat the process until all accounts are paid.

Debt Management Program - You make a payment to a debt management organization and they in turn make the payments to your creditors. Typically will get out out of debt faster than paying the minimum payments on your credit cards.

Debt Settlement - With this method of consolidating credit card debt you are putting money into a dedicated settlement account and then when sufficient funds have accumulated you negotiate a settlement with one of your creditors to take less than the full balance to satisfy the debt. This can be a good option for those who've experienced a loss of income and can no longer afford their minimum monthly payments.

Bankruptcy - For people who are in so deep they have no other choice.
There you go. Several methods of getting out of debt and none of them actually address the cause of the problem except - in a round about way - the last three. With those three programs you will not be able to use credit for an extended period of time. This will more or less force you to get by on cash and spend less than you make. Even then, some people end up back in the same mess again.

The cause of the problem is spending more than you make, also known as living beyond your means. If you find yourself looking for ways to get out of credit card debt you also need to be looking at how you can start spending less than you make. You also can't make the mistake of thinking that as long as your basic living expenses plus your debt payments are less than your take home pay, you're spending less than you make. Not so. What you're actually spending is everything you pay for in cash, everything you buy with on credit and the monthly interest on your debts. That's how much you're spending.

Here's another incentive to deal with your debt immediately. If you have a credit card that carries a 20% interest rate or more, the debt doubles approximately every 5 years. You don't see it on a monthly or annual basis because your payments are applied to interest first and the principal second. This is why it's nearly impossible to pay off a credit card by paying only the minimum payments.If you're carrying a large amount of debt, by all means pick one of the above ways to get out of credit card debt and stick to it until you're out, but at the same time get your spending under control and build an emergency fund so you never end up back in debt again.

Christopher Scully invites you to find out more about consolidating credit card debt by visiting http://careplusfinancial.com. If you're struggling with unsecured debt and want to learn how to get yourself out of debt once and for all, enroll in CarePlus Financial's Credit Card Debt Consolidation Program at http://careplusfinancial.com/content/consolidating-credit-card-debt

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_Scully


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Ways to Pay Off Credit Card Debt Fast

Ways to Pay Off Credit Card Debt Fast

By Christopher Scully


If you're carrying credit card balances you need to focus on paying them off as fast you can. Here are several ways to pay off credit card debt fast as possible depending on your budget. Budget is the most important consideration when determining which approach below best meets your needs.
Snowball method

List out all of your debts and put them in sequence from the smallest balance to the largest balance. You're going to focus on getting the smallest balance account paid off first - this is your target account. Pay only the minimum monthly payment on all of the other accounts. If you have extra funds to add to your debt payments each month they should only be added to the target account. If you don't have any extra funds, then you need to cut some expenses to free up some extra funds each month, even if it's only $5 or $10 per month at first. Once your target account is paid off, you add what you were paying on that account every month to the minimum payment for your new target account (the account with the lowest outstanding balance at that point). Every time you pay off a debt the extra amount you're paying on the target account each month gets larger and larger. This is the best way to pay off credit card debt fast if you have enough in your budget to add to your minimum monthly payments.

Debt Consolidation Mortgage

While this is a way to pay off credit card debt fast, it doesn't reduce your overall indebtedness. You are simply moving the unsecured credit card debt into a refinanced first mortgage or a home equity loan. If you get into trouble and can't make your payments your home is at risk. It is very common for people who do this to end up back in credit card debt within a few years because their credit cards have available balances on them. Don't use this method if you don't think you can keep your spending under control.

Unsecured Debt Consolidation Loan or Balance Transfer

Like the mortgage solution, these solutions do not reduce your overall indebtedness. You'll pay off the cards you had when you applied for the loan, but you're left with the same amount of debt (or more) in a different account. You also leave open balances on the cards once they're paid off by the loan or the transfer and this leaves you the temptation to use them. Don't use this method if you can't control your spending.
The big differences between this and the mortgage method is that you don't have to own a home or have equity in your home and the interest rates will generally be higher than the rates for a mortgage. It's important to do the math on the loan fees or balance transfer fees and the interest rate to make sure that you actually come out ahead on this one. Sometimes you won't, the fees plus the long term interest might add up to more than you would have paid if you'd just left your balances where they were.

Debt Management Program

This kind of program is good for someone who has gotten behind temporarily, is able to pay the normal payments but can't get caught up. When you join a program like this your credit card accounts are closed and you pay the debt management agency a set payment every month, which they use to make your credit card payments. These programs can get you a lower interest rate or eliminate late fees and a few other things. Your credit card debt can get paid off a little faster this way than making the minimum payments.

Debt Settlement Program

This method of consolidating your credit card debt is generally good for folks who have a financial hardship and can't make their payments. They want to wipe out their debt but don't want to declare bankruptcy. They're not typically concerned about the ramifications to their credit report because their hardship prevents them from making their payments on time anyway. Here's how it works - you put money into a "settlement account" at a bank each month and you accumulate the funds there until you have enough to do a lump sum settlement on your first account (usually 30-50% of the balance). You negotiate a settlement with that creditor and that debt is satisfied when the settlement is paid. You repeat the process of accumulating funds and negotiation settlements until you've settled all of your debt.

Bankruptcy

If you want to wipe out your debt once and for all you could do it through bankruptcy. You need to have a financial hardship and you have to get some credit counseling. A bankruptcy attorney can tell you which type of bankruptcy you qualify for. Once your bankruptcy is discharged you are no longer liable for the debts, they're wiped out. Bankruptcies stay on your credit report for 10 years.
There are several ways to pay off credit card debt fast. Your budget determines which one is appropriate for you.

Christopher Scully invites you to find out more about consolidating credit card debt by visiting http://careplusfinancial.com.

If you're struggling with unsecured debt and want to learn how to get yourself out of debt once and for all, enroll in CarePlus Financial's Credit Card Debt Consolidation Program at http://careplusfinancial.com/content/consolidating-credit-card-debt

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_Scully


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Collection Agency Debt Settlement - 4 Things You Should Consider

Collection Agency Debt Settlement - 4 Things You Should Consider

By Matheo David William

There are numerous techniques which can be applied to reverse the strain of smashing credit card debt and regain a sense of harmony to your personal finances. Debt settlement is the better alternative as it gives an obvious means of closing out all of maxed and overdo of credit card accounts.
The process is generally initiated by individuals own as DIY settlement or it can also be initiated by the assistance of most debt settlement organizations. The aim of this procedure is to assist clients in their credit card debt payments and present them conveniences while they are paying out every-month payments by the due date. This technique will be initiated with collectors or perhaps it can be initiated with collection agencies which can be also known as collection agency debt settlement method.
The followings are some factors you need to look at any time you are looking for collection agency debt settlement: 

1. Administrative and Monthly Fees
Pick a collection agency debt settlement as their services you can certainly afford to pay for and wouldn't take you in far more financial problems. Bear in mind that you are at a goal to leave debt. This is not to get further into debts.

2. Offer You Money-Back Guarantee
It really is considered excellent practice for the collection agency debt settlement to give a sort of money back guarantee and return to you the service fees you have paid for them, in the event they have hit a brick wall to properly negotiate debt for your benefit.

3. Qualified Debt Arbitrators
This collection agency debt settlement added safety will surely offer you a tiny reassurance since qualified debt arbitrators known the complete range of regulations in terms of organizing the elimination of your debt. You will end up a lot more shielded if your firm you build relationships is a qualified debt arbitrator.

4. Member of Your Local Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
This type of memberships are promises that the business will look after your interests in assisting you get rid of debt, that they are skilled in their business and they have an excellent reputation in the market of business they are running in.

The collection agency debt settlement gives a fast help to consumers since some good percentage of their debts is wipe off and even the interest rates decreases at the remaining debts. Thins factor assists them in generating month to month budgets as at this point onwards they should control lesser monthly bills. Yet beside all this it depends on individuals who at what stage they will feel the demand with this process and this will depend on their patience that the way they change it into their good results.
Besides debt settlement, debt consolidation non profit organization also can help you to reduce your debt by consolidating your debt. Find out more about debt help on Affordable Debt Solution website.

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GET OUT OF CREDIT CARD DEBT WITH NEW GOVERNMENT LAWS

Credit card debt can be a complete and absolute nightmare. If you’re paying only the minimum payment, you can easily calculate how long it will take to get out of debt. Climbing interest rates make it even worse. The common man is really under pressure due to the up surging debts of various types of unsecured loans.

Here’s some good news: there are new Federal laws that make it possible to get out from under credit card debt. The current administration has begun inroads to many legal ways and possible options to help consumers to get rid of their accumulated unsecured debt. Because of the enormous number of people in debt, creditors have no choice but to agree to terms of debt settlement deals.

A consumer with over $10,000 debt should consider working with a debt settlement company. New modifications in debt settlement law have made the process more legitimate and feasible (companies can no longer take upfront service charges, etc.)

Settlement companies now must rely on the possibility of negotiating a successful debt settlement agreement in order to get their money. The debt settlement industry has now been made into more of a performance based service and has made it less risky and more financially advantageous for consumers trying to settle their credit card debt.

You too can benefit from the new laws and get the most out of credit debt relief!