$25,000 at 19.99% Interest- What Can I do? – Elisabeth

“Dear Steve,

When I previously left my previous employer I took a Bank of America Loan out for 25,000 to pay off all of my credit cards so that i could get 1 payment. My understanding was that it was a loan at 5.5% in 2006 as it turned out the rate was 19.99%~

Now it is 29 months later and I have made faithful never late payments of 600.00 to 700.00 dollars a month… The original loan was 25,000 dollars and after 29 payments

I still show owning 20,000.!! I have faithfully paid back around 18,500 over the past 29 months and can go no further like this… I now clean homes and my husband is subject to layoff… i have called Bank of America and they will not budge in helping. What for god sake can I do???

PLEASE HELP and Thank you

Elisabeth”

I asked my friend Mike Killian to answer your question for you. I wanted to make sure you got an answer as quickly as possible as I’m a bit backed up at the moment. I’ll be watching the comments on this question and be around to help if you need me.

Sincerely,


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Dear Elisabeth,

My goodness you did get into a pickle barrel, didn’t you? You would think that having paid back nearly 75% of the original debt would gain you more than a debt reduction of only 20% but that is the nature of compound interest working against you. Albert Einstein once said the most powerful force he had ever witnessed was compound interest. I suspect you would now agree.

Your options are fairly limited. You have done the correct first thing in contacting the creditor and obviously that did not work. The second option is working through a debt counselor to try to get that interest down. Please do check and see if this can be done before making any commitment but I am very suspicious that the interest will not be reduced. But do try. The third option is debt negotiation in which you or a professional debt negotiator offers less than what you owe…. Say 50%. That sounds good on the surface but has some drawbacks. Debt negotiation usually requires a lump sum payment and completely destroys your credit. Additionally any debt forgiven above $600 will be taxable by the IRS as added income.

Your final option is bankruptcy and unfortunately, this maybe one of your few workable options. You can usually talk to a bankruptcy attorney for a free initial consultation and the attorney can tell you its affect on your personal situation. You gave no indication as to your assets or debt nor debt connection with your spouse. So your best alternative is to sort out a bankruptcy option with an attorney. Armed with that information you will then be able to make the best decision on your own behalf.

Good luck on your decision-making.

Sincerely,

Mike

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