This report is republished from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and contains the authors analysis and finding about bankruptcy following the 2005 reform. Personal bankruptcy was introduced in the United States through the Bankruptcy Act of 1978. After passage of the act, bankruptcy rates rose steadily until 2005, when Congress passed the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection ... Read More »
Q. I have been in a debt management plan for a year now. The payments are over $1,400 per month and I am having difficulty making these payments. Should I try to continue with my Debt Management Plan? A. In a Debt Management Plan (DMP), you make monthly deposits with the company that arranges this plan for you. The company ... Read More »
Today, the New York Fed released the Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit for the fourth quarter of 2014. The report is based on data from the New York Fed’s Consumer Credit Panel, a nationally representative sample drawn from anonymized Equifax credit data. Overall, aggregate balances increased by $117 billion, or 1.0 percent, boosted by increases in all credit ... Read More »
Question. What are my options if I have been sued by National Collegiate Student Loan Trust? Answer. Getting served with a lawsuit isn’t an enjoyable experience. If you aren’t familiar with the legal process, it can leave you confused, anxious and overwhelmed. I have spoken with a fair number of people that have been sued after they stopped paying their ... Read More »
I recently asked the Association for Student Loan Relief (AFSLR) to submit a guest post that described what consumers should do when a student loan relief company, and even an AFSLR member, didn’t deliver as promised. Imagine my pleasant surprise when they stepped-up and accepted the challenge. A big hat tip goes out to Ward Welke and Robby Birnbaum for ... Read More »
Written by Daniel Boylan, instructor of finance at Ball State University Student debt is rising. It is rising at an alarming rate. According to NerdWallet, a typical student will leave college with about $33,000 in debt. Credit card is rising. It is rising at an alarming rate. According to JumpStart, a typical student will leave college with about $5,000. Add ... Read More »
By Paula Langguth Ryan When it comes to your debts, are you stressing yourself out financially or creating financial hardship for yourself or a loved one? Has anyone suggested you consider bankruptcy? Do you get queasy even considering the idea? I want you to pay attention to where any feelings of “it just feels wrong inside” to not pay your ... Read More »
Layoffs are happening at big name companies like IBM, JPMorgan Chase, La-Z-Boy, and Sony, as well as family-owned businesses. You’re not alone if you’ve been blind-sided by a layoff. Or you may have some advance notice. Either way, losing your job can trigger feelings of unworthiness, powerlessness and lack. (Three of the big six core beliefs I talk about in ... Read More »
It’s that time of year again, when people are receiving 1099-Cs for debts forgiven or canceled during 2013. Perhaps you were in a debt settlement program with successful results, and a lot of debt was forgiven. Or it may be that your creditor decided to formally cancel an old delinquent account to close out their records. You might have taken ... Read More »
by Paula Langguth Ryan, Mediator, Consumer Advocate and Communications Consultant Got debt? Thinking of using your tax refund check to play catch up or pay down a balance? Before you act, read this article. Most people who have debt make the wrong choices with their tax refunds. End result: you wind up even more stressed than before you got your ... Read More »
by Paula Langguth Ryan, Mediator, Consumer Advocate and Communications Consultant. Every week, people contact me wanting advice on how to get their FICO or credit score up over the 700 mark. Here’s the first question I ask them: Which would you rather increase by 38% in six months– your FICO score or your net worth? The problem is, raising your ... Read More »
During my first job interview after my bankruptcy, the interviewer asked me what I was “most proud of in my life.” Without hesitating, I stated “declaring bankruptcy!” His quizzical look invited me to explain. And I’ll share what I told him, in just a minute. First though, here’s a Pop Quiz for you: Was going bankrupt the worst thing or ... Read More »
If you’ve ever been to college, you know how tough it can be to make ends meet. Need a nice shirt for a dinner with your advisor? Better shell out the $40.00 and resort to eating ramen noodles until you get paid or can ask your parents for some cash. And as a “regular” student, you might’ve harbored just a ... Read More »
A couple of years ago I wrote an article asking, pleading really, for any debt settlement company (DSC) to explain to me how they could ever possibly “do whatever is in the best interests of the consumer” when they are unable to give any legal advice in what are inherently legal matters. For example, as a matter of law they ... Read More »
Apart from its basic functions, mobile devices have opened new windows of possibility when it comes to managing our finances. These powerful tools when used smartly can save you money and get you out of debt. In this post, we are going to talk about money-saving apps and ways to cut down your mobile expenses Finding the Right Smartphone Saves ... Read More »
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