In my first article in this series I outlined many benefits you get from working with a credit counseling agency. But there are also drawbacks to enrolling in a DMP (debt management plan) in order to get credit card payment relief. And the concerns are not minor, which is why the word WARNING is capitalized. As with any of the ... Read More »
“Dear Michael, During my junior year of college my parents provided me with a credit card that they paid off in full each month, they never missed a payment and I never worried about the money. I took out a credit card on my own my senior year of college, which I could make the minimum monthly payments until I ... Read More »
Legitimate Debt relief services are often boiled down to 3 categories, which include nonprofit credit counseling agencies, debt negotiators, and bankruptcy attorneys. I want to focus on the role of today’s credit counselors, and how they can fill a larger pair of shoes this year and beyond, with a keen focus on student debt. Student loan debt has rightly been ... Read More »
Having been a GetOutOfDebt.org site reader and contributor for many years, I am used to seeing posts about what the New Year will bring to debt relief services. Below, I offer my own brief version of what may come in 2015, but with a focus on debt collectors. Changes that we should see to rules governing debt collectors behavior, next ... Read More »
“Dear Michael, I have secured loans on a horse trailer and a John Deere tractor which I am current on paying. I have an unsecured master card with Bank of America. I suffered a fire 2 years ago & lost a part of my home, etc. I used my credit card to rebuild with a total of $31,000. I contacted ... Read More »
“Dear Michael, I have just sold some real estate and I would like to can I negotiate to reduce the balances of my (unsecured and secured) loans BEFORE I pay them off? Is this possible? Patti” Creditors agreeing to accept less than the full balance of what you owe them, when they have not been paid for 90 plus days, ... Read More »
“Dear Michael, Defaulted on a motorhome. It was repossessed and sold at auction. The balance owed after the sale was assigned to a collector. That collector and I made an agreement (contract?) that I would pay a certain amount each month until the debt was satisfied. I have made those payments faithfully for over 2 years-never late. Now the original ... Read More »
“Dear Michael, While searching for information about myself online, I find out that I am being sued by a debit collection agency. I live in CA and have never received a formal complaint or summons from Livingston Financial LLC. Can Livingston Financial LLC or any collection agency do this without proper notification. Based on the info I gathered online the ... Read More »
“Dear Michael, We have Business debt – trying to pay off w/low interest rates. Can you recommend a reputable debt consolidation company? One that can, before we sign any documents or close any of our accounts, guarantee us the interest rates they claim they can offer us? We don’t wish to settle, we want to pay the amount we owe, ... Read More »
“Dear Michael, We were flooded in 2008. Countrywide agreed to an extension during rebuild adding payments to end of loan. They then sent paperwork back with VOID written in sharpie. We were denied any modification, etc. This went on for 4 years. We sent in payments, they sent them back. The house went into foreclosure and a deed of foreclosure ... Read More »
“Dear Michael, I will retiring in 2015 and I only owe American express and I can’t pay them since my only source is social security and will be moving to Mexico. I understand they can’t get my social security. Do I still need to file with the courts on this debt? Terri” Dear Terri, Whether or not you have to ... Read More »
“Dear Michael, I have the great deal credit debt – long story – used a number courtesy checks against these credit cards to add monies into company believing I would pay them off. Well that did not happen, so I have been paying monthly and these amounts – never go down due the interest rates. Instead of using one of ... Read More »
New York: Great Pizza, Bagels… & Debt Collection Laws? (via Credit.com) Personal financial challenges can be daunting. Struggling to pay bills is tasking enough, but when you throw in having to deal with aggressive debt collector calls, letters, even legal actions, it can become overwhelming, and often confusing. Federal and state laws regarding how debts can legitimately… Read More »
How Getting Out of Debt Can Hurt Your Credit (via Credit.com) A common concern you may have when searching for the best debt relief solution is how it will impact your credit score.There are many misconceptions about credit reports and the harm that comes from credit counseling, settling debt for less than what you owe and bankruptcy. Your credit report ... Read More »
I asked Michael Bovee, a debt settlement expert, to answer your question on my behalf. Here is Michael had to say. “Dear Mchael, The “Law Offices” of Michael K Sipes (in Elk Grove, CA) bought an unpaid credit card debt of mine. The balance was around $4000 when it was charged off. The court awarded a judgment, totaling about $5000, ... Read More »
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