Question: Dear Steve, Over the last year – two years, I have found myself to be in a huge debt hole. I can’t even say exactly how I got here or why I went down the path that I did. Since 2014, we have slowly maxed out our credit cards, and then in late 2019 … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, Hello, and I want to say thank you for helping us. Here it is in a nutshell: I’m a 75-year-old woman. My husband is 72. We met late in life, and we have no children. We have an apartment in a rent-control property, and we own a property that gives us a … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I read your article/review of Global Legal Resolution, Inc from many years ago and this is definitely a scam. The two con-men are Robert C. Hughes III and partners. He is not an attorney as declared in the advertisement you referenced, as a matter of fact there were 6 complaints against him … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I am a 22-year-old college graduate. I grew up in a very stable household, both personally and financially. My parents do exceedingly well, and I have never once struggled.. until now. I always saw how my parents spent money and thought I could do the same. I didn’t have a complete understanding … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I may have been involved in a debt validation program. How do I find out which escrow account my money is being deposited into so that I can attempt to get a refund? Michelle Answer: Dear Michelle, Oh my. There are a few levels to this. The first concern is why it … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, Is it wise to pay off smaller balances first or work hard on the higher ones with the out of control interest? Lainey Answer: Dear Lainey, This is one of those great questions that seem so simple to begin with. At first glance, the obvious answer would be to reduce the amount … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, ~$60k credit card debt with BofA 700 credit score Never been late on any payments of anything What options do I have to negotiate credit card debt right now. I was told that I could get BofA to go down to 1% APR on my remaining balances. As long as all of … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, After spending much of 2018 and 2019 surviving on part time freelancing, I racked up ~$8k in credit card debt across 3 cards and exhausted my savings. I also have a personal loan balance at ~$6.5k. In fall this year I returned to full time employment at ~$85k a year. Just got … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I owe a personal loan for 5,000 dollars. I was able to put all other debt in a credit counseling program. But Lending Club would not participate. I am on SSI and can’t work. LendingClub won’t work with me by lowering payments or interest rates. I am 90 days late. What can … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I received a mail invitation from fresh start company. I called and they told me about their debt consolidation program and I got to choose which credit card I wanted to include in the program. So it came out to 300 a month for 36 months to pay off the cards. Which … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, $70,000 unsecured debt $120,000 combined gross income Have checked with credit Counselor’s who offered a DMP we couldn’t afford, bankruptcy attorney, (chapter 13) payment plan we can’t afford. Tried resolving with creditors on our own, again can’t afford. So, what’s next? Do we just not pay and hope for the best? We … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I moved to Central America a few years ago and all was well until I lost a large sum of money on a scam and owed some 70K in CC debt. They are all closed now but have heard nothing from them since a year ago and I may be able to … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I’m a 57-year-old female. “Left a good job in the city” at 38 to raise my two boys as a single parent. I started a part-time massage therapy business that was not able to make ends meet. I have a very low credit score. In collection. Some charged off. currently not working … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I’m 13,000 in credit card debt. The rates range from 18-21% apr. I need to look for work by June because my other job will soon be ending. I’m able to meet the minimum payments but the interest fees are so high that I’m afraid I’ll be stuck paying for the rest … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, My husband and I decided to prepare for a family. We got two family-friendly vehicles before trying for a child (since I actually totaled my paid off the car after hitting a deer and his truck wasn’t safe for a car seat). Everything was going great. We had bought all main essentials … Read more