“Dear Steve, I just can’t make ends meet anymore. We are trying to stretch our money but there just isn’t enough to make the minimum payments. How can I obtain a payment plan with credit card companies that I can afford? David” Dear David, It is quite possible that you will not be able to … Read more
If you are concerned about the way credit card companies and other lenders do business, you will be pleased to discover a little known regulation enacted for your protection. Regulation Z, or the Truth in Lending Law, regulates certain credit card practices and helps you know the true cost of credit and achieve a fair … Read more
“Dear Steve, My husband and I own our own business but have been struggling lately. I work a 9-5 job while he stays at home to run the business. We owe a lot of debt in credit cards from working to get the business up and going – and we’re just a few hundred dollars … Read more
“Dear Steve, I have about 24000 in debt credit cards and loans. I was in a debt management plan about 5 months ago with a local company. I was off of work for a sort time. What I currently pay out now i have about $100 left each month to live on. If I decide … Read more
“Dear Steve, I have been enrolled with a consumer law center that was working with my creditors on my outstanding credit cards. I was late on payments up to 4 months. I was told today that the law center is closing without helping to pay off my creditors. I was making payments to them at … Read more
A story by CNN today makes my article on How to Hide From Debt Collection, the Debt Collector and Creditors even more timely. After several years in which Americans were buying stuff on credit they couldn’t afford, a rapidly increasing number are complaining about getting harassed and abused by bill collectors. Nearly 71,000 people filed … Read more
“Dear Steve, I have recently hired a bankruptcy attorney and am in the process of making payments to him to file my case, which unfortunately he cannot do until I make the last payment. I should have this taken care of by May, 2009. I am now just starting to become delinquent with my credit … Read more
“Dear Steve, I have never heard anyone ask this question or any money experts suggest it: If my wife and I have many joint user credit cards and lots of debt, could it help our credit scores if we changed the status of our joint cards to just the primary user, thus showing each of … Read more
A question I am often asked is if people need to tell their creditors that they are going bankrupt. If you’ve already decided to go bankrupt and you’ve met with a bankruptcy attorney who will handle your case, then there is no harm in telling them, but why? Once you have made the decision to … Read more
Information is already leaking out about the efforts of American Express to closely watch the places their card members shop at as an indication of credit problems. With mounting losses by credit card companies and an avalanche of new bad credit card debt to come, creditors are looking for ways to identify potential high risk … Read more
“Dear Steve, I am currently unemployed. I have approximately $20k in credit card debt. I have been contacted by the IRS that my CPA is under investigation for fraud and I have to refile my taxes from 2002-present. So far, I owe $4k for 2007 to the IRS but have not refiled the previous years. … Read more
“Dear Steve, I have been divorced for one year. Our house was in my name and husbands. He never refnanced or sold the home. His late payments have started to ruin my credit report and credit score. Now it look as if the bank will foreclose. How can I repair my credit and how long … Read more
“Dear Steve, I am self employed and have lost an important account. I now cannot pay the minimum on my American Express card, which is $2,000.00. If I pay them I can’t pay my other expenses. Have you any ideas ?” Dear ML, Ouch! I know how much it hurts to lose a major account … Read more
Diane wrote to me at the GetOutOfDebt.org site and asked for help with her debt situation. You can write me too if you need help. Here is what Diane said: “Dear Steve, I have signed up with New Beginnings to get out of debt. I have paid them for two months so far and have … Read more