Welcome, visitor! [ Login

Post an Ad

Credit Counseling & Auto and Home Loans

Debt-Credit Consolidation 22 hours ago

 

Credit Counseling

 

If you aren’t disciplined enough to create a workable budget and stick to it, can’t work out a repayment plan with your creditors, or can’t keep track of mounting bills, consider contacting a credit counseling service. Your creditors may be willing to accept reduced payments if you enter a debt repayment plan with a reputable organization. In these plans, you deposit money each month with the credit counseling service. Your deposits are used to pay your creditors according to a payment schedule developed by the counselor. As part of the repayment plan, you may have to agree not to apply for — or use — any additional credit while you’re participating in the program.

 

A successful repayment plan requires you to make regular, timely payments, and could take 48 months or longer to complete. Ask the credit counseling service for an estimate of the time it will take to complete the plan. Some credit counseling services charge little or nothing for managing the plan; others charge a monthly fee that could add up to a significant charge over time. Some credit counseling services are funded, in part, by contributions from creditors.

 

While a debt repayment plan can eliminate much of the stress that comes from dealing with creditors and overdue bills, it does not mean you can forget about your debts. You still are responsible for paying any creditors whose debts are not included in the plan. You are responsible for reviewing monthly statements from your creditors to make sure your payments have been received. If your repayment plan depends on your creditors agreeing to lower or eliminate interest and finance charges, or waive late fees, you are responsible for making sure these concessions are reflected on your statements.

 

A debt repayment plan does not erase your credit history. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, accurate information about your accounts can stay on your credit report for up to seven years. In addition, your creditors will continue to report information about accounts that are handled through a debt repayment plan. For example, creditors may report that an account is in financial counseling, that payments may have been late or missed altogether, or that there are write-offs or other concessions. A demonstrated pattern of timely payments will help you obtain credit in the future. See our Brochure on Choosing a Credit Counselor.

 

Auto and Home Loans

 

Debt repayment plans usually cover unsecured debt. Your auto and home loan, which are considered secured debt, may not be included. You must continue to make payments to these creditors directly.

 

Most automobile financing agreements allow a creditor to repossess your car any time you’re in default. No notice is required. If your car is repossessed, you may have to pay the full balance due on the loan, as well as towing and storage costs, to get it back. If you can’t do this, the creditor may sell the car. If you see default approaching, you may be better off selling the car yourself and paying off the debt: You would avoid the added costs of repossession and a negative entry on your credit report.  See our Brochure on Vehicle Repossession.

 

If you fall behind on your mortgage, contact your lender immediately to avoid foreclosure… Most lenders are willing to work with you if they believe you’re acting in good faith and the situation is temporary. Some lenders may reduce or suspend your payments for a short time. When you resume regular payments, though, you may have to pay an additional amount toward the past due total. Other lenders may agree to change the terms of the mortgage by extending the repayment period to reduce the monthly debt. Ask whether additional fees would be assessed for these changes, and calculate how much they total in the long term.

 

If you and your lender cannot work out a plan, contact a housing counseling agency. Some agencies limit their counseling services to homeowners with FHA mortgages, but many offer free help to any homeowner who’s having trouble making mortgage payments. Call the local office of the Department of Housing and Urban Development or the housing authority in your state, city, or county for help in finding a housing counseling agency near you.  See our Brochure on How to Avoid Foreclosure.

 

 

1942 total views, 2 today

Page 1 of 2111 2 3 211
  • Debt Collectors -Recovery Services- MA

    by on October 30, 2024 - 0 Comments

    Entity Address Telephone Bonded Collection Corporation 49 Winter Street, Weymouth, MA, 02188 (312) 279-8300 GC Services Limited Partnership  GC Services 5230 Washington Street, West Roxbury, MA, 02132 (405) 621-6414 Western Mass Credit Corp. 70 Post Office Park, Suite 7011, Wilbraham, MA, 01095 (413) 596-9977 United Collection Bureau, Inc. 15 Union Street, Lawrence, MA, 01843 (419) […]

  • Debt Collection FAQs: A Guide for Consumers

    by on November 8, 2024 - 0 Comments

    Debt Collection FAQs: A Guide for Consumers If you’re behind in paying your bills, or a creditor’s records mistakenly make it appear that you are, a debt collector may be contacting you. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which prohibits debt collectors from […]

  • Credit Counseling & Auto and Home Loans

    by on 22 hours ago - 0 Comments

      Credit Counseling   If you aren’t disciplined enough to create a workable budget and stick to it, can’t work out a repayment plan with your creditors, or can’t keep track of mounting bills, consider contacting a credit counseling service. Your creditors may be willing to accept reduced payments if you enter a debt repayment […]

  • 5 Tips for Getting the Most From Your Credit Card

    by on September 14, 2024 - 0 Comments

    Pay on time. Paying your credit card account on time helps you avoid late fees as well as penalty interest rates applied to your account, and helps you maintain a good credit record. A good credit record leads to a higher credit score, which helps you qualify for lower interest rates. Know the date your […]

  • Job Scams: Work-at-Home Schemes

    by on October 24, 2024 - 0 Comments

    Work-at-Home Schemes Be part of one of America’s Fastest Growing Industries. Be the Boss! Earn thousands of dollars a month from home! Ads like this are everywhere — from the telephone pole on the corner to your newspaper, email and favorite websites. The jobs might be different, but the message is the same — start […]