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Free Debt Advice and FAQs:

Missed a credit card payment? You should contact your credit card company immediately, either to pay by phone or to arrange a late payment. Don't be too intimidated to attempt negotiating any late payment fees charged by the issuer. If you have a long, good-standing with the issuer, you may be able to motivate them to wait longer before reporting the late payment to credit bureaus.

When is it wise to pay a credit card with another credit card? When you have a payment due on a credit card which has a significantly larger interest rate; and or late fee, then it could make sense to temporarily use one credit card to pay another. Another wise occasion would be to completely transfer high interest credit cards to a low; or 0 introductory, balance transfer credit card.

How to collect a debt from a private party: If someone owes you money, in order to recover the funds in court you'll need to prove two things: 1) That you gave the other party (borrower) money and; 2) The money was a loan and not a gift. Unfortunately many people never took the time to write out a personal loan repayment agreement, and have no proof of the loan. But you can still get proof, either directly by asking the borrower to sign an IOU an acknowledge the loan, or indirectly through other means such as text messages and emails. If you doubt the person will sign a promissory note, then try the indirect approach first. Send the person and email stating how you were glad you were able to lend ($specify amount), and you would like to setup a repayment plan. Keep a copy of your email, and the response from the other party. By getting the other party to return a reply such as: "Thanks for the loan...", then you are able to prove it was a loan and not a gift. You can then sue the person in court if he/she fails to repay.

Is a spouse liable for credit card debt? Just as income obtained during marriage is considered joint assets, so are debts. Regardless of any deals made between you and your ex spouse; or soon to be ex, those deals do not override the liability agreement you made with the creditor. Even if a judge decrees that your ex spouse is responsible for debt, the creditor may still pursue you for payment should your spouse default. Of course, you then have a legal right to sue your ex spouse in court to repay you for any expenses you had to pay on his/her behalf in order to protect your credit.

What is the best way to get rid of credit card debt? The absolute best way to get out of credit card debt depends on whether you aim to payoff or charge-off the debt... or defaulting on credit card debt. It would be better; of course, to erase credit card debt legally versus defaulting, such as getting a loan to payoff credit cards by leveraging the equity in your home. The total loan interest charges would be far less than that charged by the credit card company.

Is credit card debt forgiveness taxable? Is credit card debt tax deductable? Again, yes. Here are the situations: If you owed credit card debt which was forgiven either in part or in full, the portion which you did not pay is taxable. In the other situation, charges placed on your credit card; such as mortgage payments and medical expenses, may be tax deductible. The credit card interest charged; however, is not.

Federal grants for credit card debt: Fact - There is no government credit card debt relief for individuals. The only government help with credit card debt comes in the form of indirect assistance. For example, you could get government support to help with your rent, and subsequently that could help free money in your budget to payoff credit cards.
 

Questions to ask a credit counseling service:
• What services do you offer?
• What are your fees? Do I have to pay anything before you can help me? Are there monthly or ongoing fees?
• Will I have a formal written agreement or contract?
• Who regulates, oversees or licenses your agency?
• What are the qualifications of your counselors? Are they accredited or certified? If not, how are they trained?
• How does your debt repayment plan work?
• How do you determine the amount of my payment? What happens if this is more than I can afford?
• Is a debt repayment plan my only option?
• How often can I get status reports on my accounts?
• What if I can't maintain the agreed-upon plan?
• Can you get my creditors to lower or eliminate interest and finance charges or waive late fees?

Signs You Are Headed Toward Debt:
* You are using credit more often, or you are relying on credit to help make ends meet.
• You are frequently reaching the maximum credit limit on your credit card.
• You are borrowing money to pay bills.
• You are frequently late paying bills.
• You have to choose which bills to pay and which to set aside until later.
• You often pay only the minimum amount due.
• Your standard of living has remained the same while your check book and savings balances have gone down and credit balances have gone up.
• You are being contacted by creditors (or collection agencies).
• You defaulted on paying some bills.

Ways to Avoid Credit Card Debt:
* Pay cash instead of using your credit card.
• If you must use your credit card, set a monthly limit on charging that is based upon your budget, and keep a written record.
• Limit the number of credit cards you have.
• Choose the card with the lowest interest rate and no (or very low) annual fee.
• Beware of blank checks for cash advances, because they might carry very high interest rates.
• Don't apply for credit cards just to get a free gift or a discount on a purchase, as it may lead to over-charging.
• Pay bills on time to avoid late fees or charges.
 

Common Debt Help Topics:

I need help paying off my credit card. Is there legal help for credit card debt? Yes, but you don't necessarily need a debt lawyer. Fact is, based upon your abilities and negotiation skills, you may be able to resolve the debt just between you and the card company. You could either negotiate new repayment terms and a reduction in interest, or agree to a debt settlement at a percentage of what's owed, or you could borrow money to pay off credit card balances in full. Whichever option you choose, proceed with knowledge. If you feel uncomfortable doing a negotiation one-on-one with your credit card company, you could allow a professional company to assist you. Consider the debt relief company listed on our site.

My bills are more than my income - What to do when you can't pay your bills: The first thing to do is to immediately contact your creditors and let them know about your situation and give them the opportunity to work out a pay-back solution with you. Next, stop adding more debt to your household budget, and trim away unnecessary expenses. You probably have enough income to pay your necessity bills, once you eliminate wasteful spending. If you don't think so, it may be because you are not keeping a log of all your expenses. You should write down every purchase, for every dime spent. Only then can you identify where you are wasting money which could be used to payoff debts.

Low interest and free financial help with bills - rent and utility bill assistance programs: When the economy is bad, more people flock to the internet searching for free money to pay bills. Many are hoping for government grants for debt consolidation, but such does not exist for individuals. There are; nonetheless, free government assistance programs which can help you make ends meet, such as housing subsidies (Section 8) and grocery funding (food stamps). By utilizing these resources, you can free-up money to cover other expenses. And don't forget resources such as local charities and organizations like Goodwill. Some private organizations offer low interest loans and/or free money you never have to pay back. Some organizations offer reduced or free daycare to working single parents with low income. As for utility bills, contact your electric company and ask about any program they offer to elderly, disabled or low income people.