American consumer debt rate has once again returned to pre-2008 levels and many find themselves once again encumbered by record-setting credit card debt. The first step in figuring out how to tackle it involves you sitting down will your bills, making note of your...
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Debt Relief
Second mortgage and the Chapters 7 and 13 differences
Many New Jersey homeowners have felt the pinch of the weak economy over the past decade. At times, they may have felt it was a one-step-forward-two-steps-back exercise in frustration. In some situations, bankruptcy may be the smarter choice over debt settlement or...
An increasing number of those with student loan debt are seniors
If you're in your 30s and feel like you'll be paying off your student loan debt into your senior years, you may be right. Some 27 percent of those paying off their student loans are in their 60s or older. More than two-thirds of borrowers are paying off loans they...
The disadvantages of consolidating student loans with other debt
We've all received those mailings inviting us to consolidate all of our credit card debt into one low-interest credit card or to get a home equity or other loan to consolidate our debts. The temptation to consolidate debts so that you don't have to worry about making...
Some options for handling overwhelming student loan debt
Americans' federal student loan debt is now at a whopping $1.4 trillion dollars. That debt is owed by about 44 million borrowers. There's no telling yet how borrowers will be impacted by the changes the Trump administration is considering to the federal student loan...
An emergency room visit can put you in financial jeopardy
Most of us don't plan on ending up in an emergency room. Often, you don't even realize that you've been transported there until you wake up on a gurney in a hospital gown. As anyone who has experienced this knows, emergency room bills can be costly, even after your...
Hospitals are offering interest-free loans to patients
As we've discussed here before, medical debt is one of the leading causes of bankruptcy. Even a medical bill of $2,000 after an insurer has paid its share of your bill can be an unexpected expense that many Americans simply can't handle.Now some hospitals are seeking...
Should I file bankruptcy over medical debt?
Unpaid medical bills from an accident or illness that wind up in collection can really tank an otherwise adequate credit score. Consumers can avoid fiscal disaster by remaining proactive about their finances.Make sure that you examine and thoroughly read your monthly...
Not all debts are created equally, debt relief efforts vary
In a previous blog post, we discussed some strategies you can use to work with a collection agency regarding debt. When this doesn't happen or if you are unable to pay for the bill, you might decide that you need to seek out other options for debt relief. We want you...
Tips for working with a collections agency
If your debt has ended up in collections and you're dealing with an agency for the first time, you may not know what to expect or what to do next. Below are a few tips that can help.1. Know what is illegal. For instance, it's illegal for collections agencies to harass...
