I am due to get a medical settlement check for $20K in the next two months. I have around 5 creditors who know the situation but each of them call me several times a day - EVERY DAY - all day. Because of late fees and penalties, the low balances I had have shot up to $200. They have advised me NOT to use a credit counseling service. I have asked them to stop the late charges etc.. but they are not willing. Can't credit counseling services help reduce these balances and finance charges? I am on permanent disability and we have had immediate family illnesses, a death and an aggravated assault since March. NONE of these creditors have wanted to work with me.
2007-11-25 17:39:29 · 19 answers · asked by Laura N 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Personal Finance
I appreciate all the answers. I do have under $5K in debt. The reason I opened the cards up, in the first place, was to get my credit back. My husband and I had to file bankruptcy four years ago. The settlement check was issued over a year ago and the Trustee has been holding it up even though our lawyer said we are federally exempt. My health caused me to lose my job. I have had over 13 surgeries in 8 years and have neurological and physical problems that the specialist can only say "they don't know what's wrong" and we are running more test. My husband has been a teacher for 22 yrs and we have two children. We I lost my job, it dropped our annual income down $80K. I wouldn't file for disability for 3 years because I was in denial. Once I filed, I received it in less than 90 days. I am all about paying what I owe and we have never been deadbeats. I guess the real question is that I have kept in contact with the creditors, but they continue to call daily. 5/6 creditors X 4 calls a day!
2007-11-25 18:15:38 · update #1
We currently rent a home. We have one car and our daughter is a sophomore in HS. She is an excellent student and a dream child. We are looking at getting her a car and figuring out how to get the money to pay for college. Thanks for all your comments. On March 9th of this year, my Mom had a heart attack. I flew to my hometown that day. Four days later my Dad fell and broke his hip. My husband called that day and his Mother had been admitted to the hospital. They all were in the hospital for over a month. My parents came home on the same day. My Mom to recover and My Dad to die. Our family dog died two days before Easter and my Dad died Easter Evening. I have three brothers. They were NO help and the one closest to me had somehow gotten my parents to give them their home with broken promises. The night before they both were to have surgery, He told me to tell them they were not going to get to come home. I got home and the day after I arrived, my Son was robbed and his jaw was broken.
2007-11-25 18:22:36 · update #2
Over $15K later, the guy who did it and who WE know has still not been arrested. My Mother-in-law is living with us and has been diagnosed with Alzeimers. I have "altered mental status" which causes me to black out for no reason. I also have something wrong with my left leg and it retains fluid every 40 days where I gain and lose 23/27 lbs every month. The phone calls are driving me crazy. Sorry for the long story, especially when we are talking about finances. I thought maybe some of you could relate to the frustration of answering the phone from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. God Bless
2007-11-25 18:26:07 · update #3
If a person has accumulated a large amount of credit card debt due to multiple credit cards, the need for a proper counseling for credit card debt consolidation can't be understated. Credit card debt consolidation counseling helps a person get vital insights into the facts that can help him get control over the credit card debt.
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2007-11-25 22:38:10 · answer #1 · answered by kassy kemp 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Welcome to the world of credit. So, you have a balance of $300 and you can't make minimum payments? I think you can if you can muster the discipline. For Heaven's sake don't charge another thing on your credit cards. You can't afford to wait for the settlement check before you start meeting the minimum payments. Your debt is not really very big as credit card debt goes, so don't ruin your credit rating over a measly $300. I understand that bill collectors are not nice people, but don't let that dissuade you from paying the bills. It is in your own best interest.
No, the cc companies do not want you to go to a counseling service because it will cost them money. On the other hand, I don't believe there is much benefit in it for you, either.
Try to consolidate all the debt into the card with the lowest interest rate and make the minimum payments, or more if you can.
2007-11-25 17:51:30 · answer #2 · answered by Tony 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
None of the creditors are obligated to work with you. I feel badly for your situation, but you did spend the money. Can you pay them anything? Even $1?
Credit counseling is the last thing you should do. It's only $200 (plus whatever new fees they are adding). Credit counseling shows up on your credit report. It would be better to have $200 of late payments than credit counseling. It looks just as bad as bankruptcy.
Right now, you just have to endure the phone calls until you get your check. Then pay it off in full, destroy the card and move on with your life.
Also keep in mind the creditors view. They are a business. They have expenses to pay. They loaned you money on the understanding you would pay it back in a specific timeframe and you didn't do that. Regardless of what other horrible events have happened in your life, you still didn't follow through on those obligations. I'm not saying I'm not sympathethic, but they don't have to be.
You may be able to file harrassment charges, but they probably won't stick. What expenses can you cut to pay them something? There has to be something. Keep the heat lower and wear a sweater. Have a garage sale to raise some money. Babysit your neighbors kid for a few hours. I get that you are hurt, but there has to be something you can do.
2007-11-25 17:51:06 · answer #3 · answered by Meghan 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You've got more going on if you have phone calls all day every day over $300 my friend. Get real with how much you owe, then talk to non-profit firm about how much you REALLY owe to your creditors. GOOD credit counseling firms will usually help you through the process for free...and don't really do anything other than tell you what you need to do. No matter who you deal with, you can't use a firm to reduce your rates and fees...and not expect to pay them something for their effort. You may as well pay the company you owe and get rid of the middle man. I'll speed up the process.
Get out all your bills, and call everyone. Tell them your broke and you expect $20,000 soon and you are disabled. Fax them proof if they want it...though it probably will not matter. Keep names of everyone you talk to...and whenever you get a call, let them know you already talked to Joe Smoe, and you've made arrangements. This should help some.
2007-11-25 17:54:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Make a payment on time every month, even if it's only a little bit, and keep the lines of communication open with the creditors. Let them know what's happening and when they can expect payment. Credit counseling may harm your credit rating ( I think) so research that before you jump into it. If it's only the one credit card, pay it and take the loss just to keep your credit rating from getting further damaged. Maintaining a good credit score may help you get a loan or credit card when you really need one if anything happens in the future.
2007-11-25 17:45:45 · answer #5 · answered by Charley 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
$300 is nothing in terms of debt. There is absolutely no reason to consider credit counseling. Just pay them the minimum for now, and when you get your settlement, pay them off in full. (In the future, you may not want to tell them you're expecting a huge settlement to come in. Most sympathetic credit card company reps will consider waiving the fees and freezing your balance if you cry on the phone to them, but not if you tell them youre going to be rich soon. That just comes off as a line to get them off your back for the moment).
2007-11-25 17:44:33 · answer #6 · answered by boots6 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
definitely call a credit counseling service, but be sure it's a non-profit. They will get these guys off your back (sounds like the creditors are using illegal tactics-you should tape record their calls), they can get the interest reduced or sometimes even eliminated. If it'sa credit card why are 5 creditors calling you? Let the professionals help you, creditors will be aware that they are being "watched". Good Luck, & don't ruin your credit rating for a lousy hundred bucks!
2007-11-25 17:46:50 · answer #7 · answered by teriod 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If you paid the minimum balance each month on time the balance would go down. If you are having fees it's because you are not paying. Don't charge if you can't pay. Credit counseling will still be a balance that you have to pay, so suck it up and pay.
2007-11-25 17:45:23 · answer #8 · answered by just me 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure that one of those non-profit credit counseling services would help much here. The tend to prefer to deal with people with much higher levels of unsecured debt than you have (10,000 or more as a rule).
If it makes you feel any better, the average American carries $8562.00 in credit card debts.
2007-11-25 17:46:14 · answer #9 · answered by The Yeti 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The best thing to do is borrow that money from someone and pay the entire balance off in full. that will end the credit fee process. I know this might be tough with your situation but its gotta be done. if not just let it keep adding up and use your 20,000 to pay it off
2007-11-25 17:44:22 · answer #10 · answered by mlbmaniac2003 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋