You don’t have to live with overwhelming credit card debt. You have options. Getty Images The U.S. economy shed over 92,000 jobs recently, inflation has held stubbornly above the Fed’s 2% target, and food prices, as well as other basic living expenses, are running substantially higher than they were just a year ago. That combination … Read more
There are several actions you can take to stop or reduce the calls you’re receiving from debt collectors. Andrii Dodonov/Getty Images The idea of debt collectors contacting borrowers about their unpaid balances is nothing new. That tactic has been used for decades to try to compel borrowers to pay what’s owed on their delinquent accounts. … Read more
Knowing what to do quickly if your bank account is frozen can make a major difference in how the issue unfolds. FrankvandenBergh/Getty Images Few financial situations feel more urgent than discovering you can’t access the funds in your own bank account. Whether it happens while trying to pay a bill, when you’re withdrawing cash or … Read more
A debt collector can garnish your bank account, but only up to what the law allows. Getty Images/iStockphoto Many borrowers assume that once a debt goes unpaid long enough, the worst a debt collector can do is damage their credit score. That assumption is wrong — and for the tens of millions of Americans with … Read more
Not every debt consolidation loan is created equal, especially in today’s economic and rate landscape. Getty Images/iStockphoto Carrying credit card debt from month to month has never been cheap, but the past few years have made it considerably more expensive for the average borrower. After all, credit card interest rates climbed to historic highs and … Read more
Debt forgiveness could cut thousands of dollars off a $15,000 balance, but the outcome could vary. Andrii Yalanskyi/Getty Images Americans are carrying more credit card debt than ever and the cost of holding that debt continues to climb. Total credit card balances have surged past $1.28 trillion nationwide and the average credit cardholder is paying … Read more
If you’re being sued over unpaid credit card debt, you may have more leverage than the debt collector is counting on. Hanizam/Getty Images As credit card balances have swelled, debt balances have climbed and delinquency rates have ticked upward over the last few years. Debt collection activity has followed suit. Over time, most unpaid debt … Read more
Before you consolidate your debt, it’s wise to know what the most effective tools are in the current economic environment. Dilok Klaisataporn/Getty Images Credit card debt has a sneaky way of becoming unmanageable — and in many cases, that happens before you have a chance to recognize how debilitating the issue really is. After all, … Read more
The VA offers certain types of debt relief to military members — but it’s both targeted and limited. Patrick Strattner/PS Photography/Getty Images Over the last couple of decades, the federal government has expanded many of the benefits offered to veterans, from healthcare access to bolstering disability claims processing and rolling out new homebuying protections. But … Read more
Veterans have access to debt relief options, but do any of them meaningfully reduce or eliminate what’s owed? Seksan Mongkhonkhamsao/Getty Images The financial challenges that follow military service rarely make headlines. But the numbers tell a sobering story: Not only do veterans use credit cards more often than civilians, but military families also carry higher … Read more