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Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Tips To Help You Keep to Your New Year’s Debt Resolutions

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Some of the most common New Year’s resolutions involve improving one’s health or cutting out bad habits.  Some of us want to improve our financial health and paying off debt in the New Year is a common resolution. By taking the right approach and building good financial habits, you can pay down debt in the New Year.

Here are some tips to help you keep your New Year’s debt resolutions:

  • Know exactly how much you owe. Create an inventory of all your debts.  This should include all totals and interest rates.  Add these up and see exactly how much you have to pay down.
  • Break it up into smaller tasks. Focus on the steps you need to take day-to-day to achieve paying off your debt. Figure out how much you can put toward your debt each month by doing a detailed budget.  Trim expenses, which will allot you more money to pay off your debt.  If you go out to eat four nights a week, see what you would save by cutting it down to just one or two nights a week.
  • Choose how you will pay off your debt. Consider using the debt snowball method, where you pay off smaller debts first to secure early victories and momentum that will keep you motivated to pay off bigger debts.
  • Make the most of every dollar. Building a budget is key to any financial plan, but it is absolutely essential when paying off debt.  Select a budget that allows you to still live comfortably, while not feeling deprived.
  • Side hustle. Whether it is freelancing, selling old clothes through consignment, or being an Uber driver, there are a number of ways you can increase your income while still keeping your day job.  Here are 26 legitimate side hustles to consider.  This additional income can go towards paying off your debt, without having to drastically adjust your lifestyle.
  • Stay focused and hold yourself accountable. Track your progress and consider using a debt reduction app to help you solidify your new habits and stay on track.

If you have any questions on this topic or are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade Garcia McMaken has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade Garcia McMaken website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Related Resources:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2017/12/17/how-actually-keep-your-new-years-debt-resolutions/942250001/

https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/finance/7-tips-for-paying-off-debt-from-people-who-did-it/

Credit, Student Loans, Timothy Kingcade Posts

How To File For Bankruptcy with Student Loan Debt

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For consumers struggling with significant debt, filing for bankruptcy may be your best option to provide you with a fresh start. If your debts consist of federal student loans, it is not an easy process to get these discharged in bankruptcy; however, it is possible.

The first thing you must do is to decide whether you will file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. In Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the goal is to get unsecured debt wiped out. This means, you have little disposable income available to pay off your debts. If you choose to file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, your plan is to get your debts restructured in order to repay some of it. This also means you likely have some disposable income to repay part of your debt.

The most important part of your case when you have student loan debt is that you must prove “undue hardship” to the court. This means that you must prove that you cannot pay back your federal student loans. In order to prove undue hardship, you and your bankruptcy attorney must file a petition called an adversary proceeding, which is unique to bankruptcy involving student loan debt.

In most courts, The Brunner Test is used to evaluate hardship. Below are 3 factors of The Brunner test outlined by the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid office:

  • The filer cannot maintain a basic standard of living if paying back federal student loans
  • The filer can prove the hardship will last for a large percentage of the repayment period
  • The filer honestly tried to repay the loans before filing

Click here to read more on this story.

For borrowers who are struggling with student loan debt, relief options are available. Many student loan borrowers are unaware that they have rights and repayment options available to them, such as postponement of loan payments, reduction of payments or even a complete discharge of the debt. It is important you contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade Garcia McMaken has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade Garcia McMaken website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Beware of these Holiday Debt Traps

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The holidays are officially here and if you have some last minute shopping to do this weekend, make sure and avoid these common holiday debt traps.  Last year shoppers took on an average of $1,003 worth of debt, up from $986 in 2015.  The merriment and excitement of holiday shopping can be replaced with anxiety and fear of debt in the New Year.

Keeping up with the Joneses. The pressure to purchase the latest and greatest holiday gifts ranging from expensive electronics to brand new cars all contribute to holiday debt.   From the tree, to elaborate light displays and decorations, if not limited to a budget can all leave you with debt in the New Year.

Hot holiday toy crazes. On average, parents plan to spend $495 per child, according holiday shopping data from Rubicon Project.  When the ‘must-have’ toy items start to run out, prices increase.  Plan accordingly, and budget throughout the year for holiday spending.

Store credit cards. Avoid store credit cards at all costs.  The 10% off the day of purchase can have big consequences if a single payment is missed on one of these cards, such as 29.99 percent APR.

Holiday parties. Hosting hordes of holiday visitors and entertaining guests can cost hundreds of dollars, not only adding to your grocery bill, but your utilities in the month of December.

Indulgent spending. The problem is that many consumers do not plan for holiday spending. Sometimes, they mentally plan to go into debt.  We advise planning ahead for the next season, start checking items off the list in February or in the summer months when fewer people are buying and prices are lower.

If you have any questions on this topic or are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade Garcia McMaken has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade Garcia McMaken website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Related Resources:

http://www.wbir.com/article/money/magnify-money/watch-out-for-these-holiday-debt-traps/507-493900752

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief

Steps to Take if a Creditor Has Seized Your Bank Account

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If you owe a debt to a creditor or a collection agency, they can legally seize your bank account and take back what is owed. However, agencies are supposed to notify debtors about the lawsuit beforehand. Unfortunately, creditors can take everything in your bank account and leave you with nothing if it is the same amount or less than what is owed.

Although your options are limited, here are three of your best options at this point.

  1. File Bankruptcy. If a creditor seizes your account and you immediately file for bankruptcy, you may be able to recover some or all of the money that was in your account. In some states, you can “exempt” those funds that were seized from your bank and the creditor would be forced to return it.
  2. Contest the Lawsuit. You may be successful in contesting the lawsuit if you were not properly served.
  3. Stop using your Account. If the first two options fail, it may be in your best interest to avoid keeping funds in your bank account. Creditors may continue to seize your funds until the balance is paid in full.

Click here to read more on this story.

If you have any questions on this topic or are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorneywho can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade Garcia McMaken has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade Garcia McMaken website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief

Things Not To Do Before Filing Bankruptcy

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If you are considering filing for bankruptcy, the list of actions to avoid is just as important as the list of things to do before filing. If you do not avoid these simple decisions, it may prevent you from getting debt relief.

  • Do not transfer assets out of your name. Doing so raises huge red flags in bankruptcy court, particularly if the transferal of assets occurs right before bankruptcy filing. In some cases, hasty asset transfers may be illegal.
  • Do not use a credit card for large cash advances. Many filers choose to max out their credit cards before filing for bankruptcy because they fear losing credit later or they assume the debt will be discharged. However, if someone has no intention of paying money back, it is considered fraud.
  • Do not pay off a preferred creditor. Oftentimes, bankruptcy filers try to pay off debts with friends and family members before filing. However, bankruptcy court may make them give the money back so other creditors can get their share.
  • Do not make large purchases. It may seem like a good time to make large, expensive purchases since your debts are about to be discharged, however; the bankruptcy court may consider these purchases fraudulent.

Click here to read more on this story.

If you have any questions on this topic or are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade Garcia McMaken has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade Garcia McMaken website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Credit, Debt Relief

3 Tips for Dealing with Credit Card Debt with Rising Rates

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The Federal Reserve announced earlier this year that it would begin withdrawing some of the trillions of dollars it has invested since the Recession began in 2008. Although the decision is a sign that the bank is confident in the continuation of economic growth, it also means that interest rates will continue to hike. At the recent policy meeting, central bank members decided to push the target range to 1.25 percent to 1.5 percent, raising the benchmark interest rate a quarter point. This means consumers’ credit card debt is becoming more and more expensive.

Below are three tips to help you reduce or eliminate your credit card interest before the Fed increases the rate again.

  1. Try a balance transfer from one credit card company to another. Typically, credit card companies will offer you competitive rates if you inquire about transferring a credit card balance. Companies often allow you to pay a low introductory rate for a specified number of months. Before completing a transfer, ask if there is a transfer fee, and make sure the transfer makes sense.
  2. Opt for a personal loan. In recent years, many consumers are taking out personal loans as an alternative to credit cards. Although the payments are typically higher, the loans have fixed terms of five years or less and force you to get out of debt much quicker. Another selling point of personal loans is that they have fixed interest rates, which means if the Federal Reserve raises interest rates, personal loan rates will not be affected.
  3. If all else fails, another alternative is calling your credit card company and simply asking for a lower rate. Your credit card company may not reduce your rate a significant amount, but every little bit helps in the long run.

If you have any questions on this topic or are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade Garcia McMaken has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade Garcia McMaken website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Related Resources:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nickclements/2017/12/04/3-strategies-to-deal-with-credit-card-debt-in-a-rising-rate-environment/2/#3e811eed1b19

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/13/fed-hikes-rates-by-a-quarter-point.html 

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/20/business/economy/fed-bond-buying.html

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

4 Tech Tools to Help you Get Out and Stay Out of Debt

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According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, household debt has reached almost $13 trillion as of September 30, 2017. If you are hoping to get a handle on your debt in 2018, here are a few tech tools to help you reach your goal.

  1. Make a Payoff Plan: Unbury.Me

Unbury.Me is a free online tool that allows users to create an account, list all of their debt and map out a payment plan to suit their needs. The app allows users to either use the “avalanche” method, attacking the highest interest rate debt first, then moving to the second highest and so on or the “snowball” method, which focuses on the lowest balance first.

  1. Attack Debt Subconsciously: Qoins

Qoins rounds each of your purchases to the nearest dollar, then applying that cash to your student loan or credit card debt. Nearly $1 million in spare change has been saved since the app launched in January 2017. To sign up, you log in and link your financial account to begin saving.

  1. Meet Payoff Goals Via Savings Goals: Digit

A great strategy for paying off debt is being able to do so without having to think about it. Digit is an app that analyzes your spending habits to gauge the right amount of money to auto-save for your goals. It only transfers an amount it thinks you won’t notice and the cash is moved from your checking account to an in-app savings account. You can also set a goal amount for a certain debt and once you have saved that amount, it will notify and congratulate you.

  1. Avoid Future Debt by Rethinking Credit: Debitize

If your goal is to pay off credit card debt, it is a good idea to put your plastic in a drawer and lock away the key until you have reached your goal. If you have paid off your credit card debt or you are hoping to avoid accruing more debt, Debitize is an app that will help you avoid more credit card debt. The app enables users to think of credit more concretely by automatically withdrawing the funds to cover any purchase you make immediately – then paying off the balance on your behalf within a day or two. Users end up with a credit card balance of zero each month.

Click here to read more on this story.

If you have any questions on this topic or are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade Garcia McMaken has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade Garcia McMaken website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Federal Trade Commission Bans Three Scammers from Posing as Debt Collectors

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A settlement has been reached with three defendants who allegedly posed as lawyers and falsely threatened to sue consumers, even have them arrested for failing to pay on debts they did not owe. The settlement resolves an FTC complaint filed in July 2017, alleging that the defendants told consumers they were attorneys or calling from a law firm and that a lawsuit had been filed or would soon be filed against them for an unpaid debt.  We originally wrote a blog on the topic, entitled: FTC Shuts Down Debt Collector for Allegedly Threatening Lawsuits.

The FTC alleged the defendants Hardco Holding Group LLC, S&H Financial Group Inc. and Daryl M. Hall (DBA- Alliance Law Group) threatened consumers with prison time and claimed police would show up at their home and arrest them if the debt was not paid.  The threats and harassment on the so called, “phantom debt” are all a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).

According to the settlement order, the defendants are banned from ever participating in debt collection activities, buying or selling consumer or commercial debt, and trading in consumer information related to a debt. They are also prohibited from making misrepresentations about any product or service, profiting from consumers’ personal information obtained from any debt collection activities, and failing to dispose of consumers’ information properly.  The order imposes a $702,059 judgment that will be partially suspended upon the surrender of certain assets.

Click here to read more on this story.

If you have any questions on this topic or are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade Garcia McMaken has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade Garcia McMaken website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Reasons to Delay Your Bankruptcy Filing

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Bankruptcy can be used as an effective tool to take back control of your financial future and get out from under insurmountable debt.  However, sometimes it is best to delay filing your bankruptcy case. Here are some reasons you should do so.

You recently took on additional debt.  If you took on additional debt right before filing, there is a chance that debt will not be discharged in your bankruptcy case.   If you took on the debt knowing you could not repay it or intended to file for bankruptcy, the debt could be considered fraudulent.  Certain debts can be exempt from a bankruptcy discharge.  These include:

  • Cash advances of at least $925 taken out within 70 days before filing bankruptcy;
  • Charges of $650 or more to any one creditor for luxury items made within 90 days before filing bankruptcy.

You recently sold, gave away or transferred property.  If you sold or gave away property two years before filing for bankruptcy, the trustee will scrutinize the transaction.  They do this to prevent the person who is filing for bankruptcy from putting the property in the hands of someone else.  These might be gifts or they may be transferred intentionally to get them out of the bankruptcy case (i.e. – fraudulent transfers).

You expect your income to decrease or your expenses to increase soon.  To qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your financial circumstances are applied to the Means Test.  This test compares your income and expenses against national and local norms to determine if you have the means to pay at least a portion of the debt.  The higher your income the more likely you are to have difficulty qualifying for the Means Test.   Sometimes depending on your financial circumstances and the timing, it might make sense to wait until the figures used to calculate the Means Test are most favorable.  It is important to work with a professional who has the skill and experience to evaluate all aspects of your financial situation and to build a strategy for your bankruptcy case that meets your specific needs.

If you have any questions on this topic or are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade Garcia McMaken has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade Garcia McMaken website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Related Resources:

https://www.thebalance.com/four-reasons-to-delay-filing-your-bankruptcy-case-316336

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Student Loans, Timothy Kingcade Posts

New House Bill Calls for Federal Student Loan Caps, End of Public Service Loan Forgiveness

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A new bill from House Republicans could end Public Service Loan Forgiveness for student loans.  The U.S. House of Representatives will consider proposed changes to the Higher Education Act, including limits on the amount of money students and parents can borrow in government student loan programs, and ending loan forgiveness programs for public interest employees.  Approximately a quarter of jobs in the U.S. economy are considered public interest positions.

The earliest someone could receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program was October 2017, and not a single person has reported receiving loan forgiveness through the program.

The proposal also suggests changes to student loans’ income-driven repayment plans. Currently, if borrowers make payments of between 10 and 15 percent of their discretionary incomes the remainder of their school loans will be forgiven after 20 or 25 years.

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) and Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce introduced the 542-page legislation known as the Promoting Real Opportunity, Success and Prosperity through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act. The PROSPER Act, if implemented, would have borrowers in income-driven repayment plans “pay 15 percent of discretionary incomes for as long as it took to cover the amount they would have paid under a 10-year standard repayment plan,” according to the Wall Street Journal.

Click here to read more on this story.

For borrowers who are struggling with student loan debt, relief options are available. Many student loan borrowers are unaware that they have rights and repayment options available to them, such as postponement of loan payments, reduction of payments or even a complete discharge of the debt. It is important you contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade Garcia McMaken, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade Garcia McMaken website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Related Resources:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2017/12/06/house-bill-student-loan-forgiveness/#1f25540b7990