Tag: Credit

Credit Card Debt

Can You Inherit Credit Card Debt?

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Credit card debt continues to put a drain on household budgets. The average monthly credit card balance is up to $6,618, according to Experian. At the same time, the Federal Reserve reports that average interest rates on credit cards remain at 21.37%, with many card issuers charging rates around 30% and higher.

If this is something you’re struggling with, you may wonder what happens to this debt if you pass away.  Does a loved one inherit your credit card debt, or does it simply die with you?

Typically, the deceased person’s estate settles the debt. If the estate lacks the funds to pay it off, the remaining balance may go unpaid and not be passed on to surviving family members.

The family is not liable for the balance unless legally connected to the debt.  For example, if the person is a cosigner on the debt or it’s a joint credit card. Spouses in community property states (and domestic partners in some cases) could be responsible if the debt was taken out during the marriage.

There are many misconceptions about credit card debt and who is responsible for it when someone dies.  If a parent dies with credit card debt, the child inherits the debt is a common assumption.  This is false.  Unless the child was a cosigner or joint account holder.

If you are unsure who is legally responsible for a debt, it is important to consult with an experienced attorney.  If debt collectors are harassing you, remember that the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) protects you from threats, false claims and repeated calls.

RELATED RESOURCES:

What Happens to Debt After You Die? U.S. News & World Report

Can You Inherit Credit Card Debt? Experts Weigh in CBS News.com

Debt Relief

Consumer Debt by Gender: What’s the Difference?

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Despite attempts at financial equality, men on average earn more than women, which has an impact on personal finance. Women tend to be more cautious with money, when it comes to spending, saving, borrowing, and investing.

In contrast, men feel more social pressure to display wealth and status, going into debt, if necessary to do so.  Also feeling pressure to create financial stability as the breadwinner in their relationships.

On average, women are still responsible for the majority of household duties and child rearing responsibilities, which has a significant impact on their lifetime earning potential. Women also suffer more financial consequence from divorce.

Gender does not affect a person’s ability to manage money, build credit, use debt responsibility, or invest for the future. But external factors like societal pressures assigned to gender roles can have a financial impact.

Following decades of narrowing the gender wage gap, 2023 threw a curve ball. For the first time in 20 years, the gender pay gap widened significantly, according to the Annual Income in the United States Report from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Women who worked full-time were paid about 82.7 percent of a man’s salary in 2023, down from 84 percent in 2022. Full-time male workers made a median salary of $66,790, while full-time female workers made $55,240.  That’s a difference of $11,550 per year, a gap that only widens further for women of color, those with disabilities, and women working part-time.

Average consumer household debt in 2024

Experian compared debt balances among men and women and found that men carry more debt in all categories except student loans.

Studies also report women feeling more stressed by finances than men. A recent nationwide Bankrate study reported more than 2 in 5 women (or 46 percent) say money issues have negatively affected their mental health, prompting feelings of anxiety, depression, sleeplessness and stress. That number compares with 38 percent of men.

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If you have 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 Card Debt

Average American Household Has More Than $10,000 in Credit Card Debt

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As of the third quarter of 2024, the average American household credit card balance was about $10,757.

The personal-finance website WalletHub released a new credit card study, which found that consumers added $21 billion in debt during the third quarter of 2024.

Early results for the fourth quarter of the year show preliminary data for October at a record high for credit card debt.

The record-high credit card debt in October reflects a 3% year-over-year increase after inflation adjustments, driven by rising interest rates and holiday spending. While Q3 debt growth slowed compared to 2023, total debt remains high at $1.29 trillion.

With the holidays winding down, many Americans are expected to add more to their credit card balances before the end of the year.

As bankruptcy attorneys, we see credit card debt as one of the most common problems facing those with serious financial challenges.  It is not surprising with the high interest rates, unreasonable fees, harassing debt collection calls, penalties and never-ending minimum payments that do not even make a dent in your actual debt.

Filing for bankruptcy is a viable option for those struggling with insurmountable credit card debt. Chapter 7 is the fastest form of consumer bankruptcy and forgives most unsecured debts like credit card debt, medical bills, and personal loans.  There are certain qualifications a consumer must meet regarding income, assets, and expenses to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which is determined by the bankruptcy means test.

If you have 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.

SOURCE: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_408ef9cc-b429-11ef-8570-fb91e62992d2.html

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Credit Score

The Impact Bankruptcy Has On Applying for Loans and Credit Cards

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While not all bankruptcies cause a huge drop in a person’s credit score, it is possible a person’s score could rise after bankruptcy.

A consumer’s FICO score is one of the biggest determining factors in whether a person will receive approval for credit or financing. The FICO score will also help determine the interest rate a person receives on a credit card. Some lenders are willing to accept credit applications even with lower scores. However, if this happens, it is unlikely that the terms of the credit application will be favorable to the consumer.

The bankruptcy filing may or may not have a significant impact on the consumer’s credit score, depending on what the score was before the filing. The consumer’s payment history makes up approximately 35% of the person’s credit score. If the person had a poor payment history to begin with, the bankruptcy filing will not have as much of a noticeable impact on the score. If the person had an excellent credit score previously, the effect the bankruptcy will have on the credit score will be more significant.

Consumer News, Credit, Credit Card Debt

The Best Ways to Handle Your Credit During Inflation

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The cost of living has continued to rise throughout the first half of 2022, leaving many consumers struggling to make ends meet. It seems the cost of everything has skyrocketed, from groceries to gas. As a result, three in five American consumers say they are living paycheck to paycheck. Many of these individuals are relying on credit cards to pay for necessary expenses, but unfortunately, adding to their credit card debt only complicates financial problems.

Credit Card Debt, Debt Relief

Credit Card Debt Can Be Bad for Your Health, According to Recent Study.

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Having large amounts of credit card debt can not only stress you out, but according to a new study it can also be bad for your health. The high levels of stress associated with the debt can get so serious that it can adversely affect the person’s health, according to a study from CompareCards.com.

According to the report, fewer cardholders can pay their balances in full at the end of each month. Anything left on those balances roll over to the next month and are compounded even more by interest. Before long, those balances inch closer and closer to the maximum balance allowed. One in three consumers surveyed by WalletHub reported being fearful that they will max out their credit cards when making a large purchase. Most of those polled said they considered a large purchase was anything more than $100.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Credit Card Debt

Steps to Remove Judgments and Collections from your Credit Report

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Every consumer should review his or her credit report at least once a year to confirm that there are no inaccuracies.  Lenders look to a person’s credit score to determine whether he or she is a lending risk. The lower the score, the harder it will be for that person to obtain financing.  It can also affect the interest rate on the loan.

Certain actions, such as a judgment against the consumer or a collections action, can negatively impact a person’s credit score. However, if a consumer does have judgments or collections actions on his or her report, it is possible to have this information removed.

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.

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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, 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.

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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

Americans Borrow No Matter the Economy

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The Federal Reserve recently released data that indicated that American’s borrowing habits are excessive whether the economy is booming or hurting.  Over the past decade, credit card debt has gone from $1.02 trillion in 2008, down to $835 billion in 2011 and back up to $935.6 billion by the end of last year.

Americans between the ages of 18 and 65 have an average of $4,717 in credit card debt. The average interest rate is 15 percent, according to creditcards.com. Therefore, if a credit card user makes a minimum payment of $189 per month, it will take more than ten years to pay off a debt of $4,717. Ultimately, the debtor would pay a total amount of $22,869, a cost of $18,155 for a very small loan.

A study released by the Boston Fed examined American credit card debt and found that the biggest reason Americans have such high debt is due to the availability of credit.

The study also showed that only 35 percent of credit card users do not carry a balance. This means they pay off their bill every month and only use their cards for convenience. The other 65 percent of credit card users are “revolvers,” meaning they do not pay their balance in full so the debt revolves. Revolvers tend to see credit limit increases as an invitation to spend more.

Many credit card users are reeled in when companies offer free teaser years that come with as much as $600 worth of miles or hundreds of dollars in cash back as incentives to sign-up and spend. Studies show that credit card debt typically starts in a debtor’s 20’s. Often times the debtor is not earning very much at the time and the availability of funds through credit essentially amounts to extra wealth and reduces the need to save. Although the habit typically starts early in adult life, credit card debt follows most Americans into middle, even old age.

Keep in mind; there are incentives to breaking your credit card habits. According to the Federal Reserve, paying off your credit cards comes with a return that averages 14 percent. This means simply paying off your credit card debt is the best investment you can make.

Click here to read more on this story.

If you 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, 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 website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.