credit card debt Archives - Page 20 of 24

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

How to Tackle Long Term Credit Card Debt

Posted on February 2, 2017by Admin

It takes 13 years to pay off a $5,000 credit card bill, if you only pay the minimum each month. Florida is in the top 5 states with the highest credit card burden, according to a recent study from CreditCards.com. The study also sheds light on the effects high credit card debt has on U.S. household finances.

By allocating at least 15% of gross monthly income toward credit card debt, the typical Florida consumer’s payoff time drops to just 18 months and costs $678 in interest, in the above scenario.

Here are some other proven ways to help tackle long-term credit card debt.

Be careful how you spend that bonus check. Seasonal commissions and bonus checks can provide an added sense of confidence when it comes to spending. Not a good thing, if you are struggling to pay down credit card debt. Break this extra income up into three parts: debt reduction, major purchase and savings. Remember: paying off a large portion of credit card debt can save you thousands in interest.

Consolidate. If you have multiple unsecured loans that you would like to have lumped into one payment, debt consolidation may benefit you. This option gives you the opportunity to save hundreds of dollars with a lower interest rate and you can combine all of your payments into a single monthly payment.

Cut your budget. One of the best ways to pay down your debt is to find savings elsewhere. Cut down on your grocery bill, cancel monthly membership fees you may not be using as much as you thought you would, etc.

Define your goals. Do you want to reduce your debt or be completely debt-free? Set timelines for yourself and how much you need to pay to meet those goals each month.

Prioritize. Focus on paying off the highest-interest debt, first. This is your biggest financial drain. Another idea is the “snowball method,” which essentially means paying off the debt with the smallest balance first, continuing to the debt with the next lowest balance, etc. This strategy allows you to see immediate results in paying down debt, and builds confidence and momentum to keep you on track to pay down the rest of the debt.

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 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

Related Resources:

https://www.thestreet.com/story/13937063/1/how-to-tackle-the-high-costs-of-long-term-credit-card-debt.html

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

FTC Cracks Down on Dishonest Payday Lenders

Posted on January 30, 2017by Admin

The FTC has been targeting fraudulent payday lending companies, headquartered in Missouri and Kansas, with consumer settlements reaching as high as $1.266 billion. The FTC recently announced charges against Joel Jerome Tucker, and his companies, SQ Capital LLC, JT Holding Inc., and HPD LLC, for selling portfolios made up of phony payday loans.

The loans listed in the portfolios named fake lenders and debtors, including their social security and bank account numbers, and led to collection activities against consumers who had not taken out loans, according to the FTC.

In another case, a settlement was reached between the FTC and payday lenders, Tim Coppinger and Ted Rowland, and their companies.

Under the terms of the agreement, the lenders paid nearly $1 million with the threat of substantially greater judgments (up to $32 million) should they fail to abide by the terms of the settlement agreement. The fraudulent activity included debiting money from the accounts of people who never requested loans, but for whom the payday lender had obtained personal information. They would then charge interest and fees on the unauthorized loans.

Click here to read more on this story.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

The U.S. States that Struggle the Most with Credit Card Debt

Posted on January 4, 2017by Admin

When it comes to managing debt, the Sun Belt states are struggling more than others: Florida, Georgia, Texas and New Mexico have the heaviest credit card debt burdens in the nation, according to CreditCards.com.

The Southern states struggled more with low incomes than high debts. For example, Florida’s average credit card debt per bank cardholder ranks 18 among 50 states, but its median income ranks 41. It would take a typical Florida cardholder nearly 13 years to pay off the state’s average credit card debt of $5,603 and they would pay more than $3,600 in interest.

Here are the states with the highest amount of credit card debt burdens, ranked by the number of months it would take to pay off the debt if 15 percent of their gross monthly income went towards payments.

Florida

Average credit card balance: $5,603

Median earnings: $28,381

Months to pay off: 18

Interest to pay off: $678

Texas

Average credit card balance: $6,009

Median earnings: $31,038

Months to pay off: 18

Interest to pay off: $712

Georgia

Average credit card balance: $5,953

Median earnings: $30,284

Months to pay off: 18

Interest to pay off: $716

New Mexico

Average credit card balance: $5,615

Median earnings: $26,244

Months to pay off: 20

Interest to pay off: $743

Alaska

Average credit card balance: $7,552

Median earnings: $35,552

Months to pay off: 20

Interest to pay off: $992

Related Resources:

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/22/the-us-states-that-carry-the-heaviest-card-debt-burdens.html

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Tips to Avoid Credit Card Debt this Holiday

Posted on November 11, 2016by Admin

The holiday season is one of the busiest and most expensive times of the year for consumers. Sometimes it is easier to just swipe a credit card at the register and deal with the bills after the holidays. However, this approach can make for an unpleasant start to the New Year.

Here are some important tips to avoid going into credit card debt this holiday season.

Plan your holiday shopping list. Plan your gift purchases in advance and limit the cost by only purchasing items from the designated list and not adding extras.
Space out your purchases. Space your purchases out over the coming weeks. You will have more time to find the best deals and not get stuck paying last minute high priced mark-ups.
Secret Santa. Gift exchanges are a great way to cut costs on what seems like an endless list of purchases. Have family and friends choose a name out of a hat, and then buy a gift for the person selected.
Set a price limit. Gifts, décor and party hosting are all part of the fun of the holiday season! But remember to limit your spending to a specific dollar amount so you do not go overboard.
Shop online. If you are planning to make the most of your gift purchases online, wait until Free Shipping Day. This year it falls on Dec. 16, 2016, when all participating online retailers promise to deliver your gifts by Christmas Eve.
Never pay full price. Avoid paying full retail price whenever possible. Follow your favorite store on social media, sign up to receive their email blasts as they will often share exclusive discounts and coupons with followers. Sign up for price alerts and use shopping comparison apps to ensure you never overpay for any items.

At Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. we want you to shop smart this holiday season! 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.

Related Resources:

http://www.popsugar.com/career/How-Can-I-Avoid-Credit-Card-Debt-Over-Holidays-42656636

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Woman Wins $83 Million in Lawsuit Against Debt Collector

Posted on November 8, 2016by Admin

A Kansas City woman won $83 million in a lawsuit she filed against a debt collector for illegal debt collection practices for a $1,000 credit card bill. The Missouri jury found the collection agency, Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC, guilty of “malicious prosecution.”

The agency reportedly violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, for which it will pay $250,000 in damages. Maria Guadalupe Mejia was also awarded $82,990,000 for malicious prosecution over a credit card debt that did not belong to her.

PRA Group Inc., which owns Portfolio Recovery Associates, sent a statement about the verdict to Credit.com. “This outlandish verdict defies all common sense. We hope and expect the judge will set aside this inappropriate award, and we plan to file motions to make that request formally in the near term. Any fair reading of the facts of this case makes plain that a verdict of this size is not justice by any means, and cannot stand,” spokesman Michael McKeon wrote.

In 2013 Portfolio Recovery sued Mejia over credit card debt that belonged to a man in Kansas City, Kansas, with a similar name. The agency, which is one of the nation’s largest debt buyers, attempted to collect on the debt for over a year after Mejia first received notice of the lawsuit.

Click here to read more on the 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.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Credit Card Debt Approaches Post Recession Levels

Posted on October 26, 2016by Admin

According to the Household Debt and Credit report released by the Federal Reserve Bank, total household debt balances grew slowly throughout the second quarter of this year. As of June 30, 2016, total household debt had reached $12.29 trillion, up $35 billion from the first quarter of 2016.

At the same time, the nation’s cumulative credit card balance reached $729 billion, which is up $17 billion from the first quarter. While still below its peak of $866 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008, economists say that the numbers are on track to reach pre-recession levels of credit card debt around the second quarter of 2017. However, economists also say that conditions might change and previous numbers do not necessarily mean we will enter into another recession.

While credit card debt is up, credit card usage is actually down substantially from previous highs. Credit card usage peaked in 2008 at 68 percent of borrowers, then swiftly declined to 59 percent during the recession due to banks reactively and proactively closing accounts.

Click here to read more on this story.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Beware of Credit Card Skimming Scams at Gas Stations

Posted on October 25, 2016by Admin

Consumer protection officials are warning consumers about a new form of high-tech theft that can affect all credit and debt card users. Scammers are using devices known as ‘skimmers’ at gas pumps to steal account information from debit and credit cards that are swiped. These devices are also commonly found at ATMs.

According to Mississippi state Attorney General, Jim Hood, the devices are difficult to detect and come in two forms: internal or external. The external devices fit over the actual card readers at the pumps. The internal devices are typically communication cables connected to a device that records data from the cards.

“These devices may go undetected for weeks, all the while gathering sensitive account information from unsuspecting consumers,” Hood said. “Consumers need to call their financial institutions immediately if they see any unauthorized activity on their accounts, and watch closely for signs of tampering when using gas pumps or ATMs.”

Authorities offer the following tips to avoid becoming a victim of card skimming:

Pick pumps close to the entrance of the gas station or convenience store. Skimmers usually target pumps that are not near the entrance.
Pay with cash.
If you’re using a debit card, choose the option to process the payment as credit so scammers do not have access to your PIN.
Lightly wiggle the card reader on the pump. External skimmers might feel loose and come off.
Ask gas stations and convenience stores what type of anti-skimming measures they have adopted.

According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, more than 250 skimmers were confiscated from gas pumps between July 2015 and July 2016. Approximately 100 consumers’ card numbers were stolen from each device and $1,000 stolen from each consumer.

Click here to read more on this story.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

5 Times you should Never Use a Credit Card

Posted on August 29, 2016by Admin

Using a credit card responsibly is an excellent way to boost your credit score, build your credit history, track spending, even take advantage of cash-back and other reward programs. However, if you are unable to pay your bill off every month the high interest rates will cost you.

Here are five times you may want to put the credit card away and opt for another method of payment:

Paying for a BIG expense– Moving to a new city, remodeling your home or going on a vacation are all purchases you will want to save up for ahead of time. Using more than a third of your available credit on a card can have a negative effect on your credit score.

To consolidate credit card debt– If you are trying to consolidate all of your consumer debts into one payment, the best option depends on your credit score, how much debt you have and, most importantly, your ability to pay down the debt. If you cannot reasonably pay off your consumer debt in five years, most experts advise debt reorganization or bankruptcy. If your credit score is average, you can tap into your home equity or take a loan against your retirement account or life insurance policy. However, the consequences of defaulting on these loans come with severe penalties.

To fund emergencies– In an emergency situation, a credit card should be your last resort. If you do not have an emergency fund, start one today. Budget to have the money automatically transferred from your checking account into a savings account- even if it is only $50 a month. This can add up over a year.

To pay for your wedding– Do not start your married life in debt. Taking out a personal loan to help pay for a portion of the wedding expenses is a smarter option because these come with fixed interest rates, making it easier for the payments to be factored into your monthly budget. Depending on your credit, these can come with lower interest rates and allow you to pay overtime.

To pay your taxes– Avoid using a credit card to pay your taxes. It is better to take from savings or utilize the IRS installment plan option to avoid paying a fee on top of your tax bill. Vendors that the IRS authorizes to accept card payments charge a convenience fee of 1.87% to 2.25% of the amount you owe. E-filing software companies charge even higher rates for credit card payments.

Related Resources:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2016/08/20/5-times-you-shouldnt-use-credit-card/88945872/

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

The South has the highest rates of personal bankruptcy filings in the country

Posted on August 25, 2016by Admin

Personal bankruptcy filings fell to levels not seen since before the Great Recession of 2007, according the American Bankruptcy Institute. However, this is not the case for some parts of the country. Recent federal data from U.S. courts reveals the median bankruptcy rate among the 587 counties examined was 224 filings per 100,000 residents. Among the 50 states and Washington, D.C., the median bankruptcy rate was 226 filings per 100,000 residents.

Six of the 10 states and eight of the 10 counties with the highest personal bankruptcy filings were in the South. Many of the areas had lower to median annual incomes. Eight of the 10 states with the highest rates of bankruptcy filings had annual household incomes lower than the 2014 U.S. median of $53,657.

Another downside, states with the highest bankruptcy rates offer the least amount of protections for consumers. For example, Alabama and Kentucky, allow debt collectors to seize nearly everything a debtor owns, according to the National Consumer Law Center.

These are the states with the highest rates of personal bankruptcy filings:

Tennessee, 553 bankruptcy filings per 100,000 residents

Alabama, 529 bankruptcy filings per 100,000 residents

Georgia, 483 bankruptcy filings per 100,000 residents

Illinois, 432 bankruptcy filings per 100,000 residents

Utah, 392 bankruptcy filings per 100,000 residents

Indiana, 387 bankruptcy filings per 100,000 residents

Mississippi, 361 bankruptcy filings per 100,000 residents

Kentucky, 345 bankruptcy filings per 100,000 residents

Arkansas, 344 bankruptcy filings per 100,000 residents

Ohio, 322 bankruptcy filings per 100,000 residents

While seeking relief through bankruptcy may not have been your first choice, it may be your best financial strategy, when compared to the alternatives of wage garnishment, lawsuits and endless collection calls. In addition, depending on the type of bankruptcy filing, there is no more overwhelming debt. The majority of personal bankruptcy filings are for Chapter 7, which erases most unsecured debts, such as your credit card debt and medical bills.

Related Resources:

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Saving-Money/2016/0816/The-South-has-the-highest-bankruptcy-rates-in-the-country

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Florida Bar, Timothy Kingcade Posts

8 Things Debt Collectors Won’t Tell You

Posted on August 8, 2016by Admin

Debt collectors often use extreme and dishonest measures to try to collect on debts. However, there are a number of things that they are not likely to tell you, and knowing these things can make all the difference in resolving your debts.

Below are eight things debt collectors are not telling you:

Some of their threats carry no weight. Oftentimes, debt collectors use empty threats such as, “We are going to inform your creditor that you are refusing to pay this bill.” However, your creditor already knows you are not paying the bill, which is why the bill was sent to a collection agency.
If you tell them not to call during work hours, they must comply. According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, debt collectors cannot continue to call you while you are at work, if you tell them not to. However, the 2011 Annual Report to Congress about the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act complaints proved that 17,008 complaints were filed in 2010 related to debt collection calls to consumers at work. This number is up from 11,991 complaints the previous year.
They cannot talk about your debts to others. Debt collectors are only allowed to discuss your debt with you, a co-signer, your spouse or your attorney. According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, debt collectors can only contact “third parties” to locate you.
Your debt may be stale. Each state has its own statute of limitations that makes debt of certain ages not collectible. However, some debt collectors continue to target borrowers to collect on old debts.
Debt collectors are under pressure to collect, just like you are to pay. Most collectors work on sliding scale commissions. This means that the quicker they collect money from debtors, the higher their commission.
They cannot go after your possessions unless they sue you. Debt collectors must sue you before they can go after your property, including money in your bank account. Even threatening to sue you to collect a debt may be illegal if the collector has no intention of doing so.
Paying off this debt will not boost your credit ratings. When a debt is sent to collections, it will remain on your credit report for seven and a half years from the date you fell behind with the original creditor. Collectors will often tell you they will “update your credit report to paid in full status.” However, the change will not likely affect your credit report.
You probably do not have to pay your deceased relative’s debt. You are generally not responsible for the debts of relatives who have died unless you were a co-signer of the debt or the debt belonged to your spouse who died.

Click here to read more on this story.