Tag: credit cards

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, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

U.S. Credit Card Debt Exceeds $1 Trillion for the First Time

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Consumer credit card debt in the United States has exceeded $1 trillion for the first time, according to a recent study by WalletHub.  The average U.S. household owes $8,600 on credit cards. Florida is in the top 5 states with the highest credit card debt burden, according to CreditCards.com.

Financial experts attribute this increase to consumer confidence.  In the fourth quarter of 2017 alone, consumers added $67.6 billion while the charge-off rate remained at historic lows.  Charge-off rate refers to the percentage of credit card users whose unpaid balances credit card companies are unable to collect.

Household indebtedness in the fourth-quarter rose to $13.15 trillion from $12.96 trillion in the third quarter, an increase of 1.5 percent. Mortgages accounted for the largest component of household debt, according to a quarterly report published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

In addition, the average credit score for U.S. consumers has declined.  It is now 675, just four points lower than the average in 2007, according to consumer credit reporting agency Experian.

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, 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.

 

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

New Data shows 43 Percent of Credit Card Holders Have More Than $15,000 in Debt

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According to the Federal Reserve, credit card debt is the highest it has ever been in the U.S. In December, American’s had a total of $1.029 trillion in credit card debt. This means the average household had $8,732 in credit card debt. A survey conducted by Student Loan Hero reported that 43 percent of credit card holders surveyed had more than $15,000 in credit card debt and 58 percent had at least $6,000 of credit card debt for more than a year.

The Federal Reserve also reported that the average interest rates on credit cards are approximately 14.99 percent, which makes it much more difficult for Americans to pay off their debt.

Carrying a consistent credit card balance is detrimental to your financial well-being. One option that is often overlooked by cardholders is getting a credit card consolidation loan. According to Student Loan Hero, only 52 percent of cardholders that have more than $6,000 in credit card debt have consolidated.

Below are three ways credit card consolidation loans may help you.

  1. They typically come with lower interest rates than credit cards do, meaning you are paying less in the long run.
  2. Installment loans set firm repayment plans, unlike credit card companies. This means you are more likely to pay off your debt when making your minimum payment each month.
  3. They combine your payments. This comes in handy if you have debts across multiple credit cards.

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, Foreclosures

Life After Bankruptcy: Getting a Credit Card Again

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If you have recently filed for bankruptcy, you may be wondering about the possibility of getting a new credit card. Before you apply for a credit card, it is important to make sure you have a stable job and the ability to pay your other bills such as rent and utilities.

If bad financial decisions led to your bankruptcy, you may want to avoid getting a credit card for a while. However, if unexpected events such as a divorce or a job loss led to your money problems, you may be able to handle a credit card again.

Below are three important things to consider before filling out a credit card application:

  1. Timing is everything. Your bankruptcy must be discharged before you can get a credit card. Lenders will deny a line of credit during a bankruptcy proceeding because the account can be included in the bankruptcy. It takes approximately three months for debts to be discharged after the initial filing of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy entails a three to five-year partial repayment plan and therefore takes much longer to be fully discharged.
  2. Weigh your options, good and bad. A recent bankruptcy will drag down your credit score for some time. As a result, you will likely receive credit card offerings from subprime lenders. Keep in mind that these credit cards typically come with higher interest rates and low limits. In addition, they typically require frequent fees that are much higher than most. A better option after a bankruptcy discharge is a secured credit card. This type of card is designed for consumers with bad or no credit. They are backed by a security you are required to put down. Secured cards have low limits and high interest rates but do not typically charge annual fees.
  3. Monitor your credit score. If you do get a secured card, do not spend more than 30 percent of the credit limit and pay off the balance every month. If you follow these two rules, your credit score should improve in time.

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

Beware of Credit Card Skimming Scams at Gas Stations

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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.

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, Student Loans, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Credit Card Use Increasing Among Consumers with Low Credit Scores

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According to the latest quarterly report on household debt, credit cards are making a comeback in a big way.  In the second quarter, total household debt increased by $35 billion to $12.3 trillion. The two driving factors: auto loans and credit cards.

While auto loans have been on a steady incline for the past six years, rising credit-card balances are a new development. After the 2007 Great Recession, households cut back on credit-card use until 2014. This was also in part to financial institutions strengthening credit requirements for risky borrowers.

Since that time, card balances have risen by about $70 billion. From 2008 to 2013, total household debts dropped by more than $1.5 trillion. However, first student loan and auto loan balances began to rise, and then mortgages and finally credit cards.

The report reveals that credit cards are returning among individuals with low credit or subprime credit scores below 660. Among people with credit scores between 620 and 660, the share that had a credit card increased to 58.8% in 2015 from a low of 54.3% in 2013. Among those with scores below 620, the number of people with a credit card increased to 50% from a low of 45.6% two years ago. Both figures for 2015 are the highest since 2008.

These figures were generated from the New York Fed’s Consumer Credit Panel that analyzed millions of consumer credit reports from Equifax.

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.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Household Credit Card Debt Still on the Rise

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Financial experts believe the average household credit card debt will reach the “tipping point” of financial sustainability by the end of 2016. During the first quarter of 2016, Americans paid down approximately $26.8 billion in credit card debt; however, this is the lowest amount paid down in one quarter since 2008. By the end of 2015, credit card debt had reached $917.7 billion, up $71 billion from 2014. Analysts predict that national credit card debt will exceed $1 trillion dollars by the end of 2016.

A study conducted by CardHub found that the average American household’s credit card balance was more than $7,500. The amount is approximately $831 less than what the study considers the “tipping point” of financial sustainability.

Another study conducted by Dun & Bradstreet found that on average, people spend 12 to 18 percent more when they use a credit card, rather than cash.

The number of cards the average American uses is also on the rise. In 2015, data from Experian revealed that the average number of cards borrowers had was 2.24 cards per person, up from 2.18 cards per person in 2014.

One of the factors financial experts attribute to the rise in credit card debt is the lack of emergency funds. Many Americans are using credit cards for unexpected expenses without reducing their expenses, rather than using credit cards as a substitute for cash.

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.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Miami Ranked As One of the Worst Major U.S. Cities for Managing Money

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CreditCards.com recently ranked the nation’s cities in terms of money management by comparing credit scores and an index of U.S. Census Bureau data including: average income, education level, unemployment rate and the population ages of the 25 largest cities. According to the report, Miami ranked as one of the worst major cities in the country for managing their money. In fact, Miami came in 22nd. Tampa ranked 23rd on the list with Washington, D.C. at 24th and Baltimore at 25th. Los Angeles was ranked as the best city in the nation at money management, followed by Minneapolis as second and New York as third.

In order to rank the cities, the report focused on which city residents were paying their bills on time, keeping low credit card balances and not “over-applying” for credit, according to CreditCards.com senior industry analyst Matt Schulz. The original theory was that the older, richer and more educated residents would have higher credit scores, however, the data proved that factors such as cost of living, divorce rate and mobility level greatly impacted scores.

For example, although the Washington D.C. residents brought home a larger annual income than most cities, they also carried significantly higher credit card balances than other cities.

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.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Americans Underreport Credit Card Debt by $415 Billion

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A recent study conducted by NerdWallet showed that consumers are underreporting their credit card debt. In December 2013, lenders reported approximately $683 billion in outstanding credit card debt, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. However, Americans only reported having $268 billion in credit card debt.

The $415 billion discrepancy in reported credit card debt was far greater than any other type of debt, including student loans and mortgage debt. The reasoning is likely due to the stigma surrounding credit card debt, according to NerdWallet.

According to the study, 70 percent of Americans think credit card debt has a more negative stigma attached to it than any other type of debt. Mortgage and student loan debt is often considered “good” debt and credit card debt is considered “bad” debt. As a result, consumers may be underreporting credit card debt because they are ashamed of the amount of credit card debt they have. The survey also found that 35 percent of Americans would be embarrassed to tell others they have credit card debt, significantly more than any other type of debt.

How to pay off your credit card debt

Credit cards typically have the highest interest rates among other types of debt, therefore it is important to pay them off as quickly as possible. The first thing you need to do is figure out exactly how much you owe. You can do this by logging into your credit card account’s website. While you are logged in, note the balance, interest rate, minimum payment and due date.

Once you have determined how much you owe with each credit card account, make the account with the highest interest rate your top priority. Pay any extra that you can each month on that account. Once it is paid off, move on to the account with the second highest interest rate, and continue paying off each account by the highest interest rates.

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, 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

What is “good debt” and how to make it work for you?

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The word “debt” predominately carries a negative connotation.  However, some debts are good for you as all financing is not created equal.  So what is good debt?  Good debt is “any debt that offers a return on investment.” For example, a mortgage is often considered good debt. Other examples of good debt include: federal student loans (which offer greater protections for borrowers and come with the potential return of a higher salary and improved job prospects), and low interest lines of credit taken in order to invest in stocks or retirement funds.

Bad debt is any credit that you are taking out and using without a clear-cut plan of paying it back.  Think of using a high-interest credit card to fund a shopping trip or taking out a payday loan to cover extra holiday spending.

Most credit score models reward consumers for having a diverse portfolio of accounts and revolving debt, like credit cards, depending on how much of the credit you are going to use and pay off each month.   Making on-time payments and keeping your balances low on these cards is important when it comes to keeping a healthy credit score.

So how can consumers avoid taking on bad debt?  First, remember that you do not have to take every credit card that comes your way.  Ask yourself if you will be able to pay off the debt.  If you do not have a plan to pay off the debt, it is probably a bad 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.