Tag: Kingcade

student loan debt

Biden’s New Plan for Student Loan Forgiveness

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President Biden has a ‘Plan B’ lined up for student loan forgiveness, which looks significantly different from the first plan.

His original plan, which was recently blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court, would have cancelled up to $20,000 in student loan debt for tens of millions of borrowers. Following the ruling, the President created a Student Loan Debt Relief Committee to create an alternate plan.

The President’s original plan impacted nearly 40 million American borrowers, but the new plan will be narrower in reach. The original, which covered more than 90 percent of federal student borrowers, will now cover just 10 percent.

Credit Card Debt

Can Credit Card Debt Be Written Off?

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According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the amount of credit card debt consumers face has reached a record high with consumers owing more than $1 trillion to credit card companies. It comes as no surprise that many people are looking for ways to escape their debt, if at all possible, which leads one to the question: is it possible to get credit card debt written off?

The answer is yes, but it is not a simple yes. The process can involve negotiations with credit card companies or debt collection agencies or even legal proceedings.

Credit Card Debt

Ways to Avoid Christmas Credit Card Debt

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It can be easy to fall deeper into debt during the holiday season. Those celebrating the holidays are four times more likely to expect to spend the most money on gifts for family and friends (80%) compared to dining out (21%), social events (20%), travel (17%) and holiday decorations (16%) this year.

According to a survey by investment bank D.A. Davidson, 40 percent of American consumers are starting the holiday season with more credit card debt than they did a year ago, and 48 percent of them will end the holiday with even more debt. The fact that average credit card interest rates are at an all-time high doesn’t help.

Bankruptcy Trends, Business Bankruptcy, Consumer Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy Filings Increase by 13 Percent Despite Historic Low Level of Filings

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According to statistics from the Administrative Offices of the U.S. Courts, the total number of bankruptcy filings increased by 13 percent in the 12 months ending on September 30, 2023. Business bankruptcies during this time increased by approximately 30 percent.

Annual bankruptcy filings were 433,650 as of September 30, 2023, as compared to the 383,810 in September 30, 2022.

Factors contributing to the uptick in filings include rising interest rates and inflation.

Bankruptcy Law, Consumer Bankruptcy

Should You Hire a Bankruptcy Attorney?

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Bankruptcy can be a stressful and complicated process, but it doesn’t have to be something you do on your own. While consumers can pursue a bankruptcy case on their own, or file bankruptcy pro se, without the assistance of an attorney, it is not always wise to do so. In fact, the benefits of hiring an attorney far outweigh the negatives in the long run.

According to the American Bankruptcy Institute, less than 50 percent of filers who pursued a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case without the assistance of an attorney had their debts discharged. Alternatively, 94 percent of filers represented by an attorney had their debts discharged.

Credit Card Debt

How to Respond If You Are Sued for Credit Card Debt

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Most consumers utilize a credit card at some point in their lives, and many of them carry credit card debt from month-to-month. The amount of credit card debt carried by consumers is growing. It is estimated that around 23.5 percent of all Americans struggle with some type of debt in collections status, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and much of this debt involves credit card debt. If a consumer is on the receiving end of a collections lawsuit for credit card debt, it is important to know how to respond.

A collections lawsuit can vary, depending on the jurisdiction, but, the steps are all fairly uniform. The first thing to expect is the consumer will receive a complaint filed in civil court, along with a summons. This summons should contain a number of important pieces of information including who is suing the consumer, whether any additional co-defendants are a part of the lawsuit, how much money the creditor is attempting to seek, which can include the balance owed, along with interest fees and legal fees, the date of the hearing, and how to file a formal answer or response to the complaint.

Bankruptcy Law

What Debts Are Not Discharged in Bankruptcy?

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Bankruptcy offers people who are overwhelmed by debt an opportunity for a financial fresh start, either through liquidation (Chapter 7 bankruptcy) or reorganization (Chapter 13 bankruptcy). However, not all debts are eligible for a bankruptcy discharge. In our latest blog, we delve into what kind of debts are not alleviated when you file for bankruptcy, and what kind of debts can be more difficult to discharge.

Child Support and Alimony

Child support and alimony are debts that will stay with the filer even after a bankruptcy discharge is issued.  The reason for this classification as nondischargeable debts has to do with public policy. These debts involve obligations to support dependents, and the court views these as important, which is why they must be fulfilled to provide for the well-being of the filer’s dependents.

Medical Debt

Can a Bankruptcy Case Be Filed Over Medical Bills?

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The cost of healthcare has become a growing problem for many. One that has pushed patients to the brink of financial crisis. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, spending on healthcare in the U.S. has reached a record $4.1 trillion. The good news is bankruptcy can be used as an effective tool to eliminate medical bills, giving the consumer a fresh financial start.

According to figures from the 2021 U.S. Census, approximately one in every five households, or roughly 19 percent of all households, were not able to pay for medical care when it was needed. Many of these bills go unpaid and result in collections actions against the consumer. In fact, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), in 2022, whenever debt collectors contacted consumers, medical debt was the main reason for this communication.

Credit Card Debt

Credit Card Study Reports These States Have the Highest Credit Card Debt Increases

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Credit card spending among American consumers has hit a high of $1.2 trillion with $116 billion of this balance added during 2023 alone. Some areas of the country are adding to this debt balance more than others with California, Texas, and Florida being at the top of the list.

WalletHub recently conducted a study of all 50 states, using data reported from TransUnion and the Federal Reserve, adjusted for inflation. They found that certain areas of the country have been contributing significantly to the current national credit card debt while others have been contributing significantly less.

Consumer News, Credit Card Debt

Credit Card and Car Loan Defaults Hit 10-Year High

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A number of consumers are defaulting on their credit cards and car loans to the point where the number of defaults reported are the highest seen since the financial crisis. With inflation not nearing an end any time soon and interest rates continuing to rise, the number of consumers defaulting is expected to grow.

This information comes from data provided by the credit agency, Equifax. The agency found that credit card delinquencies have hit 3.8 percent while car loan defaults have hit 3.6 percent. These figures are the highest ones seen in more than 10 years.