student loan debt

1,500 Former Students Will Receive Student Loan Debt Forgiveness by the Department of Education

At least 1,500 former students from two closed for-profit schools will have their student loan debt forgiven following an investigation from the Congressional committee, as well as a class-action lawsuit.

The schools involved are the Art Institute of Colorado and the Illinois Institute of Art. These two schools followed several other for-profit college chains involved in similar scandals. The fallout began with Corinthian Colleges filing for bankruptcy in 2015 and ITT Educational Services closing one year later. Another for-profit institution, the Education Corporation of America closed in late 2018, leaving students who were attending the institutions with nowhere to go and thousands of dollars in student loan debt.

Bankruptcy Law, Debt Relief, Medical Debt

How the Insured Fall into Medical Bankruptcy

There was a time when having health insurance was enough to assure someone that his or her medical expenses would be adequately covered and that he or she would not fall into debt due to one major medical crisis. However, today’s high deductible insurance plans and skyrocketing medical costs have made it impossible to stay out of medical debt. It is for this reason that so many American consumers are falling into what is called “medical bankruptcy” or bankruptcy due to medical debt.

According to a study published by the American Journal of Public Health, 530,000 bankruptcies are filed annually due to medical debt. Even with coverage offered through the Affordable Care Act, consumers are still struggling to afford their medical bills. A lot of this has to do with the insurance coverage options and healthcare plans offered.

Bankruptcy Law

Can Filing for Bankruptcy Save My Home?

When someone is facing the possibility of bankruptcy, the thought of losing his or her home is a very real and frightening one. However, the protections of the bankruptcy automatic stay can help the filer protect his or her home through a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 filing. The key to this protection rests heavily on the type of bankruptcy filing and the filer’s financial situation. The bankruptcy automatic stay also offers filers who are facing a multitude of collection calls relief from their creditors, protect them from lawsuits, wage garnishmentrepossession, and losing valuable property.

As soon as the bankruptcy petition is filed, the automatic stay goes into effect. After this point, creditors and debt collectors are legally barred from attempting to collect on any debt owed by the filer.

Credit Card Debt, Debt Relief

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

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

Steps for Filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Florida

If someone is considering filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the path that person needs to take may not always be clear. While everyone’s situation differs in some respects, certain steps must be taken when it comes to proceeding with Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Review Your Financial Situation

Before proceeding, it is always recommended that the filer sit down with an experienced bankruptcy attorney and go over what types of debt the person has, as well as what property would be protected by Florida’s bankruptcy exemptions.

Debt Relief, student loan debt, Student Loans

Senior Education Official Resigns, Calls for Massive Student Loan Debt Forgiveness

A senior official appointed by U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has resigned, declaring the student loan system to be “fundamentally broken” and calling for the forgiveness of billions of dollars of student loan debt.

The official, A. Wayne Johnson, was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer of the Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid. This office manages the country’s outstanding student loan debt, which stands at an estimated $1.6 trillion. During his tenure, Johnson worked in a role specifically dealing with managing how student loans are serviced.

Debt Relief, student loan debt, Student Loans

Recent Court Decision Sheds Light on the Deceptive Practices of Student Loan Service Providers

A recent Seventh Circuit court ruling is providing hope to many student loan borrowers who are finding themselves in a difficult financial situation due to the heavy burden of their debt. The Seventh Circuit has ruled that a student loan servicer may be liable for damages caused as a result of their promises to advise student loan borrowers on how to handle their financial situations, directing them into plans that only benefit the lenders and hurt borrowers in the long run.

The case at the center of it all is Nelson v. Great Lakes Higher Education,  which was a case brought by student borrower, Nicole Nelson. Nelson paid for her college education through federal student loans, which she began repaying in 2009. However, she soon found herself in a tough situation when her income dropped due to a job change two years later.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Credit Card Debt, Debt Relief

Credit Card Debt and the Effects It Can Have on Your Health

Credit card debt can be a necessary evil, especially when it comes to establishing one’s credit score. However, the problems arise when that credit card balance gets out of hand to the point where the cardholder can no longer pay down the balance. The stress of mounting credit card debt can also affect a person’s health, according to a study from CompareCards.com.

The study shows that credit card debt is taking its toll on the health and well-being of many American consumers. 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 allotted credit limit. One in three consumers surveyed by WalletHub reported being fearful that they will max out their credit cards.

Credit Card Debt, Debt Relief

Credit Card Repayment Tips To Pay Off Debt – FAST

If you are struggling with credit card debt, you are not alone. The average American household has around $8,161 in revolving debt, approximately $6,577 of which is credit card debt. There are ways to get out of credit card debt.  Here are some quick tips and repayment methods.

Repayment Methods

Several different repayment methods are commonly used and are successful in paying down credit card debt quickly. The first of these is the debt avalanche method, whereby the cardholder focuses on paying off the credit card with the highest interest rate first, then focusing on the card with the next highest rate after that one is paid and so on. The next method is the debt snowball method where the cardholder pays off the smallest debt first. It is hoped that this first debt paid off will motivate the person to continue making payments as he or she continues to pay off debt. Adjust your budget so that you can focus your efforts on paying down debt through one of these methods, this situation is ideal.