Archives

Another credit reporting agency? Who is Innovis?

You know the “Big Three” credit reporting agencies of Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Have you ever wondered if there was another one? Well, you might not be surprised to find there are other minor companies who have your information. One, in particular, has been referred to as the “fourth” major agency, and you may have never known of its existence. Its name is Innovis. Continue reading

Receiving student loans with no cosigner

It’s pretty much a given; if you’re going to college, you’ll need some assistance in paying for it. There are plenty of grants, loans, and scholarships you can apply for when preparing for your higher education, which means there will also be plenty of paperwork to fill out. To fill out the paperwork for each loan, you might be wondering if you need a cosigner. Some lenders, especially those giving private student loans, will look at your credit score to determine how much you get. PLUS loans require your parent or guardian to cosign. If you’re trying to find a student loan that does not require a cosigner, there are two major ones: the Stafford Loan and the Perkins Loan. Continue reading

Debt negotiation letters for out of reach debt payments

Debt negotiation involves a lot of communication with your creditors and an arbitrator, if you have chosen to seek one. Along with phone calls, you might also be writing many letters, and you want to give your messages as clearly as possible. The most common types of letters you will be writing are requesting an alternative payment plan from your creditor, an offer or counter-offer for debt settlement, and acceptance of a verbal offer from your arbitrator. I will give examples of how to write all three. Continue reading

Debt management companies in Maryland

If you are in the state of Maryland and you are looking for debt management companies who can help you with debt, you have many choices. Here are some of the companies I have found who can help you out. Continue reading

Debt consolidation vs. bankruptcy: which is the better solution?

Debt consolidation or bankruptcy; which is the better solution to your debt problems? Personally, I would go with debt consolidation because of less detriment to my credit score, but different things suit different people. There may come a time where these are your two best options, and you should have all things considered before deciding which is the right choice for your situation. Continue reading

How to handle hospital bills

It’s a fact that hospital bills are expensive. There isn’t really anything you can do to change that, and most people expect a high cost for a medical procedure. I mean, would you have more trust in a doctor charging $500 for LASIK eye surgery or one charging $50? No doubt a trip to the hospital will cost quite a bit, but there are numerous things you need to look at before paying the bill. Continue reading

How do I consolidate my student loans?

Consolidating your student loans makes repayment much simpler. Instead of looking at multiple accounts with different interest rates, you’re handling just one. The loan’s term might be lengthened, meaning you’ll be paying more interest in the long run. However, you may be eligible for a tax deduction after having paid a certain amount of interest on the loan, so this may be another positive of consolidation. Once you decide on consolidating your student loans, the question becomes how to do so. Continue reading

Defining an installment loan

If you like structure and you don’t have the entire amount of money to buy something, you might be interested in getting an installment loan. You might be able to handle an installment loan better than a payday loan because of a payment schedule that is set up when you get the loan. Continue reading

The credit card bubble

Buying something now and paying for it later may have seemed like a revolutionary idea when the credit card was first introduced. Now, though, it has grown into one huge mess. The recent housing bubble burst as a result of people living in homes they couldn’t afford. The looming credit card bubble is growing larger because people are living lifestyles they can’t afford. Continue reading

A debt agreement affirms your right to repay under new terms

A debt agreement is just that: an agreement between you and your creditors to pay back your debt. A debt agreement sounds just like a debt settlement, and you’re not wrong in thinking that. While the final result of a settlement is most often a lump-sum payment, a debt agreement allows you the option of a monthly payment plan. In both situations, the amount of debt you have to pay should be lower than the original amount of debt. Continue reading