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November 29, 2009

New Bankruptcy Law - Five Essential Things to Know

Filed under: Credit + Ratings @ 12:52 pm

Last April, Congress passed the Bankruptcy Abuse and Consumer Protection Act, the most sweeping reform of our nation’s bankruptcy laws in more than twenty-five years. Proponents of the bill argue that most consumers who file for bankruptcy do so simply because they do not wish to pay their bills. That is an arguable point, as studies show that most bankruptcy filers have suffered illness, injury or job loss. Regardless of the reasons, Congress has made the changes, and millions of Americans will be affected when the new law takes effect on October 15.

Here is a short list of the changes and how consumers will be affected.

  • Goodbye, Chapter 7 - Until now, most consumers have been permitted to file under Chapter 7 of the Federal bankruptcy code. Chapter 7 permits the court to wipe away most consumer debt, allowing the debtor to make a fresh start. The new law establishes a “means test.” Anyone with income that exceeds the median income for his or her state will have to file under the stricter Chapter 13 instead, which requires a repayment schedule of up to five years.
  • Attorney problems - The more complicated Chapter 13 filings will make it necessary for filers to hire an attorney. Most attorneys who practice bankruptcy law are already reporting dramatically increased business; some are even turning clients away. If you need an attorney, hire one now, as they are soon going to be very busy
  • More attorney problems - The law also leaves lawyers legally responsible for the accuracy of the information filed on their clients’ behalf. This has led most lawyers to increase their fees. Some, including those who do bankruptcy work on a pro bono, or free, basis, have decided to forego bankruptcy work altogether. In short, it will soon be more difficult and more expensive to hire an attorney.
  • Mandatory credit counseling - Congress has required that debtors obtain credit counseling from an approved agency within six months of filing for bankruptcy. As of now, this requirement is largely undefined, with rules, regulations, and qualifications for counselors still up in the air.
  • Expect to may more bills - Some obligations, such as student loans or taxes, must be paid in full even after a bankruptcy filing. The new law lengthens the list of debts that cannot be forgiven.
  • The new legislation, rightly or wrongly, makes it more difficult, more time consuming and more expensive for a debtor to file for bankruptcy. Consumers who are considering doing so should act now, as the regulations will soon become stricter. Bankruptcy should always be a last resort option, but if you cannot avoid it, you should act quickly.

    Charles Essmeier - EzineArticles Expert Author

    ©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to establishing credit, debt consolidation and credit counseling.

    June 11, 2009

    Converting SGLI Coverage to a Commercial Policy

    When becoming an active member of the United States military, one is eligible to receive Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI). This life insurance policy provides financial security for the family and dependents of a military service member in case of incidental death. The military recognizes the importance of providing security for a service members family, which is why it offers SGLI for a low monthly premium of about $30. Under the plan, declared recipients are eligible to receive up to $400,000 in damages.If one decides to separate from the military, Servicemember’s Group Life Insurance is no longer available. Military members are encouraged to either apply for Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) or a commercial policy. Military servants have one hundred twenty days to decide what plan to purchase. The conversion to a commercial policy is a simple process that requires three easy steps. A service member must first select an eligible company from them Participating Companies Listing. After a company is chosen, one should locate the local sales office associated with the selected company. Finally, it is vital that service member get in touch with an agent who is capable of assisting with the whole conversion process.Generally, military members elect to purchase VGLI coverage due to its convenience, affordability, and benefits. As stated earlier, a military service member has one hundred twenty days, which is referred to the SGLI extension period, to decide what route to take. The fact that the military allows members to choose what type of plan to purchase is a testament to the organizations flexibility. Without a doubt, military service members are concerned with the general well-being of their family and dependents, which is why it is vital that an appropriate life insurance policy is chosen.

    May 17, 2009

    Means Test for Chapter Seven Bankruptcy

    Filed under: Credit + Ratings, Finance News @ 12:02 am

    The new bankruptcy laws passed in 2005 created some new forms that must now be included in a bankruptcy petition, one of which is the bankruptcy means test for those filing chapter 7 bankruptcy. The means test is supposed to tell the court whether or not you have enough available income left after paying your necessary living expenses to pay at least some amount to your creditors in order to settle your debts, rather than wiping them out. You are required to complete this paperwork as well as the other changes that were governed like the pre-bankruptcy credit counseling and post-bankruptcy personal financial management courses.

    The bankruptcy means test consists of 57 questions about your income and expenses which are then compared to national and regional averages to determine if you make and spend more than most people in your area, as well as what your disposable income is or should be. If most of your debt is not primarily consumer debt, or you are a disabled veteran “the presumption does not arise”, and you do not have to complete the majority of the form. The “presumption” is a nice way of saying whether or not you may be trying to abuse the bankruptcy system. If the presumption does arise at the end of the means test you may be pushed to file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

    The second section will check your income. Your income is then compared to the average incomes of families in your area. If you have a higher income than the other families, you must keep filling out the means test, if it is less, then the presumption does not arise.

    In part five you will deduct standard expenses for your family based on regional numbers the government has declared as acceptable for your area and family size, including food, clothing, health care, living accommodations and utilities, transportation and other necessary expenses.

    In part six the deductions listed in part five are calculated and used to determine how much disposable income you have left over. The presumption does not arise if you have under $6575 a year leftover, the presumption does arise if you have more than $10,950, and if you have somewhere inbetween $6576 and $10,949 you must continue with the means test form which compares the amount of unsecured, non-priority debt you have with your disposable income.

    The bankruptcy means test is confusing, so consulting a bankruptcy attorney is always a good option before you file bankruptcy.

    March 14, 2009

    PM Gordon Brown Unveils New Rescue Project, Will This Save The United Kingdom Recession

    Filed under: Credit + Ratings @ 1:16 am

    The UK PM has announced a recent recovery plan to support the stability of the financial system, to re-launch the economy. The project contains an insurance scheme to protect the financial system from future toxic debts. The UK banks is going to pay for the insurance, full stop. While all this presages the daily cost of life would dive, deflation encourages saving and may reduce the British financial recovery. Exchange rates can fluctuate - stay ahead of the game with Foreign Currency Direct.

    House values kept to descend drastically, and the country’s greatest mortgage lender, Halifax, stating, a 16.2 per cent annual fall in the three months to December. Market prices have already fallen 0.2 from their 2007 peak and further falls are possible as authorizations for home mortgages are very low, as reported by bank data.

    The number of unemployment surged past one million in at the end of last year. climbing very fast since 1990 The credit crunch has created lots of occupations cuts in different markets, with forecasts of more than three million unemployed by 2010. Lots of High Street retails went bankrupt in the last weeks. Stores have been cutting retail prices to pay the total amount of debts.

    The pecuniary policy plans of the UK government are mainly focused on reinforcing the financial recession and do nothing for the sterling. Which means the Sterling will most likely continue to get weaker and weaker. Markets will witness the recover of the pound however forecasts for the GB pound is very pessimistic.

    Recent figures amongst analysts confirm the idea that the Monetary Policy Committee will cut interest rates to 1.25 points from the current 2 percent, taking the central bank interest rate to the lowest since 1694

    This means a lower return for the investors who then invest in other currencies, because of the decline of the pound.

    Policymakers have stated the central bank may eventually have to cut interest rates to nearly zero and resort for easy solutions, essentially printing more currency to push the crisis. This seems to tie in nicely with the government plan of spending their way out of the economic crisis, not exactly what majority of European countries attitude, which is a possible reason for the massive decline in Sterling compared to the Euro and US$ Dollar.

    March 3, 2009

    How a Debt Settlement Company Can Assist You

    Filed under: Credit + Ratings, Finance News @ 2:20 pm

    Using a debt settlement company to renovate bad credit may encourage lenders to give approval for higher credit limits in the future. This permits the individual to receive a high enough credit limit to manage any financial emergencies that may develop. People that have used a debt settlement company frequently qualify for credit loans with modest interest rates within a year of using the service. The individual also needs to demonstrate that they can be responsible with their finances. The debt settlement company expects you to be making your payments on time and to be following the advice they supply you with. If you make a real effort and stick with the rules, you will be debt free in no time.

    Having a debt settlement company mend bad credit for you has the ability to better numerous different areas in a persons life-time. A lot of these areas are not matters that would be readily thought of as being affected by a bad credit report or low credit score. People that are determined to repair their credit should talk to a debt settlement company. Once the operation has been started, it is really crucial that all of the steps are finished to mend their credit correctly. A debt settlement company can walk you along this procedure with ease.

    November 15, 2008

    Are you willing to purchase a stereo and call for 30000 euro

    Filed under: Credit + Ratings, Finance News @ 1:44 pm

    Analyze to see if the bank who is tending to give you a credit loan is right. You should be sassy today to examine if you have a bargain or if you don’t with the merchant bank that offers you a money loan.

    The Dutch translation says: Woon je in Druten of Voorst en heb je BKR codering. Lenen met zonder BKR registratie is nog nooit zo eenvoudig geweest. Koop een nieuwe woning met zonder bkr registratie lenen, 282996 euro is altijd mogelijk om te financieren. Van Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel tot Dalfsen, geld lenen met zonder BKR is hier geen enkel probleem.

    It makes no difference if you live in Bellingham Washington or in Mobile Alabama a secure online inspection will allay you often a lot of problems. Lots of of the banks wil show you a loan rate that is looking honorable but doesn’t feel advantageously or so after a period of time. A moneylender in Meridian Mississippi or so may have a total completely different actual interest rate for a 12500 dollar credit loan then a bank in Buffalo New York and that makes a huge clear difference in your monthly pay offs. 18.9 percent rate of interest may come along so upright but will it stay invariant after you’re going to pay for your bank loan. now you really need to check up on and cipher if you can have a bank loan at a serious percent rate. Now you can suss out rates quickly at websites and visit if there are other sneaky conditions you should be aware of.

    September 27, 2008

    Do you have plans to go out and buy a stereo and necessitate 17500 dollar

    Filed under: Credit + Ratings, Finance News @ 10:23 pm

    Now you can check rates quickly at websites and see to it if there are possible traps you should be aware of. You should be promising today to inspect if you have a bargain or if you don’t with the merchant bank that offers you a bank loan. It doesn’t matter if you live in Coon Rapids Minnesota or in Merced California a beneficial online investigation will salvage you often lots of incommode. Investigate to see if the moneylender who wants to give you a money loan is beneficial. That’s why now you need to check out and cypher if you can have a credit loan at a solid percent loan rate. A bank in Orem Utah or so may have a total different actual rate for a 25000 dollar deferred payment then a moneylender in Grapevine Texas and that makes a huge clear gap in your weekly pay offs.

    Translated in Ducth it says: Woon je in Leek of Winschoten en heb je BKR. Lenen met en BKR codering is nog nooit zo eenvoudig geweest. Haal snel een andere caravan met negatief bkr en toch geld lenen, 210030 euro is altijd mogelijk om te lenen. Van Venray tot Zwolle, financieren met zonder BKR registratie is altijd mogelijk.

    Many of the merchant banks wil show you a interest rate that is looking average but doesn’t feel comfortably or so after some time. 9.4 percent rate of interest may look so comely but will it stay ceaseless after you’re going to redeem your bank loan.

    August 26, 2008

    Get a new home with bkr loans, 483370 euro in 24 hours

    Filed under: Credit + Ratings, Finance News @ 5:48 am

    Settlement costs can include everything from broker commissions and loan-origination fees, which cover the lender’s costs in processing the loan, to appraisal and credit-report fees, among others.

    The translation says: Woon je in Schoonhoven of Langedijk en hebt u BKR verleden’ Lenen met en BKR codering is nog nooit zo eenvoudig geweest. Haal snel een andere auto met geld lenen zonder bkr toetsing, 144993 euro is altijd mogelijk om te lenen. Van Onderbanken tot Lemsterland, financieren met een BKR registratie is altijd mogelijk.

    Both banks and brokers have their strengths and weaknesses. Different lenders charge different fees. And of course, each loan and each borrower are different. In other words, the mortgage is a security for the loan that the lender makes to the borrower. It is a transfer of an interest in land, from the owner to the mortgage lender, on the condition that this interest will be returned to the owner of the real estate when the terms of the mortgage have been satisfied or performed.

    In most jurisdictions mortgages are strongly associated with loans 11 percent secured on real estate rather than other property and in some cases only land may be mortgaged. Although most mortgage experts say that rates 4 percent are pretty much the same wherever you go, give or take this tiny 4 percentage. Start with credibility. It’s not easy to know if the prices quoted by lenders are reliable. Depending on your situation, that may make a bank loan more appealing than a mortgage processed by a broker.

    Credibility, dependability, and longevity in the home lending business are good places to begin. See mortgage loan for residential mortgage lending, and commercial mortgage for lending against commercial property. Some will quote you precise, competitive rates 7 percent. Arranging a mortgage is seen as the standard method by which individuals and businesses can purchase residential and commercial real estate without the need to pay the full value immediately. Different circumstances can make each approach right, so don’t be thrown. But others will claim low rates to bring in customers or tell you that the rates 9 percent offered by competitors will change.

    So how do you find a lender or broker you can trust’ See which lenders are charging fees 6 percent and for how much. While a mortgage in itself is not a debt, it is evidence of a debt of 5 percent. Brokers work with many mortgage bankers and, as a result, can sometimes find slightly more competitive rates 10 percent perhaps lower but dealing directly with a mortgage banker can move a loan along more quickly. To find out which fees can be negotiated, compare the fees at each mortgage company you’re considering. Many of these fees are fixed but some can be negotiated.

    A mortgage is the pledging of a property to a lender as a security for a mortgage loan for 7 percent.

    July 25, 2008

    Go for a new house with bkr loans, 474682 euro in less than a week

    Filed under: Credit + Ratings, Finance News @ 1:30 am

    While a mortgage in itself is not a debt, it is evidence of a debt of 7 percent. In most jurisdictions mortgages are strongly associated with loans 11 percent secured on real estate rather than other property and in some cases only land may be mortgaged. Some will quote you precise, competitive rates 7 percent. See mortgage loan for residential mortgage lending, and commercial mortgage for lending against commercial property. Both banks and brokers have their strengths and weaknesses. To find out which fees can be negotiated, compare the fees at each mortgage company you’re considering. But others will claim low rates to bring in customers or tell you that the rates 5 percent offered by competitors will change.<P> Although most mortgage experts say that rates 3 percent are pretty much the same wherever you go, give or take this tiny 4 percentage. Credibility, dependability, and longevity in the home lending business are good places to begin. <P>Translated it says: Woon je in Bloemendaal of Sint-Oedenrode en heb je BKR notering’ Lenen met een BKR registratie is nog nooit zo eenvoudig geweest. Haal snel een andere caravan met <a href=”http://www.geld-en-lenen.com/goedkoopste-lening.html” title=”goedkoopste lening”>goedkoopste lening</a>, 484337 euro is gewoon mogelijk om te financieren. Van Ede tot Hulst, geld lenen met en BKR codering is altijd mogelijk.<P> It is a transfer of an interest in land, from the owner to the mortgage lender, on the condition that this interest will be returned to the owner of the real estate when the terms of the mortgage have been satisfied or performed.<P> Brokers work with many mortgage bankers and, as a result, can sometimes find slightly more competitive rates 9 percent perhaps lower but dealing directly with a mortgage banker can move a loan along more quickly. And of course, each loan and each borrower are different. Different lenders charge different fees. Arranging a mortgage is seen as the standard method by which individuals and businesses can purchase residential and commercial real estate without the need to pay the full value immediately. Many of these fees are fixed but some can be negotiated.<P> Different circumstances can make each approach right, so don’t be thrown. Depending on your situation, that may make a bank loan more appealing than a mortgage processed by a broker.<P> A mortgage is the pledging of a property to a lender as a security for a mortgage loan for 11 percent. In other words, the mortgage is a security for the loan that the lender makes to the borrower. So how do you find a lender or broker you can trust’ Settlement costs can include everything from broker commissions and loan-origination fees, which cover the lender’s costs in processing the loan, to appraisal and credit-report fees, among others. See which lenders are charging fees 8 percent and for how much. Start with credibility. It’s not easy to know if the prices quoted by lenders are reliable.