Newbie here: Debt Relief Help PLEASE!!!
Date: Tue, 12/19/2006 - 18:36
Welcome to the Forums Robert :D First take a deep breath! We ha
Welcome to the Forums Robert :D First take a deep breath! We have been, or are where you are. With the help of this forum and people here, I have learned how to become more responsible, make better choices and working on becoming debt free. Bankruptcy should be your last option. Since you are registered, somone from your area will contact you with options you may have, such as consolidation and settlement. With consolidation, all your unsecured debts can be put into one monthly payment with much lower interest. You can discuss this with the credit counselor and decide which, if any, would benefit you. If you have any questions, ask, we are here to support and guide you through the process..KAren
Okay---take a deep breath....and relax. You have taken the first
Okay---take a deep breath....and relax. You have taken the first step toward fixing your financial situation. A debt counselor will be calling you as a result of registering as a member on here. Have your statements, etc. ready to get the most out of your call. First off---don't beat yourself up about the past. Everyone makes mistakes. Second---discuss with the debt counselor about filing bankruptcy and if it would be in your best interest. It is usually a last resort, but sometimes it is the only option left.
I think if you can talk to the counselor and get the financial stuff arranged and figured out, then you will be able to deal with your court date for your tickets. You can probably arrange some type of payment deal with them. But, it would be wise to get your other financial stuff worked out first.
In the meantime, welcome to the forum. Make sure you ask lots of questions and read through the different postings. You will find lots of useful information. I hope this was helpful.
Hi there Robert - welcome to the forums! I think your first
Hi there Robert - welcome to the forums!
I think your first step should definitely be to sit down and get a handle on who you owe, and how much. Obtain the free copies of your credit report from all three credit bureaus. (Go to http://www.firstgov.gov/ and follow the consumer link to the free credit report area - you will be able to print them off from there by providing some key personal info.) Sit down with those reports and see how badly your credit has been damaged. Keep all this information at hand so you can discuss it with the debt counselor when they call.
Take care of your tickets, so that you don't lose your privelege to drive, thus making it difficult to keep a job. Don't stress about them. Going to court over the tickets is the first step in getting them cleared up. Hopefully they are nothing bad enough to cause you too much grief. If they are minor traffic infractions, you should be able to get off with a fine or fines and get on with your life. You will pay higher insurance rates for a time due to the tickets - that's the unfortunate part - but what's done is done, and now it's time to face it and clear it up.
Bankruptcy definitely needs to be your last option. If anyone tells you it's a quick, easy fix to your problem, they're not being completely truthful with you. It's a very expensive, very involved process - the days of the fast, cheap bankruptcy filing are long gone - and if you think your credit is bad now, filing for bankruptcy will only make it worse, and stays on your record for the next 7 years.
It sounds like you know you've made mistakes in the past - that's a start on learning from your mistakes and not making them again...which means in a few years, you could be not only debt free, but well on the way to having the life you've wanted for so long. This situation may seem hopeless right now, but trust me, many of us have been in your shoes - some of us not quite as deep in debt as you are now, and some, believe it or not, even deeper than you are. The situation is temporary, correctable, and completely preventable in the future.
We're here to help - please feel free to post any other questions you may have!
Welcome Robert! I don't want to echo all the others here, but
Welcome Robert!
I don't want to echo all the others here, but I agree with them. :)
Ask any questions you have. One thing that you will need to do is get EVERYTHING together that you owe..I like to make a spreadsheet so I can see everything in one place with the amounts that I owe. But whatever method you are most comfortable with.
Congratulations on your job! I'm guessing you're in sales? I'm in sales as well. Do you have a guaranteed salary? That is what you're going to have to depend on when you make your budget. Don't overdo it.
Robert - since you registered with the site, a debt counselor wi
Robert - since you registered with the site, a debt counselor will be contacting you within a few days. If you would like to get started right away, however, you can review the ranking chart of companies here:
http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/ranking-chart/
Follow the links through to your state (go to United States, then locate your state in the list, which will provide a list of counselors in your state). Give them your entire financial picture, do not leave anything out, no matter how embarrassed you might be about it. They can only help if you give them the total picture.
Best wishes to you, and keep us posted on your progress!
Robert--Don't forget to log in before you post! You actually ca
Robert--Don't forget to log in before you post! You actually can earn money by collecting points! You get 1 cent for each point...A maximum of 20 points per post, except for in the Pub folder...Every other forum is a paid one--It adds up quickly. :) You can use it to help pay off your debts, or anything you want. :)
Someone will be calling you shortly. Have your stuff together. :)
Thanks again
Oh yea and I also have 2 payday loans, one for $450 and the other for $1200. I am just worried and feel like there is no way out of this. I feel like I may be stuck in a hole I cannot get out of. Sleep is something I haven't had in about 4 months. Hopefully I can find a solution to all this stress soon.
Ther is a way out of it, it just takes some time. Are you pdls i
Ther is a way out of it, it just takes some time. Are you pdls internet or storefront? If they are store front, you do need to try to make some arrangements with them, explain your situation, and maybe they will work with you. Somone from your are will contact you soon. Good Luck..Karen