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Has anyone used a credit counseling service to consolidate credit cards?

Posted By: Credit cards are out of control!! on 2006-03-06
In Reply to:

What was your experience?  Was it worth it?  Which ones are credible?


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Anyone have any GOOD experiences with a credit counseling service/

If so who were they and what did they do?


 


 


great website for credit and credit cards, interest rates
great website
Credit counseling
Yes, it does go on your credit report. I explained this to my banker that I had not had a problem before in paying my bills, just that I had too many. My banker reviewed my payment history and still approved the loans I requested. Each case is individual, and going through credit counseling may or may not affect your ability to get loans in the future.
For those who have used credit counseling services, what was your experience?


Some info on credit counseling vs bankruptcy
This is just a heads up for those that were questioning about your choices.   I was doing some research on a cancellation of debt form - 1099-C that I am doing for my ex-husband as he never paid me the $9720 he owed me and found on a web page that some of the people that are going through Credit Counseling now are getting 1099-C for some canellation of the debt from credit card companies.  If they forgive this debt, then you have to claim it on your income tax as "INCOME"  so think about this in your situation.  If you are going through a counseling agency ask them if any of your accounts can give you a 1099-C for anything that they forgive you and the only way that they can't is through Bankruptcy.  So that is another consideration when wondering which way to go.   As for me, I have a signed promissory note signed and it is not a verbal agreement, was not in the divorce and he just never paid.  So I get to put on 12 years of interest at 10% plus late fees and he will end up paying the IRS instead of me but I get a tax deduction of $3000 per year until the 21K is used up.  So that is fine, he doesn't have to pay me and I will cancel out his debt, but Uncle Sam is not as forgiving as me.  But I wanted everyone to be aware of this as it tempting to pay a credit card company only 50% of what you owe them but thing of putting that other 50% on your income tax forms.   Patti
credit cards
Don't charge unless you can pay the piper.
credit cards (sm)
Yes, this is what I am referring to.  I have been receiving these notices in the mail lately basically stating that the credit card companies can do whatever they want, i.e., raising interest rates, miminum payments, etc.  This was attached onto the new bankruptcy bill that was passed in October.  These changes will take effect I believe in Jan 2006.  I am getting rid of all of mine.  I have a good FICO score of 765 and have opted out of these new changes with the intent of paying off these cards.  Hope everyone else is paying attention.  Happy Thanksgiving!!
Then, do not get any more credit cards,
bank in this country, go to the doctor at all, have insurance, buy a Dell computer, or do any customer service calling. Boycott .. look around they are everywhere .. ;-)
which credit cards have the lowest interest now?
Looking to consolidate some bills, looking for the credit card with lowest interest
Credit cards come in handy during emergencies
I know a few people who lived off their credit cards when their savings ran out and they had no income for short periods of time.

Also, other investors might purchase your home. If you want to sell it fast, price it to sell, knock the profit down to 20-25 G.
Medical trans versus credit cards, what I had happen
I have a credit card for a department store who has a bank (a big famous band, by the way collect for them). I always pay online, but I have had trouble with this bank in the past. I couldn't get online to pay so my payment was late. They had someone call me from overseas, he would not tell me where but wanted to collect my payment over the phone (I had already by them paid through my bank bill payer). He wanted my address, telephohne #(which he had, he called me), my banking information to collect the payment). I said no way, how do I even know you work for this bank and I can hardly understand you and dohn't want my personal information overseas. He stated, "what do you care, I don't even live in the united States." Duh, what did that mean.

So, what I am saying is, he already had my information, he just wanted me to verify it and he probably did work for the bank but I really resented them sending my financial information overseas and have somebody in another country want to collect a payment out of my bank account. The bank did not have my account # though.

But.... what is happening is like with these kids taking guns to school, we get so desensitized by TV with so many cops and robbers, knowing creditors will be calling if we forget or don't make a payment, we just blurt it out. I don't anymore just because of knowing what can happen. This guy could have cleared out my bank account and what legal means would the bank have to prosecute someone overseas? Fire him? I won't even give this bank my account # because they want to charge 10.00 over the phone but it is free on line so I refuse to pay them over the phone, so they do this.

Big business can pay for the lobbyists on Capitol Hill, big, big bucks to get legislature for them to be able to do business overseas and save tons of money. Our president is one of the biggest helpers to this. I'll bet his records don't go overseas.
CREDIT, everyone is living on credit, and from what I see
with a rather, 'might as well, we have no future' kind of attitude.

our credit cards are maxed out, we are buying gas, food (which I swore I would never do, how stupid - all that interest for food, yuck!), paying bills, and we would not have survived without them. now they are maxed out, and we are not making one bit more than we were.

glad things must be going so well for you, but look around in your own neighborhood.

the gap is closing between rich and poor. like it is in somalia, for example.

call us doomsdayers, but I call it protecting our own interests.

why is it the only people who are supposed to care about themselves are the rich?
No credit card is a good credit card.
Just kidding. I'd suggest not using credit cards to pay debts. It'll only dig you in deeper. Look into a signature loan or putting a lien against a vehicle or house. Lower interest rate, pay off sooner.
They will put this on your credit

Please get them to explain to you that this does affect your credit in a similar way that a bankruptcy does.  After having this explained to me, I filed a Chapter 7 and was done with the problem...no payments to anyone (other than the attorney). 


I was able to immediately (upon discharge 3 months later) get secured credit cards and purchased a new vehicle after 12 months.  Best move I ever made.


credit
www.creditboard.com

Cars and homes can be purchased 1 day out of discharge.
thanks, but the credit goes to......
the--ahem--offshore MT who actually transcribed this. I don't think it's an urban myth.

getting credit for CCs
I guess really I don't care what the client wants, necessarily, I just want to know if we get paid for those Keystrokes if we do have to add physician names and addresses to the CCs.
Give yourself some credit.
nm
consumer credit
i don't know about them, but CAmbridge is a good one. They pay the creditors on time and are always in follow up with you. They do, however, charge a fee but it's not too great of one.
Consumer Credit

I talked with them and there was a HIGH fee for them handling my payments.   Too high for me.  I talked to the credit cards directly and worked with them.  I think my payment to CC would have been about $70 a month.  Also through them, the interest rate was lower, but the payment was higher as they do a percentage of the balance.  But now that the credit cards are doing higher minimums, more people are going to be in this situation.   I did go throught Trinity Credit Counseling and my fee to them was only $25.  So you need to check around.


Just my two cents worth.


 


 


Credit not way great...sm
I have a pre-pay credit card; it's a Visa. The bank account, well, we don't have one, but I could give my mother-in-law's; she let us deposit in her account before, no problem. This is such a great idea. I hope this all works out. Thanks for the info!
Credit card? I'm not sure either.
NM
Credit checks

I totally agree.  One's credit is personal bussiness and should not be a deciding factor of one's employment.  I had several jobs fall through because of credit problems that I did not cause.  My Identity was stolen some 15 years ago and I also had a child abducted.  I have spent the last 10 years searching for both, my child and my life.  I can live without my life, however without my girl I am finding each and every passing day harder and harder to live.   MY credit score is now in the upper 600's (took 6 years to fix) which is not great but heading in the right way.


So to all you EMPLOYER'S, LET ONE WITHOUT SIN THROW THE FIRST STONE


credit reports...

So true, it is across the board just about. My daughter applied at a dept store yesterday and had to agree to have one pulled...and she's only barely 16!


I can see it in one way, but just isn't fair in so many more ways...same with insurance rates being higher because of a poor credit rating. Just another way to *get us*...!


Credit consolidation
I just finished 5 long years in a debt management program.  I just wanted to let anyone know if they are in debt and don't know where to turn to try careonecredit.com.  It has been great and I would have never been able to do it without them.  When I started it seemed like there would be no end, now the day is here and I'm debt free.  It just really feels so good.
Credit Check
I have never had a credit check done in my experience in applying for a hospital job, so I would not worry.
That's horrible. An MT should get credit
for the finished product - that is what you are responsible for - and what  you should be paid for - anything less is crappola.
Credit ratings
They are probably going by your credit rating. If your credit rating is good they will put your name on the mailing list. You might want to call Citibank and ask them to take your name off the list so you won't continue to get offers.
You do not get any credit for the signature
line, patient demographics, carbon copy lines, etc. Some of this info may not take a lot of effort on your part, but it still will take a bit of input for which you will not be paid. These saves lines add up at the end of the day, thus saving the hospital tons of money. It makes you wonder what will be cut next to save a buck?
Geez, at least give her credit for trying. At least, sm
if didn't work out and she had to go inhouse, at least she could say she tried. No harm in that, at least that is my opinion.
Are you asking if your line count credit is
"a fact of life" for 3rd shift? I doubt seriously any company credits lines by the "shift"...it is probably by time completed/uploaded. The new day doesn't begin until 12:01 a.m., so work completed before 12:01 a.m. is on the previous day. Makes perfect sense.

Now, if the question is that you are still awake and is that a fact of life for 3rd shifters?! Hahaha I cannot work 3rd shift. WAY to hard on the body. The equivalent of smoking a pack a day in cardiovascular risk factors!

My hat's off to you for doing it!
RE: Consumer Credit Corp.
Are they the same as Consumer Credit Counseling Services? You might want to check with this service in your city. I used CCCS many years ago, and they were very helpful. They were very strict with budgeting, but they explained everything before I agreed to their requirements. I also attended classes when I could. They also have a toll-free number: 1-866-331-2227. Hope this helps.
How do you rent a car without credit card?
I only use my debit card now.  However, how do you rent a rental car without a credit card?
Actually, you can put a block on your credit report that
NO credit card companies solicit you at all. Look up the three credit reporting agencies online and see what their websites say. Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. I don't get any at all except from American Express to my old business name.

As for the automated phone systems, I just push zero a bunch of times until I get a human. Impatient, I am!
If you've been denied credit within the last
30 days you can get free credit scores for yourself. Also, if you are on any state or federal assistance program, you are entitled to one free report a year from each of the 3 reporting agencies.
Line of credit or FACTORING
I found your post very interesting and appreciate you took some time to respond. I am interested in finding out about the term "factoring" and the company you referred to as "PRN." Could you give some more info on this?
Agree to credit check.
I have seen several applications where you had to agree to a credit check. 
Credit Card Consulidation
These offers for credit consolidation sound good until you read the fine print. Basically, you are taking out a loan for the amount of your debt. If you miss a payment or even are one day late, you can end up with huge, huge interest charges added to your bill. I thik a lot of people go bankrupt falling for this scam.
get a credit card just for your IC expenses
it will keep all your expenses in one place and you won't need to keep receipts, just the credit card statements. Other than that, track mileage, though to be frank most people will just claim an average mileage and then create a mileage journal if audited. Also if you will take the home office deduction, you can claim percentage of heating, etc. but easy enough to do that. Might be worth your while to consult with a CPA if you take the IC job, and then the first year that you do your taxes. He can explain everything you need and then you can take it from there. Just one or two more forms to fill out, nothing earth-shattering.
A credit card separates
personal purchases from business purchases and simplifies bookkeeping. No need to keep multiple receipts, just credit card bills. You need to HOLD money in 2006 to pay tax bill FOR 2006 when due in April 2007. At that time, the IRS will send you a notice that your underpayment is too great and they would like you to file quarterly.   Then, as said, you only have to pay 100% of what you paid for 2006, divided into 4 quarterly payments, across 2007 in order not to get a fine, even if you make lots more or lots less. Come April 15, you settle up the difference again.
They have NEVER done credit checks. I have worked
with them for going on 8 years. I know this as fact. They do a background check on anybody but if you knew what you were talking about or if you had applied, you would know what kind of background check this is and it is not a full background check.
link for credit to that post
http://www.wchstv.com/gmarecipes/eggplantparmigian.shtml
Credit accts pulled
This is not just happening with transcription- it is across the board. Just heard a consumer advocate here in town speaking about that yesterday, not on our end but just general public. The thought of employers is that if you cannot be responsible in your financial life, that your job will be the same. This advocatet was against it. Transcriptionists are not being picked out as a single group, lots more people at same place.
ONE-TIME EXCISE TAX CREDIT
Tax time is almost upon us (especially those of us who are ICs).  There is a one-time excise tax credit that you can take if you have had a land-line telephone line in your home.  This tax was created to tax toll calls and was rated by the distance of the call and the time spent on the call.  However, when flat-fee telephone services sprang up - this tax was challenged.  So, through a lot of red tape, the IRS has decided to allow a tax credit since this tax is no longer valid after 08/2006.  It ranges between $30 and $60 depending on your situation (how many people live in your home, single or married, etc.), but everyone is eligible - you do not have to itemize to get this credit.  Moreover, if you have all of your telephone bills from 2003 until 08/2006 you can take the actual amount of the tax as a credit using a different form.  I believe it is to be taken on line 71 if you are filing a 1040, but check with an accountant or call the IRS and they will tell you.  The IRS giving something back for a change.
Go to your bank or credit union and they can help
you set it up.   What you claim depends on how you setup the account.  You can claim $$ this year provided it is paid in by 4/15 and get taxed when you take out, or you can put in after taxes and not get taxed when taking out. 
I do give her credit for that - she came a long way. (sm)
I know she does a lot of good for a lot of people.  I just think somewhere along the line she lost touch with "real" people.  I guess that's bound to happen, though.  I don't have a problem with the school in Africa, she can do what she wants with her "own" money.  I do think, though that a lot of times she takes credit for things she didn't really do.  Maybe that goes with the territory too, or maybe people really don't care. 
Is there a free online counseling service?

My daughter, who is 33, is married with 1 child - every time something goes wrong in her marriage or job, she calls me and I'm supposed to solve all her problems.  I have asked her repeatedly to go to a counselor, but usually when she calls, it is in the evening.  By the next day or Monday, the problem has gone away temporarily and then she doesn't get the help she needs again. 


Does anybody know if online counseling is available that is free, other than this message board ?   I guess I'm thinking of someone with an actual degree? 


Consumer Credit Corp. ? Anyone have any info? (sm)

I seem to have some high balances on a couple of credit cards and am curious as to whether their claim for negotiating a lower interest rate is valid.  It would certainly help me pay these off quickly. 


They claim they negotiate these lower rates, set you a payment schedule, disperse the money as agreed upon to the creditors and there is no charge to you.  I am sorry, but I am a bit dubious.  Their web site shows BBB logo on the bottom, that does make me feel a little better about it.


Any input appreciated.  Am NOT looking for a free ride, just checking out my options so please no flaming.


 


Oh, not this discussion again. I haven't had a credit card
account in over 10 years now, and I do just fine.  That includes reserving hotel rooms and rental cars, buying plane tickets.  I live on a cash basis within my means.  Nobody needs a credit card.
In addition to your credit card receipt you should

get a printout of your payment and if they don't offer it, ask for it.   Be sure to check right away that they are showing you paid and if you have a receipt your payment was put in the system, which should eliminate this issue in the future. 


Billing an insurance company will give the insurance company a good laugh and will probably create further problems. 


New credit card interest rates (sm)

Wondering if those of us on this board have noticed that credit card companies will be increasing their interest rates along with the minimum payment due soon.  How will this affect some people who can barely make the minimum payments now.  Any insight greatly appreciated.