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Banks Investigated for Violating Bankruptcy Law by Keeping Old Debt on Your Credit Report

Bank of America

The whole purpose of bankruptcy is to get you a much-needed financial fresh start. It's a serious step to take and not one to be taken lightly. Once you make that leap, the law protects you and promises you a clean slate on eligible debts ...

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Beware Companies Promising Student Loan Relief

Student loan help

Student loan debt now averages nearly $30,000 per borrower. For some, their debt is less than this but, for many others, it's much more than this median amount. No matter how much you owe in college debt, if it's more than you can afford, you're ...

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Celebrity Bankruptcy: Real Housewives of New Jersey Jacqueline Laurita's Messy Finances and Possible Fraud

RHONJ Jacqueline Laurita

Love them or hate them, the Real Housewives franchise are hit shows. The Real Housewives of New Jersey show, though, has spawned two very controversial celebrity bankruptcy cases – that of Teresa Giudice and now Jacqueline Laurita. We've written here before about Giudice's bankruptcy case ...

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5 Ways to Not Let Your Overwhelming Debt Ruin the Holiday Season

Christmas gifts

Being in overwhelming debt is never fun but it can be even more stressful around the holidays when you feel obligated to give gifts to friends, when kids expect a list of toys and there are holiday parties and meals to prepare and all of ...

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Bankruptcy Court Lets Illinois Woman Keep $10,000 Bible Against Trustee Wishes

Old Bible

One of the major concerns of most people considering bankruptcy is what will happen to their stuff. We get this question from clients all the time. Most normal people who have standard assets – a home with a modest amount of equity, a reasonable car ...

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5 Tips to Help Seniors Targeted by Debt Collectors

Senior citizen

The watchdog agency, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), reports that shady or illegal debt collection tactics are their top complaint category and one of the groups most affected by bad debt collecting behavior is seniors. Now, more than ever, seniors are carrying increasing debt loads ...

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Why Debt Settlement Plans Usually Fail and Can Actually Hurt Consumers

Debt relief

Ever see those commercials on TV promising to get you debt-free for less than you owe without filing bankruptcy? These money miracle ads are promoting debt settlement firms and while they sound great (who doesn't want to pay almost nothing on their debt?), they usually ...

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How a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Can Help You Get Rid of a Tax Lien

Death and taxes

Debt is bad enough but debt owed to the IRS can be downright terrifying. The IRS isn't one to call you on the phone and make threats – they just send letters detailing all the powers they have to take your money. And one of ...

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Rich People Have Money Problems Too – See How Much You Have in Common with the Other Half

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon

When you see celebrities on the cover of magazines while standing in the checkout line at your grocery store, you may think they've got it all - fame, looks, money – and have no problems. But that's just the glossy face they put on for ...

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4 Ways to Rebuild Your Credit After Bankruptcy

Four things

There's no denying that filing bankruptcy will lower your credit score, but for those behind on their bills, taking the hit should allow you to recover faster financially and begin rebuilding your credit. Continuing to drown in debt you can't afford will see your credit ...

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