What the Credit Card Companies Know That Keeps Them in Business

Just look at it, tucked away ever so neatly in the folds of your wallet. That little 3 3/8 X 2 1/8 inch glossy credit card looks oh so innocent as it shimmers and gleams in the light, waiting for its next day of action!

But the credit card company who issued you this seemingly harmless card are far from naïve. In fact, they know exactly what they are doing.

It’s no coincidence that according to the Federal Reserve’s latest survey 46.2% of American families are holding credit card debt[1] and are now in search of debt relief. Credit card companies have made a multi-billion dollar industry out of knowing how consumers think and by predicting the average consumer’s habits. Here are a few things that banks know that credit card consumers are sometimes in the dark about:

- Possibilities for Problems in the Economy. Many credit card companies have entire teams dedicated to researching the economy and predicting possible economic issues that would cause consumers to use their credit cards more frequently. It is no coincidence that at a time when many people believe that the American economy has hit a recession due to increases in the price of oil, food, and other everyday necessities, the credit card industry is banking more and more interest due to an increase in the daily use of credit cards.

- 0% APR Offers Lure You to Spend More, Thus Owe More. A few years back, credit card companies began sending out numerous 0% APR offers to convince credit card holders at other banks to transfer their balances. While many people took advantage of these 0% offers to save money and pay off debt, they may not have taken into account the fact that by helping to free up money on their credit card accounts, these credit card companies were actually creating somewhat of a trap. If a consumer who is trying to pay off credit cards decides to use the new 0% APR credit card after a certain period of time (even if the 0% balance transfer APR is in effect for the life of the debt), the interest rate on that new purchase balance can shoot up to 18% or more, and is paid off last. That means that 10, 15, or 30 years down the line when the 0% balance is finally paid off, the amount you purchased on the card at 18% has been accruing in interest for all of that time as well. You may find yourself in the same boat as before!

- “Rewarding” You With a Higher Credit Limit Keeps You Hooked. Credit card companies frequently “reward” good customers who pay their bill in full faithfully every month by increasing their credit card limits. But in actuality, they know that as long as your limit continues to rise, you are likely to use the card even more. At some point in that pattern of behavior, you will reach a peak where the credit card company will no longer raise the limit and is profiting from the higher finance charges on your credit card bills. It’s all about predicting the consumer’s behavior.

- Your Past History Predicts the Future. Another bit of invaluable knowledge that credit card companies benefit from is your full credit card history. They have a detailed history of your past purchasing habits, balances, and what you have done in certain situations that have arisen in your financial history. What you have done in the past is a good predictor of your future actions. For example, maybe you started a business and used your credit card to purchase $1,000 in business equipment one month. Now your creditor knows that you are more likely to use your card for both personal and business purposes. In another example, if a creditor sees that you have a penchant for expensive designer clothing, they will not only assume that you will purchase more in the future, but also send you special offers in the mail for designer clothing from its advertising partners.

- Consumers Don’t Always Read the Fine Print. Creditors also bet on the belief that most credit card consumers are too lazy to read the fine print of their credit card bills and agreements. If a credit card customer continues to pay the minimum payment, not knowing what the APR is, and not knowing how payments are applied, they can become trapped in a long cycle where they will pay off credit cards for an extended period of time. Meanwhile, the creditor will continue to reap the benefits of the consumer’s lack of knowledge for a long time to come.

Life Happens

The number one thing that credit card companies know way in advance that we consumers don’t always realize is that life happens. Unexpected bills arise, cars need to get fixed, and medical and dental procedures have to be performed. In many of these situations, consumers have found themselves so deep in financial distress that their automatic answer to unforeseen costs is to start swiping. And so continues the saga of American consumers who are trapped by excessive credit card bills and savvy credit card companies that make money off of the desperation and unawareness of consumers.

If you have found yourself in a situation where you have fallen victim to some of these traps and have accumulated a significant amount debt due to life happening, it’s important that you know there is hope, and yes there is a solution to your debt problem. Debt relief programs like the one you’ll find at NetDebt.com have helped thousands of consumers break out of their “debt trances.”

If you are ready to live debt-free, apply for an online debt consolidation plan at NetDebt.com . The debt relief specialists at NetDebt.com will provide you with effective debt solutions that can be implemented immediately.

Nearly 400,000 Countrywide Borrowers Could Benefit After Program Launches December 1

CALABASAS, CA - Bank of America today announced the creation of a proactive home retention program that will systematically modify troubled mortgages with up to $8.4 billion in interest rate and principal reductions for nearly 400,000 Countrywide Financial Corporation customers nationwide.

The program was developed together with state Attorneys General and is designed to achieve affordable and sustainable mortgage payments for borrowers who financed their homes with subprime loans or pay option adjustable rate mortgages serviced by Countrywide and originated prior to December 31, 2007. Bank of America acquired Countrywide July 1, 2008.

“We are confident that together with the Attorneys General we have developed a comprehensive program that provides more solutions than ever before to assist troubled borrowers and put them back on the path to sustained home ownership,” said Barbara Desoer, president, Bank of America Mortgage, Home Equity and Insurance Services. “Since acquiring Countrywide in July, we have committed significant resources and developed innovative programs to help as many Countrywide customers as possible stay in their homes.”

Countrywide mortgage servicing personnel will be equipped to serve eligible borrowers with new program elements by December 1, 2008 and will then begin proactive outreach to eligible customers. Foreclosure sales will not be initiated or advanced for borrowers likely to qualify until Countrywide has made an affirmative decision on the borrower’s eligibility.

The centerpiece of the program is a proactive loan modification process to provide relief to eligible borrowers who are seriously delinquent or are likely to become seriously delinquent as a result of loan features, such as rate resets or payment recasts.

Various options will be considered for eligible customers to ensure modifications are affordable and sustainable. First-year payments of principal, interest, taxes and insurance will be targeted to equate to 34 percent of the borrower’s income. Modified loans feature limited step-rate interest rate adjustments to ensure annual principal and interest payments increase at levels with minimal risk of payment shock. Modification options include, among others:

• FHA refinancing under the HOPE for Homeowners Program;
• Interest rate reductions, which may be granted automatically through streamlined processing; and
• Principal reductions on Pay Option adjustable rate mortgages that restore lost equity for certain borrowers.

The program applies to eligible mortgage loan customers serviced by Countrywide and who occupy the home as their primary residence. Under the national program, Countrywide will not charge eligible borrowers loan modification fees, and Countrywide will waive prepayment penalties for subprime and pay option ARM loans that it or its affiliates own. Some loan modifications will be subject to compliance with servicing contracts and some will require investor approval.

“Now more than ever homeowners and home buyers are looking to Bank of America as the lender they trust and as a leader that can renew America’s confidence in home ownership,” said Desoer. “Combined with our strong track record in responsible lending and previously announced lending practices commitments, this bold new program makes it clear that Bank of America is committed to be the leader in responsible mortgage lending practices.”

As part of agreements to resolve outstanding claims against Countrywide by certain states, borrowers in participating states will additionally be eligible to access their share of:

• A Foreclosure Relief Program of $150 million on a nationwide basis for payment to eligible Countrywide servicing customers who suffered foreclosure or are currently at serious risk of foreclosure having made only minimal payments since the time their mortgages were originated by Countrywide; and
• An additional program, projected to make payments up to $70 million to support customers with loans serviced by Countrywide who face imminent foreclosure, providing financial assistance with their transition from home ownership.

As part of the state agreements, Countrywide is further committing to eligible borrowers in participating states that it will waive late fees associated with a borrower’s default in finalizing modifications under the program.

In addition, states that have not yet become participants in Bank of America’s program will be provided an opportunity to do so, which would enable their residents to become eligible for these benefits.

“Our program represents principal and interest reductions over time to borrowers on loans Countrywide owns and on loans Countrywide services on behalf of investors,” said Joe Price, Bank of America Chief Financial Officer. “By taking projected foreclosure losses and instead directing those funds into these proactive foreclosure prevention efforts, we create a solution in the best interests of both our customers and the investors whose loans and securities we service. Of the eligible loans, about 12 percent are now held by Bank of America. The cost of restructuring these loans is within the range of losses we estimated when we acquired Countrywide.”

Bank of America is one of the world’s largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk-management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving more than 59 million consumer and small business relationships with more than 6,100 retail banking offices, more than 18,500 ATMs and award-winning online banking with more than 25 million active users. Bank of America offers industry leading support to more than 4 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients in more than 150 countries and has relationships with 99 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies and 83 percent of the Fortune Global 500. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Countrywide Customer Contact: Homeownership Retention Program not available until Dec. 1. Countrywide will begin its proactive outreach to eligible borrowers on December 1, 2008.
Homeownership Retention Division: 800.669.6650
General Customer Service: 800.669.6607

Media Contact: Dan Frahm, 800.796.8448

Investor Contact: Kevin Stitt, 704.386.5567, or Lee McEntire, 704.388.6780

What is a Loan Modification?

I am sure that many of you have been hearing more and more about Loan Modifications, also known as Mortgage Modifications. I have been receiving many inquires about them. So let me share with you what a Loan Modification is and how it may apply to you or someone you know.

A loan modification means simply that your current lender modifies or “changes” the terms of your existing loan in order to lower your monthly payments. This can be accomplished through a variety of ways such as reducing your current interest rate, extending the term of your loan, reducing your principal balance, or a combination of these factors. In the past, lenders would only modify your current mortgage if you were delinquent. Well, times have changed. Delinquency is no longer a factor. However, in the event of late payments lenders may forgive or postpone repayment of delinquent payments – sometimes without adding interest or penalties!

With the recent and ongoing credit crisis that has led to a weakening economy and a declining housing market, banks are very anxious to prevent more homeowners from going into foreclosure. Their rationale is fairly simple: if lenders reduce the homeowner’s payments today, the homeowner can remain in their home. This frees up additional lending capital rather than tying it up in a lengthy and expensive foreclosure process.

Who is a good candidate for a Loan Modification?

• Someone who has a mortgage with unfavorable terms that has become too much to afford
• Someone who owes more on their home than its current value
• Someone who is having financial difficulty due to a change in their job or financial situation
• Someone who is delinquent or is going to become delinquent on their current mortgage
• And many more

]]> http://debthelpblog.net/2008/10/what-is-a-loan-modification/feed/ http://debthelpblog.net/2008/09/debt-settlement-is-similar-to-the-700-billion-debt-bailout/ http://debthelpblog.net/2008/09/debt-settlement-is-similar-to-the-700-billion-debt-bailout/#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:26:08 +0000 admin http://debthelpblog.net/?p=15

Debt Settlement is very similar to the Federal Debt Bailout bill on a smaller scale. The US government is removing the “toxic” debt that is on the books of the major banks. Debt Settlement removes your “toxic” personal debt so you can start new and improve your cash flow situation.

1.    Get Your Equifax, Experian and/or Transunion Report. Some balance carriers are merely a few billing cycles behind on their credit card bills due to financial hardships, and they may have forgotten about several unpaid bills that are bringing their FICO Score south. A few of us have gotten ourselves so far back in credit card bill payments that we have lost track of what is due! The initial required action for getting back on the path to good credit is to obtain your credit report so that you can see

1) the creditors you are indebted to,

2) the amount you need to pay them, and

3) the total of your monthly payment. You are entitled to one free credit history from all 3 of the key reporting institutions each year. Once you are aware of your debt figures, you’re in an improved position to make a smart resolution regarding your debt affairs.

2.    Reopen the Lines of Communication With Your Card Issuers. This might be difficult for you. At some time you’re going to have to reopen a connection with your creditors if you have lost contact with them after not making payments. In the worst case scenario you will have to withstand a long quizzing with a sprinkling of unfriendliness. The great news is that there’s a chance that you will be offered an agreement to pay off debt that can put your bill back to current and probably get rid of some of those flaws on your credit.

3.    Quit Making Charges to Open Accounts. Probably the most important resolution you have to make in order to re-establish power over your credit and debt situation is to cease utilizing your credit accounts. This means you have to cut up those credit cards and begin living on a cash only basis. Adopt this way of thinking: if you do not have the greenbacks to pay for a buy, then you cannot afford it.

4.    Be Sure That Your Income is Sufficient To Pay Your Debts. The hardest step to eliminating your debt issues is taking home the salary that is required to cover your payments and get current with your debts. That’s because your take home pay is often not in your control. Consider finding a 15 hour per week side job and dedicate all of the earnings from that to your debt balances.

5.    Learn About Debt Solution Plans.  If you’re trying to pull down your regular payments, pay off debt more quickly, or if you just desire to steer clear of open phone calls with your creditors, you might want to learn about an online debt Consolidation plan. These helpful programs are put into action by debt settlement companies that focus on debt reduction and debt negotiation with your card issuers.

If you’re serious about getting control over your credit and learning how to pay off debt quicker, dial the online debt consolidation lawyers at NetDebt (877) 998-DEBT or get started on the road to debt relief by dropping in on Net Debt‘s online questionnaire at www.netdebt.com

WHEN: September 25, 2008, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: FTC’s Satellite Building Conference Center, 601 New Jersey Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC. A valid photo identification is required. A live webcast will be available at www.ftc.gov.
AGENDA: Topics will include regulation and legal developments, advertising and marketing of debt relief services, role of third-party lead generators and other service providers, the history and development of the industry, and consumer education.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,500 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2180

Information About Good Debt
-    Distinguishing Good Debt. A good debt is any debt that will effectively raise your assets. The rule follow is: if holding the debt might create an increase in your assets, then it’s called a good debt. Good debt can produce a profit for you through a rise in value or business transactions. Arguably, a good debt could additionally be a debt that causes a rise in your general quality of life. Additionally, a debt that can be partially deducted on your taxes, which means that having it decreases your tax owed each year, should without question be considered a good debt.

-    Which Accounts are Good Debts The best  example of a good debt would be a home debt. Assuming that it’s attached to a house or portion of terrain that is going up in value, a mortgage debt results in an income from the equity that is formed in the property. Another example of good debt would be a student loan, because it’s made for knowledge gained and can produce future wages. A new business debt could additionally be called a good debt if the business breaks a profit and results in a regular residual salary.

What Makes Bad Debt So Bad?
-    What’s the Easiest Way to Determine That One is Carrying Bad Debt? To be clear, if the debt doesn’t produce additional worth for you and/or your bank account, then it should be done away with. A car debt is a bad loan because automobiles drop in worth. The rule  of thumb is that as soon as you take a fresh vehicle off of the lot you leave behind 20 % in worth, and that decrease in worth continues all the way up until the car is paid up. The most widespread demonstration of bad debt is your credit card bills. Credit card debt is the most dangerous type of bad debt for three major reasons:

1) it’s not tied to items of worth (save you consider the jeans you bought in 1997 an item of worth!),

2) it commonly comes with an expensive rate, and 3) it’s a rotating debt that could continue all the way through your existence.

I Need To Figure Out How to Eradicate Bad Debt
You have many choices if you are seeking a debt solution. A segment of debtors look to bankruptcy, which may get rid of your debt but cause you to be rejected by potential credit card companies, employment agencies, and other companies for up to ten years. Some debtors settle on their own debt reduction programs, and many have discovered the advantages of plans proposed by debt settlement companies. Whatever method you decide on, credit card debt should in every case be the first on your list because it it high in cost and actually robs value from your bottomline.

1. Higher Interest Rates

Credit cards generally carry higher interest rates compared to “good debt” such as mortgages and student loans. According to a recent survey, as of March 2008 the average nationwide credit card interest rate hovered around 13.29%[1], whereas it is not uncommon to see mortgage loans at 6-7% and student loans as low as 4% these days. Even one percentage point of interest can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.

Think about it: Financial experts say that when you are looking to pay off debt, you should pay off your highest interest rates first. So if you have a mortgage loan at 7% and a credit card at 13%, your credit card becomes the priority for being paid off first. Dedicate all of your extra income to the bad debt (credit card bills) before you work on a debt reduction plan involving your mortgage loan.

2. Not Tied to Something of Value

Most people use their credit cards to buy depreciable items, which are items that consistently decrease in value, such as clothes, televisions, electronics, and this causes. Unlike mortgages and car loans, when you use credit cards to purchase depreciable items the debt is not tied to something of value. If you’re going to take on debt, you want debt that is attached to an item of value that could cover the balance if you get tired of paying that bill every month. In fact, credit card debt is just a floating mass of expenses, not tied to anything, that will follow you around until you somehow finally pay it off. If what you purchase on your credit card has no potential of going up in value, then it is bad debt and it will eventually come back to haunt you.

Think about it: Most experts agree that as soon as you purchase a piece of clothing, it decreases in value by up to 50%, instantly! So as soon as you walk out of the door with that new pair of $100 jeans, you have just cost yourself up to $50. Now add to that the interest cost that will accrue on that $100 purchase after 20 or 30 years of you paying the minimum, and you will find that in the long run that one pair of jeans may have cost you a closet full of denimwear!

3. Credit Card Debt Can Last an Eternity

Because credit cards are revolving debt, meaning that debt can continuously be added to this type of account, they can go on for a lifetime. As long as you have a balance on your credit card and continue to use it, you will never pay it off completely. Depending on your credit card balances and how long you continue to use the account, you could be paying off credit debt for 80 years or longer. The average American’s lifespan is now age 78. Any obligation that can last that long can’t be considered anything less than a “bad debt.”

Think about it: If you have a $20,000 credit card balance with an 18% fixed rate, cut up the card today, and continue to pay the minimum that is due each month, it will take you 830 months, that’s 69 years to get rid of this debt (assuming a 2% minimum payment rule). If receiving and paying credit card bills during your golden years isn’t what you had in mind for your retirement, an aggressive plan for bad debt reduction is in order.

4. Excessive Fees

Finally, credit card debt is bad debt because you are inundated with fees. There are late fees, over the limit fees, and severe penalties when you default.

Most mortgage companies will allow you up to 15 days to pay your monthly bill after the due date, but not credit card companies. Hefty fees are immediately assessed if you are late by even one day that cost you between $20-$40 for each offense. Then you have to deal with over the limit fees if you make a mistake and go over the limit that has been extended to you. Finally, you run the risk of having your interest rate drastically increased by the creditor if you default on your payments.

Think about it: What would it mean for you if because of financial challenges your credit card interest rate shot up to 24% because you defaulted on payments? Then on top of that, you are charged a late fee of $35 for each month that you are late? It’s time to think ahead of yourself to prevent a devastating financial bind and look into debt solutions.

Time to Get Rid of Your Bad Debt Mentality

Get rid of that bad debt mentality. Easier said than done, you might say. But you simply cannot be fiscally fit until you eliminate the bad debt. So before using your credit card, you have to start asking yourself some hard questions. The rule of thumb is that if you cannot afford to pay for the item you’re looking at in cash, or you will not realistically be able to pay off this purchase before the end of your credit card’s billing cycle, you simply can’t afford it.

But if you find yourself in a situation where it’s hard to resist the purchase because it won’t be available to you always, ask yourself “Is this item depreciable, or does it have the potential to increase in value at some point in the future? What will it do for my net worth?” If the item is a commemorative item that could increase in value and become profitable to you, technically that is not considered “bad debt.” But if the item will decrease in value as your interest expense goes up, you know what to do: put that card away! If you feel it is time that you got on board with a debt solution that will help you pay off credit card bills more quickly, you might want to look into an online debt consolidation company. They have debt reduction programs tailored for your unique situation.

If you are looking at the various debt relief programs that are available, it’s important to first have an understanding of the different types of debts and how their terms affect your financial situation. Debt consolidation companies will usually only cover your unsecured debt, which includes credit cards, student loans, medical bills, and legal fees. There are two types of unsecured debts that you may be holding – revolving and installment accounts.

What is the Main Difference?

With a revolving line of credit, the principal balance varies because debt can be added to the account. The most common example of a revolving account is a credit card, where a simple swipe can raise your balance. A revolving debt will never end as long as you keep using it (thus the term “revolving”). Alternatively, an installment account has a fixed principal balance, a pre-set monthly payment, and fixed terms that don’t ever change unless the interest rate is variable and fluctuates, and in other rare circumstances that are determined on a lender by lender basis. One great example of an installment account would be a 60 month business loan. You make a set payment each month until the account is matured.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Each Type of Debt?

The best way to understand revolving and installment debt accounts at a glance is to examine the pros and cons of each type of account:

Pros of Installment Accounts

- Installment accounts have a definite end;

- You have a set payment each month, so there is no surprise;

- You know exactly how much interest you will have to pay over the course of the loan.

Cons

- Sometimes comes with high interest rates that cannot be changed;

- More of a long term solution to a short term cash crunch.

Pros of Revolving Accounts

- Interest rates can be reduced;

- You can avoid paying interest by paying off the balance every month;

- Can be a temporary solution to a cash crunch, if you manage it responsibly.

Cons

- Can become a lifetime debt if mismanaged;

- Interest rates can be increased according to the credit card company’s discretion;

- More debt can be added to the account on an ongoing basis, so there is a constant temptation and possibility for overuse;

- More risky, because you can go over the credit limit and create a myriad of new issues;

- Excessive fees for lateness, cash advances, and going over the limit.

Which Should be Paid Off First and Why?

Your debt reduction plan needs to be structured in a way that maximizes your interest savings. Because revolving account balances are more difficult to control and have higher interest rates on average, most debt experts will recommend that you pay these accounts off first. If you don’t take care of those credit card balances expeditiously, you could end up paying credit card bills for the majority of your lifetime, and thus an outrageous amount of interest. Interest rates are often much higher on revolving debt accounts also.

Important Considerations

If you are still debating on whether a revolving account or an installment account is a better debt to hold, or which type of account you should prioritize for repayment, here are a couple of other considerations you’ll want to keep in mind.

- Calculate the True Cost of Each Type of Debt. Do a comparison of the two types of accounts to decide what the actual interest cost will be for each account if you allow them to reach “maturity.” (Maturity is used loosely when discussing revolving accounts because they can go on forever.) Whichever type of account is the most expensive with the longest payoff period is obviously the one you want to eliminate first. Here is a quick example – you can just plug the figures that apply to your own debts (at inception) into a financial calculator to see the results for yourself.

Let’s say you purchased a $2,500 laptop for your son or daughter on a credit card, and took out a $2,500 business loan on the same day, both at the same interest rate.

Based on the higher interest cost, and the temptation to use the revolving account for new charges, it clearly makes more sense to pay off the more expensive credit card debt before an installment loan.

- Prepayment Penalties. Some installment loans come with a prepayment penalty. If you pay off the debt early, or rather, before the maturity date, they will charge you expensive fees. This is to assure the creditor a minimum profit from the loan. If your installment loan has a prepayment penalty it make not make financial sense to even include it in an aggressive debt reduction plan. Talk to your lender to find out what that penalty would be. You can then determine if paying off the loan early would still result in a significant cost savings, even after the prepayment penalty is applied.

When you have information on your side, you will be able to find a good debt solution that will allow you to pay off debt quickly and efficiently. Be sure to browse the entire NetDebt.com online debt consolidation website to find out more about debt consolidation companies and other debt solutions that are available to you.