Bill Ranson

What Happens If I Don’t Pay My Credit Card Bills?

When facing amassing credit card debt, it is not uncommon for many individuals to ask “Why pay my credit card bills?” Granted, while this option is there and it may give you some extra cash for a few months, here are a few of the major repercussions you might be facing should you decide to go delinquent on your monthly payments:

1. Creditor/Collection Calls:

This might be the worst part of a delinquent debt-the constant calls from creditors demanding their money. Collectors have been known to call 8-10 times a day, at home, at work, on your cell phone. And these are the ones who follow the rules. Creditors have been reported to speak to bosses, neighbors, and family members (which of course is illegal). Once they get you on the phone they can be even worse. They use a number of psychological techniques to demean you and force you to give them checking account numbers or other bank information. In other words, they will do anything they can to make you pay. (Please keep in mind that your rights are protected by the Federal Trade Commission. To find out more information, please consult the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.)

2. Damaged Credit Score:

Creditors will begin to report missed payments to credit bureaus which will inevitability have an affect on your credit score. These marks can be removed once a settlement is reached or payments are made.

3. Interest/Late Fees/Over-the-limit fees:

Not paying does not mean that interest will stop accruing. Once you go delinquent, many creditors will immediately raise your interest rate to the highest possible interest rate, about 30%. In addition, they will charge late fee penalties ranging between $30-50, and if your balance exceeds the credit limit, they are more than happy to tack on over-the-limit fees.

4. Legal Action:

Eventually, if a debt becomes very delinquent, a creditor may opt to take legal action which can result in liens, garnished wages, or other legal judgements requiring you to pay your debt. However, this is typically a long and complicated process that companies would like to avoid. Nevertheless, it does happen.

If you are considering not paying your credit card bills, it may be the perfect time to considering professional help. There are a number of financial companies that can help you find a Credit Card Debt Relief solution to your financial dilemmas. Why wait? Contact one today, as the first step in finding a solution to your economical problems is usually asking for help.

Scott Wallitsch is a certified IAPDA debt arbitrator for DebtorSolution. He provides Debt Settlement and Debt Consolidation advice to clients who are looking to become financially free and economically independent.

Lower usage means lower bills, but there are numerous other steps to follow that can help reduce electricity costs even further.

Investigating alternative gas and electricity suppliers can help ensure that you are getting the best value for your money.

Lighting is another area in which consumption can be reduced. It is advised that you use a fluorescent tube light in the kitchen; these provide long-lasting light and have low running costs. Switching lights off when you leave a room is also recommended.

Fitting outdoor lights equipped with a motion sensor will help minimise the amount of electricity being used. The key is to optimise your electricity usage. That way, conservation becomes second nature. Low energy usage bulbs are available at most high street supermarkets. If you still use old bulbs, now is the time to upgrade. These low energy bulbs last up to ten times longer than conventional bulbs and cost approximately 80% less to use.

Leaving appliances on standby is another habit to avoid. Televisions, DVD players, computers and chargers are the chief culprits. If the appliance is not in use, turn it off completely.

Investing in energy saving standby plugs is also recommended. These handy appliances turn your televisions, computers and laptops off automatically, thereby reducing unnecessary energy consumption.

Making use of solar power can also help you reduce your dependence on gas and electricity suppliers even further. By generating your own electricity you will be able to provide light and even heat without having to pay utility bills – a great savings strategy.

These energy savings tips are provided by Age Concern, a leading UK home insurance provider. Follow these steps to manage your home’s electricity usage more efficiently, without having to necessarily change your gas and electricity supplier.

One of the most important files that a person can get from the mail are bills. Even if we hate to receive them we don’t have a choice but read and pay them. Since it is a task that most people loathe, most of the time these are left on the drawer for a later time until they are totally forgotten. Thus, we get unpaid bills anywhere.

The following are some tips in organizing home bills for you to be reminded to pay them on time:

First thing to do is to sort out all your mails once they arrive from the post office. Get rid of junk mails right away. This would cut down the number of your mails into half. You then have to designate an area in your home for mail checking. It can be anywhere in your home, but preferably it’s where you are used to placing your mails often. Here you will be able to sort out the bills from the mail and organize them accordingly. You can make use of an accordion folder and label each section on top. You can also color code it. This folder will serve as your “things to do” folder. Other mails can be placed in an inbox tray or even just a small basket. Documents and mails that contain confidential information must be shredded immediately and the junks such as flyers and brochures can be thrown into the trash.

If you have too many bills and documents that need filing that folders are inadequate, you can get filing cabinets but still follow the same process of filing. You can label each cabinet or a section of it with the types of bills that are found inside it and also set aside a section of it for pending or to be paid bills. When a bill is paid, you can file it in a separate folder and punch two holes in it to fasten the bills altogether. If you have so much bills that they won’t fit a paper fastener, you can make use of ring binders for organizing home bills in one folder. This is a surefire means to keep your filing cabinet organized and to keep your home bills paid on time.

To keep your paper bills organized and away from sight is one thing but to pay them on time is another. Even if we placed them in the “things to do” folder, there’s still a chance that we forget the due dates on these bills. So for organizing home bills furthermore, you should record all the due dates of your bills. A wise idea would be to place a desk calendar sheet posted on your fridge’s door. With this, you will be constantly reminded and will not likely forget it. If you’re more of a techie person and not the manual kind, you can set up the calendar on your PC and set the alarms and alerts when needed. You can schedule the alert a day before the due date or a week if you’re paying it through check. So much to do for organizing home bills.

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A home’s points of entry can become a fast exit for energy and end up costing a small fortune on utility bills. To avoid being shortchanged by windows, doors and the garage, home energy experts recommend making a few simple modifications.

Seal The Envelope Before Sending the Bill

Homeowners should seal windows and doors “like an envelope” -or otherwise risk air-conditioning the entire neighborhood. In fact, it’s estimated a full 50 percent of annual utility costs stem from homes’ heating and cooling systems. To check that doors and windows aren’t drafty, look for light under or around the door and condensation around the windowpane, which is an indication of cooling loss. Also, check the attic to make sure it’s properly insulated and not letting air escape.

Quick Tips:

• Install thick, durable weather-stripping under your garage door to reduce this common energy leak. Polyurethane insulation or fiberglass duct wrap are both good options.

• Weather-strip and caulk all cracks between the wall and the window trim. Replace broken glass and putty any loose window- panes to help secure the windows for harsh wind.

• An inexpensive solution to drafty windows is the Shrink & Seal Window Kit, available at Lowe’s stores and lowes.com. It fits standard windows and is installed with a hair dryer that literally shrinks and seals a crystal-clear film over the window.

• Upgrade that old refrigerator to the only ENERGY STAR-qualified refrigerator engineered specifically for the garage: Gladiator GarageWorks’ Chillerator, by Whirlpool Corporation. It’s 15 percent more energy efficient than current federal energy standards, saving an average of 487 in energy costs over its lifespan.

“One of the simplest ways to save on utilities is to make wise appliance upgrade decisions,” said Richard Karney, Manager of Energy Star at the Department of Energy (DOE). “Most people cannot imagine the energy drain associated with older appliances.” ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances are part of a joint program of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and DOE to help consumers save money and the environment.

According to a survey by Whirlpool, 42 percent of Americans have an old refrigerator in the garage. Studies show that a 10- to 15-year-old refrigerator costs an average of 82 more a year in utilities compared to an ENERGY STAR-qualified refrigerator purchased today.

Swimming In Bills? A Debt Consolidation Loan May Be The Answer

Every day, individuals are faced with mounting debt that is gradually getting out of control. Once credit cards reach their limits, payments are late or interest skyrockets, it literally becomes a battle of sink or swim in the debt pool. Consumers often turn toward a debt consolidation loan if their current debt can be combined into a smaller monthly payment.

The most popular reason for a debt consolidation loan is to get rid of high interest credit cards. It is a well known fact that credit cards carry a much higher interest rate than secured loans, including home and auto. By paying only the minimum payment, it will typically take 15 to 30 years to pay off most credit card debts. The reason is because the majority of each month’s minimum payment is swallowed up by interest with very little, if any, money going toward the actual balance. By requesting a debt consolidation loan, many consumers qualify for a much lower interest rate and smaller monthly payments. As the years progress, this reduction can result in a substantial savings while helping the customer to save money every month.

The process by which an individual applies for a debt consolidation loan is very similar to any other type of loan. A typical application will ask for the applicant’s name, address, telephone, social security number and employment information. In most cases, the potential lender will request a copy of tax returns for the previous two years, current pay stubs andor employment verification. In certain instances where the applicant has poor credit, the lender may require a co-signer or collateral before approving the loan.

With the continued growth of the internet, there is no shortage on potential lenders. A debt consolidation loan may be requested at a local bank or credit union, but may also be sought online. With such a broad range of options, consumers are better equipped to shop around for the most competitive interest rates and loan options. In many cases, an account holder will have success with hisher own bank as they have an established history with the organization. In other instances, a competing bank may be more willing to approve a debt consolidation loan in hopes of earning the applicant’s future business. For those who opt to seek a debt consolidation loan online, consumers are urged to proceed cautiously before providing their social security number on any application unless they are certain the lender is legitimate. One way to do that is to check out the company’s history with the local Better Business Bureau.

A debt consolidation loan is, in many cases, a way for individuals to regain control over their financial life and save some extra cash in the process.

Stop Paying Unsecured Debts – How to Stop Paying Credit Cards Bills With Debt Settlement Programs

Many American citizens are unable to pay their credit card bills regularly, as they do no have enough cash in their hands; almost half of the Americans have lost their jobs during recession, and due to this they are really unable to make the payment of their cards. You have to agree that this is a tough situation for them.

The credit card companies are also facing great losses, since the people are unable to pay back their money. It is also seems difficult for these companies to the money they loaned to those people. In order to avoid bankruptcy the financial companies start negotiations with their debtors. If people stop paying the credit cards bills, these companies will collapse.

But now, the scenario has been changed, and in order to avoid bankruptcy, these companies will prefer talking to their clients. Earlier, companies used harassment to convince their clients to pay back but now they seek negotiation. The negotiations can be possible if the individual hires a debt settlement company for this purpose.

These companies basically act as a bridge between the lender and the borrower; the settlement companies talk to the lenders on the behalf of the borrowers and tell them that the financial condition of their client is not good. They explain that it is getting difficult for them to pay their installment on a monthly basis; these companies suggest to their clients that they should stop paying the bills, and avoid receiving any sort of calls from the banks. This situation forces the lenders to start negotiations with the borrowers, the lenders will prefer to do that as no option is left for them. At least if they accept negotiations they get something, but they are unable to get anything if the individual files for bankruptcy. This is why they accept it because they know that it is always better to get something rather than get nothing.

It is a wise advice for an individual to follow the advice of these companies, in order to get out of his financial stress as soon as possible. The delay in the settlement is another loss for you, if you are facing financial problems, because financial institutions never stop to add charges to your balance.

If you have over 10,000 in unsecured debt it may be a wise financial decision to consider a debt settlement. Due to the recession and overwhelming amount of people in debt, creditors are having no choice but to agree to debt settlement deals. To find legitimate debt reduction help in your state and get free debt advice then check out the following link. Free Debt Advice.

While it’s true that, with global warming and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels being such hot topics, when most people think of solar energy and going solar, they generally think of the fact that it will reduce their electricity bill, there is a lot more to solar and the benefits it can provide than just reducing the size of our energy bill. Let’s take a look at the many additional benefits solar energy can provide.

What Else Can You Reduce?

Obviously, reducing their energy bill is a major factor for most people when considering what type of benefits solar energy can provide them. The great thing is that this will become an even bigger benefit in the future, as the supply of fossil fuels, already said to be almost exhausted, continues to decrease and the cost of the energy derived from them continues to escalate, such that people who get their electricity from solar will see even greater reductions in their electricity bill in the future.

The more we turn to the sun’s energy for our electrical needs, the greater benefit not only to people’s finances but to the planet, in the form of reduced carbon emissions from the decreased burning of fossil fuels.

As the adoption of solar energy continues to increase, the number of jobs in the solar industry will increase, resulting in a reduction in the overall unemployment levels. The same is true for all renewable energy sectors, in that the more that renewable energy sources are implemented, the greater the number of job opportunities that will be available in the green sector, reducing unemployment and boosting the economy, not only in the USA, but also worldwide.

More Than Just A Bill Reducer

Yes, solar energy is great at helping reduce electricity bills. And, even though this is a great benefit, solar is so much more. The sun provides an almost limitless supply of free energy, and it comes down to what we do to take advantage of all that energy.

It can and is used to provide the energy needed to power many things. Solar calculators have been around for some time, and are one of the most commonly used items powered by solar. A lot of the lighting along the pathways in front of houses is solar, as are many street lights and highway signage.

Solar can be used to recharge batteries, power laptops and keep your MP3 players and cell phones charged. How about disposing of your garbage? Yes, there are such things as solar trash compactors! And the list goes on.

What Does The Future Hold?

The future of solar energy is nothing but bright. More and more applications are being found for solar, from everyday uses to more esoteric and far-reaching uses. Solar radios are becoming more commonplace, but did you know you can now sail on a solar-powered boat? Fly in a solar-powered plane? How about taking a trip on a high-speed solar train? Well, not yet, but that is definitely something that is in the planning stages and probably will be a reality before too much longer.

We have barely scratched the surface of what’s possible with solar energy. And, while reducing people’s electricity bills and our dependence on fossil fuels are very important products of using solar, there is still so much untapped potential available to us.

After all, the sun supplies over six thousand times more energy in one day than the entire human race uses in one year, so there is so much more energy for us to use. We just need to develop methods to harness that energy and we’ll be able to take advantage of the sun’s free energy whenever and wherever we choose.

Grab your FREE report, and get much more information on solar energy and its potential beyond reducing energy bills by clicking on the only solar power resource you’ll need. Ray Boreham suggests you’ll find a wealth of information and tips on solar and renewable energy at http://www.all-you-need-is-solar.com.

Saving Money and Your Bills: Tips on How to be Money Wise

I used to love going to the supermarket. But nowadays, I make my trips short and sweet. I have a list and stick to it. My trips to the supermarket made me realize that its getting harder and harder to stretch that dollar. With all those bills that you have to pay in a month, you really cant do anything about it but to save.

I read once that its not how much you earn that ensures a comfortable and happy future; but its how much you save and keep saved that matters. That is why it is really important to save money especially when it comes to your monthly bills.

Some people do not just realize it but saving on their monthly bills can provide the best money-saving opportunity for them.

Heres how:

1. Turn off appliances and lights when not in use

The logic is basically simple. Why would you leave something turned on when nobody is going to use it? Thats definitely a bad habit.

Hence, if you really want to cut back some on your electricity bill, always turn off the lights and your appliances when not in use.

2. Use energy-saving lights

Nowadays, saving on your electricity bill is not impossible because you can opt for energy-saving devices such as lights. Using these energy-saving lights such as fluorescent lights consumes lower amounts of energy but can still give the suitable amount of illumination.

3. Always check for the leaks

Water bills can create a mountain load of pile on your monthly dues if you do not check on the things that might cause your water bill to rise higher. You can prevent this by ensuring that every pipe is free from any leaks.

Some people do not just realize that single drops from leaking pipes could mean additional costs on your water bill.

4. Be more tech-savvy

Cut your phone bill to almost half by simply being tech-savvy. That is, opt for the emails and chatting services of the Internet instead of using your phone to call long distance to your relatives and friends.

5. Try to insulate your home

Insulating your home is a definite energy-saver, money-saver scheme. You will never know how much money you can save on your electricity bill when you start to insulate your home.

Indeed, cutting some of your bills can definitely allow you to save more money. You just have to be wise on your home and everything that you have in it.

Save on 5 Major Life Expenses – Affordable Dental, Health, Food, and Bills

There is more to saving money than utilizing practical common sense. Setting a budget and cutting back due to the current economy may not be enough — your major life expenses such as finding affordable dental coverage, paying for doctor visits, and paying bills may always exist.

Saving on these big expenses can be as easy as doing a little research. These 5 tips will show you how to consistently save money on health insurance, affordable dental coverage, utilities and even groceries!

Individual Health Insurance – The issue of health insurance has created much debate over the past year, and you may not have a friendly opinion of insurance companies. However, until a better option is available, finding the cheapest individual health insurance plan can be as easy as entering your zip code on the internet.

Simply searching “health insurance” on a search engine will bring up several websites that allow you to compare the rates of different insurers. Investigate one or two of these sites and find a plan that makes sense for you, your family and your budget. If you choose a high deductible plan, you may also want to look into health savings accounts or Care Credit to ease the pressure of payments as you meet your deductible.

Get Affordable Dental – Finding an affordable dental plan can seem extremely difficult, especially for families. However, you can find affordable dental coverage through just a few simple clicks on the internet!

If you need immediate coverage for you or your family, your best option may be a low-premium, affordable dental discount plan instead of a traditional dental insurance plan. These plans often cut your dental bill in half and are available for a low membership fee. Just search “affordable dental” on a search engine online to investigate the variety of dental discount plans available.

Work the Grocery Gambit – Groceries are one of the most expensive bills you pay each month, but beyond cutting back there are some tricks that can save you even more money at the grocery store.

The biggest grocery trick is to bypass Wal-Mart style super-shopping by learning how to use coupons! Coupons from your local grocery store and newspaper list a multitude of deals that you may not have been aware of. Go online to search for websites that help you take advantage of these deals, and you will even learn how to get some items free! Researching these coupons may take a little work, but it is definitely worth it.

Go Green at Home – To save on your utility bills, try going green. Going green may sound like a fad, but it really will help reduce your costs in the long run. Not sure how to start? Here are some green action steps to try:

* Take showers instead of baths.
* Unplug appliances not in use.
* Keep lights off in your house until dark and open your windows for light.
* Only water your lawn once a day, in the morning or evening.
* Wash most of your clothes in cold water.
* Keep the thermostat high in summer and low in winter. Open windows as necessary and dress accordingly.
* For more ideas, check out these everyday green tips.

Simplify Your Life – If you lump your weekly to monthly expenses of gas, clothes, and miscellaneous needs together, they will also form a large chunk of your expenses. What is the best way to reduce their cost? Simplify.

Use the three classic R’s to help you simplify: Reduce. Reuse. Rearrange. Reduce the use of your car. Walk to nearby places or ride your bike. Reuse by learning how to repair your clothes or to spruce them up to be trendier instead of buying new clothes. Finally, rearrange how much time you spend expending resources, such as money spent eating out and going to movies.

Once again, the internet is a great source for more detail on how to use all of these tips to your greatest advantage. A little research can go a long way to keep money in your wallet. From affordable dental care to a simpler lifestyle, there are hundreds of ways you can save money on your big life expenses.

See this article by Susan Braden for more information about affordable dental plans.

Susan Braden invites you to visit http://www.1Dental.com, where you can join 7 million dental patients around the nation saving 20-60% off dental work at one of 65,000 dentists. 1Dental.com offers the nation’s #1 dental plan starting at $6.95/month with immediate savings of up to 60%.

Runaway Hospital Bills – Use Debt Relief Measures Like Settlement to Avoid Bankruptcy

People come up with the silliest reasons not to negotiate for a settlement with their medical service provider. Read ahead for some silly reasons that you should never give if you’re facing debt problem and if settlement can help you overcome the same.

My credit card issuer called me and offered a settlement while my doctor did not. Hence, credit card issuers are ready to settle but doctors are not.

Credit card issuers are calling people because they are under pressure from the government as well. Bulk of the stimulus package has been offered to credit card issuers and other financial institutions. Bulk of the money has come from the government i.e. taxpayer money. In such a scenario, it is not surprising that the government is putting subtle pressure on the credit card issuers to help borrowers.

No such pressure has been placed on medical institutions. However, this does not mean that these institutions are not facing the problem of excessive bad debts. Loan recovery has come down by a drastic margin and more and more people are opting for bankruptcy or other solutions to escape their debt.

All this is causing a huge loss for financial institutions and medical institutions. Do not be disheartened by the fact that your doctor has not given you a call yet. Instead, why don’t you take the first step and seek a settlement. If you give the right reasons, you will definitely find that doctors are prepared to offer generous settlements.

To try and settle debts with the doctor is equivalent to cheating.

If one enters the morality debate, then each and every cent that you have borrowed must be repaid in full. However, morality works both ways. If you are required to repay all your debts in full, then lenders too are required to be generous. However, lenders are always focus on their profits and try to earn the maximum amount possible. In such a scenario, there’s no point in being moral when morality and other such notions are applicable to the borrowers alone.

If your conscience pricks you, then keep in mind that opting for bankruptcy is even worse than settlement. Settlement will fetch at least a thirty percent repayment. Bankruptcy will offer even less benefits to the medical institution. Further, the settlement is a much better option as compared to bankruptcy when you think five to ten years from today.

If you are over $10k in unsecured debt it would be financially prudent for you to consider a debt settlement. There are organizations that exist called “Free Debt Relief Networks” that are a great place to start in locating legitimate debt settlement companies in your region. They provide free debt help and know where to locate the top performing debt settlement firms.