Debt Service Uk

Posts Tagged ‘Personal Loan’

Any person that uses credit cards, owe money on a personal loan, or pays a home mortgage is a “debtor.” Taking loans and making payments has become a standard practice among homebuyers, people looking to purchase a car, or attending college or university. When a person falls behind in repaying his or her creditors or has an error in their accounts, they may be contacted by a “debt collector.” When this happens, generally most people tend to become very distraught and undergo a lot of anxiety and anguish. To alleviate this kind of anxiety, it is very helpful, empowering, and educational to know what your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which requires that debt collectors treat you fairly and prohibits certain methods of debt collection.

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, debts that are covered include personal, family, and household debts. This includes money owed for the purchase of an automobile, for medical care, or for charge accounts. Debt collectors are people that regularly collect debts owed by other people and they can include attorneys. Debt collectors frequently contacted people in person, or via telephone, fax, or mail. Under the Act, a debt collector can only contact you between regular hours from 8am-9pm. Any other times are strictly prohibited unless the person gives permission to the debt collector to contact them. Also debt collectors cannot contact you at work unless you give them permission. Debt collectors can be prevented from contacting people if the person in reference, writes a letter requesting that the collector stop contacting them. Once the collector receives the letter, they may not contact the person again except to say there will be no further contact or to notify the person that the debt collector or the creditor intends to take some specific action. Writing a letter of course, does not eliminate the debt. It only eliminates any harassment incurred from creditors or debt collectors. A debt collector can also contact the attorney of the person involved and also investigate the person’s background further, to obtain information such as the telephone number, the residence, and place of employment of the person concerned. Debt collectors are allowed to contact such third parties one time and are prohibited from further intrusions upon the said person’s privacy.

Within five days after the person is first contacted regarding their debt, the collector must send the person a written notice telling them specifically how much money they owe, the name of the creditor to whom they owe this money; as well as what action to take if the person does not believe that they owe this money. A debt collector is also by law, not able to contact the person again, if within thirty days of receiving the written notice, the person writes a letter stating that they do not owe the money. A debt collector can renew collection activities if they are sent proof of the debt, such as a copy of a bill for the amount owed.

The first principle towards settling your debt and moving towards a debt-free existence is in prioritizing your debt. What you must hold on for now to and what you must clear immediately is the first step towards debt management. A good debt management and prioritization of you loans settlement will get you out of debt. This article will give you some information guide on your debt management.

Which loans to prioritize?

Logically, the one with the highest rate of interest is the one that should be cleared quickly.

Two types of loans that should be cleared as soon as possible are personal loans and credit card loans.

The interest rate on these loans is the highest. On credit cards, it amounts to around 24% per annum (at 2% per month). A personal loan should be around 18% onwards. Even if you get the personal loan at a discount, it would be around 14% per annum.

Which loans can be serviced over time?

In your debt management process, there are loans which you need to prioritize to pay them off first, but there are loans which you could service them over time to reduce your loan repayment burdens. These loans can be serviced over time:

• 1. Loans with low or no interest rate
• 2. Loans with tax benefits

Home loans and education loan offer tax benefits and can be settled over time. Same for loans to family or friends, which are either interest-free or carry a low rate of interest.
The loans which you can close now

If you are in the bad debt situation, it is critical for you to close as much of loans as possible in the short period of time. Look at your asset list and see whether you have loan on these assets. For instance, you take a car loan for an asset - which is the car. In such a case, you can sell the car and close the loan.

If you are really struggling to pay your home loan, shifting to a smaller home or more economic location is solution for it.

Switch to Other Loans

As you know credit card interest rate is high and you might not able to clear it in short period of time; then, look for an alternative and switch it to a financier who will charge you a lower rate of interest.

For credit card, there is service call balance transfer. Say you are paying 2% or 2.25% per month on your card. You can go in for another credit card. They will pay back the bank and transfer your loan onto the new card. For the first six months, they will give you a lower interest rate. Say 1.5% or 1.75% per month. This lower rate of interest will help you pay back more.

For home loan, there are home loan packages which offer a very loan interest rate in the first 3 to 5 years; some even offer 0% interest rates in first 1-2 years. Take up these benefits by refinancing your home loan.

Summary

Almost all people have debt in somehow or rather and debt is the worst poverty. Being in debt is bad enough and not managing it well is worse. Know your debt and manage it property and you will get out from debt one day.