A Story About Signature Loans for People with Bad Credit

By Mark Richardson

The day may come when you have use for a personal loan with a term shorter than a few months. For example, you might find yourself in early April faced with a big tax burden and no liquid funds on hand to pay the government. You had no your business's sales were going to be so stellar, and now you're up against the bitter sweet situation of earning a lot of money and consequently owing a lot of it to the government.

So you owe the government some money, and you have one big problem - you spent all your cash reserves (which were supposed to take the fear out of tax day) on a trip to everyone's favorite gambling town in Nevada. You're wishing the government were in favor of such trips, so they'd give you a break on your bill, but no such luck. Yeah, right - it's either pay the bill or pay the interest and penalties.

You have another obstacle between you and your on-time payment to the government - you have terrible credit. See, that all goes back to the time you bought a brand new Dodge truck because the dealer made you an offer you couldn't refuse, so you financed the whole thing in spite of the fact that there was no way your meager income would cover the payments. You were soon several months behind, and before you knew it the repo man was taking your shiny rig away to be sold at auction.

You have yourself in a serious quandary - how are you going to get the government's money to them when you have no cash and really bad credit? There is an answer, although it's not ideal. Certain types of lenders will give you a signature loan for people with really bad credit.

First you should understand what a signature loan is, although it's fairly self explanatory. You walk in, fill out a couple forms, sign your name (hence, signature loan) and walk out with the cash you need. It's that simple, but it may not be that easy unless you can fulfill a couple of the prerequisites.

How much money do you make? Any intelligent bank will want to know that your earnings are at least triple the amount of your loan amount. In the face of a sub-600 Fico score, big paychecks will soothe the worries of a skittish lender.

And what about collateral? Collateral is defined as some valuable article the lender could sell on the open market if the borrower decided not to fulfill the obligations of the loan. It's a classic risk-minimizing tool for banks who want to be able to recover all or part of their lost money when they loan to flaky people. Be careful - if you use something you actually care about for collateral, you run the serious risk of losing your valued item.

If you can convince the bank you're not a major loan risk, you'll end up getting the loan and surviving the day. Next time you should probably be more prudent about the use of your emergency cash reserves and your tax planning. Don't let your financial situation become a vicious cycle!

About the Author:

Mark provides great information about signature loans online as well as reviewing some of the most prominent signature loan lenders.

No Closing Costs Fixed Rate Mortgage

By Gugu Martini

Considering whether you need a 30 or 15 year fixed mortgage rate is important for people looking to buy a home and concerned about their monthly payments. Many of us are buying homes later in life these days so it is not unreasonable to have the house paid off early. There are always things to take into account before signing documents. It is always a good idea to confirm that the interest rate does not alter during the term of the mortgage.

Steer clear of lenders that are offering unbelievable deals because they probably are. Loans agreed with a 15 year fixed mortgage keep the same interest rate throughout the entire life of the agreement. For those individuals that do not like hidden surprises, this is always a benefit. My wife and I looked into the loans available with 15 year fixed mortgage rates when we were searching for a home for sale.

Although paying off the mortgage was our main priority, we did not want to have monthly payments that were uncomfortably high. As well as thinking about loans of 15 years, we also considered fixed rate mortgages that lasted 30 years as well. We did not really like the prospect of having a mortgage as we approached retirement so were really hoping to get one of the loans with 15 year fixed mortgage rates. There was obviously very good reasons to finish paying the loan off early.

After taking everything into consideration we decided on a 30 year loan instead. There were many things that factored into this decision.The main reason was that I found out my wife was pregnant. My wife was going to raise our child from home so her addition to the monthly income would be restricted. Our monthly payment would have been too high if we had committed ourselves to the 15 year fixed mortgage plan. We could see the financial problem of getting in too deep even though there were benefits to a shorter loan period. Despite the trepidation of having a longer term loan, it did reduce the repayments considerably.

Being able to make additional lump sum payments during the year means the outstanding loan reduces faster. My making just a few of these payments each year we discovered that a number of years could be taken off the mortgage term. This is well worth it in the long term but it does require some discipline. Our first choice would have been to go for the short term 15 year fixed rate mortgage solution but this did not help with our more immediate situation. Despite all our worries, things turned out well for us and we do not regret the decision.

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Your small businees is not alone in this economy

By JR Rooney

You would have to be living in a cave not to be aware that we're in the worst financial crisis in our lifetimes in the United States. If you find yourself worried about your business and what can happen next, you're certainly not alone.

As I write this, the next few days bring great uncertainty about what the government is going to do to try and help bail out the failed banking system in the US. While it's not clear what form the assistance will take, it appears almost certain that the US government will have to do something to fix the mess created in the financial system by rampant greed. What is going to happen? Who knows! What is obvious is that the vast majority of Americans are very unhappy with the situation and quite angry about spending billions of dollars to bail out an industry known for greed.

The unfortunate truth is, a bailout is not the end of the troubles for those of us who run small businesses. The American economy is in deep trouble and is not likely to be fixed very quickly. All the major news outlets have commentaries about what's happening and what to expect. It seems the consensus is that it's unlikely we're going to experience a level of unemployment seen during the Great Depression. That's the good news. The bad news is that things are ugly and their likely get much worse before they get better. And if that wasn't enough, things are probably not to get better any time soon.

Small business owners are highly unlikely to land the line of credit they need in order to expand their business in the near future. So what can you do? No one can tell you what you need to do in your particular business, but I've always been a big supporter of the low-cost direct marketing style in my businesses. I suggest you start rethinking all the creative ways you can seek out more revenue at a minimum cost. This means not only getting new customers at minimum cost, but equally important, you need to try to sell more services to the customers you already have.

The situation is a lot more complicated than simply not being able to obtain credit, but it is also going to be difficult for many business owners to even make it through the next several years. There has already been a big drop in consumer spending in the US, and getting new customers as well as maintaining the ones you already have is going to get more difficult. That is why this is the time to get yourself back to the basic and most important task which is to get your business well marketed. There is nothing more important for your business in difficult times such as these than your marketing efforts.

About the Author:

JR works for a full service debt Collection Agency. When your clients won't pay, hire his Collection Company

Credit card customers feel the pinch after the credit crackdown

By Frank Armstrong

The Bank of England may have given UK PLC an economic boost with its recent interest rate cut of 1.5%, but the credit crunch isn't just affecting big business and the banking sector. The average person in the street is feeling the squeeze too. So will the reduction of the base rate to 3% offer any short-term relief to the customers holding a total of 72 million credit cards, beleaguered by interest charges far and above the base rate?

Homeowners looked forward to the interest rate cut, knowing that lenders would trickle down the base rate cuts to mortgage payers, reducing their monthly repayments. But credit card customers have been warned from the start that the same may not apply to them. Credit card lenders tend to reduce the APR to entice new customers in, offering deals that include 0% interest for fixed terms to encourage people to take up their cards. The mere fact that the Bank of England decided to cut the base rate has had no impact on their decision to continue to charge an average of just over 17% APR on credit cards. Lenders are concerned about the possibility of exposure to bad debt, so whilst 0% deals are still available and there are plenty of incentives for new customers to be found, the criteria set by the lenders may be stricter than before.

The lenders are more aware (and increasingly concerned) by the prospect of 'bad debt' eating into their profits, as some cardholders struggle to make repayments. Profit is intrinsically tied up in the amount of interest charged, and consequently lenders are fighting hard to make sure those profits aren't squeezed further by cutting interest rates, despite Government attempts to boost the economy at ground level. This reluctance to expose their companies to a worsening position has drawn the attention of the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, prompting them to call for a "new, responsible approach" to lending. Card lenders in return have made it quite clear that they do have their customers interests at heart, and stabilising the market is their first priority, rather than making knee-jerk cuts that could cause more problems than they solve.

Store cards are some of the worst offenders, cashing in on customer loyalty and a high street that relies on continuous spending. The average credit card APR rate has risen from 16.8% in 2007 to 17.6% today, despite the interest rate almost halving from 5.75% to 3% during the same time. Store card rates have risen more sharply, up by 1% over a six-month period. The most expensive store cards now charge an average of 30%. Government officials have been angered by the reluctance shown by card lenders to reciprocate the base rate cuts, accusing the credit card companies of behaving "irresponsibly" despite the mounting pressure from the Government and the public to mirror the base rate cuts with cuts of their own APR levels. Credit card lenders, however, remain steadfast in their refusal to adjust interest charges, knowing that to do so could damage the market far more than 'instant fixes' such as rate cuts.

The fear is that credit card companies, suddenly aware of their exposure to 'bad debt', are coming down hard on debtors over relatively small sums of money owed on cards, sometimes after the cardholder has missed only a couple of monthly payments. The mounting interest charges can mean that the minimum monthly repayment barely covers the cost of administration charges and interest payments. The Citizen's Advice Bureau backs up this claim, saying that 20% of all new debt inquiries in 2007-08 related to credit card, store card and charge card debts. The Consumer Credit Counselling Service also stated that it had seen a surge in 'charging orders' by card firms, as the lenders try to minimise their debt positions.

The US has responded to the credit crisis by ensuring that interest charges to credit cards have been mirroring the base rate cut, but the UK has yet to follow suit, despite only a 2% difference in base rates between the two countries. Card lenders put the blame squarely on the Government?s shoulders, claiming that regulation such as the Office of Fair Trading?s 2006 decision to put a ?12 cap on penalty fees, as well as their own falling profits on payment protection insurance, is responsible for increasing the cost of credit. They claim that this leaves them unable to reflect changes in the base rate by cutting the APR rate on credit cards. With this in mind, reductions in credit card interest rates look unlikely any time soon. However, with a little bit of legwork and a pocket calculator, a clever consumer can still find some good credit card bargains, with some card lenders bucking the trend and continuing to offer incentives to new and existing customers.

About the Author:

Frank Armstrong specialises in financial and money related articles for websites. Get further information on low interest credit card and compare credit cards here.

Foreclosures and Taxes Consquences

By David Pierce

So you escaped the huge house payment and got out from under it, or so you thought. If you thought you had problems when you could not afford the mortgage, you will really have problems with the Internal Revenue Service.

We will discuss the different ways you will owe the IRS in detail later on. Many homeowners bought their house under liberal financing terms such as interest and variable rate loans. These loans have become a liablity for many banks as the rates adjust and people cannot make the new payment.

The difference between what you owe on your mortgage and what the bank has to sell it for is called a short sale. Short sales are becoming widespread as many people are losing their homes to foreclosure. The difference in the two numbers is usually taxable.

A homeowner can owe taxes on a short sale when the bank forgives part of the balance or the debt is discharged. Homeowners should not think for a minute that cancelled debt is forgiven without tax consequences.

The tax rate can be as high as 35% depending on the tax bracket that the homeowner falls in. Tax law directs homeowners to actually sell their home back to the bank which the proceeds will go to their debt. The actual tax rate could be as low as 10%, but again it depends on your tax bracket the amount that the homeowner will owe at tax time.

Any debt that was owed beyond what had been paid is considered to be cancellation of debt, and is always taxable by the Internal Revenue Service. Many homeowners have been given bad advice and think that discharge or cancellation of debt by the bank entitles them to a free gift that is not taxable, this is not the case and discharged debt is taxable.

Owners of homes should always consider the tax consequences before they give thier home back to the bank, it is never as easy as it seems, and by giving their keys back to the bank, they could end up having a huge tax bill at the end of the year.

About the Author:

Are you worried about foreclosure and how it will effect your life? Visit our website Foreclosure Help to find out more information.

What is the definition of Debt?

By JR Rooney

What is the definition of debt?

Debt is something that is owed. An individual or business owing a debt is called a debtor. The entity to whom a debt is owed is called a creditor. Debt is used to borrow purchasing power with a promise to repay at some point in the future. Many businesses use debt as a part of their overall corporate finance strategy.

Types Of Debt

There are numerous types of debt obligations. They include loans, bonds, mortgages and promissory notes. It is common to borrow large sums for major purchases, such as a mortgage and pay it back with an agreed premium interest rate over time, or all at once at a later date (balloon payment). The amount of money outstanding is usually called a debt. The debt will increase through time if it is not repaid faster than it grows. In some systems of economics this effect is termed usury, in others, the term "usury" refers only to an excessive rate of interest, in excess of a reasonable profit for the risk accepted.

Larger companies can issue debt in the form of securities, known as bonds. Each bond entitles the holder to specific interest and principal payments. Bonds are traded in the bond markets, and depending on the rating are relatively safe investments in comparison to stocks.

For more info Google "debt

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When you are owed a debt you need a Collection Agency or request a free quote from a Collection Company

What Is a Good Credit Score

By Gugu Martini

A bit of time and effort are needed to understand how to amend your credit score. A credit rating is an indicator of your financial solvency and it is crucial if you need to borrow cash from loaners. A low credit score would always result in your credit application getting rejected.

Your evaluation tells loaners of how dependable you are as a borrower. This usually furnishes the lending institutions an insight into your financial standing. That is because the rating is a mathematical measure of a person's borrowing habits and behavior based on some important credit factors. A formula developed by the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) is usually used to calculate the score which is why your credit rating is also usually referred to as the FICO score.

When you have a low-level ranking, it tells the lender right away that you are not a very great candidate as a borrower. This may be based on your previous credit accounts from which you may have defaulted on, late payments of debts, bankruptcy or foreclosure issues that you may have in the past and other similar factors. A high ranking instantly puts you in a positive light to the lender and your credit application might be sanctioned.

There are many ways that you may be able to amend your credit score and this will include having a closer look at your current credit rating. See if you have overdue bills to pay, and pay them off instantly, as this can affect your credit ranking in a negative way. Remember that to improve credit history, you need to always pay your outstanding on time.

In case you find that you have missed on some past payments, make the situation current as soon as you can by clearing past dues. To have a good credit score, you need to stay current with your credit accounts. The really bad news is that history of all late or neglected payments stay in your credit history for 7 long years. This remains as a stark reminder of your delinquency even when you have cleared all your dues.

In case you find it tough to manage your outstanding credit scenario, it is a wise idea to contact either the creditors or seek professional counseling from a credit counselor. This of course would not magically amend your credit score, but at least it would lead you to pay your bills on time and clear past dues, which would automatically amend your credit evaluation.

Learning how to improve your credit would increase your chances to acquire that loan or mortgage, when you desperately need it. It is nothing but distressing to find that an application for a loan or credit gets rejected just because the credit rating is low. Improving your credit score can also assure you that you have better credit options especially during times that you might need it most.

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