Overwhelming debt means much more than just cutting back on non-essentials to pay bills. For many people in Kentucky, the reality of their debt is much more dire and may involve avoiding harassing creditor phone calls, watching unpaid bills pile up on the counter and deciding between groceries or the paying for essential medical care. Popular media likes to portray…
The consumer credit reporting agency Experian has released its annual State of Credit report. The company’s analysis of consumer debt showed small improvements in credit scores in 2017 compared to 2016. The report also highlighted the challenges faced by consumers that some in Kentucky might recognize. Among people ages 21 to 34, the average credit score had risen four points…
Kentucky residents who have an urgent need for emergency cash may be able to take out a 401(k) hardship withdrawal. This may be available to make repairs to a home, pay emergency medical expenses or cover other emergency expenses such as rent or utility bills. To qualify for a loan, individuals cannot have access to other methods of covering those…
You, like many other Kentucky residents, likely rely on your vehicle for many needs. Whether you are trying to get to work or run errands, your car can make it much easier to reach your destination as needed. You may wonder what you would do without your car, and you may begin to worry that losing it could be a…
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has good and bad news for Kentucky residents. Americans have more credit available to them now than they have for the past two years. Logically, credit card debt has also gone up, but the really bad news is that delinquency rates have also increased. That means too many people are not paying their credit bills…
Chapter 13 bankruptcy can be a way for people in Kentucky who are drowning in debt to obtain protection that can save their home and their car while they work to regain financial stability. This kind of bankruptcy can be a good choice for people who have too high of an income to qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and are…
Kentucky ranks eighth on a top 10 list that isn’t a cause for celebration for the state’s residents. It’s a list of the 10 states with the most residents who have debt in collection. Forty percent of Kentucky’s residents have overdue debt, which is more than the national average of 33 percent. Experts say that the problem tends to be…
Dealing with any kind of debt can feel overwhelming. You may feel like many other Kentucky residents who believe that accruing debt is best left avoided. Unfortunately, not everyone can avoid accumulating outstanding balances due to a number of circumstances, and you may have found yourself facing substantial debt in various forms. Now that you need a serious approach to…
Debtors looking for a fresh start in Kentucky often have the option of filing for bankruptcy. However, they must reveal all assets during the process. The denial of one woman’s bankruptcy discharge in Illinois illustrates the importance of full disclosure of personal assets, including cash, on forms for the court. The woman had sought Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection when creditors…
Many older debtors in Kentucky may consider filing for bankruptcy because of their substantial medical debt, and they would not be alone. Medical debt is the top reason for personal bankruptcy filings in the country. People who are 65 years or older file almost eight percent of bankruptcies, an increase of one percent in 2008. There are multiple factors that…