The proliferation of Americans that have fallen into what we call the “debt trap,” has increased significantly within the past two years. I am confident that comes as no surprise to anyone familiar with this just by picking up a newspaper or watching the news.

I think it started with the housing bubble burst. Americans could no longer rely on their homes on Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOC), because the value of their homes began to fall instead of increasing ever year for the past 10 years.

Next we had a recession, which further exasperated the problem. Finally, the unemployment rate began to take off as more companies saw this as an opportunity to pear down on their most expensive line item…employees. Right now some states have actually topped the 10% range while others are getting close to that.

To make matters worse, we saw a proliferation of companies that popped up on television or the radio with promises to share with you the “secrets” the credit cards companies would not share with you. My friends, there are no such secrets. Debt reduction and debt settlement has been going on since the B.C. Creditors have always been willing to negotiate and settle someone debts if they can prove they have a viable hardship and really need help.

Which leave us with, where does the average person turn to when looking for help? We say one site that stated that if the organization was not a member of TARP then stay away from them. Most people do not even know what TARP is. Therefore, we suggest you take you time, do some research, and ask questions. Never hire a company that is going to charge you a percentage of your entire debt! State Attorney General’s Offices are pursuing those companies as I write this article.

If you are a Christian, look for a solid Christian company. Look for the Better Business Bureau and Dun & Bradstreet reports on these companies. Finally, never loose hope.

As a Christian company that specializes in helping individuals and small businesses get out of debt, it comes as no surprise that the weight of a recession, joblessness approaching 10% or higher in some states and the fear of inflation just around the corner, one could say, these are the worst of times. For many Americans that is very real and very true.

As our pastor said this weekend, it is no wonder people are fearful of the future, as God is not there yet. God is only in the present. Not in the past and not in the future, however He is only present to us right now.

Therefore, if you are one of the many thousands of Americans that find yourself in what we call “the debt trap,” things can seem hopeless to you right now. The only light you see is one of a train coming down the tracks. However, as we consult our clients, we also insist on staying in the present, where God is. If we can do that, which is not always easy, we truly have half the battle won. The second realization to know is that there is a solution. I think for me that was the biggest realization of my life. I thought I was unique and that no one could be experiencing the debt problems I was. I was wrong of course. I am not unique. In fact, there are many people a lot worse off that I ever was.

Therefore, if it makes any sense to you, stay present. Stay “in tune” with our Lord. We share an acronym at work for the word FEAR. It is: False Emotions Appearing Real. Do not let these emotions get the better of you. Stay present and let us know if we can help you.

For a free, confidential, no obligation quote on your debt problems, contact us toll free at 800-890-6658.

According to Moody’s Investors Services, the U.S. Credit-card defaults rose to a record during the month of September and more losses lie ahead as delinquencies rose for the first time since March of this year.

What does that mean to you and me? We are not paying our bills on time in record numbers! Moody’s went on to say that write-offs, the things that credit card companies take when settling debt rose from 11.49 percent from 10.2 percent. The breakdown was as follows. Loans at least 30 days delinquent rose to 5.8 percent from 5.73 percent, a slight increase. “Early stage” debt, or loans overdue by 30 to 50 days, surged to 1.65 percent from 1.41 percent, signaling higher losses in the coming months.

Banks typically “write-off” bad debt at 6 months or 180 days. With unemployment at close to 9.7 percent, credit card issuers are struggling to make ends meet.

Moody’s says it expects the credit card sector will not see any recovery until mid-2010 when charge off peaks or unemployment reaches 10.5 percent.

While some say this recession is now behind us, these numbers would certainly not coincide with that thought. If 30-day and 30-59 day delinquencies continue to rise, it will only be a matter of time before the over 60 day delinquencies start to rise as well.

What does all mean to you and me. Well, for one, we are not paying off our debt. While that is happening, banks and creditors are racking up fees upon fees as well as raising interest rates, while at the same time lowering credit lines of individuals. The squeeze is on, and when that happens, and liquidity dries up, the last thing on your mind will be credit card bill.

If you like help with your credit card bills, give us a call today for a free, (800-890-6658) confidential and no obligation consultation on what you should be doing to help with your credit card debt.

There seems to be a recurring theme in our country right now, with major corporations filing for bankruptcy to get rid of (or walk away from) their debt obligations (such as their bondholders). These people worked hard, invested their money in the bond or stock market, in order to help these companies grow and as such, hire more people to sell more their “stuff.” However, when a company files for bankruptcy, they basically walk away from having to pay on their outstanding debt, leaving the investor (average American) hanging out to dry.

It is no wonder then that personal bankruptcies are at their highest levels in the United States in over 15 years, and climbing. I guess people feel that “if corporate America can walk away from their debt, why can’t I.” The point is they can. It is just a little different and difficult to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy for individuals and families. You see, about 3 years ago, the credit card industry lobbied Congress to pass legislation to make it a lot harder to file for bankruptcy than ever before. In fact, over 35% of all those that file, eventually do not qualify for Chapter bankruptcy. Once, they do, then there is the stigma of having this show up on your credit report for the next ten (10) years. Why should you care you think? Well, other than that affecting you when you apply for a job, your auto, home or other insurances could sky rocket, as you would been seen as a “risk” to the insurance companies.

So how does one decide if bankruptcy is for them. 90% of all bankruptcies are filed through an attorney. We recommend you still seek out legal council, to see if you even qualify. As a Christian company, we condone bankruptcy, as we believe in “Repay(ing) to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” Mark 12:17. We believe that you should look at a credit debt company to see if you qualify for their debt relief program. That way you can pay off your debt, for a fraction of what you owe, without the stigma of the 10 year bad credit rating. Contact a debt settlement company today and see if this alternative is right for you.

Today we received some what some would say is good news from The Federal Reserve Bank. The report stated that consumer credit dropped by $21.5 billion from June 2009 to July 2009.

The Fed went on to say that consumer credit lines in the U.S. totaled $2.47 trillion in July, down 10% from June’s 2.49 trillion total. If I do the math it seems to me it is only a 1% drop, however we all know how the fed can play with numbers, especially when talking about trillions here and trillions there.

The main reason though for this cut back as many of you know is because banks have pulled back on credit lines, raised interest rates and cancelled credit cards. There is not a day that goes by that we do not hear about this from our own clients. It is almost like a broken record now.

The conversation usually goes like this. I was 30 days late on one of my credit cards. Next thing I knew, all of them then raised my interest 29.9%. In addition, they lowered my credit line for X to Y, just $100 above what I owe them. Sound familiar to you?

So, the “good news” from the Fed is that consumer credit totals are the lowest now since 2006. Tell me something I don’t know….please.

If you find yourself in this familiar situation and do not know where to turn, talk to a debt relief company that can help you negotiate and settle you credit debt for a fraction of what you. We’ll get this thing lowered alright!

We are often asked this question, whenever a call comes in. As we know, people that call in or fill out a form on the Internet looking for credit debt relief have never been though anything like this before. It definitely is not something that is talked about around the water cooler or lunch room at work. It is very personal and very confidential.

So you answer folks basic questions, however when they ask, “Why would the credit cards companies negotiate,” I wish I could just put a recorder on and play it back for them. Instead, I will write this out in the hopes that when people read it, it makes sense to them.

There are three major reasons why creditors will negotiate and settle your debt. The first one is the obvious one….they do not want you to file for bankruptcy. If you owe a creditors $10,000 (or any amount for that matter) and they will settle it for half that or $5,000, the $5,000 they collect is better than collect $0.00 dollars. So this first option is fairly obvious.

The second reason creditors will settle your debt, is that most of it is probably interest anyway. I like to give my clients this example: You get a solicitation in mail for a brand new shiny silver or gold credit card for $5,000. You mail in the form and low and behold that new shiny credit card comes in the mail about 10 days later. However, you have been wanting something for so long, that you use that $5,000 to buy…IT. You say to yourself, I can afford to put $200/month towards paying this off and do. So, in 25 months it is all paid off, right? ($200 x $25 = $5,000). But no, there was a little thing in there called interest. For argument sake, let’s say your interest rate was 15.9%. If you paid $200/month, it would take you 31 months to pay this off or $6,200, not $5,000. Put another way, if you wanted to pay this off in 25 months, you would have to pay $236.26/month not $200 for the privilege of having “IT” now.

Of course we know that folks that get caught in the “debt trap” do not even pay the $200/month, and as a result you have interest building on top of interest, to where you have already paid “IT” off probably 3-4 times over, before “IT” is paid off. The creditors know this of course. In addition, they made an additional 2.5% from the merchant when you initially bought your items to begin with. They usually do not loose money when we negotiate your debt.

Finally, how creditors account for this debt paid back is all together another little secret that would take 10 more pages to explain. However, suffice it to say, creditors do not lose money when a negotiation and settlement is made. Therefore, if you have credit debt issues, we trust that this will help answer your first basic question.

Contrary to popular belief or what you read on the Internet, the United Stated government Does Not offer grants for helping individuals get out of personal debt. I came across another one of these blogs again this morning, and naturally they the scenario sounds the same. “The government can help you get out of debt; you just need to know where to look.”

Why then do these bloggers insist on reporting this false information? It is like a dog trying to chase its own tail. In doing some more research, I noticed that once you become completely frustrated, you end back on that bloggers web site, which is usually a debt relief company. They pump out false information, have you spend hours on the Internet in frustration, and then when you give up, you end up going to them and asking for help.

It is a very odd way to generate business in our opinion. Why not just be truthful from the beginning? Therefore, to set the record straight, even though our government seems to be pumping out money to everyone except individuals, if you have credit card debt troubles, the United States government is not going to give you a grant to pay off this debt….period.

I know what I am about to share with you will not be popular. However, debt in our country, both personal and by the government is only going to get worse before it gets better. We are seeing this trend right now!

Many folks, roughly 30% of all Americans, are relying on their credit cards to make monthly payments on other routine bills each month such as their utility bills, doctor’s bills, or even car payments. Most of this is due to the economic downturn of job losses or a cut back in hours or pay for many Americans. I do not want to say that “big business” is taking advantage of the economic situation in our county today, however many folks I talk to have not had a pay raise in a few years, and if they have, it has not kept up with the cost of living.

Add to that the increased amount of taxes that are being imposed upon us, and one wonders where or when this will all stop.

Yesterday, I heard the government expects our deficit to increase to 9 TRILLION dollars over the next 10 years. A trillion, just in case you forgot, is 100 million time 10! Where is this money going? And, how many of you really believe we can sustain this, and continue as a country. The answer is simple. We can’t.

I know personally I can do anything about the government debt. However I can help you find debt relief whereby in three years or less, you can have all your credit card and unsecured debt paid off. It is all done though negotiation with your creditors. We have the “hired guns” on hand to do this for you, so you can take care of the other important things in your life.

Therefore, if you feel like you are in the “debt trap” and need help, give one of our professional debt reduction consultants a call at 800-890-6658 for a free no obligation quote. You will be glad you did.

Today the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) came out with some very disturbing numbers that show no sign of lessening, after rising jobs lost and a continued recession. In fact, the Institute estimates that by December 31, 2009, bankruptcies in America will hit 1.4 million people, after rising more than a third this year.

More than 126,000 consumers filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. last month, 34 percent more than in July 2008, the ABI said in its latest report on Aug. 4. The increase came after a 36.5 percent rise in personal bankruptcies nationwide in the first six months, to 675,351, according to the ABI research group, which interprets data collected by the National Bankruptcy Research Center.

As most Americans who are struggling right now, this is not “news” to them. They know what is going on, contrary to what any report the government put out. Facts are facts.

Credit Card Losses

JPMorgan said losses in its Chase credit-card portfolio may be 10 percent next quarter and will be “highly dependent” on unemployment after that. Losses for cards issued by Washington Mutual, which the bank acquired in September, may reach 24 percent by the end of the year, the company said.

JPMorgan’s credit cards lost $672 million, compared with income of $250 million in the second quarter last year

Bank in October of 2005, Congress, though heavy lobbying by the credit card industry enacted the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, a legislative reform package intended to make it harder for consumers to get court orders wiping out their uncollateralized debt. That in turn has led more and more consumers into a debt reduction program such as ours. Companies like JPMorgan would much rather settle your credit card debt for a fraction of what you owe, versus you filing for bankruptcy whereby they get nothing in return.

For more information on this or how you can a debt relief company could help you, call us toll free at 800-890-6658.

So, the heat is turning up on President Obama, as his “official” birth certificate from Kenya has shown up. Now what? Does he have to step down immediately? Will Joe Biden be our President for the next 3 years? What has this got to do with you and your debt situation? In all honesty, I do not see any correlation. I do know that whenever I wanted anything from the government, i.e. a passport, my military service, my VA card and most importantly my marriage, I had to produce my birth certificate.

Had I lost it, as our President claims, it is very simple to get a replacement. So how do you make it to the highest office in the land, without a birth certificate? Only a Chicago politician can answer that question.

Anyway, back to debt relief, the recession and our economy, you know the important stuff. Consensus has predicted this recession will end by the end of 2009. What is does not state is how unemployment will be affected. Last I saw, we were approaching double digits, with some states already there.

In all honesty, I do not see much changing in our pocket books this year. Add to that, that it appears we are going to get the this new Obama care rammed through our legislature, that I absolutely know will affect our government taking more of our money out of pocket book in the form of new taxes to pay for it. This reminds me of the old, “Read My Lips,” by former President George W. Bush senior, that eventually cost him his re-election.

Credit card debt, credit card bills and creditor calls however are not going to go away. However, there is a solution at least with this issue. That solution is debt reduction. Hiring a company to negotiate and settle your debt for a fraction of what you owe. If you would like more information, please free to contact our offices toll free at 800-890-6658 for a free consultation, and leave the politics to the pundits.

If you have not read your most recent credit card statements, you should! Many of our clients are now telling us that, due to the new law that begins on February 1^st, 2010, many credit card companies are raising your interest rates AND lowering you credit line.

For example, let’s say you had a credit line of $10,000 with ABC Credit Card, and you owe $5,200. There is a very good chance they have lowered your credit line to $5,300, leaving you absolutely no room to use that card again. Moreover, if you do not pay your balance down soon, you will likely incur more services charges….their favorite!

If this is not enough, they are raising the interest rates they charge you. We have clients accounts go from 8.9% to 29.9% overnight! Lastly, they are shortening up the “grace period” from 30 days to 20 days or less.

Our suggestion, make sure you read you statements each month! Then, if you feel you are in need of a debt relief company to help you, give as a call toll free. 800-890-6658. We can help answer your questions for you.

Some of the Language from the Bill includes:

A provider that is required to be licensed under this division shall maintain a toll-free communication system, staffed at a level that reasonably permits an individual to speak to a customer service representative, as appropriate, during ordinary business hours.

(a) Before an individual assents to an agreement to engage in a program, the provider shall do all of the following:

(1) Prepare and provide a written financial analysis specific to the individual.

(2) Provide a written good faith estimate of the length of time it will take to complete the program and a statement of the total amount of debt owed to each creditor included in the program. The estimate shall include a statement of the monthly savings goals for the individual to complete the program.

(3) Based upon the completed financial analysis, make a determination that the individual is qualified for a debt relief program and that the individual can reasonably meet the requirements of the program.

One of the most important aspects of working with a debt relief program is How The Company Makes Its Money.

Basically, there are two models in our industry right now. The first model is one we use, whereby our negotiators do not get paid until a settlement is made. More or that in a moment.

The second or newer model, (i.e. companies that have started up within the past 5 years), use the percentage of debt model. With this model, you pay anywhere from 12% to 18% of the total amount of debt you owe. For example, if you have $50,000 in credit card debt, and the company charges you 15% of your total debt, you will pay them $7,500, BEFORE they start doing any work for you. ($50,000 x 15%)

The first model, and the one we use, is an incentive based model in that the negotiators are only paid when a settlement is made! You pay only a one-time set up fee to start.

For example, let’s say you owe one of your credit cards (CC) $1,000. Our negotiator settles that account for $400 or $.40 cents on the dollar. The negotiator earns 30% of the dollar amount they saved you. In this example, you saved $600; therefore the negotiator earned $180 (30% of $600). The total you paid out would be $400 to the CC company and $180 to the negotiator for a total payout of $580 of $.58 cents on the dollar.

However, let’s take the same example, however this time the negotiator settles the account for $300, or $.30 cent on the dollar. In this example you saved $700. 30% of $700 = $210. Therefore, in this example you would pay a total of $510 of $.51 cents on the dollar. ($300 to the CC Company and $210 to the negotiator).

Therefore, using this first model, the more a negotiator can negotiate your debt down, the better it is for you and the better it is for them. It is a win-win situation.

That is why we will always stay with this model. In addition, with our model, should you have to cancel the program for any reason, any monies in your trust account would be returned to you. In the other model (percentage of debt) you would only get any monies left over after having paid the $7,500 first.

We suggest that when shopping around for the right debt reduction,company to do work with in helping you settle your debt, you take this into consideration. It will save you time and a lot of money over the long term, in addition to having someone paid an incentive to the best possible job they can for you. For a free, no obligation, consultation, please call 800-890-6658.

The secret to paying off credit-card debt is really very simple: All you need to do is earn more than you spend, and apply the savings toward paying down your debt.

So then what makes tackling credit-card debt so hard? Sadly, many seem to be losing the battle of the credit-card balance. Consider that 50% of all credit-card holders carry a balance, according to an industry tracker. And among families that have at least one credit card, the average balance is a staggering $8,637. Seven years ago it was only $3,472.

Part of the problem is that the credit-card companies have made it easier and easier than ever to carry a balance. However many fiscally responsible people can also find themselves woefully in debt after some sort of personal crisis, such as the loss of a job, a divorce, or a serious illness.

So what are the warning signs that your credit-card debt has changed from nuisance to crisis? For starters, if you think that you might be having a problem, then you probably do. Generally speaking, your debt-to-income ratio (not including mortgage payments) should not exceed 25%, which means that you should not be devoting more than 25% of your net monthly income to paying off credit cards and other non-mortgage debt. Other signs of trouble include:

If the creditors are calling or if your credit report is already suffering due to late payments or bills that you've been unable to pay at all, then you probably should consider talking with a debt reduction program and get the help that you need.

These days approximately 80% of all workers with a 401(k) plan can borrow from their plans for whatever purpose they choose. In addition, a growing number of 403(b) plan participants are now able to do the same. If you have been diligently putting away a portion of your salary over the past few years and your company has made some type of matching to your savings, the chances are that puts a lot of money at your fingertips, barring recent stock exchange fluctuations.

Would it not make sense than to use this money for paying off your credit card debt or perhaps use these monies, take a trip or buy something? The question then becomes, “Does it make sense to take out a loan from your 401(k) or 403(b) for these reasons?”

Let’s look at it. In today’s environment, a typical 401(k) plan will allow you to borrow up to half your vested balance, however not more than $50,000. Still other plans might limit this amount depending upon the purpose of the loan, such as for medical expenses, educational expenses or the purchase of a new home.

To start with, this is your money you must pay back to your plan, along with interest, over a five year period. However, since you will be paying the interest to yourself, it is not an additional cost. Just think of it as forced savings. However, if you elect to not pay the loan back, you will owe income tax on those monies, plus a 10% early withdrawal penalty to the IRS.

From our view, there are three big negatives to borrowing from your 401(k) or 403(b) plans to pay off your debt. First, you will be giving up the tax-free compounding of all monies you withdraw. Second, you will be replacing pretax money with after-tax money. Therefore, if you are in the say the 27% tax bracket, it will take $1.40 in salary to replace every $1 you withdrew from your account. Finally, if you leave your current employer, you will probably have to pay the loan back immediately. We believe these three negatives outweigh any positive to borrowing from your retirement plan to pay off your debt. Instead, we suggest a debt reduction or debt relief company to help you reduce debt or pay off your credit cards.

I know most of you had heard the ads on television or the radio advertising about how you can save money through a debt reduction company. That is true. However first you must find the right company, the does this in a legal and ethical way. So do your homework first.

Second, the debt relief industry has been around for a long time. This is not something that is brand new. It is getting more attention, because of the bombardment of advertising; however a lot of it has to do with the economy that we are in today. A lot of hard working, caring folks will go into this week’s 4^th of July “celebration” without a job, receiving unemployment benefits, or even food stamps for the first time in their lives.

However, what makes things more difficult for the debt reduction companies this time around is that many of the people who are struggling with debt, because of their unemployment, cannot even come up with enough money to pay the lower negotiated fees, even though the companies are getting good settlements for them. In addition to that, many people who have used their homes in the past as ATM machines when in debt trouble can no longer use their homes for equity anymore.

As a debt settlement consultant, I can tell you that you are not alone. We receive numerous calls every day by people who are what are called, “upside down” on their debt to income ratios. This simply means that they have fixed costs (other than credit card debt) than they are bringing in, having to reply on the credit cards for part of their income.

These are the truly needy people. However there is hope and there are solutions. Contact a debt settlement company and see for your self what your options are. Look at all options and not just one company. Look for a company with a good Better Business Bureau rating that can help walk you through these difficult times.

Having been in the debt relief business for a number of years now, I think it is safe to say that I have heard just about everything. How folks fall into the “debt trap,” albeit through a divorce, a job loss, taking an elderly parent in, or simply unexpected bills (usually of the medical nature.) The pain these people are going through at this stage in their lives is hard to fathom sometimes, even when you have heard the same hardship several times before.

One of the things I enjoy most about working for a Christian organization is that we are allowed to pray with our clients over the telephone. I cannot tell you how many families I have talked to over the years that when I hear tears or heartache over the telephone, I can stop the conversation, and simply ask, “Can we just stop and say a little prayer?” I have never been told no! That, in and of itself, after getting spoon fed the crap in our secular society today is a blessing unto itself.

The other part of the equation is when I tell my clients that there is a solution. How many times to we run into problems in our lives, especially financial ones, and it seems that there is no help in site. Then I walk though our program with them and show them that not only can we reduce their entire debt down, we can save them money on their monthly payment plans as well.

Finally, it does not end with getting rid of their unsecured debt (credit cards, personal loans, medical bills, etc.), as it does in helping them get a handle on all of their financial problems. For example, people whose two car payments exceed their mortgage payment. Or, people whose debt to income ratio is twice the national average. Basic things on how to set up a budget and live within your means, while at the same time setting aside money for vacations and emergency funds.

The best part of all of this is when people realize that they are not slaves to their paycheck any more. You can actually go after the job you really want, because you do not owe your creditors a dime any more. It is not rocket science, however at the same time, it is never taught in schools either. It is also what I did. In summary, I guess you can say I love my job. How many people can say that? Pray, Solutions, the sense of getting your life back. What could be more rewarding?

I am confident most everyone in America today is aware of what is happening in Iran these days with the elections (or lack thereof). In America, and most civilized democracies, I think we take simple freedoms, like the right to vote, too lightly.

Take me for example. When I was struggling with my debt over ten (10) years ago, there were not many companies I could go turn to for help. Today, ten years later, there is a proliferation of companies that provide these debt relief services. It is truly capitalism at its best. Take something that works really well, while helping people out at the same time. Nationwide Debt Reduction has been doing this for the Christian community for some time now.

Now, another example. I had a late flight last week that did not get back into town until after midnight. Not wanting to call my wife for a ride, I elected to take the short taxi ride. My driver was a native of Iraq. He had been her for a little over 5 years. So I asked him, how it feels to live here versus there. He told me, “I am ready to go home.” As much as he loved America and the freedoms we have, he told me Iraq no has those same freedoms. He said, “you never read about it in the newspapers here, however the schools the hospitals, the roads, everything is now so much better than with Saddam Hassan in power. We have the same freedoms as you have now.”

We often get calls from prospecting clients asking us what the difference is between secured debt and unsecured debt, or even quasi debt and, “What is the debt relief process?”

I think it is a very fair question and worth taking the time to answer. Secured debt simply means that your debt is secured by something other than your signature. For example, your home is secured debt. The house acts as a “security’ to the bank or lender that should you no longer be able to make your payments, they can come and take or foreclosure on your house.

Another example of this would be your vehicles. They are secured by the vehicles themselves. Miss enough payments and the lender will have your vehicle repossessed.

Unsecured debt, on the other hand, is debt that you incurred with your signature. This could be credit cards, doctor or hospital bills, or personal loans you may have taken out from your bank or credit union. These are secured only by your signature. As a result, if you cannot make the payments on them, the creditor cannot come and take anything from you. This is unsecured debt and therefore negotiable with your creditors.

Finally, there is quasi unsecured debt. This is debt that you incurred, by taking advantage of special offers that retail stores make, such as “No interest and no payments until January 1, 2010 etc.” Let’s suppose you had your house carpeted or you purchased a new television under one of these agreements. The retailer certainly does not want their carpet back after you have used it for 9 months or television back either. This then turns your secured debt (carpet) into unsecured debt, which is negotiable as well.

For more information on how you can get help with your unsecured debt, simply click here, Getting Stated.

So it is official. I think June 1, 2009 will go down as another day of infamy. No, not on the scale of our country being attacked in Pearl Harbor Hawaii, however the day General Motors became Government Motors. I am saddened by it all.

First of all, we have no idea what will happen to the 56,000 plus employees that worked there, nor do we know what will happen to the estimated 3,600 dealerships that employ probably another 56,000 employees. How many will survive the “new” company and how many will now join many others in the ranks of the unemployed?

Then there is the whole notion of our government, not only deciding how much money bank employees can make, however it has now thrown over $5 billion (with a at a private company. I do not think this is good for America. I cannot think of one thing that our government is good at running. Can you name one?

The next target I hear is the fast track for a universal health care system. My answer to that is; “If you really want to see how good our government is with running healthcare, just go and visit the nearest VA hospital near you.” I can assure you, you would not vote for universal healthcare after that visit. Is this socialism or as some even suggest the start of Marxism? I have no idea, however if it looks like a duck and smells like a duck, it probably is a duck.

What, you might ask, does this have to do with debt reduction or debt settlement. First, we hope that these 100,000 plus employees will either retain or find new jobs. However, with the economy in the shape that it is in now, what are the odds of that? Second, what has happen to our country? How does the U.S. government now own one of the largest U.S. corporations, using our money to pay for it? Finally, who will be next?

The Senate has passed and has sent to the House the new credit card legislation. The President is expected to sign the legislation as soon as it passes house approval. The bill, in essence, is too make it harder for credit card companies to raise interest rates on your credit card, if you miss a payment. Unfortunately, even after the President signs the bill, it will not take effect until 2010.

Some of the other consumer protections in the bill include:

• Card holders who are over sixty (60) days late on their payments can (and probably will) have their interest rates raised. The interest rate would then revert back to its original rate if the consumer makes the minimum payment for six (6) consecutive months.
• If your credit card has two interest rates on it, as most due for cash advances etc., all payments must be applied to the higher interest rates first.
• Gift cards cannot expire until 5 years from the current one year they have now.
• The credit card agreements must be posted on the credit card companies web site with ease of access and understandability.
• Credit card statements must be mailed at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the due date.
• Anyone under the age of twenty-one (21) must have a co-signer on their credit card, unless they are able to show the credit card company that they have the ability to make monthly payments.
• Bills can be paid over the telephone without having to pay a fee for the transaction.

We will keep you updated on this new legislation. Stayed tuned to your debt reduction company for updates.

So here we are on a beautiful Memorial Day, in the year of our Lord, 2009. I read the headlines this morning, and I see that North Korea has launched an underground nuclear test the size of the Nagasaki bomb. (Ever wonder why we experience earthquakes?)

The next article was on Iran, and their sending six (6) of their own navy ships into International waters for the first time ever. Unprecedented said the headlines.

Another one was on Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after being in Washington D.C. last week and having met with President Obama, going against President Obama regarding Israel position on having a Palestinian state.

I almost forgot, the space shuttle landed home safely, and the home team lost its baseball game. Can the gloom be any heavier?

However, being a former military man myself, I decided I would go to our church service and honor those that have died for this beautiful country we live in, and how many more will have to die to for us to remain free.

The scripture verse was absolutely perfect. It was from our bother John, versus 16: 31-33 as our pastor read:

“But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world."

How soon I forget that our Lord Jesus Christ, has already conquered the world, and WON! I think I will get to enjoy the rest of the day after all. God Bless you on this Memorial Day Monday.

Our debt reduction offices will be closed to observe the holiday.

As you may or may not know, the credit card industry was able to have legislation passed approximately 3 years ago, making it harder to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and wipe away your debt. Below are some of the highlights on the new law. Pertaining to you the consumer.

1.         The law will not allow you to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy when you can afford to pay a small amount each month to your creditors.  The law is designed to stop you from being able to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  This creditor backed bankruptcy law turns the Bankruptcy Courts into the credit industry’s tax supported collection agency.  Any person whose family earnings are more than the average for their state will not be allowed to file a Chapter 7 case if they will have as little as $166 dollars in discretionary income. Instead, the bankruptcy law will require that your bankruptcy case be dismissed or turned in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy repayment plan.

 2.         The amount the Bankruptcy Court says you can afford to pay might be based on income you no longer have.  The bankruptcy Court rules will assume you still make what you averaged over the six months before your bankruptcy case was filed.  Many people need to file bankruptcy after a job loss or illness.

 3.         The Bankruptcy Court may require you to adjust your living expenses to unrealistic low levels.  How much can you afford to pay each month?  Under the bankruptcy law, the Bankruptcy Court won’t ask you, the Bankruptcy Court will tell you.  The IRS’s expense guidelines will mandate how much the Bankruptcy Court will allow you to spend on living expenses for housing, utilities, food, clothing, transportation and other necessary expenses. 

 4.         Your bankruptcy case will take longer to prepare and will cost you more money. The bankruptcy law will require more work and effort to prepare your bankruptcy case.  That means it will cost you more money to be properly represented in the Bankruptcy Court.

 5.         You will be required to attend credit counseling before you are allowed to file bankruptcy.  What do credit counselors do?  Every one I have heard about makes their income only if you allow them to setup a repayment pay with your creditors.  That is why the major credit counseling service across America receive a lot of its funding from major financial institutions. Requiring you to meet with your adversaries before filing bankruptcy is hardly a good policy.  People should be free to seek independent advice.  Not forced to accept information from their bill collectors. 

 6.         Attendance at a personal financial management course will be required to receive a bankruptcy discharge (in addition to the credit counseling you were required to attend before the bankruptcy case was filed).  Regardless of the reasons for filing your bankruptcy case, you will have to attend a personal financial management course. 

 7.         Your tax records will be open to the public.  The bankruptcy law requires you to file your tax returns with the Bankruptcy Court.  By the way, who do telephone solicitors work for?  Under the old bankruptcy law they stayed private.  Under the new bankruptcy law they will have to be filed with the bankruptcy court and open to public inspection.

 8.         If you have filed personal bankruptcy in the past, you will have to wait longer to file bankruptcy again.  Also, your option to file a Chapter 13 case will be greatly restricted.   Illness, job loss, and other personal setbacks, can strike more than once.  Under the bankruptcy law you won’t be allowed to file another bankruptcy case within 8 years of a previous bankruptcy case.

 9.         More debts will “survive” your bankruptcy.  Some debts that you could have eliminated in the past, won’t be discharged under the bankruptcy law.  One big example are bills you were ordered to pay in a divorce case.  For example, if you were ordered to pay $15,000.00 in credit card bills by the divorce judge, you won’t be able to eliminate those in your bankruptcy case. 

 10.       Many people will be forced into a 5 year Chapter 13 bankruptcy repayment plan instead of having their debts eliminated in Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  Today most Chapter 13 bankruptcy payment plans last 3 years.  The bankruptcy law will require 5 year Chapter 13 cases for many people.  If you earn more than an average income you may not be eligible to have your bills eliminated in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  Instead, you may have to live under the Bankruptcy Court’s supervision for 5 years while you make monthly payments.

 11.       A bankruptcy case will no longer stop an eviction, even for people who plan to pay back due rent.  Years ago, a bankruptcy case could help you save your home.  A bankruptcy could stop an eviction and give you time to get caught up on your rent.  The bankruptcy law now will allow a landlord to kick you out even when you just need some extra time to get the rent current.

12.) The IRS and your State Department of Revenue may be able to have your bankruptcy case dismissed for missing the deadline for a tax return.  You might not even owe any tax, but the bankruptcy law will allow the IRS to ask the Bankruptcy Court to dismiss your bankruptcy case for being late with a tax return.  Not only will the bankruptcy law make it harder to file bankruptcy, it makes it harder to stay in bankruptcy.

Therefore, if you are thinking about filing for bankruptcy versus working with a debt reduction or debt relief company, you may want to re-think your options. Talk with a debt settlement company before talking with an attorney. 

Most debt reduction or debt settlement companies cannot negotiate and settle student loan debt. The reason is very simple, like a mortgage, the federal government backs the agency that is lending the money. Therefore, although it would appear from the outside that a student loan is an unsecured debt, similar to a personal loan from your bank, it is not. It is a quasi-secured loan and therefore almost non-negotiable. Does that mean that if you are struggling to pay your student loan that you are out of options? Absolutely not! While it is difficult to discount many of the federally funded student loan balances, cash discounts can be successfully negotiated. Furthermore, there are many programs available that could make the repayment of your loan much easier for you. Some of these arrangements are listed below:

MODIFICATIONS: Many student loans are simply impossible to repay for some borrowers. Under certain circumstances: a lender will agree to modify the repayment agreements, generally lowering the interest rate and/or the monthly payments

LUMP SUM PAYOFFS/CASH DISCOUNTS: If you have the ability, lump sum payoffs can be arranged at a discount. While many student loans have restriction on the amount of a settlement, even small discounts can result in substantial savings to you. The settlements can vary drastically from lender to lender and agency to agency. Nationwide Debt Reduction can look into your personal situation and create a plan tailored just for you.

DEFERRMENTS: You can arrange a deferment of your payment to a date sometime in the future. Usually, the payments can be deferred for as much as a year. In some circumstances, the deferment period could be substantially longer. During this period, the interest accrues and the balance on your loan will increase accordingly.

FORBEARANCE: In this plan, the borrower is behind in payments and there is a demand for the full amount owed in arrears. We are generally able to negotiate a payment plan for the amount in arrears over a year to 18-month period. Typically, after a year, the loan will be brought current and negative credit information will be deleted or modified to show that the loan is current.

CONSOLIDATION: In this plan, multiple existing student loans can be combined into a single agency or one single account.

HARDSHIPS: Under certain rare circumstances, student loans may be forgiven, deeply discounted or discharged in bankruptcy. Typically, this kind of arrangement requires special circumstances…disability, injury or other circumstance that makes it impossible or difficult to repay the loan.

1. You can always do NOTHING, hoping for your situation to get better. If you are making just the minimum monthly payments, you may be surprised to learn it could take you from 15-30 years to pay off debt, and that is if you don't charge another dime to your credit cards. This way you get to repay back the principal you borrowed about FIVE times over.

2. You can always try to file for bankruptcy however Congress recently changed this law, making it harder for individuals to eliminate credit card debt. In addition, your credit report will report this negative mark for 10 years, and it still costs around $1,500 in legal fees just to get started.

3. If you already own a home or other property, you can consolidate all of your credit card loans with a consolidation/home equity loan. However, this is definitely not a recommended choice. This makes your unsecured loans all SECURED debt. Securing a debt like this puts your home at risk and puts your assets within your creditor's reach. If you default, your home could be taken from you. Let your unsecured debts REMAIN UNSECURED debts.

4. A fourth option is a consumer credit counseling company/debt consolidation organization. With this option, you will still repay the full principal and may get a break on the interest rate. The benefit to this option is a reduction in interest costs only. You still pay the full principal.

There are other disadvantages to this option as well. One of the main aspects to know about this option is the impact it has on your credit. Most of these organizations automatically report on your credit report you are participating in their debt management program. It will show up immediately and stay there for 7 years after you pay off the debt. Many potential creditors view your participation in these programs in the same light as they view a Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

5. The fifth and most common method used to pay off debt these days are debt reduction or debt settlement companies. This option genuinely takes care of you, not the creditors. They are genuinely concerned about what you can afford for monthly payments and allow you a resolution that takes care of your credit!

These companies actually represent you, the consumer. I recommend Nationwide Debt Reduction, Inc. simply because they have a long track record of success, as well as the have never had a complaint against them with the Better Business Bureau. Debt Reduction companies give you breathing room immediately by reducing your minimum payments by up to 40%. They negotiate the PRINCIPAL (not just the interest) of your debt down to about half with your creditors.

Therefore, if you have a major decision to make about paying off debt, ask yourself

If you use credit cards, owe money on a personal loan, you are a "debtor." If you fall behind in repaying your creditors, or an error is made on your accounts, you may be contacted by a "debt collector." You should know that in either situation, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act requires that debt collectors treat you fairly and prohibits certain methods of debt collection. Of course, the law does not erase any legitimate debts that you owe.

Most debts that are covered by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act include personal debt, family debt, and household debts. This includes money owed for the purchase of an automobile, for medical care, or for credit card accounts. A debt collector is any person who regularly collects debts owed to others. This can include attorneys who collect debts on a regular basis.

A collector may contact you in person, by mail, telephone, telegram, or fax. However, a debt collector may not contact you at inconvenient times or places, such as before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., unless you agree. A debt collector also may not contact you at work if the collector knows that your employer disapproves of such contacts.

You can stop a debt collector from contacting you by writing a letter to the collector telling them to stop. Once the collector receives your letter, they may not contact you again except to say there will be no further contact or to notify you that the debt collector or the creditor intends to take some specific action. Please note, however, that sending

such a letter to a collector does not make the debt go away if you actually owe it. You could still be sued by the debt collector or your original creditor.

In addition, a debt collector may contact others about your debt. If you have an attorney, the debt collector must contact the attorney, rather than you. If you do not have an attorney, a collector may contact other people, but only to find out where you live, what your phone number is, and where you work. Collectors usually are prohibited from contacting such third parties more than once. In most cases, the collector may not

tell anyone other than you and your attorney that you owe money.

A debt collector must disclose certain information about the debt? For example, within five days after you are first contacted, the collector must send you a written notice telling you the amount of money you owe; the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money; and what action to take if you believe you do not owe the money. A collector may not contact you if, within 30 days after you receive the written notice, you send the collection agency a letter stating you do not owe money. However, a collector can renew

collection activities if you are sent proof of the debt, such as a copy of a bill for the amount owed

Prohibited debt collection practices include:

For example, debt collectors may not:

Debt collectors also may not state that:

legally may not be taken, or when they do not intend to take such action.

Debt collectors may not:

Unfair practices. Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices when they try to collect a debt. For example, collectors may not:

You can control where your payments are applied. For example, if you owe more than one debt, any payment you make must be applied to the debt you indicate. A debt collector may not apply a payment to any debt you believe you do not owe.

What you can do if you believe a debt collector violated the law.

You can report any problems you have with a debt collector to your state Attorney General's office and the Federal Trade Commission. Many states have their own debt collection laws, and your Attorney General's office can help you determine your rights.

For more information about this subject or additional debt relief services including a FREE debt reduction quote please reply by simply by clicking here: “Getting Started.”

1. Consumer Credit Counseling works for your creditors, not for you.  A former Assistant Attorney General for the state of Texas had this to say about Consumer Credit Counseling Services:   “I think that consumer credit counseling service is intrinsically deceptive.  They're funded or incorporated by the very people they are truly representing… not the consumer/debtor but the creditors trying to collect the money.  I think they're a con; they pitch themselves as serving the consumer's best interest but they don't.  Their promotions practices are deceptive and the consumers are being grossly misled.  If they were lawyers, they'd get disbarred!  Representing one-party and acting for the other? 

 2. Consumer Credit Counseling is paid by the credit industry to “help” you pay creditors.  Your creditor counselor is being paid by the credit card companies.  Interestingly enough, this is not a well kept secret. Information from the National Foundation for Credit Counselors reveals that up to 15 percent of each payment collected is paid to the Consumer Credit Counseling Services office.  Although they describe this payment as a contribution from the creditor, in reality, it is a commission.  The National Foundation for Credit Counselors materials state: “The majority of our funding comes from voluntary contributions from creditors who participate in our Debt Management Plans.”  Can you expect to get impartial advice about filing bankruptcy from a collection agency?

 3. Consumer Credit Counseling's nonprofit status does not mean they are not making money at your expense.  Consumer Credit Counseling Services makes a point of describing themselves as a nonprofit organization.  Most consumers probably don't realize that nonprofit businesses operate to make a profit.  Rather than distributing earnings to stockholders as dividends, the profits are paid out to the employees and officers as salary or bonuses.  They make money, and a lot of it!  For example, Consumer Credit Counseling Services in the Greater Dallas area reportedly collected $103 million dollars in one year alone.  Most hospitals are nonprofit organizations also.  A company's nonprofit status has nothing to do with whether or not they are motivated to make money.  As reported in the Washington Post, of the Office of the Corporation Counsel said: “Consumers should not let down their guard just because a credit-counseling agency calls itself nonprofit.  It is easy to set up a nonprofit counseling agency and use the counselors to sell the services of a related for-profit company.”

 4.  Consumer Credit Counseling often cannot reduce interest charges on credit accounts.  Many people are convinced that the organization also has the ability to have finance charges reduced or waived.  Information from a Consumer Credit Counseling Service web site makes it clear that they cannot always do this.  In fact, the majority of creditors will not waive finance charges.

5. Consumer Credit Counseling will ruin your credit. What about our credit?  The credit industry wants you to know that filing a bankruptcy can adversely affect your credit.  The fact is participating in their program can be just as bad, or even worse, than filing bankruptcy in your state.  An important overlooked fact is that you would not file a bankruptcy or participate in a Consumer Credit Counseling Services program unless you already had serious credit problems. Anyone who participates in a repayment plan through CCCS will have that fact reported on their credit.  You can expect all of your credit accounts to be closed, and you can expect to have a very difficult time opening any new accounts.  The result is pretty much the same as a bankruptcy, except a bankruptcy doesn’t cost as much or last as long.  Joining one of the CCCS repayment programs often results in lower credit scores than if you filed a bankruptcy.

6. Your credit rating is most likely BETTER 2 years after filing bankruptcy than 3 years after entering a payment plan with Consumer Credit Counseling Services.  The reason is simple.  Immediately after filing bankruptcy in your state, which typically only takes a few months, you can start rebuilding your credit.  When you are in a repayment plan with Consumer Credit Counseling Services you won’t be able to do much of anything to reestablish your credit until the typical four to five year payment plan is completed.  Even worse, the derogatory information that Consumer Credit Counseling Services will cause to your credit report will haunt you for seven years after you complete the Consumer Credit Counseling Services program.  Consumer Credit Counseling Services likes to call filing bankruptcy the “10 year mistake.”  Maybe Consumer Credit Counseling Services should call their own program the “twelve year mistake.”

 7. Consumer Credit Counseling's stated goal is to help your creditors.  The National Foundation for Credit Counselors, the organization that most Consumer Credit Counseling Services locations belong to makes their mission clear.  Their literature states: “NFCC is committed to developing, promoting and maintaining successful relationships with creditors.  At NFCC we work with creditors - one by one - to develop policies to make your customer plans successful.  Our nonprofit network of more than 1,300 locations returns close to $5 billion to creditors every year.  NFCC member agencies help your customers avoid bankruptcy.”  The bottom line is simple.  The more you pay … the more Consumer Credit Counseling Services makes.  Whose side do you think they are on? If you are serious about getting the help that you need to get out of debt, we recommend a debt reduction or debt relief program instead. These programs will actually negotiate directly with you creditors, not the credit bureaus, to settle your debt for a fraction of what you owe.

There are several things you may or may not know about credit card companies and the “tricks” (read fine print) they use to increase their fees, hence revenues for their company coffers.

1.) Almost all credit-card companies will periodically review your credit report looking for late payments on other cards. Why? Because it is an opportunity to raise the interest rate on their card, perhaps by a dramatic amount. Being late on another card, in their eyes, could be a sign you're having financial problems. Therefore, be sure to watch your credit report carefully and make all payments on time to avoid a domino effect on your other lines of credit.

2.) You might think that when someone offers you a fixed-rate card, the rate is indeed fixed. However, you would be wrong. A fixed-rate card simply means that the company needs to inform you in writing at least 15 days before changing its rate. Therefore, pay attention to the notices that come with your bill. And if you carry a balance, always be aware of the interest rate you're paying. If it goes up, it may be time to shop for a better card.

3.) Have you looked carefully at your credit-card statements lately? These days, not only are payments due by a certain date — they're often due by a certain time, like, say, 3:00 p.m. And a late payment could really cost you. Not only will you be charged a late fee (which could be as high as $35), however you may also be charged a penalty, which is far more costly. Indeed, you could see your rate soar to 34.9%, and that new rate may be permanent, according to Consumer Action's survey.

4.) The key to paying down your credit-card debt is to make payments early and often. Any extra cash you can squeeze out of your budget needs to be applied toward this debt. That's the only way to whittle down your principal. Unfortunately, the credit-card companies are making it easier than ever to carry your debt endlessly by reducing the amount they require as a minimum payment. While it used to be that you had to pay off at least 5% of your total balance each month that requirement has now dropped as low as 2% on some cards. At this rate it could take you decades to pay off your debt, even if you never charge anything more to your credit card.

5.) The grace period — or window of time before you begin accruing interest on new purchases — is also shrinking. While it used to be 30 days, it's now shrunk, on average, to less than 23. Some cards don't have any grace period at all. Of course, if you carry a balance, there are no grace periods, so it doesn't really matter. But if you pay off your bill each month, looking for a card with a grace period of at least 25 days could save you from unnecessary interest payments.

6.) Using your credit card in a foreign country used to be the best deal in town. That's because, while Visa and MasterCard charged a 1% fee, it was still significantly less than what you'd have to pay if you exchanged currency at a bank or used travelers’ checks, and you usually got a better exchange rate to boot. These days, using a credit card overseas is still a good deal — but it isn't quite as sweet. The issuers have tacked on an additional fee — usually 1% to 3% — in addition to the Visa and MasterCard fee, according to Consumer Action's survey. So a purchase might be more expensive than you thought.

7.) Just because you are preapproved for a card does not necessarily mean that is the card you are going to get after you apply. Once your credit history is reviewed by the company, you might be sent a card with less favorable terms. Therefore, be sure to review a new card carefully to make sure it has the terms you expected. If you decide you are not happy with these terms, you can simply not activate the card and close the account.

If you find yourself in what call “the debt trap,” your inability to pay down on the debt you owe, take a closer look at a debt reduction or debt settlement company. These companies, like Nationwide Debt Reduction, can help you cut your debt often by 40% or more, helping you to become completely debt free, often in 3 years or less!

Many people ask us; what is the difference between debt negotiation, debt settlement, debt relief or credit card debt negotiation. In essence, these words are very interchangeable. They differ a great deal however from that of debt consolidation. Debt negotiation companies deal directly with each creditor. The take the amount you originally owe, (say $10,000 to company A), and negotiate that down to $.20 to $.40 cents on the dollar. You would end up paying that lower amount. If say, you had 5 credit cards owning a total of $30,000, there is a very good chance this could be negotiated down to at least half that or $15,000. That way, you are paying off a smaller dollar amount over a shorter period of time.

Debt consolidation, on the other hand, simply takes your bills from you. You make one monthly payment to them, and they simply turn around and just pay each creditor each month, exactly the same you have been doing. They may be able to lower you interest rate a few points, however you are still paying off the entire balance owed. These companies are reimbursed by the credit card companies (usually 15 cents on the dollar) for every dollar they collect from you.

Again, if you are the typical American family who has on average 5 to 8 credit cards, and owes approximately $32,000 in debt, this can be reduced to close to $16,000 through negotiations. If you were able to pay say $500/month, you would be completely debt free in 32 months ($16,000 divided by $500). If you went with a debt consolidation company, with the same $32,000 in debt and paid the same $500/month, at 18% interest, it would take you approximately 312 months to pay off this same amount of debt.

So I find myself stuck in what I call “the debt trap” and I have two options to help me become completely debt free. I can only afford $500/month. Do I want the debt relief plan that takes me 32 months to become debt free or do I take the debt consolidation plan that would take me 312 months to become debt free?

What will we hear of next? The latest outbreak to hit North America is the swine flu. A flu caused by the handling of infected pigs. Conspiracy theorists want us to believe that this is just a test for us, to see how we react to a national pandemic. They say there are far worse things to come. This certainly does not help those who are now being affected or will become affected to this strange flu.

My question is; why isn’t debt viewed as a pandemic in our society today. Our country’s total debt has surpassed 10 trillion dollars for the first time ever! If President Obama gets his way, this number is sure to climb to 13 trillion or about $74,000 each for the 303 million of us living in the United States today.

What about our own debt. Excluding our secured debt, meaning our homes or autos, the average American small business owner is in debt over $150,000. That may be fine if vendors are paying their bills, however from what we see, not a lot of that is going on these days. In addition, personal debt, you know the credit card type, is a whopping $42,000 for those who carry balances on their credit cards each month.

Why isn’t this looked upon as a pandemic in our country today? And, if we did have this flu, where would we turn to take care of it?” Just like the swine flu, if I had the “debt flu” I would seek out a debt relief company today! Debt relief companies are out there and ready to help small businesses owners and individuals get better, if you will, by helping them pay off debt. They do this by negotiating with your creditors to accept a fraction of what you owe. There are no secrets to this, as some advertisers would lead you to believe. Just simple negotiations with a trained consultant to get your creditors to accept a fraction of what you owe.

If you feel like you have this flu, why not look at a debt relief company that can help you “get better.”

Yesterday afternoon, a Philadelphia baseball icon Harry Kalas died, shortly after collapsing inside the team's broadcast booth at Nationals Park. He was 73 years old. 
 
Kalas, like many of his predecessors, Johnny Most (Boston Celtics), Chick Hern (Los Angles Lakers) was a Hall of Fame voice. He was inducted into the broadcaster's wing of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 2002, having won the Ford C. Frick Award, which is presented to broadcasters who made major contributions to baseball.  
 
He not only was the voice of summer for Phillies fans; however his rich baritone reached much further. He was also the voice for NFL Films.

"Major League Baseball has lost one of the great voices of our generation," Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. "Harry Kalas was an outstanding ambassador for the game.

I bring this up, because here was a man who absolutely loved his job, and died doing what he loved best, albeit at a relatively young age.

What does this have to do with debt reduction? Really not a whole lot. However as Christians, we believe that Harry is really enjoying the next phase of his life right now. Our prayers go out for his family and friends, as he will be missed.

Why are we not surprised? Under the Clinton administration, we gave North Korea, food and monies to stop its nuclear program. Nothing changed. This followed under the Bush administration, were we provided food, money and “talks.” Again, nothing happened. Now under the Obama reign, they launch their first missile we simply state, they; they “broke the rules.” Does this sound as crazy to you as it does to me?

They are willing to talk to us until we are blue in the face, AND they are still going to launch missiles. Yet, we sill provide more money, more food, and whatever else they want. How much more are we willing to “look the other way?”

I know this has very little to do with debt reduction, and helping small businesses and individuals pay off their debt. I am just wondering what we do if the missile had been successful.

We are sure living in strange times. Then to top it all off, today’s Wall Street Journal’s front page article states, Obama ready to lead the world in nuclear determent. Say what you will, but strange times indeed.

Anyway, we will press on in doing our job, helping folks like you with your debt reduction. Just click here and let us help you get started.