 With the struggling economy, many people are finding themselves deep in credit card debt. Therefore, consumers are forced to turn to debt consolidation in order to get control of their finances. However, before a person decides to consolidate their credit card debt, they need to be aware of the credit... |
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Living with debt is by no means easy. There’s the constant concern of living paycheck to paycheck and the never ending issue of covering monthly bills and living expenses. While most of us pride ourselves on being self-sufficient, it’s hard to ignore that we all sometimes live well beyond our means.... |
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Minnesota residents are in need of consumer credit counseling and debt consolidation as much as the rest of the country. The combination of increasing prices and easy credit has caused problems for many consumers. Unfortunately, far too few people understand what debt consolidation options are available, let alone which debt management companies can be trusted. The purpose of PayingPaul.Com is to help consumers find the information they need to make the best financial choice. The first step is understanding what types of debt relief are here to help people. One of the leading options is credit counseling, which is usually offered by not for profits. These services can help you become better educated on financial issues relating to your debt, including how to budget. If your problem cannot be solved by better budgeting, you may want to consider a debt management plan. It works by consolidating your payments and reducing your credit cards interest rates. The typical management plan lasts for between four and six years. Before enrolling in this type of program, consider the fees associated with the plan. Although these organizations are non-profit, their fees can be quite high and unaffordable. Another popular solution is credit card debt negotiation. This program works by negotiating with credit card companies to lower your balance. The savings can be tremendous, but due to some of the drawbacks, you may be better suited paying off your debt on your own if possible. This is an aggressive way to get out of debt because you stop paying your creditors during the course of the program. While this is happening, you make payments into a saving account which will be used to fund your settlements. Once sufficient money has built up, the settlement company negotiates with your creditors to get them to accept a lump sum payment for less than the balance to completely satisfy the debt. Since the debt is considered past due by your creditors, any number of things can happen, from creditor calls to charge offs on your credit. In some cases, a creditor may pursue legal action to collect the balance. Want to talk to someone about how to get out of debt? Submit a form and PayingPaul.Com can match you today for a free debt consultation! Minnesota Debt Management Laws Minnesota offers consumers enrolling in debt management programs various protections to ensure that they are receiving quality and affordable services. Definition Under Minnesota law, someone qualifies as a “debt management provider” if they “provide debt management services to a debtor domiciled in this state, regardless of whether or not a fee is charged for the services and regardless of whether the person maintains a physical presence in the state.” Fees To ensure that a company you are considering is in compliance with these regulations, make sure their fees are in line with state limits, which are as follows: -$50 for an origination or set up fee -the lesser of $75 or 15% of the debtor’s monthly payment as a maintenance fee Exemptions It should be noted that the following entities are exempt from the provisions of the debt management services in Minnesota: (1) attorneys at law, escrow agents, accountants, broker-dealers in securities; (2) banks, insurance companies, etc. (3) employees engaging in debt management on behalf of their employer (4) anyone acting in accordance to a court order (5) anyone engaging in debt management while performing services incidental to the dissolution of a business enterprise (6) the state, its political subdivisions, public agencies, and their employees; (7) credit unions and collection agencies, provided no fee is charged for the service; (8) "qualified organizations" designated as representative payees for purposes of the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income Representative Payee System and the federal Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, Public Law 101-508; (9) accelerated mortgage payment providers (10) trustees, guardians, and conservators; and (11) debt settlement providers. For more information about credit counseling and debt consolidation in the state, feel free to follow this link: https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/statutes/?id=332A&view=chapter&year= 2007” Licensed Companies ALLIANCE CREDIT COUNSELING, INC. PERSONAL MONEY MANAGEMENT, INC. 202 SOUTH BROADWAY CROOKSTON, MN 56716 CONSUMER CREDIT OF DES MOINES DBA CONSUMER CREDIT OF MINNESOTA f LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA DBA LSS FINANCIAL 600 ORDEAN BUILDING DULUTH, MN 55802 CONSOLIDATED CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICES, INC GARDEN STATE CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING, INC DBA NOVADEBT SAFEGUARD CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICES, INC. MONEY MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL, Inc CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICE OF THE VILLAGE FAMILY SERVICE CENTER MOORHEAD, MN 56560 FAMILY LIFE SERVICES, INC FAMILY LIFE CREDIT SERVICES MOORHEAD, MN 56560 AMERICAN CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING, INC CREDIT ADVISORS TAKE CHARGE AMERICA, INC CLEARPOINT FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS, INC FAMILY SERVICE ROCHESTER, INC DBA Consumer Credit Counseling Services Rochester, MN METROPOLITAN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT dba Auriton Solutions ROSEVILLE, MN 55113 DEBT-FREE AMERICA FAMILY SERVICE ASSOCIATION OF SHEBOYGAN, INC., DBA ... CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICE OF LA CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF ST. CLOUD ST. CLOUD, MN 56301 FAMILY MEANS STILLWATER, MN 55082 Other Resources Filing Bankruptcy in Minnesota Bankruptcy Laws in Minnesota Debt Collection in Minnesota |
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