Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Student Debt Q&A

How you are assessed as a credit risk will be based on whether you defaulted on your student loan. Government income tax refunds can stop and you may acquire wage attachments if you fail to take your student loan seriously and default on it. If you follow a few simple guidelines you can easily avoid defaulting on your student loan. You can avoid defaulting on your student loan if you just stay in contact with the lender.

If you let your lender know immediately you’re having problems, it’s unlikely you will need to default. I too had financial problems keeping up with the payments on loans I had acquired whilst a student. A few of my friends thought the situation was quite funny because they couldn’t see how the finance company could reclaim an education. Defaulted student loans usually start with this type of glib attitude towards the debt.

To avoid defaulting on your loan, contact your lender before it gets to this stage. After everything, I just felt relief after the lender had agreed to a deferment. The company was very helpful and they assigned an agent to me who assisted me with the deferment process.

It only took a week to have the payments suspended until I could re-commence at a later date. Although defaulting on my student loan wasn’t what I wanted, I knew that other financial institutions would not be quite as accommodating. I was aware that other agencies would not be so accommodating but I had managed to sort out my student loan.
(Source: cardprocredit.com)

Monday, July 14, 2008

Key Things To Consider Before Taking a Student Loan

by Sarah Parker (www.oneiricissues.com)
The rising costs of college tuition have made it almost a necessity to apply for a student loan today. Students not only have tuition costs, but the cost of books, meals, gas, cell phones, recreation, etc. The variety of student loans enables students to take care of their varying college expenses. A student loan however, is a loan that must be repaid under specified circumstances.

The first thing you need to consider is your credit rating or credit history. A poor credit history can adversely affect your student loan application. Some lenders will look at your credit history; some don’t. It all depends on what kind of student loan you apply for. Thus, if you have a poor credit history, look into student loans that don’t consider your credit report or credit score a top requirement.

Guaranteed Student Loans, also known as Stafford Loans have a low interest rate. A student can apply for a subsidized or unsubsidized student loan. A subsidized loan means the government pays the interest for you while you are in school. The subsidized student loan is based on the students financial need. An unsubsidized student loan means you will be charged interest while you are attending school. The principal must start being paid after you have finished school. Both types of student loans need to start repayment six months after the student has finished college.

Federal Parent Loans or PLUS loans as they are known is a student loan not contingent on your income, but lenders do consider personal credit history. Parents or guardians who have a dependent child enrolled in college at least part-time are eligible for the PLUS loan. The interest rate is 9% or less.

Well the truth is student loan consolidation is not the answer for everyone who has a student loan. Federal loans should consolidated separately from private loans. It may be more beneficial in some cases not to consolidate student loans. Student loan consolidation counselors get paid the big bucks to help you figure out this information. However this article is designed to help you develop a better understanding of everything about getting a student loan including student loan consolidation.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Citigroup affiliate Student Loan Corp. to cut 89 jobs

Student Loan Corp, a division of Citibank, plans to cut 89 jobs from its Perinton operation, the company said Thursday.

The jobs represent almost one-quarter of Student Loan's local employment and their elimination is part of a company-wide restructuring and cost-cutting effort. Overall, 174 jobs are being cut, including some at Student Loan headquarters in Stamford, Conn., and at Citibank in South Dakota.

Citibank's subsidiary is just one lender that is either slashing costs to stay in the student loan business or getting out of the business entirely because of new challenges in making a profit. Sallie Mae, the largest student lender, has already laid off about 1,000 employees.

A statement on the planned cutbacks said Student Loan Corp. remains committed to the business and will provide the "same level of superior customer service that schools and borrowers have come to expect ... over the past 50 years."

(more)

Debt Consolidation Overview

If you're in way over your head, debt consolidation is a viable option.
You have to understand though that there is a tradeoff of easing your current pain.


http://banking.about.com/od/loans/a/debtconsolidate.htm

Debt Consolidation Programs
From Justin Pritchard,
Your Guide to Banking / Loans.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
Overview of Debt Consolidation Programs
Readers are always asking about debt consolidation programs. What are they and what do you need to know about them?
Debt consolidation programs are usually just a big loan that pays off other smaller loans. They can be very beneficial to borrowers, but these programs also have their pitfalls.

When to Use Debt Consolidation Programs

Debt consolidation programs are good for a few situations. If you are paying several different loans off, your life may be easier if you consolidate everything into one loan. You’ll only get one monthly statement and make one payment.

Also, you’ll find that your monthly debt payments decrease if you use a debt consolidation program that stretches your payments out over a longer period of time. This means that you’ll pay out less each month and you can free up some cash.

A tempting (and sometimes successful) strategy is to use a debt consolidation program to manage various high-rate revolving debts. As an example, you might have numerous credit card balances with high interest rates. With a debt consolidation program, you might be able to get a handle on that debt and lower the interest rate that you’re paying. In general, credit cards have higher rates and secured loans (such home equity loans) have lower rates.

Things to Remember About Debt Consolidation Programs

Using debt consolidation programs can help you or hurt you. You should be very aware that all these programs do is shift your debt – a debt consolidation program does not eliminate your debt. You owe the money and will have to pay it back sooner or later.

One pitfall of a debt consolidation program is that you may feel like you have less outstanding debt. For example, you’ll notice that your credit cards once again have generous amounts of available credit. If you use this credit you’ll only dig yourself into a deeper hole.

You should also be aware that you may end up paying more total interest if you use a debt consolidation loan. If you stretch out your payments over a longer period of time, it is possible that your total interest cost will be higher. Of course, it may be worth it to you if you can more easily manage your cash flow today.

Finally, remember what you’re risking by using one of these programs. Often, you’ll use a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit to consolidate your debt. The consequences of falling off the payment schedule can include the loss of your home in some cases. Credit card companies can’t take your home. However, if you pledge your home as collateral in a debt consolidation program then your house is fair game.

How to Find the Best Debt Consolidation Programs

There are a variety of choices, and you should shop around to find one that fits your needs. If you need some ideas on where to start, try this plan:

Local credit unions or banks that you already have a relationship with. These are reliable sources that are likely to give you a fair deal.
Banks that you don’t already have a relationship with. They might offer you a good deal in order to win your business.
Mailers offering debt consolidation programs. These lenders already want your business – they’ve mailed you an offer because something about you fits into their desired profile.
An internet search for “debt consolidation”. Just be careful and be sure you don’t get scammed.
In addition to shopping around, you can ensure that you get the best deal by managing your credit. Loans are hardest to get when you need them the most. I suggest visiting the Loans page if your credit needs any work.
More Resources
Build Credit
Simple Interest
Phishing Scams
Help With Debt Consolidation Programs
A Tax Break With Debt Consolidation Programs?
Using a Second Mortgage With Debt Consolidation Programs
2nd Mortgage Quick Tips

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Beat the college loan crunch

(Money Magazine) -- For families with children heading off to college, this has been the year from hell. First, a record number of applicants made 2008 the most competitive year ever for college admissions. Then the credit crunch hit the college market in a big way, igniting fears of a drought in financing for all students this fall.

Spurred by dwindling demand for packaged loans from investors and cuts on federal subsidies, more than 100 lenders in the government college loan program have pulled out of the market. Private lenders are leaving the college market too - 27 so far. Those who remain are making it tougher to qualify for loans, while jacking up rates and reducing discounts.

The result: If you're counting on a loan to pay tuition bills this fall, you're probably anxiously holding your breath, waiting to see if you'll be able to borrow what you need at a rate you can afford.

Is it harder to get a student loan? Tell us.
Well, Mom and Dad, you can officially exhale now. You'll be fine, if you just play it right. Unlike the crisis in the mortgage market, where politicians continue to argue about how to help without actually doing much, Uncle Sam in recent weeks has swooped in with a practical damage-control plan for college borrowers.

(More from CNN)