Utility Bills – Can I Improve Credit Score With Utility Bill?

Currently, you can use your on-time utility bill payments in improving your credit score. This is as opposed to previous practices where utility bills could only hurt your credit score if you defaulted on your payments. Where you defaulted on your payments, your provider could close your account and enlist a collection agency to obtain credit payment which negatively affects your credit report for seven years.

Are Utility Bills Reported to Credit Bureaus?

Right from time, utility bills have historically been left out of consumer credit reports entirely. This because they are not considered credit accounts. Currently, utility companies do not automatically report your monthly payments to three credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion).

How Can Utility Bills Help Your Credit?

Even though utility bills are not typically used to determine your credit score, that does not mean you can ignore them. It is advised that you pay all your bills on time, whether or not your routine payments are reported to the credit bureaus.

However, if you are looking for ways to build credit without taking out loans or opening credit cards, there are a limited number of ways to get your on-time payments reflected on your credit report. But understand that at the end it may not really be worth it.

Many bills like rent and utilities are not routinely reported to credit bureaus like credit card and loan payments. This implies that making on-time utility bills do not help in building credit. However, failing to make these payments can lead to collections actions which may almost certainly damage your credit. Where you fall more than a month or two behind on any bill from cable to electric, the company may send your past-due account to a collections agency. Once this happens, the collections agency can (and usually will) notify the credit reporting bureau. This is not good at all, because having a collections action on your report will significantly lower your credit score and can put a dent in your credit report for up to seven years.

How to Make Your Payment Behavior Count

There are three steps that can help your on-time monthly payments boost your credit score. Here they are:

Use SimpleBills

SimpleBills is a service which currently reports utility bills. To Equifax and is making plans to include TransUnion and Experian in the future. This credit-reporting service charges $2.99/month and. Can come in handy for those who want to improve. Their score for building a credit history to qualify for a credit or a loan payment.

However, while your Equifax number may see. An increase through SimpleBills, major score algorithms, like FICO and Vantage. Might not consider this data when calculating your score.

Use a Rent-Reporting Service

Before you can have your monthly rent payments reflect positively. On your credit score, the credit bureaus must. Know that you’re paying your bills on time. They will not accept this information from consumers. However, you can sign up for a rent-reporting service. The service will in turn pass this information to one. Or two of the three major credit bureaus. Now some of these services are free, though most of them charge for the service. With fees ranging up to $100 a year.

Sign Up for Experian Boost

Now you have the opportunity of getting. That credit with Experian Boost. Via this tool, you allow Experian to access your bank account information. In order to identify various utility and telecom payments. Including your cell phone bill.

You’ll have the opportunity of verifying the information. And confirming that you want to add it to your credit report. The entire process will only take about five minutes, and.  If you qualify for a boost to your credit score, it happens instantly.

Experian Boost only considers on-time payments. Thus you don’t have to worry about late payments having a negative impact on your credit score.

According to the data from Experian, 10% of people who previously didn’t have enough information in their credit file to have a credit score became scoreable after using the tool. Also, 75% of people with a FICO® Score below 680 saw an improvement in their score after adding utility payment information to their report.

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Laurel Road – Laurel Road Student Loans – Finance Your Education

Laurel Road. It is uncommon to find graduate and professional student loans with competitive interest rates, even in federal student loans for graduate interest is also high. This means that Graduate and professional students loans are always with high-interest rates. Choosing from Laurel road to cover up your finance for your master’s or professional degree could be the best alternative to federal student loans for graduates. They extend their lending service only to graduate student borrowers with low-interest loans for the student in selected schools. Laurel Road loans are flexible in terms of repayment and valuable interest rate discount. Thus, this could be the best affordable option to cover up expenses for your degree.

Despite how affordable and low-interest rates, not everybody will be eligible for their loan. The “what you should know” section will show us what then you should know before you apply for a loan on Laurel road

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

• Do you know that Laurel Road offers room for multiple repayment options and loan terms are available? However, Laurel Road offers five loan terms within the range of five to 20 years longer. Aside from that, the repayment options are multiple such as full deferment which is obtainable when you are in school. Ensure you choose a loan term and repayment plan that works for your budget.
• Do you know that Laurel Road is known to offer loans with low-interest rates? For its fixed rates, it has rates as low as 3.20% and a maximum of 7.02% even in cases of autopay discount. It is not bad since federal loans for graduate has high rate up to7.08%.
• It offers employment and autopay discounts. You may get basically two interest rate discounts. They include a 0.25% discount for signing up for auto-payments and a 0.25% discount when you graduate and secure employment. Having both interests to your advantage will lower your interest rate by 0.50%.
• Do you know that it is only desired for students enrolled in graduate and professional programs? There are only available for graduate and professional students in selected programs at eligible schools.
• Laurel Road student places no guarantee for a lower interest rate with co-signer. In some circumstances, you may need a co-signer to get approved for a loan especially when you don’t meet its credit requirement. But on a normal level, interest rates are not high without co-signers.
• There is no standard for the co-signer release. Even at the venture of adding a co-signer to boost your eligibility, it does not create a special standard to release co-signer.

Like I mentioned earlier, there are a set of programs that are eligible for this graduate student loans.

There are as follows:

• Firstly, Business (MBA)
• Secondly, Dentistry (DO/DDS/DMD)
• Thirdly, Engineering
• Also, Law (JD)
• Then, Medicine (MD)
• Nursing (MA)
• Nursing (DNP)
• Physician’s Assistant (PA)

Laurel Road Graduate Student Loans

Laurel Road’s loans are free from any form of application or origination fees or prepayment penalties. This platform allows borrowers to borrow up to the total cost of attendance aside from the amount of other financial aid you will receive.

The rates available are fixed and variable interest rates, with a loan term of five which are; five, seven, ten, fifteen, and twenty years. This is far longer compared to what you would get from a federal student loan. The more the payment length, it will lessen the monthly payment and make it affordable.

Discounts await you when you graduate and get a job, giving you a discount of 0.50% – each of them is a 0.25% discount.

The below is a table for Laurel Student Loans, Rates, and Terms

LAUREL STUDENT LOANS RATES AND TERMS
Variable Rates	1.99% to 6.65%
Fixed Rates	3.20% to 7.02%
Loan Amounts	Up to the total cost of attendance
Loan Terms	Five, seven, 10, 15, and 20 years

 

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HOW TO CLEAR SEARCH HISTORY ON INSTAGRAM

CLEAR SEARCH HISTORY ON INSTAGRAM. Like most social media websites, Instagram saves search results by default. It keeps track of everything you have searched for in its app. To view this, click the magnifying glass icon to the right of the home icon. Then click inside of the search bar as though you were about to type a username in the space provided, all recent searches get displayed on the screen.

Instagram has no private browsing but a person can CLEAR SEARCH HISTORY ON INSTAGRAM. On Instagram’s Explore section you get to see the most recent people, tags, and places you have searched.

Instagram search history offers a quick way to locate hashtags and accounts one may have looked in the past. These past searches also influence which accounts Instagram suggests you follow.

CLEARING INSTAGRAM SEARCH HISTORY IN THE APP

Clearing search history using the Instagram app:

1. Firstly, log in to the Instagram app
2. Secondly, tap the profile icon (a tiny version of your profile picture or an outline of head and shoulders if you don’t have one)
3. Thirdly, tap the hamburger represented by three horizontal lines
4. Also, tap Settings, then Security
5. Then, tap Clear Search History for iPhones or Search history for Android
6. Tap Clear All
7. Lastly, tap Clear All again to confirm

CLEARING INSTAGRAM SEARCH IN A BROWSER

To do this, we do the following:

1. Firstly, go to Instagram.com on your mobile browser or computer
2. Secondly, click or tap the profile icon, then click or tap the gear settings
3. Thirdly, click the Settings gear to the right of your username
4. Then, click Privacy and Security
5. Furthermore, scroll down and click View Account Data
6. Also, click View All below your search history
7. Click Clear Search History
8. Finally, click Yes, I’m sure to confirm

CLEARING BROWSING HISTORY ON CHROME

1. Firstly, tap the three-dot menu icon
2. Secondly, tap Settings
3. Then, scroll down to the Advanced section and tap Privacy
4. Furthermore, scroll down to the bottom and tap Clear browsing data
5. Check off Browsing History
6. Tap Clear Data
7. Also, to clear history for a period of time, tap Advanced at the top
8. Tap on the down arrow next to last hour and choose the relevant dropdown
9. Check off Browsing History
10. Tap Clear data.

CLEARING BROWSING HISTORY ON FIREFOX

1. Tap the three-dot menu icon
2. Then, tap Settings
3. Tap Clear Private data
4. Check off Browsing history
5. Tap Clear data
6. To clear data any time you quit Firefox, go to settings, then tap privacy and check off Clear Private Data on exit.

CLEARING BROWSING HISTORY ON OPERA

1. Tap the opera logo on the bottom right of the screen
2. Secondly, tap settings
3. Tap Clear browsing data
4. Check off clear browsing history on the pop-up screen
5. Tap OK

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BEST DESKTOP PERSONAL COMPUTERS – High Performance Pcs

The following are some of the BEST DESKTOP PERSONAL COMPUTERS:

Alienware Aurora R11

This is a beautifully designed, high-powered performance personal computer. It is one of the BEST DESKTOP PERSONAL COMPUTERS, a powerhouse of a computer for gaming, graphic design, video recording, and several other functions. It is considered one of the best ever desktop PC. The Alienware Aurora R11 has several amazing specs. It is sleek and with a compact design that can be configured to suit your budget and needs. It has an optional liquid cool, 10th Gen Intel Core processor, and dual NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti cards in the highest level model.

Microsoft Surface Studio 2

This is mostly and well used by digital artists, architects, and other content creators. It has a gorgeous display and massively beautiful 28-inch pixel sence touchscreen. The surface pen is incredibly responsive and thus considered the best desktop personal computer for photo editing. Its zero-gravity hinge lets you adjust the screen’s angle from vertical to flat to anywhere in between. The Microsoft surface studio 2 is however not designed for gaming.

HP Omen Obelisk

The obelisk is one of the finest HP desktops. It is sleek, a black chassis, and packed with powerful components. The HP Omen Obelisk is a powerhouse gaming personal computer, largely considered the best for gaming. It can be configured to suit your needs. You can choose to prioritize a spectacular graphics card and even tailor the amount of memory and storage you want. It doesn’t support RGB lighting though.

Acer Aspire C27

The Acer brand new Aspire C27 is an all-in-one desktop that is designed to move. The 27-inch 1080p display is slim and light. The new C27 includes an HDMI port for attaching an additional display and it comes packaged with a wireless mouse and keyboard. It also comes with Acer’s Bluelight shield tech which protects against eye strain.

iMac 21.5K

This is a solid all-in-one computer that packs a lot of power into a tiny, well-designed package. It can be configured with up to an Intel Core i7 processor, 32GB of DDR4 Ram, and 1TB of storage to possibly suit one’s daily computing needs. The desktop comes with two USB-C ports plus USB 3 ports to keep all your devices easily connected.

Dell Ispiron 3671

The Dell Inspiron is perfect for students who want a well-rounded desktop personal computer that is not too costly. It comes with Intel’s ninth-generation core i7-9700 processor and a 12GB Ram which allows you to run all kinds of software applications. It provides enough storage for projects and assignments with its 256GB SSD and a 2TD HDD.

Ispiron 3470 features an integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless connectivity and it runs a Windows 10 pro. Other additions include a 3.5mm combo audio, an Ethernet, a 5-in-1 card reader, and a DUD-RW drive.

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Sun Trust Student Loans – WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Sun Trust Student Loans would become something of extinct since May 31, 2020. So Sun Trust Student Loans will no longer be invoked after 11:59 Pm EST on May 30, 2020. If you want to apply for a loan from them, you should do that before that above time.

As a graduate or undergraduate with established credit histories or even with a co-signer, you can obtain Sun Trust Student Loans for private student loans with their low-interest rates and the discount rate that is up to 0.75%.

seek more private lenders or federal options as well to determine the rates and terms that will suit you. Good credit can fetch you loans with low-interest, making college affordable.

Nevertheless, Sun Trust Student Loan is not available to all borrowers and more because it does not limit how much you can take out each year. Before you step in to apply, check out the “What you should know” section to inquire more about them.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

• Do you know that the interest rates are competitive? Unlike what you may get from other private lenders, SunTrust’s student loans have competitive rates? We can relate that SunTrust’s Custom Choice and Union Federal Loans have fixed interest rates as low as 4.30% for graduate students. If you equate it, it is lower than the federal direct subsidized student loans current and otherwise to unsubsidized loans.
• SunTrust offers extra discounts and rewards. You could be eligible for up to 0.75% in interest rate discounts depending on the loan you choose. It is the schedule like this; principal reduction when you graduate attracts 2% or 0% annual percentage rate (APR) for the first six months after loan disbursement.
• Do you know this is open for international students? Unlike other private lenders that will demand that you will be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident before you qualify for a loan, SunTrust is a direct opposite of what it used to be amongst private lenders.
• Do you know how many states is limited to borrow this loan? This means that not all borrowers in every state can access the loan. SunTrust place limit to how much you can borrow, unlike other private lenders that allows you to borrow up to the cost of attendance. The limit here can be $65,000 regardless of the loan you chose.
• For graduate and MBA students, the loan is available for short repayment. This means that loan repayment options are limited for graduate students or MBA aspirants. The repayment options can only be seven or ten-year loan terms.

Student Loans Offered by SunTrust

Custom Choice Loan

The custom Choice Loans is designed for undergraduate and graduate borrowers who are partaking in at least half time program over an approved school. This features more options compared to other offers of SunTrust. You can defer payments over here till you graduate or make payments while in school. There is an extension of the loan term over here. You can choose comfortably from seven, ten, or fifteen years.

Uniquely, Custom Choice Loan has a graduation reward such as reducing principal balance by 2%. Assuming you had a $20,000 student loan on graduation, this reward above states that the balance will be reduced by $400. Note, there are no application fees, origination fees, or prepayment penalties attached to the loan.

CUSTOM CHOICE LOAN TERMS AND RATES
Variable Rates	1.750% to 8.800%
Fixed Rates	4.301% to 11.050%
Loan Amounts	$1,001 up to $65,000 ($150,000 lifetime limit)
Loan Terms	Seven, 10, and 15 years

Start Student Loan

This is still designed for graduates and undergraduates enrolled at least half time program. The difference between this and the above program is that it offers a 0% APR for the first six months after the disbursement of the loan. At this time, this means that no interest will be accrued and you can easily save money that period until the introductory period expires.

The Start Student Loan is limited in repayment options. It typically offers one repayment term, which is 15years. You can make extra payments while in school and as well as defer payment till graduation.

START STUDENT LOAN TERMS AND RATES
Variable Rates	3.725% to 8.460% (0% APR for the first six months)
Fixed Rates	5.762% to 10.353% (0% APR for the first six months)
Loan Amounts	$5,001 up to $65,000 ($150,000 lifetime limit)
Loan Terms	15 years

Union Federal Private Student Loan

Usually, SunTrust Union Federal Private Student Loan is for undergraduate and graduate students available for half time program attendants. The secret for this option is that it is available to international students.

The Union Federal Private Student Loan offers four different repayment options that borrowers can relent on to obtain the loan.

In-School Deferred:

Also, this means that while you are still in school your payment can be deferred.

Partial Interest: 

Moreso, these fashions that you pay $25 per month while you’re in school.

Interest Only:

Just as the name sounds, you pay just only the interest while in school.

Immediate Repayment:

Often, this means that repayment over here takes the immediate response from the moment loan is disbursed.

There are also discount rates for on-time payments, automatic sign up. Consistent payment for 36 months will attract a discount, reducing your interest rate by 0.75%.

STUDENT LOAN TERMS AND RATES
Variable Rates	1.750% to 10.750%
Fixed Rates	4.301% to 13.000%
Loan Amounts	$1,001 up to $65,000 ($150,000 lifetime limit)
Loan Terms	Seven, 10, or 15 years

(The draft above was applicable as of April 10, 2020).

Graduate Business School Loan

Graduate Business school loan is designed for graduate or professional degree program and warrants student who must be eligible to attend a school accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Business Schools.

This loan worth to be an alternative to federal Grad PLUS Loans, and it is offered with an interest rate of 7.08%. You will get a lower rate with a Graduate Business School Loan with good credit or cosigner who does have good credit.

Just as the Union federal private loan, there are still the same repayment options over here.

• Firstly, In-School Deferment
• Secondly, Immediate Repayment
• Thirdly, Partial Interest
• Fourthly, Interest-Only Repayment

GRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOL LOAN TERMS AND RATES
Variable Rates	1.750% to 6.853%
Fixed Rates	4.301% to 8.890%
Loan Amounts	$1,001 up to $95,000 (lifetime limit of $175,000)
Loan Terms	Seven or 10 years

This draft in the table was applicable as of April 10, 2020.

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Citi Simplicity Credit Card – Features and Benefits of Citi Simplicity Card

Did you recently get a pre-approval offer mail inviting you to apply for the Citi Simplicity Credit Card? If you really need a card, you can go ahead and apply for the card at https://ift.tt/3dklymE. For you to get an invitation to apply forCiti Simplicity Credit Card, it means that you met the criteria to apply for the card. You can as well fill the acceptance offer that came along with the pre-approval offer and send it to the email address written on the mail you got. This takes about 7 working days to receive a response. However, the online application is very easy and fast as you will get a response about your acceptance immediately after applying for the card.

To apply for this card,

go to the website above.  On the website, click on the apply now link to complete the application process. Enroll the Citi Simplicity card Invitation Code written on the pre-approval mail you got. Answer other questions such as your Date of birth, full name, email, and residential address, Social security number, phone number, and annual income. You will get a response immediately after the application. Applying online is the fastest way out. If your application is accepted, they will send you your credit limit and you will get your credit card within 2 working days to your address.

On the other hand, you can call 1-866-359-3908 to apply over the phone.

After getting your card, go to the website above to activate it. To activate your card, call the customer care agent on the mail you got and follow the instructions you will receive.

To register your card

Follow the steps below:

• Firstly, Click on the Register Your Card link.
• Secondly, Supply your full name as written on the card.
• Then, Enter your card number.
• Supply the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number.
• Enroll your Zip code and your card Security Code.
• Create a User ID and Password to always access your account.
• Finally, Click on Submit.

From now on, you can use your card to make purchases whether online or offline. You can as well access your online account and view your credit card details. Cardholders can as well make their credit card payments from their online account with so much ease.

Moreover, cardholders can always log in with whatever device they have to check their balance, view their credit limit, billing statement, and lots more. With this online portal, cardholders will not need to depend on customer service for every detail they need since they can easily get it from their online account.

Features and Benefits of the Citi Simplicity MasterCard

• There is a 0% introductory APR for the first 18 months of account opening on purchases and balance transfer. After that, the APR shifts to 20.24%.
• No late payment fees.
• There is no annual and penalty fee.
• The balance transfer fee afterward is $5 or 3% of the amount.
• The credit limit is from $500 up depending on your credit history and score.

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Credit History – Understanding The Pros And Cons Of Credit History

When people talk about your credit, what it simply means is your credit history. It is your credit history that describes how you use money, how many credit cards you have, how many loans you have and if you pay your bill on time.

If you already have a credit card or a loan from a bank, then you have a credit history. Companies will in turn, collect information about your loans and credit cards. They will also collect information about how you pay bills.

What is a Credit History?

It is the measure of the ability of a consumer in repaying debts. It contains a record of the borrower’s credit history from a number of sources, including banks, credit card companies, collection agencies, and governments. A borrower’s credit score on the other hand is the result of a mathematical algorithm applied to a credit report and other sources of information to predict future delinquency.

Understanding Credit History

Financial institutions like mortgage lenders and credit card companies, use the information in a borrower’s credit history in determining whether or not to extend credit to that particular borrower. Lenders also use a person’s history in calculating their FICO score. Also, lenders when reviewing an applicant’s credit history, assess several other factors. These factors include recent activity, the length of time that credit accounts have been open and active, as well as the patterns and regularity of repayment over longer periods of time.

Borrowers definitely benefit from having a good credit history. The benefits range from being offered lower interest rates on mortgage loans to lower rates on car insurance.

Potential borrowers with no credit history may have difficulty in being approved for substantial financing or leases. Those with no credit history can establish one by taking out a small personal loan or applying for a credit card with a small available balance. With this, the borrower can demonstrate how well they can manage their credit on a limited scale before taking on larger amounts of debt.

What is a Good Credit Score?

Credit scores range from “0” – “850”. If you are new in the state, you will be at the bottom, because you have no credit history. A low credit score is a bad credit score and can’t qualify you for credit.

Here are the four levels of credit score you can achieve:

• Bad (300 629)
• Fair (630-689)
• Good (690-719)
• Excellent (720-850)

Financial institutions would prefer candidates that have “Good” or “Excellent” credit scores.

Who Makes Credit Report?

A credit report is made by a company known as a credit reporting company. They collect your details and there are three big credit houses:

• TransUnion
• Equifax
• Experian

How to See Your Credit Report

If you want to, you can get a free copy of your credit report every year. That means one copy from each of the three companies that write your report about you.

According to the law, you can get free credit reports if you:

• Firstly, Call Annual Credit Report at 1-877-322-8228 or
• Go to AnnualCreditReport.com

How to Get Credit

If you want to build your credit history, then you will need to pay bills that are put in a credit report and pay them on time.

Most times, utility companies put deatails into a credit report, thus if you have utility bills in your name, it can help you build credit.

Most credit cards also put details into credit reports. Thus you can get a store credit card that can help you in building credit. Secured credit cards can also help you in building credit.

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POLL ON INSTAGRAM – HOW TO MAKE A POLL ON INSTAGRAM

POLL ON INSTAGRAM are a great way to get your audience or followers to engage you on Instagram. The obvious ways to make interactions on the Instagram platform are comments, likes, direct messaging, and stories being shared amongst users. Making Instagram polls is also an effective way to get followers to engage. It is also a potentially fun way to interact.

Polls properly handled can give you information on the type of content your followers want to see more and the same with the kind of live videos and stories they are eager to engage.

Polls can be created in one of your stories or in a direct message and it can be only be created on the Instagram app.

MAKING A POLL ON INSTAGRAM STORIES

Instagram stories are short videos or photos that a person can use to share what he is doing at the moment with his followers. Making a poll on Instagram entails:

1. Firstly, Open the Instagram app on your iOS or Android device and sign in to your account or switch to the account you use
2. Secondly, Tap your Story profile picture bubble at the top of the home feed or swipe right on the screen from the home feed to access the story camera tab
3. Thirdly, Record a video, or take a photo to create your story. Use stickers, filters, and other editing effects to customize your story exactly the way you want
4. From the story preview tab, tap the sticker button at the top of the screen
5. Tap the Poll sticker
6. Lastly, Type a question you want to ask your audience or followers in the Ask a question field.

Poll’s default answers are a yes or no type. Questions that involve customizing two different answers (like today/tomorrow, on/off, black/white) and others can also be asked.

7. Tap the YES button to customize your two poll answers
8. Tap Done
9. Tap your Story in the bottom left of the screen to post it to your stories. You can tap Close Friends to share it only with those chosen as closest friends.

HOW TO MAKE A POLL IN INSTAGRAM DIRECT MESSAGES

1. Tap the messages button in the top right corner of the home feed
2. Secondly, Tap the Plus sign in the top right corner to start a new message. Or tap an existing message to continue a conversation
3. Thirdly, Tap the blue camera in the message field
4. Take a photo or record a video. You can customize your photo or video using filters or stickers
5. Tap the Poll Sticker
6. Type a question you want to ask your audience
7. Tap Done
8. Tap VIEW ONCE if you do not want the direct messages to be replayed by default and tap KEEP IN CHAT if you want to keep the message on the chat indefinitely
9. Lastly, Tap the friend of friends profile bubble to send to friends or tap send to others and select people from the list to send it to them.

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What Debt Cannot Be Discharged When Filing For Bankruptcy?

What debt cannot be discharged when filing for bankruptcy?. Even though filing for bankruptcy frees you from many debts, not all debts go away.

These debts that will not go away even if you file for bankruptcy are known as non-dischargeable debt.

The objective of both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy is to get a “discharge” of debts. If  Filing For Bankruptcy and the bankruptcy court happens to discharge your debts in bankruptcy, it implies that you will no longer be held personally accountable for these debts. The debts that are mostly dischargeable are consumer debts like medical bills and credit card bills. On the other hand, certain debts are non-dischargeable, which means they cannot be wiped out through bankruptcy. These comprise debts that Congress has decided should not be discharged for public policy reasons.

Categories of Non-Dischargeable Debts

Non-dischargeable debt, are in 19 categories. What this means is that when you get a discharge of your consumer debts, creditors will still be able to collect these categories of debts. While some non-dischargeable debts are not subject to a hearing, other non-dischargeable debts will be discharged if a creditor does not challenge that they are dischargeable.

Normally, you will have to show extraordinary circumstances, in order to get these debts discharged and they are generally non-dischargeable.

They are:

• Condo, cooperative housing fee debts.
• Secondly, Criminal restitution as well as other court fines or penalties.
• Thirdly, Attorney’s fees for child custody or support.
• Also, Debts you left off your bankruptcy petition, except the creditor actually knew of your filling.
• Various types of taxes.
• Child support or alimony.
• Fines or penalties that are owed to government agencies.
• Student loans.
• Personal injury debts as a result of a drunk driving accident.
• Lastly, Debt as a result of tax-advantaged retirement plans.

A creditor must challenge your discharge during the bankruptcy for it to be non-dischargeable. Then, the court will hold a hearing that allows both the bankruptcy filer. And the creditor to present their arguments. On the other hand, if the creditor fails to object. Or if the court disagrees with the creditor, the debt will be discharged. These include credit card purchases for luxury goods worth more than $650 in aggregate. That was made during the 90 days preceding the filing and are owed to a single creditor. Or obtained debts or those or debts that are obtained under false pretenses, and debts incurred as a result of willful and malicious injuries either to person or property.

Debts Difficult to Discharge in Bankruptcy

One of the most difficult debts to discharge in bankruptcy is student loans. You can only discharge this loan if you can demonstrate undue hardship to yourself or your dependents, like being unable to maintain a minimal standard of living. In some cases, a court may discharge part of your student debt but not all of it. Thus if student loan debt is your major reason for considering bankruptcy you have to do this. First, contact your loan servicer and see if it’s possible to negotiate a repayment plan that would work for you. If it is a federal student loan, several such plans are available.

Secondly, you cannot have income tax debts discharged without an exemption. This can only be obtained by the bankruptcy court and explaining you deserve relief. Therefore, if you have income tax debts that you cannot repay, it may be best for you to consult with a tax attorney, even before you file for bankruptcy, to discuss your options.

When it comes to federal taxes, which offers several options for people who are unable to pay what they owe. One of which is an offer in compromise, where the IRS agrees to accept a lesser amount. The IRS may also arrange for a payment plan, which enables you to pay your taxes over a period of time.

In summary, it is worth mentioning that your creditors also have some powers to stop certain debts from being discharged. They can also ask the court for relief from the automatic stay, which prevents them from pursuing collection activity. Thus, before you file for bankruptcy, weigh your options right and get acquainted with the kind of discharge you are looking for and what applies.

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Myproviderlink.com Form ID – MyProviderLink Pay Your Bill On Online Portal

The MyProviderLink accepts online payments for customers of various firms and companies. It is located at myproviderlink.com. This online web portal helps customers to access their bill details and make payments conveniently. We will also talk about Myproviderlink.com Form ID.

The online portal is open 24/7 and you can access it from whatever location you are. You only need is a device like a smartphone, tablet, or computer with an internet connection. Customers as well need to create a valid User ID and Password to access their bill accounts. Customers can pay their bills through mail or through the online portal.

 

Use the MyProviderLink Billing portal

to set up recurring payments or one-time payments. As a customer, you can set your account to pay with your credit or debit card, checking account, or savings account. Also, the website accepts payments from Discover, MasterCard, and Visa. Once you pay, you will get an email notification confirming your payment.

Myproviderlink.com Form ID

Furthermore, when you go to the Billing website, you will select the Sign-Up button and fill the enrollment form.  After filling the form, click on submit. They will demand you: full name, mobile phone number, account number, document ID, email address and create a User ID and Password. With the portal, you can verify the charges you see and make your payments.

You will as well have access to all your previous payments. It is important to know that there is an automatic payment system for repeat customers to pay automatically from their accounts or credit card accounts. With the Auto Pay, option customers will not skip payments.

Since the website accepts a lot of credit cards payment options such as Visa, MasterCard, and Discover, it is a better option than paying through the mail which requires 7 to 10 working days to reflect in your account. When you pay online, it reflects on your account immediately and you will not pay any additional charge at all. This option allows you to make your payment on the payment due date.

Features for an online account

Furthermore, if you register for an online account, you will have the option of getting your billing statement online through e-billing. This option is better than waiting for it to come through mail at the end of the month. You can always get a notification from your online account whenever the bill is ready. Customers can view their billing statements from their accounts. Just review your billing statement and make your payment. On the other hand, if you intend to stop getting paperless bills, you can opt for paper bills to be delivered to you through the mail from your online account.

To view your account online, after logging in, supply the code highlighted on your bill. This will take you to view your profile where you will see your next payment due date, balance, list of charges, and lots more.

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Credit Report – What Lenders Look at on Your Credit Report

If you are set to borrow money, you may be wondering what lenders look at on your credit report. The core objective of a lender is to determine whether you are a good or bad credit risk. This is best if you are already monitoring your credit scores to keep them as high as possible. Be it as it may, your credit scores are only one factor used in assessing your credit stability and ability to pay back a loan.

There are other factors that lenders consider which make up your financial profile. They include your payment history, credit utilization, repayment history, credit history, and new accounts.

Let’s explore each of these factors one after the other for a better understanding.

What Lenders Look at on Your Credit Report

Payment History

Lenders will review your payment history on credit cards, loans, lines of credit, and anything else displayed on your credit report. This is to ensure that you have a track record of on-time payments which could indicate that you’ll be a responsible mortgage borrower. If you happen to have any old payments that were late or missed, the lender may ask you for an explanation.

Repayment History

Lenders will look at your repayment habits in the past, to try to work out whether you’re a safe bet or not, now and even in the future.

If you are the type that has always made on-time payments every month on time and in full, this will likely boost your chances of being accepted for future credit. However, if you’ve struggled to keep up with repayments, it might be a red flag to lenders.

Credit Utilization

The credit utilization ratio is another factor that lenders consider. This ratio indicates how much of your available credit you are using at a given time. If you happen to be using up too much of your credit it can make you come off as being overleveraged, which is riskier to lenders. Thus, most lenders will prefer your credit utilization to be under 30%. Thus you have to ensure that you are not exceeding this to see a positive impact on your credit scores and mortgage approval chances.

Credit History

Your credit plays a vital role in a lender’s assessment for you to qualify for a loan or credit card. Your credit history shows your financial track record which shows how you have managed credit and made payments over time. This history can be seen in your three credit reports, which offers all the information from lenders that have previously given you credit.

This data may vary among the different credit reporting agencies but includes the same information like the names of lenders that extended credit, the types of credit, your payment history, etc. Most lenders will like to see the good payment history, low amounts of debt, and no missed or late payments. Your credit history is captured into a single number which is referred to as credit scores.

Your credit score is among one of the first things that lenders look at when assessing your credit history. Thus, it goes to say that having a good credit score increases your odds of getting approved for a loan and helps with the conditions of the offer, like what the interest will be. There are various types of credit scores. FICO® Scores and VantageScore® are the two most common types of credit scores, but other industry-specific scores also do exist.

New Accounts

It is best to have an established credit history, which is actually good for your credit rating. Opening a bunch of new credit cards on the other hand ina short space of time is not ideal. If you suddenly open multiple credit cards, would-be lenders can’t help but wonder why you need so much credit. They will also raise questions about your ability to repay the debt if you suddenly choose to max out all those cards. New credit amounts to 10% of your FICO score. Thus if you need a good credit score, you would have to avoid opening a new credit card account just to acquire things that are not that necessary.

Types of Credit Used

When it comes to your credit report  variety plays a big role in how a lender assesses you for credit.

Lenders like to see that as a potential customer.  You have experience when it comes to using various types of credit. (i.e. loan, credit card, an overdraft) in a stable and reliable fashion. Thus they’ll be looking at your credit report for a diversity of borrowing. And it might boost your chances of acceptance if you can show it.

Be it as it may, don’t be tempted to open lots of accounts in a short space of time.  In order to increase your credit variety.  As this might make things worse.

In summary, apart from you’re your FICO score. Creditors may have their own proprietary scoring methodologies that use similar. But not identical, factors when determining an applicant’s eligibility for credit.

Additionally, lenders also consider factors such as the amount of income you earn. How much money you have in the bank. As well as the length of time you have been employed. Before extending credit to you.

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Student Loans – Is Student Loan Debt The Next Financial Crisis?

We must not forget what we call “The Great Recession when we hear of the financial crisis. It is not just loan debt accumulated by student loans. That is to say, other loan debt can cause a financial crisis. Because of the mortgage crisis of 2008, many believe that student loan debt is the next financial crisis. Thus, this will be proven below if it is true or not.

Cause and effect

Young people follow the path of college education because they have heard of the much success achieved with a college education. Thus, education is a key to success.

Today, student loans could be the best alternative to pay off college education, and if you must be successful, thus, you must study.

Is the student loan debt loan the next financial crisis? Therefore, according to the project on Student Debt, the average student loan debt for college students was $25, 250 in 2010.  Thus, it is 5% higher than the previous year. This also means that the total student-loan borrowing for one year is more than $100 billion marks, and when combined, with the outstanding debt, it is more than $1 trillion.

After seeing this, why won’t I believe that student loan debt could be the next financial crisis?  OF course, it is totally clear to me. What do you think?

In addition, Tuition has risen at a range of 6 to 9% yearly and sometimes twice the normal rate for the past 45 years and above. That is to say, demand for larger student loans will increase as well. As a result, college becomes more demanding to be reached, while the economy goes down without producing more graduates. Moreover, it is clear that many will not be able to pay for these loans when their tuition is very high.

Bankruptcy is a situation that brings companies down. But, according to laws, you cannot escape from completing your loan debt. Thus, loan debt cannot be written off by bankruptcy. So, even in a bad financial situation, graduates will still pay on their student loan debt till it is off.

Solution

The idea of Bankruptcy attorneys is a suggestion that can be the only way to solve the problem of student loan debt. Guess what? It says “If only the student loan debt is to be discharged just as credit card or other debt, things will move. Another says “College tuition fluctuation should be regulated.

In conclusion, in Inspite of that student debt loan is 1 trillion; yet, it is not up to mortgage debt, that is, $13 trillion. Therefore, many consider it that it wouldn’t cause a crisis. Thus, it still requires more attention before it gets out of control.

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Credit Monitoring – The 4 Best Credit Monitoring Services of 2020

Keeping track of report changes from all three credit bureaus is the primary duty offered by the4 best credit monitoring services of 2020. These bureaus, offer these services to help you keep a daily watch on your credit report. This is quite important if you are to stay updated on your credit report on any changes that can be linked to ill activity.

What is Credit Monitoring?

This is a service that grants you access to your credit reports on a regular basis. This is made possible by the service, automating the process, and offering you programs that can scan your account for irregular activity. If any ill activity is noticed, you’ll get an alert notifying you of the changes.

Features

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to credit monitoring services. But you can still expect some general features. They include access to at least one credit report and credit score, and account alerts. Premium services will typically include benefits like identity theft insurance, dark web surveillance, and three-bureau monitoring.

Credit Monitoring Cost

Even though basic credit monitoring services are given for free, those services mostly include access to a single credit report and account monitoring. To get access to all three credit reports and hands-on assistance in a case where your identity is compromised, you may be asked to pay for a credit service.

Based on your needs, and whether you need a service just for yourself or for your whole family, you should expect to pay between $8.99 and $34.95 per month for a credit monitoring service.

How to Choose the Best Companies

To choose the best monitoring companies, the following must be noted. Service based on cost, reviews, TrustPilot score, features, credit bureau reporting, and past security issues.

The 4 Best Credit Monitoring Services of 2020

Complete ID

If you are looking for the best low-cost option of a credit monitoring service then Complete ID is it. This company’s services offers you comprehensive protection and free services. Charging just $8.99 for Costco members, you can get access, to a suite of credit monitoring and identity protection tools.

Who is Complete ID For?

For someone who wants more protection than free services offer, but does not want to spend a lot of money.

Advantages of Complete ID

• Charges a cheap price
• Monitoring of all three credit bureaus.
• Up to $1 million in identity theft insurance.

Disadvantages of Complete ID

• Complete ID is only available to Costco members.
• Credit reports are only available on an annual basis.
• Scores are updated annually.

Costco members can sign up for a Complete ID for $8.99 per month. This is less than other service charges out there. A Costco gold membership costs $60 per year. Apart from being able to buy Complete ID, Costco members can also shop at Costco wholesale locations. Members can also take advantage of Costco programs like life insurance, product installation, and auto repair services which makes the overall membership cost well worth it.

With Complete ID, you will receive alerts if there are changes to your account. Complete ID also includes Social Security number monitoring, dark web surveillance, and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance. In a situation where your information is stolen, you have 24/7 access to a U.S.-based support team.

PrivacyGuard

PrivacyGuard is best for extra protection. It provides monitoring for your credit reports and credit scores for all three credit bureaus. Daily credit monitoring sends you alerts by text, e-mail or via your phone whenever your credit report changes.

In addition, You can start a phase with PrivacyGuard for just $1 for the first 14 days. Thereafter, you’ll be charged the monthly fee based on the plan of your choice. PrivacyGuard offers basic ID protection for $9.99 per month. Up to $1 million in ID theft insurance is included. Credit protection for $19.99 per month, comes with your three-bureau credit reports and scores, daily credit monitoring, and a credit score simulator. The total protection plan stands at $24.99 per month and includes all the features of the Credit Protection and ID Protection Plans.

Who is PrivacyGuard For?

PrivacyGuard only has plans for individuals, even though you can monitor the Social Security number of minor children. PrivacyGuard service does not fully protect minor children’s identity, and may likely need to purchase additional coverage for them.

Residents of Iowa, Rhode Island, and Vermont are ineligible for PrivacyGuard.

Advantages of PrivacyGuard

• Monthly three-bureau credit reports and scores.
• $1 trial for 14 days
• Has features like secure keyboard and browser apps for added security

Disadvantages of PrivacyGuard

• Does not offer family plans.
• Not accredited by BBB or rated by TrustPilot.
• Not available to all residents.

IdentityForce

IdentityForce consists of two basic identity and credit card monitoring products. While the UltraSecure plan includes identity monitoring services, the UltraSecure+Credit plan monitors both your identity and your credit.

The UltraSecure plan goes for $12.99 per month and 129.90 per year. This service includes lots of features that monitor your personal information and sends you alerts if your information is compromised. Subscribers also get $1 million in identity theft insurance, which comes in handy in covering expenses linked with clearing up identity theft. The UltraSecure+Credit plan on the other hand goes for $19.99 per month. It includes all the identity protection features of the UltraSecure plan. Additionally, it also includes three-bureau credit monitoring, credit reports and scores, and credit stimulator to show you how your actions might affect your credit score. Currently, the company offers two free months of monitoring when you purchase an annual plan.

Advantages of IdentityForce

• Firstly, Offers $1 million in identity theft insurance
• Secondly, Daily credit report monitoring.
• Solid customer reviews.

Disadvantages of IdentityForce

• Does not have a free trial.
• Also, Legal fees and personal expenses are not covered by insurance
• Finally, Child identity coverage is an added cost.

Identity Guard

Identity Guard is a credit monitoring service that keeps close tabs on your credit files from all three major credit bureaus. It has a range of three plans that you can choose from. They include Value, Total, and Premier plans, which is either for you or your family. Plans include $1 million of identity theft insurance, a U.S.-based case manager to work with you if your identity is stolen, a mobile application to access your membership information, and alerts when your personal information is detected on the Dark Web. It also includes a monthly credit score, three-bureau credit monitoring, and accounts takeover alerts.

Identity Guard plans range from $8.99 – $24.99 for individual and $14.99-$34.99 for family protection. If you change your mind about your subscription, you have to cancel before the trial ends in order to avoid being charged.

Advantages of Identity Guard

• Monitoring of all three major credit bureaus.
• Plans that cover for you and family.
• $1 million of identity theft insurance.

Disadvantages of Identity Guard

• Quite comprehensive for its price.

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Scholarship – Understanding Scholarship: Needs and Merit

Do you know that you can handle your student financial needs with a scholarship? How? This is because a scholarship is a fund that students receive without paying back. In other words, it can come in two ways like Needs and Merit.  There are two ways that you can receive scholarships. They include Needs and Merit. Thus, read on for more details.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

• While scholarships and grants reduce the costs of attending college, loans will require that you pay back the money. In essence, some students who are unable to pay back will run into debt.
• Do you know that you can receive a scholarship because of “need”? For instance, Pell Grants. Pell Grant is granted to students with exceptional financial need.
• For Merit scholarship, students don’t need to have financial need. Thus, a scholarship can come because the student has a talent that needs to be harnessed.

How Scholarship works

Firstly, Scholarship is a state whereby the government, college, or Non-governmental organizations takes care of some or all of the cost of attending college.

Grant is not a scholarship, but it is an example of a scholarship. This is because many also take grant as scholarship. Indeed, grants and scholarships are used almost when the government takes care of a student’s cost of attendance.  Most scholarship is awarded because of merit. Thus, some may consider both merit and need.

       Scholarship Based on Needs

A grant is a scholarship that is obtained because of the needs. Furthermore, they are given to students with exceptional need. Students must fill out the “Free Application for Federal Student Aid.” Hence, this is the first step to qualify for a Grant. This form is issued by the U.S Department of Education. With the list of questions in the form, information needed from parents and student is clear. Thus, the parent’s income, assets and more are what is needed.

With the details on FAFSA, the expected family contribution (EFC) is gotten. Also, it gives an estimate of what a family should pay as part of the college cost. Furthermore, when this is done, the school involved will then calculate the amount and type of federal aid they will offer a student.  Thus, to keep this ongoing, each family that receives federal aid must fill out the FAFSA form every year the student is in college.

Federal aid based on needs

  Pell Grants, work-study programs, and low interest-Direct Stafford loans are kinds of federal aid based on needs, which offer help to students and their financial needs. What do think? Pell Grants are offered to students with exceptional financial need. Thus, this calls for the need to be met. Therefore, the federal government has set out a maximum Pell Grant for each student ($6,195).

Non-federal Aid

Non-federal aid

Aid can come from private entities such as NGOs. At the same time, it can come from federal aid. Here, private scholarship programs make use of what is called the CSS profile. In other words, it is used to check the eligibility of a student. The CSS profile is an online form issued by College Board, and it is free to sign up likewise the FAFSA. Families who fill out the CSS will pay $25 for the first school they apply to, and $16 for each additional school. In other words, those fees show low-income families.

Non-Need Federal aid

There is also federal aid that is free from need. That is to say, your need does not matter.

Most non-need federal aid comes in the form of loans such as direct unsubsidized loans for students or Plus loans.

Merit Scholarships

Aids are also offered because of merit. That is to say, the college offers merit aid that can replace federal aid. Student aid like merit scholarship can be used to compete with other schools for students with outstanding academic performance or with talents. Therefore, it is a tool that sets down tuition costs to be able to compete with less expensive schools.

Of course, each College that offers scholarship aid has a way to determine the merit aid to offer. Thus, Grades, test scores, etc.

Furthermore, on different grounds, merit aid can be sponsored by civic groups, foundations, etc.

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What is the Equal Credit Opportunity Act And Requirements

What is the Equal Credit Opportunity Act?

 Equal credit opportunity act (ECOA), is an act that requires banks, credit card companies, and anyone else involved in lending to make credit equally available to all creditworthy customers.

ECOA prohibits credit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or as a result of a person receiving public assistance in whole or in part. It also prohibits action against anyone who has exercised any rights under the Consumer Credit Protection Act.

It further states that when determining a consumer’s creditworthiness, financial institutions instead consider the following: income, expenses, debts, and credit history. ECOA permits creditors to ask for certain information to help in the documentation process. But even that is limited by certain rules.

This Act applies not just when credit is denied, but also applies if a consumer gets less favorable borrowing terms like a higher interest rate. ECOA shields borrowers in activities before, during, and after the extension of credit.

When Was ECOA Passed?

ECOA was passed in 1974 by the house of Representatives by a vote of 282-94. It then moved to the Senate, which passed an amended version 89-0. Thereafter, the House approved the amended version 355-1 and the bill was signed into law by President Gerald Ford on Oct 10, 1974.

Formerly, the Federal Reserve Board was in charge. However, that role was transferred to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which was created in 2011 as part of the Dodd-Frank Act.

However, that piece of legislation has been rolled back in 2018 after Donald Trump promised to “do a number on Dodd-Frank”. Congress accepted and passed the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act on May 22, 2018.

This dealt largely with banking regulations, though, and the proponent is of the opinion that it should not adversely impact the agency’s role when it comes to ECOA guidelines.

Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) Requirements

ECOA states that creditors are to:

• Offer the applicant a note of action. Taken within 30 calendar days of receiving the application. Except certain exception applies. Note, that these notes of action taken are sometimes to be in writing. While in other cases, oral notification satisfies the requirement.
• Creditors are to offer specific reason(s). Or allow the candidate to know how to get the reason(s) why they are denied credit. Or granted credit in a way that differs from the terms under which they originally applied. Also, the same rule applies in a situation where a creditor closes the account. Also when a creditor refuses to increase a line of credit. It makes a negative change in the terms of the credit. And does not make the same change for other consumers. Where the creditor refuses to give credit at the same. Or approximately the same, terms as were offered when the credit was initially applied for.

Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) Penalties

Organizations who are discovered to have violated the ECOA could potentially face class-action lawsuits by the Department of Justice (DOJ). This lawsuit will be carried if the DOJ or any affiliate agencies recognize a pattern of discrimination.

On the other hand, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) seeks to enforce ECOA with other federal agencies, like the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). If any organization is found guilty, they may have to pay out punitive damages which can be significant, and cover any costs incurred by the person who is wronged.

ECOA was passed to protect women and minorities from being discriminated against by credit card companies.

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