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Featured Structured Settlements Articles

Financial Security through Structured Settlements
Structured settlements have become a natural part of personal injury and worker's compensation claims in the United States, according to the National Structured Settlements Trade Association (NSSTA). In 2001, life insurance members of NSSTA wrote more ...

Sell Mortgage Note
Do you need to Sell a Mortgage Note?We specialize in helping people sell their mortgage note.To learn more, visit Sell Mortgage Note.Right now, thousands of people across North America are stuck with investments that they don't want. They would rather ...

Structured Settlements Offer Advantages over Lump-Sum Payments
A structured settlement, which offers injury victims cash payments through a long-term annuity as compensation for their damages and medical expenses, offer a number of possible advantages over payment in a lump sum. While the lump sum payment is the ...

Debt Consolidation – Can You Negotiate with Your Credit Card Company?
 

It might be possible, depending on your credit history, interest rate, and current balance. Your best bet, especially if you have a history of paying on time, is to simply call your credit card company and ask if they will lower your interest rate. They might, especially if you tell them that you got a better offer from another bank. If you have a history of paying late, however, they probably will not be willing to lower your interest rate. That's unfortunate, since paying late has probably prompted the credit card company to raise your interest rate in the first place. Still, it's worth a phone call; you may get lucky.

If you've been paying your bills on time, asking for a lower interest rate may be the only option available to you. The credit card companies aren't going to be too sympathetic to your financial woes if they're receiving payment on time. On the other hand, if you're late on your payments, especially if you're more than three months behind, you may have some negotiating leverage. That leverage comes with a few strings attached, however. You may be able to negotiate a lump-sum settlement for your outstanding balance, where the credit card company accepts a portion of your debt and writes off the rest. They're often willing to do this instead of turning your debt over to a collection agency, as it's cheaper just to settle. The settlement amount will vary, depending on your interest rate, your balance and your payment history. This type of settlement comes with a couple of problems of its own, though. What if you don't have the money to settle all at once? If you can't pay your bills on time, you probably don't have the cash to settle at once. Additionally, the amount of your debt that gets written off will show up on your credit report as bad debt, and that will stay there for seven years.

Your credit card company may or may not be willing to work out a payment plan, but it costs you nothing to ask them, and negotiating a settlement with them may be cheaper for you than if you consult with a debt consolidation firm. If your credit card debt is substantial and you just can't make the payments, it's worth a try.

About the Author
©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling, and StructuredSettlementHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding structured settlements.




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RTT News

Ambac Commutes Approximately $3.5 Billion of CDO Exposure for Cash ...
WELT ONLINE, Germany - 14 hours ago
As a result of the settlements, Ambac expects to record positive adjustments to its aggregate mark-to-market and impairment reserves. ...
Ambac commutes $3.5 Billion in CDO exposure BusinessWeek
Ambac commutes about $3.5 billion of CDO exposure - Update Trading Markets (press release)
all 57 news articles

Structured Products PDS
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 6 hours ago
Offer Opens 20 November 2008 Expected Commencement of 21 November 2008 Trading on the ASX Calculation of Cash Call Warrant Settlement Amount at Expiry ...

The #1 Reason Consumers Sell Their Structured Settlements Is to ...
EON, WA - Oct 28, 2008
“Approximately 71% of the surveyed consumers selling all or part of their structured settlements have held them for more than 10 years, and we believe that ...

Jon White victim reaches tentative settlement with Urbana school ...
Urbana/Champaign News-Gazette, IL - 18 hours ago
The girl will receive the rest in the form of a structured settlement beginning when she is 18 and concluding in 2059. Mark Netter, president of the Urbana ...
Unit 5 not part of this week's settlement with Jon White abuse victim Bloomington Pantagraph
Another Jon White victim reaches tentative settlement Urbana/Champaign News-Gazette
all 4 news articles

BGC Partners to Webcast 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
MarketWatch - 15 hours ago
Factors may also include the costs and expenses of developing, maintaining and protecting intellectual property, including judgments or settlements paid or ...

LAWSUIT FINANCIAL ANTICIPATES CHANGES IN LEGAL CLIMATE
dBusinessNews Detroit (press release), MI - Nov 18, 2008
Lawsuit Financial will also provide attorney funding for litigation costs, structured settlements, expert witness fees, and pending attorney fees. # # #

Ringler Associates(R) Board Elects New Member Ann Marie VonBank
MarketWatch - Nov 3, 2008
VonBank has 17 years of experience in both the insurance and legal fields, focusing on structured settlements exclusively since joining Ringler Associates ...