Tuesday, July 14, 2020

COVID-19 and debt: A small guide

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned out to be a big problem for many people. Individuals and businesses alike are facing debt problems. Some businesses have debtors whose debt is in collection or there may be individuals who have loans and bills but paying them is a struggle as of now.
So, if you are facing any of these problems, here are some tips for you.

If the due date of bills or rent is nearby

A lot of people are facing hardships due to coronavirus. If you too are unable to pay your credit card or student loan debt or so on, don’t panic. The first thing you have to do is call your provider and explain your situation. They will help you like a lot of companies are coming up with plans or programs to help people who are struggling with finances.

Don’t wait too long in calling your provider because calling early may help you avoid your account from going to collection. Here are some things that you should ask for when you call up your loan provider.

What financial programs due they have in place for their debtors?

What consequences the debtor may face if they become a part of this program? For instance, do they pay more interest when the economy goes up or so on?

What to do if a collector is contacting you?

If a debt recovering firm like Cedar Financial is contacting you to collect a debt, not avoiding is the first thing that you should do. When you communicate with them, you can come to know various schemes or options that you have that will ensure that you don’t go broke while paying the debt. Debt in a collection can only work if you talk to the debt collector.

Here are your options:


  • Tell them about your finances and the problem that you are facing. They will talk to the creditor and get you some payment plan or renegotiate the terms on your behalf.
  • You can pay a minimum amount and ask the collector to get you more time for paying the rest.
  • You can file for bankruptcy if you have no way to pay the debts.

It is best to remember that you should not pay the debt or go into negotiation until and unless you validate the debt. Once you do that and you have the assurance that the debt is yours, it is best to talk to a collector for plans on how to tackle debt in times of COVID-19.

Lastly, know your rights. Every state or country has rules that can help a debtor ensure that no collector or creditor harasses them.

Seek help from credit counselling companies

Credit counselling companies are firms that help people with their debt and finances. But when you are working with them, you do need to disclose about your work, income, finance struggles, and more. They can help you with:
  • Identifying quick and effective ways to budget, analysis, and mend your finances.
  • Help you work with identifying hardship programs and make the best of it
The pandemic is not slowing down as of now, but you don’t have to worry about your finances with the help of these tips.

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