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      <title>Articles by Neil Robertson on ArticleSnatch.com</title>
      <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/profile/Neil-Robertson/28826</link>
      <description>Neil Robertson is an author at ArticleSnatch.com Article Directory.  Below are the most recent articles from Neil Robertson.  For more of articles by Neil Robertson please use the link above.</description>
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<title>Articles by Neil Robertson on ArticleSnatch.com</title>
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         <title>What Are the Best Debt Fixers?</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/What-Are-the-Best-Debt-Fixers-/582378</link>
         <description>If you're in serious debt you are likely looking for someone or something that can sort out your debt fast - desperately seeking debt fixers! There are people and organizations that can help you, but the solution won't always be quick or easy. The most important thing is your commitment to sorting out your problem, with or without help.

Debt Fixers - What Are Your Options?

Doing it yourself - if your debt problem is not very serious then you may be able to sort it out without any help - do a thorough budget, increase your income if you can, reduce your spending, and make a plan to pay off your debt. This solution is not recommended if your debt problem is serious, if for instance you are already missing payments.

Getting the help of debt counselors, debt management companies, or looking at debt consolidation. Debt counseling and debt management companies may be able to help you by negotiating with your creditors, getting interest and fees reduced or frozen. A debt consolidation loan might enable you to reduce your monthly payments to the point where you can afford to pay off your debt over the long term.** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit Neil Robertson's site, &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; . This site provides debt advice and information from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free. Find out about &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2009/03/27/cars-debt/&quot;&gt;cars debt&lt;/a&gt; and how you need to be careful with secured debt if you are declaring bankruptcy.</description>
         <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
         <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/What-Are-the-Best-Debt-Fixers-/582378</guid>
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         <title>Have You Bought Cars and Incurred Debt? What Are the Consequences in Bankruptcy?</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Have-You-Bought-Cars-and-Incurred-Debt--What-Are-the-Consequences-in-Bankruptcy-/582368</link>
         <description>With many people losing their jobs at the moment that are going to be a lot of cars debt problems, where people cannot afford the repayments on their cars. What should you do if you are in this situation (especially if you are considering bankruptcy)?

Cars Debt - What Type of Debt?

When cars are purchased they will usually be financed either with a loan secured against the value of the car (motor finance) or by a personal loan. This article is concerned only with cars financed with a motor finance loan secured against the car.

Cars Debt - What Should You Do?

If you are having trouble making the payments on your car loan then there may be things that you can do. Investigate whether it is possible to re-finance the loan over a longer period - this could cut the payments quite significantly.

If you are unable to meet the payments and can't refinance then you need to speak to the loan company urgently. Unless you can agree a payment holiday with them they will take the car back.** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit Neil Robertson's site, &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; This site provides debt advice and information from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free. Find out about how you can reduce or eliminate &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2009/03/31/debt-fees/&quot;&gt;debt fees&lt;/a&gt; </description>
         <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
         <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Have-You-Bought-Cars-and-Incurred-Debt--What-Are-the-Consequences-in-Bankruptcy-/582368</guid>
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         <title>If You Are Thinking I'm in Debt Read on For Some Helpful Tips</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/If-You-Are-Thinking-I-m-in-Debt-Read-on-For-Some-Helpful-Tips/582357</link>
         <description>If you're saying to yourself &quot;I'm in debt&quot; and worrying about it or wondering what you can do about it then you need help and you need to take action now! Debt is like a lot of life issues - they don't get any better if you just ignore them. Tackle the problem head-on now and you will be glad you did in a few years time.

I'm In Debt - What Should I Do?

The first thing you need to do is work out how much debt you have. Gather together all of your credit agreements and credit card statements and write down a list (or put it in Excel) of all your outstanding debts, with the current balance (if you know it) and the monthly repayments.

Next get your bank statements and write down a full budget of all of your regular monthly expenses (this is the easier part) and try and identify as much of your other spending as you can (food, entertainment, clothes, gadgets etc).

From the bank statement or recent pay advice get your total income from all sources (including benefits/second jobs etc.)

What Next?** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit Neil Robertson's site, &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; . This site provides debt advice and information from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free. Find out about &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2009/04/03/old-debt/&quot;&gt;old debt&lt;/a&gt; and whether you have to pay it or not.</description>
         <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
         <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/If-You-Are-Thinking-I-m-in-Debt-Read-on-For-Some-Helpful-Tips/582357</guid>
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         <title>Are Your Debt Worries Justified?</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Are-Your-Debt-Worries-Justified-/582346</link>
         <description>Debt worries can control your life if you let them. You will know if you have a serious debt problem (you're missing payments etc.) and this IS something to worry about and take action to resolve. However I'm sure that there are lots of people that have significant levels of debt that can easily afford the payments but still spend a lot of time worrying about it.

Debt Worries - Don't Worry, Take Action

If you are worrying about your level of debt then take action instead. Do a full budget and look at ways that you can spend less so that you can pay off your debt more quickly. Investigate whether you can move any debts to get a lower rate of interest. Consider carefully whether a debt consolidation loan would be useful for you. Only take one on if you are sure that you can afford the repayments.

Consider whether it is possible or realistic to increase your family income to make paying off your debt quicker/easier. Here you need to balance the desire to pay off your debt as quickly as possible with not making your life too stressful though overwork.** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;</description>
         <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
         <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Are-Your-Debt-Worries-Justified-/582346</guid>
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         <title>Where Should You Turn to For Debt Support?</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Where-Should-You-Turn-to-For-Debt-Support-/582337</link>
         <description>One of the most important parts of resolving a debt problem is to get the right level and type of support. Trying to do it all on your own will make it much harder.

Debt Support - Where to Turn?

One of the most important sources of support is your family or friends. Obviously you can't ask them for support with something if you haven't told them about it! If you are keeping your debt problem a secret from those close to you then you need to seriously consider whether you should tell them about it. Not telling them may end up giving you more stress in the end, as they are almost certainly going to find out in the end.

Other organizations exist in the UK to help with debt problems specifically. All Citizens Advice Bureaus will have access to a specialist Money Adviser that will be able to help. The Consumer Credit Counseling Service offers a phone-based help service. Reputable debt management companies like the Payplan Partnership can also be useful.

If you are really getting desperate about your debt problem and are becoming depressed you could consider calling the Samaritans.** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit Neil Robertson's site, &lt;a href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; . This site provides debt advice and information from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free.</description>
         <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
         <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Where-Should-You-Turn-to-For-Debt-Support-/582337</guid>
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         <title>Will You Be Prosecuted For Debt Fraud?</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Will-You-Be-Prosecuted-For-Debt-Fraud-/582334</link>
         <description>Debt collection agencies will often threaten people that owe money with prosecution for fraud. Unfortunately it is just one of the tactics that they use to frighten people into paying money that they can't afford.

Debt Fraud Prosecution - How Likely Is It?

In the UK, prosecution for debt fraud is only likely in the most extreme of cases (e.g. applying under someone else's name or saying that you earned 100,000pa when you actually earned 5,000). Even some quite extreme cases don't come to court. Therefore if a debt collection agency is threatening you with a fraud prosecution they are almost certainly lying.

One other possible route for prosecution in the UK is the bankruptcy process, if you decide to go down this route. The insolvency service will investigate the circumstances leading up to your bankruptcy to see if you were guilty of reckless behavior. It is possible (although extremely unlikely) that they will decide that your conduct before bankruptcy deserves prosecution. This is even less likely now that gambling has been removed as a specific reason for prosecution.

Ignore the threats and concentrate on working towards a solution to your debt problem.** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit Neil Robertson's site, &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; This site provides debt advice and information from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free. Find out about sources od &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2009/04/02/debt-support/&quot;&gt;catalogue debt&lt;/a&gt; </description>
         <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
         <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Will-You-Be-Prosecuted-For-Debt-Fraud-/582334</guid>
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         <title>If You Have Money Worries Then Confront Them Head-On</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/If-You-Have-Money-Worries-Then-Confront-Them-Head-On/582318</link>
         <description>If you have money worries then the worst thing that you can do is ignore them. You need to take action as this will stop the situation getting any worse and will give you back a sense of control.

Your Money Worries - What Are They?

Are you worried about your level of debt, low income, or being able to invest for the future? The solutions that you adopt will depend a lot on the answer to this question. One of the first things to do is to write down all of your income and expenditure, any debts, and any savings or investments that you may have. This will form the foundation of your decision making process.

Money Worries - Debt

If you have a high level of debt and are worried about being able to repay it then you should seek the help of the many debt-related charities to help you resolve the problem (e.g. the Citizens Advice Bureau or the Consumer Credit Counseling Service in the UK).** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit Neil Douglas-Campbell's site, &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; This site provides debt advice and information from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free. Find out how to reduce or eliminate the many types of &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2009/04/02/debt-charge/&quot;&gt;debt charge&lt;/a&gt; that can be added to your account if you are having trouble with repayments.</description>
         <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
         <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/If-You-Have-Money-Worries-Then-Confront-Them-Head-On/582318</guid>
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         <title>How to Manage Problems With Catalogue Debt</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/How-to-Manage-Problems-With-Catalogue-Debt/582313</link>
         <description>As catalogue debt offers a seemingly easy way to pay for small-value items it is a common problem area for people on low incomes. Each item that is bought seems like a small amount of money per week/month but the interest charges (whether identified separately or built in to the price of the goods) are often very high.

Avoiding Catalogue Debt

Many people would be better off ignoring catalogues and getting their goods from discount retailers. If the weekly or monthly cost of goods from a catalogue seem attractive, calculate the full cost of paying for it over a year with the cost from a discount retailer. Also consider that if you are finding it difficult to budget now, this will be even harder once you have a weekly/monthly bill to pay to your catalogue representative.

What to do if You Have a Problem

If you are having difficulty making your catalogue payments, or if they are making it hard for you to pay other essential bills then you have a problem.** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit Neil Robertson's site, &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; . This site provides debt advice and information from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free. Find resources that will help you say &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2009/04/01/go-debt/&quot;&gt;Go Debt!&lt;/a&gt; and really mean it.</description>
         <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
         <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/How-to-Manage-Problems-With-Catalogue-Debt/582313</guid>
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         <title>Debt Can Be a Positive Or Negative Force - Which is it For You?</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Debt-Can-Be-a-Positive-Or-Negative-Force---Which-is-it-For-You-/582302</link>
         <description>Debt can be a positive or a negative part of your life depending on how you manage it. For some parts of life it is very nearly essential, kike buying a home. On the other hand if abused it can ruin your life

Debt Can be Positive

Debt can help you make large purchases like homes or cars that would be difficult or impossible to save up for. Beware of spending more than you need/can afford as this is a sure way to debt misery.

Debt can help you through times when your income is reduced, because of losing your job or taking time to study for qualifications. But if you find yourself borrowing for an extended period of time you really need to consider whether this is a short-term emergency or a permanent change.

Debt Can be Negative

Debt can tempt you to spend money on things that you do not really need.

Debt reduces your future income and will eventually make you poorer.

Chronic debt problems can harm your health and damage your relationships.

Conclusion

Like a lot of things in life debt can be a useful thing if used properly.** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit Neil Robertson's site, &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; . This site provides debt advice and information from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free. Find out how to tackle your &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2009/04/02/money-worries/&quot;&gt;money worries&lt;/a&gt; before they get out of control.</description>
         <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
         <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Debt-Can-Be-a-Positive-Or-Negative-Force---Which-is-it-For-You-/582302</guid>
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         <title>Debt Fees - Are They Legal and How Can They Be Stopped?</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Debt-Fees---Are-They-Legal-and-How-Can-They-Be-Stopped-/582282</link>
         <description>Debt fees can really make the agony of debt far worse. As soon as you start missing payments then you will find a debt fee (or a few) added to your account. If you get to the stage of having your account chased by a collection agency then you will definitely have debt collection fees (that can be quite substantial) added to your account

Debt Fees - Are They Legal?

If you want to know whether the debt fees that have been added to your account are legal then in the first instance refer back to your original credit agreement. This should contain details of the fees and charges that the creditor can add to your account in the event of you missing/being late with payments. If legal/collection action is being taken then there are usually rules on a country-by-country (or state-by-state) basis laying down what you can be charged for collection visits or court time.

Debt Fees - How to Stop Them

The only way to stop debt fees, penalties, and interest being added to your account is by negotiation with your creditors. You can do this yourself but you will find it a very difficult process.** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit Neil Robertson's site, &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; . This site provides debt advice and information from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free. Find out about &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2009/04/01/catalogue-debt/&quot;&gt;catalogue debt&lt;/a&gt; and how you should avoid/manage it.</description>
         <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
         <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Debt-Fees---Are-They-Legal-and-How-Can-They-Be-Stopped-/582282</guid>
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         <title>The Cost of Bankruptcy - Don't Expect it to Be Small</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/The-Cost-of-Bankruptcy---Don-t-Expect-it-to-Be-Small/582275</link>
         <description>The cost of bankruptcy will hit you in a number of different ways. There is the actual cost of filing for bankruptcy, the legal and counseling fees that you will probably have to pay and the increased cost of credit and insurance premiums over an extended period after your bankruptcy.

Cost of Bankruptcy - Filing Costs

The filing costs for bankruptcy are actually quite small and are as follows:

Chapter 7 - $299 Chapter 13 - $274

Cost of Bankruptcy - Legal and Counseling Costs

You will probably need to assistance of a attorney to file for bankruptcy. There are also new regulations that require you to attend credit counseling before declaring bankruptcy. Typical costs for these are going to be in the region of $700-$2000

Getting Credit and Insurance After Bankruptcy

Your bankruptcy will stay on your records for 10 years (or 7 years for chapter 13). During this period you will find it much more expensive to get credit, including mortgages (for chapter 7 bankruptcy you will probably be unable to get a mortgage at all for 2 years). In the current climate you might find it hard to get a mortgage at all.** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit Neil Robertson's site, &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; . This site provides debt advice and information from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free. Find out how &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2009/04/01/debt-can/&quot;&gt;debt can&lt;/a&gt; be a positive or negative force in your life.</description>
         <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
         <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/The-Cost-of-Bankruptcy---Don-t-Expect-it-to-Be-Small/582275</guid>
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         <title>Debt Control - A Skill You Really Need to Learn</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Debt-Control---A-Skill-You-Really-Need-to-Learn/582272</link>
         <description>How to keep control of your debts, reduce them, or even avoid getting into debt in the first place might be one of the most important financial lessons you ever learn. Having excessive debt can damage your health and relationships and will keep you poor, so it is important to know how to keep it under control.

Debt Control - The Basics

You cannot control your debts if you don't know what they are. Record all of your debts in one place with amount outstanding, repayment amount, interest rate, and time to repay. You can use this information to help you to decide which of your debts to pay off first.

You cannot plan to pay off your debt if you don't understand how much you earn and how much you spend each month. Use your bank statement to write down a complete list of everything you earn and spend in a month. This will help you to see if you are able to pay off your debt on your current income.** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit Neil Robertson's site, &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; . This site provides debt advice and information from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free. Find out how &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2009/04/01/debt-can/&quot;&gt;debt can&lt;/a&gt; be a positive or negative force in your life.</description>
         <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
         <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Debt-Control---A-Skill-You-Really-Need-to-Learn/582272</guid>
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         <title>Bankruptcy Types - Which Should You Choose?</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Bankruptcy-Types---Which-Should-You-Choose-/582257</link>
         <description>If you are considering bankruptcy in the USA you might wonder what sort is most suitable for you, and what the different types mean. There are many different types of bankruptcy, but for people (not businesses) there are really only two types of bankruptcies that you need to consider. These different types are named after the chapters in the original bankruptcy law.

Bankruptcy Types - Chapter 7

This is for the most serious debt situations where the debtor has no or little income. Recent legislation restricted access to this form as it was felt that too many people were taking advantage of it to avoid their debts. Some of the new requirements include attending credit counseling and the need for additional legal advice. This type of bankruptcy stays on your credit file for 10 years and usually you will not be able to get a mortgage for 2 years.

Chapter 13

This type is for people that have a serious debt problem but have earnings and can afford to pay something towards paying off their debt. In this case the debtor will pay an agreed amount into over a period of years.** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit Neil Robertson's site, &lt;a href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; . This site provides debt advice and information from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free. Learn the basics of &lt;a href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2009/04/04/debt-control/&quot;&gt;debt control&lt;/a&gt; .</description>
         <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
         <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Bankruptcy-Types---Which-Should-You-Choose-/582257</guid>
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         <title>Debt Insurance - Should You Buy It?</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Debt-Insurance---Should-You-Buy-It-/582246</link>
         <description>Credit companies will often try and sell you debt insurance to cover your payments if you become ill or are made redundant. Unfortunately these policies are often used as a way for the credit company to make a lot of money and are very bad value.

Debt Insurance - What is it?

The insurance (or repayment cover) that is sold to you when you take out a loan will pay your repayments for a specific period of time (often only 12 months) if you are ill or (for some policies) if you are made redundant. 

Should You Use It?

Credit companies should not make taking on the insurance a condition of offering you credit. You will frequently find that it is a better idea to buy insurance against sickness (permanent health insurance) separately. Prices are far more competitive and you will also be able to insure yourself for an amount that will help you to live - not just to pay your credit bills! The other advantage with permanent health insurance is that it normally insures you for as long as you are unable to work, instead of only paying you for a set period - typically 12 months.** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit Neil Robertson's site, &lt;a href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; . This site provides debt advice and information from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free. If you have &lt;a href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2009/04/04/debt-to-pay/&quot;&gt;debt to pay&lt;/a&gt; , find out the best way to pay it off.</description>
         <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
         <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Debt-Insurance---Should-You-Buy-It-/582246</guid>
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         <title>Bankruptcy Hearing - What Happens?</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Bankruptcy-Hearing---What-Happens-/582242</link>
         <description>If you are worried about being declared bankrupt by your creditors (this is very unusual) or are considering bankruptcy as a solution to your debt problems then you may be worried about the bankruptcy hearing and what will happen at it. Although bankruptcy is a very serious step to take, the hearing itself is (in the UK) a very straightforward affair.

Bankruptcy Hearing - What Happens

In the case of debtor petitions (people declaring themselves bankrupt) the procedure is extremely simple. You make an appointment at your local court and at this time you will be sent a bankruptcy form to fill in. Please take advice when filling in this form because this may have a big affect on how much money you have to pay into your bankruptcy. The hearing itself will just consist of the judge reviewing the bankruptcy form and perhaps asking a couple of questions to confirm that you are unable to pay your debts. As long as you have the required court fee you will be declared bankrupt immediately and all of your unsecured debts will be removed from you. That's it!** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit Neil Robertsonl's site, &lt;a href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; . This site provides debt advice and information from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free. Find out about the &lt;a href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2009/04/04/charge-debt-solutions/&quot;&gt;charge debt solutions&lt;/a&gt; that are open to you.</description>
         <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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         <title>Old Debt - Does it Ever Expire?</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Old-Debt---Does-it-Ever-Expire-/582224</link>
         <description>If you have a very old debt you may be wondering whether it ever becomes too old to be chased/recovered (doe it expire?). The answer is that (in the UK) unfortunately a debt can exist indefinitely and the creditor has the right to contact you about it (although you as ever are under no obligation to speak to them about it). The status of the debt and the measures that can be taken to chase it do change after a period of time.

Old Debt - What Happens to it?

If a debt goes for a period of 6 years without any attempt at contact between the debtor and the creditor it becomes &quot;statute barred&quot;. This means that although the debt still exists the creditor cannot take any legal action relating to it. So you cannot be given a County Court Judgement or be made bankrupt over a statute barred debt. The fact that no action can be taken often means that creditors in this situation will accept a nominal sum to settle the debt.** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit Neil Robertson's site, &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; . This site provides debt advice and information from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free. Find out what happens at a &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2009/04/03/bankruptcy-hearing/&quot;&gt;bankruptcy hearing&lt;/a&gt; and a lot of other useful information.</description>
         <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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         <title>Routes to a Debt Free Me</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Routes-to-a-Debt-Free-Me/582220</link>
         <description>Are you having trouble imagining a &quot;debt free me&quot;? Do your debt problems just seem too big to ever escape from? Well the good news is that however large your problems are there is always a way to get out of them. I'm not going to say that the things you have to do are always easy or without pain, but if you're determined to escape your problem then you WILL be able to.

A Debt Free Me - Through Declaring Bankruptcy

The easiest way to prove that you can escape from your problem is to give the example of bankruptcy. In the UK you will be able to declare bankruptcy if you have a significant issue with credit and all of your personal loans, credit cards etc. (excluding secured lending like mortgages and car loans) will be gone. It's not a decision to be taken lightly, but it does get rid of all of your problems immediately.

Through Credit Counseling

A counseling program may be able to help negotiate reduced interest payments/accept lower monthly payments. It might even be able to write-off some of the outstanding balances.** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit Neil Robertson's site, &lt;a href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; . This site provides debt advice and information from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free. Find out whether &lt;a href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2009/04/04/debt-insurance/&quot;&gt;debt insurance&lt;/a&gt; is a good buy or not.</description>
         <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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         <title>Debt to Pay - What is the Best Way?</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Debt-to-Pay---What-is-the-Best-Way-/582205</link>
         <description>If you have debt to pay you may be wondering what is the best way to pay it off. There are a number of competing debt repayment methods or schemes that will tell you that there's is by far the best way. I fact there is no one perfect way to repay debt, the ideal way for you will depend on your own situation an personality. Consider the following 3 approaches:

Debt to Pay - Pay off the Most Expensive First

This method makes logical sense. You sort your debts into order of the interest rate that they charge and use any additional income that you have to pay off the most expensive debt first. In this way the money that you pay off your debt saves you the most interest.

Debt to Pay - Pay off the Smallest First

One criticism of the above method is that you might spend a long time paying off an expensive debt and not see very much progress. This alternative method sorts your debts into order of their size. You then use as much income as you can to pay off the smallest first.** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit Neil Douglas-Campbell's site, &lt;a href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; . This site provides debt advice and information from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free. What is the &lt;a href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2009/04/05/cost-of-bankruptcy/&quot;&gt;cost of bankruptcy&lt;/a&gt; and should you be trying to avoid it?</description>
         <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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         <title>Charge Debt Solutions - Why Use Them?</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Charge-Debt-Solutions---Why-Use-Them-/582188</link>
         <description>When you have a serious debt problem you have a choice in how you resolve it. You can either try and tackle the problem completely on your own (not recommended) or get free help from a charity or sign up for a charge debt solution with a reputable debt management company.

Charge Debt Solutions - Why Use Them?

If you can get your debt advice free then why would you want to use the services of a company that are going to charge you money? The answer is in the type of debt management solution that the company can offer and their expertise/reputation with the creditors. In the UK there are two good sources of free advice if you have debt problems: The Citizens Advice Bureau and the Consumer Credit Counseling Service. These can both offer good general advice on debt and can help negotiate with your creditors to reduce payments/freeze penalties and interest etc. The CAB can also help you if you are considering bankruptcy.

However neither can offer an Individual Voluntary Arrangements since these require the provider to be a Licenced Insolvency Practioner.** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit Neil Douglas-Campbell's site, &lt;a href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; . This site provides debt advice and information from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free. Find out whether there is any difference between a &lt;a href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2009/04/04/debt-bill/&quot;&gt;debt and a bill&lt;/a&gt; when considering debt solutions.</description>
         <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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         <title>Debt Advice Free - Don't Pay Upfront</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Debt-Advice-Free---Don-t-Pay-Upfront/497610</link>
         <description>Many companies have sprung up to take advantage of the explosion in consumer debt and the inevitable problems that follow. Many of these companies are reputable organizations that will genuinely try and help but unfortunately some are simply scams that will cost you money and sometimes make the situation worse. A simple rule is to only get debt advice free, and refuse to work with any company that tries to charge you upfront fees.

What Is a Debt Problem?

A problem with unsecured debt can be identified by the fact that you have difficulty making your monthly payments, or that these are taking an unreasonably large proportion of your income. Note that you may have a debt problem even if you make your payments regularly. A classic sign of debt distress is using credit from one source to make payments on other debts. This is a so-called &quot;debt spiral&quot; that can very quickly get out of control.

What Solutions are Available?

The following solutions relate to the UK, and specifically England and Wales.** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit my &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; blog for advice on debt from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free. Would you &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2008/08/31/declare-bankruptcy/&quot;&gt;declare bankruptcy&lt;/a&gt; ? If so, visit my site to see what other options are available to you.</description>
         <pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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         <title>Free Legal Advice For Debt Resolution</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Free-Legal-Advice-For-Debt-Resolution/497601</link>
         <description>If you have a problem with debts you need good legal advice. However the last thing that you need is advice that you have to pay for. It is true that advice on debt relief is a specialist area requiring skills/qualifications, so how are you going to get his advice free? Fortunately there are charitable organizations that will provide free advice. There are also companies/legal advisers that will provide free advice initially in the hope that you will sign-up for something they can charge you for later.

Charitable Organizations Providing Free Advice For Debt Relief

In the United Kingdom there are two main charitable providers of free advice on debt relief:

1. The Citizens Advice Bureau. Many CABs will have specialist debt case workers that can provide top-quality free advice. However there may be a a waiting list to see the debt case worker, as they are very much in demand at the moment. You are definitely not on your own with your debt problems.** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;Visit my site for more information on &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/&quot;&gt;debt advice in the UK&lt;/a&gt; All my advice is based on my own experience and is focused on making sure you get your &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2008/08/29/debt-advice-free-when-the-free-part-is-important-and-when-it-is-not/&quot;&gt;debt advice free&lt;/a&gt; </description>
         <pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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         <title>Turn the Tables on Debt Collection Agencies</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Turn-the-Tables-on-Debt-Collection-Agencies/497596</link>
         <description>When you first get into a debt problem situation with unsecured debt, you may have picked up the advice that you should notify all your creditors about your problems. I'm sure that this is a good idea, but don't expect it to change the way that your creditors deal with you. In most cases they will pass your details to their own debt collection department or even an external debt collection agency that will pester you endlessly over the phone and by letter. It doesn't matter if you told them 2 days ago that you could not pay, they will still phone again just to make sure that you can't pay now (and to keep the pressure on).

How You Can Turn the Tables on Debt Collection Agencies

Most people don't realize that you do not have any obligation to speak to your creditors about your debt problem. With the exception of secured debt such as your mortgage, speaking to them doesn't usually change the outcome. Creditors will follow their own debt collection procedures more or less whatever you do.** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;Visit my site for more information on &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/&quot;&gt;debt advice in the UK&lt;/a&gt; . All my advice is based on my own experience and is focused on making sure you get your &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2008/08/29/debt-advice-free-when-the-free-part-is-important-and-when-it-is-not/&quot;&gt;debt advice free&lt;/a&gt; .</description>
         <pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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         <title>Seek Help With the Underlying Causes of Debt Problems</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Seek-Help-With-the-Underlying-Causes-of-Debt-Problems/496960</link>
         <description>When you look at the reasons why people have go into debt, I think it is possible to split them into two groups, those thrown into a debt crisis situation by things outside of their control (or the actions of others such as their spouse) and those that have been to some degree or other reckless.

&quot;Blameless debtors&quot; would include those in debt as a result of ill-health, redundancy, or the accumulation of debts by a partner/family member without their knowledge.

&quot;Reckless debtors&quot; would include people that habitually spend beyond their means. Perhaps they took out a much bigger mortgage than they could really afford. The sort of people that are always driving the latest car and wearing the latest fashion who might be the envy of their friends, but in reality everything is going on the plastic. If their spending habit is really out of control they might be able to get themselves into a debt crisis situation without any external influences. Less reckless debtors might be able to keep going as long as nothing goes wrong, but as soon as they suffer any drop in income they are in trouble.** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit my &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; blog providing &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2008/08/29/debt-assistance-from-someone-who-knows-exactly-how-you-are-feeling/&quot;&gt;debt assistance&lt;/a&gt; from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free</description>
         <pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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         <title>What Happens If I Declare Myself Bankrupt?</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/What-Happens-If-I-Declare-Myself-Bankrupt-/496939</link>
         <description>Bankruptcy is the debt resolution of last-resort in the UK, and still carries with it a stigma. It is also the debt solution that has the most devastating affect on your ability to get credit or a mortgage in the future. It is difficult to separate fact from fiction in the area of bankruptcy, so what happens if I declare myself bankrupt?

It is important to note at this point that declaring yourself bankrupt is not something that you should do lightly, and you should seek qualified advice.

A very important point concerns your home if you own it jointly. There may be steps that you can take to sell your share of your home to your partner/another family member which would remove the risk of it being sold. Get specialist advice on this.

You will need to get a form from your local court that you will have to present when you declare bankruptcy. You should also check at this point what the current fees are for declaring yourself bankrupt (485 at the time of writing, or possibly 335 if you are on income support). This form will need to be filled in before you petition for bankruptcy.** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit my &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; blog for advice on debt from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free. Would you &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2008/08/31/declare-bankruptcy/&quot;&gt;declare bankruptcy&lt;/a&gt; ? If so, visit my site to see what other options are available to you.</description>
         <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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         <title>Debt Crisis - Are You in One?</title>
         <link>http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Debt-Crisis---Are-You-in-One-/496914</link>
         <description>Debt is the word seemingly on everyone's lips. Whether it be concerning governments, financial companies or individuals everyone is interested in whether they have too much debt. With the economic situation going from bad to worse it is worth reviewing your situation to see if you have too much debt and whether you are (or potentially could in the future) be in a debt crisis situation.

Debt Early Warning, Debt Problem, or Debt Crisis?

There are no exact definitions here, but I'll have a go at defining these states and the likely outcomes if you do nothing. Also what steps you need to take to get yourself free of debt.

Debt Early Warning

Do you worry about the amount of debt you have (whether secured or unsecured). Is it starting to represent a significant proportion of your monthly budget? (If the word budget is a strange one to you then you have more work to do before working out how serious your debt problem is). Can you only afford luxuries like holidays or meals out by putting them on a credit card?** End Summary**&lt;p&gt;About the Author:&lt;br&gt;If you want more free information then visit my &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com&quot;&gt;Debt Advice Free&lt;/a&gt; blog providing &lt;a target=&quot;_new&quot; href=&quot;http://debtadvice4free.com/2008/08/29/debt-assistance-from-someone-who-knows-exactly-how-you-are-feeling/&quot;&gt;debt assistance&lt;/a&gt; from someone that has been in a debt crisis situation and is now debt free</description>
         <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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