James L. Paris's Blog, page 40

How To Get The Most From Social Security (When To Take Social Security)

Author and economist, Laurence Kotlikoff, joins Jim Paris Live to discuss his bestselling book on Social Security benefits.

Get What���s Yours explains Social Security benefits through basic strategies and stirring stories. It covers the most frequent benefit scenarios faced by married retired couples; by divorced retirees; by widows and widowers. It explains what to do if you���re a retired parent of dependent children; disabled; an eligible beneficiary who continues to work. It addresses the tax consequences of your choices, as well as the financial implications for other investments.

Changes to Social Security that took effect in 2016 make it more important than ever to wait as long as possible (until age 70, if possible) to claim Social Security benefits. The new law also has significant implications for those who wish to claim divorced spousal benefits (and how many Social Security recipients even know about divorced spousal benefits?). Besides addressing these and other issues, this revised edition contains a chapter explaining how Medicare rules can shape Social Security decisions.

 

Kavanaugh Accuser Says He Assaulted Her 35 Years Ago

With this last minute accusation by Christine Blasey Ford stop Brett Kavanaugh from being confirmed? Weather reporters stage 'fake' scenes and get pummeled on social media. Why did the FBI seize control of a New Mexico sunspot observatory? Matt Drudge and Michael Moore make surprising political predictions, and more than a year later the left wing media blames Trump for Puerto Rico hurricane deaths.

 

CloudCoin Creator Discusses Bitcoin And Cryptocurrency

What is CloudCoin? College professor and inventor of CloudCoin joins Jim Paris Live. What makes CloudCoin different? What is the future of the cryptocurrency markets? Is it too late to invest? Has Bitcoin peaked? What cryptocurrency has the best chance to be the next market leader?

 

Why Liberals Don't Care If Their Shareholders Lose Money

On this episode Jim discusses why companies like Nike, Levis, and Starbucks, are alienating millions of Americans with their progressive agendas. Also, the danger of social media companies with unchecked power and the latest on the Alex Jones. Catholic exorcist says that the church's child abuse scandal is demonic, and Roger Stone's comments on Jeff Sessions.

 

5 Steps To Settling A Collection Debt

Most people have at one time or another gotten that phone call from a collection agency seeking payment on a past due account. The call may or may not have been preceded by collection letters. Tactics used by debt collectors run the gamut. Some are legitimate businesses following the law, and at the other end of the spectrum you have complete scammers. If you are in the unfortunate circumstance of owing a debt that you can't pay, you don't have to accept harassment. A cease communication letter may be a temporary solution until you have the necessary funds to pursue a settlement.

1. Make Sure The Collection Agency Legally Owns The Debt

If you owe a debt, just pay it - right? I wish it were that simple. Especially, if you are dealing with a third party debt collector and not the original creditor, you need to request proof that they legally own the debt by sending a debt validation letter (see this article The Power Of A Debt Validation Letter).  While you can also use a debt validation letter with the original creditor, it is even more critical with a third party collector. It is also an effective means to confirm what you actually owe (especially with an older debt that you may not remember). See this article - Student Loans Wiped Out As Paperwork Goes Missing.

2. Negotiate A Settlement

The amount the collector is pursuing may be two or three times the original debt (the agreement you signed may have had a provision for late fees, penalties, and interest on a delinquency). You can often negotiate a discount if you agree to immediately pay the debt. Older debts that may have been purchased for pennies on the dollar may be settled for as little as one third. If the debt is still with the original creditor and somewhat recent, you may not get any discount at all (but forgiveness of late fees and penalties is still common). 

3. Payment Plans Are Risky - A Lump Sum Settlement Is Your Best Option

One shady tactic of collectors is to verbally agree to a 'payment plan' in bad faith get your bank account or credit card information. Once they have access to your financial accounts you are taking a colossal risk. They candraft more than the agreed payment amounts and even deny the details of the verbal agreement. I have heard this story countless times over the years. You wake up one morning and you have a negative bank balance, bounced checks, and the world is coming down around you. DON'T TAKE THIS RISK. Any settlement agreement you enter into should be in writing. The best option is a settlement that involves a single payment made with a money order. If the amount is too large to handle in one payment, you can wait to save up the money or make the series of payments with money orders (after you have a signed settlement agreement). 

4. What Happens To Your Credit Score?

Some collection agencies will agree to delete an item from a credit report once it is paid, but many will not. Even if the collection account stays on your credit file, you can send a copies of your settlement agreement and proof of payment to have it updated to show a zero balance. The status will then be changed from 'collection' to 'paid collection.' After a few months the account will become dormant and have little effect on your credit score. 

My Book (available at Amazon has more details on credit scoring and dealing with collection accounts). The book also includes a number of very popular letters for settling and updating credit accounts.

5. Statute Of Limitations And Your Rights

A debt is only legally collectible for a set period of time (state by state statutes of limitation). You must be very cautious when dealing with a debt that has aged beyond your state statute. If you make a partial payment on an old debt, you may risk restarting the clock on the time limit (this means that the creditor could bring a lawsuit against you). One attorney told me that even just verbally agreeing to pay an old debt could restart the statute of limitations. If you owe an older debt that has legally aged out, be sure and do so with a single payment and a written agreement. A legal service I have used for years (and also have an affiliate agreement with) can be accessed at DefendYourRights.US. For a flat monthly fee you can access their attorneys for a wide range of legal services, including advice and assistance on debt settlement.

Conclusion

One final recommendation is to be sure and set up a file and preserve your documentation and proof of payment forever. Previously I have advised readers that ten years was long enough, but I have heard too many stories of old debts coming back to life even after decades! Even with the protection of the statute of limitation, keeping the documentation for the long run is a worthwhile insurance policy. See this article - A debt collector contacted me about a debt I already paid.

Helping you make the most of God���s money!

James L. Paris 
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com 
Follow Me on Twitter Twitter.com/jameslparis
Christian Financial Advice 
Jim Paris 24 Hour Radio

Will The Pope Be Forced To Resign Over Child Abuse Scandal?

On this episode Jim covers the breaking news of the possible implication of the Pope in the child sex abuse scandal and at least one former Vatican official is calling for his resignation. Will the next target of Robert Mueller be Donald Trump, Jr.? The media uses the death of John McCain to bash the president, how should conservatives react? Bitcoin prices stabalize after another wave of ETF applications are rejected by the SEC, and Twitter CEO called to testify before Congress.

 

Author Robert Maginnis On His New Book - Alliance Of Evil

Alliance of Evil establishes that without a doubt the United States and her allies are locked in a prophetic global confrontation on many fronts, a new kind of dual Cold War with the Russians and Chinese. The Russian Federation under a populist authoritarian leader seriously threatens the West ideologically, through cyber-space and militarily thanks to that country s heavy investment in sophisticated mass killing weapons. The Peoples Republic of China is a great power with global ambitions led by a new kind of authoritarian communist leader focused on rapidly growing the world s most populous nation economically and militarily. Together, China and Russia collaborate on many fronts to dominate the future world and that relationship could well become the catalyst that leads to the biblical end times. The Alliance of Evil reveals ... *A realistic view of the prophetic scriptures regarding the end times and whether China, Russia and the United States are players in the final scenario. *Sixteen indicators of a new dual Cold War-like future with China and Russia pitted against the United States and her allies. *How the new dual Cold War is fanned by American arrogance, hubris which reflects the weakened, perhaps declining United States. *The similarities and differences between the old Cold War (1945-1991), United States versus the Soviet Union, and the new dual Cold War are stark, sobering and frightening. *How, as prophesied, China and Russia emerged as a new kind of great power duo which are now aligning themselves against the U.S. for a final showdown. *Four modern battlegrounds host the new dual Cold War confrontation; any one of which could well explode into apocalyptic global war. *How the Trump administration s national security strategy intends to shape the new dual Cold War international environment while avoiding kinetic conflict if that is possible.

 

Credit Scoring Secrets

Former mortgage brokers James L. Paris and Robert G. Yetman, Jr. detail exactly how credit scores are calculated and how a consumer can quickly raise their score. 

The book is based on years of working with individual clients with credit situations as difficult as recent bankruptcies, foreclosures, and even IRS tax liens. Includes letters that can be used to dispute inaccurate information from a credit bureau report. Step by step information on what you need to do if you are currently attempting to get approved for a credit card, auto loan, or mortgage. Includes sources of no qualifying credit accounts that can be used to rebuild credit. 

Perpetual Traveler Wade Shepard Joins Jim Paris Live

Wade Shepard is a growing part of the 'perpetual traveler' movement. He has traveled to more than 88 countries and makes his living as an itinerant writer. Shepard shares insights into this new traveling lifestyle that has become especially popular among millennials. Also discussed is the exploding opportunity of travel vlogging.

 

Jim Discusses How People Are Making $20 An Hour Delivering Groceries And The Latest News On Bitcoin

An Orlando teacher quits his job for a grocery delivery gig that pays more than $100,000 per year! Jim also shares his thoughts on the Manafort jury, the latest news on Bitcoin and cryptocurrency, Omarosa, the Chicago street war, and the future of the Movie Pass.