The Bill Collector Letter That Finally Gets Rid of Them

By Sean Payne

You know that feeling you get when a letter from a bill collector comes in the mail? The cold feeling you get when you realize that you owe money that you can't repay? And after that, the endless telephone calls and letters demanding that you pay money that you don't have?

It's time to turn the tables. It's time to learn your rights and to exercise them.

There's a Federal law called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act that outlines exactly what a collector can and cannot do to collect on a debt. The FDCPA, as it is called, sets limits on when and how a debt collector can contact you.

One example is that a debt collector can't call you at work, unless it's to find out a telephone number they can use to call you at home. They also can't inform other people, especially your employer, about any outstanding debts that you have.

In addition, debt collection agents can't continue to call or contact you about your debt if you tell them that they can no longer do so. And that is what we're going to learn about how to do.

The magic debt collector letter consists of two parts:

The first thing is your identifying information. This includes your name, address, account number of the debt that the bill collector is trying to collect on, and any other information that they need to identify you.

The second part is to let them know that you want them to stop communicating with you, period.

These two things are all that the FDCPA requires that you do to keep the debt collector from harassing you or contacting you in the future. The only correspondence that the debt collector can send you in the future is a letter that says they will cease contacting you, and whether they're going to pursue any legal action to collect on the debt.

When you send this letter, it's always good to send it by certified mail with a delivery receipt requested. The delivery receipt lets you know that the debt collector actually received the letter. Make sure that you keep this receipt in case you ever have to prove that they received the letter.

According to the FDCPA, if the bill collector contacts you in the future in violation of the law, you have the right to report the bill collector to the FTC. The FTC is the Federal Agency that enforces the FDCPA. Once you have notified the FTC of the bill collector's violation of the law, they can pursue legal action against the bill collector.

Keep in mind that even after you let the debt collector know about your desire not to be contacted, they still can pursue legal action against you to collect on the debt. This handy letter can only protect you from being harassed by debt collectors. It can't keep you from being sued by the debt collectors if they still want to collect on the debt. - 23218

About the Author:

Sean Payne is a veteran when it comes to deailng with debt. After more than a decade of learning about how to get out of debt, he has developed a powerful strategy to keep bill collectors from calling. You can discover his secrets for paying off debt at his amazing website.

Best EFT Newsletter Keeping You On The Forefront Of Your Investment

By Danny Denelo

Money has always caused an immense amount of worry in the world and the people that surround us, this is a great reason why you need the best ETF newsletter to keep you informed about the great world of finances. Lately, more and more people are interested in investing in everything they can just to stay afloat, the recession has meant horrible things for the entire world.

Everyone pretty much has the inclination that by the time that our present day youth reach the age of retirement all of our excess funds will be spent up. This means that in the future no one will be able to have a sound foundation, and be financially secure. It's devastating news but there are alternative measures that you can take to assure that your family is not left out in the cold as they progress in age.

Presently, ETF's are being known as the best investment route to take for the next generation. ETF has its roots in academic as well as many mutual fund ideas. However, the concept of the ETF's begs to differ with all other investment opportunities that are presently appearing on the market today.

The best ETF newsletter will lead you through different things that are currently going on in the financial world with certain aspects that are encouraging the ETF market. ETFS, are the solution to allowing the next generation to stay afloat with the sudden down crash of society.

The way that ETF's work is rather simple. You begin with a fund sponsor (such as big corporation or something of the sort), the fund sponsor will create new fund shares and other sources of demand queries. Sellers who are looking to get involved in major lining ETF's can either choose to sell their shares on the open market to other people that may be interested in the investment aspect or turn them into the fund sponsor who will in turn pay them the underlying cost of the ETF.

It is believed that ETF's will soon take over the investment market altogether. This, in fact would be absolutely great when you analyze all of the underlying advantages to having an ETF account. You will not have to be burdened with any management fees or anything of the sort, which means more money, gets to stay in your account allowing you to secure more funds on the open market (free tip: go to ETFTradingSignals.com and sign up for their free newsletter to receive the best ETF to buy every month).

You do not have to worry about suffering any tax consequences that often times come associated with many of the investment opportunities that are presently on the market. It is your money that you are saving for your future, Uncle Sam should not be obligated to take it from you. None of your money will be held back from you. All of your money will be able to sell on the open market or to another fund source.

You will always know what your ETF account holds as far as funds are concerned. The best ETF newsletter will keep you informed about different activities that are going on in the trading world; you will not longer have to be left in the dark where your hard earned money is concerned. - 23218

About the Author:

Go to ETFTradingSignals.com to find more on their ETF investing strategies or check out their best ETFs for 2009.

Guidance on New COBRA Rules From The IRS And Doeren Mayhew

By Doeren Mayhew

The bureau recently free guidance, in a question and respond format, addressing how employers are to lot and essay recovery of the new COBRA payment subsidy enacted under the American ecovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5). The Act provides that an individual who has been involuntarily terminated on or after September 1, 2008, through the end of 2009 is required to clear only 35% of the group health shelter payment to bonded COBRA continuation coverage (up to nine months).

The newest IRS Guidance focuses on two broad areas 1. Form preparation - the mechanics of how an employer recovers the COBRA premium subsidy through a payroll credit claimed on IRS Form 941, and 2. administration and eligibility. The new guidance also addresses common inquiries surrounding the timing of when the subsidy begins and ends.

How the IRS Subsidy Works: A past employee and his or her kinsfolk are "assistance suitable employees" if they are suitable for COBRA health shelter continuation coverage as a termination of any reflex termination occurring from September 1, 2008, through December 31, 2009. These individuals are required to clear only 35% of the group health shelter payment that would otherwise apply.

Under the Act, the "person to whom the premiums are payable" - generally, the employer - pays the other 65% of the COBRA continuation premium. The employer will then be reimbursed by means of a federal payroll tax credit claimed on Form 941.

Payroll Credit Usually, an employer can claim the payroll credit for the COBRA premium subsidy on Form 941, Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return. To do so, the employer should enter the amount of any COBRA premium assistance payments paid on behalf of employees for that quarter on Line 12a. The amount entered should equal 65% of eligible workers' total COBRA premium payments - not amounts received from former employees.

In the IRS Guidance, the IRS indicated that there has been some confusion surrounding the proper number of individuals to be reported on Line 12b as having received COBRA premium assistance reported on Line 12a. The guidance clarifies that only one individual should be counted for Line 12b purposes in a situation where a former employee has also secured coverage for other qualifying individuals such as a spouse and/or children.

Timing Issues: The IRS has also clarified that the COBRA premium reduction applies as of the first period of coverage beginning on or after February 17, 2009, for which a qualifying involuntary terminated employee is eligible to pay 35% of the premium. The exact date of coverage is contingent upon the period to which premiums are charged to the plan. The 35% premium subsidy generally applies until the earliest of three events: (1) when the former employee secures other health insurance coverage; (2) the date that is nine months after the first day of the first month for which the special COBRA premium subsidy provision applies; or (3) the date the individual is no longer eligible for COBRA continuation coverage. - 23218

About the Author:

Visit Doeren Mayhew online for more information. Doeren Mayhew is located in Troy, Michigan.

California Tax Free Municipal Bonds

By Samuel James

Municipal bonds are the best way to spread your wings into the bonds territory. The state backed bonds have been traditionally accorded the highest grade safety by the bond rating agencies. This helps in investing in these bonds as you are assured of government backing

A lot of states issue bonds for example the state of California issues the California Tax Free Municipal bonds and these are issued and secured by the State government of California. That means in the event of anything happening money will be paid by the State of California to you.

The advantage of these kinds of investments or as they are known as "municipal bonds" is that these are tax free and not very risky. That said in the last few years the state governments have been running huge deficits and that has made people more cautious. Overall the belief is that these are the one of very safe instruments for investment.

If you live in a state other than California then the best bet is to make sure that you invest in that state's Municipal bonds. This is because of the reason that these bonds are no longer tax free for residents of other states. That will mean that the State tax will have to be paid though the federal tax is not there.

Always spread your risk and that is good for your investments. Diversify so that some part is in municipal bonds. For higher gains you should invest some part in the stock market and you should have some part on the savings account.

This diversification will help you make money and be safe also. Then another factor is the safety of investments and these investments made into the California bonds will help you drive the overall safety of the portfolio. The returns may not be as great as stocks but they are stable and very predictable. - 23218

About the Author:

The author suggests diversification using California tax free municipal bonds and independent broker dealers

The Best Debt Free Software

By Sean Payne

If you're still in debt, you may have noticed that many people who have successfully gotten out of debt tend to use some kind of debt free software. There's a reason for why they do this: It works great!

A wise man will tell you that "success leaves clues". What this means is that people who have experienced success in getting out of debt have used specific techniques and methods to get out of debt, and that if you do the same things they've some, you'll get out of debt as well.

One of the things that people who get out of debt have usually done is to make a debt payoff plan, and then to work that plan. If you've created a plan to get out of debt, the right software will help you stick to your plan.

My favorite software for getting out of debt is budgeting software. I personally use an Excel spreadsheet called You Need A Budget, and it has done wonders for helping me to get out of debt. I attribute all of my success in paying off my debts to the fact that I use budgeting software.

There are many other great budgeting software programs. One popular program, known as Mvelopes Personal, is a web-based budgeting system that allows you to access your budget from anywhere that has Internet access. It also access your bank accounts to automatically enter your purchases into your budget.

One free budgeting system that I've tried out is Mint. It's another web-based budgeting system that won't cost you a cent to use. A great feature of Mint that is great for you is that it searches credit card companies for lower rates than you're already paying. If it finds a good offer, Mint will let you know, potentially saving you hundreds or thousands of dollars in interest. Mint does the same thing in reverse for bank accounts. If it finds a higher-interest account, it lets you know, potentially earning you hundreds of dollars more in interest.

In addition to budgeting programs, there are plenty of other debt reduction software programs that will help you follow your plan for getting out of debt.

Microsoft Money is another program that can help you manage a budget and the rest of your finances. Another program, Intuit Quicken, is similar to Microsoft Money, so the choice of which to use is up to you, since they both do most of the same things. My biggest complaint about Money and Quicken is that they actually do too much. They have so many functions and features that you will likely be distracted from your quest to get out of debt.

My advice to you is to stay with a simple budgeting software program. The right budgeting program will let you track your debts, expenses, and income. Don't make the error of using a complicated financial program that has too many bells and whistles. Even a simple spreadsheet can help you manage your money, budget I recommend that you use an established budgeting system that has a history of getting people out of debt.

Whatever software you choose to help you with your debts, start using it today and don't switch software unless it really doesn't do what you want it to. Use it consistently, every day or every week as your situation requires, and your software will quickly get you out of debt. - 23218

About the Author:

If you're serious about becoming debt free, the right debt free software can help you to do it much faster. Discover Sean Payne's great advice at his budgeting software website.