How do I go about getting my debts paid off when they just kept adding on late fees...?

I am living on my own and I am disabled. I live off of social security. My bills are piling up and I do not see any end in sight. My health is getting worse with these extra worries. How do I go about getting my bills paid. I want to pay them, but I get one check a month and it only goes so far. With the late fees I am always behind. Example: I have a credit card. I only owed $90 on it. Now with the late fees I owe $150 on it. Please help!!!! No bad comments please.

How do I go about getting my debts paid off when they just kept adding on late fees...?events

If you don't own your own home, and you're in the US, you could just stop paying them altogether. There's a law here that says creditors can't attach social security, so if you just don't pay, they really have no recourse against you unless your loan is secured.

The other options...call the credit companies. Most will put you on a repayment plan, and agree to dropping the late fees and will usually either reduce or eliminate the interest altogether if they understand you're on social security. They'll do this because they know that without your willingness to pay, they will get absolutely nothing due to the social security laws.

How do I go about getting my debts paid off when they just kept adding on late fees...?home theatre opera theater

Call a bill consolidation service. They might be able to help. You might also call a credit counselor. If these people can't help, they might know of someone that can.

Good luck, debt sucks.
Call each credit card company.

Ask them for help.

Ask them to give you the lowest interest rate they can.

Ask them to give you a monthly amount that you can afford.

Ask them to please reconsider the late fees. - and do this with your highest credit card company that you owe, and with the highest interest rate - FIRST!

Ask them to understand that you are asking for a reasonable accommodatin for someone with diabilities.

Ask them to please understand that you are trying as best you can, and you need and want their help.

If they don't listen, ask immediately to speak with a Supervisor, and start all over with your questions.

Try to get help with your local State welfare office, and you may be entitled to food stamps, and other State benefits.

Call the local churches and ask them for any help they have, and some have organizations that could help you.

Ask for help from your utility company as they have benefits for those who need help with payments.

GOD bless us one and all, always.

MBA-Boston Univ.

CPA-retired
The first thing you should do is seek out some local professional advice - in the UK we have the citizens advice bureau and the national debt helpline who offer free assistance.

In principal, you should get in contact with your creditors - at the moment you are probably just an account number which is processed automatically - make yourself known.

Most lending institutions want you to manage your debt (in the UK, they are obliged to help you), so when making contact, tell them you are having problems meeting the payments, ask for a freeze on interest and charges, ask them for time to pay and finally, suggest a realistic payment period - even $5 a month is fine as long as you can afford it and as long as you can show why it is all you can afford.

The first letter should ask to establish a voluntary payment agreement. Assuming they agree, you will then probably be asked to suggest a payment and perhaps submit a short summary of your income and outgoings.

Deal with it in writing and tell them that - firstly it gives you more time; secondly, it gives you an opportunity to think about the questions they will ask. Also, if they ever have to go to court to get an order, the written correspondence will prove your good intentions and make it difficult to show you as a bad debtor. Remember, if you are not intending to default on payment, it is much harder to treat you as such.

The downside is that your credit card will be of no use until it is paid off (although if you use it for essential services, they may agree to a limited facility).

Hope that helps.
I like answer #3 - beware of trusting just any credit counselor - they don't do this stuff for free. The local banking community in my area jumped on board to help people because of the amount of abuse with this type of service. Good luck
You should call your local Trustee's Office tomorrow.....you can't file bankruptcy of any kind w/out completing a financial education class. The Trustee will provide you a list of approved classes.....You need to take it and then when you decide IF Bankruptcy is the way to go, you are ready to file.....

However, if your total debt is less than 5K, I'd pay them off......since your credit is already destroyed.....why don't you just pay on ONE card (smallest balance first) all the money you can, then after that is paid off....put all your efforts into the next card....

Those accounts are probably closed for constant late pymts anyway, so if your goal is just to get them paid off, who cares if you focus on one card at a time - the damage is already done.

Further, you should also call each creditor - and politely ask them to waive the late fees for a finite period of time...(this won't work if you don't make any monthly payment to them).....
Claim Bankruptcy.