[asu04grad]

Hello. This is going to be long, so bear with me. I could really use some advice. I have over $50K in debt from 2 credit cards and a student loan that have been charged off. Needless to say my credit is shot right now and I'm trying to get back on my feet. Unfortunately, I'm not making anywhere near the kind of money right now to cover the payments, or to settle, for that matter. A year ago, I tried to beg online for money to pay off my debt and fell for a scam from someone who claimed to be a Christian pastor in Africa, which put me in a deeper hole. I'm having to take out payday loans to make ends meet.

I've met a wonderful woman that I would like to settle down with and marry, but I don't want to burden her with this debt, too. I've tried some credit counseling services, but I couldn't afford the payments. I don't want to ask for money, after what I went through, either, unless I know the person I'm talking to is legitimate. Is there any other option I have available besides bankruptcy?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Fr_Chuck]

Not really, first scams there are 100's of them, from cashing checks for people, to the 25 million dollars from africa ( and I just can't believe people fall for those)

Next payday loans will get you deeper and deeper, you have to just stop one cycle of them.

You can of course just not pay anything on the credit cards or student loans for now, and get caught up with everything else.

The worst they can do is get a judgement and get a garnishment of your wages, but that normally takes a bit.

And the bankruptcy is not going to get rid of your student loan, so you will have to pay it back, there are some programs to redo them that can lower your interest rate at times on them.

But you need to get out of the trap to start with, and pay only those bills it takes to live. Then breathe get rid of payday loans. Look at getting a second job to help pay bills.

To pay off debt we have to change our life style, Bankruptcy can help you get a start but not if you have not changed what gets you there

[asu04grad]

Thanks so much. Whom should I talk to about my student loan?

[YeloDasy]

Some jobs you get will pay off student loans after some time... but I don't believe there is much you can do for your student loans and getting bankrptcy. You can try consolidating your loans for a lower payment...

[asu04grad]

Thanks for your response. I consolidated after I graduated from college and I still wasn't able to afford the payments.

[tdolphin1]

I had a student loan before & I got behind on all my bills in general & they gave me a 6 month deferrment with no penalties, talk to the bank you pay your student loan to.