Harrison officials and residents alike are filmed as they frantically flee a debt deluge that threatens to drown them and to sink the town itself. (Scenes are from Town Hall and of the town in its entirety. A lone priest from Holy Cross Church offers up his only rescue plan for Harrison and its residents.) Town Officials, Town Officials, Town Officials
To try and save us from ourselves, the Office of the Controller has recommended that credit card companies make their customers pay higher minimum payments, up to double the current amount. This will affect at least 7% who currently only pay the minimum and those who can only afford to pay a small portion over the minimum.
These days the average consumer has 4-6 credit cards and $8-20 thousand dollars in credit card debt and rising. Paying only the minimum and never charging again will keep you in debt for 30-60 years, depending on interest, late fees and over limit costs.
The guidelines to raise the credit card minimum were made in 2003, but the banks and credit card companies wanted some time to ease into it. Some say, they waited until the new bankruptcy laws were into effect, so they would have less to lose. There’s no set date when your credit card company will start increasing your minimum payments, just know they will and probably soon. Some already have. I have read dates from July to October of this year and many thought it was going to happen last year, so be warned.
What can you do, if you will not be able to afford this increase?
You can contact your credit card companies and see if any will work out a lower payment for you on a temporary basis. Keep in mind that frequently, when you have payment arrangements like this, they will not let you use your credit card, so keep at least one available for emergencies. Read More