A financial hardship letter is a correspondence you send to a creditor that explains why your current financial situation prevents you from making debt payments. After providing details about your hardship, such as the cause and timeline, request that the creditor provide a mutually beneficial solution.
Because my income has dropped considerably I can no longer afford the terms of the original loan. As a loyal customer of your financial institution, I'd like to ask for the following: ▪ A lower interest rate amount of NO MORE THAN 6% ▪ Accept lower payments of $ _________ per month.
A credit card hardship program is a financial arrangement offered by credit card-issuing banks and lenders through which you negotiate to make smaller or more manageable payments on your outstanding debt.
Financial hardship letters are the best way to explain why your account is behind. Lenders may use them to determine whether or not to offer relief through reduced, deferred, or suspended payments.
Reasons for a 401(k) Hardship Withdrawal
According to the IRS, the following as situations might qualify for a 401(k) hardship withdrawal: Certain medical expenses. Burial or funeral costs. Costs related to purchasing a principal residence. College tuition and education fees for the next 12 months.
Mistakes to Avoid in Your Hardship Letter
Don't say that your situation is your lender's fault or that their employees are jerks. Don't state that things will likely turn around for you.
Explain your current situation. Tell them your family income is reduced and you are not able to keep up with your payments. Frankly discuss your future income prospects so you and your creditors can figure out solutions to the problem.
Keep it brief, but be sure to add all necessary details. Focus only what has currently happened and how that has impacted your ability to make the payments. List what you have done to try to resolve the hardship. For example, you reduced your expenses, picked up a second job, etc.
The act itself of signing up for a hardship plan has no effect on your credit. However, once you enroll, your credit scores could be indirectly affected because of the way the program works. First, your credit card issuer may put a note on your credit reports regarding your participation in its hardship plan.
Most credit card companies don't grant debt forgiveness unless you're many years past due on your outstanding debt. Even then, you should have at least a portion of your debt ready to pay as a lump-sum amount, since most companies won't forgive all of the debt you owe.
If this happens: Your lender will contact you to demand the missing payments are made. Then if you don't make the payments they ask for, the account will default. And if you still don't pay, further action may be taken, such as employing debt collection agents to recover the money you owe them.
But the good news is that credit card debt forgiveness does exist — it's just not government-sponsored.
Although basic information is enough to substantiate your situation with some creditors, the government requires additional documentation. This may include: Mortgage loan documents or your lease agreement. Copies of bills for monthly expenses such as utilities, telephone, transportation, insurance, and child care.
You will need to give evidence of why you will be in hardship if you don't get a payment. You will also need to agree to pay back the Hardship Payment. The DWP will not give you a hardship payment if, in the seven days before applying for one, you failed to meet any of your work related requirements.
Your debt settlement proposal letter must be formal and clearly state your intentions, as well as what you expect from your creditors. You should also include all the key information your creditor will need to locate your account on their system, which includes: Your full name used on the account. Your full address.
That is, you are not required to provide your employer with documentation attesting to your hardship. You will want to keep documentation or bills proving the hardship, however.
Unfortunately, my circumstances are unlikely to improve in the foreseeable future and I have no assets to sell to help clear my debt. I am therefore asking you to consider writing off my debt as I can see no way of ever repaying it. If you are unable to agree to this, please explain your reasons.
Keep your hardship letter brief and to the point: four paragraphs is ideal, and no more than two pages. Be sure to include: Homeowner name(s), address(s), and phone number(s) and relevant loan number(s).
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices to collect debts from you, including: Misrepresenting the nature of the debt, including the amount owed. Falsely claiming that the person contacting you is an attorney.
By paying the collection agency directly, the notification of the debt could stay on your credit report longer than if you attempt to use another option, like filing for bankruptcy. When institutions check your credit report and see this information on it, it may harm your ability to obtain loans.
The IRS permits 401(k) hardship withdrawals only for “immediate and heavy” financial needs. According to the IRS, the withdrawals that qualify include: Health care expenses for you, your spouse or a dependent. Purchase of a principal residence.
Sample 2 – Hardship Letter for Credit Card Debt
In response to my financial situation, I request that you settle my outstanding debt at a 20 percent discount. Due to various factors, such as illness, job loss, and medical conditions, my household income has dropped significantly over the past couple of X months.
a condition that causes difficulty or suffering, for example, being without a job or enough money: financial/economic hardship The price of cooking gas increased five-fold, worsening the economic hardship.