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☆ Can You Pay a Mortgage with a Credit Card?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Michelle Lambright Black | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +10 min

“Eventually something is going to blow up.”That said, paying your mortgage with a credit card can make sense in a few circumstances, such as when you’re trying to earn a credit card sign-up bonus. How to pay your mortgage with a credit cardIn general, mortgage companies and mortgage loan servicers do not accept credit cards as a form of payment. If you plan to buy gift cards with your credit card and use them to pay your mortgage, it’s important to review your credit card issuer’s policies first. Most people consider paying their mortgage with a credit card for one of two reasons—they want extra time to make their mortgage payments or they want to earn credit card rewards. Potentially, yes: You want to earn credit card rewardsThere is one scenario where paying a mortgage with a credit card may make sense.

Persons: Michelle Lambright, ”, Jeff Rose, Plastiq, it’s, LaToya, “, You’re, Cash, Kevin Payne Organizations: Mastercard, Western Unions, Chase, Capital, Federal Reserve Locations: Plastiq, Birmingham, It’s

☆ Meet a single mom with $60,000 in student debt who was billed over $100 more than she was told her monthly payment would be: 'I will be struggling if I made that payment'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The new SAVE income-driven repayment plan was intended to make borrowers' monthly payments cheaper. But many borrowers have faced errors with the plan and their payments are higher than what they can afford. "I do want to pay something, but I'm not able to pay that amount that they're requiring me to pay." When the Education Department officially rolled out the SAVE plan in August, it was coined as "the most affordable repayment plan yet." When she applied for the SAVE plan, she was told her monthly payment would be $125 a month, but when she got her billing statement, she was facing a $428 payment, according to documents reviewed by Insider.

Persons: —, Ann Currie, Currie, Joe Biden's, I'm, servicers, she's, Joanna Arbach, hasn't, Arbach, it's, They've Organizations: Service, Education Department, SAVE, Federal Student Aid Locations: Washington

☆ Student-loan borrowers in Minnesota are getting over $17,000 in refunds after paying a company that 'falsely promised' debt relief, the state attorney general says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Student-loan borrowers in Minnesota are getting over $17,000 in refunds through a recent settlement. The attorney general accused a company, Docupros, of pocketing illegal fees over the false promise of debt relief. It's one of the 52 companies Minnesota is investigating over potentially fraudulent behavior with borrowers. AdvertisementAdvertisementAnother day, another settlement for student-loan borrowers. Along with Ellison's efforts, government agencies have been scrutinizing companies that are misleading borrowers into unnecessarily paying for debt relief services.

Persons: —, Keith Ellison, Docupros, Ellison Organizations: Service, Minnesota, Federal Trade Commission, Justice Department, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Education Department Locations: Minnesota, California

☆ Student loan borrowers hit snags as payments resume: 'It's a challenging environment,' head of loan servicer group says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"These student loan borrowers had the reasonable expectation and belief that they would not have to make additional payments on their federal student loans," said Education Department Undersecretary James Kvaal said in a court filing last year. Former President Donald Trump first announced the stay on federal student loan bills and the accrual of interest in March 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S. and crippled the economy. New SAVE payment plan leads to billing errorsTo ease the transition for borrowers, the Biden administration worked quickly to implement a new payment plan option, which it describes as the "most affordable repayment plan ever." Yet many borrowers who've signed up for the Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, plan, complain they've gotten incorrect bills. According to Kantrowitz, student loan servicers seem, in some cases, to be using the 2022 poverty line to calculate borrowers' payments instead of the current 2023 figure.

Persons: Joe Biden's, James Kvaal, Kvaal, Donald Trump, Biden, who've, they've, Mark Kantrowitz, he's, Kantrowitz, servicers, Ella Azoulay, Buchanan Organizations: Creatas, Getty, U.S . Department, Valuable Education, U.S . Department of Education Locations: U.S

☆ A millennial paid off his $18,000 student debt load. 4 months later, the payment still hasn't processed and his balance is even bigger.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Xiong Chang made an $18,000 payment on his remaining student-loan balance in June. But it hasn't been processed yet, and his balance has grown due to interest. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. But it's been over four months since he made that payment, and it still is not reflected in his account. According to his account, his balance now stands at $19,019.44 — with $96 in accrued interest.

Persons: Xiong Chang, He's, —, it's, Xiong, Joe Biden's, Education James Kvaal, I've, MOHELA Organizations: Service, Education, Consumer Financial, Education Department, Federal Student Aid, Republicans

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s second attempt at student loan cancellation is moving forward with a round of hearings beginning Tuesday to negotiate the details of a new plan. In a process known as negotiated rulemaking, 14 people chosen by the Biden administration will meet for the first of three hearings on student loan relief. Their goal is to guide the Education Department toward a proposal after the Supreme Court rejected Biden’s first plan in June. The negotiators all come from outside the federal government and represent a range of viewpoints on student loans. That plan would have canceled up to $20,000 in federal student loans for borrowers with incomes below $125,000 or couples below $250,000.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Biden, Biden’s, rulemaking, “, didn't, Miguel Cardona, —, ”, ” Biden Organizations: WASHINGTON, Education Department, NAACP, Higher, The Education Department, Republicans, Associated Press, Carnegie Corporation of New, AP Locations: Carnegie Corporation of New York

☆ Do not make student-loan payments if you're in one of these 3 groups of borrowers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementStudent-loan payments have resumed, but not all federal borrowers should be making payments. However, it's in some borrowers' best interests to not make payments — even if their servicer has given them a billing statement. While borrowers can submit those claims individually, the Education Department has also announced relief for groups of defrauded borrowers without them needing to take any action themselves. AdvertisementAdvertisementIf borrowers received notice of relief but are still in repayment status, they can contact their servicer, or Federal Student Aid's ombudsman. However, interest will still accrue during that time, and the Education Department cannot control how credit scoring companies interpret the missed payments.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, servicers Organizations: Service, Joe Biden's Education Department, Education Department, Corinthian Colleges Locations: it's, Cardona

☆ How student-loan borrowers can help craft Biden's new plan for broad debt cancellation
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Education Department is beginning negotiations for its new broad student-debt relief plan. Borrowers can submit a request to comment on the negotiations at the end of each day. AdvertisementAdvertisementPresident Joe Biden's Education Department is about to embark on its next step to enact broad student-loan forgiveness. At the end of September, the Education Department released new details on what the negotiation sessions will look like. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Education Department is aware of the challenges borrowers are facing — but there's no clear timeline for when the issues will be resolved.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, they've, I've, Miguel Cardona Organizations: Department, Service, Joe Biden's Education Department, Higher, Education Department, Management, Federal Register

☆ Student-loan companies are asking for patience to resolve account errors as payments come due, but borrowers can't afford to wait
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementAlicia, 48, is just a few months away from qualifying for student-debt relief through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. She said she anticipated that once the student-loan payment pause ended, she would be facing the same monthly payment. After over three years, the pandemic student-loan payment pause is officially over — interest started to accrue again in September, and bills are now starting to become due. So we can't wait months and months and months." Are you having challenges with student-loan repayment?

Persons: servicers haven't, —, Alicia, Alicia —, I've, servicers, it's, it'll, they're, We're, Xiong Chang, Xiong, I'm, servicer, he's, Miguel Cardona Organizations: Service, Public, Education Department, Customer Service Locations: PSLF

☆ The student-loan payment restart is about to put pressure on an already-fragile economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The resumption of student-loan payments is expected to add further strain. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementThe US economy has thrived over the past three years, since the initial shock of COVID-19 gave way to a rapid recovery. Here's what banks and economists are saying about the impact of the student-loan payment resumption on the economy. AdvertisementAdvertisementWhat will happen to the economy with the student-loan payment restartIt's difficult to predict how exactly the economy will respond to a surge of borrowers facing student-loan payments again — and it depends on a number of factors.

Persons: —, Marshall Steinbaum —, University of Utah —, Jerome Powell, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Jeff Gennette, Michael Fiddelke, Jefferies, Education James Kvaal Organizations: Service, Family Institute, University of Utah, Education Department, Federal, United Auto Workers, Bank of America, Education Locations: Helena

☆ Student-loan borrowers are facing 'excessively long' wait times for help from their servicers, Biden's Education Secretary says — and it'll take more money from Congress to fix it
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Student-loan borrowers started to face monthly bills again this week. Miguel Cardona told Insider he's aware of the challenges with repayment. October 1 marked the official end of pandemic relief for federal student-loan borrowers. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona told Insider in an interview that he's aware of the challenges this transition is bringing to both borrowers and servicers. AdvertisementAdvertisementStill, some student-loan servicers continue to point to lack of resources when faced with customer service complaints.

Persons: Miguel Cardona, —, we're, Cardona, Joe Biden's, Education James Kvaal, he's, Kvaal, Massachusetts Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Warren, servicers, MOHELA Organizations: Service, Bills, Education Department, Education, Federal Student Aid, Republicans Locations: Massachusetts

☆ 125,000 student-loan borrowers are getting $9 billion in debt wiped out through a series of Biden's repayment reforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Education Department announced $9 billion in student-debt relief for 125,000 borrowers. It impacts borrowers in public service, on income-driven plans, and those with total and permanent disabilities. AdvertisementAdvertisementPresident Joe Biden's Education Department just announced its latest batch of student-debt relief for targeted groups of borrowers. On Wednesday, the department announced that it has approved $9 billion in debt cancellation for 125,000 borrowers. That included a one-time account adjustment for borrowers on income-driven repayment plans and PSLF — most recently, the department announced it had approved relief for 804,000 borrowers on income-driven repayment.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, Biden, Miguel Cardona, Harris, It's, they're, Education James Kvaal, he's Organizations: Education Department, Service, Joe Biden's Education Department, Public, Social Security Administration, Biden, Education

☆ Elizabeth Warren says she's worried Biden's second attempt at broad student-loan forgiveness won't hold up in the Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Insider spoke with Sen. Elizabeth Warren about the student-loan industry and return to repayment. She said she's worried about how the Supreme Court would handle Biden's new plan for broad relief. AdvertisementAdvertisementSen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts was keeping an eye on the student-loan industry even before she became a lawmaker. "The Supreme Court failed to follow the explicit language of the law and turned his efforts upside down," Warren said. "I've talked to many people who were in tears over the frustrations they felt with their student-loan servicers."

Persons: Sen, Elizabeth Warren, she's, Warren, servicers, —, Elizabeth Warren of, Joe Biden's, Biden, Biden's, I've, isn't Organizations: Service, Harvard Law School, Consumer Financial, Senate, Education Department, Higher, Federal Student Aid, House Republicans Locations: Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, hourslong

☆ A top education official breaks down what's next for student-loan borrowers, and how the industry's 'deep-rooted structural problems' can be fixed
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

James Kvaal knew the student-loan industry had problems when he started as Under Secretary of Education. Lack of funding for Federal Student Aid is also concerning for repayment, Kvaal said. AdvertisementAdvertisementA top official in the US Department of Education knew the student-loan industry was broken when he started the job. At that point, Americans were in the midst of the pandemic, and as a result, student-loan borrowers had not been required to pay their bills since March 2020. Kvaal pointed to limited resources the Education Department has to give to federal student-loan servicers, which he said has contributed to mismanagement over the years.

Persons: James Kvaal, Kvaal, —, Education James Kvaal, Joe Biden's, servicers, we've, Massachusetts Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Warren, It's, What's, rulemaking Organizations: Education, Federal Student, Service, US Department of Education, Public, Education Department, Massachusetts, Democratic, Aid, —, Republicans, Higher, Federal

☆ Student-loan borrowers struggling with repayment should not be required to pay their debt until their account issues are resolved, 19 state attorneys general say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Pandemic relief for student-loan borrowers is officially over. State attorneys general said those borrowers shouldn't have to make payments until the issues are fixed. AdvertisementAdvertisementA group of state attorneys general don't think student-loan borrowers should have to pay off their loans while struggling to get issues with their balances resolved. Interest also started building on balances in September due to the debt ceiling bill Biden signed into law in June that codified the end of the student-loan payment pause. Over the past few months, borrowers have increasingly been struggling with their servicers as they began to prepare for repayment.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Miguel Cardona, servicers, Biden, Education James Kvaal, MOHELA Organizations: Service, Education, Student Aid, Democratic, The Education Department

☆ Why paying off your student loans won't get easier anytime soon
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Student-loan borrowers are entering uncharted territoryThe Education Department has never had to reenter 28 million people into payments at the same time. Plus, federal servicers' technology may not be up to the task. In contrast, federal student-loan servicing has been contracted out to five companies, and the government doesn't have the resources to fully keep tabs on the industry. "So there really were deep-rooted structural problems in the loan programs on the policy design but also on the execution side," Kvaal said. As the years went on, the GAO continued to identify flaws in student-loan programs that were hurting borrowers.

Persons: Greg Ogden, Ogden, I've, servicer, he's, he'd, We're, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, James Kvaal, —, Kvaal, Barack Obama's, Obamacare, servicers, Scott Buchanan, servicers —, servicer MOHELA, MOHELA, Biden, Virginia Foxx, she's, Cardona, it's, Foxx, Carolyn Fast, Joe Biden's, Buchanan, Warren, Pamela Herd, Herd, Melissa Emrey, that's, Miguel Cardona, we're Organizations: Public, Education Department, Department, Student Loan, —, GOP, The Century Foundation, Federal Student Aid, Georgetown University, Medicare, Student Aid, Office, Biden, Social, Education, Consumer Financial, Emrey, Federal, Aid Locations: servicers, Arras

☆ Federal student loan payments are due for the first time since 2020—what you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | In Kamaronmcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

October has arrived and with it, the resumption of federal student loan payments. Your exact due date depends on your loan servicer. Your payment may be due later if you graduated recently, but you'll still want to check with your loan servicer. Log in to the Federal Student Aid website to find your servicer if you're not sure who it is. An ideal time for borrowers to resume paying back their student debt may not exist, but federal borrowers do have resources at their disposal to make returning to repayment as seamless as possible.

Persons: Donald Trump, you'll, servicers, Biden Organizations: Federal, Aid

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal student loan borrowers will need to start making payments again this month after a three-year-plus pause due to the pandemic. It's likely that most borrowers have received their bill already but if you have not, visit your loan servicer account. Czulada also recommended that you look at which type of student loan you have, so you know which income-driven repayment plans you might qualify for. Borrowers can find out what their monthly student loan payment will be on their account with their loan servicer. Betsy Mayotte, president of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, recommends that you research if you qualify for an income-driven repayment plan.

Persons: haven't, servicers, Amy Czulada, Czulada, Joe Biden, Betsy Mayotte, Biden, you’ve, they’re, you’re, you’ll, ”, Charles Schwab Organizations: — Federal, Student, Protection, The, Student Loan Advisors, Public, Federal, Aid, Department, Education, Department of Education, Associated Press, Charles, Charles Schwab Foundation, Inc, AP

☆ Biden's Education Department is taking the next step to get broad student-loan forgiveness to millions of borrowers. Here's what you need to know.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Education Department announced it's moving forward with the broad student-debt relief process. AdvertisementAdvertisementPresident Joe Biden's Education Department just took the next step on its second attempt to get broad student-debt relief to millions of borrowers. On Friday, the Education Department released a paper outlining what it is considering as it develops its new plan for broad student-loan forgiveness. AdvertisementAdvertisement"The Biden-Harris Administration has taken unprecedented action to fix the broken student loan system and deliver record amounts of student debt relief," Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement. "Now, we are diligently moving through the regulatory process to advance debt relief for even more borrowers.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, Harris, Miguel Cardona, I'm Organizations: Education Department, Service, Joe Biden's Education Department, Higher, Biden, Harris Administration, Black Colleges, Universities

☆ A government shutdown won't stop the student-loan payment restart — but an extended one could jeopardize resources for borrowers who need help
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A shutdown would occur the same day student-loan payments resume. The Education Department said resources for borrowers will be available the first few weeks of a shutdown. AdvertisementAdvertisementPresident Joe Biden's Education Department is clear: government shutdown or not, student-loan payment are resuming on October 1. A shutdown could also happen at a critical time for millions of student-loan borrowers. However, amid calls from some Democratic lawmakers and advocates to pause payments in the event of a shutdown, the Education Department confirmed payments are still set to resume.

Persons: doesn't, —, Joe Biden's, Biden, servicers, Ayanna Pressley Organizations: Education Department, Service, Joe Biden's Education, Conservative, Democratic, Republicans, Federal, Aid, Management, Education

NEW YORK (AP) — Karin Engstrom thought she’d be paying off her federal student loans for the rest of her life. It also credits borrowers for periods before the pandemic when they were allowed to pause or reduce payments due to financial hardships. “Info: Your student loans have been forgiven,” the letter read. Borrowers who have made 20 or 25 years of qualifying payments (depending on the repayment plan) qualify, if they hold direct loans or Federal Family Education Loans with the Education Department, including borrowers with Parent PLUS loans. The official Federal Student Aid guide to the Income Driven Repayment adjustment is a good resource for updates.

Persons: — Karin Engstrom, she’d, Biden, It's, servicers, Engstrom didn't, Harris, ” Engstrom, ” Patricia Vener, Saavedra, “, ”, who's, “ He's, Vener, Charles Schwab Organizations: Department of Education, Federal, Aid, Harris Administration, Edfinancial Services, WHO, Family, Education Department, Parent, WHAT, IF, of Education, Associated Press, Charles, Charles Schwab Foundation, Inc, AP Locations: Hamden , Connecticut

☆ A major student-loan company says 'extensive servicing delays are a likely outcome' as borrowers transition back into repayment — and it could 'last well into 2024'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

One company, MOHELA, said it anticipates "extensive servicing delays" due to a lack of resources. MOHELA also said it received 36,309 complaints from borrowers over the past year. AdvertisementAdvertisementA major student-loan company that services over 7 million borrowers isn't too confident about its preparedness to enter repayment in a few days. That's compared to the 3,469 complaints Maximus, another servicer, received, and 3,063 from servicer EdFinancial. It's clear some servicers are concerned about their abilities to manage this transition back into repayment — and borrowers will likely suffer the consequences.

Persons: MOHELA, —, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Nelnet, Warren, Joe Biden's Organizations: Service, Democratic, Public

☆ Elizabeth Warren says student-loan companies can't use lack of funding as an excuse for bad customer service — and she's 'deeply worried' they're not ready for repayment starting next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Sen. Elizabeth Warren led some Democratic colleagues in sending letters to four student-loan companies requesting information on the repayment restart. They also said a lack of funding is not a valid excuse for borrowers to be facing bad customer service. AdvertisementAdvertisementSenator Elizabeth Warren is worried that four federal student-loan companies aren't up to the task of transitioning millions of borrowers back into repayment in a few days. These letters come just days before pandemic relief for federal borrowers comes to an end. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a Monday press briefing that it would further strain Federal Student Aid's ability to assist borrowers over the next month.

Persons: Sen, Elizabeth Warren, —, Warren, — Sens, Chris Van Hollen, Ed Markey, Richard Blumenthal —, servicers, Joe Biden's, Virginia Foxx, Bill Cassidy, Karine Jean, Pierre, Jean, Pierre said Organizations: Democratic, Service, Federal Services, servicer, Central Research Inc, Education Department, — House Republicans, Federal Student Aid, Consumer Financial, Republican, Office, Department, House Press, Education

☆ It is 'abundantly clear' student-loan payments should not resume next week if the government shuts down, Ayanna Pressley says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

That's the same day student-loan payments are set to resume. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementRep. Ayanna Pressley does not want student-loan borrowers to worry about repayment and a government shutdown at the same time. With that deadline just days away, that prospect is looking increasingly likely — and it would also fall the same day federal student-loan borrowers could start facing monthly bills again after an over three-year pause. Pressley said in a Wednesday statement that President Joe Biden should pause student-loan payments and interest accrual if a shutdown does happen, and that "it is abundantly clear that student loan payments should not resume October 1."

Persons: Pressley, —, Ayanna Pressley, Joe Biden, servicers, Biden's, Biden, Education James Kvaal Organizations: Service, Education, The Education Department, Republican, Education Department

☆ It's about to become much harder for young people to buy a home as student-loan repayments resume
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Student-loan repayments will restart on October 1 following a three and a half year hiatus. After more than three and a half years of moratoriums on student loans, repayments are set to resume on October 1. The average student loan borrower has more than $37,000 in federal student-loan debt, according to Bankrate. Manny Garcia, a senior population scientist at Zillow, told Insider that student-loan repayments will likely jeopardize buyers' ability to afford home purchases this year. "Before the pandemic, borrowers were already choosing between meeting their own basic needs and making their student-loan payments.

Persons: —, it's, Manny Garcia, Garcia, Pulsenomics, Zillow, Will Lemke, Stephanie Hall Organizations: Service, Center for American Progress, Wall Street Journal, Inside Mortgage Finance

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