Washington, DC, United States (ProPublica) – by Marian Wang

It was with some fanfare that the Obama administration announced last fall that it was ramping up a program to help students with federal loans reduce their monthly payments. Under the program, payments are adjusted based on how much students earn — what’s known as income-based repayment.

Yet, even while the administration has emphasized easing the burden for student borrowers, some contractors with the Department of Education appear to be exacerbating it.

Bloomberg reported this week that some federally contracted debt collection agencies have been playing hardball with borrowers who are behind:

insisting on payments the borrowers can’t afford;

even when federal student-loan rules allow more leniency.

The debt collectors have an incentive to be tough. As Bloomberg explains:

Under Education Department contracts, collection companies “rehabilitate” a defaulted loan by getting a borrower to make nine payments in 10 months. If they succeed, they reap a jackpot: a commission equal to as much as 16 percent of the entire loan amount, or $3,200 on a $20,000 loan.

These companies receive that fee only if borrowers make a minimum payment of 0.75 percent to 1.25 percent of the loan each month, depending on its size. For example, a $20,000 loan would require payments of about $200 a month. If the payment falls below that figure, the collector receives an administrative fee of $150.

The Department of Education is trying to balance its interest in helping struggling borrowers and stewarding taxpayer dollars, department spokesman Justin Hamilton told Bloomberg.

Striking that balance, it seems, hasn’t been easy. Consumer advocates chafed when President Obama, as part of a deficit-reduction plan promoted last fall, recommended allowing debt collectors to robo-call the cell phones of borrowers who fell behind on federal student loans and other debts to the government.

That plan didn’t get far. But the measure resurfaced as a line item in Obama’s proposed 2013 budget last month.

As Bloomberg noted, federal student-loan rules require that collectors work out “reasonable and affordable” payments with borrowers to get them back on track, but the rules don’t spell out how such a calculation should be made. The Department of Education is meeting with key student-loan stakeholders this week to discuss, among other things , whether to use the income-based repayment formula to help set that standard. (As it stands, only borrowers who are current on their federal loans are eligible for help via income-based repayment.)

One thing that isn’t on the table at these rule-making meetings? A measure hailed by some advocates as potentially the single most important rule change for student borrowers who’ve become severely disabled and are seeking a discharge of their federal student loans. As we reported last year, the department initially pledged to overhaul the program and consider whether to simply accept Social Security determinations of disability instead of its current complex and opaque process. The department subsequently backed off that fix. Now it isn’t even on the agenda .

– Provided by ProPublica.org

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New York, NY, United States (AHN) – Mortgage rates were down slightly this past week, approaching, but not quite hitting, the lowest mortgage rates on record.

Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs), did reach new record lows. The initial interest rate on a five-year Treasury-indexed ARM dropped to 2.91 percent, Freddie Mac reported. That was lower than last week’s 2.97 percent, and it breaks the previous record low of 2.96 percent for five-year ARMs, set during the week of Oct. 6.

Average rates on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage dipped to 3.98 percent, down from 4 percent. The average rate for the 15-year fixed home loan slipped to 3.30 percent, down from 3.31. Both are just a hair–0.04 percentage points–above their respective all-time lows, according to Freddie Mac, also set on Oct. 6.

Mortgage rates have shown little change over the past four weeks. Loan demand has been lackluster and refinancing dropped an average of 1.39 percent over the previous four weeks, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported.

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Payday loans are taken by a borrower against a future paycheck. It is designed to cover your emergency needs till next payday. However, you cannot borrow huge amount of money by this loan option. Payday loans are taken by a borrower against a future paycheck. It is designed to cover your emergency needs till next payday. However, you cannot borrow huge amount of money by this loan option. Generally, you can obtain up to $1000. But, payday loans charge you hefty interest rate. It can range from 15% to 20%. If you default for two payments subsequently, it will jack up the interest rate. At worst cases, you could end up paying 200% at interest charge. That is why they are very often termed as payday sharks. However, some states have special regulation over interest charge. A payday lender cannot charge you more than the stipulated rate.

In order to qualify a payday loan, you need to be an U.S citizen. You have to show your Identity card. You need to have an active bank account and regular flow of income. It is really easy to get access to payday loan cash advance. Even, if you have bad credit or you have filled bankruptcy, still you could qualify for payday loan. Most traditional bank loans would ask you to show a good credit score and clean credit history. They may turn down your application if you have low credit score. But, with payday loan you do not need to furnish many documents and tax your head with elaborate paper works. Military personals and immigrants can be eligible for payday loan schemes.

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What do they Offer: They make it their business to get you the funds in just one hour. They offer loans up to $1000 Dollars with No Credit Checks, Cash as Fast as 1 Hour, Instant Approval with over 122 Loan Providers. One of the advantages of this service is that they can extend the loan for 100 days or more (depending on Lenders Approval).

Athens, Greece (AHN) – Police fired tear gas on masked protesters who threw stones and set dumpsters on fire at a square in Athens on Tuesday. Four riot police and four anarchists were injured in the clash at the Syntagma Square in the middle of a two-day general strike by state workers.

Thousands of demonstrators, however, rallied peacefully in front of the Greek parliament. They are opposing an austerity plan by the government to be voted on by parliament on Wednesday and Thursday.

The government under Prime Minister George Papandreou is hoping to win a bailout loan of $158 billion from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund to pay public debts until 2014 through the austerity plan. Without the loan, the national treasury will run out of funds in a few days.

The plan imposing new tax on minimum wage earners, however, is unpopular triggering the strike.

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Instant cash loans can help you to get required amount on the same day ranging from 80-1500. Loan seekers get 14-31 days to repay the full amount of cash. If one is not capable to pay such money on time, you can request lender to increase the time period. Individual has to pay low interest rate and penalty if you inform lender in advance about the late payment. This financial option has been introduced by lenders to provide fast cash and improve your credit ratings as well. Credit score can be improved easily if you repay the amount on time.

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With the succor of these loans, the applicants can derive a loan amount up to 1,500 that is sufficient to unsnarl all complicated fiscal problems. These finances are quite popular throughout UK because immediate cash loans not only help you in your pressing needs but also assist you ameliorate your poor credit records so that you might fetch instant money hereafter based on your improved credit records.

Even if you want to acquire these loans without any trouble, the best way is to apply via online mode. There are so many online lenders who deal out loans at quite comparatively low interest rate together with delightful reimbursement terms and conditions. Just make a systematic analysis so as to get your hands on an amazing and delightful loan deal. As a matter of fact, you must vigilantly exam the loan terms and conditions so that you might keep yourself sage and sound from any hurdle hereafter.

Quick cash loans are dependent upon miscellaneous factors like an applicant must attain over 18 years of age along with the six months valid an active checking. The applicant must have six months old job together with 1000 per month and must have six months validated residential proof to submit against the loan. These imperative criteria enable you to get your hands on the loan amount ranging from 100 – 1500 with the time period of 4 weeks. With this suitable loan amount you can pay off the expenses like car repair, medical treatment, purchase groceries, credit card dues and so on.

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The amazing part of these loans is that the lenders will not ask you to pledge anything against loan amount even having bad credit. But, you need to be 18 years old at the time of applying for unsecured personal loans. It is also necessary that you should have checking account under your name. You should be regular employee and should be citizen of UK. If all these terms and conditions go in your favor, you can apply for these loans without any hesitation.

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Personal student finance is quite hassle-free and beneficial for students so that they can easily deal with all expenditures in a trouble-free way. Thus, don’t panic and feel no tension, as you can also enjoy any educational course with ease. Though these finances are easy to avail, it is suggested you to read all terms and conditions in a proper manner. It will help you avoid any kind of hassle that you can face in future! Indeed, this is really an outstanding monetary assistance that is helping thousands of students to settle their futures with their own wishes.

With the help of personal finance, the students and their parents can enjoy a sufficient amount for a time period ranging from 1 year to 10 year. Another good feature of these loans is that they are offered at slighter interest rate with long-term repayment procedure. The students may start repaying their loan debts after finishing their education and getting jobs. Online applying facility for these financial aids has made it possible to gain money within a few hours.

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