Banking and Credit

Government refi program ditches limits on underwater homes

President Obama is revamping his biggest refinancing program in another effort to reach more homeowners locked in high-cost home loans.

The Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), part of the president's foreclosure prevention effort, was supposed to get 5 million borrowers into cheaper and safer mortgages.

But so far, fewer than 900,000 properties have been refinanced through the program, mostly because homeowners weren't allowed to borrow more than 125% of the value of their homes. Read more at Interest.com.

Can debt judgments follow me overseas?

Dear To Her Credit,
I have some credit card debts, a foreclosure, a car loan and a judgment for the unpaid maintenance of my last property. All this was filed after I left the country due to the lack of job. Currently I am living in China, studying, and I don't have a steady source of income.

Could the actual judgment follow me to Europe? Could they freeze my account here? Could I get into any trouble because of the debts or judgment? Thank you. -- Carolina

Read more at CreditCards.com.

Some spend lavishly up to their date with bankruptcy

Dear To Her Credit,
My brother and his wife are filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. They went on a trip to Australia for a week and then filed. They also plan on keeping one of their credit cards (for gasoline) and want to keep their time share. When her mother died, they received a large sum of money ($10,000) and a 2010 car. They have a boat and three cars. They also have their brother-in-law living with them.

They both work and have exhausted their credit cards. Their lawyer told them not to pay any of their creditors, so they go to the casino!

What's wrong with this picture? It seems they have everything and won't have to pay a cent. They also own a house. -- Becky

 

Help! Ex-spouse won't pay co-signed car loan

Dear To Her Credit,
Four years ago, I got divorced and my ex agreed to take responsibility for his car debt. I co-signed for the car, but I'm from another country and nobody explained to me how important credit is here.

Now, the company is suing to garnish my salary. I told the judge about the divorce decree, and he said there is nothing he can do. If they garnish my paycheck, what's left is not enough for me to pay my bills. I am thinking about bankruptcy. Can you give me any suggestions on what I can do? I'm so sad. -- Edith