Staff Writer

Bill Fay

Bill “No Pay” Fay has lived a meager financial existence his entire life. He started writing/bragging about it in 2012, helping birth Debt.org into existence as the site’s original “Frugal Man.” Prior to that, he spent more than 30 years covering the high finance world of college and professional sports for major publications, including the Associated Press, New York Times and Sports Illustrated. His interest in sports has waned some, but he is as passionate as ever about not reaching for his wallet.

Credit card and flying coins on blue background.

What Is a Balance Transfer Fee?

By Bill Fay | September 6, 2024

Credit card debt has skyrocketed to more than $1.1 trillion. So has looking for ways to avoid paying interest on that mountain of money. For millions of Americans, the search…

Woman paying of her charged off credit card debt

Should I Pay a Charge-Off in Full or Settle?

By Bill Fay | March 27, 2024

Borrowers who’ve gotten themselves tangled in a charge-off situation face difficult choices. Pay the debt in full? Try to settle for a lesser amount? Run away and hide? “The world…

A toy car next to a judge's gavel

When Do You Have to Surrender a Vehicle in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?

By Bill Fay | December 14, 2023

For those seeking a fresh financial start, Chapter 7 bankruptcy has plenty of upsides. It’s the cleanest, most straightforward, least time-consuming, and least expensive of the various bankruptcy options. The…

Couple discussing bankruptcy together

How Bankruptcy Will Affect Your Spouse

By Bill Fay | December 6, 2023

When people get married, they often vow to take each other through thick and thin. Bankruptcy can get pretty thick for a husband and wife. Bankruptcy is when a person…

Senior citizen reading loan offer

Loans for Seniors With Bad Credit

By Bill Fay | September 7, 2023

Growing older never was for the fainthearted, but it takes exceptional courage to navigate those Golden Years with dents on your credit report and a need for cash. Chins up,…

Attorney discussing converting Chapter 13 to Chapter 7 with his client

Converting Chapter 13 to Chapter 7

By Bill Fay | August 23, 2023

Choosing to declare personal bankruptcy can be among the most difficult decisions ever to confront an individual. Tougher still: Having to pick, under unmatched duress, which type of bankruptcy best…

Woman paying her car payment with a credit card using her phone

Paying a Car Payment with a Credit Card

By Bill Fay | August 3, 2023

There are plenty of reasons to consider making car loan payments with a credit card — everything from piling up rewards points or cash back, to scoring a bit of…

Two individuals negotiating at a table

How To Negotiate With Debt Collectors

By Bill Fay | July 14, 2023

With President Biden declaring an end to pandemic emergency provisions effective May 11, and states and companies already having rescinded most of their debt collections suspensions, debt collectors are totally…

Judge discharging debt in bankruptcy

Bankruptcy Discharge

By Bill Fay | June 7, 2023

A bankruptcy discharge is the legal holy grail for anyone who files for bankruptcy. A discharge means there’s a court order in the bankrupt’s case that erases all qualifying debts.…

Downtown Charleston, South Carolina

Debt Relief Options in South Carolina

By Bill Fay | March 10, 2023

Debt Relief Programs in South Carolina Those who are struggling to pay off debt in South Carolina can find programs to help through banks, credit unions, online lenders, and for-profit…

Bridge in Missouri

Debt Relief Options in Missouri

By Bill Fay | March 8, 2023

Debt Relief Programs in Missouri Missouri residents struggling to pay off debt can find assistance programs at banks, credit unions, online lenders, and for-profit and nonprofit debt relief companies. These…

Man discussing with lawyer about debt limits for chapter 7 bankruptcy

How Much Debt Do You Have To Be In to File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?

By Bill Fay | February 24, 2023

If you have so much debt that you’re considering filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you have enough debt to qualify. The U.S. bankruptcy code doesn’t specify a minimum dollar amount…

Bridge over a lake in Minnesota

Debt Relief Options in Minnesota

By Bill Fay | February 8, 2023

Debt Relief Programs in Minnesota There are banks, credit unions, online lenders, and debt-relief companies (for-profit and nonprofit) in Minnesota that specializes in helping consumers pay off credit card debt. These companies…

Couple discussing whether or not they should use a personal loan to pay off credit cards

Should You Use Personal Loan to Pay Off Credit Cards?

By Bill Fay | December 14, 2022

A rare silver lining to the Covid pandemic was Americans managed to pay down billions of dollars in credit card debt. Those days have screeched to a halt. Credit card…

Covered bridge in rural Indiana

Debt Relief Options in Indiana

By Bill Fay | December 14, 2022

Debt Relief Programs in Indiana There are banks, credit unions, online lenders and debt-relief companies (for profit and nonprofit) in Indiana that specialize in helping consumers pay off credit card debt.…

Wisconsin state capitol building

Debt Relief Options in Wisconsin

By Bill Fay | December 12, 2022

Debt Relief Programs in Wisconsin Wisconsin residents struggling to pay off debt can find assistance programs at banks, credit unions, online lenders, and for profit and nonprofit debt relief companies.…

Washington mountain view

Debt Relief Options in Washington

By Bill Fay | November 3, 2022

Debt Relief Programs in Washington There are a number of resources available for residents of the Evergreen State who find  themselves in financial peril. Banks, credit unions, online lenders, for…

Smoky mountains in Tennessee

Debt Relief Options in Tennessee

By Bill Fay | October 26, 2022

Debt Relief Programs in Tennessee Tennessee has a number of companies that specialize in helping consumers pay off credit card debt including banks, credit unions, online lenders, and both for…

A lake in Colorado with mountains in the background

Debt Relief Options in Colorado

By Bill Fay | September 22, 2022

Debt Relief Programs in Colorado Colorado has a number of companies that specialize in helping consumers pay off credit card debt including banks, credit unions, online lenders, and both for…

Senior couple filing the paperwork for banruptcy

Senior Citizens & Bankruptcy

By Bill Fay | June 29, 2022

Bankruptcy is a legal proceeding that could provide relief when a person can’t repay debts. Consider bankruptcy a legal life preserver for those drowning in debt. Chapter 7 bankruptcy is…

Second stimulus check being shredded

Republican Advisors Say No Need for Second Stimulus Check

By Bill Fay | June 16, 2020

Don’t plan on receiving and cashing a second COVID-19 stimulus check just yet. A group of 20 fiscal hawks, many of the close advisors to President Trump, sent Trump and…

Business with closed sign applying for paycheck protection program

Paycheck Protection Program

By Bill Fay | May 2, 2020

While Governors in several states are trying to crack open the door on the shuttered U.S. economy, the news from two key elements of a would-be revival – employment and…

Fact or Fiction: Debt Relief in the Time of Coronavirus

Fact or Fiction: Debt Relief in the Time of Coronavirus

By Bill Fay | March 20, 2020

Truth, they say, is the first casualty of war. And on March 13, President Donald Trump put America on a war footing. We’re coming for you, coronavirus. Speaking from the…

How to get out of debt in 2020

How to Get Out of Debt in 2020

By Bill Fay | February 24, 2020

Surveys show most Americans will make a resolution to get out of debt in 2020. Surveys also show most Americans will fail miserably. If you want to get out of…

Image of a new credit report

How the New FICO Credit Scoring System Will Affect You

By Bill Fay | January 29, 2020

The announcement that FICO will put two new credit scoring models – FICO 10 and FICO 10T – into play this summer is the ultimate good news/bad news situation for…

Piggy bank wrapped in Christmas lights

How to Stay Out of Debt During the Holidays

By Bill Fay | December 4, 2019

Tempted to spend lavishly and spontaneously this holiday season? Looking for someone to blame? Leave the three wise men out of it. Yes, they launched the tradition of bestowing expensive…

U.S. consumer concerned about debt

Consumer Debt Grows as U.S. Economy Expands

By Bill Fay | August 27, 2019

Americans are taking on ever larger debt loads as they struggle to maintain living standards. They are borrowing more on their credit cards, taking on a soaring levels of student…

Highway exit sign with arrow to bankruptcy

In Era of Trump, Has Bankruptcy Stigma Lost Its Sting?

By Bill Fay | August 8, 2019

With Donald Trump being credited or blamed for virtually every imaginable good or ill (depending on the observer, of course), we in the world of personal finance and debt management…

Military father holding his new born baby

NFCC Survey Shows Military Families Financial Struggles

By Bill Fay | June 14, 2019

The U.S. economy might be bustling for civilians, but not all active enlisted members of the military are thriving in it. More than one-third of enlisted military members do not…

Credit report next to a laptop to freeze credit checks

New Law Allows Credit Freeze

By Bill Fay | October 22, 2018

Security breaches have become so commonplace in the United States that news around them barely causes a ripple these days. Even if it’s news that provides consumers an extra layer…

HELOC on laptop screen

HELOCs on the Rise: Why You Should Be Careful

By Bill Fay | October 18, 2018

Across America, home values are on the rise again, surging with the economy. With that surge, homeowners eager to scratch a pent-up-demand itch once again are taking out HELOCs, or home…

People sitting at computers and tablets looking up personal loans to submit an application

Personal Loans on the Rise

By Bill Fay | October 17, 2018

The loan business is getting personal. We’re talking personal loans, and they are exactly what they sound like. You borrow money from a lending institution and pay it back. The…

Women with bad credit going to nonbank to borrow money

Nonbanks Fill Demand from Borrowers with Poor Credit

By Bill Fay | April 25, 2018

The era when almost anyone with a pulse could get a loan or mortgage from a commercial bank ended with the financial meltdown of 2008. Today, tightened regulations and a…

Caution on Student Loan Forgiveness Programs

Confusion Clouds Future of Student Loan Forgiveness Programs

By Bill Fay | April 17, 2018

Here’s a warning for anyone who must borrow money for college. There’s an assault under way on the most cost-effective and popular student-loan repayment programs. Lines are being drawn and…

is it time to refinance your mortgage

Considering Refinancing? Do It NOW!

By Bill Fay | March 15, 2018

Interest rates are going up, so it’s time to seriously consider refinancing your home loan. Or if you want to buy a house, it would be wise to seriously consider doing…

Warning Card Interest Rates Up

Interest Rates Increasing on Credit Cards

By Bill Fay | January 22, 2018

American consumers owe a record $1.023-trillion in revolving credit – mostly through credit-card debt – and with interest rates expected to rise in 2018, financial experts predict the problem will…

Bag of Payday Loan Money Exchanging Hands

Payday Loan Alternative a Good (Or Risky) Thing?

By Bill Fay | January 15, 2018

If you’re one of the millions of Americans for whom payday can’t come soon enough, technology is catching up with your dreams. Uber, McDonald’s and Outback Steakhouse are among a…

US Veteran hugged by daughter

New Study: Veterans More Likely to Suffer Credit Problems, But Save More

By Bill Fay | December 15, 2017

Military veterans are more likely to suffer through credit problems, underwater mortgages and late house payments than the civilian population. Those are some of the findings from a 2017 analysis…

Financial Planning Calendar

2018 Financial Planning Calendar

By Bill Fay | November 29, 2017

Would you like to save an extra $1,000 in 2018? Maybe you should eliminate that latte on the way to work. How about earning an extra $3,000? That can easily…

Equifax Data Breach Lady in front of computer screen

What To Do About Equifax Data Breach?

By Bill Fay | October 10, 2017

The recent data breach at Equifax, one of the three major credit reporting bureaus, has created an uncomfortable situation for the more than 145 million American consumers whose personal information…