How do I write a hardship letter to my credit card?
I am writing this letter to request assistance with my personal loan during a time of financial hardship. Approximately two weeks ago, I was let go from my job due to company-wide layoffs. As a result, I have been unable to continue making regular payments on my loan.
I am writing this letter to request assistance with my personal loan during a time of financial hardship. Approximately two weeks ago, I was let go from my job due to company-wide layoffs. As a result, I have been unable to continue making regular payments on my loan.
- The date, your name, address and phone number.
- The lender/servicer and loan number.
- The date or approximate time frame when the hardship started.
- The expected timeframe of hardship — short term (six months or less) or long term.
- Describe your goal. ...
- State the facts, not emotions.
- Write an introduction. ...
- Detail your hardship. ...
- Highlight how you're being proactive about your financial situation. ...
- State your request. ...
- Provide assurance of financial recovery. ...
- Submit supporting documentation.
When you write the hardship letter, don't include anything that would hurt your situation. Here are some examples of things you shouldn't say in the 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.
- Keep it original. ...
- Be honest. ...
- Keep it concise. ...
- Don't cast blame or shirk responsibility. ...
- Don't use jargon or fancy words. ...
- Keep your objectives in mind. ...
- Provide the creditor an action plan. ...
- Talk to a Financial Counselor.
Examples of hardship in a Sentence
He had suffered through considerable hardship. The city has been experiencing a period of financial hardship.
401(k) hardship withdrawal reasons and eligibility
Expenses to prevent foreclosure or eviction. Repair costs for damage to your principal residence (in the event of losses from floods, fires, or earthquakes) Medical bills not covered by insurance. Funeral or burial costs.
Natural disaster (i.e. fire, flood, or human-caused disaster). Unexpected increases in necessary expenses or decreases in household income due to divorce/separation; unexpected or sudden disability; or caring for an ill, disabled or aging family member.
Hardship is a situation in which your life is difficult or unpleasant, often because you do not have enough money. [...] See full entry for 'hardship' Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers.
How do I write a letter for forgiveness of debt?
Unfortunately, my circ*mstances 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.
A hardship program may offer any combination of the following temporary measures to make your credit card debt payments more manageable: Due date extensions. Lowered interest rate charges. Pauses in payments and/or interest charges. Reduced minimum payments.
- Layoff or reduction in pay.
- New or worsening disability.
- Serious injury.
- Serious illness.
- Divorce or legal separation.
- Death.
- Incarceration.
- Military deployment or Permanent Change of Station orders.
Your credit report will also include information that indicates you are in a financial hardship arrangement. This information will stay on your credit report for one year and then disappear. Your credit report will not include the reason for your financial hardship arrangement.
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). Relevant details about the loan or property, such as the number of months delinquent, property value, or equity.
Hardship applies to a circ*mstance in which excessive and painful effort of some kind is required, as enduring acute discomfort from cold, or battling over rough terrain. Privation has particular reference to lack of food, clothing, and other necessities or comforts.
Make it clear to the creditor that you intend to pay the debt. Explain that you are unable to pay the debt due to (detail your hardship). or, if you are lucky, might accept it. Get your terms in writing before you send any payments.
- Tip 1: Don't harp on the obvious. ...
- Tip 2: Keep it concise. ...
- Tip 3: Don't beat around the bush. ...
- Tip 4: Include supporting documentation. ...
- Tip 5: Modification of a loan or a short sale should not be your first option.
Lump-sum settlement
For example, you might owe $4,000 between charges, interest and fees on your credit card, but you ask the bank to accept $2,500 to settle the account in full. If the card issuer accepts, it will forgive the remaining balance.
Unexpected medical expenses or treatments that are not covered by insurance. Costs related to the purchase or repair of a home, or eviction prevention. Tuition, educational fees and related expenses. Burial or funeral expenses.
What is a serious hardship?
causing very great pain, difficulty, worry, damage, etc.; ... See more at severe. hardship. noun [C or U] /ˈhɑːd.ʃɪp/us.
People experience all kinds of adversity in life. There are personal experiences, such as illness, loss of a loved one, abuse, bullying, job loss, and financial instability. There is the shared reality of tragic events in the news, such as terrorist attacks, mass shootings, and natural disasters.
I believe that a participant must provide the plan sponsor with proof of a hardship. Thus providing supporting documentation such as medical bills, tuition bills, notice of eviction, etc.
Don't Write a Novel
A novelist builds up suspense by hinting at what's coming up, but your hardship letter should be short and specific -- don't tease the loan modification staff who will be reading your letter along with many others.
Paying off credit card debt doesn't fit the IRS hardship definition, but some plans do allow a hardship withdrawal for paying off debt. The only way to find out if yours permits it is to ask the plan administrator.