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.

Bankruptcy reaffirmation agreement paper with glasses on top.

What Is a Reaffirmation Agreement?

By Bill Fay | October 29, 2024

Anyone new to bankruptcy can’t be blamed for thinking the whole process equals doom, gloom, and forfeiture. After all, filing bankruptcy is not going to look good on your resumé…

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…

Unemployment Rises

Unemployment Rate Increases Despite Job Creation

By Bill Fay | August 13, 2012

Economists are increasingly optimistic this month as more than 163,000 new jobs were added to the American market in July, the highest figure in the past five months. This number…

older couple very sad

Senior Citizens Strapped with Stifling Debt

By Bill Fay | August 10, 2012

Over the past few years, millions of older Americans have found themselves in a much more challenging financial position than they ever imagined. The American Dream, which once included a…

cash image

Payroll Tax Cut Set to Expire at the End of 2012

By Bill Fay | August 8, 2012

Millions of Americans may be taking home a few less dollars next year, as a major tax cut may soon disappear. The payroll tax break, first enacted in 2010 by…

sad older couple image

Americans’ Median Net Worth Drops 40 Percent

By Bill Fay | August 3, 2012

What a difference a few years can make in the typical American household. The Federal Reserve recently announced that the median U.S. household lost nearly 40 percent of its wealth…

house under water image

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Reject Principal-Reducing Mortgage Bailouts

By Bill Fay | August 1, 2012

Homeowners facing potential foreclosure with mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will not be getting any principal-reduction bailouts, based on a decision announced this week by the Federal…

Credit card

Capital One to Pay $210 Million in Refunds to Credit Card Customers, Fines

By Bill Fay | July 26, 2012

More than 2 million Capital One credit card customers can expect to receive money back this year after a recent investigation completed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) revealed…

Credit Reporting Agencies picture

Credit Reporting Agencies Soon to Gain Federal Oversight

By Bill Fay | July 25, 2012

After years with little or no oversight, more than 30 U.S. consumer reporting firms will fall under the eye of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) starting September 30. It…

debt collector

Abusive Debt Collectors on the Rise

By Bill Fay | July 24, 2012

Between mortgages, home equity loans, credit cards and hospital bills, millions of Americans are said to be living on the financial edge, deep in debt. Companies and banks, frustrated with…

house and calculator image

Banks Institute Stricter Rules for Mortgages

By Bill Fay | July 24, 2012

While the once sluggish real estate market has reportedly been on an upswing in recent months, it may actually become more challenging to take advantage of current low housing prices…

Small Business Recovery picture

Small Businesses Show Recent Signs of Recovery

By Bill Fay | July 20, 2012

There is good news for small business owners and entrepreneurs considering a new venture — lenders are steadily increasing their volume of small business loans. In May, the overall number…

senior in garden image

Older Homeowners Hit Hard by Mortgage Crisis, Study Suggests

By Bill Fay | July 19, 2012

America’s mortgage crisis affected millions of older homeowners just at the time when their retirement nests should be heavily feathered, according to a study from the Public Policy Institute of…

senior doing taxes image

For Record Number of Seniors, Golden Years Mean More Work

By Bill Fay | July 19, 2012

They can be found diligently working in local grocery stores, offices, department stores and within the health care industry – they’re Americans aged 65 and older who remain active in…

Home equity picture

Report: 700,000 U.S. Homeowners Regain More Equity

By Bill Fay | July 19, 2012

There’s good news on the horizon for homeowners and the national economy this financial quarter: More than 700,000 U.S. households regained positive equity in their properties, according to a new…

GI Bills and student loans

Obama, Congress Deride For-Profit Schools’ Preying on Veterans

By Bill Fay | July 17, 2012

Responding to complaints from thousands of veterans, Congress, the Obama administration and various veterans groups are condemning some of the practices of for-profit schools and colleges that receive hundreds of…

Consumer Credit

Economists Debate Good News, Bad News of July Credit Report

By Bill Fay | July 17, 2012

Economists around the globe are crunching the latest G.19 credit numbers released by the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors, numbers that show that consumers around the world are still borrowing…

Home For Sale - Foreclosure Sign

Increasing Number of FHA Home Loans Fall into Delinquency

By Bill Fay | July 10, 2012

Unlike other sectors of the mortgage market, which appear to be steadying after years of turmoil, FHA loans are falling into delinquency and foreclosure at an alarming rate. A recent…

Expensive House

Report: Reverse Mortgages Being Used by Young Borrowers

By Bill Fay | July 5, 2012

A recent consumer report indicated the government-insured reverse mortgage program, once intended to help seniors continue living in their homes free from financial constraints during the retirement years, contains possible…

The Perfect Home

Reports: Housing Market Showed Marked Improvement

By Bill Fay | July 2, 2012

After several challenging economic years, the sluggish housing market is said to be on the mend as the number of total home sales show a sales gain. In fact, economists…

Young male student with glasses holding multiple credit cards looking stressed about his climbing debt

U.S. College Students Consumed by Credit Card Debt

By Bill Fay | July 2, 2012

The results are troubling for economists. In a country riddled with consumer debt — the next generation of American consumers, college students, seem to be following in their parents’ footsteps,…

2 Happy People

Credit Agency: Some Mortgage Modification Strategies Better than Others

By Bill Fay | July 2, 2012

Fallout from the collapse of the U.S. housing market is ongoing, and consumers are only now beginning to learn the effectiveness of various mortgage modification strategies that they used after…