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…

Fiscal cliff

17 Days to Fiscal Cliff: Lawmakers Head Home for the Weekend

By Bill Fay | December 14, 2012

The fiscal cliff debate will be going on some place this weekend, but Capitol Hill isn’t one of them. With a little more than two weeks remaining before mandatory spending…

Interest rates to remain low

Bernanke: Interest Rates to Remain Low for Up to Three Years

By Bill Fay | December 13, 2012

The Federal Reserve vowed this week to keep interest rates near zero until national unemployment falls to the pre-recession levels, which could take up to three years. The main interest…

War on Labor Unions

The War on Labor Unions – Part 2

By Bill Fay | December 13, 2012

In Part 1, the War on Labor Unions was exposed as a premeditated political attack on middle-class working men and women, cynically camouflaged as some sort of protection of the…

Customers dissatisfied with banks

Amid Scandals and Fee Hikes, Most Americans Dissatisfied with Banks

By Bill Fay | December 12, 2012

After a year filled with negative banking news from around the world — from deceptive practices, outrageously high fees, class-action suits and money laundering scandals — Americans are beginning to…

War on labor unions

The War on Labor Unions – Part 1

By Bill Fay | December 12, 2012

There are hot wars, and there are cold wars. There are good wars (the War on Poverty), unwise wars (the War on Drugs), unnecessary wars (Iraq) and endless wars (the…

Global economy

Report: Growing Middle Class Expected to Boost Global Economy

By Bill Fay | December 12, 2012

The world’s middle-class population will triple in the next 20 years, bringing with it unprecedented buying power that will be a boon to the global economy, but also an appetite…

Holiday hiring and spending increase

Analysts: It Could Be a Banner Year for Holiday Spending, Employment

By Bill Fay | December 11, 2012

With the holiday spending season in full swing, market analysts say this could be a banner year for sales, employment and holiday parties. Seasonal hiring is quickly approaching a record…

Baby boomers have enough to retire

Baby Boomers Better Prepared for Retirement than Previous Generations

By Bill Fay | December 11, 2012

A new report says that most baby boomers have successfully stuffed enough pennies into the piggy banks – and dollars into the 401(k) plans – to retain their status as…

Fiscal cliff negotiations

Obama-Boehner Meeting Sparks Optimism on ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Deal

By Bill Fay | December 10, 2012

President Obama took his debt-reduction campaign to Michigan on Monday, amid cautious signs that progress is being made on avoiding the “fiscal cliff.” Obama and Republican Speaker of the House…

Student loan repayment program

New Income-Based Student Loan Repayment Plan Launches Dec. 21

By Bill Fay | December 10, 2012

The new year looks even brighter for more than 1 million people deep in student loan debt. The new Pay as You Earn program, created in an effort to help…

Unemployment numbers mixed

Unemployment Rate Dips; 146,000 New Jobs Added in November

By Bill Fay | December 10, 2012

In November, the U.S. unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in four years and 146,000 jobs were added by a still-improving economy, but the background news to both numbers…

Health insurance companies want more

ObamaCare Highlights Truth: Insurance Companies Prosper

By Bill Fay | December 7, 2012

Whatever one thinks about the nature of ObamaCare, officially called the Affordable Patient Protection and Care Act (ACA), it’s certainly not the foul-smelling, socialistic takeover of the medical establishment as…

Housing market

Housing Market Expected to Rebound in 2013

By Bill Fay | December 7, 2012

With just a few weeks remaining until the end of the year, millions of Americans are seeking ways to make 2013 better, especially from a financial perspective. From making new…

Fiscal cliff

Five Things You Need to Know About the ‘Fiscal Cliff’

By Bill Fay | December 6, 2012

Where do you stand on the so-called “fiscal cliff,” which the U.S. economy may or may not be stepping off of at midnight Dec. 31? Before you answer, read over…

FHFA

Obama Eyeing New Leader for Federal Housing Finance Agency

By Bill Fay | December 6, 2012

Facing increased scrutiny from housing advocates and community groups, President Barack Obama is being asked once again to sidestep political protocol to replace Ed DeMarco, the acting head of the…

Auto sales jump in November

Amid Fiscal Uncertainty, U.S. Auto Sales Jump 15 Percent in November

By Bill Fay | December 5, 2012

Despite a devastating hurricane that wiped away much of the Eastern seaboard in October and the constant warnings of an impending fiscal cliff and tax hikes in the coming year,…

Fast-food workers go on strike

Fast-Food Workers in NYC Go On Strike: I’m Lovin’ It

By Bill Fay | December 5, 2012

“You deserve a break today, So get out and get away … to McDonald’s!” Last week, 200 New York City fast food workers took a break and got away from…

No compromise on fiscal cliff

Republicans’ Counteroffer on Fiscal Crisis Blasted by White House

By Bill Fay | December 4, 2012

Republican leaders sent a letter to President Obama on Monday, proposing solutions to the debt crisis that include spending cuts of $1.4 trillion and an overhaul of the tax code…

Housing market rebounds

Foreclosures on Hold for Holidays as Housing Market Slowly Recovers

By Bill Fay | December 4, 2012

With an improving economy and programs aimed at helping homeowners stay current with their mortgages, housing-market analysts say that 2012 will prove to be a turnaround year for homeowners and…

Military and the fiscal cliff

Where Does the Military Stand on the Fiscal Cliff?

By Bill Fay | December 3, 2012

As much as President Obama and Congress have talked about dealing with the “fiscal cliff,” there is one term noticeably missing from the discussion: Sequestration and its effect on the…