The Hardship Playbook.

I am not a professional and this is not advice

I am not a financial advisor, an investment advisor, a CPA or accountant, a tax preparer, an attorney, a licensed credit counselor, a debt settlement company, or a credit repair organization. I hold no license or certification in any of those fields. Nothing in this guide is financial, investment, tax, accounting, legal, or credit repair advice, and nothing in it creates any advisor, fiduciary, attorney, or professional relationship between us.

It is one person's record, not a service

This guide is educational material describing what I personally did with my own accounts. I do not act on your behalf, contact your lenders for you, negotiate for you, manage your money, or offer to improve or repair your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. I am not selling a credit repair, debt relief, debt settlement, or debt consolidation service, and buying this does not enroll you in any program.

No outcome is promised or guaranteed

Buying this does not mean your rates will be reduced or frozen, your interest will be waived or reversed, your fees will be refunded, your balances will fall, or your credit score will change. Any figures I share are my own actual results, they are not typical, and they are not a prediction of what you will get. Some people are told no on every single call.

Lenders differ and policies change

What any lender offers depends on your accounts, payment history, income, hardship circumstances, account age, state of residence, and that lender's internal policy on the day you call. Programs described here may not exist at your lender, may have different terms, or may be discontinued. Information is accurate to the best of my knowledge on the date of publication and may go out of date without notice.

Hardship programs have real trade-offs

Enrolling in a hardship plan, forbearance, or modified payment arrangement can affect how an account is reported to credit bureaus, can result in an account being closed or its limit reduced, may affect available credit and utilization, and may have tax consequences if any amount is forgiven. Ask your lender for the specific terms in writing and speak to a qualified professional about your situation before agreeing to anything.

Talk to a professional, especially if it is further along

You should consult a licensed financial advisor, CPA, tax professional, or attorney before acting on anything in this guide. If you are past due, in collections, being sued, facing garnishment, or considering bankruptcy, that is not optional: speak to an attorney or a nonprofit credit counselor (the NFCC at nfcc.org is a starting point) first. Nonprofit counseling is typically free or low cost and is a better first step than this guide.

Use the scripts honestly

The scripts work because what I said was true. Lenders verify what you tell them, and misrepresenting your income, employment, or circumstances to a creditor can carry serious consequences including account closure and, in some cases, legal liability. Never say anything to a lender that is not accurate about you.

You are responsible for your decisions

Any action you take after reading this is your own decision and your own responsibility. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I accept no liability for any loss, damage, fee, penalty, interest, credit impact, or other consequence arising from the use of this material, and my total liability is limited to what you paid for it.

No affiliation with any lender

I am not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any bank, card issuer, lender, servicer, or credit bureau. Institution names are masked throughout the guide. Any programs described are those companies' own, and they can change or withdraw them at any time.