Need help ASAP!

[suspendedintyme]

Hello all! I'll try to keep this question short but it requires some background info or else I will receive more questions than answers here . I desperately need help in getting a personal loan of approx. $3000. to cover a medical/dental procedure that has to be performed ASAP. I do have insurance that covers 50-80% of the cost but I still have to come up with $3000 to cover my out of pocket expenses. I am employed full-time and I make a decent wage (approx $45,000 annually) and I have a checking account, but I have no savings account or CDs or retirement income (my 401K is too small to be of any use) After my monthly bills, I have a few hundred extra dollars to work with but even if I were to attempt to save all of it, it would take me far too long to get the needed amount together and it is imperative that I get this medical procedure done now. The problem is simple but infuriating - I have a deplorable credit score and NOONE - NO loan office, bank, credit union - it seems like I've tried them all! - NOONE will give me any financial assistance because of how bad my credit is. My credit score was never great to begin with but even despite some past issues, it was passable (600-650) but a year ago, I went through an UGLY divorce (read hostile exwife lol) and now have a house foreclosure on my credit report as well as a car repossession. Even though I have legal paperwork to show that the judge awarded my ex the house and car, the creditors refuse to remove my name from the loans as my name was (and is still) on the dotted line. So now my credit is absolutely hopeless to the point that I cannot get any financial aid, loans or credit cards. I also can't get any hospital or doctor to let me make payments on my procedure because of how poor my credit is. I have nothing of value enough to sell or secure $3000 dollars worth. I rent an apartment and don't own property. I can't do a title loan on my car (just the thought of that makes me shudder lol) because I still owe money on it. Check advances (I've done those in the past - they suck as bad as title loans ) don't net enough money to be helpful. My parents and friends do not have the ability to help me. So short of buying a monkey and hitting the streets with a tin cup , I am out of ideas and I need to figure out something soon before my health deteriorates even further. I am hoping someone here has ideas, thoughts, advice or suggestions on what I can do to help with this VERY frustrating situation. Thanks and I look forward to seeing y'alls responses.

[sweeps]

Have you looked at Prosper?

[anonymous_saver]

If you don't mind, can you list your monthly take home earnings and monthly expenses? I think with you making $45,000/yr. we can try to work out a way that you can get into a better financial situation. I know my response isn't to the $3,000 personal loan, but I love helping people make better financial plans.

For example, do you currently participate in your 401(k)? If not, you should immediately start contributing up to your employers match.

How much debt do you have (if at all)? What are your interest rates? How much of a balance do you have on each?

Also, how old are you, and when are you looking to retire?

Hope to hear from you.

[disneysteve]

Why does the $3,000 need to be paid all at once? Hospitals will generally accept payments and often offer their own financing plans. Have you asked if you would be able to set up a payment plan and pay the bill over time? If you have "a few hundred extra dollars" each month, it seems like this shouldn't be a problem.

Where have you been putting that few hundred extra dollars each month up until now? How much is saved up in that account?

[Scanner]

I agree with DisneySteve.

If you make a good faith gesture to the dentist of "I'll pay $XXX.XX per month" and it's more than just a token "$20/month", I think most will accept.

That is, if you pay something like $250/month and you can offer a credit card as an autodebit as a little "insurance" most will accept your gesture.

What doctors usually abhor is the issue of avoidance and excusing yourself of the bill. If you say, "Here's my insurance card. . .good luck getting paid", that drives providers crazy (me no exception).

You will be surpised what you'll get if you deal with people honestly and fairly.

You could also try this service:

CareCredit Patient Financing Payment Plans for LASIK, Dental and Vision Financing

I think they offer 6 months, no interest financing, but back interest can accrue if you don't pay it off. Given your past credit woes, I'd recommend you only consider this as a last resort.

Good luck.

[suspendedintyme]

Re: Need help ASAP and replies

Thanks for the replies so far. So far nothing has panned out but I am thankful for your efforts. Hope to hear more.

Sweeps: I'm trying "prosper" out as we speak. I'm hopeful it may deliver but given that it seems driven by my credit worthiness, it'll probably be a bust too. Thanks though.

Disney Steve: Unfortunately, my surgery/procedure is elective so while my insurance will cover a portion of the bill, I will not be billed "afterwards" like I would be if this were an emergency room or hospital visit. I was told that approx $3000 would be my expected portion of the total bill(s) after insurance. Given how poor my credit is, none of the dentists, oral surgeons, etc... will perform the procedure(s) unless they get their money upfront. (The procedure involves oral surgery of the jaw followed by dental restoration.) Sure, I could pay a monthly payment per a financial plan but NOONE will give me that chance because of the extremely bad condition of my credit - remember, we are talking a house foreclosure and a car repo in addition to other smaller red flags. One look at my credit report and I am "shown the door" so to speak. As for the several hundred dollars, I do not have a savings account. I have been using the several hundred mostly to visit with my children. Making sacrifices (seeing less of my children mostly) is what nets me the ability to squirrel away some extra cash per month. Since I only recently found out how much I need this surgery, I haven't had months to save up money and at the rate of several hundred per month, it would still take a minimum of 6 - 8 months that I don't have to prevent irreparable damage to my jaw and teeth.

Scanner: at the risk of sounding like a cynic (lol), dealing with people honest and fairly has been an exercise in frustration because while most people sympathize with my plight, noone wants to take a chance on me because it all comes down to business. People want to make sure they are going to get paid and I am a financial risk on paper. I'm not saying that angrily so I apologize for my bluntness; I'm just sharing my experiences. I tried "care credit" but they turned me down. And I do not have any credit cards to fall back on. I realize now that it was a big mistake but several years ago, I paid off and cut up all of my credit cards and vowed never again. Now when I need a card the most, I can't get one.

anonymous saver: I will work on and eventually post my financial portfolio here as I too would like to see ways that I could tweak and improve my monthly situation and I would greatly appreciate any advice you can give. But given that I am currently able to pay my monthly expenses with no difficulty, I am more concerned with and want to concentrate on my immediate problem of raising money to cover the medical/dental work I need.

[disneysteve]

a medical/dental procedure that has to be performed ASAP

it is imperative that I get this medical procedure done now.

I need to figure out something soon before my health deteriorates even further.

Unfortunately, my surgery/procedure is elective

prevent irreparable damage to my jaw and teeth.

I must say these statements sound contradictory. If the surgery is emergent in nature, necessary to prevent irreparable damage to your jaw and teeth and further deterioration of your health, why is it being considered elective? I'd suggest going up the ladder of the insurance company to a medical director. Perhaps the surgeon can do this for you to try and get this procedure authorized if it is truly that serious. "Elective" generally refers to things that don't need to be done at any particular time, if at all, like cosmetic work. Something sounds wrong here.

[disneysteve]

several years ago, I paid off and cut up all of my credit cards and vowed never again

Did you actually close the accounts or just cut up the physical cards? If the accounts were never closed, you could just call and get a new card.

[loanstar]

you seem to be in a pretty deem situation, is there a way you can convince your employer to give you an advance?
you can spread the required $3000 between 2 - 4 months salary.

[disneysteve]

OP, are you still here? We'd love to know how this turns out.