Are you having trouble reducing your debt? Are creditors harassing you? Are you facing foreclosure?

The first step is having your taxes done for free this year, by IRS certified tax preparers. No catches – just free tax prep!

We want to help you out of those credit troubles!

For legal assistance - Pine Tree Legal offers free legal assistance to Mainers and has offices across the State. As long as it is not a criminal matter or a traffic offense, give them a call at 942-8241.

For foreclosure prevention and counseling -  MMI offers assistance for families in financial distress. If you are being threatened with foreclosure or feel that it may be coming, do not put it off. It is much easier to reverse before court proceedings begin. MaineStream Finance (a subsidiary of Penquis) and Coastal Enterprises can also offer assistance.  

Foreclosure prevention counseling services by HUD approved agencies – A listing of the Maine HUD-approved agencies providing no cost foreclosure prevention counseling services can be found at: http://www.mainehomeworks.org/Foreclosure%20Counseling%20Agencies%20June%209,%202009.pdf

 Should you find yourself deep into foreclosure proceedings there is still hope. Contact either Pine Tree Legal, WHCA, or Penquis to find out which options are best for you.

For credit counseling – There are a few options for you. Money Management International (MMI) can provide telephone support to help you prioritize your spending and direct you to appropriate resources. Women, Work and Community as well as Penquis and WHCA offer programs and courses to help you get back on track and more.

A free credit report – There are many sites out there claiming to be the one that offers you the free annual credit report that you are entitled to and then tries to charge you for the service. This is the legitimate site.

Consolidating your debt – Nearly all debt consolidation services offer a fee for their services. However, these pay for themselves in the long run by allowing for lower interest rates on your loans. Contacting MMI can direct you to the programs that are most appropriate for you.

HUD (Housing and Urban Development) - FHAHUD-FHA offers loan insurance programs so your lender can offer you a better deal.  HUD FHA also has “reverse mortgages” to help seniors turn equity into cash and remain in their homes.

visit: http://portal.hud.gov or http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov  or call 945-0467

Help with a car loan or repairs – Helping Hands Garage in Ellsworth! The Helping Hands Garage (HHG) is dedicated to helping income eligible people buy vehicles that provide transportation to work for them and their families at a reasonable cost and finance rate. Their primary goals are to enable people with low incomes to develop good credit histories so they will qualify for loans from mainstream lenders, and to provide them safe, affordable transportation so they can commute to work and access medical services

Here’s some extra help for this tax season! Some credits to consider:

EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) – Low to moderate income families can receive a tax credit up to $5,751.

Child Tax Credit – For low to moderate income families with qualifying children.

For first-time home buyers: Please visit this website for more information as there are multiple programs you may qualify for. See the website for qualifying information.

Also, be sure to check out Pine Tree Legal’s tax tips page for more helpful information this tax season.