Older Americans who are living on a limited budget are often especially sensitive to financial shocks. When they encounter an emergency expense, they might turn to medical credit cards, reverse mortgages or other complicated products they don’t fully understand. A recent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report analyzed 103,000 complaints received from people who identified themselves as age 62 or older. Here’s a look at the financial problems older Americans reported.
[Read: 12 Ways Retirees Pay Their Bills.]
Using credit cards for medical costs. When older people on fixed incomes encounter a large bill, they sometimes use a credit card to pay for it. However, older consumers told the CFPB they did not understand the terms and conditions of the credit card accounts they opened.
One common complaint was the distinction between deferred interest, which cardholders might eventually have to pay, and no interest. “If you still have a balance at the end of that promotional period, you are going to have to pay deferred interest starting back at the time that you first made the purchase on the credit card, and the interest rates are high on some of these cards,” says Beverly Harzog, author of “The Debt Escape Plan: How to Free Yourself From Credit Card Balances, Boost Your Credit Score, and Live Debt-Free.” “If you are not going to be able to pay it off within the promotional period, putting medical bills on a credit card is not a good idea.”
Instead, try to work out a payment plan with the medical provider. “When you get a bill that you know you cannot possibly pay for, talk to your medical provider and see if they will work with you on that,” Harzog says. “Maybe they will work out a deal with you, and you can make payments to them.” You can also look into other types of loans with more reasonable interest rates.
Reverse mortgage complications. Reverse mortgages, which are also called home equity conversion mortgages, are loans that allow people age 62 and older to use some of their home equity to pay for current expenses. Repayment of the loan generally isn’t due until the homeowner dies or sells the house. However, the homeowner is still responsible for paying property taxes and homeowners insurance, and the mortgage servicer could initiate foreclosure proceedings if those bills aren’t paid. “If you didn’t pay your taxes on the home when you have a reverse mortgage, you are still subject to having a tax lien put on the house and potentially losing the home,” says Stephanie Yates, director of the Institute of Financial Literacy at the University of Alabama’s Collat School of Business . Some seniors might be able to negotiate extended repayment plans if they fall behind on taxes or insurance premiums.
[See: 10 Tax Breaks for People Over 50.]
Institutional change. When one financial institution acquires another, it might implement new policies and procedures for existing customers. For example, older homeowners who have used the same mortgage servicer for years might receive a notice that the loan is being transferred to a new company. In some cases, the new account balance is inconsistent with their existing records or they have difficulty communicating with the new service provider. “When their mortgage got transferred, they weren’t getting instructions on how to make their payments,” says Stacy Canan, head of the Office for Older Americans at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. She recommends keeping records of each conversation with the new service provider. “If you do it on the telephone, follow up in writing,” Canan says.
Reluctance to bank online. Many financial institutions have rolled out online and mobile technologies that allow clients to check their balance and complete transactions from anywhere. But some older consumers don’t want to move away from face-to-face banking. Services many older people appreciated, such as paper statements and checks, might no longer be provided for free with a checking account, and not everyone is comfortable accessing financial information online.
Unwanted subscriptions. Older consumers told the CFPB they are regularly billed for subscriptions they do not want and do not recall signing up for, such as monthly fees for credit monitoring services. Some of these consumers stated that they incurred recurring charges without knowledge of the program and its costs. “They may have asked for a one-time service and didn’t realize they were signing up for a subscription service,” Canan says. “Challenge any charges that are unfamiliar to you.”
[Read: How to Get Reliable Retirement Planning Advice.]
Correcting financial scams. Some older consumers have been victims of financial scams or having their identity stolen. The potential for scams often becomes greater as people become older or develop health problems and are less able to manage their own finances. “When an older person gets scammed or defrauded, the impact can be sometimes dire,” Canan says. “They are not in a position to rejoin the workforce. Some are not in good health or have cognitive impairment.” Victims often need to take action to change credit reports, dispute charges with credit card companies and recover funds withdrawn from bank accounts by someone else.
Emily Brandon is the author of “Pensionless: The 10-Step Solution for a Stress-Free Retirement.”
More from U.S. News
10 Costs to Include in Your Retirement Budget
13 States Without Pension or Social Security Taxes
How to Pay Less Tax on Retirement Account Withdrawals
6 Financial Struggles of People Over 60 originally appeared on usnews.com
