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What To Know About Account Past Due Fees

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Posted by Fred Jones | Posted in personal finance | Posted on 13-11-2009

Anyone who has experienced the paycheck to paycheck roller coaster knows and despises the term past due charges. The true irony of the term is that people usually don’t see it until it’s too late. Remembering and saving enough money to pay expenses on time can be hard, especially to those with new bills to pay. It’s important to get around paying late, though, as it will hinder your bankbook now, and leave you with a lower credit score down the path.

Every account has a late penalty. If you pay your rent past due, you have to pay an another processing fee. If you pay your phone bill late, you may have to pay an additional charge to have it turned back on. Credit cards are the worst, though, because one past due payment can result in astounding late penalty and a higher interest rate immediately. With that in mind, here are some info on how to keep from paying late and paying more.

Following all the insight is especially important when it comes to paying credit card expenses. All the detail print on the reverse of your bill tells you exactly how they want the bill to be paid and when – down to the very minute. If you don’t follow those info precisely, it can take longer to process your payment, thus making it past due.

Instant online payments are a good way to prevent a late penalty. Most credit card businesses and other bill receivers allow you to set up an automatic monthly charge from your account. You can set it up to pay the minimum due each month. You can always make an extra payment during the month, but you won’t have to worry about getting stuck with a past due penalty. This way you don’t have to remember the pay date or even buy a stamp to mail your bill. You just have to remember to have enough cash in your account to cover at least the minimum amount due. Which brings us to our next point…

If your expenses are due at a time of the month when money is short, you can always change the date your charges are due. Not everyone gets paid on the first of the month. Change your bills to fit your life.

Late penalties aren’t just a nuisance for the time being, they affect you over the long run. Poor credit scores can keep you from securing lower interest rates, which is especially significant when it comes to mortgage payments. When asking for any loan or credit card, your credit score will be assessed to determine what your monthly payments will be, your interest rate, or whether you will receive the loan or credit card at all. If you don’t want to set up payments online, you can also pay by phone. This is a great way to pay immediately with no fears of the mailed payment arriving late. There may be an extra penalty for phoning in the payment, so watch out for that.

There Are Bonuses to Paying on Time

If you become an good bill payer, you can get rewards from your credit card. Credit card companies often let a few late payments slide in without the late charge if you have a history of good behavior. Just make sure you ask. Keeping you as a punctual customer is more important to them than getting one late charge. So, keep on top of the bills, and remember, there’s nothing wrong with paying on time.

If expenses are due now then don’t wait, get a quick online pay day loans from Payday Loan Store.

Financial Tips For You

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Posted by Ian Torsters | Posted in personal finance | Posted on 17-10-2009

Although it may be overstated, there is a lot of truth to people ruining their credit score due to missing payments and paying their credit card bills late. The fees can pile up and the interest rates can grow before you know it, and after a while you wont even be able to pay the minimum amount of payment. If you don’t do something fast – it could be the beginning of the end.

You can use these credit cards as a stepping stone to building credit, and establishing a good credit rating. If you can get your credit rating high with your credit card, you’ll then be able to be approved for much higher loans in the future.

Student credit cards can also help students gain a sense of responsibility. The card works just like any other credit card, although the spending limit is much lower. Once the student has mastered usage of the card, he or she can manage money much better later on in life. These cards are great for students to have, and can teach them money skills that will last a lifetime.

Make sure that you use this service wisely if you have it, as it can only be used once a year. Therefore, you should always ensure that the situation is truly an emergency and there are no other options available for you. This service will normally have a cost as well, and you’ll need to pay it the following month.

Anytime you have a credit card, you should always make sure that you have the money to pay the bill, or the minimum amount, the minute it arrives. This way, you’ll remain in good standing with your company and your credit score will continue to increase.

With many people, looking for the best credit is a very tough task. Even though there really is no best credit card, there are credit cards out there that are the best for you. There are many different types of credit cards available, some that may be for you and some that wont. With so many to choose from, it can be tough finding your ideal credit card.

No matter type of lifestyle you have, how much money you are looking to spend, or how you plan to use your credit card, the one thing you should always pay very close attention to when choosing your card is the APR.

No matter what type of credit card you choose, you should always pick the one that best fits your needs and interests. If you look at several of the companies and compare their rates, you’ll find the best possible deals. You should always compare companies and what they offer before you make a decision, so that you can find which company fits as your best credit card offer.

Besides all the financial information I write, I have got a few Dutch sites about these kind of topics. It can be found here: goedkope hypotheek and goedkoop lenen

Check Out These Foreclosure Scams To Avoid

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Posted by Don Mc Neir | Posted in personal finance | Posted on 15-10-2009

Foreclosure is one of the worst things that can happen to a borrower. Knowing there are crooks waiting to feed on your desperation and vulnerability makes the situation even more worrisome. Thousands have fallen prey to phony foreclosure counseling, phantom help, bait and switch, rent to buy, and bankruptcy foreclosure scams. Being able to recognize the telltale signs of a foreclosure rescue scam can save you the pain and embarrassment of becoming yet another victim.

What should you watch out for? Beware of any rescuer that guarantees or promises to save your house. You need to steer clear of any company that guarantees to end your foreclosure, tells you not to contact your lender, a attorney or credit and housing counselors, requires an up front fee before providing services, will only accept certified funds or wire transfers as payment, or instructs you to make your mortgage payments to them instead of your lender.

Bait and switch scam artists outright take your house by tricking you into signing paperwork that transfer the property deed or title to their corp. Equity skimming scams steal the equity in your home while leaving you with your mortgage obligation. In the rent to buy scheme you are told to surrender the title of your home, but you will be able to remain in it as a renter. Although you have the option of buying it back, generally the terms are so outrageous it is impossible to do so. Avoid any company that instructs you to sign over the title or deed to your home.

Staying calm and not folding under pressure is the best thing you can do. Con artists will often offer to fill out paperwork for you. While you think they are arranging a rescue mortgage for you, in reality, they are taking the dollars youve given them, filing a bankruptcy in your name and stealing your property. Do not sign anything that you are unsure of or dont understand, and never allow any company to fill out forms for you.

Knowing where to turn is your best defense. You should start by phoning your lender and trying to make a payment plan. Also, the FTC offers free information that helps consumers recognize and avoid fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices. If you feel you have been the victim or a foreclosure rescue scam you can file a complaint at the FTC website.

Adam Whazzer has been a mortgage guru for years” Adam has offered End Foreclosure and US Mortgage Bailout hotline to foreclosure victims for nearly 5 years.

Other Blogs of Interest

How Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Stops Foreclosure

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Posted by W. Alan Alder | Posted in personal finance | Posted on 12-10-2009

Tennessee allows for a non-judicial foreclosure process. In a non-judicial foreclosure the lender does not have to go to court in order to foreclose on property. Lenders usually provide notice by mail at least 20 days in advance of the scheduled sale date. The lender will not perform the sale, instead a trustee is in charge of the process.

If you file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy at any time before your house is actually sold at auction then the sale is stopped. The sale is stopped because of the operation of the automatic stay, which goes into effect after filing bankruptcy. Once you file a bankruptcy the automatic stay stops most creditor actions, including foreclosure sales. Therefore, a foreclosure sale is stopped or it has no legal effect.

Before you can file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy there are some things you need to do. Some of the common requirements include filing your taxes for the most recent year due. Proof of your filing of taxes must be given to your attorney. A list of ALL of your creditors is also required in order to give notice to them. Evidence of pay for the previous two months must also be provided to your attorney. You will also need to bring proof of your social security and a government issued photo ID.

The Chapter 13 Plan is one element of Chapter 13 bankruptcy that is different from Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The Chapter Plan is where you set out your pay schedule to creditors, including your mortgage lender. You will always propose paying the regular mortgage note plus a little bit extra that will “catch-up” what you have fallen behind within 5 years.

For any property you wish to keep that has a lien on it you must pay for that property. The debts owed on these properties are “secured” debts – these include a mortgage and debts owed on cars. “Unsecured” debts are not backed by any property. You may be able to pay less than 100% of these debts, depending on certain things – like your current income, your income over the last 6 months, and the value of all your property.

Automobiles and certain other property, but not homes, are subject to cram downs. A cram down occurs when a secured debt is “cram downed” to the value of the property that secures the debt. For example, if you owe $25,000 on a vehicle that is worth $10,000 then a cram-down would result in the secured debt being only $10,000 and the remaining $15,000 would be unsecured. There are special rules for accomplishing a cram-down.

Once you propose a Chapter 13 Plan it must be “confirmed” for it to go into effect. Once a Chapter 13 Plan is confirmed the Chapter 13 Trustee begins to distribute your funds to your creditors. You make payments to the Chapter 13 Trustee either directly or through a wage deduction.

Once you have paid into your Chapter 13 Plan as you proposed and completed all payments you will be current on your mortgage. At that time you will resume paying your mortgage directly to the lender. Any unsecured debts that were not paid during the bankruptcy will be “discharged” – meaning creditors cannot take any action to collect the debts.

If you want to stop foreclosure in Clarksville then call Clarksville bankruptcy attorney W. Alan Alder at 1-800-706-7863.

Other Blogs of Interest

How To File Bankruptcy

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Posted by Kevin Glanzer | Posted in personal finance | Posted on 10-10-2009

During the current recession, there are a lot of people who are declaring bankruptcy. This is due to various reasons, the most common of them being layoffs and medical bills. Due to economic slowdown, there are a lot of companies which are looking to cut costs and reducing manpower seems to be the easiest way to do that.

Huge medical bills are also one of the main reasons why people are going bankrupt. And this is not only for uninsured people. Even people who have health insurance are not able to cope with rising medical bills. If you are one of those who are having difficulties in paying off your bills, you may also be wondering whether you should file for bankruptcy.

Once you look at all possible options and see no other way out, you have to apply for bankruptcy discharge. The major decision which you have to make is whether you are going to hire a bankruptcy specialist or attorney to file bankruptcy for you or you are going to do it yourself.

It is certainly possible to file for bankruptcy yourself if you have the time and you are ready to put in the effort. First of all, you will need to gather all the payment details outstanding in your name. Then you need to decide which type of bankruptcy you are going to file. Once decided, you can download the forms from internet or get them from the local court. After filling in all details in the forms, you have to file the papers in the court and take an appointment. You will need to face the creditors and will have also to take credit management counseling sessions. These sessions are mandatory and will also help you in future.

It is possible to file for bankruptcy yourself but you will need to be very careful and thorough throughout this process. If there are any mistakes on the forms, the case may be denied. If you are willing to put in time and effort, you can easily save thousands of dollars in lawyer’s fees.

The author suggests articles on personal finance and bankruptcy including how to go bankrupt and how to file bankruptcy yourself.

Is it Good to Get Debt Forgiveness

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Posted by Jane Smith | Posted in personal finance | Posted on 08-10-2009

If you have gotten yourself into a difficult debt situation, a debt situation which is becoming increasingly difficult for you to navigate, then the possibility of having your creditor forgive part of your debt can turn out to be a very appealing one indeed. And as it turns out, debt forgiveness in real life is something that is actually happening, with many debtors increasingly offering it to those of their debtors who owe them what can be termed as considerable amounts of money.

The way debt forgiveness itself works is such that the creditor agrees to effectively ‘discount’ their debtor on the amount they need to pay, provided that the debtor can pay the amount remaining after the ‘discount’ in lump-sum (that is, in a huge one-off payment). It is the amount of the debt that the debtor decides to let go of if the debtor agrees to pay in lump-sum that is referred to as a ‘forgiven debt’ in this context. From a business point of view, the creditor is giving the debtor the opportunity to benefit from the money that they (the creditor) would have had to spend in trying to follow them around for the debt; while also ‘rewarding’ them for at least paying the portion of the debt they manage to pay in lump-sum – keeping in mind that the whole debt is very possibly an amount they would otherwise have had to write off in its entirety.

In the short term, as a debtor, you get to benefit from the ‘forgiven’ debt amount, which in some cases can be a considerable figure – like where out of $6,000 debt, the debtor lets you keep $1,000 if you can pay them $5,000 in lump-sum.

One drawback is while the creditors might ‘forgive’ the monetary debt, chances are that they would have to report the delinquency that made the forgiveness necessary, a fact that ends up lowering one’s credit score to an extent that they have to pay more (in interest) on their future borrowings than they received as a debt reprieve.

So at the end of it all, as you go about agreeing to a debt forgiveness arrangement, remember that there is often an unseen side to it: that the debt amount that you are forgiven ends up being lower than quoted when it is subsequently taxed as an income, and that pushing your creditors to a point where they are willing to accept to measures like debt forgiveness is not likely to do your credit record any good.

The author writes about debt management and how it can help people to reduce their debt. His site is at http://www.lesserdebt.com and there are articles about debt help for people that need help.

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What Are Bad Credit Personal Loans?

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Posted by admin | Posted in personal finance | Posted on 06-10-2009

Bad Credit Personal Loans have not only been designed to provide consumers with a personal loan despite their bad credit issues but these loans can also help you to get your credit back in good standing. Personal loans for people with bad credit can be used for any (personal) purpose and you can usually get your money in hand faster than a regular loan.

With the on-line availability of these types of loans you can avoid the hassles of going to different loan institutions when comparing personal loans. It is pretty easy with the aid of the internet, you can apply safely online at literally 100′s of lender websites. The interest rate charged by personal loan lenders may very depending on the type of bad credit personal loan you choose.

Secured Personal Loans

Secured bad credit personal loans are probably going to be the best choice because they can be taken on any amount (depending on your collateral) and their approval time is usually quite fast. Two choices for personal loans for bad credit are: one offers you fixed interest rate and the other, variable interest rates. Secured bad credit personal loans are usually easier to obtain than unsecured, if you have bad credit. The market for secured personal loans is getting larger every day. The rates of interest on secured loans are getting lower and lower because of the increase in the number of lenders and if you shop around you can find some incredible deals.

Unsecured Personal Loans

The Unsecured type of bad credit personal loans usually come with a much higher interest rate than what you can get with secured bad credit loans. The best part with bad credit unsecured personal loans is that you don’t have to put up collateral (your house or car etc…) and be at risk of being repossessed if something happens and you default on the loan. The better your credit rating is, the better interest rates you will be getting for bad credit personal loans.

Minimize Overdraft And Bounced Check Fees

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Posted by Maria Allenton | Posted in personal finance | Posted on 02-10-2009

Getting rid of overdraft and bounced check fees is a really important step if you happen to be one of the people who is at odds with this problem. Not only is this a very expensive problem, it should be regarded as a red flag for the very serious threat to your financial future because it denotes a poor grasp of basic money management.

What’s an overdraft? When your bank has to pay for a transaction that you make for more than your available account balance, the resulting negative balance is an overdraft. Whether you write a check, withdraw money from an ATM, use your debit card to make a purchase or make an online bill payment, if it’s for more money than you have, it’s an overdraft.

When the transaction shows up, your bank has the choice of either paying for it or not. If it elects to honor the transaction regardless of the fact that you don’t have enough money to pay for it, it will charge you an overdraft fee. If, on the other hand, it decides that the check will not be paid and returns it for non-sufficient funds, it will then hit you with a bounced check fee.

Getting rid of those fees means simply that you have to keep a tight grip on your account balance to avoid negative balances. The best way to achieve this is to keep track of how much money you have by keeping your account register up-to-date. Write down all your transactions as soon as they happen. And don’t forget to subtract any bank fees that you incur.

You will have to be especially vigilant about electronic transactions. Your ATM withdrawals (including any fees), purchases paid for with your debit card, as well as online payments can easily be forgotten and must be recorded ASAP. In the same vein, regularly scheduled online bill payments for utilities, insurance, or loan payments should not be forgotten. Know your account balance and remember that some transactions may take a while to clear if you see it’s higher than what it should be.

Make balancing your accounts part of your monthly routine. If you need to check, at any given moment, which of your transactions have cleared and which ones haven’t, make a phone call to your bank, view your account online, or visit an in-network ATM to avoid fees for checking your balance.

If, unfortunately, you find yourself having overdrawn your account, you best bet would be to deposit some money back into it as soon as you have cash available. Remember that you will also have to account for your bank’s overdraft fees. Some banks will take the opportunity to sell you on alternative ways to to cover overdrafts.

Odds are, you will be given two choices: linking your checking account to a savings account, or getting an overdraft line of credit. The first option involves linking your checking account to a savings account so that funds are automatically transferred from the latter to the former to prevent any overdraft situation. The second option involves filling out a credit application (which will be treated as a loan) for an overdraft line of credit. What this does is that you’re allowed to withdraw funds that you don’t have, up to your credit limit. The used portion of your credit line generates interest, and the line itself may be subject to an annual maintenance fee.

For more information on the fresh start checking account, visit my personal finance blog for tips, advice, and suggestions

Money Saving Ideas, Tips To Save Money, Save Money Now

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Posted by Louis Meadowbank | Posted in personal finance | Posted on 01-10-2009

We are continuously looking for a means to save extra money. Having a few more dollars at the end of the month can be a great means of helping you accomplish your financial goals. Many of us are familiar with the more general ways to save some extra money. Yet, all of us know that you can always discover novel ways to save money.

Store up on a wide range of non-perishable items, like food items such as cereal, pasta, and rice, and essential commodities such as soap, toothpaste, and toilet paper. Purchasing in bulk will help you save considerable amounts of money during the year. There are a lot of resources available that will help teach you how to buy in bulk and utilize your storage space.

In addition, you can also save a few dollars more by cooking and taking your lunch to your job. Making your lunch will help you avoid paying extra money. People who drink coffee could invest in a small, cheap coffee maker so that you will not have to spend unnecessary money on coffee.

For those in a city with reliable public transportation, you should start riding it. Importantly, time and money is saved by avoiding long commutes and you can be productive on your way back and forth to work. If public transportation is not an option, join a work or neighborhood carpool. You obtain some of the same benefits of public transportation, as well as the benefit of well-behaved company.

At times, you will be required to acquire some new possessions. Yet, you should never buy anything at the suggested retail price. You will discover Wonderful bargains at thrift stores or recycling stations. Online classified ads and online discount stores can also offer you sizable discounts. You might find something that appears to be reasonable; keep looking. You would be surprised at how much you can still save on it.

Louis Meadowbank has been writing about financial issues for years. He understands that dealing with your financial obligations can be hard. Thus, he is happy to use his knowledge to provide others with recession survival help.

Cut Debt by Cutting Bad Habits

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Posted by Fred Cash | Posted in personal finance | Posted on 12-09-2009

Shocking Fact: The average full-time worker puts in approximately 225 days a year. The same average full-time worker who buys a cup of Joe every morning will pay more than $300 a year on their caffeine fix when all is said and done (and that’s not counting the $3.00 cake or muffin that often accompanies the morning drive.)

Anyone who’s tried saving cash knows that it is not an easy task. Anyone who’s tried to give up a bad habits knows that the experience is the same. However, cutting bad habits may not only improve ones day to day life ” it can improve cash flow as well. The costs of bad habits have been revealed.

Super-sizing your meal (and your waistline) can downsize earnings.

Is is Convenient? Yes. Is it Affordable? Yes. Is it generally not so great nutritionally? Yes! And is fast food more costly than brown bagging a few days a week or cooking a dinner at home? Double yes! Those value meals at iconic fast food joints may seem like a good bargain, yet in reality they’re not good for your bod or your bank account.

Example: A person spending only $3.50 for a meal once a week adds up to $14 a month, arriving at a year-end cost of $168 at year-end. $168 could buy 50 loaves of bread and 10 jars of peanut butter, or enough for more than 400 sandwiches!

A Savings of Smoke and Mirrors

Smoking isn’t just a health risk ” its a financial one as well. All day smokers spend more than one grand on tobacco products each year. That’s a family vacation! The average pack runs $4.70 and takes an even greater toll on ones overall health.

That Jolt of Joe can Jinx the Bank Account

Its coffee ” not the fresh start to a new day ” that often gets us up in the morning. Getting the coffee going at home has become somewhat of an afterthought in many homes today as coffee stores can be found on almost any where ” and many come with a drive-through! While its always nice to start the day with a jolt of Joe ” as stated in the beginning of this article ” its also a jolt to the wallet. For those who prefer a specialty drink – that $4 latte or tea, five times a week, turns into a frothy $20 by the end of the week. These daily habits can turn a total cost of nearly $1,000 a year!

The Sum Total

While the costs associated with bad habits are clear and accountable, the toll these vices can take on ones health and well-being could raise the stakes even more. Excessive stops to fast food joints and habitual smoking correlate directly with steeper health costs that can linger long-term. Health insurance companies take ones health habits into account and charge a higher premium to those whose vices are detrimental.

The pack a day smoker who downs a cup of coffee each morning and makes a drive through run twice a week is looking at charges upwards of $3500 spent on supporting their habits. What might happen should Mr. or Ms. Vice use that same amount and place it in a CD account earning a 5% annually? 12 months later Mr. or Ms. Vice would have an extra $140 – and on the intangible side of things ” a healthier life both physically and financially.

For debt help, debt relief, credit repair, and other personal finance matters, go to Debts 1 Option. Debt1Option provides debt settlement online that is secure, professional, and effective.

How to Pay Off Debt, Even if You Never Could Before

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Posted by Sean Payne | Posted in personal finance | Posted on 11-09-2009

Many people who are in debt have tried at least once, and probably several times, to pay off their debts. Sadly, a significant number of these people end up getting even further into debt than they were when they started.

What’s the reason for these people accumulating even more debt? The answer lies in the methods that they use to get out of debt. Those people who take on additional debt in a desperate attempt to pay off their debts are only putting a temporary patch on the hole in their “financial ship”. Debt consolidation loans can appear to work for a while, but eventually the self-defeating habit of overspending will sabotage them.

The true answer to the problem can be found in fixing the underlying habitual behaviors that originally created the debt problem. The best way to accomplish this is by using a proven plan for paying off debt, one that won’t let you continue in your old ways.

What are the steps of the best plan for getting out of debt and avoiding bad habits?

The first step in a good debt repayment plan is to create a buffer between yourself and debt. When you’re running low on money, even a little financial emergency can pressure you into going back to using debt. What’s a buffer? It is a small amount of savings, around $500 to $100, depending on your own unique situation. This buffer should be enough to pay for an emergency car repair, a plumbing emergency, or get you through a week or two if your paycheck is late.

The next step is to take on no additional debt. This means no debt reduction loans, no additional mortgages, or any other debt. If you take out a second mortgage in an attempt to pay off credit card debt, you’re replacing an unsecured debt with a secured loan. This means that if you are unable to pay off your debt, you’re at risk of losing your home.

The third step is to make a plan for paying off your debts. The order in which you pay off your debts makes a huge difference. Do if wrong, and you’ll lose your motivation to pay off your debts. Do it right, and you’ll pay off your debts quickly while becoming more and more motivated to get out of debt.

The fourth step is to work your plan. The easiest way to accomplish this is to automate your plan for paying off debt. The best way to do this is to use an automatic bill payment service. Your bank probably offers this service. Once you set it up, an automatic bill payment service will keep you from incurring any late fees. This alone makes it worthwhile, but when you add in the fact that most bill payment services are free, this becomes a must-do if you’re serious about getting out of debt.

The final step is to stick with your plan. After a while, you’ll develop a little momentum, and this will become even easier. The right plan for paying off your debts can make a significant difference.

That’s all you have to do. Now you can finally pay off your debts, even if you’ve failed every time you’ve tried. All it takes is the correct approach.

Sean Payne has taught people how to get out of debt for over 10 years. To get more information about how to pay off debt, check out Sean’s excellent free course on debt reduction management.

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