These Businesses are Offering Temporary Financial Assistance Due to Coronavirus
Due to the economic hardship related to the Coronavirus pandemic, many businesses are offering financial assistance to customers. If you’re facing financial hardship and finding it difficult to meet your payment minimums for utilities or other bills, be sure to reach out to your local company.
*Please note that this post will be updated as we learn of other businesses that are offering financial assistance or relief from the Coronavirus pandemic.
These nationwide businesses are offering financial relief:
Ally
You will have the option to defer your car and mortgage payments for up to 120 days. Interest will still accrue, however there will be no applied late fees.
AT&T
For the next 60 days, AT&T announced that they will do the following for customers:
- Not terminate the service of any wireless, home phone, or broadband residential or small business customer because of their inability to pay their bill due to disruptions caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.
- Waive any late payment fees that any wireless, home phone or broadband residential or small business customer may incur because of economic hardship related to the Coronavirus pandemic.
- Keep their public Wi-Fi hotspots open for any American who needs them.
- All AT&T consumer home internet wireline customers, as well as Fixed Wireless Internet, can use unlimited internet data.
Auto Insurance Companies
Many people are driving less while they stay home to slow the spread of coronavirus. Due to a nationwide decline in driving, some insurers are offering their policyholders credits, refunds, and various methods of payment relief. You can find the complete list of insurance companies and what they’re doing to help here.
Bank of America
Bank of America has a help page for customers to find resources they can use if affected by Coronavirus. If you have been negatively impacted by illness due to Coronavirus and need additional assistance related to your account, they are asking that you contact them and let them know.
Barclays
For Barclays customers who are experiencing or anticipate problems making repayments to their mortgage, overdraft, personal loans or credit cards due to coronavirus (COVID-19), they are removing penalty charges to accessing fixed savings accounts early for those facing hardship.
Capital One
Capital One may allow eligible cardholders facing hardship to skip payments without accruing interest. Those impacted financially by Coronavirus should contact Capital One to discuss solutions.
CenturyLink
For the next 60 days, CenturyLink is waiving late fees and will not terminate a residential or small business customer’s service due to financial circumstances related to the Coronavirus. They’re also suspending data usage limits data due to COVID-19.
Chase
If you need help with your account or payments, Chase account holders who have been affected by Coronavirus should call the number on the back of their credit card or on their monthly statement.
Citi
Through April 7th, Citi is waiving fees on monthly services for retail bank customers as well as waiving penalties for early CD withdrawal. For retail bank small business customers, they are waiving fees on monthly service fees & remote deposit capture and waiving penalties for early CD withdrawal.
Comcast
Through May 13th, all late fees will be waived for Comcast customers. Also, they are pausing their data plans through May 13th, giving all customers unlimited data for no additional charge.
Also, Xfinity WiFi hotspots across the country will be available to anyone who needs them for free – including non-Xfinity Internet customers. For a map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots, visit xfinity.com/wifi. Once at a hotspot, consumers should select the “xfinitywifi” network name in the list of available hotspots, and then launch a browser.
New customers will also receive 2 months service free.
Cox
Through May 15th, data usage overages are being eliminated to meet the higher bandwidth demands. Customers with a 500 GB or Unlimited data usage add-on plan will receive credits.
Expensify
Expensify is helping families who are dependent on SNAP benefits receive additional assistance in purchasing essential goods. They will temporarily redirect all of its charitable funds to Expensify.org/hunger. Every donation and Expensify Card purchase directly contributes to assisting families by matching SNAP grocery purchases.
Freddie Mac
Freddie Mac is taking action to help make sure homeowners with Freddie Mac-owned mortgages who are directly or indirectly impacted by COVID-19 are able to stay in their homes during this challenging time.
For those who are unable to make their mortgage payments due to a decline in income, Freddie Mac is providing mortgage forbearance for up to 12 months, waiving assessments of penalties and late fees, halting all foreclosure sales and evictions of borrowers living in Freddie Mac-owned homes until at least May 17, 2020, suspending reporting to credit bureaus of delinquency related to forbearance, and offering loan modification options that lower payments or keep payments the same after the forbearance period.
General Motors
General Motors is offering interest-free APR financing for an unprecedented 84 months for very well-qualified buyers on more than 40 select 2020 and 2019 Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC models. Those customers can also defer monthly payments for 120 days, when financed with GM Financial.
They are making OnStar Crisis Assist services available to current vehicle owners for a limited time. They are also offering free in-vehicle data for all of theirWi-Fi equipped vehicle owners for a limited time. With an allotment of 3GB of data for three months (whichever comes first), customers may:
- Connect to their work or classroom remotely while within 50 yards of the vehicle.
- Stay connected with family members or others in need while traveling within the vehicle.
IRS
The IRS is delaying the April 15th tax deadline, allowing Americans to defer up to $1 million in payments to the Internal Revenue Service for 90 days.
Spectrum Mobile
For the next 60 days, Spectrum Mobile won’t terminate service for residential or small business customers who face difficult economic circumstances related to the Coronavirus pandemic. They also won’t charge late fees for those customers facing difficult economic circumstances related to the pandemic and will open their WiFi hotspots across their footprint for public use.
Sprint
Effective March 18th, Sprint is providing unlimited data for 60 days to customers with metered data plans, giving 20 GB of free mobile hotspot to customers with hotspot-capable devices, and offering complimentary rates from the U.S. to CDC-defined Level 3 countries to customers with international long-distance plans (effective 3/17).
T-Mobile
For the next 60 days, ALL current T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers who have plans with data will have unlimited smartphone data (excluding roaming). Also, T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers on smartphone plans with hotspot data additional date to mobile hotspot users. They are also willing to offer bill assistance for customers in need due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Verizon
Due to economic circumstances related to the Coronavirus and to keep customers connected during this economic and global crisis, Verizon is waiving late fees for residential and small business customers impacted by COVID-19. They’re also offering FREE international calling to CDC level 3 countries.
Verizon will also waive activation fees on new lines of service and upgrade fees starting March 18. This applies to all purchases and service-only activations made through Verizon digital channels, such as verizonwireless.com and the My Verizon app.
Stay informed on the latest Coronavirus store closures and news.
Thank you so much for this informative post. You guys are awesome!
Thank you!
I think the IRS is extending the time for payments 90 days, but we must file our taxes by April 15. If you owe, you don’t have to pay until July 15, but don’t forget to file!
Thank you!
Is this just for Federal, or State, as well?
Federal only
It’s actually both. As noted on their website, “The deadlines to FILE and PAY federal income taxes are extended to July 15, 2020.”
https://www.cox.com/residential/support/coronavirus-response.html?campcode=tnt-home-alert
Cox communications is offering a variety of help to existing customers & new customers.
Eliminating data usage overages beginning today to meet the higher bandwidth demands. Customers with a 500 GB or Unlimited data usage add-on plan will receive credits.
A $19.99 offer for new Starter internet customers with a temporary boost up to 50 Mbps download speeds, no annual contract or qualifications to help low income and those impacted from Coronavirus challenges, like seniors and college students.
And much more! See link above for all their efforts.
Thanks, Susan! I added that!
Thank you for sharing this.. so helpful!
You bet, ShellyShel!
Thank you so much for posting…I was praying for data overage relief with at&t for our home internet. Kinda disappointed in Verizon’s response for our cellphones though.
Verizon has historically been the most expensive and least generous of all the carriers. I was hoping for the same now that three of us are constantly online in the daytime.
You’re very welcome, Tracey!
this is a great list! thanks for sharing!
You’re SO welcome! Glad this list is helpful!
For those states that have it Spectrum is offering free internet to help all of the homeschoolers and college students at home. https://bgr.com/2020/03/17/coronavirus-impact-spectrum-free-internet-students/
Yes! Thanks so much for the helpful reminder! Much appreciated! https://hip2save-com-develop.go-vip.co/2020/03/14/free-spectrum-broadband-wi-fi-access-for-student-households/
Thank*you, for sharing.
You’re welcome, Shafer!
Scholastic is also offering free digital learning modules: https://www.cherokeek12.net/userfiles/103/My%20Files/2020%20Scholastic%20Digital%20Learning%20PDF.pdf?id=18031
Comcast is also doing an Internet Essentials program for anyone who might be on assistance programs: https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19
Thanks a bunch for the helpful reminder! https://hip2save-com-develop.go-vip.co/2020/03/14/scholastic-com-offers-free-online-education-program-for-kids-includes-grades-pre-k-thru-9/
Ally is deferring payments for mortgage and auto up to 120 days (interest will still accrue).
https://www.ally.com/coronavirus-response
Thanks so much, Tia!
Does any one know if Brown Brown And west apt manager at po. box 2388 Knoxville, tn will defer any rent payment for their lease holders to help out at this time > I have been home bound for last 10 days and will be home bound until further notice. Im actually at college apts on brown west dr in rockwood tn 37854.
Hey there BRC! You would need to contact your landlord for this information!
Boost Mobile sent me a text saying they were adding a free 20GB of data to all plans. I don’t recall how long they said they’d be doing this for, possibly til further notice but not sure.
I have heard that Wells Fargo were helping with mortgages. I do not know this for a fact. I was going to call Monday.
Ok that gave me a Scare on the Deadline to file your Taxes . With everything going on we hadn’t filed ours yet . I read a comment here that it had been extended . One less thing to worry about right now. The first thing I check in the morning is my Hip site and the last thing I read at night . Why bother with Fox News when we have you Guys🗽Prayers for Our Entire World!
Does anybody know if Verizon is still waiving upgrade fees and stuff like they were doing in 2020?
I love all of you at Hip2Save! You have & continue to save us so so much money. I’m so grateful thx!!!!
God Bless