One reason that debt gets out of control for so many people is that 70% of Americans don’t have a budget — or at least not a realistic budget that they can live with. To become a better saver and learn to budget properly, try using the online tools available at www.mint.com, www.budgettracker.com, or www.budgetpulse.com. […]
I Need a Reliable Online Tool That Would Help Me Budget My Income and Expenses. Read More »
Q: I recently filed for bankruptcy and it was discharged in October. But on my credit report one of my student loans was listed as being discharged. Is that possible and can they still come after me for garnishment? A: Student loans are generally not dischargeable in bankruptcy court – regardless of whether they were federal
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Q: I am trying to get an FHA Loan. Should I use most of my cash to pay off credit card debt or put more money toward the down payment? A: If you are seeking an FHA loan, you actually need to be concerned with both things – paying off credit card debt and having
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Q: How do I obtain investment property loans with bad credit? I rent out one property that I own, but I can’t get a loan on it because my credit score is 560. A: When people get turned down for a bank loan, the natural tendency is to think that the bank is wrong –
How Do I Obtain a Loan To Buy Investment Property With Bad Credit? Read More »
Sometimes, one easy phone call is all it takes to get the interest rate on a credit card lowered. However, many people are reluctant to make that call, because they mistakenly believe that creditors won’t be willing to negotiate. Even amid the credit crunch, however, banks and other credit card issuers are willing to consider
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Q: I Need Help With Credit Card Debt But Am Worried About Scam Companies. Can You Refer Me to a Good Debt-Elimination Program, and Explain the Difference Between a Debt Management Company and a Debt Settlement Firm? A: With the average U.S. household owing more than $10,000 in credit card debt, it’s no surprise that
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Q: Can I Be Held Responsible for Medical Bills My Ex-Spouse Generated? She Was Covered on My Insurance Plan. We Just Signed Divorce Papers. A: With medical collection activity on the rise, it is definitely possible that a hospital, clinic or healthcare provider could come after you to pay off healthcare bills incurred by your
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If you have been told that you have a thin credit file, no credit file or no credit score, it is likely due to one of three causes: 1) You’ve Never Had Credit This would be the case if you’ve never had a traditional credit account, such as a car loan or credit card. Or
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Credit freezes help you thwart identity theft by preventing a crook from opening credit in your name. Credit freeze laws, sometimes referred to as “Credit Lock” laws, began in California in 2003. Now, all 50 states in American, in addition to Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, have laws permitting residents to lock or shut down
What is a Credit Freeze and How Can I Use One to Protect My Credit? Read More »
Fraud alerts help you thwart identity theft by preventing a crook from opening credit in your name. There are two types of Fraud Alerts: an Initial Alert and an Extended Alert. With an initial alert, an ID theft warning statement is placed on the bottom of your credit reports. This statement alerts your creditors that
What is a Fraud Alert and How Do I Put One on My Credit File? Read More »
Q: What Steps Can I Take To Avoid Identity Theft? A: To decrease your chances of falling victim to identity theft, you should shred sensitive documents before discarding them, never carry your social security card with you, and say no to anyone strangers who solicit you over the phone or via email and ask for
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Q: I disputed wrong info in my credit file but i’m not satisfied with the results. What else can I do? A: Anytime you dispute information in your credit files, and the issue is not resolved satisfactorily, you have several options: 1) You can add a 100-word Consumer Statement to your credit file 2) You
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You can dispute mistakes with the credit bureaus by mail or telephone, but you’ll get the fastest results if you initiate a dispute online. Here are the websites and phone numbers you should use for the credit bureaus when you contact them to dispute errors: http://www.investigate.equifax.com or 888-800-8859 http://www.Experian.com/disputes or 866-200-6020 http://www.Transunion.com/investigate or 800-916-8800 It’s
What’s The Fastest Way to Get the Credit Bureaus to Fix Mistakes In My Credit Reports? Read More »
Consumers write to the credit bureaus for all manner of help. But unfortunately, many of these efforts are misguided. Sometimes people want assistance improving their credit scores. Other times, they may ask the credit bureaus about why an account is showing up negative – as if the credit bureau put that information on there, not
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When you see erroneous payment or status information in your credit file, you should take up that dispute with your creditor, before contacting the credit bureaus. Examples of the types of erroneous information you should dispute with a creditor include: Wrongfully reported late payments Maybe a creditor reported you as being 30 days past due,
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