When a debt collector contacts you, one of the first things you need to do is verify that their claim is legitimate and if it is, confirm that the debt collector is actually licensed to collect on that debt in your state. You must remember that debt collectors are trained to persuade and encourage consumers […]
3 Easy Steps To Check Out a Debt Collector Read More »
Q: “I have two credit cards that went into collections. I went through some financial difficulties and fell off on paying them due to having to pay other bills first, like my home and car, et cetera. Now one of them, BofA, was referred to a lawyer. He is harassing me by calling every 10
How To Handle Credit Card Accounts In Collections Read More »
If the effects of the recession have left you with a home or condo that is worth less than the amount of your current mortgage balance, you may have considered a strategic default. A strategic default is when a borrower decides to default on their mortgage – basically refuses to make payments – and walks
Reasons Why People Consider a Strategic Default Read More »
In light of how widespread identity theft has become, it may be a good idea to purchase identity theft insurance. Identity theft claims more than 10 million victims annually in the U.S. alone, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Even children are often subjected to identity theft, leading the FTC to recent warn parents about
Is Identity Theft Insurance Right for You? Read More »
Are you leaving money on the table when it comes to your mortgage and needlessly overpaying for your house? That’s what many Americans are doing, according to CreditSesame.com, which has found that scores of U.S. homeowners are overpaying their mortgages by about $52,000 over a 10-year period. An analysis of household data by Credit Sesame
Is Your Mortgage Lender Ripping You Off? Read More »
Q: I filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in January 2008. I just paid it off and should be receiving my discharge soon, but I checked my credit report and there are two credit card accounts on my report that I included in my bankruptcy and that now say “transferred to another lender or claim purchased.”
My Credit Report Still Shows Debt Written Off in Bankruptcy! Read More »
If you’re already thinking about holiday spending and want to be a savvy shopper, you might be considering using layaway in order to stick to a budget or avoid racking up credit card debt. I think using layaway is a great strategy and we’ve had a number of retailers in recent years start to bring
Layaway Shopper Beware Read More »
Want to know which banks consistently offer the highest savings rates? Look no further than MoneyRates.com, which just released its latest America’s Best Rates quarterly survey. The survey identifies and ranks the U.S. banks paying the highest interest rates on savings and money market accounts throughout the entire third quarter of 2011 – as opposed
List of Banks Offering Best Savings Rates and Highest Money Market Rates Read More »
Remember a year ago, when Forbes dubbed Jay-Z a billionaire in the making and highlighted how the rapper met with the legendary investor Warren Buffett and the two found out they had more in common than one might suspect? Well, apparently the 41-year-old rapper turned entrepreneur and the 81-year old Oracle of Omaha have gotten
Jay-Z Teams Up With Warren Buffett’s “Secret Millionaires Club” Read More »
How would you like to get one-on-one, personalized credit education information directly from a credit bureau? Actually, it’s now possible. In October 2011, Experian, one of the big three credit reporting agencies, announced the rollout of a new program that they’re calling Experian Credit Educator. It’s a dedicated consumer education service that’s available to consumers
About Experian Credit Educator Read More »
Q: To finish college, our son will need an additional $20,000 for his final two years. We are thinking of using some of our 401(k) money. My husband will be almost 60 by then, so no penalty. With our social security plus my husband’s pension, our income will be close to his present working income.
Should I Use My 401(k) Money To Pay My Child’s College Tuition? Read More »
We keep hearing a lot about strategic defaults and about how people are increasingly walking away from their homes because they see them as bad investments. Up until now, a fairly clear picture has emerged of the profile of the average strategic defaulter. Research shows that these individuals typically have better FICO credit scores, larger
Strategic Default: 7 Things Homeowners Are Doing With the Money they Save Read More »
U.S. banks stand to lose tens of billions of dollars in the aftermath of regulatory reforms that have hit bank coffers hard. Unfortunately, the hit to consumers may be even harder. That’s because banks looking to make up for lost revenues are starting to charge fees for everything from using a debit card to maintaining
3 Ways to Avoid Rising Bank Fees and Debit Card Fees Read More »
In a recent post, I told you about the importance of reading the fine print – and how it can have implications for your credit rating. Here’s another true story that shows the importance of reading the fine print. In February 2009, I went to Tucson, Arizona, to serve as the keynote speaker for a
How Renting a Car With a Debit Card Can Impact Your Credit Score Read More »
Today I want you to come up with 10 ways to cut your spending. Don’t complain about it or say it’s impossible. Just put your thinking cap on and get busy. If you really had to – and at this point, you probably really do have to in order to survive the current economy –
Ten Ways to Cut Your Spending Read More »
