If you or your child has just graduated from college, your number one goal may be getting a job. Of course, that’s a lot easier said than done, with unemployment rate around 9% and even higher–a staggering 16%–for African-Americans. Still, there are many steps recent college graduates can take to put themselves on the road to […]
Financial Advice for College Graduates Read More »
Q: If I change my mind and decide not to file for bankruptcy, how should I make the 3 credit agencies aware of what I’ve done and will this weigh heavily on my credit score? A: The current status of your bankruptcy should be reflected on your current credit reports from the credit agencies (including
If I File For Bankruptcy And Change My Mind, What Will Happen To My Credit Score Read More »
Here’s a tale about two 40-year old guys who are best friends. We’ll call them Bill and Skip. From the time they were teenagers both Bill and Skip dreamed of becoming successful corporate sales executives and enjoying the finer things in life—you know, nice house, sporty cars, designer suits, the whole works. Bill and Skip
The Story of Bill and Skip: Why Your Credit Score Matters Read More »
When you’re a single mom and solely in charge of managing the family budget, it pays to be frugal – literally. Whether you’re supporting just one child or several children with your paycheck, you need to take extra steps to ensure your budget is in great shape. You also need to make sure you’re setting
Money Saving Tips for the Single Mom Read More »
One of the options you have when you can’t pay an outstanding debt is to renegotiate the terms of your agreement directly with your creditor. You might choose to do this before the account goes to collections so that the incident doesn’t go on your credit report and negatively affects your credit rating. Some creditors
What to Do If a Creditor Will Not Renegotiate the Terms of Your Agreement Read More »
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you have the right to send a bill collector a “debt validation” letter requesting more information about the debt you are being told is still outstanding. This letter prompts the bill collector to send you proof of debt in the form of a complete payment history, a copy
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If a bill collector has started to contact you about an outstanding debt and is using some intimidation tactics to get you to pay up fast, you need to be very careful about what you say to them and when you actually make a payment. In some cases, you could be relieved from the debt
What to Get from a Bill Collector Before You Make a Single Payment Read More »
When debt collectors are contacting you regularly and you’re wondering if you should just pay off the debt to get rid of them, stop! Many consumers don’t realize that the debts some bill collectors are chasing after aren’t the consumer’s responsibility anymore. How is this possible? Because of the Statute of Limoutstanding debtitations that exist
Using a Statute of Limitations Law to Eliminate Your Debt Read More »
Recent natural disasters serve as reminders to homeowners and renters nationwide about the need to shore up their properties – and their finances – against natural disasters. And since hurricane season officially kicks off June 1, Americans everywhere would be wise to safeguard their homes, businesses and valuables. Whether you live in a hurricane prone area of the
Safeguarding Your Finances Against Natural Disasters Read More »
Your bill collector may have sent you a letter contacting you about your outstanding debt or called you to introduce themselves. If you choose to accept a phone call and engage a debt collector in conversation, you may have more negotiating power if you record your call. You do have the right to record your
Should You Record a Call with a Bill Collector? Read More »
If you’re facing foreclosure, you may be wondering how this will affect your credit score. Missing payments on your mortgage and other bills may have already dropped your credit score by several points, and when you reach foreclosure status, you will notice a significant drop in your credit rating. If you’ve been struggling financially for
How Will a Foreclosure Affect My Credit Score? Read More »
If you’ve followed the recommended steps to request a debt verification letter from a debt collector and they follow through and send you a proof of debt owed to validate your debt, there are still some things you can do to make sure you’re not being taken advantage of. Remember that many debt collection agencies
What to Do If You Receive A Debt Validation Letter Read More »
Have you ever been harassed by a bill collector because of a past due bill? If the answer is ‘yes’, the bill collector is in violation of a Federal law. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the country’s consumer protection agency and enforces the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to prevent “abusive, unfair or deceptive
Know and Assert Your Rights Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Read More »
Reduce Your Debts Without Bankruptcy. See How Much You Can Save. Free Debt Analysis When you are contacted by a debt collector, 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
How to Find Out if a Debt Collector is Licensed to Collect Your Debt Read More »
Police are warning residents about a new phone scam in which someone claims to be a representative from Publishers Clearing House. Police say the caller tells the victim that before they can claim their prize, they must pay $200 towards a MoneyPak re-load card. MoneyPak cards are sold in stores across the U.S. and are
Beware of Publishing Clearing House MoneyPak Scam Read More »
