Credit articles
Showing page 14 of 19 - There are 545 Credit articles
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Identity theft exploding: here?s how you can avoid becoming a victim
- Americans are more concerned about identity theft than unemployment or corporate fraud, according to a survey of 2,000 people conducted by Star Systems.Nine out of ten Americans demand new federal legislation, while two-thirds say the financial services industry needs to do a better job of verifying the identity of customers who open bank accounts (66 percent) and credit card accounts (72 p...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Do you know the benefits of checking your credit report?
- Do you know why you should check your credit report?Of course you do, because you have undoubtedly experienced one working in your life!No matter where you roam, your credit report follows you through life, updating all aspects of your life: your employment, where you live, your opened credit accounts, your closed accounts, your payment history, and even public records on you....
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Minimize your risk for identity theft
- Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the number of identity theft incidents reached 9.9 million in 2003. These crimes are estimated to have taken the average victim $500 and 30 hours to resolve.From stolen credit cards to total identity kidnapping, these ugly and prevalent crimes are hard to prevent and often difficult to correct...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Keep your credit history clean - remove a negative credit record from credit report
- The three major credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and Trans Union are similar and feature a "Credit Score", which is created from credit report data submitted to them about you.But very often your credit report includes inaccurate, wrong or incomplete information (credit records).In this situation you have to prepare and send letters to each of the credit bureaus. Also learn your cre...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Tips for getting your first credit card
- Most of us get a credit card on our name when we go to college or when we are in our senior years of high school and all of us stumble into the same types of difficulties when it comes to finding an issuer and managing the credit card. Most banks ask for a prior type of credit history that most of the time lacks and for some type of warranty that we will be good payers. It is true, finding the rig...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Avoiding credit card traps
- The next time you open your credit card statement, take a closer look at the small insert titled "changes to your credit card agreement". You know the one I'm speaking about. It's that small, folded paper written in legalese that you promise to read some other time (but of course that time never comes) or you just discard it with the other "junk" inserts.First and foremo...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Credit card companies are out for your money
- You're probably thinking "Tell me something I don't know" but in this time of low interest rates you might be thinking that you've got a great deal since credit card interest rates are low. Wrong. Credit card companies have a cutoff as to how low their interest rates will go.So when interest rates are low for lending, that doesn't mean your credit card rate will be low as well. If you don't...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - The advantages of credit cards
- There are many evils associated with credit cards, but there are benefits that are hard to ignore. One benefit is having the credit card company act in your behalf to recover funds from a disputed transaction. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act the credit card company has to investigate the dispute and either take the charge off your bill or explain why it is correct. Even better, you don't have to...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - How to choose a credit card
- Your credit score may just be a little number, but it packs a big punch. A poor credit score can keep you from getting a mortgage or a car loan. In addition, your credit score may haunt you for a long time if it suddenly drops. Of course, if you have a good credit score it opens a lot of doors for you. This is just one reason why it is important to think about which credit card you apply for befor...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - The three largest factors in your interest rate
- There are three major factors that affect how much you pay for a loan. Understanding these factors can save you time, money and frustration.1. The Federal Reserve Discount Interest Rate.Banks and other lending institutions borrow money from the Federal Reserve Banks. The discount rate is the interest rate a Federal Reserve Bank charges eligible financial institutions to borrow funds ...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - How to save money on credit cards
- Some credit cards offer a cash advance option. But how good a deal is this?Not very. In fact, it can be downright expensive.Why?Because every time you use your credit card to withdraw case, more fees kick in:Cash advances can carry an upfront fee of 2 percent to 4 percent of the amount advanced.The advances have a higher interest rate than regu...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - 10 tips to prevent credit card fraud
- Imagine opening your credit card statement one morning and discovering to your horror that you suddenly owe thousands of dollars - on purchases that you never made.Impossible?Credit card fraud on the rise, so you need to treat your card and its information with extreme care.Here are 10 tips to help insure you're not the victim of thieves and fraudsters:1. Sign new and r...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Rewards cards - are they right for you?
- Rewards cards have become the latest rage in the credit card industry. In the past, consumers shopped for credit cards that offered the lowest interest rate. Next came cards with low interest rates and no annual fees. Today, consumers can shop for cards based on what type of "reward" they can earn for using a specific issuer's card.How does a reward program work? Typically, the pr...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Why americans find predatory lending offensive
- "Menis - the author translates as "indignant rage" - It is the kind of rage arising from social betrayal that impairs a person's dignity through violation of "what's right." (p21), Achilles In Viet Nam - Combat Trauma and the Undoing of Character, Jonathan Shay, M.D., Ph D."The vulnerable relationship between child and parent is a metaphor for the relationship between a soldier and his army...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Warning: todays non profit credit counselors are yesterdays bill collectors!
- Here's a dirty secret, today's "non profit credit counselors" are often just front organizations paid lucrative commissions by creditors to keep consumers from declaring bankruptcy!In the "debt collection biz", creditors will sell your outstanding debt along with the debt of hundreds of others to a collection agency for cash up front.The collection agencies will work this debt until ...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Building business credit
- Most businesses want to be able to borrow money when they need it, without the owners having to guarantee the loans personally. This means less risk to the owners. But wanting to get credit for your business and actually getting it can be two different things.One company recently approached us because over the past two years they had created a successful business, with over twenty employees...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Comprehending a credit report
- Obtaining a credit report is an excellent way to begin taking control of your financial future. It's recommended that you review your credit report once a year, not only to be aware of your standing with creditors but to also keep abreast of errors and fraud. However, once your report arrives you may have trouble making sense of it. How are you to read and understand a credit report?There a...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - New credit scoring model could help millions
- Mark and Beth, a young married couple in their twenties, established a goal to buy a home within the first three years of their marriage before starting a family. They budgeted and used their money wisely in order to save for the down payment. Whenever they purchased something they always paid cash - no credit cards for them. Why waste money by paying interest to a credit card company?Withi...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - How to read your credit report
- The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, signed into law on Dec. 4, 2003, gives every American the right to a free credit report every year from each of the three major credit bureaus -- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.What the law doesn't do is give every American the ability to read their credit report. Not one word in the law says the credit bureaus have to write it in plain, easy...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - How to use your credit cards wisely
- Are you one of the thousands pulling your hair out trying to figure out how you're going to pay your credit card bills? Using your credit cards wisely and sensibly will help you avoid financial problems and establish a strong credit rating, so here's some information to help you get your credit card problems under control.Credit cards are convenient for buying things now and paying later. C...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - How to eliminate credit card debt
- There is almost nothing more troublesome than having too much debt to pay each month. Consumers incur debt for many different reasons. Sometimes illness, accidents, or just bad luck can make it seem impossible to get finances under control. Other times it is simply because we spend more money than we earn. The first step toward taking control of your financial situation is to learn how to eliminat...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Credit traps snag consumers
- Nearly 20 years ago I worked for a small consumer advocacy organization in Washington, DC. Each week we received sacks full of mail from consumers across the country requesting our list of credit cards with low interest rates and no annual fees. If you wanted a low interest rate on a credit card back then, you often had to apply to a bank in Arkansas where interest rates were capped by state law....
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Student credit cards 101
- If you're a college student, you probably already have a credit card. If not, you may have plans to get one or more soon. So why should you read on?Because financial debt is one of the main reasons that many students end up dropping out of college.Because your college years can be some of your most memorable-and some of your most costly. They don't, however, have t...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Secured credit cards- consumer tips
- Whether you have no credit or damaged credit, secured credit cards are a good tool for building a good credit history.Several months ago Tom, a member of CreditBoards.com, filed for a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. Now he is in the process of rebuilding his credit history. It's a task that is not easy, but with patient persistence he is seeing prog...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Stop credit card offers
- You can stop receiving credit card offers in the mail! It's really easy to do - just phone 1-888-567-8688 and follow the prompts and provide the requested information including Social Security number, date of birth, etc.Do this for every adult member of your household, including college students. Your "opt-out" status will be sent to each of the four credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, Trans...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Free credit reports: from the 3 major credit bureaus!
- Get your credit report online for FREE. Many financial advisors suggest that you periodically review your credit report for inaccuracies or omissions.This could be especially important if you're considering making a major purchase, such as buying a home. Checking in advance on the accuracy of information in your credit file could speed the credit-granting process, clean credit is a must....
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Clean credit report: easily raise your credit score 100 points
- Clean Credit Reports, your credit report contains information about where you work, live and how you pay your bills (On time or not). It also may show whether you've been sued, arrested or have filed for bankruptcy with in the last 10 years. Companies called consumer reporting agencies (cra) or credit bureaus compile and sell your credit report to businesses all over the world.Clean Credit ...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Choosing a new credit card
- 1. Choosing A new credit cardThere are many reasons for choosing a new credit card.It may be your first card or you may wish to reduce the amount of interest you're paying each month or if you're lucky enough to pay off your balance each month you may wish to take advantage of one of the many reward schemes around.To help you choose we have compi...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Your credit rating and how to check it
- There is a lot of confusion surrounding UK credit ratings, credit scores, credit blacklists, credit reports, and credit files. This guide to your credit rating aims to give you the facts you need.What's in a Credit FileThere are two major credit reference agencies in the UK, Equifax and Experian, who maintain credit files on virtually every adult in the country.Almost a...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Useful tips on avoiding credit and charge card fraud
- Credit and charge card fraud costs cardholders and issuers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. While theft is the most obvious form of fraud, it can occur in other ways. For example, someone may use your card number without your knowledge.It's not always possible to prevent credit or charge card fraud from happening. But there are a few steps you can take to make it more difficult fo...