|
5 Tips to Improve Your Credit Score
Boosting your credit score can save you money. Your credit score is a number based on how well you pay back loans on time, sometimes called a FICO score. The higher the score, the less risky you are. The 3 players are Experian, Equifax and...
Cooperation Credit Repair
When you are trying to get out of debt, you will need
cooperation from others as well as your self. If both of the
sources are hard headed, I promise you your credit repair scheme
will probably not work. Debt is an everyday part of life and...
Credit Cards - The Basics
How Lenders Operate - And How They'll Make a Tidy Fortune from the Unknowing
Credit card companies might seem like immensely clever, money making enterprises that exploit every loophole to maximize the interest payments - and profits - they are...
Escaping the Credit Card Death Spiral
You’re burdened with crushing debt and at the end of your rope. There’s got to be a way out. You go to the door every day, expecting bad news. Your minimum credit card payments are eating up most of your paycheck every two weeks. You can’t go to...
What To Do When Your Credit Card Is Lost Or Stolen
Unfortunately, wallets and purses do get stolen or lost on a regular basis. Your biggest concern is usually the fact that your credit cards are missing. If this happens to you, do you have a plan of action? Well, you should. It really isn't as...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidate A Credit Card To Reduce Your Debt
Strange though it may sound a credit card can be a useful tool
in controlling debt. The properly chosen credit card can, in
fact, be used to consolidate debt. There are several features to
look for though if you plan to use a credit card in this manner.
As is always the case before you scrutinize any credit card
option, you should first have a clear understanding of your
credit situation.
Whenever you are approaching a decision about your credit it is
of primary importance to pull your credit report. The government
has mandated that all individuals be allowed an annual free
credit report. When accessing this report make sure that you
have gone to a truly free credit report site. Some companies
lure people into their sites by advertising a free credit report
and then ask for credit card information. Free credit reports
are available from such sites but if you have supplied them with
credit card information you may find that your card will be
billed thirty days later for a credit report update. The charges
will continue ever thirty days or so after the initial billing
until you have cancelled the service. The best idea is not to
give out any billing information in order to receive your free
report.
Get a report from each of the three credit reporting agencies
(Experian, Trans Union and Equifax). When you ask for your
report the site will also offer to send a credit score (FICO
score) for a small additional fee; knowing your FICO is also
beneficial and generally worth the nominal cost. Again, read the
fine print and be careful not to set up any ongoing transactions.
After receiving the three reports analyze them carefully. You
are unique but your name may not be. Make sure all the credit
card bills are actually yours. Also check to make sure your
social security number is listed correctly. Social security
numbers are keyed in by hand and thus subject to error. One
digit misplaced can give you someone else's derogatory credit.
Report any errors to the agencies. Make the report to all three
agencies as they do not share information.
Now you have a list of all the revolving credit card debt
that
you owe, the balances and contact information. This is the money
owed that may be ripe to consolidate on one credit card. Contact
the creditors and find out what the current interest rate is on
each card and if there are any programs which would allow you to
reduce that rate
http://www.springfieldsocialist.com/category/finance-guides.
Let the companies know you are actively shopping for
alternatives to your current rates. Customers in good standing
with their credit card companies, customers with high FICO
scores and customers who regularly charge and make their
payments are valued by credit card companies. It may be that you
will be offered incentives to retain their cards. Also, inquire
about any balance transfer opportunities or other programs such
as frequent flier miles.
Now you are going to design your own program to consolidate
credit card debt. Compile a list of all the companies with
columns comparing the like features: Interest rates, penalties,
incentives, credit limits. When choosing which company to use to
consolidate your credit cards, look at all the features not just
the interest rates. Narrow down the options to two or three
cards. Speak with company representatives. It may be possible to
negotiate even better terms.
Once you have chosen an institution with which to consolidate
credit card debt, follow through and transfer as many of your
outstanding balances as possible to that one card. Adjust your
credit card behavior and be disciplined about your use of
credit. Cut up all the other cards. You may even wish to close
all accounts other than one for emergencies. Don't carry the two
remaining cards in your wallet. Remember, charge cards are nice
as long as you, not the card, are in charge.
About the author:
If you would like the latest credit card
debt secrets you may visit my debt consolidation blog which is updated mutliple times
daily!
|
|
|
|
|
Credit Reports - Credit Cards - Car Loans - Home Loans - Credit.com |
Credit.com offers a variety of credit related products and services including credit reports and credit scores, credit cards, car loans, home loan and ... |
www.credit.com |
  |
Equifax Personal Solutions: Credit Reports, Credit Scores ... |
National consumer credit reporting company that offers credit reports, FICO(R) credit scores and identity theft protection products to consumers and small ... |
www.equifax.com |
  |
The FTC's web site on Credit |
Credit is much more than a piece of plastic, and the resources on this site can help you become a more savvy consumer. You’ll also find compliance ... |
www.ftc.gov |
  |
Federal Trade Commission - Consumer Credit Center |
Features an assortment of helpful articles related to credit issues. |
www.ftc.gov |
  |
AnnualCreditReport |
Site set up by the big three credit reporting agencies in the United States, to furnish free annual credit reports, as required by federal law. |
www.annualcreditreport.com |
  |
Springboard - Non-Profit Consumer Credit Management |
Our mission is simple: To offer education on the wise use of credit. ... SPRINGBOARD has been approved to provide credit counseling services and issue ... |
www.credit.org |
  |
myFICO - FICO Credit Scores, Online Credit Reports and Identity ... |
myFICO.com: Get your Free credit report and Free credit score with a 30-day trial of Score Watch. All three FICO Scores and Credit Reports Available now ... |
www.myfico.com |
  |
Credit Suisse Global |
Credit Suisse Group is an international financial services group. - Shares part of SMI. |
www.credit-suisse.com |
  |
Experian: Free Credit Report and Credit Score, Credit Check ... |
Credit referencing and consumer targeting for the USA and other countries. |
www.experian.com |
  |
National Credit Union Administration - Home Page |
An independent federal agency that supervises and insures 7152 federal credit unions and insures 4240 state-chartered credit unions. |
www.ncua.gov |
  |
Credit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
Debits and Credits, a type of bookkeeping entry; Credit (creative arts), acknowledging the ideas or ... Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit" ... |
en.wikipedia.org |
  |
Credit (finance) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
Any movement of financial capital is normally quite dependent on credit, ... Sometimes if a person has financial instability or difficulty, credit is not ... |
en.wikipedia.org |
  |
The National Foundation for Credit Counseling |
DebtAdvice.org is a service provided by the Members of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), most of them known as Consumer Credit ... |
www.nfcc.org |
  |
FreeCreditReport.com | Free Credit Report and Credit Score Online ... |
FreeCreditReport.com: Free credit reports and credit scores from Experian. Get your free credit report and credit score now. It's free, fast, and easy! |
www.freecreditreport.com |
  |
Compare credit cards | apply for a credit card | 0% balance ... |
Compare over 300 credit cards, including 0% offers and balance transfers, and make a credit card application online... |
www.moneysupermarket.com |
  |
Ford Credit - Auto financing for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars ... |
Ford Credit provides auto financing to finance a lease or purchase a car or truck through Ford, Lincoln or Mercury dealerships. |
www.fordcredit.com |
  |
The Credit Card Prank |
In my lifetime, I have made nearly 15000 credit card transactions. ... Credit card signatures are a useless mechanism designed to make you feel safe, ... |
www.zug.com |
  |
Credit magazine, corporate bonds, derivatives, structured credit ... |
Credit magazine provides information on the international credit markets for credit investors, issuers and market professionals. |
www.creditmag.com |
  |
CUNA: The Credit Union National Association |
News and resource directory about credit unions. |
www.cuna.org |
  |
Credit/Debt Management - Tools and Advice for Managing Credit and Debt |
Drowning in debt? Trying to improve your credit score? This is the place for you. Get real world information and tips, as well as the legal low down, ... |
credit.about.com |
  |