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Bad Credit
Bad credit can happen to the best of us. A series of financial
events can take place to hinder our ability to pay our debt. A
loss of a job or several high paying emergencies, whether it
be health related or due to car and house repairs, can put...
Keeping Track to Repair and Build Credit
Keeping track of your spending and diverting a budget plan is
often a better solution for repairing credit and building your
rating. If you file for bankruptcy of debt consolidation you are
only adding more headaches to an already bad...
Mortgage Broker/Loan Originators Look To Capitalize on Credit Restoration
The majority of people that have ventured into the mortgage broker/loan origination field have been those who enjoy sales and have an entrepenuers heart. Within the walls of the mortgage world, there is a vast amount of money to be made.
If you...
Repairing Your Credit
We live in a consumer society where it seems like more attention is paid to your credit record than to your criminal background. Credit has been elevated to a position where it permeates every factor of a person's life and has even crossed over into...
Using A Credit Card To Fund Your Business
The spate of credit card offers and leaflets that most of us receive through the post or in our daily newspapers, which promise us unlimited spending power and in some cases blank cheques, has threw up a major surprise and that is the way that small...
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Credit Card Debt – Watch Your Credit Report and Your Bill
Most consumers are aware of the importance of their credit report. This document, offered to consumers and lenders by the three major credit bureaus, offers a fairly complete list of financial transactions and debts incurred by a consumer. Lenders examine the report, along with the associated FICO score, to determine whether a consumer is worthy of receiving additional credit or loans. What many consumers may not know is that credit card companies regularly check their credit reports, and unfavorable entries may result in a higher interest rate on their credit cards.
We have previously noted that many credit card companies employ something known as a “universal default clause” in their terms of service. This clause allows the company to raise interest rates on the customer’s card if the customer pays bills late. A late payment to the phone company could result in a higher interest rate on the Visa card. Most companies also allow themselves the latitude to raise their customers’ interest rates for any reason at all. With this in mind, the credit card companies tend to run occasional credit checks on their customers, often raising rates if they notice any activity that, in their opinion, makes the customer a higher risk. This might happen even if the customer has a history of paying his or her credit card bills on time.
The sorts of
things that may create a “risky” client include taking out additional loans, additional credit cards, or building balances on existing cards to at or near their limits. The companies justify this activity by saying that consumers who do these things create greater risk for the lender, and these costs must be passed on to all of their customers. The problem for the customer is that these higher interest rates are often assigned without warning. The new rate applies to existing balances, too. An interest rate hike today could mean that the television you bought last fall has suddenly become more expensive.
What can consumers do? Keep an eye on your credit card bill and your credit report. You can receive a copy of your credit report, for free, at http://www.annualcreditreport.com. As for your credit card bill, watch the interest rate. If it abruptly changes to a higher rate, call your credit card issuer and ask them about it. They will often reduce the rate if you call and complain. If not, your only option may be to shop around for another card.
About the Author
©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to establishing credit, debt consolidation and credit counseling.
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| CUNA: The Credit Union National Association |
| News and resource directory about credit unions. |
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| Credit/Debt Management - Tools and Advice for Managing Credit and Debt |
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