Consumers that are looking to improve their credit and credit score often look for ways to get their existing debt under control. Managing and reducing existing consumer debt is certainly one way to help manage debt payments, credit reports and credit scores. Unfortunately, too many consumers in need of debt relief fall victim to debt elimination scams. Debt elimination will help with an individual’s credit score over time. With lower monthly payments, a consumer can now better manage … [Read more...]
Bankruptcy and Bill Collectors
July 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Bankruptcy protection is made available to consumers who can’t pay their creditors or debts to help resolve the debt burden. One of the major benefits of filing for protection under Chapter 7 is that many creditor actions are stayed or brought to a standstill. This means that any debt collection efforts and foreclosure procedures are halted. Once a creditor or bill collector has been notified that a consumer has filed for bankruptcy protection, the bill collector or collection agency … [Read more...]
Importance of Credit Scores Underscored with FTC Congressional Subcommittee Testimony
April 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Credit scores have become increasingly important in our lives, whether we like it or not and their importance and impact is almost certainly going to expand not diminish. The Federal Trade Commission just recently presented a report to the U.S. House Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit of the Committee on Financial Services regarding actions by the FTC that cover the accuracy of consumers’ credit reports, preventing identity theft, and giving consumers a better … [Read more...]
Fed Announces Rule Changes for Marketing Free Credit Reports
February 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The confusion over the marketing of free credit reports by companies that require a subscription to a credit monitoring service or other related products and services to receive the free credit report has resulted in intervention by the Federal Trade Commission. Numerous consumers have seen advertisements touting free credit reports. Most of these advertisements have small disclaimer that explain that there is a requirement that the consumer sign up for a credit monitoring service or … [Read more...]
Credit Repair Scams Halted by FTC
February 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment
In October, 2008 the Federal Trade Commission sent out a press release regarding charges brought against another credit repair scam operation. Credit report repair services that offer to repair credit for consumers have popped up across the nation. Unfortunately, many of these organizations fail to help consumers and in some egregious cases, violate the law by taking money in advance and deceiving consumers regarding the services they perform to improve credit histories and credit … [Read more...]
More News on Spreading Credit Repair and Assistance Scams
February 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Credit repair scams and mortgage assistance scams is growing problem for individual and the federal regulatory authorities. The best way for individuals to tackle credit repair scams is to report misconduct including any promises or demands that are not legal credit repair practices to the appropriate authorities. The FTC enforces credit report and credit repair regulations but it does not investigate individual claims against a company, however they will investigate a company for legal … [Read more...]
Another Debt Collection Scam Comes to an End
February 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment
This is yet another news item on a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) regarding deceptive and or fraudulent collection practices by a debt collector. This settlement from a debt collection agency was sizeable. In this case, the settlement outcome included leaving the FTC with $1.6 million in recovered funds to distribute to thousands of consumers who were scammed into paying money they did not owe by con artists who threatened, harassed and lied to them. Collection … [Read more...]