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...]
Credit Scores and the Cost of Living
December 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Despite all the attention that has been given to credit scores and the impact credit scores have on numerous aspects of our day to day lives, many consumers still do not understand the weight these numbers have on what we can and cannot do. Credit scores directly or indirectly impact the cost of living for most consumers in the U.S. Credit scores can be a big factor in credit decisions for financial firms like banks but they are also a significant factor in insurance rates, employment, … [Read more...]
Lexington Law Firm Credit Repair
November 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Lexington Law firm is a company that works with consumers to help improve their credit and subsequently improve their credit score. Lexington Law is essentially a credit repair company. Federal law gives all consumers the right to have inaccurate information in their credit reports corrected. Having inaccurate, negative information removed from your credit report is one of the fastest methods to increase your credit score. Lexington Law works as a facilitator to help remove bad credit … [Read more...]
Find Out Your Credit Score
October 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment
To find your credit score should be an easy task, unfortunately it’s not. Unlike credit reports, there is no universal resource that entitles consumers to a free copy of their credit score. Consumers are entitled to one free credit report within a 12 month period from each of the three credit bureaus but are not entitled to receive a free credit score. The FACT Act which is a revision made to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, allows consumers to get one free credit report from each of the … [Read more...]
Filing Bankruptcy Cost
September 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The cost of filing bankruptcy has risen since the amendments to federal bankruptcy law were added in 2005. Filing bankruptcy costs can be complicated due to the different fees that may have to be paid. The costs of filing bankruptcy can be quite low for consumers who handle the filing and petition on their own or more expensive if an attorney is involved and the case is complicated with various assets and contracts. There are many different options for consumers to deal with their debt … [Read more...]
Credit Scores and Your Hospital Stay
June 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Hospitals have long struggled with handling delinquent medical bills of their patients. In recent years the business of identifying potentially risky customers in advance of rendering medical services has picked up steam. Credit scores have been used by lenders, landlords and insurers to evaluate consumer’s financial risk. Now the business of handling and managing medical bills has moved into the arena of credit scores and credit profiles. The medical credit score is intended to be … [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...]
The Big 3 Credit Reporting Agencies
August 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment
A credit reporting agency is a repository of information that holds an individual’s credit or payment history. An individual’s credit report is created when a request for a report by a lender, credit card company or other authorized party requests it. Credit bureaus or credit reporting agencies hold the consumer's credit data in their databases. The data is always there but the credit report does not really exist until it is asked for. It is then compiled by the credit reporting … [Read more...]
Sample Credit Scores
May 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Credit histories, credit reports and credit scores are key component of every individual’s financial health whether we like it or not. Unfortunately, too many consumers don’t know what the numbers of credit score mean for them. Have you ever obtained your credit report and credit score or been told about this number before and didn’t know what it means? The formula behind credit scores is a bit of a secret and credit reporting agencies can each assign you a different score. The … [Read more...]