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| Credit/Debit Cards | Managing Your Debt |
| Credit Repair | Credit Laws, Bankruptcy, ID Theft... |
| Credit Reports & Credit Scores | Where To Go For Help |
| When To Use Them | Debt Collectors |
| Finding & Keeping Low Rates | Low Rate Loans To Pay Off Debt |
| Managing Your Debt | Pay Half The Amount Bi-Weekly |
| Lost Or Stolen Cards |
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Finding &
Keeping The Lowest Rates
Finding
The Lowest Rates
Finding
The Lowest Rates
LookUpCreditcards.com
For the best deals on balance transfers, low rates, airline miles, etc,
see index on left hand side.
CardRatings.com
Has good balance transfer rates.
www.bankrate.com
Search for the cheapest credit card according to Geography, Type of Card,
and your credit needs.
CardWeb.com
Secured Credit Cards
(Consumer-SOS)
Don't look for
a secured card only unless you're been turned down for other credit cards.
Eloan
Offers some credit cards with very low rates.
Dedicated to helping debtors and others with credit problems to
obtain either a secured or unsecured credit card for the purpose of
re-establishing good credit.
Google Search On The Lowest Rates
Get the best savings for auto loans, credit cards,
savings accounts and CD's, home equity loans & mortgages and unsecured
credit lines.
Lost Or Stolen Cards
Basics On Lost Or Stolen ATM & Credit Cards (Scroll Down)
Where To Go For Help
Getting help from the government, non-profits and the media.
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Credit Repair
*Commercial
Credit Repair Companies* (Outlawed In GA)
Build A Better Credit Record
Credit Scores (Consumer-SOS)
A good credit score is like having a good SAT score. If your score is
high, creditors love you and will give you cheap rates. If your
score is low, you'll have to work twice as hard just to get the loan.
Negotiating With Creditors
(Consumer-SOS)
Rebuilding
Your Credit
Establishing
Good Credit
By using secured credit cards and paying your bills wisely
5
Steps To Credit Repair
Rebuilding Your Credit Rating through correcting errors, negotiating with
creditors and adding pertinent information to your credit file.
Credit
Repair-Help Yourself First (FTC)
Regulation Of Credit Repair Companies
See Sec 407-Your 3 Day Right To Cancel The Contract.
Illegally Establishing A New Credit Identity (BBB)
Credit Reports-What You Need To Know
(Consumer-SOS)
Identity Theft-What To Do When Your Identity Is Stolen
FTC Brochures On Credit
Repair
State
& Federal Laws Governing Credit Matters (All 50 States)
Select your state and see what additional protections your state offers in
addition to federal law. For federal laws, scroll down to their federal
section and click on the link of your choice.
Secured
& Unsecured Credit Cards To Help Rebuild Your Credit
A Website dedicated to helping debtors and others with credit problems to
obtain either a secured or unsecured credit card for the purpose of
re-establishing good credit.
Where To Go For Help
Getting help from the government, non-profits and the media.
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| Ordering Them | Correcting Them/Rebuilding Credit |
| Understanding Them | Your Legal Rights |
A good credit score is like having a good SAT score. If your score is
high, creditors love you and will give you cheap rates. If your
score is low, you'll have to work twice as hard just to get the loan.
Order a free credit credit report on line, by
phone or by
mail from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies:
Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
Trans Union
Can order credit reports by phone or by mail. Reports are free if you've
been denied credit in the last 60 days, live on welfare or suspect
fraudulent items on your credit report. Colorado, Georgia, Maryland,
Massachusetts, New Jersey and Vermont residents are automatically
entitled to a free report regardless of their circumstances.
Experian
Can order free copies of your credit report online if you've been denied
credit in the last 60 days, live on welfare or suspect fraudulent items on
your credit report. Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey
and Vermont residents are automatically entitled to a free report
regardless of their circumstances.
Equifax
(Scroll Down Page for Free Credit Report Info)
Can order free copies of your credit report by phone if you've been
denied credit in the last 60 days, live on welfare or suspect fraudulent
items on your credit report. Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts,
New Jersey and Vermont residents are automatically entitled to a
free report regardless of their circumstances. For a fee you can also
order your credit report online.
Request
For Credit Report
Fill in the blank form for requesting your credit report.
Cost of Obtaining Your Credit Report (All 50 States & DC)
Getting
Your Free Credit Score.
E-loan
will give you your one time free credit score just for filling out a loan profile. There is
no requirement to apply for a loan, and no fee for the service -- just log on
and answer a few questions about the kinds of credit information that would be
useful to you. Then, fill in your name, your Social Security number, your
address, and the first six digits of any credit card account or installment
loan you have. Within a few hours, you have the same number that lenders use
to determine just how fast they'll say yes to your loan application.
Free Credit Score For
Providian Card Holders
If you have a Providian credit card, establish a user name an login ID to see
your free credit score.
Your
FICO Credit Score (Fair, Isaac and Company)
Learn why it's important and how to raise it, right from the company that
invented it.
Your
Credit Score
What’s a good and bad score and the weight each factor has in
deciding your score.
Interest
Rates for a Car or House Based on Your Score
Percentage Of US Population With Particular Credit Scores
Some statistics about the score distribution (percentiles):
 | 15%
of the US population is below 600 |
| 35%
of the US population is below 670 |
| 50%
of the US population is below 710 |
| 70%
of the US population is below 755 |
| 90% of the US population is below 790 |
Your Credit report: What Lenders Look At -- And Where They Draw The Lines
Negative
Items-How Long They Stay On Your Report
The
Negative Info That Hurts Most
Credit Scores (Consumer-SOS)
A good credit score is like having a good SAT score. If your score is
high, creditors love you and will give you cheap rates. If your
score is low, you'll have to work twice as hard just to get the loan.
http://mix6.com/credit/credit.html#TOC
A great site on the ins and outs of credit and credit reports.
Learn how to challenge credit reporting errors, order your free credit
report on line and what your credit report can and can't be used for.
It also tells you how to rebuild and improve your credit, supplies
sample form letters, tells you about the laws that control debt collectors
and has lots of valuable help agencies.
Back To Top
Correcting Them/Rebuilding Credit
Credit Repair (No Magic Solutions)
Credit Inquiries-What Are They
& How To Erase Them
Correcting Mistakes (Consumer-SOS)
Notice To Correct Credit Report (Form Letter)
Fill in the blank form for correcting your credit report.
More
Form Letters
Once on page scroll down for even more form letters.
http://mix6.com/credit/credit.html#TOC
A great site on the ins and outs of credit and credit reports.
Learn how to challenge credit reporting errors, order your free credit
report on line and what your credit report can and can't be used for.
It also tells you how to rebuild and improve your credit, supplies
sample form letters, tells you about the laws that control debt collectors
and has lots of valuable help agencies.
Where To Go For Help
Getting help from the government, non-profits and the media.
Your Legal Rights (Credit Reports)
Who
Can View Your Credit Report?
Lists the legal and illegal reasons people can access your credit report
under the Graham, Leach, Bliley Act.
See also This
Google Search.
Brochures
From The Federal Trade Commission
Where To Go For Help
Getting help from the government, non-profits and the media.
State
& Federal Laws Governing Credit Matters (All 50 States)
Select your state and see what additional protections your state offers in
addition to federal law. For federal laws, scroll down to their federal
section and click on the link of your choice.
Credit Laws, Bankruptcy, ID Theft, etc
http://mix6.com/credit/credit.html#TOC
A great site on the ins and outs of credit and credit reports.
Learn how to challenge credit reporting errors, order your free credit
report on line and what your credit report can and can't be used for.
It also tells you how to rebuild and improve your credit, supplies
sample form letters, tells you about the laws that control debt collectors
and has lots of valuable help agencies.
Credit Reports/Correcting Mistakes
Correcting Mistakes (Overview)
7 Steps To Fixing Your Credit Report
Fair
Credit Reporting Act
Establishes procedures for correcting mistakes on an
individual's credit record. A credit record may be retained seven years
for judgments, liens, suits and other adverse information except for
bankruptcies, which may be retained ten years. If a consumer has been
denied credit, a free credit report may be requested within 30 days of
denial.
Fair
Credit Reporting Act Amendment(1996)
Strengthens privacy provisions and defines more clearly the
responsibilities and liabilities of businesses that provide information
to-and access data from-credit reporting agencies. The Fair Credit
Reporting Act (FCRA). Employers, or prospective employers must obtain an
applicant's written consent prior to obtaining credit information,
background, and medical information regarding an applicant.
Fair Credit Billing
Act
Establishes procedures for the prompt correction of errors
on open-end credit accounts. It also protects a consumer's credit rating
while the consumer is settling a dispute.
Where To Go For Help
Getting help from the government, non-profits and the media.
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*Consumer
Protection Agencies (Mostly GA)
The Federal Trade Commission Nearest You
Federal
Trade Commission (Online Complaint Form)
The FTC regulates credit reporting agencies and can impose fines and other
penalties.
On their drop box next to "Subject of Your complaint" Choose
"Credit Reports" or whatever your problem is.
Banks
& Credit Unions (Consumer-SOS)
If your credit card issue is a bank or credit union, find out who
regulates them.
Find
Your Local Newspaper, Magazine, Radio & TV Stations
Give them a little bad press and you're bargaining power increases
tremendously. Select your state, and then click on your county or city for
the proper media to report to. (DC Not Included).
Find The AARP
In Your State
The AARP offers legal advocacy for seniors and may also have state
specific consumer brochures which are available to everyone.
National Help Orgs For A Variety Of Consumer Problems
The Elderly, Environment, Families, Fraud, Health & Safety, Insurance
The Handicapped, Medical Problems, Telemarketing and more.
Back To Top
| Options, Tips & Advice | Student Loans |
| Debt Collectors | Credit Laws, Bankruptcy, etc. |
Can't Pay Your Rent, Mortgage or Utilities? (Consumer-SOS)
Step by step on what to do and where to go for assistance.
Can't Pay Your Debts? (Georgia)
General advice with some specifics on Georgia law.
Bills To Pay Off First (Consumer-SOS)
Credit Repair (Consumer-SOS)
Time Limit On Collecting A Debt and the Maximum Amount You Can Be Charged (Consumer-SOS)
Negotiating With Creditors (Consumer-SOS)
Credit Counseling (Consumer-SOS)
Consolidating
Your Debt (Consumer-SOS)
Pay Half
The Amount Bi-Weekly
(Consumer-SOS)
Keeping Credit Card Rates Low (Consumer-SOS)
Tips on the balance transfer game and more.
How To Crawl Out From Under Your Credit Card Debt
Tired of making big monthly payments to finance your cost of
living? Here's some basic good sense advice on tackling your credit card
debt. (Ignore their advice about shunning low teaser introductory rates
and instead see Keeping
Your Credit Card Rates At A Minimum).
Credit
Card Freedom Page
Learn how to negotiate for lower rates, calculate the cost of credit
and manage your debt. Find out how to avoid late fees and use balance
transfers to your advantage. Organize your debt with the debt charts
they provide.
Bills
To Pay Off First
Bills To Pay Off First
Tells you which bills are most important and the ones that can do the most
harm.
What
Happens When I Fail To Pay My Bills (Nolo.com)
Short takes on student loans, mortgages, utilities, car payments, etc.
Negotiating
With Creditors (Before Settlement)
What every debtor should know
before negotiating with their creditors.
Learn about the risks and realities of being in debt, the
importance of statutes of limitation, and how long a debt can remain on
your credit report.
Negotiating
With Your Creditors (During Settlement)
Negotiate your loan amount and
your credit rating!
Paying
Off Your Debts Once You've Settled
Essential strategies for paying
off your debt after you've settled with your creditors.
Debt Consolidation
The Pros and Cons of consolidating your debt. Also has articles and an
interest calculator.
Bankruptcy
Divorce
Home Matters
Student Loans
Back To Top
Debt Collectors
Options, Tips & Advice
Negotiating your debt, credit counseling, bills to pay off first, etc.
Credit Repair (Consumer-SOS)
Frequently Asked Questions on Owing Money & Debt Collection Find out things like: How long before your overdue bill is sent to a collection agency? Whether a credit card company or the IRS can force the sale of your home in order to pay your bill? And what to do if you think a debt collector has violated the law?
Basic Debt Collection and Consumer Protection In Georgia
How creditors can and cannot collect debts.
See situation # 9 and #10 for Auto Repossession.
This document describes the law relating to debt collection and basic
consumer protection laws.
Fair
Debt Collection Practices Act (Regulates Debt Collectors)
Describes what debt collectors may and may not do if you
owe money. It applies only to third party debt collectors (i.e.,
collection agencies), or those who use a name other than their own in
collecting consumer debts. Very few commercial banks, savings banks,
savings and loan associations, or credit unions are covered by this Act,
since they usually collect only their own debts. Complaints concerning
debt collection practices, such as harassment or abuse, should generally
be filed with the Federal Trade Commission.
Using The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Debt Collection Letter
Use this letter to ask collection agencies to provide you with information
concerning their basis for claiming that you owe a debt ("verification of
the debt") and also ask them to stop contacting you. This only applies to
collection agencies, not to creditors who directly sold you goods or gave
you credit or loaned you money.
Fair
Credit Reporting Act
Establishes procedures for correcting mistakes on an
individual's credit record. A credit record may be retained seven years
for judgments, liens, suits and other adverse information except for
bankruptcies, which may be retained ten years. If a consumer has been
denied credit, a free credit report may be requested within 30 days of
denial.
Fair
Credit Reporting Act Amendment(1996)
Strengthens privacy provisions and defines more clearly the
responsibilities and liabilities of businesses that provide information
to-and access data from-credit reporting agencies. The Fair Credit
Reporting Act (FCRA). Employers, or prospective employers must obtain an
applicant's written consent prior to obtaining credit information,
background, and medical information regarding an applicant.
Fair Credit Billing
Act
Establishes procedures for the prompt correction of errors
on open-end credit accounts. It also protects a consumer's credit rating
while the consumer is settling a dispute.
Where To Go For Help
Getting help from the government, non-profits and the media.
Debt
Collection FAQs (Nolo.com)
Debt Collectors/Your Rights/Form Letters (May Take A While To
Download)
The Fair Debt
Collection Practices Act Letter
If you're not from GA, address your letter to the
Federal Trade
Commission Nearest You
State
& Federal Laws Governing Credit Matters (All 50 States)
Select your state and see what additional protections your state offers in
addition to federal law. For federal laws, scroll down to their federal
section and click on the link of your choice.
Back To Top
Misc.
Basic Debt Collection and Consumer Protection In Georgia
How creditors can and cannot collect debts.
See situation # 9 and #10 for Auto Repossession.
This document describes the law relating to debt collection and basic
consumer protection laws.
Fair
Debt Collection Practices Act (Regulates Debt Collectors)
Describes what debt collectors may and may not do if you
owe money. It applies only to third party debt collectors (i.e.,
collection agencies), or those who use a name other than their own in
collecting consumer debts. Very few commercial banks, savings banks,
savings and loan associations, or credit unions are covered by this Act,
since they usually collect only their own debts. Complaints concerning
debt collection practices, such as harassment or abuse, should generally
be filed with the Federal Trade Commission.
Using The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Debt Collection Letter
Use this letter to ask collection agencies to provide you with information
concerning their basis for claiming that you owe a debt ("verification of
the debt") and also ask them to stop contacting you. This only applies to
collection agencies, not to creditors who directly sold you goods or gave
you credit or loaned you money.
Fair
Credit Reporting Act
Establishes procedures for correcting mistakes on an
individual's credit record. A credit record may be retained seven years
for judgments, liens, suits and other adverse information except for
bankruptcies, which may be retained ten years. If a consumer has been
denied credit, a free credit report may be requested within 30 days of
denial.
Fair
Credit Reporting Act Amendment(1996)
Strengthens privacy provisions and defines more clearly the
responsibilities and liabilities of businesses that provide information
to-and access data from-credit reporting agencies. The Fair Credit
Reporting Act (FCRA). Employers, or prospective employers must obtain an
applicant's written consent prior to obtaining credit information,
background, and medical information regarding an applicant.
Fair Credit Billing
Act
Establishes procedures for the prompt correction of errors
on open-end credit accounts. It also protects a consumer's credit rating
while the consumer is settling a dispute.
State Caps On Interest Rates/Usury (All 50 States & DC)
Careful! These caps may not apply to national and federally
chartered banks, pawnshops, payday loans, rent to own contracts, and
certain other lenders.
Note: Credit card rates are limited by the usury laws found in the
lender's home state and not in that of the borrower's.
State
& Federal Laws Governing Credit Matters (All 50 States)
Select your state and see what additional protections your state offers in
addition to federal law. For federal laws, scroll down to their federal
section and click on the link of your choice.
Summary
of Federal Credit Laws
How Various Kinds Of Debt Are Treated In Bankruptcy
Soldiers' and Sailors' Relief Act:
If you're a reserve component service member called to active duty, you're
protected by a law that can save you some legal problems and possibly some
money as well. Under the provisions of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil
Relief Act of 1940, you may qualify for any or all of the following: •
Reduced interest rate on mortgage payments. • Reduced interest rate on
credit card debt. • Protection from eviction if your rent is $1,200 or
less. • Delay of all civil court actions, such as bankruptcy, foreclosure
or divorce proceedings.
Chapter
7 & Debt Reaffirmation
Privacy
& Identity Theft (Consumer-SOS)
Small Loans On Line Complaint Form (Need Acrobat Reader)
Garnishments (Brief Overview)
Debt Collectors & Your Rights
(Consumer-SOS)
The Credit Practices Rule (FTC Brochure On Your Rights)
What The lender cannot ask for as collateral, prohibited contract
provisions, and required disclosures and notices.
Where To Go For Help
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Related Topics
Banks
Bankruptcy
Divorce
Home Matters
Secured Credit Cards
Using
Secured Credit Cards (BBB Basics)
Secured
Credit Cards (List Of Cards & Options)
www.debtworkout.com/altcc.html
A Website site dedicated to helping debtors and others with credit
problems to obtain either a secured or unsecured credit card for the
purpose of re-establishing good credit.
Back To Top
Disputing
Billing Errors/Bad Services & Bad Merchandise
Disputing
Billing Errors/Bad Services & Bad Merchandise
Fair Credit Billing
Act
Establishes procedures for the prompt correction of errors
on open-end credit accounts. It also protects a consumer's credit rating
while the consumer is settling a dispute.
Fair
Credit Reporting Act
Establishes procedures for correcting mistakes on an
individual's credit record. A credit record may be retained seven years
for judgments, liens, suits and other adverse information except for
bankruptcies, which may be retained ten years. If a consumer has been
denied credit, a free credit report may be requested within 30 days of
denial.
Fair
Credit Reporting Act Amendment(1996)
Strengthens privacy provisions and defines more clearly the
responsibilities and liabilities of businesses that provide information
to-and access data from-credit reporting agencies. The Fair Credit
Reporting Act (FCRA). Employers, or prospective employers must obtain an
applicant's written consent prior to obtaining credit information,
background, and medical information regarding an applicant.
Where To Go For Help
Getting help from the government, non-profits and the media.
Back To Top