Thursday, November 19, 2009

Knowing What Exactly is Health Insurance

Many people right now are actually asking what health insurance is. The fact is that, health insurance is actually a concept that may differ depending on the place that you are. In this case, remember that there are countries that provide free medical care to their citizens, in which the government will actually hold responsibility for paying your bills, for they will reimburse the doctors. Such countries actually include the Untied Kingdom, the Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden), France, and even Canada. Sadly, this is not true for the United States.

This is then reason why this kind of insurance is important for you to know, as long as you live in the US. Remember that in this country, health care is not provided free by the government. In this case, whenever you want to have security when you need to pay for your medical bills, the best thing that you can have is affordable health insurance. Just like many other insurance, health insurance is only helpful whenever you actually need it. Obviously, you cannot be able to take advantage of its benefits, unless you are actually sick.

In this case, you may never be sure. Remember that there is not a single person who is immune to diseases. In fact, all people will surely experience a disease or an illness, the only question is when and how bad. This is where getting insurance concerning health care comes into importance. Take a look then at the different kinds of health insurance in the US:


1. Self insured or uninsured This kind of health-related insurance refers to two types of individuals. First, this type actually refers to individuals who have no health-related insurance at all. The second type of individuals is the one who has insurance, and is solely responsible for paying his/her premiums. Facts show us that 30% of the American population actually falls into self-insured or uninsured category.

2. Managed care plans This is the kind of health plan that actually provides contracted service, which is in turn offered by specified providers. In addition, there are also contracted prices for such insurance.

3. Indemnity plans This is the most expensive kind of health-related insurance. However, it is also the one that offers the best protection for you. This is because of the fact that indemnity plans enable you to get the needed medical treatment whenever you may be and wherever you choose.

For help in selecting the right type of health insurance for you and your family, visit Insurancecaredirect. Here you can also get details on low cost health insurance which might interest you.

The Fundamentals of Real Estate

Real estate is the business of buying a house for the purpose of living in it or buying a house for the purpose of selling it for profit; either way, you want to be sure that the house you purchase is one that fits your requirements.

The real estate business is available anywhere you have a community with housing facilities; it is a business that can be found mostly in areas where industrialization is most predominant.

California real estate is usually extremely popular because of the favourable climatic conditions, work opportunities, white stretch of sandy beaches and the general welcoming aura of the state; telling your friends in California to keep their eyes peeled out for a good real estate deal can help you find something much faster than normal.

You can convince friends or acquaintances to pull in their resources to invest into a real estate that you cannot own alone; you can all split the profits if you get the right people in with you.

Real estate that is accompanied by a thorough and professional evaluation of the real estate or property can yield much more profit than you could ever imagine; the rule, is to look for a property who know has potential.


You should be a person whose mind is flexible because sometimes, in looking for a real estate deal, because the type of property you require may not be readily or easily obtainable; modifying them a bit can get you off the waiting line for a hot real estate deal.

It is imperative that you are well informed about a particular property you may be planning to invest in especially if it is located in a place which has the tendency to yield much profit after a particular period of time.

Getting a good real estate deal at an affordable price is bound to take time especially if you are looking for one in areas such as Orlando or California where the population is high and the demand for real estate is also high; a little extra effort in searching and a little patience can get you what you want.

A good way of getting vital information about real estate in a particular location is by enlisting the help of your friends who live there to relay information about any available real estate deal to you.

The first thing to take into consideration when thinking about hiring the services of a real estate agent is his/her reputation; is it pristine and devoid of dirty deals? A good reputation gives you the assurance to entrust a real estate search to him/her.

Looking to find the best deal on Foreclosures, then visit www.yoursite.com to find the best advice on Loan Mitigation for you.

Easy Ways To Slash Your Auto Insurance Costs

Here's 7 easy ways to get the best possible auto insurance deal.

* Multiple Quotes

Get multiple quotes - use the internet and call a few brokers. It's easy to gather some good comparison quotes.

Remember to get different types of quotes e.g one from a direct-sell insurance company; another from an offline broker who keeps a database of quotes; and a couple from the internet.

Cheapest might not mean best. Will they pay out if you make a claim ? How financially secure ? How reputable ? Check around with family and friends, and look for online reviews.

* Different type of car

Insurance costs vary depending on car type. Obviously, that $100k sports model costs more to insure than your average runabout. If you're planning to buy a new car, check insurance costs before you buy. I once set my heart on a beautiful, high performance, highly tuned Pontiac.

Luckily I checked the auto insurance before I bought it, because I couldn't get insurance. Every broker, every insurance company flat turned me down because I lived in a high car-crime area. So I had to forget the car of my dreams until I moved up-town.

* Age and Value of Car

Maybe you're buying a used car ? Maybe your car saw better days a few years ago, and now values much lower ? So why pay for high-priced auto insurance ? In particular, do you still need fully comprehensive coverage ?

A good rule of thumb multiplies insurance premium by 10, and compares that figure with your car value. So if you're quoted $1000 premium and your car is worth less than $10,000 you may want to think if comprehensive represents good value. If you drop collision and/or comprehensive coverage, you should get big savings.

* Higher deductibles (excess charges)

Most auto insurance companies use deductibles to keep policy cost down. Deductibles, or excess charges, show what you pay before your auto insurance policy kicks in. Try requesting quotes with different levels of deductibles, and see how your quotes vary.

Most internet quote forms contain a box where you can specify preferred level of deductibles. Ask your broker his recommended level. For example, going from $250 to $500 deductible can slash your insurance costs by 20% or more. Go to $1000 and you save a lot of money. But you must pay the deductible if you need to make a claim !

* Multiple Insurances

I guess this might come under the 'Get Multiple Quotes' heading, but it's still worth mentioning separately. You usually get an insurance break if you buy multiple policies with the same insurer.

This might mean multiple vehicles, or homeowner and auto insurance. Either way it's worth asking about multi-policy discounts.

* Low Mileage

More and more people work at home. No more commuting. Fewer business trips. Low mileage on your car. Maybe you do travel to work, but car pool ?

Either way, look for low mileage discounts.

* Good Driving Record

A good driving record always reduces your auto insurance costs. Keep a clean drivers license. Don't speed, don't drive dangerously, and you'll save money (apart from other benefits !)

* Bonus Tip

Okay, I said '7 Ways...', but here's some extra tips. Fit anti-theft devices to your car. Go on an advanced driver training course. Use daytime running lights. If you're a college student away from home, consider adding to parents policy.

This short article covers the things you must consider when shopping for auto insurance. Follow these tips and you'll slash your auto insurance costs.

7 Auto Insurance Tips

1) Raising your deductible

Deductible is the amount you pay from your pocket before making an insurance claim. The disadvantage of raising your claim is when you make a claim, you will pay more. However, if you are a safe driver, you will overtime save more money by raising your insurance deductible. Look at your previous insurance claim history and make a discreet decision for yourself.

2) Older Auto - Drop comprehensive / collision coverage

If your car is not worth much, why pay for comprehensive and collision insurance coverage. You can visit a myriad of online sites to find true worth of your car. Additionally your insurance broker might be able to pull up the true worth of your vehicle.

3) Taking advantage of low mileage

Some auto insurance companies will give discounts if you drive less than a certain number of miles or drive less than a certain distance to work.

4) Moving - Consider insurance costs

If you are considering moving, it will be a good idea to call your insurance agent and get his opinion on the insurance costs in the new city or state.

5) Low profile vehicle

Your vehicle will also determine your overall insurance costs. Some of the cars are favorite for thieves since they fetch a good price. Some cars are more expensive to repair. It makes a lot of sense to do adequate amount of research before you make your auto purchase.

6) Make sure your vehicle is correctly listed by your insurance agent

Many manufacturers offer somewhat similar model names for vehicles but insurance costs may vary. Additionally 2 or 4 door or the wrong model can impact your auto insurance quote.

7) Have your insurance broker check other insurance company discounts

A lot of companies will offer discounts if you and your spouse are insured with the same insurance company. Additionally, if you seek home insurance, life insurance, auto insurance from the same insurance company, you will get some discounts. Check with your insurance agent on saving money.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Equifax Free Online Credit Report

There are three credit report bureaus where you can obtain your free online credit report, one of which is Equifax. Equifax could very well be one of the oldest credit reporting bureaus around as they have been providing lenders with credit reporting services for over one hundred years!

Founded in 1899, Equifax has been providing creditors and lenders with credit reports – both online as well as through the mail. They have a proven track record with over $1.4 billion dollars in revenue with 4,600 employees in 13 countries. With the advent of the Internet, Equifax became even more popular as they were able to launch their website where people could obtain free online credit reports with a few keystrokes.

Of course, that wasn’t always the case. Up until 2003 when the FACT Act was passed, regular everyday consumers weren’t able to access their own credit reports. The only people who were privy to this information were credit lenders and even today, the formula for calculating the all-important credit score remains a mystery – with the blessing of the FTC.

After the FACT Act passed, all Americans were given the right to obtain an Equifax credit report online for free – or from either of the other two credit reporting bureaus as well. You can do this in a variety of ways.

The easiest way to get your free credit report online from Equifax is to go to their website directly at www.equifax.com. Once you are there, they will prompt you to press a link button that will take you to an online form that will get you on your way towards obtaining your free Equifax credit report.

You will be asked to provide personal information like your name, address, and social security number among other information. Then they will ask you about something specific that is on your credit report so they can verify you are you. After that, your free online credit report from Equifax will appear directly on your computer screen.

At that point, you can not only view your credit report, but you can also download it to your computer’s hard drive or print it out for further inspection. It is especially important for you to immediately check for errors as mistakes can wreak havoc with your all-important credit score.

Equifax is one of the giants in the credit reporting industry. They have made it much easier for consumers to obtain an online copy of their free credit reports at the Equifax website. Look for them online, do your homework when it comes to how to read your credit report and then use it to your advantage – keeping your good credit or repairing your bad credit.

California Credit Card Debt Consolidation

If you live in the state of California, you are lucky in that you have many choices when it comes to finding a credit card debt consolidation company. Most of the largest credit card debt consolidation companies have branches in California so you will no doubt be able to find someone to help you with your credit card debt.

A credit card debt consolidation company will work with you and your creditors to lower the amount of debt that you owe them by getting a debt consolidation loan that will pay off all of your creditors. They will negotiate with the credit card companies to get a lower pay-off rate that will lessen the amount of money that you will have to pay them.

After that, they will find you a debt consolidation loan that will pay off all the creditors and allow you to make one payment to the lending company instead of many payments to your various creditors. They will also provide you with credit counseling so that you don’t get into the same trouble you were in before when it comes to credit card debt.

The people of California are especially lucky since there are so many different credit card consolidation companies to choose from. Start with Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS). They are located on the web at www.cccsintl.org and can give you an online consultation about your debt and what they can do for you.

Another great website for you to check out is www.lowermybills.com. They are another great credit card debt consolidation with a branch in California. This website also gives some excellent advice on how to get out of credit card debt, how to keep from getting back into debt, and much, much more.

When you are looking for a reputable credit card debt consolidation company in the state of California, you’ll need to look for one that has a written agreement regarding their services and their fees. This documentation should be done in writing and should include an “out clause” that allows you to cancel your contract if you aren’t happy with their services. They are also required to advise you of your rights and options when it comes to consolidating your credit card debt by using their company.

The laws of California don’t differ a whole lot from other states when it comes to credit card debt consolidation. Just take your time and do your research. Then choose a company you are comfortable with and let them take over to get you out of debt and back on the road toward financial freedom.

Consumer Credit

When we refer to consumer credit, we are talking about the use of credit to finance transactions without having to pay the full amount of the merchandise at the time of checkout. The most common form of consumer credit is a credit card issued by a financial institution.
Merchants may also provide financing for products which they sell. Banks may directly finance purchases through loans and mortgages. This type of consumer credit is most often used for cars and homes and other large purchases.
The law of consumer credit is primarily embodied in federal and state statutory laws. These laws protect consumers and provide guidelines for the credit industry. There are many different laws that protect both the lender as well as the borrower when it comes to consumers obtaining credit.
States have passed various statutes regulating consumer credit. The Uniform Consumer Credit Code (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uniform/vol7.html#concc) has been adopted in eleven states and Guam. Its purpose is to protect consumers obtaining credit to finance their transactions, ensure that adequate credit is provided, and govern the credit industry in general.
Congress passed the Consumer Credit Protection Act in part to regulate the consumer credit industry. It requires creditors to disclose credit terms to consumers. The Consumer Credit Protection Act also protects consumers from loan sharks, restricts the garnishing of wages, and established the National Commission on Consumer Finance to investigate the consumer finance industry.
Credit card companies and credit reporting agencies are also regulated by the Act. The Act also prohibits discrimination based on sex or marital status in the extending of credit. The Act also regulates certain debt collectors and provides for rules as to what they can and cannot do when attempting to collect a debt.
Let’s face it, we need to have credit. We may not need it for everyday things like groceries and toiletries, but if we want to own a car or a home, it’s necessary as not every consumer can pay cash for such high ticket items making obtaining credit a must.
From credit counseling agencies to credit card companies and credit lenders, consumer credit is a multi-billion dollar industry. Because we do need lines of credit to get some important things in our lives, it’s a good thing that legislators realize that having consumer credit laws is needed so that abuse of the system doesn’t occur.
The everyday consumer has at least one line of credit open, but the average in the United States shows that we have at least four to five lines of credit in some way, shape, or form. As a consumer, you must use your credit lines wisely and pay your installments on time. If you don’t, you will find yourself with a bad credit rating and a bad credit report. Consumer credit can work for you or against you – it’s really all up to YOU!

CCCS Consumer Credit Counseling Service

One of the most prominent companies that exists today in the field of consumer credit counseling is CCCS – Consumer Credit Counseling Services. CCCS has been providing consumer credit counseling services to clients for years and they have a proven track record for getting people out of debt and on the road towards financial freedom.

CCCS starts out by analyzing your current financial situation and then developing a personal financial assessment. This includes looking at your income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. After they have the big picture, they can start making suggestions on how you can get out of debt and start living your life financially stable and with a good credit record. Consumer credit counseling services like those offered by CCCS have become big business and they are a good option for people who have gotten themselves into financial trouble and don’t know how to get out of it.

This company offers a plethora of advice and tools on their website that can help educate you about the bad habits that got you into financial trouble in the first place and then help you take steps to change your spending habits so that the trouble doesn’t continue. CCCS is one of the first companies to offer these services and they have a great reputation in the financial industry.

Besides offering credit counseling, CCCS will also offer up educational workshops, community partnerships, and financial incentives that can not only teach you about the proper way to use credit, but also how to clean up any messes you’ve made when it comes to your own credit and credit score.

Probably one of the handiest tools on their website – which can be found at www.cccsintl.org – is the financial worksheets that can help determine your debt to income ratio which can make a difference when you apply for a loan or a line of credit. See, what the financial institutions look at when they are deciding whether or not to give you a loan is whether or not you will have enough income to make the payments required to repay the loan. If your debt exceeds your income, you won’t get the loan. This can be a very valuable tool as you will be able to look at your debts and try to find ways to cut down and conserve so that your income exceeds your debt instead of the other way around.

CCCS – Consumer Credit Counseling Services – is a great company that can help people of all walks of life – both those with credit problems as well as those who want to prevent credit problems. Check them out and take advantage of all they have to offer to make your financial statement look as good as it can.

Illinois Consumer Credit Counseling Services

One of the largest companies to offer consumer credit counseling services – CCCS – has a branch in the state of Illinois located in Chicago. They offer complete consumer credit counseling services to citizens in the entire state of Illinois that can help people get out of debt and become more financially stable with what they have to offer.

The Illinois bureau of consumer credit counseling services will take a look at your total financial picture through a personal interview that can be done online or in person. They will examine your debts, your income, your assets, and your liabilities. After a thorough examination is done, they will make suggestions to help you get out of debt and stay out of debt. Of course, there will be a fee for this service, but it might well be worth the money – especially if you find yourself deep in debt with a horrible credit report.

A Consumer Credit Counseling plan is a voluntary plan that serves the dual role of helping you repay your debts and helping creditors receive the money owed to them. Without the education that can be offered by the Consumer Credit Counseling team, will not be difficult to make well-informed financial decisions. Consumer credit counseling services are offered in all states including Illinois.

You can also find information on the Internet as well which can be a great tool since they can often do a financial analysis online for you. That save you time and lets them take time to thoroughly review your case so the suggestions they do make are good for you and your particular situation.

Of course, there are other companies in Illinois that do offer consumer credit counseling services. A quick web search turns up over 150 in the state. If you are looking for a consumer credit counseling service in the state of Illinois, you will want to do some extensive research to make sure that the company you are dealing with is a legitimate business with a proven track record that will actually be able to help you.

Check with the Better Business Bureau and even ask the company themselves to provide you with documentation that they are on the up and up. Of course, any information that comes from the company should be followed up on as they are able to sway any literature to their side. What we are saying is that the residents of Illinois should be looking for a legitimate credit counseling service to help with their financial problems. Then you will be able to enjoy a debt free life and be able to breathe easily.

Consumer Credit Counseling Services Branch

Consumer credit counseling services are all over the place and finding a branch office from one of the larger companies can be a daunting proposition. All over the United States and even the world, there are many different branches of the leading consumer credit counseling company – CCCS or Consumer Credit Counseling Services.

A quick search of their website at www.cccsintl.org shows that there are branches all over the world for this great consumer credit counseling company. They have a great reputation for getting people out of debt and helping them stay out of debt. You can find a branch somewhere near you no matter how small the town you live in is.

When you visit a branch of a consumer credit counseling service, you will have to provide them with all of your financial information so that they can thoroughly go over your current credit situation and then offer advice and support so that you can pay off your bills and outstanding debts. They will then help you develop a budget as well as a game plan that will keep you out of debt and be able to maintain a good, clean credit rating.

They do charge a fee for their services, but when it comes to consumer credit counseling, the fee is a small price to pay. Look at it this way – you somehow got into trouble with spending money. Maybe you spent it on something worthwhile like a new car or perhaps you just swiped your credit card one too many times at Wal Mart. The truth is that you are in trouble with your credit rating and you need to find a way to pay your debts and get back on track.

The experts at any branch of consumer credit counseling services have extensive experience and training that can help specifically with any problems like these. They have found ways to negotiate with your creditors to come up with a repayment plan that you can afford and that you wouldn’t be able to come up with on your own.

The best part about a consumer credit counseling service is that they will stick with you through the whole process. That means that once you’ve worked jointly together to develop a repayment plan, you can also develop a budget that will keep you on track and be able to stay out of credit “hell”.

To find a branch for consumer credit counseling services, look in your local yellow pages under “Credit Counseling Services”. You can also do a search on the Internet say through the yellow pages section at yahoo.com. Another option is to call the home office for consumer credit counseling services to find a branch near you. Their toll-free number is 1-800-873-2227.

Houston Consumer Credit Counseling Services

One of the largest companies to offer consumer credit counseling services – CCCS – has a branch located in Houston in the great state of Texas. They offer complete consumer credit counseling services to citizens in the entire Houston area that can help people get out of debt and become more financially stable with what they have to offer.

The Houston bureau of consumer credit counseling services will take a look at your total financial picture through a personal interview that can be done online or in person. They will examine your debts, your income, your assets, and your liabilities. After a thorough examination is done, they will make suggestions to help you get out of debt and stay out of debt. Of course, there will be a fee for this service, but it might well be worth the money – especially if you find yourself deep in debt with a horrible credit report.

A Consumer Credit Counseling plan is a voluntary plan that serves the dual role of helping you repay your debts and helping creditors receive the money owed to them. Without the education that can be offered by the Consumer Credit Counseling team, will not be difficult to make well-informed financial decisions. Consumer credit counseling services are offered in various place throughout Texas including Houston.

You can also find information on the Internet as well which can be a great tool since they can often do a financial analysis online for you. That save you time and lets them take time to thoroughly review your case so the suggestions they do make are good for you and your particular situation.

Of course, there are other companies in Houston that do offer consumer credit counseling services. A quick web search turns up over 50 in the area alone. If you are looking for a consumer credit counseling service in Houston, you will want to do some extensive research to make sure that the company you are dealing with is a legitimate business with a proven track record that will actually be able to help you.

Check with the Better Business Bureau and even ask the company themselves to provide you with documentation that they are on the up and up. Of course, any information that comes from the company should be followed up on as they are able to sway any literature to their side. What we are saying is that the residents of Houston should be looking for a legitimate credit counseling service to help with their financial problems. Then you will be able to enjoy a debt free life and be able to breathe easily.

Consumer Credit Card Counseling Services

If you have found yourself overwhelmed by credit card debt, you might want to seek out the services of a consumer credit card counseling service. They actually are a part of consumer credit counseling services that are available to consumers all over the world. They can help with counseling services when it comes to your credit card debt as well as any other debt that can be affecting your credit report and your credit rating.

The most prominent credit card counseling service is Consumer Credit Counseling Service. They have locations all over the United States as well as in thirteen countries. You can find them online as well as in your local Yellow Pages. They have a proven reputation for helping people get out of credit card debt and back on their feet.

There are other consumer credit card counseling services available to Joe Public and they can most often be found on the Internet. Just do a Google search for consumer credit card counseling services and you will find many, many companies to choose from. You’ll need to be cautious, however, when picking a company blindly like this.

Take a moment to ask questions about their company. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints filed against them. If you think they are reputable and decide to use them to get out of credit card debt, make sure that all of their services are spelled out on paper and read the fine print.

A reputable consumer credit card counseling service will advise you of your rights as a consumer as well as a customer of theirs. They will outline up-front what services you can expect from them and have everything in writing so you will know that you are protected. Be sure you look for an “out clause” that allows you to cancel your contract if you are unhappy with their services.

You will pay a fee for their services, but it’s often quite a manageable fee. The consumer credit card counseling service will then call your creditors and negotiate re-payment of the account. They can often get the credit card company to lower the amount due if the account will be paid in one lump sum. They also can often get your financing percentage rate lowered which can lower your monthly payment to them.

Consumer credit card counseling services provide a great option for people who have gotten themselves in over their heads with credit card debt. Proceed carefully and be a smart consumer. You will soon find that you can enjoy a debt free life!

Consumer Counseling Credit Service – Knock Out Debt

If you are interested making efforts to knock out your debt, you might want to consider hiring a consumer credit counseling service to help you. They can not only help you knock out debt, but they can also get you on the road toward financial independence and keep you out of the spending habits that got you into trouble in the first place.

A consumer credit counseling service will work with your creditors to knock out your debt and make repayment arrangements as well as possibly reducing the amount of interest that you are currently paying. The consumer credit counseling service has agreements with many companies and they work with them to make repayment terms that you can stick to and get back on track.

It can be difficult to knock out your debt on your own. That’s why consumer credit counseling services were founded and today, with more and more Americans deep in debt, they are becoming big business. Not only do they charge you a small fee for their services, they also receive a percentage of your payment from the credit companies they work with.

One of the largest and oldest consumer credit counseling service that exists to help people knock out debt is CCCS (Consumer Credit Counseling Service). They can be found online at www.cccsintl.org and can even do an online consultation with you regarding your debts and what they can do to help you out.

If you want to use another company, they abound – especially on the Internet. It seems like you can’t turn on the television or the radio without hearing about another company that promises to knock out your debt and make you financially solvent again.

When choosing a consumer credit counseling service to knock out your debt, you’ll want to choose carefully and make sure you are getting service from a reputable company. Do some research into their background and be sure there are no complaints that have been filed against them with the Better Business Bureau.

They are required to advise you of your rights when it comes to credit counseling and everything they will do to help you should be in writing. This should include an “out clause” that would allow you to cancel their service if you are dissatisfied with their performance.

You can try to knock out your debt on your own, but securing the help of a consumer credit counseling service is a better option – especially if you are deep in debt. They have a little more pull with creditors plus it looks good on your credit report showing that you are trying to not only get out of debt, but stay out of debt for good.

Consumer Credit Counseling Services Debt Consolidation

You’ve probably seen commercials for consumer credit counseling services that can help with your debt. One of the services that these consumer credit counseling companies offer is to help you obtain a debt consolidation loan that will help you get out of debt and become more financially solvent.

Basically, a debt consolidation loan that a consumer credit counseling service can obtain for you is a simple procedure. It involves the securing of a loan that will cover the amount of money that you owe to your creditors. That money is used to pay your creditors off completely and then you make one payment to the loan company instead of many payments to your individual creditors.

The consumer credit counseling service has access to many debt consolidation lenders that individuals don’t have on their own. They can help you find a debt consolidation loan that will work best for you allowing payments that are affordable for you and your situation.

Consumer credit counseling services can also negotiate with your creditors by letting them know you are getting a debt consolidation loan for your bills. That means the creditors are going to get paid, which they like. The counseling service can then negotiate with the creditors and perhaps get you a lower payoff amount than what you actually owe.

There are many advantages to a debt consolidation loan. First, you are just making one payment rather than many. If you’re like me, sometimes it’s difficult to keep track of who you owe and who you don’t – especially if you owe several different companies money. When you have a debt consolidation loan, there’s just one payment to make and it can often be directly taken out of your checking or savings account.

Having a debt consolidation loan also helps your credit report look a little better. Once your creditors are paid off, it shows on your credit report as paid in full. That means that you will have a zero balance with them and the account is showing as being in good standing. Of course, the debt consolidation loan will also show on your credit report, so it’s important for you to make that payment on time and not miss any or else you will undo all the good you did in the first place.

Of course, you can always pursue a debt consolidation loan on your own rather than going through a consumer credit counseling service, but the advantages of having this service far outweigh the disadvantages. With their contacts and their negotiating skills, you might be better off finding a company you can trust and get on the road toward being debt free!

Credit Card Debt

Americans are in credit card debt – some quite deep. Statistics show that the average American carries an average of $10,000 in credit card debt. That’s a lot of money! We are an instantaneous society meaning we want what we want when we want it. So when a consumer has a credit card, it’s often easy to just whip out the piece of plastic and charge purchases.

It’s not that we don’t intend to pay the bill – at least most of the time. Most people have good intentions when it comes to their credit card debt. They’ll pay the bill when they get their next paycheck, they’re expecting a cash windfall and they’ll pay the balance in full then, or they figure they can always make payments. But sometimes life happens and circumstances step in preventing people from paying down their credit card debt which is how many people get into trouble.

Credit card companies like this and they constantly deluge us with offers of low financing rates with high credit limits all in the hopes that they will run up a debt and then have to pay finance charges which is how they make their money. And those credit card offers are coming to people at younger and younger ages.

It’s not uncommon for a new high school graduate to get a credit card offer that they send in for. Many of these young people love the feeling of being able to charge merchandise without having to pay for it at the time. Many of these young people are also not financially savvy and the credit card debt piles up rather quickly.

If you find you have gotten yourself into a problem with credit card debt, it’s important for you to take steps right now to take care of it. That means you need to pay down that debt as quickly as you possibly can until you can achieve a zero balance. Probably the best idea to get out of credit card debt is to cut up the plastic and then make the largest payments you can for as long as you can to help take care of the problem.

Credit card debt is a fact of life for many Americans and it can affect credit ratings which can cause denial of a loan for a car or a home. Get out of credit card debt as soon as you possibly can. It will reflect well on your credit report and make potential future lenders trust you more as a good credit risk.

Help with Credit Card Debt Consolidation

Have you found yourself in trouble with credit card debt and want help with debt consolidation? Then I have good news for you! There are all sorts of places that can offer you help with your credit card debt through debt consolidation loans. Sometimes when you are in deep with credit card debt, the best help you can is with a company who specializes in debt consolidation.

These companies will work with your creditors to negotiate lower payoff amounts than what you actually owe. Then they will shop around for a debt consolidation loan that will pay off your creditors and allow you to make one monthly payment to the lending company rather than making several different payments to your individual creditors.

The help you can get through debt consolidation for your credit card debt as well as other debt can be invaluable because these debt consolidation companies have special training as well as contact with various creditors that can be of a great advantage to you. With these contacts, they can help lower your monthly payments by having the credit card companies agree to a lower payoff amount as they know you will be getting a debt consolidation loan and they will be receiving their money – which they really like!

You can find many companies that help you with credit card debt through a consolidation loan. You will want to make sure that you are dealing with a reputable company, however. Do your research before you sign on the dotted line. They should provide you with a detailed written copy of what they will be able to do for you and the rights that you have when you are working with them.

A debt consolidation company that is on the up and up will also advise you of your rights as a consumer and provide you with a way to “get out” of the contract if you are unsatisfied with their services. They should also outline their fees and how you will pay those fees.

Another part of the help that a debt consolidation company can do for you when it comes to credit card debt is they can help keep you out of debt. After you have obtained your debt consolidation loan and you are making regular, on-time payments, they will help devise a plan with you that will keep you from getting into trouble again and provide counseling services that you can use in the future. It’s well worth the money you’ll spend if you seek help with credit card debt through a consolidation company.

Credit Card Debt Counseling Service

Have you found yourself in trouble with credit card debt? You may want to seek out the services of a credit card debt counseling company. These businesses exist specifically for people like you who have gotten in too deep with credit card debt as well as other types of debt, and their counseling services can be a lifesaver when it comes to getting control of your finances.

A credit card debt counseling service will start by taking an in-depth look at all of your finances. That includes your income, your debts, your assets, and your liabilities. They will examine where you can make cuts to free up more money so you can start to pay down your credit card debt. After a thorough look at your financial statement, that’s where the real work begins.

Together, you and your debt counselor will make up a new plan for your financial future. A credit card debt counseling service has professionals who know the best ways to make up a financial plan that will work specifically for you. That means they will help you develop a budget that you can actually stick to. They will probably encourage you to cut up all your credit cards except for one and develop a savings plan as well so that you have a cushion to fall back on if you find yourself in trouble again.

Many people don’t use their credit cards wisely. They find themselves deep in debt because of that. One reason they overspend could be that they just don’t think before they whip out the plastic to pay for those new pair of boots or that new pair of sunglasses. A credit card debt counseling service will give you coping tools on how to resist the urge to charge and guide you toward paying cash instead of buying things you don’t need with money you don’t have.

Of course, having a credit card for emergencies is usually a good idea. But you really need to be able to resist using it for frivolous things. The counselor at your credit card debt counseling service will outline what defines an emergency and what doesn’t. They may even give you their phone number to call so that they can guide you in times of weakness.

A credit card debt counseling service is a great idea for people who are in debt too deep to get out on their own. The expertise and tools that they provide really can help get you back on the road to financial freedom and out of debt.

Counseling for Credit Card Debt

If you had a personal problem that was too big for you to handle on your own, you may seek out the help of a counselor to help you. If you are deep in credit card debt, the answer is really no different – you should go out and find counseling for that credit card debt. Counseling a person with excessive credit card debt is much like counseling a person with personal problems. The counselors give advice and coping strategies to help solve the problem.

There are literally hundreds of credit card debt counseling companies around the world and you want to make sure that you get one that is reputable and that can help you get out of debt. What should you look for? Here are a few things to consider:

* Make sure that the credit card debt counseling service is certified and accredited with a professional debt counseling association for reliability. In order for companies to become a part of that reliability association, they have to pass a series of tests to insure that they can provide the required services to provide effective counseling for credit card debt.
* A good debt counseling company will be able to put together a debt repayment plan that is tailored to your specific needs. If they try to sell you a “cookie cutter” debt repayment plan, they aren’t really counseling you with regards to your credit card – they are doing what they have to do in order to make money.
* Look for a debt counseling company that will charge you a percentage of the amount they will save you by negotiating with your creditors instead of a flat rate fee. If they charge a percentage, in order to make the most money, they will want to work harder to make your savings higher. By charging a flat rate fee, they know they are getting paid no matter what, so the incentive to work hard just won’t be there.
* Make sure you are getting a written agreement from the credit card debt counseling agency. If they don’t give you the terms in writing – run fast the other way!
* Finally, make sure that all services are kept confidential. The last thing you want is for people to be able to have access to your financial information, confidentiality is a must.


Getting counseling for your credit card debt is one of the most responsible things that you can do to become debt free and get out from under those bad financial decisions. Just take our advice and get a credit card debt counseling company you can rely on and who will work for you not against you.

College Students in Credit Card Debt

College students are running up an alarmingly large amount of credit card debt these days and it is only increasing with the passage of time. The average undergraduate student carries $2,500 in credit card debt and by the time they graduate from college, they are beginning their new lives in the “real world” with debt that they can’t pay.

Students figure: I'll live like I want to now and then when I get a job it will be easy to pay it back. This is often not the case. Lower-than-expected salaries, plus higher-than-expected living expenses and hefty student loan payments, make handling credit card debt all the more difficult for students and recent grads.

And the worse part about college students having so much credit card debt is that it takes so long to pay it off. Even if they are able to make the minimum payments, by sticking to minimum payments it would take a student more than 12 years and $1,115 in interest to pay off a $1,000 bill on a card with an 18 percent annual rate. If students fall behind in their payments, they get slammed with high late fees. And it's easy for things to get out of hand.

Of course, there are two sides to this story. Most college students start out with little and even no credit, so having a credit card seems like a good idea so they can start building a credit history in anticipation of owning a new or better car and even, someday their own home. Except for if they haven’t been warned of the dangers of using credit cards or are especially naĂŻve, this could be a bad move.

Credit card debt for college students affects many, many aspects of their college lives. They can’t pay their bills regularly and find themselves short of cash. Plus, it can affect their ability to secure a student loan which can be crucial with ever-rising tuition rates. And parents should beware of putting their college student on their own credit cars as an authorized user as the same debt can pile up under the parents’ names and cause some serious credit problems.

Armed with the right information, many students are able to establish credit and steer clear of card debt. Even though college students do carry credit card debt, 54 percent of college students pay off their credit card balances every month.
Most tend to be responsible and use the card wisely.

However, some of them don't and they're getting into trouble. If a person makes it through 18 years of life without any financial wherewithal, it's very difficult to change their behavior and that's why it's so important that parents speak to their children about money management. To keep a college student out of credit card debt, the key is teaching students money management skills before handing them a credit card.

Credit Card Debt for College Students

College students are running up an alarmingly large amount of credit card debt these days and it is only increasing with the passage of time. The average undergraduate student carries $2,500 in credit card debt and by the time they graduate from college, they are beginning their new lives in the “real world” with debt that they can’t pay.

Students figure: I'll live like I want to now and then when I get a job it will be easy to pay it back. This is often not the case. Lower-than-expected salaries, plus higher-than-expected living expenses and hefty student loan payments, make handling credit card debt all the more difficult for students and recent grads.

And the worse part about college students having so much credit card debt is that it takes so long to pay it off. Even if they are able to make the minimum payments, by sticking to minimum payments it would take a student more than 12 years and $1,115 in interest to pay off a $1,000 bill on a card with an 18 percent annual rate. If students fall behind in their payments, they get slammed with high late fees. And it's easy for things to get out of hand.

Of course, there are two sides to this story. Most college students start out with little and even no credit, so having a credit card seems like a good idea so they can start building a credit history in anticipation of owning a new or better car and even, someday their own home. Except for if they haven’t been warned of the dangers of using credit cards or are especially naĂŻve, this could be a bad move.

Credit card debt for college students affects many, many aspects of their college lives. They can’t pay their bills regularly and find themselves short of cash. Plus, it can affect their ability to secure a student loan which can be crucial with ever-rising tuition rates. And parents should beware of putting their college student on their own credit cars as an authorized user as the same debt can pile up under the parents’ names and cause some serious credit problems.

Armed with the right information, many students are able to establish credit and steer clear of card debt. Even though college students do carry credit card debt, 54 percent of college students pay off their credit card balances every month.
Most tend to be responsible and use the card wisely.

However, some of them don't and they're getting into trouble. If a person makes it through 18 years of life without any financial wherewithal, it's very difficult to change their behavior and that's why it's so important that parents speak to their children about money management. To keep a college student out of credit card debt, the key is teaching students money management skills before handing them a credit card.

Credit Card Debt Relief

You’ve been using that little plastic credit card more than you should have and now find yourself saddled with huge credit debt and no relief in sight. But don’t despair. The truth is that there IS relief for people who have a large amount of credit card debt. The average American carries $10,000 of credit card debt between two, three, and even four credit cards or more. That’s alarming when you think about it, and these people truly need some relief from the burden of credit card debt.

Carrying that much credit card debt seriously affects your ability to obtain loans for things like a car or a home. This is especially true if you are making late payments or skipping payments on your credit card debt. That’s why it’s important to find relief both monetarily as well as emotionally from the debt as soon as possible. There’s a reason why you’ve amassed this much debt, so addressing the underlying issues of why you’ve charged so much is just as important as trying to pay off your credit card balances.

First, you should not feel bad if you find yourself in a bad credit situation where you need to repay even a modest amount of credit card debt. Most all households across the United States have some type of credit card related debt and many of them need to at some point eventually seek out the services of a credit card debt relief service.

Consumers will find that debt relief from your credit cards can take on many different forms. The first step that you as the consumer should take is to owe up to whatever it is that you owe and what about your spending habits needs to be changed.

Are you someone who has the tendency to spend money that you don't really have? Has a horrible medical issue arisen in your family that has resulted in turning to credit cards in order to take care of monthly expenses? Whether you find yourself in one of these situations or another one all together it is very important that you at least try to make the minimum payments until you can seek out a much better solution to your issues.

If you have a large debt to income ratio it is likely that seeking out a credit card debt relief is going to be your best option. Being committed to changing your spending habits is needed for debt relief services to be most effective.

Credit card debt relief services can help you work with your credit cards companies often reducing the total amount that you owe and help you get back on track to getting all your debt paid off. In time you will find yourself in a much better financial position and using your credit cards much more responsibly.

Credit Rating

Back in the late 1950’s, a company named Fair Isaac came up with a way to assign a number to consumers that would reflect their credit worthiness which we know today as the credit rating. It is a three digit number that tells prospective lenders if you are a good credit risk or a bad credit risk. Your credit rating makes the difference between whether or not you can get a line of credit or a loan.

The credit rating is a snapshot of everything you’ve ever done regarding the use of credit and your payment history. Fair Isaac Company (FICO) compiles all of this information and then applies a complicated mathematical formula that calculates your credit rating. The formula is not public knowledge and this is done with the blessing of the Federal Trade Commission.

The average credit rating for an American today is 720. Basically, the higher your credit rating is, the more credit worthy you are and the less problem you’ll have obtaining credit and loans. However, there are also many, many people with credit scores that fall below the 630 mark which means they are a credit risk and are likely to be denied credit just because of this rating.

Now lenders often know that things happen in life that can’t be avoided. If your low credit rating is due to excessive medical bills or life-altering events that reflect poorly on your credit report, you may be able to talk with them and provide documentation and still get approved. That’s why it’s important to monitor your credit report and attach notes to explain anything that reflects poorly against you.

It’s vital that you keep your credit rating as high as possible. That can be done by simply paying your bills on time, not overspending, not carrying a lot of credit card debt, and being sensible when it comes to buying things on credit. You should also check your credit report on at least an annual basis to make sure there are no mistakes on it. One error can bring your score down dramatically.

While some don’t like the idea of their whole financial history being scaled down to one three digit number, but in the financial world, the credit rating does rule the awarding of credit. If you want to buy a home or a car or even secure a line of credit on a credit card, you will have to have a credit rating of at least 675 if not higher.

Take steps today to raise your credit rating. Then when you need important things in life, you’ll have no problems.

Moody’s Credit Rating

Many people may not be familiar with the Moody’s credit rating system or even Moody’s the company itself. The most prominent company in determining credit ratings is Fair Isaac, but Moody’s is also a player in the credit rating and financial market.

Moody’s provides more than just credit ratings. They also give lenders extensive research tools and risk analysis when it comes to consumers and their credit worthiness. They are a global company and employ over 3,000 people all over the world.
Moody’s credit ratings and research help investors analyze the credit risks associated with fixed-income securities. Such independent credit ratings and research also contribute to efficiencies in fixed-income markets and other obligations, such as insurance policies and derivative transactions, by providing credible and independent assessments of credit risk.
Moody's default studies validate their predictive ratings. Their published research and investor briefings draw thousands of attendees each year and keep investors current with the rationale underlying our credit opinions.
In addition to its ratings services, Moody's publishes investor oriented credit research, including in-depth research on major debt issuers, industry studies, special comments and credit opinion handbooks. While research, analysis and data are delivered through a number of channels, most of Moody's clients use www.moodys.com for access to such services in a real-time environment.
Customers who use the Moody’s credit rating service include a wide range of corporate and governmental issuers of securities as well as institutional investors, depositors, creditors, investment banks, commercial banks, and other financial intermediaries.
While your FICO credit rating is known as the industry standard, Moody’s is a company that provides much of the same services that FICO does including individual credit ratings as well as credit ratings of various companies and financial institutions. They have been around almost as long as Fair Isaac and have been providing credit ratings along with other risk analysis tools for just as long.

Essentially, Moody’s credit rating service caters to businesses and corporations while FICO caters to individuals. However, both are important in the financial world when it comes to determining credit worthiness. Lenders put a lot of stock into the Moody credit rating and they are highly respected in the business world.

We often live on credit – that includes businesses as well. Moody’s credit rating service helps to keep lenders safe when they are giving out money to various entities and they want to be sure they can provide the most accurate information as well as the most up-to-date information that is possible.

How to Remove a Negative Credit Rating

Your credit rating is very important when you need to obtain credit for something important and if you have a negative on your credit report you will want to remove it as soon as possible. Just one mistake can make a huge difference in your overall credit rating, so you will want to know how to go about removing that negative so your credit rating can rise.

The first thing you need to do is pull a copy of all three of your credit reports – one from each credit reporting bureau. Then check out the information that is one each of those three reports. If you do find an error, you need to take steps to have those errors corrected and removed. Here’s how to remove a negative entry on your credit report to raise your credit rating

All three of the credit reporting companies have online forms that you can complete when you have a negative entry on your credit report. Don’t use these forms. It’s much easier to just gather your information proving that the negative is incorrect and write a letter to the credit bureau. Documentation can be a receipt showing payment was made, a bill showing a negative balance, or a letter from the creditor saying that the bill has, indeed, been settled.

Then send your letter to the credit bureau via certified mail with a return receipt requested so you know the bureau did receive your letter. They will review your information and notify you of their decision. If it is in your favor, you will once again, need to get a copy of your credit report so you can verify that the negative has been removed.

If you have a negative credit rating right now, there’s no way that you can completely erase that negative. What you can do, however, is take steps to raise it. How do you remove a negative credit rating? Please know that it will take time and effort on your part, but the first thing to do is to take steps to pay down your credit card debt and make any other payments on a timely basis.

You may want to look into a debt consolidation loan so that you pay off your old creditors. The advantage to this is that you will be making just one payment to one company instead of multiple payments to multiple companies. Plus, it will reflect positively on your credit report and show that you are taking steps toward removing your negative credit rating nd trying to raise your credit score through smart financial practices.

There’s not much to know when it comes to knowing how to remove a negative credit rating. It just takes time and common sense!

Getting a Cell Phone Contract with a Bad Credit Rating

If you have a bad credit rating you might think it’s impossible for you to obtain a new phone contract such as for a cell phone. In some cases this is true, but more often than not, there are several options you can explore for a getting a phone contract with a bad credit rating.

First, you will want to check with the cell phone company and have them run your credit. If you do have bad credit, they will most often come back and tell you that in order to get a phone contract; you will have to put down a deposit on the contract. This shows good faith in that you are promising to pay the bill and if you don’t, you forfeit your deposit. I’ve seen phone contract deposits as high as $1,000 depending on how bad the person’s credit is. Most likely, it will be in the neighborhood of about $300, but be prepared.

The company may also offer you a pre-paid cell phone that is a month to month contract. These plans are made especially for people with a bad credit rating and getting a cell phone contract like this can actually help to raise your credit rating if you make on-time payments and don’t get the phone cut off.

A third option in getting a cell phone with a bad credit rating doesn’t even involve a contract. You can buy a phone at almost any retail outfit such as K-Mart, Wal-Mart, or Radio Shack. Phones like this require you to also purchase minutes for the phone in order to use it. If you run out of minutes, you just purchase more. These phones work much like regular cell phones, but they may have restrictions such as with roaming and long distance, so you’ll want to thoroughly check out the options before you buy.

Our world is filled with cell phones today, so for many people, getting a cell phone contract with a bad credit rating can be a real headache. The landline phone is quickly going the way of the dinosaur as more people turn to the convenience of cell phones for their communication needs. When you have a bad credit rating, getting a cell phone contract is more difficult than for people who have better credit ratings, but getting one can be done. You just have to take unconventional routes and try just a little bit harder.

Check Your Credit Rating For Free in the UK

If you are located in the UK and want to check your credit rating for free, we think we can help you. In America, the Federal Government passed the FACT Act back in 2003 that allows every American access to one free credit report per year. After some research, as of 2007, we could not find any record of a similar law in the United Kingdom although that could be erroneous information. However, all is not lost. If you live in the UK, you can check your credit rating for free – you will just have to take a different route.

Here’s a bit of information we found about checking your credit rating for free in the UK. First of all, one of the major credit reporting bureaus in the world is Experian. They will offer UK residents a free credit report when you sign up for a 30 day trial of their services. You can cancel any time within the 30 days and you will still have a copy of your credit report. You can find them online at www.experian.co.uk.

We also found a website called www.checkmyfile.com that offers UK residents many options for checking their credit ratings. Unlike in the US, at this website, you can see your credit score for free whereas Americans have to pay for this “secret” number. You can also obtain your credit report, but for a small fee. Check out the options on this website as they seem to have a lot to offer UK residents.

We did find a place where you can check your credit rating for free in the UK at a website called www.annualcreditreport.co.uk which says that as of January 2, 2007, you can get one free annual credit report. From what the website says, you enter in some personal information and they will e-mail you a special code. You can then go back to the website, enter your code and see your free credit report. They do ask that you subscribe to their newsletter and receive it regularly throughout the year, however, you can cancel at any time, so there’s really no strings attached here.

One thing you can also do to check your credit rating for free in the UK is to apply for a loan. The lender will pull your credit report to see if you are credit worthy and you can ask to look at the report. We’re not sure if they’re required to show it to you, but chances are very good that they will be happy to show it to you – especially if they have to turn you down for a bad credit rating.

Good Credit Rating Score

What does it take to get a good credit rating score? Well, first it takes time. Having good credit doesn’t happen overnight. You’ll need to actually HAVE credit before you worry about a good credit rating score. To do that, you may want to start out small with a department store or gas credit card. These are relatively easy to get. Once you have the card, charge some small items and then pay the bill off in full for several months. We must caution you here – don’t charge more than what you can pay off in full. If you carry a balance, it won’t reflect well on your credit report.

Another way to get a good credit rating score is to have a co-signer on a large loan like a car loan. The co-signer is basically guaranteeing that you will pay the loan and if you do, it will reflect very well on your credit report and raise your credit score. You see, what you need to get a good credit rating score is a history of on-time payments and no abuse of credit.

What we mean by that is that you don’t want to apply for and get several different credit cards and charge items on all of them. This just shows the credit companies that you are being irresponsible with your credit and have little financial finesse or know-how when it comes to managing money.

To get a good credit rating score, the most important thing to remember is to pay on time. We can’t stress this enough. Most companies that extend credit to you will allow you a grace period to make the payment. For example, if your payment is due on the first of the month, they usually tell you late charges will occur if you pay after the 13th. So essentially, you have between the 1st and the 13th to make your payment. While this sounds great, if you wait until the 13th to make your payment, this really can reflect poorly on your credit report. So if your bill is due on the 1st, pay it on the 29th, 30th, or 31st of the previous month just to be sure.

A great way to insure that you are making on-time payments is to have them deducted directly from your checking account. This alone will contribute toward a good credit rating score because it shows fiscal responsibility. Plus, it insures that your payments are made on time and you won’t miss any payments. Of course, you’ll have to be sure there’s enough money in your account to cover the payments since credit bureaus also look at your checking accounts.

Getting and maintaining a good credit rating score is actually quite easy when you set your mind to it.

Chinese Government Sovereign Credit Rating

The Sovereign credit rating of the Chinese government was recently upgraded by Standard and Poor’s as improving which is good news for the country of China. Let’s start by explaining what a sovereign credit rating is as it applies to the Chinese government. Essentially, countries issues bonds that are designed to raise money for the government to use. For example, the United States could issue a sovereign bond to the Chinese government that they can use as money that needs to be paid back.

In the past, many governments who have received sovereign bonds have not paid them back thus causing debt problems for the issuing country. Much like with consumers, a credit rating is then assigned to the borrowing country that shows their credit worthiness and whether or not they will be issued any more bonds. Classically, the Chinese government has defaulted on their sovereign bonds thus making their credit rating lower.

Recent improvements have been made in the repayment of the bonds issued to the Chinese government; their sovereign credit rating has been raised making them a slightly lower credit risk. Standard and Poor’s (S & P) is the company that monitors the sovereign credit ratings of various countries and they are the ones who have upgraded the Chinese government’s standing in the international market.

While some people disagree with the issuance of sovereign bonds to foreign countries, it’s all part of a way to generate income that can help impoverished countries produce goods that other countries – such as the United States – need and/or want. It’s sort of an investment in their country in an attempt to be sure that we can still receive things like food and mass produced goods from these countries.

All countries who borrow money through sovereign bonds have a sovereign credit rating. Often, it is disregarded by other countries, however, depending on what those countries are in need of. It’s like taking a roll of the dice on the off-chance that you’ll roll a 7 or 11 in craps and be a winner. Say we’re in need of a certain brand of tennis shoe that is produced cheaply in China, but the sovereign credit rating for the Chinese government is less than perfect. We still need those tennis shoes, so we might be inclined to go ahead and issue them a small bond so that they can produce the shoes that we need. They may or not pay back the bond, but it’s a chance we’re willing to take to fulfill our personal needs.

However, now that the Chinese government’s sovereign credit rating has been upgraded, things look good on the horizon when it comes to trade and supply.

People Getting an Unsecured Loan...

For people with a bad personal credit rating, it is much more difficult to obtain an unsecured loan than it would be for someone with a good credit rating. An unsecured loan is one that is made without anything to guarantee that the loan will be paid back. For example, a secured loan is one that is made with the understanding that if payments aren’t made on the car, the car will be repossessed. An unsecured loan would probably be a personal loan of some type.

If your personal credit rating is bad, you are in the same boat as some other people, but getting an unsecured loan isn’t necessarily out of the question. There are some companies who specialize in getting unsecured loans for people with a bad personal credit rating. They are experts in finding lenders who are willing to take a change on people just like you and helping you get the credit that you need.

The downfall in getting an unsecured loan with a personal bad credit rating is that your interest rate is probably going to be exorbitant. Often, it will fall into the double digit range and can be as high as twenty percent! While there is a certain amount of regulation that applies to loans like these, many companies can get away with it through certain loopholes in the government’s guidelines.

People with bad personal credit are often the ones that need the unsecured loans. One couple we read about had six children and were desperately trying to find a place to live rather than resort to a shelter. They had bad credit and couldn’t get a home loan. They found a trailer that was for sale by owner but couldn’t get a bank loan even with the trailer as collateral. So they went to one of the company’s as described above and got an unsecured loan at 19 percent interest to pay for their $3,000 trailer. They had a place to live, but they also had a huge debt to pay that just kept getting bigger and bigger.

It’s is unfortunate that there are people who have found themselves with a personal bad credit rating – especially when they are in need of an unsecured loan like the people described above. But that bad credit rating came about due to personal irresponsibility which is why we urge people to use credit wisely and keep your credit rating in a good spot lest you find yourself in trouble.

Consumer Credit Counseling Services

We are a country in debt and that debt can get out of control quickly which is why there is an ever growing need for consumer credit counseling services. These businesses specialize in helping people who are in debt over their heads and need help getting out of debt and back into financial stability. They are experts in helping people get out debt and get back on their feet.

How do you know if you need to find a consumer credit counseling service? Ask yourself these questions:

* Am I having trouble paying my bills each month?
* Am I constantly living paycheck to paycheck with nothing left over after my bills are paid?
* Do I get phone calls from debt collection agencies on a regular basis?
* Do I avoid answering those phone calls because I can’t pay the bills?
* Have I been unable to get credit for a car or home?

If you can answer “Yes” to any three of these questions, you probably should be seeking out the help of a consumer credit counseling service. All of the above questions are indicators that you might be in debt way over your head and you probably won’t be able to get out of trouble by yourself.

There are so many consumer credit counseling services that it might be overwhelming trying to find one that will meet your needs. Here are some things you must demand from a consumer credit counseling service:

* Everything should be provided to you in writing as to services they will be providing you
* Your fee should be a percentage of the amount of money they save you when negotiating with your creditors – not a flat fee.
* You should be advised of your rights as a consumer and what you can expect from them
* Their debt re-payment plan should be tailored to your personal needs – not a “cookie cutter” approach that can be used by almost anyone
* You should have the right to cease doing business with them if you are not happy with their services

Consumer credit counseling services can be great help when it comes to getting out of debt and staying out of debt. They will be able to help you devise not only a repayment plan for your creditors, but they will also be able to give you tools that will help keep you out of debt in the future as well.

Repair Your Credit

If you have found yourself in a situation where you have a bad credit score, you need to take immediate steps to repair your credit before it gets too out of hand. Credit scores are determined on the information contained in your credit report, so you need to begin by getting a copy of your credit report and checking it over for errors.

If you find any errors, you’ll need to notify the credit bureau by mail enclosing proof that the entry is erroneous. They will then review your request and are required to advise you within 30 days whether or not they are ruling in your favor. You should always send an error notification letter certified mail with return receipt requested so you know for sure that they have received your letter.

If they have ruled in your favor, check your credit report again to be sure that the error has been removed. Just a little correction of an error can be a big step toward the repair of your credit. It alone can make your credit score rise.

After you have thoroughly inspected your credit report, the next step to repairing your credit is to start working on your debt. You need to start paying down any credit card debt that you have accumulated. Keep paying your mortgage or your car loan if you have either or both. Be sure you pay on time and keep up to date without paying past the grace period you are given.

The best thing you can do for yourself when you are trying to repair your credit is to get rid of credit card debt and then don’t use credit anymore. Well, at least use it sparingly. If your credit card debt is too much for you to manage on your own, contact a debt consolidation company so that you can get a debt consolidation loan that will pay off all of your creditors and allow you to make just one payment instead of several.

There are also credit counseling center that can help you repair your credit. Not only can they help repair your credit, they can help you make a plan so that you never get into credit trouble again. That includes making a budget you can stick to and providing support if you find yourself in a situation where you might not be able to get out of on your own.

Take steps right now to repair your credit if it is less than perfect. In the long run, you will find that it will be well worth the effort and the time that you put in. Plus, it’s very satisfying to know that you are credit worthy!

Debt Settlement and Credit Repair

When you are trying to repair your credit, one of the first things that you should try is to get your creditors to agree to a debt settlement. What is a debt settlement? Basically, you will call your creditor and let them know that you want to pay off the account and ask them what the lowest number they will agree to. Most of your debt that you have accumulated is in interest and finance charges, so a lot of them will think about this and agree to a lower payment amount than what shows on your statement.

This writer came into some money through an inheritance and I owed a rather large credit card bill – over $9,000. I called the credit card company to let them know that I had a substantial amount of money that I could use to pay off the card but I couldn’t pay the full $9,000. After some negotiation, we agreed that if I would pay $6,400, the debt would be settled. I made the payment and my credit score rose almost immediately.

Not all companies will agree to debt settlement, but when you can find one who will, it can go a long way to repair your credit. Be honest with the company and tell them what you have to offer. If it is acceptable to them, the settlement of the debt will be finalized and you will be on your way toward credit repair.

There are other companies besides credit card companies who will agree to debt settlements. One of the biggest reasons that people get into credit problems is due to overly huge medical bills. These cannot be helped oftentimes and they can stack up very quickly causing huge blemishes on your credit report.

Believe it or not, you can make a debt settlement agreement with the medical companies that can go a long way to repair your credit. Check with the hospital to see if they have any special programs for people who are financial difficulty because of an illness that isn’t covered by insurance or for people who don’t have insurance. Almost all medical providers realize that medical care is expensive, so if you show them your total financial picture and at least try to make some type of settlement on your debt, they will be willing to accept it. Keep in mind that some won’t, but there’s really no harm in trying, now is there?

Using debt settlement agreements as a way to repair your credit is just a smart way to go. Make the phone calls and be prepared to negotiate. Many people will work with you if you show a good faith gesture to try and make your debt right through a settlement which will repair your credit in no time at all!

Monday, September 28, 2009

Online credit card

“Online credit card usage” – convenience at its best

Commerce and technology, combined as a one package – this is what online credit cards are.
With the advent of internet, the knowledge and communication barriers were broken. Also, with internet, came the concept of e-shops or virtual shops that existed only on the internet. You could shop at these shops by making use of their online credit card payment-acceptance ability. Once the online credit card payments were verified and approved, the goods got delivered to your door. This is what we call convenience at its best.

With more and more e-shops getting setup everyday, online credit card usage is becoming even more popular. The possibility of receiving online credit card payments has given a totally new dimension to shopping. Now, you can not only shop from the comfort of your home, you can even get discounts on these products. This is really amazing. No need to bother about the weather, no need to worry about the traffic jams or any other thing. Just go to an e-shop, select a product, make use of their online credit card payment-acceptance facility to make the payment and be ready to receive the goods at your doorstep.
With online credit card processing facility, starting a business (an online business) has become just unbelievably easy.

However, there is nothing without pitfalls. One of the pitfalls of online credit card usage is the possibility of online credit card fraud. This online credit card fraud can happen in two ways. The first one is related to the company, on whose website you made online credit card payment for purchase of goods; this company itself could be fraudulent i.e. it could take the online credit card payment from you but not deliver the goods to you. Moreover, they could use the details of your credit card (received through the filling up of online credit card payment form by you) for fraudulent purposes. The second type of fraud is committed by fraudsters who use various softwares/devices to capture the details of online credit card payments (as you enter them on the online credit card payment form of a website). These softwares are popularly known as spyware and these fraudsters as online spies. The spyware works by capturing keystrokes or taking screenshots of whatever you do on your computer and then passes it on to the spy. However, there are anti-spyware softwares available which can be used to counter such spyware.

So, the advent of online credit card usage facility is a boon to us. However, you must exercise caution when making online credit card payments e.g. don’t access your bank accounts or make online credit card payments from internet cafes (unless you are absolutely sure about the credentials of the internet cafĂ©).

Credit Cards For High School Students

Students in high school that are looking to start building their credit early can get high school student credit cards. These credits cards can help teach high school students responsibility, and how to manage their credit at an early age. These types of credit cards are issued to high school students, with a parent or guardian co-signing with the student. Students who have these credit cards also have a sense of responsibility as well.

Before applying for a high school student credit card, both students and co-signers should always look at their available options. There are a lot of banks and credit card companies to choose from, which makes it in your best interest to look around. Some cards will come with high APR and a high annual fee, while some are more reasonable. With high school students not having any credit, some banks and companies will try to charge unreasonable rates - which is reason enough to do your research and know the best deal.

Co-signers can normally help students to make the best decision. The co-signer will be going on the application with the student, and will be the individual that the bank or company will come to when the student is unable to pay the bill. Parents and co-signers will know the best deals for credit cards, which is students should always ask them for help when picking out the ideal credit card.

For some students, prepaid credit cards can be an ideal investment. These cards hold absolutely no risk for students, while they help to teach financial management as well. With these high school student credit cards, the prepaid amount you have put on the card is your spending limit. To ensure that the application for is filled out correctly, students should always have a parent or guardian assist them with filling the information out.

When a student gets their credit card, they should be instructed on how to properly use the credit card. Although some students will be tempted to run up their high school student credit card, they should save it for emergency situations. At the end of the month, they should try to pay their whole bill, to avoid getting into debt. If a student can pay the bill - it will also help boost their credit.

If you are interested in a high school student credit card, you can always apply for one online. The applications are processed in a timely manner, normally giving you a response in a matter of minutes. Although credit cards are great to have, prepaid credit cards are sometimes the way to go with students. If you are unsure - make sure you look into all options available to you and compare what you find out.

You can find the best choice of credit cards and pre-paid cards at www.CreditCards.us (http://www.creditcards.us)

Credit Card Reward Cards

No matter where you look, there is always a credit card company that is offering reward programs with their credit cards. New ones pop up all the time, making it sound too good to turn down. Even though they may sound great, you may wonder if the rewards are truly worth it. In some cases they are, although in others they may not be quite as good as you would like.

Although having more than one reward card is something many people instantly think about, you should always keep in mind that not all of them are worth having. Even though using your credit card is always good, you can sometimes end up paying quite a bit if you don’t pay attention to what you are buying. When it comes down to credit card reward cards, you should use caution - with a dash of common sense.

Any reward cards that come with high interest rates should always be avoided. With most reward cards, you’ll find that they include higher rates of interest than standard cards. This higher interest rate can quickly and easily offset any type of reward. To be on the safe side, you should always look at the interest rates and determine if the reward is indeed worth it. If you pay off your entire balance at the end of every month - then this won’t be a concern at all for you.

You should also keep your eyes peeled for reward cards that offer a high annual fee. These cards can be very tough to keep a grasp of, and they can also interfere with any type of reward you may think your getting. If you look at the fine print before you get choose your reward credit card, you can help to eliminate problems.

Cash back is a type of reward card that is becoming very popular. A lot of the top credit card companies and banks offer cash back programs that are normally around 1% for every purchase that you make. Before you rush out and get a reward card, you should always make sure that you read the fine print and see if there is a maximum limit on the card.

Another type of popular reward credit card is the type that give you points for every purchase you make using that card. Once you have accumulated enough points, you can redeem them for items and other cool things. Some cards will have limits as to how many points you can receive, which again makes it your best interest to shop around.

There are also credit cards with frequent flyer miles, which have been around the longest. Some cards will base their rewards on points, while some choose to use actual miles. For every dollar you spend using your frequent flyer credit card, you’ll receive either a point or a mile. Once you get enough accumulated, you can redeem them. Most frequent flyer rewards take about 25,000 points or miles in order to redeem them, which can make it nearly impossible for some to reap the benefits of using the card.

No matter where you look, finding the right credit card reward card can take some time and effort. You may have no problems finding the card to fit your needs, and if you do, you should consider yourself lucky. Before you choose your card however - you should always take the necessary time to read the fine print and compare what each unique company has to offer you.

You can find the best choice of credit cards and pre-paid cards at www.CreditCards.us (http://www.creditcards.us)

Credit Card Fraud

This day and age, credit card fraud is very common. Victims of credit card fraud often experience a lot of hassle and stress. If you have a credit card, you should always be aware of the security features that is included with the card. If you are looking to get a credit card, you should always make sure that it offers plenty of security.

With credit card companies all over the United States, credit card fraud is becoming more and more common. Consumers are becoming more and more aware of the situation, and always look for ways to protect themselves. Many companies that offer credit cards are looking into other methods of security, to prevent credit card fraud from happening.

The best way to protect yourself against fraud is to check the monthly credit card statements you receive. By looking at your statements, you’ll easily be able to tell if your account has suffered any type of fraud. If you notice any type of fraudulent charges, you should instantly contact your credit card company and inform them. This way, they look into it and try to retrieve the money that was illegally stolen from you.

Another way that you protect yourself from fraud is to never reply to emails that may appear to be sent by your bank or credit card company. There are a lot of fake emails going around, that will steal your information should you enter it in. You should always use caution with emails, and reply only if you know that the email was indeed sent from your bank or credit card provider.

You can also protect yourself from fraud by keeping your credit card around you at all times. When you hand it to someone to make a payment, ensure that it is given back to you promptly. You should also keep it safe from others so they can’t view your information. When you carry your credit card with you, you should always keep it in a safe place, such as your wallet. This way, you don’t have to worry about it falling out.

There are always steps that you can take, to avoid falling into the trap of thieves and criminals. Criminals are always out there, looking for ways that they can steal your credit card information. Therefore, it’s up to you to protect yourself. Credit card fraud happens quite frequently these days, normally as a result of credit card holders not being aware of how to protect themselves. Anytime you suspect credit card fraud, you should contact your bank or company. This way, you can let them know what happened - and take the necessary steps in stopping fraud before it goes on any farther.

You can find the best choice of credit cards and pre-paid cards at www.CreditCards.us (http://www.creditcards.us)

Consolidating credit card debt

Is consolidating credit card debt a good option?

Well, the answer will more often be yes than no. Consolidating credit card debt is often regarded as the first step towards credit card debt elimination. However, even before you move to take first step towards consolidating credit card debt, you must understand that consolidating credit card debt (or balance transfer) is an action that you are taking to eliminate credit card debt. Consolidating credit card debt is not a means of deferring the problem for later.

Consolidating credit card debt is indeed a good option in more than one sense. Not only do you get relief from the rapid increase in your credit card debt, but also get other benefits too. Offers for consolidating credit card debt are in abundance and are very attractive indeed. Almost all the offers for consolidating credit card debt have an initial low APR period during which the APR is generally 0% (or some low figure). In fact, this is one of the main things which make consolidating credit card debt a very attractive option. Besides this low APR, the offers for consolidating credit card debt also include things like no interest rate on the purchases made during first 5 months (or some other initial period) of balance transfer. This is another thing that lowers the speed at which your credit card debt gallops. So these are the two most important benefits that credit card suppliers deploy to attract people into consolidating credit card debt with them. Then there are other benefits which include things like additional reward points on the member’s reward program of the credit card you are consolidating credit card debt to. These reward points can be redeemed for other attractive goods/rebates/rewards etc. Sometimes, the new credit card (i.e. the one you are consolidating credit card debt to) might be a credit card that caters more to your current spending needs both in terms of the credit limits and the way you spend your money. For example, the new credit card might be a co-branded one offered by an airline that you have started travelling with very frequently in the recent times and consolidating credit card debt on such a card may open up much more benefits as compared to your current credit card which was based on your needs at the time of you applying for your current credit card. The credit card you are consolidating credit card debt to might open up discount offers to you.

American Express Credit Cards

Also known as AMEX, American Express is easily one of the most recognized names in the world of credit cards. Even though many people have Visa or MasterCard credit cards, they are still interested in AMEX. With Visa, MasterCard, and AMEX being the most popular and preferred types of credit cards, they are all great although there are also differences between them as well.

Both Visa and MasterCard are methods of payment. Both will allow different businesses to accept credit card payments using their systems. Neither of the two issue credit cards on their own behalf, instead they rely on banks throughout the world to issue the credit cards for them, provide the credit, and then charge the interest. Your credit card bill goes to the bank, as Visa or MasterCard doesn’t see any of it.

AMEX on the other hand, is very different. American Express has their own payment system, and they also issue their credit cards directly to consumers. Unlike Visa and MasterCard, AMEX runs the entire show. Therefore, when a credit card says American Express on it, you instantly know who has issued the card, what payment system it has, and everything else you would need to know.

Even though MasterCard and Visa are used more throughout the world, American Express is always expanding their networks. Visa and MasterCard are used in over twenty five million locations over the world, including third world countries, which makes them global credit card payments. AMEX on the other hand, doesn’t quite reach this degree. It is a great credit card, although it isn’t used around the world in areas where the other 2 dominant credit cards are.

You can get AMEX credit cards with rewards, although you’ll need to be careful where you look and what you select. Normally, with Visa and MasterCard, you’ll have to look at hundreds of banks before you can find the best choice. With AMEX, you can look at their website and find out what they offer and what type of APR you’ll have to pay. Most of the time, you can find a credit card with low interest and a great spending limit - providing you have good credit.

AMEX also has several advantages that it offers customers in North America and Europe. The credit card is accepted widely in both areas, offering you credit cards with great features and very attractive looks. AMEX offers you great rates, good rewards, and excellent customer service as well.

American Express also offers you Blue, which is a newly introduced credit card that offers you increased security, no annual fee, and 0% APR for the first year or so. Depending on your credit, you may be able to get an extended period with no interest. After that time has expired, you pay low fees, which makes it a great credit card for anyone looking for a deal. Blue is the newest card from AMEX, and will rapidly become one of the best - due to it’s amazing features.

In the world of credit cards, American Express is one of the best. They offer you a variety of different credit cards, designed to meet just about everyone’s needs. You find them online or through a local provider, although online is the preferred way to go. Simply fill out your application, and if you have good credit, you’ll be approved. Before you know it, you’ll have a credit card from AMEX - and be ready to experience life in the fast lane.

You can find the best choice of credit cards and pre-paid cards at www.CreditCards.us (http://www.creditcards.us)