Q: Does checking your credit score lower it? A: Checking your own credit score does not lower it. In fact, you are encouraged by law to check your credit report once a year. Checking your credit score may cost you extra. In you apply for a mortgage or a car loan (or any other loan for that matter), the companies[Read More…]
What is balance transfer? A balance transfer is moving monetary debt from one account to another with a 0 interest rate (or low interest rate) for a set period of time. But that does not mean that the debt has gone: it means that you will not be paying interest on that debt for a set period of time. For[Read More…]
What is the difference between interest rate and APR? The two terms are quite distinct. Interest rate is the amount of a loan that is charged as interest. If you borrow $100 at 7% interest and will pay it back after one year, you will pay back $107 (unless there are other charges in the terms and conditions). Interest itself[Read More…]
How to change social security number: The Social Security Administration will allow you to change your Social Security number, but not to evade the consequences of bankruptcy, evade other legal responsibilities or because you lost or had stolen your Social Security card, but there is no indication that it has been misused. Generally, the authorities will allow you to change[Read More…]
Annual Percentage Rate Definition or APR is a convenient way to look at the actual yearly cost of a credit card, auto loan or home loan. It is the annual rate that is charged to you, the borrower, for money lent. It is not just interest costs, but most costs, including all fees. It is often challenging to compare one[Read More…]
How to get a replacement Social Security card? You need to call the Social Security administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or go online to the Social Security website and download an application to get a replacement card if yours has been lost or stolen. The good news is that you can get a replacementcard, but the bad news is that[Read More…]
(1) The reason that you should know how to build good credit is that good credit furnishes you with choices of where to live, what to buy, and when and how you want to go on vacation–just to name a few; (2) When you know how to build good credit you will learn that it may not help you get[Read More…]
Identity theft definition–It is stealing someone’s personal information, typically for financial gain. It can be credit cards, driver’s license, Social Security number, bank account numbers, you name it. In today’s world, there is no 100 percent protection and identity theft can severely impact your credit before you know it. How? If someone were to get your Social Security number, which[Read More…]
Q: How long bankruptcy? A: How long bankruptcy? It’s really a two-part question, requiring a two-part answer. The bankruptcy proceeding itself, according to the Bankruptcy Court website can take a few months to a few years. The U.S. Department of Justice says on its bankruptcy information pages that the two Chapters of the Bankruptcy Code most often used by consumers[Read More…]
Q: How long does negative information stay on your credit report? A: How long does negative information stay on your credit report? The news is not good! A credit reporting company can keep accurate negative information on your report for up to seven years. Information about a lawsuit or an unpaid judgement against you can be reported for seven years[Read More…]
Here are warnings about the debt settlement process: Debt settlement companies get paid for their services, even if they declare that they are “non-profit.” Typically, they want to get paid on the front end of the process, whether or not they have done anything for you. Debt settlement companies have different ways of getting paid. Let’s say you are $15,000[Read More…]
Don’t use public access computers if you can help it. When you do, change your password within 24 hours. You may be on vacation and you think you will drop into an internet café to check your email and the performance of your stock brokerage account. Don’t do it. You are vulnerable to becoming a victim of identity theft. There[Read More…]
Even the best debt consolidation or debt settlement are not an easy or painless way out of your debt…it is hard. Debt settlement isn’t “pennies on the dollar,” as you hear in the ads, it will cost you big-time and for a long time in ways you might not even imagine right now. If you are over your head in[Read More…]
How to change social security number: The Social Security Administration will allow you to change your Social Security number, but not to evade the consequences of bankruptcy, evade other legal responsibilities or because you lost or had stolen your Social Security card, but there is no indication that it has been misused. Generally, the authorities will allow you to change[Read More…]
Protect yourself from document identity theft by getting a safety deposit box at your local bank to protect important papers from theft by burglary or loss by fire. Many banks today, in order to get your business, will offer you a free safety deposit box or one at a greatly reduced price to get your business Here is what the[Read More…]
Do report your personal information stolen to the three major credit reporting agencies. If you think that your personal information has been compromised, you need to report this to the three big credit reporting agencies including Equifax (800.525.6285); Experian (888.397.3742)) and Trans Union (800.680.7289). Don’t be fooled if you get an email, supposedly from your bank, saying that your monthly[Read More…]
Do remember these five tips-offs about possible phishing scams: 1.alarmist messages; 2.requests for donations after a disaster has been in the news; 3.bad grammar, poor spelling; 4.deals that sound too good to be true, and 5.promises of big money with little effort. Don’t let your emotions get the best of you. Don’t respond to requests for political donations from your[Read More…]
Don’t think that because there is an official-looking logo on a website that it is not a fraudulent. It is easy for scammers to steal a logo online and use it. In fact, scammers can steal the entire code of a web page and reproduce an identical page to the page of the organization. Don’t be fooled because a scammer[Read More…]
Do go to one of the big search engines if you are in doubt about a website you received by email.The top search engine results will lead you to the real company. Do delete emails from official sounding sites demanding information from you. The IRS, the Social Security Administration and Homeland Security, the U.S. Postal Service will not contact you[Read More…]
Do watch out for breach of security emails. That is, your bank account has been breached and you need to take immediate action over the internet to fix it. Don’t do it. Call the bank. Scammers love to scare you and panic you into taking foolish steps. Do watch out for emails from software companies claiming to be security software[Read More…]
Do check your web browser to determine if phishing protection is enabled. This is not fool proof and the browsers only detect phishing websites on a list. Scammers are incredibly smart so don’t rely on browser protection to protect you from phishing. Do take a second look at websites you click onto. Does it look like the normal, elegant website[Read More…]
What does phishing mean and how can it hurt your finances and your credit, just at a time when you want to build credit? Phishing is a thief attempting to gain access to your financial information by posing as your financial institution. That is, you get an email from your bank, Bank ABC, that your account is overdrawn and that[Read More…]
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam[Read More…]
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam[Read More…]
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam[Read More…]
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam[Read More…]
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam[Read More…]
How much debt do you have? Sometimes it is hard for us to admit and actions often speak louder than words. You may not admit to having too much debt, but are the air raid sirens of debt going off? Are the red flags of debt madly waving? When the debt sirens go off, we can all hear them because[Read More…]
