Rebuilding Credit After Bankruptcy
Time is Your Credit’s Best Friend
Time is the biggest player in rebuilding your credit after filing for bankruptcy. The further in the past the bankruptcy filing is, the less damage it will cause to your credit score.
To “speed up” the rebuilding process, you will need to have a plan, work hard, and probably accept higher interest rates and fees.
So, unless you’re planning to make a major purchase on credit in the coming three to five years, you may want to consider the long route and just wait it out. Continue reading “Rebuilding Credit After Bankruptcy” »
Credit Counseling News: Debit Card Fees Coming Soon
Your bank may be charging you an additional $5.00 per month to use your debit card. Last week news broke that Bank of America is developing a plan that may charge consumers for everyday use of their debit cards. Other banks have been brought into the discussion as potentially charging for debit card use as well.
How do you feel about being charged a fee to continue using your debit card? Continue reading “Credit Counseling News: Debit Card Fees Coming Soon” »
Active Military Receive Free Service
Debt Reduction Services Supports Our Troops
Free Military Credit Counseling
New Program Announcement:
Debt Reduction Services Inc., a nonprofit credit counseling organization, supports America’s Service Men and Women. We sincerely express our gratitude for their efforts and commitment to providing a safer world for all.
As a token of gratitude we would like to offer any active Military member, regardless of Branch or Services rendered our services at no cost. Continue reading “Active Military Receive Free Service” »
FICO Explained
What in the World Is a FICO?
When it comes to credit scores (also generically referred to as a credit rating), most Americans know that they are important and that they can have a major impact on our financial lives. However, very few know what goes into a credit score or just how influential it can be.
First of all, the term, “credit score” does NOT refer to a SINGLE scoring system. In the US, there are over a thousand credit scoring models in existence, created and used by hundreds of creditors and consumer reporting agencies. However, the most common credit scoring model (used in about 80% of all credit-based decisions) was developed by Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO for short). Continue reading “FICO Explained” »
What’s on a Credit Report?
Seriously, how are we, the average Joe or Jane on the street, supposed to build (or rebuild) our credit when no one ever teaches what’s on our credit to begin with? Well, here’s the answer:
• Contact information (no impact on credit score): It simply includes the names, addresses, employers, and, sometimes, marital statuses under which you have applied for credit in the past.
• Credit/Trade Lines: Details on the various lines of credit the consumer has had in the past 7-10 years, including balances, terms and their history of on-time payments. Continue reading “What’s on a Credit Report?” »
Why Care About Your Credit?
It’s a fair question: “If I’m not planning to make a purchase on credit anytime soon, why should I care about my credit?” While it’s true that the most commonly known use of credit has to do with getting approved for a loan, there are other situations when credit can have a positive or negative impact (direct or indirect) on our lives.
1. Many employers check job applicants’ credit prior to making a hiring decision. This may seem unfair and irrelevant to many, but employers reason that since a person’s credit is indicative of their efforts to repay financial obligations, employers may use that information as an additional insight into the job applicant’s overall qualifications for employment. When the potential employer is in the finance, law enforcement or government sector, credit checks are even more common. Continue reading “Why Care About Your Credit?” »
Why Should I Care about My Credit?
Credit (an agreement to repay a loan over time) is pervasive in our society. What used to be the exclusive privilege of the wealthy has only in the past half century or so became available to the masses. From buying a home or car to purchasing a burger, shake and fries, credit – whether in the form of a loan and a credit card – has become a familiar sight just about anywhere anything of value exchanges hands.
As credit’s popularity increases, so too do the purposes for which businesses use an individual’s personal credit history as a tool in making business choices. Decision-makers that are influenced to one degree or another by how an individual has used and managed their credit accounts include the following: Continue reading “Why Should I Care about My Credit?” »
Correcting Credit Report Errors from Defunct Creditors
Having taught nearly 500 personal finance classes since 2004 to over 8,000 individuals, it’s not often that I get a question about course topics that I haven’t heard before. I love it when I do, though, and that’s exactly what happened last week at a local housing authority. Here is the question:
What can I do if the title loan company to which I once owed money but have paid off in full has gone out of business but is still listed on my credit report with money owing? Continue reading “Correcting Credit Report Errors from Defunct Creditors” »
Joint Council for Credit Education
Debt Reduction Services is pleased to announce our membership with the Joint Council for Credit Education.
The JCCE was created to help enhance consumer awareness of member organizations and the services they provide in helping assist individuals in living free from the pitfalls of debt. Continue reading “Joint Council for Credit Education” »
Seven Ways to Make Debt Consolidation Work
Making Debt Consolidation Work
Debt Consolidation can be a great way to dig yourself out of debt. Following the following tips can make your experience a bit easier and more rewarding.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that Debt Consolidation isn’t an overnight fix and will take time and patience to make it successful.
Hence the number one tip about how to make Debt Consolidation work:
1. Remain patient. For many of us wanting to repay our debt there is no quick or easy way to do it. The act of debt consolidation can be tedious and time consuming. Just remember to keep your efforts and your spirits up because at the end of it all your goal is to be as debt free as possible. The reward is well worth the wait. Continue reading “Seven Ways to Make Debt Consolidation Work” »