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Saturday, December 20, 2008

How To Dispute Experian

By Justin Hutto

To dispute Experian you must compose a dispute letter and mail it to them. Upon receipt of your letter they will investigate the disputed item.

However the first step is to request a copy of your credit report. This can be done for free from annual credit report. It is your right to have a free copy of your credit report from each credit bureau once a year.

When you have your credit report you must identify what listings are inaccurate or incorrect. These will be the listings that you dispute.

You can dispute these listings by writing a dispute letter and then mailing it to Experian credit bureau. When they receive your dispute letter they will decide if it is valid or invalid.

If it is found to be invalid then they will write you requesting more information about the dispute. If this happens you will need to respond accordingly and provide the requested details.

If your dispute is valid then an investigation will be held into the mark. In an investigation the bureaus will contact the business that made the negative mark on your report and ask them to verify the debt, the dates and the balance.

It has been found that investigations will often result in a listing being removed. This is a result of many businesses being unwilling to spend the resources verifying disputed debts.

You can also hire a credit repair service to dispute negative credit on your report too. If you choose this option you will only need to identify each mark you wish to dispute and they will do the rest.

The advantage of having a service is in case the listing is verified they have advanced dispute techniques they can use. These include; escalated dispute information requests, debt validation, and creditor direct intervention.

If you only have minor damage on your report then I suggest repairing your credit yourself. However if you have multiple negative marks on your report I suggest a service. They can also help getting a valid dispute submitted to the bureaus.

You should also know that a dispute letter must be sent to each credit bureau. Failure to do this and the other two major credit bureaus will still show the negative listing even if Experian removed it from your report.

In sum you can remove bad credit items from your credit report. To do this you must dispute the item with each credit bureau.

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Experian Dispute

By Justin Hutto

To dispute Experian credit bureau a dispute letter must be sent. When the bureau receives your letter they will investigate the dispute.

However the first step is to request a copy of your credit report. This can be done for free from annual credit report. It is your right to have a free copy of your credit report from each credit bureau once a year.

Often your credit report will be made available online; you need to then decide what items are inaccurate or incorrect. These are going to be the items you dispute.

You can dispute these listings by writing a dispute letter and then mailing it to Experian credit bureau. When they receive your dispute letter they will decide if it is valid or invalid.

If it is found to be invalid then they will write you requesting more information about the dispute. If this happens you will need to respond accordingly and provide the requested details.

If your dispute is valid then an investigation will be held into the mark. In an investigation the bureaus will contact the business that made the negative mark on your report and ask them to verify the debt, the dates and the balance.

Often investigations will result in removal of a negative mark. This is due to many businesses not verifying debts because it costs them money to do so.

Your other option to dispute bad credit is to hire a credit repair service. If you do hire a service all you will need to do is identify what items you wish to dispute.

In case an item is verified then a credit repair service can be very helpful because they have advanced dispute techniques. These include; creditor direct intervention, escalated dispute information requests, and debt validation.

I suggest do it yourself credit repair if you have only minor damage on your report, however if you have multiple marks I suggest a credit repair service. I also suggest a service if you are having trouble submitting a valid dispute or you have had a mark verified that should be removed.

You are going to need to dispute a bad credit item with each credit bureau. This means you will have to send a separate letter disputing the same item with each bureau.

In sum you can dispute Experian and have them remove negative credit from your credit report. You must either hire a service or dispute the listings yourself.

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Experian Dispute

By Justin Hutto

To file a dispute with Experian credit bureau you must write a dispute letter. When they receive your dispute letter they will investigate the disputed listing.

However the first step is to request a copy of your credit report. This can be done for free from annual credit report. It is your right to have a free copy of your credit report from each credit bureau once a year.

Once you have received your credit report you need to identify what marks are incorrect. These are going to be the marks that you will dispute.

You will dispute the items by creating your dispute letter and mailing it to Experian credit bureau. Once they receive your letter they will determine if it is valid or invalid.

If your dispute is considered invalid you will get a letter from them requesting additional information about the dispute. You need to respond and provide them with the information requested.

However if your dispute is found valid they will conduct an investigation. During an investigation they will contact the creator of the listing and ask them to verify the account, the dates, and the amounts.

It has been found that investigations will often result in a listing being removed. This is a result of many businesses being unwilling to spend the resources verifying disputed debts.

A credit repair service can also be hired to remove negative credit from your report. With this option you only need to identify the marks you wish to dispute and the service will do the rest.

The benefit of a service is they can use advanced dispute techniques such as; debt validation, escalated dispute information requests, and creditor direct intervention.

If you have multiple bad credit items you wish to dispute then I suggest hiring a service, in addition they will have no problem getting a valid dispute submitted. However if you only have one or two bad credit items to dispute then you can do it yourself.

You are going to need to dispute a bad credit item with each credit bureau. This means you will have to send a separate letter disputing the same item with each bureau.

In sum you can remove bad credit items from your credit report. To do this you must dispute the item with each credit bureau.

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Experian Dispute

By Justin Hutto

To dispute Experian you must compose a dispute letter and mail it to them. Upon receipt of your letter they will investigate the disputed item.

However the first step is to request a copy of your credit report. This can be done for free from annual credit report. It is your right to have a free copy of your credit report from each credit bureau once a year.

When you have your credit report you must identify what listings are inaccurate or incorrect. These will be the listings that you dispute.

You can dispute these listings by writing a dispute letter and then mailing it to Experian credit bureau. When they receive your dispute letter they will decide if it is valid or invalid.

If your dispute is considered invalid you will get a letter from them requesting additional information about the dispute. You need to respond and provide them with the information requested.

If your dispute is valid then an investigation will be held into the mark. In an investigation the bureaus will contact the business that made the negative mark on your report and ask them to verify the debt, the dates and the balance.

It has been found that investigations will often result in a listing being removed. This is a result of many businesses being unwilling to spend the resources verifying disputed debts.

A credit repair service can also be hired to remove negative credit from your report. With this option you only need to identify the marks you wish to dispute and the service will do the rest.

The benefit of a service is they can use advanced dispute techniques such as; debt validation, escalated dispute information requests, and creditor direct intervention.

If you only have minor damage on your report then I suggest repairing your credit yourself. However if you have multiple negative marks on your report I suggest a service. They can also help getting a valid dispute submitted to the bureaus.

You are going to need to dispute a bad credit item with each credit bureau. This means you will have to send a separate letter disputing the same item with each bureau.

In sum you can remove bad credit items from your credit report. To do this you must dispute the item with each credit bureau.

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Debts - Which To Pay Off First

By Ian Pelham

Prioritizing Debt

If you are having serious debt problems, you are probably having trouble keeping all of your debts up to date. You can only reduce some expenses, and available income can only be stretched so far.

You therefore have little choice but to either delay, or not pay at all, some debt repayments as they come due. In this situation you will be forced to think very hard about which payments you really should pay first. You risk several things such as your home, gas, electricity, car and even your household possessions.

Following the rules in this chapter may make the difference between keeping or losing important property.

Do Not Take On More Debt To Pay Off Old Debt.

A short-term fix can lead to long-term problems.

Instead of delaying or eliminating certain debt repayments, you may be tempted to take on more debt to repay old debts. This is generally a bad idea. When you should and should not refinance, consolidate or take out new loans is discussed in a later article.

The main thing to do with too much debt is to decide which debts should be paid first, which you can refuse to pay, and which you can delay for a period of time.

It is easy to be intimidated by the creditor who screams the loudest for their money but they are not necessarily the most important creditor to pay. Many times creditors who scream the most for their money do so because they have no other way to get their money.

The creditors to be the most concerned about are those who quickly take action against your home, car, utility service or any other vital assets you may have.

Pay off creditors who can take the quickest action to hurt you, not those who yell the loudest and call the most often.

The money you do have should be used for the most important things for your family such as food, clothing, a roof over their heads and utilities.

It would be great if there was a recommended 'list' dictating the order in which your debts should be paid, but unfortunately there isn't. Your situation will be different to someone else's. The guidelines in this article should be used as reference points only as you make your decisions.

Debts with collateral are top priorities.

There is one thing you should bear in mind when deciding which debts to default on and which ones to make a priority to pay, and that is the idea of 'collateral'.

Collateral is physical property that a creditor has the right to seize should you default on your payments to them. Usually collateral takes the form of your home (mortgage) and your car when you take out a car loan.

A creditor may also have collateral in your household goods, business property, bank account, or even wages. Collateral can take many forms. When a creditor has taken collateral for your loan, it has a "lien" on your property.

Determine which of your debts are 'secured' and which are 'unsecured'.

It is very nearly always the best policy to pay off your secured debts first. Creditors with collateral are secure in the knowledge that they can take the collateral from you and sell it to get their money back. That is why they are called 'secured creditors'.

Creditors without collateral are often referred to as "unsecured." It is usually hard for unsecured creditors to collect what they are owed unless you pay voluntarily.

The idea that debts with collateral are the most critical may seem very simple. Unfortunately, it is difficult to keep this simple concept in mind when you are getting hassled by debt collectors trying to force you to pay your lowest priority debts.

It is extremely important to remember this concept as you make decisions about your financial future.

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Guarantee Success Now And Become A Student Of Action In Your Life

By Christina Helwig

While sitting in a seminar in a few weeks ago, I realized something very basic to the entire topic of personal growth. I understood so much more clearly why even though I have deep knowledge of this material, I have not been able to produce the results I desired in my life until now.

For years my focus has been on learning and understanding material; not their twin sister - application. I have spent hours and hours on my bed reading, studying and taking notes on these topics. Those hours moved me light years ahead mentally but they did nothing until now for my physical, daily world. I have been so intent on getting my mind wrapped around these concepts that I failed to pay attention to the most crucial aspect of this process = personal action.

Throughout "Think and Grow Rich" Napoleon Hill gives his students many action steps to complete and several daily requirements to perform. My thinking was always "I will read the entire book and then go back and DO what he suggests." This was a definite mistake. Even if I was not in the right position, those action steps would have slowly moved me closer to my goals and would have begun the process of building up my self-esteem, self-confidence and my level of awareness of my innate ability to handle my large goals. And, I incrementally would have been moving closer to what I wanted, even if it was only a little bit at a time. I have since become an active student of the application of these principles. It is only through action that I prepare the way and the method by which I can receive what I want in my life.

Please stop just reading about improving yourself and really think about whether you need to become an "active" student of "application" in your life. You learn the methods or the "certain way" only by doing, not by studying. Studying allows you to understand the process but to learn and internalize material you must act on all things that Napoleon Hill, Brian Tracy, Jack Canfield, Bob Proctor, Wallace Wattles and all the other personal growth authors tell you to do.

"Take the first step in faith and the rest will be revealed to you." Wallace Wattles. Take is a verb. A verb requires action. Recently I came up with an idea to help law students. I did not have the product finished or know all the details of what I wanted to include in my product. I did not know the distribution method or how I would advertise the product. But, I took action. I called my mentor and booked an appointment with her to talk about my idea. As the month ticked down I worked on my presentation, read some more material and got more ideas.

When I finally went in to talk to her in person she loved my idea. I only showed her a short snapshot of the project and she ended up booking me to teach to over 70 students in a month and a half. All of this happened because I did not wait until everything was "perfect," "complete," "just right" or "totally finished." I acted on my idea and my idea produced results. As I continue to take action on this project the next steps and new ideas keep coming to me. The project gets better and better and will help many people in the near future.

You can do this too. Stop waiting for the time to be right and just start working on your ideas. Without action nothing will happen. You will continue to pile up self-help books and seminar tickets and you will blame the books and speakers for not helping you. They are helping you; they are giving you the tools you need to move forward. Since they are not there to hold your hand when you act, you have to do it on your own. Remember small steps add up to big results. Last year I climbed Half Dome in Yosemite and I did it one step at a time. Sometimes it was hard, and sometimes it was fairly easy, but every step was important because it moved me closer to my goal.

I know this may seem very simple but taking action is crucial to your progress and can delay or completely block your efforts if you do not pay attention to making things happen instead of just thinking about things happening. Like yin and yang: learning and application go are required to make the other function.

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Debt Negotiation- Same as Credit Consolidation?

By Dillon Azungen

Are you drowning in debt and considering debt negotiation? Debt negotiation has a bad connotation but does it affect your credit that badly? There are pros and cons to debt negotiation and there are alternatives. Here are some things to consider which will help you decide if debt negotiation is right for you.

First, you need to educate yourself on debt negotiation since there is a lot of misinformation out there. Debt negotiation is also known as debt arbitration or debt settlement. A third party negotiates with creditors and lenders on a payment plan and decreased interest. The creditors will put further credit to you on hold so you won't be able to use your credit cards until after your debt is repaid. After that, it is up to the creditor to decide if you should regain credit approval and if so, how high of a limit.

Lenders will usually only lower your rates and give you a break on fees if there is a reason. If they can be shown you're personal finances are not in a position to make the agreed upon payments then they will usually negotiate. They would prefer to negotiate rather than turn your account over to a collection agency.

Some people think that your credit report is unaffected by debt negotiation. This is not the case however. Your negotiation is reported and shows as such on a report. This is why debt negotiation should be used only if you can't otherwise pay off your bills. If you're finding yourself paying your lenders late and incurring fees then this will hurt your credit rating more than negotiation. And if you end up declaring bankruptcy then this can be even worse.

Before debt negotiation you should first find help with your budgeting and learn about other options by seeking a credit counseling service. A credit counselor can give you the information you need to help reduce your payments and get your finances back on track. They will tell you what will affect your credit rating, what will not and recommend what steps you should take. They can also help you with credit consolidation.

To find a credit counseling service search the internet or the yellow pages. Be careful since there are some that are not as helpful or legitimate as others. There are some that are supported by the government which are legitimate and should be researched first. A legitimate service will usually have a free consultation face-to-face and will be upfront about their services and fees. Don't sign anything until you are comfortable with their terms.

Don't think that since debt negotiation will tarnish your credit report that you should give up and let your account go to collection agencies. Ignoring the problem will make things much worse.

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Fighting Debt Collectors

By John Cooper

When you are being contacted by debt collectors it can be very aggravating. It can cause you to change your number, change your job, and even move.

However the frustration is multiplied when the debt they are calling you about is not yours or is due to a mistake by a creditor. This is because the debt collector is unwilling to acknowledge a lender mistake. They have already spent money purchasing your debt.

If you are a victim of a lender mistake then you should immediately request validation of the debt. Do this through certified mail so you have documentation that you letter was in fact received.

We strongly discourage you requesting validation over the phone; unfortunately these requests are often ignored. In addition you only have 30 days to request validation of the debt, once notified.

It is not uncommon for debt collectors to sell your debt to another agency instead of validating it with the lender. This is why we suggest you send your letter through certified mail because that way you may be able to file a civil suit against the debt collector.

Instead I suggest you hire a credit service to dispute the negative credit items that the debt collectors have posted on your credit report. This way you will prevent your score from being damaged due to a lender mistake.

However if the debt is valid then you should settle it. You should offer a settlement of 50% of the account balance.

Do this because the debt collector has purchased your account for a fraction of the balance. In addition you are showing the debt collector that you are willing to pay if you can agree on a price so they will negotiate on the balance.

You will need to have the collector agree in writing that they will remove the negative item from your report in exchange for your payment. If this is not done then the item will change to a paid collection and it will still be seen as a negative mark on your credit by future lenders.

In sum I suggest a service to repair your credit report of debt collectors.

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What To Consider Before Consolidating Your Debt

By Glen Stroude

Before choosing to consolidate your debt to manage your finances, first understand what advantages it provides. Its benefits result from how the method works, and does not necessarily applies to every debt situation. Consider what it offers and how it can improve your financial situation.

By consolidation your debt, all your debt will be channeled through a single creditor, who will be a credit counseling firm. The creditor will become the sole party that you deal with, instead of the many individual creditors that you had before. You will only have to pay a monthly payment off your debt each time to the credit firm.

On the surface, there are no significant differences, but consider the advantages that debt consolidation may provide.

Which would be more manageable in any situation - having a single periodic payment, or various payments made to different creditors? The former eases the burden of larger scale tracking, and can reduce the possibility of late payments. Dealing with the many creditors is also handled by the credit counseling firm, and that can take off a huge load off anyone's mind.

Consolidating your debt through a single creditor normally comes with an overall lower interest rate. This is often offered by the credit counseling companies. The lower interest rate will result in a reduction of overall debt, which must be a very attractive proposition for anyone.

Your monthly payments will also come in the form of lower amounts compared to not consolidating debt. This is the direct benefit of having lower interest rates attached to the loan. The extra cash will come in handy as you use it to better manage your financial portfolio.

An important benefit from consolidating your debt is the instant positive effect it has on your credit rating. Your debt exposure is considered to have lessened. Risk is therefore reduced considerably, providing improvements in credit scores. There are other advantages from this, such as giving you access to loans in the future that might be required.

If the above benefits can improve your current financial situation, consolidating your debt should be given due consideration. One should also not forget about managing personal finances properly and conscientiously. Debt consolidation will be just one of many ways to achieve that, and a useful one at that.

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Personal Check Designs And Money Saving Choices

By Bob Betzer

Comparative choices for choosing personalized check designs are readily available on the web. Established check printer manufactures have the opportunity to showcase their extensive selection and market inexpensively to the public. Ordering direct gets the purchaser a price break not found at their financial institution.

If you are not aware of all the themes available here are some ideas. Some category choices are in the American pride themes, animals and pet themes, causes, careers, stylistic designs, nature themes, special interest and sports themes and many more.

There are even other themes including floral checks, love and friendship design themes, sea and shore checks, inspirational and angels checks, fun and cool checks, solids and patterns designer checks and many more. Anyone should be able to find a category of interest that suits their particular bent.

Helping the environment by get green is fast becoming a conscious choice for shoppers. Using recycled checks or using 100% soy-based inks are an earth friendly alternative. Many check manufacturers have a heart not only giving you great value in your personal check design selection but also environmentally friendly affirmation.

A large number of check printing concerns have their checks printed on recycled 24lb. MICR bond paper using soy-based inks. The soy-based MICR toner is often the environmentally conscious choice for these manufacturers.

Scientific research conducted by Erhan and Bagby found that the pigment cartier in 100-percent soy ink degrades almost twice as completely as ink made from soy oil. Even better four-fold results were obtained when compared to standard petroleum inks.

The large recycling programs recover and recycle materials that are equal in quality to virgin new fiber. Recyclers contribute the material that perpetuates the process and contributes a resource of equal quality and competitive price.

Also, when you buy online direct from the check printer manufacturer they not only produce great personal bank checks, address labels, contact cards and checkbook covers featuring beautiful inspired designs but charge less than your bank charges, generally about 50% less. And considering no sales tax and faster shipping, ordering online is a terrific bargain!

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Building Credit with Credit Cards

By Larry Van-Doren

If you have bad credit, it is important to keep up with your spending to avoid poverty. If you are searching for a low interest credit card to repair your credit, remember most cards available have high initial fees and APR. Regardless if you have filed bankruptcy, have bad credit or do not have credit at all the lenders are opening the doors inviting all to join. Since, millions of people today have filed bankruptcies the lenders are considering option to help these people get back on their feet, while others are considering options to bring the debtors further to the ground. We live in a rich man's world, with selfish, irresponsible, undignified individuals running the show. Therefore, if you are looking to build your credit with credit cards then there are things you should know.

Most lenders will shut the door in your face if you have filed bankruptcy when you apply for credit cards. They may refer you to debt consolidation balance transfer credit cards lenders to help you get your feet on the ground again. Be advised that many debt consolidation programs, are like few of the card lenders and their mission is to put your under.

Many of the debt consolidation programs, like most credit cards for bad credit consumers have high interest rates and the repayments with attached fees often make it difficult for the cardholder or debtor to pay the dues.
The best answer for building credit is to save your money, by cutting back expenses. After you weed down the debts, you can then apply for a credit card. Once you have reduced your debts and waited about six months you are likely to find a credit card with lower interest rates and lower fees. The card lenders may even offer you a card with no annual fees.

If you have difficulty managing your money, you may want to ask a responsible family member to help you out. You may even want to invest a small fee into software programs with managing tools. The programs often provide a budget structure to help you maintain you cash.

On the other hand, if you must have a credit card to build your credit, then make sure you ask your self-important questions before applying. The questions should include, why do I need a credit card? Am I responsible to make the payments on time and use the card to get out of debt? What is involved with owning a credit card? Am I at risk of loosing my card, or am I responsible to put my cards in safe places?

You will also need to take into consideration that cards have Terms & Conditions. Are you knowledgably about credit cards? Do you have enough information in your databank to avoid getting taking? Do you have the ability to research and compare cards to avoid loss? Do you understand what each card offers and how it can benefit you?

Even if you find a lender that will give you a credit card, and the card comes with initial fees and high APR, it might be wise to take the offer if you can afford to. This will help you build your credit if you use the card wisely and repay your debts on time. Also, once you have held the card for six months and paid faithfully you can contact the card lender and demand or request lower APR. Therefore, you must have negotiation skills, coupled with knowledge, understanding, and many other human necessities to handle a credit card to rebuild your credit.

If you feel that credit cards are threatening then you can take steps to repair your credit without applying for a credit card; One of the best solutions for repairing credit is to save, contact your creditors asking for extensions, etc.

Finally, credit cards are nice to have, and before it is over, we are all going to need a credit card to make a purchase. Therefore, build your credit now and get the credit card you deserve later!

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Mini Dow Index Trading Tip

By Doug West

We are often asked why we prefer the Mini-Dow index to say the S&P or Russell minis. While any index will do, we especially like the mini-Dow.

Because of the faster movement of the Dow versus the S&P 500, the mini-Dow more closely follows it's big board parent.

So if it is just a matter of speed, then the mini-Russell would be even better right? Not exactly. The problem with the Russell is the low volume. This will no doubt change in the future. The mini-Dow had too low a volume for our money just a couple years ago, but that has now changed.

One more reason why we prefer the Mini-Dow is that we like no-cost tools, and it is much easier to find a reliable Dow chart. In fact there are many online that work just fine.

No matter which Index you prefer, we feel it is an advantage to watch the big board chart, and not the mini chart. We also prefer the 5 minute time frame.

Many traders watch both, which is what I did years ago before deciding to focus on the big board. Here's why. I found that I would not move on what the mini chart was telling me unless I confirmed it with the big board. A popular confirmation among traders. It finally hit me that if I would not make a trade without confirming it with the big board, then why did I need the mini chart at all?

When I dropped the mini chart and focused on the big board movement, my trading improved. I have sinced confirmed this strategy with Hundreds of my students and other traders. Just recently, one of my students who moved on to using the mini-chart (a paid service I might add), came back to our style and is now focusing on the no-cost big board chart we use. He also confirmed that his trading improved, and he now sees why we focus on the big board.

The mini chart (even in the 5 min time frame) is like trading with a 1 minute chart. There are too many head fake moves that get you in a trade before it has fully developed. The big board averages some of those moves out for you. It keeps you on the sidelines when you should be. Sure, you might not get in as early on some runs, but in the long term it will save you!

It is difficult to catch any move from top to bottom or vice-versa, but by watching the big board you can fairly easily get a nice chunk out of the middle (or many chunks with our BIG MONEY small trades strategy). A few nice chunks a week will keep you from needing a bail out plan!

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Get The Best Insurance Coverage You Can Afford.

By Susan Tanner

Insurance can be defined in business as the transfer of your risk to another company that you can pay to accept and absorb part of all of the risk for you. It's important in today's economic conditions to research and apply for the best insurance rates and coverage for your money. The following tips in this article will help you get the best insurance you can possibly get for your budget.

Auto insurance is sometimes mandatory in a lot of states and areas, and is often an unavoidable and expensive part of driving a car. As a result, it's important to do a lot of research to make sure you get the best quote for you and your coverage needs. An excellent way to find a good insurance company is to ask your family and your friends where they buy their automobile insurance. Check with people who are your age and have similar driving histories to find out the most accurate rates.

You can also comparison shop online for insurance rates that are exclusive to the internet. Most companies will automatically look up other companies' rates and coverage to help find the customer the best prices they can. It is sometimes possible to find a discount by signing up on the internet instead of with a broker or over the phone because it saves money in man hours and paper, and the savings pass on to you.

A good starting point is to look at the coverage required of you by state law, and use that information to determine what you need. Some people only need what is required by law, but if you are still paying off your car, or if you have a lien holder, the price will be higher because you will be required to carry more insurance, including both comprehensive and collision coverage, most with deductibles smaller than $500. If you do have a lien holder, it might be possible to talk with them to get them to reduce the amount of coverage they require.

Never forget to ask your insurance representative where you can save more money. Insurance is a business aimed at making money, and a broker may not offer you discounts that you qualify for unless you ask. Sometimes there will be discounts for driving quality, education, auto clubs, employment, or if you have a child in your home.

There are other ways to find and keep cheap auto insurance. One of the most important is to be a safe driver. Keeping a clean driving history will make sure you get the rates that you deserve. With each ticket and accident, you are asking to have your rates raised. Remember, sometimes rates get raised if the accident was not your fault.

Choose your vehicles carefully. The safer your car or truck, and even the less expensive your vehicle is, will help with your rate quotes. The more the vehicle cost, the more it will cost to insure and the higher your rate will be.

Know what you need, do your research, ask questions and don't settle for a price you don't think is fair. Buy a reliable car and be a safe driver, and you will be well on your way towards insurance rates your friends will envy.

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Tired Of Being In Debt? Consolidating It Is A Solution

By John Brennan

Our debt is increasing daily, whether it is the national debt, debt being incurred by businesses or that occurring in our own households. Being in debt at a time the economy is failing only makes things more difficult. Owning an average of 7 to 8 credit cards does not help the situation either. It is just too easy to spend money that is there but not our own.

There are way to escape this situation assuming of course you have the will and desire to do so. One such way is through debt consolidation. More and more people are becoming familiar with this approach and many more should be. Instead of continuously robbing Peter to pay Paul debt consolidation makes it possible to pay off debt more easily and hopefully eventually to eliminate it.

With debt consolidation, credit card and other debt can be consolidated into a single loan which generally has more attractive interest rates hence a lower monthly payment than the combined payments of all the debt which has been consolidated. Both time and money are saved, not to mention a reduction of stress and anxiety.

The most commonly available debt reduction tool is the home equity loan. With a home equity loan you combine all debts into a single loan which carries an interest rate approximating the interest rate generally seen on a home loan. This can be significantly lower than credit card rates. This lower rate is possible because by using your home as collateral you are able to get a secured loan. Secured loans feature lower rates of interest.

The answer is yes though you may have to work at finding a source. Also a non-secured loan will carry with it a higher rate of interest. Credit card transfers are one possibility but the interest rates, except for the introductory "teaser" rates will generally be higher and can become higher still if you make late payments.

There are better ways to go including accessing life insurance or retirement funds which you may have. You can sometimes make either withdrawals or get low interest loans from these sources. Another source well worth looking into is the credit union. You can look around for a credit union which you are eligible to join. Working at a business or belonging to a union or a large organization may help in finding a good credit union.

There are also non profit organizations that assist with debt consolidation. They actually negotiate with your creditors to get fees waived and interest rates reduced. You can try this on your own but usually it is better to leave that to people who have the tools.

Debt does not have to be a major factor in your life even though it always seems to be with us to some degree. It can be hard to avoid going into debt in our culture but if you have the will and desire, help is available and you can benefit greatly from tools such as debt consolidation.

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Be Wary of Reverse Mortgage Folklore

By Xerine Raziel

A realtor called me the other day. I was marketing the new reverse mortgage purchase money available after the first of the year.

She was sincerely interested in the program, but first decided to vent with an amazing story of pain, agony and just downright horror relating to the reverse mortgage.

Now, in an effort to put the kibosh on the horrible results of a reverse mortgage going viral and thus wrecking my business, I need you to keep reading past the next few paragraphs. You might stop reading and tell your friends about this horror. And they might believe you.

The real estate agent had a friend, who had a friend, who had a father (Strange how rumours get started) who obtained a reverse mortgage on his home. The father passed away and the house willed to the FOAFOAR (which is much easier than saying Friend Of A Friend Of A Real estate agent)

As it turned out the home had negative equity. The loan balance exceeded the value of the home. It's a rare thing, but can happen in reverse mortgage world. At death the mortgage company required repayment of the entire loan.

The property eventually sold to repay a portion of the money owed the lender. The lender forced the FOAFOAR to pay the remaining balance of forty-thousand-dollars.

Now, I have doubts about the validity of this story. I have doubts about any story told through a chain of three people, but look.... HUD prohibits mortgage companies from doing what the FOAROAR said it did. The term is "non-recourse". It means a mortgage company cannot come after the borrower or heirs for a deficiency.

In the circumstance of a deficiency or negative equity the borrower or estate conduct the sale of the property as follows....

The home will be sold at a fair market value. The lender knows this because it requires the borrower or family to hire a licensed realtor to list and sell the home. When the house finally transfers to the new owner, the lender is repaid the price minus closing costs to sell the home.

This net figure is the maximum amount the bank has a right to extract, and can't come back after the borrower or borrower's heirs for the remaining balance of the loan. The bank eats the difference, and is reimbursed by FHA mortgage insurance.

This is one of several myths flying about regarding the reverse mortgage. The reverse mortgage may be a strong tool for you to utilize, or a poor choice given your circumstance. But don't assume you know until you really know. Call a professional or two first.

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Cash In On Bailouts With Mini-Dow Trading

By Doug West

President Bush has been on the TV a lot lately. Too late for him to go down in history as a good president, but we will give him credit for trying. The Pres. has assured us all that we can grow our economy by spending more money. He even sent us each a few hundred to help us do that. One has to wonder if that was a set up for what was to come.

Next came the BIG bailouts for the banks and boys on Wall Street. Hey, where do we apply for some of that 700 Billion dollar pie? Well, don't hold your breath on that one (in a moment we will show you how to cash in on the bail out actions with simple mini-dow index trading)!

Let's see, if you are already in debt up to your ears - like the US government is, how is sending out free money going to stimulate the economy? And, how is that going to help the US government?

OH, don't forget our friends over at the FED. The Reserve! The agency that is owned by the bankers. That masquerades around like they are part of the government. What many folks still don't know is that they all pulled a fast one on us by sticking that word Federal in front of their name. The same thing the guy at Federal Express did when starting his company.

Frederick W. Smith founded FedEx. I clearly remember years ago when he was on 60 Minutes, he said that by the time folks figured out that he was not part of the government his company was already well on it's way to success! Can't blame his reasoning? What a PLAN! IT WORKED for the FED why not FedEx too?

Let's quote right from the FedEx web site:

"Federal Express was so-named due to the patriotic meaning associated with the word "Federal," which suggested an interest in nationwide economic activity. At that time, Smith hoped to obtain a contract with the Federal Reserve Bank and, although the proposal was denied, he believed the name was a particularly good one for attracting public attention and maintaining name recognition."

I'm sure Smith did want a relationship with the Federal Reserve - who wouldn't! These guys have the legalized right to print money! Think about it. It does not matter if it is a $1 bill or a $100 bill, it cost them about the same to make it (a few cents each). Then they "LOAN" that money at full face value to the US government. Full face value PLUS INTEREST! So now you know where the national debt comes from. We now owe that money - Plus Interest - to the FED. A private corporation controlled by international bankers.

So if you are thinking that Bush's plan to grow the economy by handing out $100 bills won't cost anything - Think Again! Where is that money going to come from? That's right - the good ol boys at the FED. These mystical folks seem to be able to pull money out of thin air! Just think, with today's high-tech world, the FED can just punch a button on a computer somewhere and release new funds to the world. Most of which never represents new bills being printed, but just credit in some bank or financial institutions account. Electronic numbers moving through nanoseconds of time and space.

Not only does the FED create money, they also have the ability to set their own interest rate!

- The Fed's Open Market Committee (FOMC), announces their interest rate decisions. This is NOT the interest rate that you and I can get money for, (why don't we all meet at the Fed Discount Window - wherever that is) but what the BIG boys who keep the whole world flowing receive. They in turn pump up the volume and pass the savings on to you and me right - WRONG! It could take weeks or even MONTHS after a cut to see any savings at the consumer level. So why do the markets get so active after an FOMC announcement?

The BIG boys are the ones who really move the market right (and they CAN line up at the FED window for a bailout). We just want a small slice of it. That's all. Remember that when you are trading (or practicing the FED move trade -after an FOMC announcement).

So how do you cash in on the bailouts without getting a slice of the pie? Index trading! With all these bailout moves, the FED buying stock and giving away billions of dollars, it has caused some GREAT moves in the market. Not so good for stock traders, but Wonderful for those of us that just trade and follow the overall index.

No matter what happens, we can all do well with Simple Mini-Dow Index Trading. I look for GREAT times ahead for Index traders. We might have to pay more for the things we need, (because of the FED printing out bailout money like candy these days) but at least we can stay home and earn the money to get them!

Remember those FOMC announcements mentioned earlier? Many times after an announcement, the market moves and moves BIG. Much like the market moves we have all been seeing here lately with the bailout manipulation of the markets. The FED won't give you a partnership deal like FedEx was looking for, but you can capitalize on their dealings.

You may not be able to get in line for a bailout, but you can stick your hand in the market and cash in on the Wild moves we are now seeing in the FED manipulated market. Just follow an index and stay away from stock!

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Are You Thinking About Declaring Bankruptcy?

By Elma Evvie

While it is never easy to decide whether or not you should declare bankruptcy. However declaring bankrupty may be one of the best financial decisions that can help you get back on your feet.

We personally know how difficult it can be to struggle every month with your finances. No one wants to have to deal with whether or not declaring bankruptcy will help them with their finances; however if you are in a position where you can barely make ends meet then you may want to consider it.

This can be a great way to get create a "new beginning" for you and your family. However there are some issues that you should be aware of before ou begin declaring bankruptcy that you may or may not know.

1. It Leaves Bad Marks On Your Credit: We all know that your credit score is the thing that everyone looks at. Creditors and employers all ask to look at your credit score.

If you decide to file then the bankruptcy is going to affect your credit and will remain on your credit report for at least 7 years. You can however learn how to get your credit back in good standing.

2. Money Management: You have to understand why you are in the position that you are currently facing; after all if you do not know how to change your finance habits; then chances are you will end up in the same place a couple months after you file.

Before you decide to file or not; it is important to find out why you are having to make this decision. Remember nothing can change if you keep making the same financial decisions that you have been making.

3. Teach Your Kids: This one is imporant because you want to teach your kids how to be responsible with their finances so that they will not make the same mistakes that you made.

Declaring bankruptcy is one of the most difficult decisions that anyone can be faced with. If you are struggling with your payments and not making enough to pay your bills; then you may want to consider filing. Even though it does affect your credit; you can learn how to rebuild your credit after filing. Before you decide whether or not to file; you may want to get a free counseling about your finances to ensure that you do not have any alternatives.

Visit our site below and get some valuable information about bankruptcy and how to get back on your feet after declaring bankruptcy.

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