As identity theft numbers reach record levels, more people are turning to identity protection services to help safeguard their financial reputation.
You've heard the commercials on the airways,...
All Weekly Tips
All Weekly Tips
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How Does Identity Theft Protection Work?
May 19, 2009
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Build Credit with Secured Credit Cards
May 18, 2009For consumers with damaged credit or no credit history at all, secured credit cards are one of the most popular ways to obtain credit and start improving your credit score today. Your chances of...
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Is a Prepaid Debit Card Right For You?
May 10, 2009Prepaid debit cards have become increasingly popular as credit markets tighten and consumers search for alternative ways to manage their budgets. While prepaid debit cards provide all the...
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ABCs of Credit: What is Credit?
May 03, 2009Nothing down, 24 monthly payments! Low, low 2.9% APR! We may not hear those words as much as we did in the past; however, we still live in world where we are constantly urged to buy things using...
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Can Social Security Benefits Be Garnished?
May 03, 2009Unless you owe Uncle Sam taxes or are behind on alimony or child support payments, your social security benefits cannot be garnished. So, if you've recently lost your job and are worried about your...
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I Paid My Tax Lien - Why is it Still on My Credit Report?
Apr 26, 2009The IRS has 30 days, according to its own rules, to release a tax lien once you pay or settle the debt. However, in reality this is something that is often overlooked. Unaware consumers may go for...
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Collection Accounts Linger for 7 Years
Apr 19, 2009It's a common misconception among consumers that paying off a collection account will make it disappear from their credit report. However, the truth is a collection remains on your credit report for...
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Should I Pay My Taxes With Plastic?
Apr 12, 2009Tax week is here again! And in a last-ditch effort to boost future e-payment numbers, the IRS recently announced that some taxpayers will now be allowed to deduct the convenience fees card companies...
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Top 5 Ways to Spring Clean Your Credit
Apr 08, 2009Spring is meant to be a time of renewal and rejuvenation. For many people, this might include cleaning out the old attic or scrubbing the entire house from floor to ceiling. There's just something...
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Avoid Credit Card Late Fees: Pay More Often!
Apr 05, 2009The average credit card late fee hovers around $40, which is triple what it was just a decade ago. And it's not just the 40 bucks that will hurt you each time you miss a payment deadline. Punitive...
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Credit Reports Don't Merge After Marriage
Mar 29, 2009There are several common misconceptions about what happens to an individual's credit reports after marriage. One of the most common myths is that when you are married your credit reports will merge...
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What is a Default Interest Rate?
Mar 22, 2009Has your credit card's interest rate jumped from 12% to 30% in just one month? If so, you have most likely fallen victim to the dreaded Default Interest Rate. Generally looming in the 25% to 30%...
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Identity Thieves Prey on Job Seekers
Mar 17, 2009Are you out of work and looking for a job? Unfortunately, there may be some people out there who wish to prey on your bad fortune. Identity thieves in particular have recently ramped up activity as...
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Don't Ignore the "Schumer Box"
Mar 15, 2009The Federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA) requires credit card companies to disclose certain information in any offer they make to you. In addition, the "Schumer Box", named after Sen. Charles E....
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Beware of Hefty Over-the-limit Fees
Mar 08, 2009There are few things worse than getting slapped with a hefty $35 fee for spending a few dollars more than your credit limit. However, it can easily happen to the best of us, and the fact is most...
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Beware of Identity Theft on Social Networking Sites
Mar 01, 2009Popular social networking sites, such as Facebook and MySpace, have become all the rage in recent years. And while they are undoubtedly a great way to connect with friends you probably forgot about...
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Top 5 Ways to Manage Student Loans
Feb 24, 2009College graduation should be one of the most exciting times in your life. You've worked hard to get your degree and prepare yourself for a successful and fulfilling career. Now it's time to get out...
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Is Forgiven Debt Really Considered Income?
Feb 22, 2009If you're in the process of settling a debt or thinking about approaching a creditor to begin debt settlement negotiations, it's important to remember that the IRS considers forgiven debt to be...
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Bid Farewell to Your Experian Credit Score
Feb 15, 2009Effective February 14th, FICO credit scores from Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus, are no longer available to consumers. Equifax and TransUnion FICO scores can still be accessed via...
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Freeze Your Credit Reports to Prevent Identity Theft
Feb 05, 2009While millions of consumers continue to fall victim to identity theft each year, many are starting to fight back with new tools— credit alerts and credit freezes. Sounds effective, right?...
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Credit Tips for Newlyweds
Feb 01, 2009While it's not the most romantic topic of discussion, newlyweds should make it a top priority to openly discuss their individual credit histories. Of course, it's best to determine a credit strategy...
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Why is my Ex's Mortgage Still on My Credit Report?
Jan 12, 2009A common credit myth is that a divorce decree will absolve you from any credit obligations the judge decides your ex-spouse will be responsible for paying. However, the truth of the matter is often...
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How to Build Credit with No Debt
Jan 06, 2009Roughly 50 million people in this country have no credit at all. No credit cards, student loans, auto loans, or mortgages. It's hard to believe, but it's true. Does this mean they are not...
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2009 - The Year to Get Rid of Debt
Jan 04, 2009Consumers have truly witnessed an ironic turn of events in the credit card world. For decades credit issuers have ferociously competed to be the first card in your wallet, and now they are just...
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Understand Your Credit Card's Grace Period
Dec 30, 2009The average credit card provides a 20 to 30 day grace period. What that means is your credit issuer will not charge interest on your new purchases during this time period. It's probably as close to...
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The Right Time to Buy a Car?
Dec 21, 2008The violent winds of the current economy seem to be stirring up the perfect storm for great deals on a new car. Auto manufacturers and dealers are obviously hurting and under pressure to find a way...
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Credit Card Fraud: How It Happens and What to Do About It
Dec 14, 2008It may start off practically unnoticeable, with a few charges here and there. Over time, though, your credit card statements begin to reflect purchases in places you're quite sure you've never...
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Purchase Protection Can Come in Handy
Dec 07, 2008Several credit card benefits are often overlooked by the so-called personal finance gurus that claim consumers should leave their credit cards at home when hitting the malls this holiday season....
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Leave Your Social Security Card at Home
Dec 01, 2008Is it really necessary to carry your social security card around with you like a driver's license? Not at all, yet many people sill tote around one of the most confidential pieces of personal...
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Opting-Out of Credit Card Interest Rate Hikes
Nov 23, 2008Citigroup Inc. and American Express are two of the largest credit-card issuers who recently announced they will hit millions of consumers with interest rate hikes just before the start of the holiday...
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What's Loss Mitigation?
Nov 17, 2008What does this financial buzzword you're hearing everywhere really mean? If you're a homeowner facing the possibility of foreclosure, it should mean a great deal to you because loss mitigation is a...
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Checking Your Credit Report for Signs of Identity Theft
Nov 13, 2008Most of us have seen the clever Citibank commercials that portray identity theft victims boasting about illegal purchases with dubbed voices that are clearly not their own. While entertaining and...
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Rates Drop in US and UK, but Banks Fail to Follow
Nov 09, 2008In an effort to ward off a deep depression, the Fed dropped its benchmark rate to a record-tying low of 1 percent, and the Bank of England recently slashed Britain's base rate by a record 1.5 percent...
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750 is the new 650
Nov 03, 2008Prior to a few months ago, there was basically no difference between a credit score of 650 and 800 for most loans. Whether you were looking to get into a car, a home, or simply a new credit card, a...
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How Will A Short Sale Affect My Credit Score?
Oct 26, 2008As property values continue to head south, many people are finding themselves upside-down on home loans and possibly facing foreclosure. A "short sale" can provide an alternative to foreclosure if...
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Does Your Credit Card Have a Penalty Rate?
Oct 20, 2008Buried deep in the fine print of your credit card's terms and conditions, chances are you will find something known as the "penalty rate clause". In fact, more than 75% of credit card issuers...
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Your Credit GPA: 3 Must-Know Credit Concepts for Students
Oct 16, 2008Isn't it about time you gained some Credit¢ents? Perhaps you've never had to worry about credit before, but now you're off on your own and it seems like you're bombarded with credit card offers...
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What To Do When Someone Steals Your Identity
Oct 08, 2008Think you're having a bad day? Stuck in traffic, late for work, your kid is flunking math, the kitchen is a mess after dropping an egg? Well, you can relax and count your blessings. Because as...
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Times are Tough, but Basic Rules Remain Unchanged
Oct 04, 2008The economy is hurting and credit markets are in the tank. In fact, it's easy to understand why all the media hype concerning the credit crunch has consumers scared about what the future will hold...
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How Will Foreclosure Affect My Credit?
Sep 27, 2008The credit markets are in the tank, and mortgage foreclosures are happening everywhere in today's economy. Whether voluntary or involuntary, it's important to understand that a foreclosure on your...
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