Credit Card Application

Building a good credit history is important. If you have no reported credit history, it may take time to establish your first credit account. This problem affects young people just beginning careers as well as older people who have never used credit. It also affects divorced or widowed women who shared credit accounts that were reported only in the husband''s name.

If you do not know what is in your credit file, check with your local credit bureaus. Most cities have two or three credit bureaus, which are listed under "Credit" or "Credit Reporting Agencies" in the Yellow Pages. For a small fee, they will tell you what information is in your file and may give you a copy of your credit report.

If you have had credit before under a different name or in a different location and it is not reported in your file, ask the credit bureau to include it. If you shared accounts with a former spouse, ask the credit bureau to list these accounts under your name as well. Although credit bureaus are not required to add new accounts to your file, many will do so for a small fee. Finally, if you presently share in the use of a credit account with your spouse, ask the creditor to report it under both names.

Creditors are not required to report any account history information to credit bureaus. If a creditor does report on an account, however, and if both spouses are permitted to use the account or are contractually liable for its repayment, under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act you can require the creditor to report the information under both names. When contacting your creditor or credit bureau, do so in writing and include relevant information, such as account numbers, to help speed the process. As with all important business communications, keep a copy of what you send.

If you do not have a credit history, you should begin to build one. If you have a steady income and have lived in the same area for at least a year, try applying for credit with a local business, such as a department store. Or you might borrow a small amount from your credit union or the bank where you have checking and savings accounts.

You probably don''t need me to tell you credit cards are easy to get a hold of; at least, that is so in the US and UK. How many weeks pass without a glossy brochure promoting a credit card popping through your letter box? And that''s just your mail; the tv advertising budgets for credit card promotion are enormous, with some famous faces often adorning your screen, smiling beautifully as they tempt you. How does anyone resist that promotional onslaught, coupled with the peer pressure, and the "have now, pay later" culture in which we live? Well, the fact is, few people do resist. If you are credit worthy and have no credit card, you are something of a rarity.

Credit cards are almost as easy to get as your fruit and vegetables from the local supermarket. The thing is, you can have a bad credit history, and still get deluged with offers of easy credit. Even if you have just filed for bankruptcy, you may still get more offers of credit cards than you know what to do with!

Because of the ease of availability, credit card debt is all too easy to get into. Not just once, but over and over again. Partly it''s psychological, as we may not feel like we are spending real money. That is, until the chicken comes home to roost, and the bill comes. By then, of course, it''s too late; you have a debt for which you are legally responsible. The credit card companies have slick marketing departments who know we are weak, and that we may easily fall prey to temptation.

It is often recommended, when trying to establish a good credit report, that it is a good idea to get a credit card, and then use it to spend wisely. Experts will advise us to pay our bills on time, and never to exceed the credit limit. However, when you get you first credit card, nobody really goes to any real trouble to warn you, bluntly, of the pitfalls:

1. It is easy to be lured into spending up to the credit card''s limit; before you know it, that one moment of weakness a month has taken you up to the limit.

2. You may have a low interest rate to begin with, but that was an introductory offer; a lure; a bribe; to get your business and your money and tempt you more and more. Soon, the permanent interest rate will kick in. How does 20% pa sound? It could be that much. Were you warned how quickly that builds up? How the monthly interest alone may make it difficult for you to pay your monthly repayment every time, on time?

There is a big difference between looking after your own finances while living alone, or with parents, and living with a partner. The transition can be very difficult, especially if both partners are strongly independent, or one partner is financially weak and the other strong. In fact, it is an area of a new relationship that has many pitfalls if you do not set the ground rules from the start.

It is best to sit down together and quietly plan your finances, even before you get married or move in together. Then, when you do so, it is important to be open with each other, and discuss what may go wrong with the domestic finances if you do not plan correctly. That way, you can work on a plan together, and a budget, and set ground rules for a smooth financial future together. It is sensible to bring the use of credit into that discussion, as there will come a time, maybe from day one, when credit cards and other forms of credit become an issue. Agreement on all relevant credit and finance issues will reduce the risk of problems, arguments and misunderstandings later on.

An early decision to make is whether to keep finances separate or not; deciding, for example, whether to have joint bank accounts or joint credit cards.

The Benefits of Joint Accounts

The advantages of consolidating funds into one current account include:

1. Easier record keeping.

2. Should you apply for a loan at any time, there will be less paperwork.

3. Working closely together on the running of the account may help to solidify the relationship and build trust. It gives an opportunity for both of you to bring out your best co-operative nature.

There is one drawback, though. With two people actively using the account, it is not so easy for you to keep track of the account transactions and balances, especially if you are both using the account a lot. This can be overcome by discussing openly all expenditure the day it happens.

The Benefits of Separate Accounts

Is there a way to get out of debt without getting a second job or having to increase your income in some way? Can the average person take his or her current income and pay off his or her bills in a matter of a few years, including the car and mortgage payments?

The answer is YES!!! You can do it without having to cut out all of your fun and extra-curricular activities as well. Now, you may need to cut down on going to the movies or going out to eat, but you will not have to stop altogether. It is a matter of putting together your plan and then sticking to your plan!

The process is fairly simple, most people just don''t realize it. Anyone can get started right away, including YOU right now! Here is what you need to know:

1. What is your total net income?

2. What are your debts and minimum monthly payments? (Don''t include any extra money you are paying towards any debt. You want only your minimum required monthly payments.)

Okay, are you ready to begin?

The first thing you need to do is take a percentage of your NET income (a good beginning point would be 5%) and write this amount down at the top of a blank sheet of paper.

Next, write down each of your debts (not including utility bills, insurance payments, property taxes, etc.) in a column at the left side of your page. Beside each debt, write down your total balance and then your minimum monthly payment.

Once you have all of these down, divide your total balance by the minimum monthly payment. Write this amount next to each debt. Taking the debt that has the shortest payoff number, number this number 1. Taking the next shortest payoff, number it number 2 and so on until each debt has a number next to it. These numbers indicate the order in which you will begin to pay off your bills.

Now, here is where your 5% comes into play. For debt number 1 take the minimum monthly payment and add it to the 5% figure. Divide the total balance by this new amount to get the total months it will take to payoff the debt. For debt number 2, you will take the minimum monthly payment plus the 5% plus the minimum monthly payment of debt number 1 (since it will be paid in full) and add them together. Again take the total balance and divide it by your new monthly payment to figure your total months to payoff. Do this with each debt until you are finished.

Leaving school, getting a new job, or even a raise at your current one, has most people considering their next great purchase. Few think about the affect this could have on their future. Rather than pay down the debt they carry, many ponder, "What can I buy now"? The greatest purchase anyone can make is their future.

Each year as you live your life, the proper choices would have you possessing a greater net worth at the end of the year than you had at the beginning. What happens though, is you usually find yourself further in debt. The balances on your credit cards are higher. You bought a new car. You needed more toys for the home.

This is not how you purchase your future. You pay all your bills, except for one. Your future does not submit an invoice; you never receive a statement. Even though it does not demand an interest payment, the longer you give no heed to the purchase of your future the more it will cost you. Your future has no advocate, except you, you can''t continue to ignore it.

You gladly pay on debt, mostly for items that lose their value, or had none in the beginning. These are payments which if properly directed could easily purchase your future and secure some peace of mind.

It is important to note some disturbing trends. Recent news stories point to large companies who are in trouble going to the courts to eliminate the need to fund the retirement plans for their employees. Under-funding of pension plans has been a problem for years. The money simply will not be there when many are ready to begin drawing on it.

Then, recently Alan Greenspan, the chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank, said the congress needed to get serious about cutting back Social Security and Medicare. Where does the money for your future come from? Apparently not from there either.

You need to look in the mirror. The person you see there is your only hope. It is the person looking back that will either ensure or sabotage you future. Can you depend on the reflection to get rid of the overhang of debt in your life? It is your only chance. But you cannot wait, you must do it now.

It reminds me of the movie from a few years ago, "Hunt for Red October".

We have all experienced getting so far in debt we don''t know how we''re going to get out. There are many different options that you have for quick relief with benefits and consequences. You can look at the overview and see which option is the best option for you.

Consolidation

1. Benefits

• Lower monthly payments

• No worry of paying multiple debt collectors every month, pay only one agency

• Percentage of debt charged by consolidation company

• Costs for Loan

• Cost for counseling or negotiation

2. Negatives

• Appears on your credit like bankruptcy

• Requires you to get another loan

• If you own a home loan will be tied to your equity

• Takes between 5 and 10 years to pay off the loan

• First few years no big change in debt reduction

• Does not always prevent creditors from future legal collection action

Bankruptcy

1. Benefits

• Costs between $700-$3000

2. Negatives

• On credit report for ten years

• Finances made public record

• No assets are allowed with Chapter7

• Creditors can file adversarial hearing that costs $3000

• Credit severely damaged

Debt Relief Program

1. Benefits

• Payments can stop as soon as the program starts

• Credit Repair available after a short time

• Good credit repair options available

The New Year often brings with it a desire to right the wrongs in your life. From this desire springs the tradition of New Year resolutions. You should take advantage of this to change your financial situation.

There is a good chance by the time many of you read this, you will have already made and BROKEN your financial resolutions. Those of you who have not already done so, know they are hard to keep. You can change that. Anytime is a good time to make financial resolutions.

Since you are thinking about this, you must suspect a problem. The first step is defining the problem. Define it specifically. "I spend too much money", is not good enough. You spend too much money on what? Why do you spend too much money? It is not often you are speaking of life''s necessities here. You need to specifically target your problem areas.

The best way to identify problem areas in your spending, is to pull out your check registers and credit card statements for the past twelve months. Write down all checks and charges for items other than necessities. This spending will be your gold to mine.

After making this list, add up the total amount of these expenses. This will be a very revealing exercise. For some the total will be staggering, especially when done for a twelve month period.

Pay close attention to checks and charges for restaurants and fast food chains. Look at the amount and frequency of payments to convenience stores. Examine closely the spending on your home and your closet.

Using this information you become aware of your weaknesses and where they occur. You are now better equipped to overcome them. You need to make conscious decisions to stay away from the places where you overspend. If you don''t go there you won''t be tempted to waste your resources and place your financial life in peril.

A Debt Checklist allows you to look at items and areas of your financial life. You need to examine these to gauge how you stand. Even if you believe you are in good shape take a close look at these areas to be sure.

• Your Budget. Almost nobody likes this word, which is why so many people have problems with their finances and debt. You need to know how and where your money is being spent. In addition, you should be sticking to a spending plan.

• Your Savings Account. You should pay yourself each month. To do this you need have an account in place, in which you keep your funds. At least until you can move them to an account with a higher rate of return. Visit your bank or credit union to set one up.

• Your Use Of Credit. You need to review your use of credit to see how, what, and where you are using it. Using credit to pay your bills or buying groceries is a recipe for trouble.

• Your Percentage Of Income For Debt. Nothing makes it harder to stay with your spending plan than credit card payments. You are paying for your past while trying to purchase your present. If your percentage of income going toward debt exceeds 15 you could be headed for trouble. Any amount over 20 percent, you need to put on the brakes.

• Your Minimum Payments. These add up. If you are to the point where you ca only make minimum payments on your debts, you will stretch your indebtedness far into the future. You don''t want to extended like this. Find ways to add extra to one payment each month. Then when you pay one off move the extra payments to another.

• Your Protection. You need to put into place and maintain protection for your assets. Your home, autos, life, and health, need be insured. Make certain the protection is in line with the value of your assets and the needs of the people whose lives would be effected.

• Your Retirement. Two factors come into play here. You are going to live longer and life is not getting any cheaper. You should pay into an account for retirement every month. More is better. If you have been paying attention you''ll know not to depend solely on social security.

• Your Job Skills. Things change and change rapidly. A constant update should be part of your plan. You need to be able to obtain better jobs, or sometimes any job. The more skills you possess the better your chances.

• Your Money Skills. Since money education is not taught in school you will need to learn on your own. You need to learn to manage your money, even if you turn it over to others. Become familiar with how credit and debt works, so it doesn''t work against you.

Once you have taken this inventory get to work shoring up the areas where you are weakest. Put into place the ones you don''t have. Then check back every so often to make sure all is well and as it should be.

(C) 2004 David Wilding.

David Wilding has for the past ten years worked with groups and individuals to help them reach the goal of being debt free. Visit his web site http://www.debtattack.com for more ideas, tools, and strategies.', 134, 'Use A Debt Checklist To Examine Where You Are, Debt-Relief, Debt-Relief articles, Debt-Relief information, about Debt-Relief, what is Debt-Relief, Debt Relief Information', 'Use A Debt Checklist To Examine Where You Are plus articles and information on Debt-Relief

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Getting Behind
Getting behind on your debts owed can be a very frustrating and trying time for you and your family. Depending on how far behind you are, there are other repercussions, such as your credit rating, that will affect you further down the road.

Examine Why
Why did you get behind in the first place? This is a very important question in helping you understand what you need to do to get out of this predicament, and prevent your self from getting into the same or similar situations in the future. Was it your spending habits or not properly planning for emergencies? In any case, track down the cause, change your spending habits, and you will bring about a different effect.

Create a Budget
The necessary evil. This is where many people get tripped in planning for their financial future. Creating an accurate budget allows you to see exactly what is coming in and going out. It allows you to see what you can put away for Christmas, birthdays, office parties, etc. When trying to determine how to pay your debts, this is one of the first steps towards and informed decision.

Cut Your Bills in Half
Sometimes, it may come down to paying on the debt or eating. We know who wins this. The way I have found that both sides can somewhat win is to split your debt payment into two. If you get paid this week on Monday, talk to your creditor and ask if it is possible for you to pay half this check, and half the next. Rather than get nothing at all, most creditors will agree.

Add a little extra each payment. If you have a bill that costs you $50 a month, sending $30 each pay period probably will not hurt you as bad, and you begin to get ahead of your payments if you pay the little extra. Getting ahead of your payments can save you money on the interest that you are paying, provided you note the extra money is toward the principal. Some companies apply the extra money accordingly, whereas others need it to be specified.

What Everybody Needs To Know...Learn The Truth About Debt Elimination in 2005!

Here`s how we have been taught to charge, charge, charge and promised Easy monthly payments by advertisers who seduce us into debt. So its no accident that the credit, finance and loan companies end up with most of our money, while we end up with all of the bills.

Debt Elimination tips shows how Millions of Americans are living on the edge of financial disaster surviving only on the hope of next week''s paycheck. The average American is dying under a load of debt, with little or nothing building in the bank or in investments.

Debt Elimination Tips, shows how we''ve been misled!

See for the first time how the entire way our economy works, is designed to make you work yourself to exhaustion--simply to accumulate wealth for the companies you do business with--Not For You.

The most staggering example of this is a home mortgage. Say you bought a home with a 30-year conventional or adjustable rate mortgage, you will pay for that loan about THREE TIMES. Just multiply out your payment times 360 months and you will see that the total is about 3 times the value of the money you borrowed.

Say you buy a $250,000 home, with a $200,000 mortgage; you will end up paying about $600,000 over 30 years. This means that you will pay nearly $400,000 dollars in interest! Just for the privilege of using their $200,000.

That means that two-thirds of that total is interest. Interest is the profit the Mortgage Company makes for lending you the money to buy the house. And they feel that you should pay them back THREE TIMES. That''s 200% interest!

Debt elimination tips -- Now let these words soak into your mind and heart: You will have to work...week after week...year after year...to earn FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS---Just so you can give it to the bank to make them rich!

Debt Elimination Tips, Show''s how bad it really is to use credit cards and to make only the minimum payments!

Suppose you bought $2,000 worth of furniture on a typical (19.8% interest with a $40 annual fee) credit card, and you paid only the minimum monthly payments requested by the credit card company (here''s why they only ask for a minimum payment), it will take you 31 years and 2 months to pay it off.

Many credit card holders sign up for a credit account with an 8.9% interest rate and then later realize that their interest rate has been bumped to 27.4%. Why?

You know that your credit score affects the credit card rates that you qualify for. But, did you know that a little clause in the fine print of the credit card terms and agreements, called the "Universal Default Penalty Clause" may mean that you''re already paying a higher interest than when you signed up for the credit card? What does this fine print mean to you?

If your credit score goes down or one of your other credit conditions change, then your interest rate increases significantly. This doesn''t mean any new charges you make to this particular credit card account: the higher rate affects the entire balance. Yes, even items you purchased with the understanding that your interest rate would remain the original rate.

Your credit grantors periodically review your credit report. Almost half of all credit card companies take advantage of you when you are perceived as a delinquent or high-risk borrower. The small print in your account information may include the universal default penalty, which allows the credit card company to increase your interest rate if it uncovers any of these six changes in your credit report:

1. You have a late payment on any credit account. The company doesn''t care if you''ve never made a late payment to them.

2. You go over your available credit line on any credit account. Even if you unknowingly charge a small amount over the credit limit, which many credit card issuers let you do; your interest rate can be raised.

3. Your credit score declines. Just one late payment can hurt your credit score. Experian reports that people with no late or missed payments in the last year had an average credit score of 759; consumers with one or more late payments in the past year had an average score of 598.

4. You charge up too much on one account or many credit cards. If you charge up your credit card near the limit, or even charge up some of your credit cards over the preferred proportional amounts owed, you could pay extra for the privilege. The amount owed on a credit line compared to the available credit is termed the proportional amount owed. With a credit card limit of $5,000, the score will be higher if less than $2,500 is owed. Even better is to owe less than one-third of the available credit or less than $1501. Owing less than ten percent of the available balance gives you the best possible rating. On the other hand, owing over $4,500 on an account with a limit of $5,000 lowers your score considerably, especially if you have too many credit cards and other loans with high balances compared to available balances.

There are times when you may be turned down for credit and you do not understand why. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report if you have been denied credit because of negative items on your credit report within 60 days of the request for credit, if you are unemployed but looking for work, are on welfare, or believe that your credit report is incorrect because of fraud. You may also receive a copy of your credit report for a small fee at any time in which you want to review the information contain therein.

If you dispute any of the information on your credit report, there are steps that you, the credit reporting agency and the information provider must take to have the information corrected or deleted form your report.

1. You should contact the credit reporting agency and request that the inaccurate information be taken off. To do this you will need to send a letter of request and enclose a copy of the report with the incorrect information highlighted. Send your request certified mail and indicate that a return receipt is requested.

2. The Credit reporting agency will forward the request to the information provider at which time they will review and investigate the request. If the information cannot be verified, then they must remove it. They can either correct or deny the request to change the information. They will then send their findings to the credit reporting agency.

3. If the information provider finds that their was an error they will provide written proof of the change and send a copy of the report to you, the credit reporting agency and anyone who has requested a copy of your credit report in the last six months.

Many companies use the slogan "Bad Credit? No Credit? No Problem!" The truth is that it is in fact a problem and there is no easy way to correct it. It takes a lot of time and effort to obtain credit when you do not have any and even longer to fix bad credit. The first step to solving these credit problems is to understand what your credit score means. In doing this, you will have a better idea of how to fix it.

Creditors use a point system to evaluate your credit. The more points you have, the better your credit is. These are some typical scoring methods used by most creditors.

* Age -Under 21= 0 points -24-64 = 2 points -65+ = 0 points

* Marital Status -Single = 0 points -Married = 1 point -Divorced = 0 points

* Number of Dependants -None = 0 points -1-3 = 1 point -Over 3 = 0 points

* Current Residence -Living with family or friends = 0 points -Living in an apartment = 1 point -Living in a home that you are buying = 3 points -Living in a home that is paid for = 4 points

* Previous Residence (Varies with creditors) -0-5 years = 0 points -5 or more = 1 point

* Employment History (Each creditor determines whether the job is considered skilled, unskilled or professional) -Unskilled job = 1 point -Skilled job = 2 points -Professional job = 3 points

* Income per Month (Varies with creditors) -$800.00 = 1 point -$100.00 = 2 points -$1500.00 = 3 points -$1800+ = 4 points

* Current Debt per Month -0 - $300.00 = 1 point -$301.00 - $500.00 = 2 points -$500 or more = 3 points

* Previous Credit

-A loan in good standing with the agency you are now applying with = 4-5 points

-A loan in good standing with any other agency = 2-3 points

* Savings or Checking Account Information

A lot of people have bad credit. It is unfortunate that good people with good intentions are sometimes lured into credit card offers with outrageous interest rates or convinced to buy a new, overpriced car that they cannot afford. Sometimes, it is a stroke of bad luck. You may have recently lost your job or been involved in an accident that made you unable to work which in turn also made you unable to pay your bills. Whatever the case bad credit can follow you for a very long time and repairing your credit is no easy task. You may have seen advertisements claiming to be able to repair your credit for only a small fee. Some advertise credit repair kits for anywhere from $10.00-$20.00. This may seem like a small price to pay to have your good credit reinstated. But beware, the price is often much higher. Jail time or high fines are the price you must be willing to pay since these scams are illegal.

Credit repair kits claim to be able to repair your credit through a process called "file segregation". This is a fancy term for obtaining an employment identification number or EIN. Employment identification numbers can be used to apply for credit instead of your social security number. The problem is that you must use false information to apply for this number. This is illegal and you can be charged with not only misrepresenting your social security number, but if you used the telephone or mail to apply for the credit you could be charged with telephone or mail fraud.

Credit Counseling and bankruptcy are both ways to relieve the stress of debt. However, they are very different and it is important to understand both before making a decision as to which is best for you.

Credit counseling is a program designed to help those who are in a state of debt and cannot find a solution to their debt problems. They offer services that will allow you to work with a certified credit counselor to devise a plan that is tailored to your specific needs and goals. Credit counseling agencies often provide services for free and will help to educate you about how to avoid financial problems in the future by offering debt management classes or seminars. They do not erase your debt. Instead they work with you to budget money so that you can pay off the debt often times by debt consolidation. Collection will continue while using a credit counselor, however, in most cases companies who are owed money will try and work with you to help you payoff your loans. Credit counseling services often help you to reestablish credit after the loans are paid.

Bankruptcy is very different. It will completely clear your debt in most cases and you will no longer be hassled by collection agencies and their attorneys. There are two kinds of bankruptcy; the one that is right for you will depend on your situation. When filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy you are able to keep property that is mortgaged such as your house or car and are expected to repay debts in three to five years. Under Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you must give up all property and assets that you own. There are exceptions in some states for items such as work tools and household furnishings. Bankruptcy will certainly clear your debts and stop foreclosures and wage garnishments, however, you will be unable to establish credit for up to ten years. Filing bankruptcy can also be very expensive compared to credit counseling.

Many of us have seen the advertisements on television. "Get out of debt fast!" "We can solve all your credit problems with only one call!" These sound really great but you know that, realistically, one call is not going to solve your credit problems.

If it were so fast and easy to get out of debt the credit card companies and these agencies advertising on television would be out of business very soon. Credit counselors can help you to understand your credit problems and to devise a plan to help you to manage your debt. They do this by providing services to you for a fee or for free if it is a non-profit organization. Some agencies will provide a free debt analysis to determine the best way in which they can service your needs. The following is a guide to help you understand how credit counseling works and if credit counseling is right for you.

The first step you should take is to decide if you do have a debt problem. For some it may be obvious, but for others they may not recognize the problem until they are faced with a collection agency. If you are only making minimum payments on your credit cards, or taking cash advances to pay bills, then you may need to seek advise from a credit counselor.

When you contact a credit-counseling agency, ask questions. Ask about the company and what programs they offer. Contact the Better Business Bureau to find out the facts about their history. Make sure to ask about all fees and charges; you are trying to get out of debt, not obtain more!

After you have chosen a credit counseling agency usually they will take a look expenses, income and debts. Most require you to participate in a debt management seminar, some longer than others to educate yourself about money management and budgeting as well as information on credit and finances. Some agencies charge a fee to attend the class, for others it is free.

Step 1. The purpose of this first step is to bring you back to reality. You must know exactly how much money you owe and to whom you owe it.

* Collect all of you unpaid bills and any other evidence of your outstanding debts.

* List each outstanding bill on the same sheet of paper. In separate columns, include the invoice or account number, amount due, name of the creditor, and the date the bill can be paid in full without incurring additional finance charges.

* Total the amount due column.

* Total the number of creditors.

* Total the number of bills.

Are you surprised or shocked? Of course, most will be shocked by the scope of their debt. Regardless of your reaction, you now (perhaps for the first time) have an exact accounting of your current debts. Debt help Considers this to be your guide, because it shows exactly how much money you currently owe, and by what date you must pay.

Step 2. This step employs a powerful visualization technique that actually enables you to visualize an end to your current debts.

* Mentally consolidate your bills. Do not think of your debt as a series of separate bills. Consider all your bills as one large bill to be repaid. As you diligently repay each component bill, your large bill becomes smaller.

* Mentally consolidate your payments. Do not consider your individual payments towards separate bills, consider them one large payment towards your one large bill.

* Debt help shows why you must continue making the same size payments regardless of how many bills are repaid. As bills are paid in full, more money is available to pay other bills, but only if your payments remain the same.

* You must pay your bills in the order of their higest monthly payments. This allows you to apply the most amount of money to the next bill and reduces your debts in the shortest amount of time.

If your large bill becomes smaller each time you make a payment while the size of your payments remains the same, the net result of this strategy is that each successive payment has a greater impact upon the size of your debt.

Debt Example: Say you have two bills, one for $250 and one for $750. Together they total $1000. You can afford to pay $500 per month. If you pay $250 towards each bill, the small bill will disappear after the first payment and the larger bill is reduced to $500. You still have $500 available for the next payment. If you maintain the same size payment, you will completely eliminate the remaining bill with the next payment.

OK, so you are up to your head in debt. You are stressed out, it is now affecting the way you function and absorbing most of your daily thoughts. You have no idea what to do.

OK, first things first. Take a step back and try and look at things with a clear head. Your debt is manageable. If you have many bills and just can''t afford them all, the first thing you should consider is a debt consolidation loan.

A debt consolidation loan will help you out by consolidating all of your debt into one monthly payment that you can afford.

Second of all, figure out what is an affordable amount of money, that you can afford to pay monthly. You want this to be a fair amount of cash, however you still need to account for some money for yourself to prevent yourself from slipping further into debt.

The next step is to cut up your current credit cards. I know I''ve fallen into this trap on numerous occasions; I didn''t cut up my credit cards and planned to use them for ''EMERGENCY ONLY''. Well, a few months roll by, and that new shirt, and that tank of gas add up to ANOTHER full credit card. If you no longer have credit cards, you can''t be tempted to use them.

Reducing debt usually isn''t a high priority for people until they have already gotten into trouble with overspending. Using a few basic guidelines, and debt calculations, can help you see when your debt load is getting into the danger zone.

Budgeting Guidelines

Creditors use budgeting guidelines when reviewing and approving credit. If your debt exceeds the financial communities recommended guidelines, then you have a higher risk of credit applications being denied.

Getting, and keeping, your debt in line with recommended budgeting guidelines, is an important step in debt reduction.

Use the following recommended budgeting guidelines (the same ones used by Financial Institutions) to review the items in your budget:

Good credit is everyone''s dream. A wise use of credit can go a long way. It certainly makes certain goals in life (like acquiring business loan from bank) easily attainable.

But the key question remains: "What does it take to achieve ''Triple A'' credit?"

First and foremost, it is important it is critical to point out where most people go wrong when it comes to their credit and credit report.

People with bad credit will usually seek credit repair help. Most would seek credit expert advice and few will try to do it themselves by purchasing a credit repair book.

Mainly, the problem is not the type of help you hire, rather the assumption you are left with after the whole credit repair process.

Where most people go wrong is that once their credit report is free of any negative entries (or errors), they simply assume that they now have an excellent credit.

That''s simply untrue.

In reality, your credit is not bad because you now have managed to erase the negative entries that was shown on your credit report before. At the same time, you do not have '' Triple A '' credit either.

Unless, you have positive items or entries showing on your credit report.

And the key to a successful credit repair is not just getting rid-off the negative entries on your credit report, but rather to show-off that you have multiple positive entries on your credit report that can buy the confidence of your bank to loan you their money.

You can find numerous articles dedicated to guiding through the credit repair process, but few will discuss further than just repairing your credit. Meaning few will tell you (better yet, know about),

"How to add positive entries to your credit report?".

It is very important you understand that, you can repair your own credit and make it flawless, better than anyone ever could. Today, there is so many help on credit repair help, but not all are legitimate help. And it is extremely important to keep that in mind.

If you want to avoid getting chopped-down by bogus repair companies, take the following two statements as an advice that will serve you a long way.

1- There is no law available to any credit repair company, expert, or attorney - that is not available to you as the credit consumer.

Most families in America today have a credit card; some have two or more. The type of credit card you own, gold, platinum, ext, is almost a status symbol in society. The concept is a good one, using your good credit to purchase big-ticket items that you may need time to pay for. If used wisely, credit cards can be a dependable resource, however, sometimes we are unaware of the fact that we are overspending. Some may think that if they are able to make the monthly payments, then their debt is under control. This is not always the case. These are some signs that you may be in or going in the direction of having a major financial crisis.

* You use your savings to pay monthly bills.

* You pay only the minimum monthly payments on any of your credit cards.

* You take out cash advances to pay your credit card bills, or other bills that you may have.

* You are over or nearly over your credit limit on one or more credit cards.

* You have been turned down for loans.

* You receive calls or letters from collection agencies.

If you think that you may have a debt problem, there is help. Credit counselors are trained to help you get out of debt in a very short period of time. Some can even help to make you debt free in as little as 18 months. Your individual situation may take more or less time. Even if you have good credit but have made unwise choices while using your credit card and you want to preserve your good credit, you mat benefit from credit counseling. Many credit counseling agencies will provide you with a free debt analysis to help you understand what actions that you can take to reestablish your credit without bankruptcy.

This summary of the Fair Credit Reporting Act will explain what you can legally do if you want to repair your own credit report. No matter what you hear, you can dispute credit information on your credit report if you understand the legal rights you have under this law.

The Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act was enacted by the United States Congress in 1971. In summary, it says that the credit bureaus must investigate a consumer dispute if they want to challenge credit information on his or her credit report.

It also states that credit bureaus are required to complete the investigation within a 30 day period. If the credit bureau finds that the disputed information is inaccurate or cannot be verified, they must promptly delete that information.

But there are some cases when a consumer dispute can be ignored by the credit bureaus. If you challenge a negative credit listing on the basis of things like health problems, divorce or job loss, the credit bureaus are entitled to ignore those kinds of disputes. The information you dispute must be either old or incorrect.

You must file a valid dispute where the credit bureaus can contact the creditor and confirm that the new information you gave them is accurate and can be verified. If the credit bureau does not receive verification from the creditor within 30 days, the Fair Credit Reporting Act says the credit bureau must promptly delete that credit listing.

Even though the process sounds simple, the credit bureaus make it more difficult than you can imagine. The credit bureaus don''t like the credit repair companies or anyone offering instruction on how to repair your own credit report. Why? Because it means more work for them.

The credit bureaus blast credit repair companies in the media and warn people against using credit repair services. The bureaus openly deny that any information can even be removed from your credit report.

It is reported that 79 percent of all credit reports contain some type of errors, and up to 25 percent of these errors could result in credit denials, hiked interest rates, and even lost employment opportunities.

What are inquiries?

When you apply for credit the creditor or lender checks your credit report to verify that you qualify for the credit or loan you are applying for. The "inquiry" is then reported to the credit bureaus and shows up on your credit report.

Does this affect your credit rating or score?

Yes, it does. Although only a few points are deducted from your score for each inquiry, having multiple inquiries may drop your score to a lower bracket, forcing a higher interest rate. You may not even qualify for the loan or line of credit at all.

Will requesting your credit report generate an inquiry?

This is a common misconception and is totally false. You should view your report at least once a month. Doing so will not generate any inquiries.

What if you did not authorize an inquiry, can you dispute it?

Yes. If you did not authorize any of the inquiries on your credit report you can and should dispute them. To dispute inquiries obtain your credit report, then make a copy of your credit report, highlighting the inquiries in dispute. Finally, send the copy of your highlighted inquiries along with a letter demanding the inquiries be deleted from your credit report to the credit bureau.

Commercial collections: fixture of the new B2B culture

If you''re in the business-to-business field, or even if you''re a consumer products business that works through third-party distribution channels, you probably know what it''s like to check your mail anxiously each day, sifting through all the bills for that payment that was supposed to have been in months ago.

It wasn''t supposed to be like this. If you were a good, honest businessperson who dealt with other good, honest businesspeople, "commercial collections" wasn''t supposed to be part of your vocabulary.

Back in the good old days, an invoice or purchase order that had an established company listed in the "bill to" field was almost as good as a cashier''s check. Nowadays, if you''re in the business of serving other businesses you may find that your cash flow is less reliable than a small-time bookie''s.

Commercial Collections: A Personal Story

This past April I finally got the $2,000 a client owed me for work done in December, after spending almost as much money''s worth of my time reminding them to pay.

No, this wasn''t one of those hand-shake deals-we had a 5-page contract specifying net-30 payment terms. Nor was this some guy with a lemonade stand. It was the media division of one of the largest retailers in the United States.

The worst part was, I trusted this client based on my experience working with them a few years before. I actually spent the money on Christmas presents, fully expecting the payment to come in before my credit card statement.

Avoiding Outstanding Invoices

Of course, you can nip this problem in the bud by cultivating strong relationships with clients who pay on time. But those clients are getting few and far between-and, as I found, the good can go pretty bad pretty fast.

Worse, it seems that the larger the business, the less likely they are to pay on time. "Net 10 days" might as well be a foreign language in Fortune 500 land. The long-standing advice given to B2B businesses and self-employed people is that the money is in big corporations. But good luck getting it from them before your rent is due.

Getting worried that one of your clients, customers or patients will never pay? Have you given up on a customer who''s essentially said he won''t pay? Congratulations--being stiffed by a customer or patient is a milestone in the growth of a business or medical practice. But even the most hopeless of bad debts can sometimes be collected-collection agencies have been doing it for years. Here are six of their secrets.

1) Don''t just call, write.
According to a leading collection agency, you''re much more likely to collect on bad debts when you send a series of collection letters. Deep down, you probably know why collection letters are better. It''s the same reasons that would make you uncomfortable placing such a call in the first place: 1) if a debtor knows why you are calling they will avoid your calls; and 2) if you do get them on the phone they will most likely have a bad attitude, or just make excuses like ''the check is in the mail'' to get you off their back.

2) Don''t ask if, ask when.
This leading also recommends that you try to get your debtor to set a date for paying you back. The people who owe you money may have been saying to themselves that they will get around to paying you any day now. But tomorrow never comes, which is why you need a specific date. When you call, start by asking to be paid today, then negotiate from there.

3) Be nice.
Courtesy is important because: 1) it lets you keep the moral high ground; 2) it makes it likelier that you can establish a cooperative relationship with the debtor for getting the debt repaid; and 3) there are very strong laws against harassment in the collections process and you do not want even to approach their limits.

4) Be cooperative
Remember: you and your debtor have one thing in common: you both want this debt to go away. In particular, you both want you to stop having to make all these calls and send all these letters. With that shared goal you and your debtor can work together to create a repayment plan. While a repayment plan may not be what you had hoped, it''s better than holding onto a bad debt.

5) Know the value of your time
The one thing that is probably keeping you from collecting on your supposedly bad debt is your fear that the time you spend collecting the debt may not be worth whatever you will recover. This fear is justified; your time is valuable and maybe it would be better spent on getting new business.

For years, major credit card companies have allowed cardholders to make minimum payments of 2% of the outstanding balances on their credit cards. Having customers pay the minimum doesn''t reduce the balance by very much, but when the 18-30% interest rates that many credit cards charge is applied, the result is a profitable ones for the banks that issue credit cards. A balance of $1000 can take nine years to pay off at 20% interest if the borrower only pays the minimum due each month.

Clearly, it is not in the best interests of consumers to pay the minimum every month. But tens of thousands of Americans do just that, carrying huge balances and paying the minimum every month. The average household now carries $10,000 in credit card debt; for many people, paying the minimum is all they can manage. Due to changes in Federal law, several major credit card issuing banks will soon raise the minimum amount due to 4%. This might seem like a small increase, but if you are already deep in debt and paying the minimum amount, this could cause your payments to double. If you have a $10,000 balance and you are paying $200 per month, you will soon need to come up with $400 instead. Many people will find this impossible to do, as they are already paying as much as they can. What solutions are available?

The usual common sense rules of credit card use apply here. Stop using your credit cards. See if you can consolidate your debt on another credit card with lower interest. See if you can cut out some unnecessary expenses in order to free up some more money to pay your balance. Consider a home equity loan to consolidate your debt. Call your card issuing bank and see if they can work out repayment plan or lower your interest rate. There are numerous solutions available, but card holders need to be aware that the minimum payment is rising, and it isn''t going to come back down. By charging a 4% minimum, the credit card issuing banks are hoping that consumers will pay off their debt a bit sooner and that fewer consumers will find themselves in a situation where filing for bankruptcy is the only solution. And once October comes around, even filing for bankruptcy will be more difficult. Credit card holders with large balances on their accounts should give considerable thought to reducing their debt now, as payment options and requirements are going to be more strict from now on.

If you intend to apply for a loan, you need to obtain your credit score. Understanding what this score means will allow you to make the loan process easier and quicker. Let''s face it; most people want the loan process to be as painless as possible. Obtaining and understanding your credit score will help you see potential problems and perhaps eliminate them before you begin the loan process.

There are three different Credit Bureaus from which you can obtain your credit score. These are Experian, Equifax and Trans Union. Each of these companies applies a different formula in figuring your credit rating, though these formulas are weighted so a score from one company is equivalent to the same number score from the others. Because these three firms coordinate their credit rating system through the Fair Isaac Company, the credit score is known as a FICO score. Particular loan companies might look at your salary or the stability of your current employment, but the FICO score usually provides a good understanding of a person''s credit standing.

Your FICO score is based on your credit report, which is a combination of your current credit accounts and your long term credit history. The past two years is by far the most important part of your credit history. Usually, a bad spot on your credit record will disappear once the twenty-four month window has closes on it. Your credit rating can range anywhere from 375 to 900, but most scores are in the 600-700 range.

650 or more. This is considered the magic number, and if you score 650 or higher, then you have excellent credit. If your credit rating is 650 or above, acquiring loans should be relatively easy and your interest rates should be to your liking.

Between 620 and 650. This is where most people stand and means you will be able to obtain reasonable loans and rates of interest, though the process might be a little slower and you might have to answer a few more questions.

Below 620. This doesn''t mean you cannot get a loan. But it does mean the loan process will be longer, less pleasant and with more strings attached. Understanding this fact about your credit score will help prepare you when obtaining a loan.

Prepaid debit cards are great financial tools and may be just the financial tool you need. Here a seven compelling reasons why:

1. A prepaid debit card helps you stay out of debt because the money you spend is your own. Credit cards encourage you to spend money you don''t have, thereby giving you a false sense of reality. In truth, by using a credit card what you''re doing is borrowing money from someone else (your card provider) to purchase the things you want. However, with a prepaid debit card the money you spend is your own.

2. Prepaid debit cards helps you control your spending habits, because in most cases you cannot spend over the amount you have in your account.

3. A Debit card can be the perfect way to pay your freelancer if you are a small business owner. Simply issue your freelancer a card and load funds onto the card whenever you want to pay them for a completed project.

4. You can use a prepaid debit card to send money to your loved ones abroad or to your college age children away at school. Some debit cards allow you to have two cards for one account and in this case you will be able to keep one for yourself and send the second to your loved one. Once they have received their card you can loaded funds to your account and call the other person to tell them how much money they can access from the nearest ATM or POS merchant. Their money is instantly available worldwide. It''s a cheaper and faster alternative to expensive money transfer companies.

5. Prepaid debit cards are a safer way for employees to receive their salaries. Statistics indicate that in the United States over 3 million payroll checks are stolen each year. However, with the use of direct deposit combined with a payroll debit card, there is no worry of that ever happening. Also, through the use of direct deposit and a payroll debit card, you will have immediate access to your wages, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year - no matter what part of the world you''re in. You will also save time by having your salary deposited to your payroll debit card - no more standing on long lines each pay period in the bank to cash your check.

So what do you look for when applying for a credit card for your small business? One thing is for sure, wasting money isn''t an option because it can make or break your business. Things to look for are low interest rates and good customer service.

Ask around for companies with good customer friendly service. Some will let you off late payments time after time while others will come down like a ton of bricks. You need them to be flexible as you never know when you may run into problems

Make sure you don''t go with one because of a low introductory offer. You want a long term one as you may not have time every six months to be jumping from one to another. Before signing up for one read the small print, remember it could save your business.

Look out for special bonuses companies offer. Some times companies such as Visa or American Express join with other companies to save you money on anything from shipping or office supplies

Here are two small business credit card options but look around for more and weigh up the benefits for each one

American Express Business Gold Card

Credit card debt is a growing sickness in the United States and Europe. It is very important to eliminate debt and take control of your financial health.

In the below section, I have listed the best strategy to erase credit card debt. This strategy is tried and true and often recommended by financial planners and debt consolidation firms.

• In an Excel spreadsheet list all your credit cards, balance, credit card interest rate and minimum payment from your most recent credit card statement. If you are not computer savvy, you can list them on paper.
  
  
• Sort the list in ascending order of interest rate so that the credit card with highest interest rate is at the top and the credit card with lowest interest rate is at the bottom.
  
  
• Make a count of minimum payment of all the credit cards in the list you just created.
  
  
• Now calculate how much money you can save to pay off your credit card debt and become debt free. If you cannot pay off more than the minimum payment, it is time to do some budgeting to save more and pay towards your credit cards.
  
  
• Each month pay off the minimum on all your credit cards. However, on the credit card with the highest interest rate, pay the minimum plus the additional amount you have saved to pay off your credit card debt.
  
  
• Continue to follow this strategy until the credit card with highest interest rate is completely paid off. In a similar manner, work on paying off your second credit card but remember to make minimum payments on the remaining cards.
  
  
• Besides the above golden strategy, you can call your credit card companies to request for a lower interest rate. Due to stiff competition, many of the credit card companies will readily agree. Lower interest rates mean you can pay off your debt much faster.
  
  
• In some cases, credit card companies will not be willing to reduce your interest rate. This might be a good time to hop on the internet and do some research on credit cards and get a new low interest card. Many companies will allow you an introductory rate for your new credit card.
  
  

"@Copyrights 2005" - Bill A Smith is a debt consolidator for Ameri debt consolidation services. Bill has over 10 years of experience in providing debt consolidation, debt counseling and debt management services to clients.', 127, 'The Best Strategy To Erase Credit Card Debt, Credit, Credit articles, Credit information, about Credit, what is Credit, Credit Information', 'The Best Strategy To Erase Credit Card Debt plus articles and information on Credit

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Most of us want a good credit report to obtain vehicle financing, credit cards for emergencies and luxuries, and to finance a home mortgage. However, beyond these consumer loans, a great credit report makes your life easier.

Having a credit card means that you can order tickets, rent a car, and reserve hotel rooms. Your strong credit score makes it easy for you to arrange cell phone service and necessary utility services, without large deposits.

Besides these conveniences, your credit report can mean that you must pay higher deposits and rates for everyday services. Did you know that poor credit history can keep you from getting utility connections, good telephone rates, the best auto insurance, high-quality home owner''s insurance, or even prevent you from getting hired?

Some utility companies set minimum standards for service connections. If your report shows collection accounts for prior utility bills, you may not be eligible for service at all. And if they do agree to connect your service, you''ll need to pay a higher deposit than another customer with good credit, who may not need to make any deposit. The same requirements exist for telephone services. People with high credit scores don''t need to pay deposits for home telephone or cell phone services.

What many people don''t realize is that good credit enables them to get better insurance rates. High-quality, low-cost home owner''s insurance, auto, and life insurance companies set minimum credit standards for their policy holders. This means that consumers with poor credit have to pay more for less coverage. Many automobile insurance companies now base monthly premiums on credit scores. These companies offer a 17% discount if your score is over 625 and a 25% discount if your score is over 725. Why? Because according to consumer surveys, people who care about their credit also take care of their property and drive with caution.

Terrible credit can cost you a job. More and more employers look at a candidate''s credit report and hire the person with better credit, assuming that better credit equals better integrity and character.

Even if you have heard of a credit report, you may not know exactly what it is. If so, this credit report article is for you. Learning about your credit report is important in any campaign to eliminate credit card debt and obtain a good credit status. So, you should at least know the credit report basics.

What is this credit card report then? For a start, whenever you borrow money from a legitimate commercial lender, your record of repayments will be public. Each time you make a payment, whether it is on time or late, it will go on the record on which your credit report will be based. Also, each time someone requests a copy of your credit report, that will be noted as well. If you are involved in a bankruptcy, or have a tax lien, it will all go on the credit report.

So, as you can see, your financial transactions, as they involve credit and debt, will be available for all to see.

Why Does the Credit Report Matter?

A credit report is often thought of as something that lenders use when deciding whether or not to extend you credit. That is true-you will not be able to apply for a credit card, car loan or mortgage without the potential lender first checking to see if you are credit worthy. Additionally, though, insurance companies are now using credit reports to determine whether or not someone would be a good risk, as are employers. If you are thinking of renting an apartment, house or commercial space, remember, you will need a good credit report!

Getting a Copy of Your Credit Report?

You have decided, then, that your credit report is something you should take an interest in, and you are right. But how do you get a copy of your personal credit report? There are three credit reporting agencies, and it''s a good idea to get a copy of your report from all three-just in case there are discrepancies. The credit report agencies are:

Experian (located at www.experian.com)

Trans Union (located at www.transunion.com )

Equifax (located at www.equifax.com)

You will have to provide the following information to the credit reporting agencies, in order to get a copy of your credit report: a) your full legal name, (b) your current address, as well as your last (if you''ve been at your current one for less than five years), (c) your date of birth, (d) your social security number and (e) a signature. You are entitled to one free copy of your credit report every year, but you will need a copy from all three agencies. Expect to pay a small fee to receive any other copies.

Owning a credit card can be quite an advantage. Whether making online purchases, booking an air ticket or a hotel room on the phone or simply being in need of some emergency cash, having a credit card can be a big help. However, getting a credit card is also a huge responsibility and if you don''t keep an eye on your spending habits, credit cards can create some serious problems. Here is an excellent list of tips on proper credit card use and if you follow these, you will likely stay out of trouble and your credit card will be a blessing instead of a curse:

1. When you make a purchase with the credit card, it is akin to taking a loan from your bank. What you have borrowed has to be returned - so do not borrow beyond your capacity to pay it back.

2. Always maintain a record of your credit card balances during a month so that you are aware of what you have already spent. This will help you evaluate if you can make any more purchases in that month as even small purchases can add up to large balances.

3. Retain all receipts at least untill you can compare them to the credit card monthly statement. If some purchases do not match or if some charges are higher than those on the receipt, immediately contact your credit card company.

4. Never give out your credit card to anyone! This includes people in your family and any of your friends. It is not that you cannot trust these individuals, but you cannot track purchases you are not even making.

5. When you charge more than you can repay, a lot can go wrong. This can limit your future potential of getting any kind of credit, including car loans, home mortgages and other forms of loans.

Can you stop debt collectors ? . . .You better know you can

You can stop debt collectors under the law provided by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. If you use credit cards, owe money on a personal loan, or are paying on a home mortgage, you are a "debtor."

If you fall behind in repaying your creditors, or an error is made on your accounts, you may be contacted by a "debt collector." You should know that in either situation, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act requires that debt collectors treat you fairly and prohibits certain methods of debt collection. Of course, the law does not erase any legitimate debt you owe.

What debts are covered?

Personal, family, and household debts are covered under the Act. This includes money owed for the purchase of an automobile, for medical care, or for charge accounts.

Who is a debt collector?

A debt collector is any person who regularly collects debts owed to others. This includes attorneys who collect debts on a regular basis.

How may a debt collector contact you?

A collector may contact you in person, by mail, telephone, telegram, or fax. However, a debt collector may not contact you at inconvenient times or places, such as before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., unless you agree. A debt collector also may not contact you at work if the collector knows that your employer disapproves of such contacts.

Can you stop a debt collector from contacting you?

You can stop a debt collector from contacting you by writing a letter to the collector telling them to stop. Once the collector receives your letter, they may not contact you again except to say there will be no further contact or to notify you that the debt collector or the creditor intends to take some specific action. Please note, however, that sending such a letter to a collector does not make the debt go away if you actually owe it. You could still be sued by the debt collector or your original creditor.

May a debt collector contact anyone else about your debt?

If you have an attorney, the debt collector must contact the attorney, rather than you. If you do not have an attorney, a collector may contact other people, but only to find out where you live, what your phone number is, and where you work. Collectors usually are prohibited from contacting such third parties more than once. In most cases, the collector may not tell anyone other than you and your attorney that you owe money.

Yes, debt collection tips can help. You may think you have no power when the debt collector comes calling, but think again! Creditors don''t like losing out on the ability to collect money owed them. And most creditors will take steps to settle an unsecured debt to collect some money as opposed to no money.

Tip 1 - Keep Communications Open

Once you have your Money Management Plan on paper, you will be able to professionally respond to requests for payment from creditors and debt collection agencies. They may ask you, or you can offer, to send them a copy of your Money Management Plan. This opens the communication between you, and they may even be able to offer suggestions to improve your plan. Keep in mind, however, they will offer suggestions based upon their best interests, you need to negotiate based upon what''s best for you!

Tip 2 - Know Your Credit Report

Obtaining a copy of your online credit report, and learning how to use it in debt management, can help you when it comes to negotiating with your creditors.

Tip 3 - Negotiating With Creditors

You can request a monthly payment reduction, either a temporary extension, or permanent reduction. Keep in mind, this method can involve adding years to your payment plan, as well as some type of "deferral fee" charged by the creditor.

Ask if the interest rate, principal balance, or monthly payments can be reduced to permit you to continue to pay the debt on time. Ask for principal reduction first, then interest reduction. If these are not agreeable, then request monthly payment reduction.

If you ask for all 3, the creditor will take the one best for them first, which is monthly payment reduction, and you end up paying too much interest. Lower payments, without the other two will only mean you are adding years and years to the payoff time. No bargain there.

If you have access to some money to make a large payment on a debt, you may want to consider debt settlement on some or all of your debts.

On secured debts, you risk losing the asset if you don''t keep your payments current. This includes your home, car, etc. These are priority debts to you, as well as priority debts if you decide to file bankruptcy.

Many people have been taught that you cannot get ahead without debt. We are also inundated with advertising telling us we can have anything we want. All we need to do is put it on our credit card.

We have become an impatient society, we want it right now. We have lost the ethic of working for what we want.

It is not how much money you make; it is what you do with it. By living without debt you can actually have a higher income since you are not paying out interest, you are actually getting paid interest on invested money.

All debt is not created equal. We will classify them as good debt and bad debt.

To simplify the classification we will say that good debt is a loan for something that you could sell at any time and repay the debt. This narrows down good debt to a home loan and possibly a home equity loan.

A bad debt, of course, is a loan on anything that will lose value.

Let''s take a look at some debts that we would consider bad debt.

Home equity loans are in the gray area. They could be considered good debt if they are used to repair or improve your home, but you would be a lot better off to just save up the money for the project. Home equity loans become bad debt when used for purposes other than home improvement or maintenance. In other words a bad home equity loan is for anything that does not add to the value of your house. Do not jeopardize your home by taking out a home equity loan on unnecessary items.

One possible good use for a home equity loan is when the interest rates are low. You can use a home equity loan to refinance your mortgage. Home equity loans generally have lower costs than conventional home loans.

We consider school loans bad debt. If you finish school, get a good high paying job and then attack the loan like mad, a school loan may work out. The problem is that there are too many things that can go wrong. At best, even if you do graduate and get a good job there are always a lot of other expenses at this time in ones life. You are really behind financially when you start your working life in debt.

Have you ever felt trapped in a Rat Race and wished to retire quickly but rich?

Have you ever felt that you are spending way too much time working with your boss at your office instead of with those you love? Your spouse, children, friends?

Have you ever felt frustrated because you are so deep in debt that you think you won''t be able to retire because as soon as you do, the money will stop coming and thus you won''t be able to pay off your mortgages and credit card?

Have you ever felt that you have no control over your life anymore in terms of time? Think about it: can you take a vacation just anytime whenever you want/ need it and as long as you want/ need it?

Have you ever wished that you can work whenever you want and wherever you want?

You are not the only one!

Too many people are trapped in a Rat Race because they have to. There are too many bills to pay, and too many dreams to fulfill. To them it seems that there is just no way to quit their job and enjoy life, travel and see the world with their loved ones.

Most people work because their bills tell them to, not because they really love to do it. Most people enslave themselves to their debt or job, because (they think) they have no choice.

This is when the craving for achieving financial freedom come in.

Freedom to choose when to work, without worries about income cuts. Freedom to spend more time with your loved ones, without worries about your employment or your boss. Freedom to take an expensive vacation, without worries about retrenchments thereafter. Freedom to do what you like, instead of what you''ve got to do, without worries about whether or not what you like generates enough income for you.

If you seriously crave for financial freedom, finding a better job with a higher paycheck is not going to work. Higher paychecks would usually mean more expensive lifestyle, more needs, more mortgages you THINK you can afford, more responsibilities thus more working hours and more time to spend at the office instead with your loved ones. And there is always the same problem: as soon as you stop, the money stops.

If you understand this, you will come to see that financial freedom is not measured by how much money you make by working, but by how long your money can support your normal lifestyle when you stop working.

If you want to enjoy your life out of spending, enjoy if you have your own resources and money.

But don''t enjoy your life by becoming a debtor to somebody.

Of course in the modern world, there are many ways and means, which force you to become a debtor.

Attractive advertisements in the satellite TV force you to become a debtor.

It tempts you to buy the modern amenities at any cost.

Even though you don''t have any money or resources it shows you many resources for obtaining credit to buy that product. But you must think thousand times before becoming a debtor.

In today''s world credit is the easily available commodity. Numerous companies are waiting to pull you in their trap. They are competing severely to pull you in their trap.

But you must be careful to entangle in that trap.

In spite of this caution if you are prepared to enjoy, then you won''t get any pleasure. But you will lose your peace of mind.

Let us discuss about the common desire of everybody. It is natural that every body wants to have their own house. It is a reasonable desire.

But the desire can be attained if you have enough money on your own to buy the house.

If you are an executive working in a company what will you think?

You will get ready to apply for some loan and buy that house.

As such you have decided and applied for a loan.

The loan has also been sanctioned.

Next you will ask the engineer to construct the house with in the sanction of loan.

But the Engineer on seeing the plan will say "Sir, you are constructing house once in your life,

Why such a low budget house, we can increase slightly your plan sir, it won''t cost much only some increase in your normal budget, he will tempt you.

By that time you will also have some Himalayan courage, and think why can''t we adjust that 10% increase, we can adjust that 10% increase by obtaining loan from our relatives, and you give consent to the engineer''s suggestion.

The Engineer begins to build your house. The house is also going to be completed soon and only some finishing work is there.

You ask your engineer ''when can I take possession of the house'', sir?

The engineer will politely tell you, Sir, there is a small problem, the problem is due to the increase in the cost of materials, I fear whether it is possible to complete the House what we have already planned.

But you are in the dream that the house should be constructed at any cost.

What you will do. The next thing before you will be some bank balances available in your savings account and the jewels of your wife or your children.

Many people may still not be aware of an amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) that Congress passed last year. This amendment allows U.S. citizens to receive a copy of their credit report, for free, once per year. The plan is being rolled out slowly in order to avoid swamping the system, but people living in the West and Midwest can receive their credit reports now, and everyone will be able to obtain a free credit report by September of this year. Those seeking a copy of their credit report should watch out, however, as not everyone who promises a "free" credit report is actually delivering one.

These free credit reports may be obtained through the official Website: http://www.annualcreditreport.com. Additional information is available at the Federal Trade Commission Website at http://www.ftc.gov/credit. Obtaining a copy of your credit report through this site is easy, and only requires your name, Social Security number, date of birth, and address. That would seem fairly straightforward, but there are many companies, some legitimate and some not, that are interested in attracting the business of those who seek copies of their credit report, and scams are flourishing.

Some companies have established Websites with addresses that are very similar to the address of the official site. These sites promise a free credit report, but they are actually only interested in harvesting your personal information. In addition to stealing your name, Social Security number and address, these sites may also tell you that a credit card number is necessary to "verify" your identification. With this information, the people operating these sites can steal your identity! There are many other Websites that promise "free" credit reports, but few that actually provide them for free. One such site is currently under investigation for credit report fraud. The site promised a "free" report, but required a credit card for "identification" purposes. Customers filled out the form and received a copy of the credit report but also received a charge on their credit card for $79.

In this week''s article, I am going to offer some tips and insight regarding how to order the right credit reports needed to repair your credit.

Believe it or not, a majority of the credit reports offered on the internet don''t have the required information (File Number, Confirmation number, or Report number) needed to repair your own credit. So what happens? You try your best to launch a dispute (with the wrong credit report), you find it impossible, you spend more money on new reports, you get frustrated, and you finally give up. Once you have given up, you have saved the credit bureaus a lot of money-and they even made some off you in the process!

Below are four tips that will make the process of ordering your credit reports less intimidating. These tips will also guarantee that you get the right reports needed to repair your credit yourself.

First Tip: DO NOT order your credit reports online. There are over 100 different types of credit reports available on the Internet and very few can be used to repair your credit. When you order your credit reports by phone you are GUARANTEED to have the following; File Number (Trans Union), Confirmation # (Equifax), or Report # (Experian). Once you have those numbers you can begin to repair your credit.

Second Tip: When ordering your credit reports by phone, always choose the option that says you have been declined credit or employment in the last 60 days. When you choose that option you might get your credit reports for free. If not, you might have to pay a small fee.

Third Tip: When ordering your credit reports by phone, choose to order your report without a score. Your score is not important at this time since we both know it needs improving and reports without a score often cost less and are sometimes free.

Fourth Tip: In some cases the credit bureaus will have the wrong address information on file for you, especially if you have moved recently. If this is the case, they might initially deny you access to your report and request that you call and speak to a representative. Don''t get discouraged as they hope you do; stay the course and make the extra call if you have to--it''s worth it.

We spend money every single day on many different types of products and services and the banks'' newest offer is that of saving when spending if you use their services; that is if you pay for your expenditures with special credit cards. These credit cards are part of a wide offer and the best thing to do is read as many bank-offers as possible before choosing a particular card. Maximizing credit card rewards is not only for economists, it can simply be achieved by anybody who informs himself on credit cards, carefully chooses a suited card and manages it correctly.

When you think of maximizing you should think of getting the best out of something. Maximizing credit cards means receiving the best reward for your spent money. This usually means choosing more than one type of card and sometimes more than just one issuer. Some types of credit cards offer rewords and money-back on purchases only if you buy a certain type of product with them; for example gas cards will only offer a bonus program for gas purchases and no reward on supermarket purchases. In order to maximize your credit card rewards you will also need a card that offers rewards on supermarket or store purchases.

Another very important thing to do in order to bring rewards to a maximum is carefully read the fine print about the credit card before you sign any deal. Many credit cards offer a 0% intro APR for 6 months or a 0% interest rate for an entire year; still do not let yourself beguiled, keep reading and see what happens after that promotional period of time. You may also want to check the annual fee policy and only choose a credit card with no annual maintenance fee - there are many types available form all large issuers. Anther thing to look out for is the "limit condition" as there are cards that only actually offer rewards after you have passed over a certain minimum limit of expenditures and other cards that stop offering rewards once you surpass the limit. Thus, read carefully the flyer and only after that choose a card suited for your needs.

What is Credit?

Credit means that you are using someone else''s money to pay for things. It also means that you are making a promise to repay the money to the person or company that loaned you the money.

Whenever a person applies for a loan, mortgage, a credit card or for any other purpose for which he needs to borrow funds from a lending agency, the agency will check the financial credit-worthiness of the person and based upon its assessment of the financial risk involved in the deal, the agency will decide upon the terms and conditions of granting credit. A positive assessment necessitates a sound financial background and a credit history with no bad remarks.

What is Credit Repair?

''Credit repair'' is a process in which consumers with unfavorable credit histories attempt to re-establish their credit-worthiness. The process usually involves procuring a credit report from the rating agencies and then taking appropriate steps to address any apparent issues such as errors, omissions, misinformation, misreporting or misinterpretation. A consumer can then formally dispute those errors or issues which unjustly distort their financial healthiness and credit-worthiness. Various laws and regulations designed to ensure legal and fair undertaking of the credit repair process can then be utilized to formally and legally start the credit repair process.

Consumers are entitled to a copy of their credit report legally, if they have been denied a credit card or loan and if the information provided on the report is inaccurate, an investigation relating to true facts is necessary for a credit repair.

Why Repair Credit?

A consumer''s credit record significantly influences his future purchasing power and his eligibility of availing any credit facilities in the future. A good rating, or score, can insure a low interest rate and loans for longer term for various purposes like credit card balances, car or home loans. A poor rating makes a consumer vulnerable to finance companies charging exorbitant interest rates and imposing various unnecessary repayment and loan terms. Considering the stakes and the consequences involved, it is absolutely imperative for consumers to understand the importance of repairing their bad or low credit ratings.

Wholeness requires separation. In order for you to experience yourself as being whole, you spend most of your live experiencing being separated, trying to get back to wholeness.

One of your most creative ways of moving away from happiness has been through consumer debt. Your fixation with spending, gives you little time to contemplate being whole, until it hits you in the face with a debt load that you can no longer manage.

The Black Plague of the industrialized world is debt for consumer goods and services. No matter how you may reason it, going into debt to buy a big screen TV or stereo system, a new boat, or lawn furniture, just is not necessary. You have been taught that all of these things are necessary to be happy and successful. You have moved away from happiness in order to feel it again by learning how to be miserable. Now that you are up to your ears in bills, you think that you would be happy again, if only you did not owe all this money.

As adults, you spend one third of your lives paying of loans and mortgages, another third of your life paying taxes. The last third is supporting someone else. The fourth third you get to keep for yourself. Debt is the majour contributing factor in marriage and business break-ups. Where is there room for happiness in this chaos?

Consumerism feeds the fat pockets of debt. It is like bulimia, you eat and eat and eat, then puke it all back up, only to start over again. Consumerism is the industrialized world''s version of happiness. Because humanity has moved so far away from happiness, he no longer understands what it is, and believes that "things," make him happy. He cannot live without things. Because he is unhappy and notices that other people appear to be happy with their things, he believes that if only he had one of those, he would be happy also.

The insanity is that you have been collectively doing this thing repeatedly for so long, you do not believe you can be happy without spending and going into debt. Humanity has not learned from this mistake. You cannot buy happiness. You must be happy first, and then your spending will reflect that happiness and will not be dependant on the spending.

Incredibly, since the changes in the bankruptcy law in April 2004, debtors are more likely to petition for their own bankruptcy rather than their creditors! You would think that most people who have been threatened with the prospect of being made Bankrupt would be riddled with fear of the possibility. It is more widely referred to as the "Big B" rather than the dreaded word itself. However, is this a thing of the past? Since the changes in The Enterprise Act 2002 took place in April 2004 it would appear a lot more people are inclined to petition for their own bankruptcy as a solution to their debt problems.

It appears that more people are choosing to go for Bankruptcy as they think that within one year of a Bankruptcy order being made, they could be debt free. Unfortunately, things might not be as simple as that and it would be wise to find out what options are available before taking the plunge.

In some circumstances, Bankruptcy is the best option, but that is only some circumstances, not all. Even in Bankruptcy, you are still required to make payments from your income for up to three years, if you have a reasonable surplus. The Official Receiver (OR) also has the period of three years (not one year) to stake his claim on your residential home and if there is any equity in your property within that time period, the Official Receiver is likely to claim it.

Considering Bankruptcy?

For some people, Bankruptcy really is the only way out. There are numerous reasons why people find themselves in this situation. If you know you are unable to repay your creditors; you have no assets and there is no prospect of you making reasonable offers of repayment to your creditors, then petitioning for Bankruptcy could be right for you.

What Happens when a Petition is made?

Petition for Bankruptcy is made in one of two ways. Either you will make a petition yourself at a cost of £450, or your creditor will make a petition against you. If a creditor decides to make a petition for Bankruptcy, they would be responsible for showing that you either could not or would not repay the debt owed to them. Unless the petition was significantly disputed, it is likely that a Bankruptcy Order will be made.

"I think money was stolen from my card" or "I might have blocked my card in the ATM" - these are frequent problems that bank customer-support officers usually hear from agitated clients. Incorrect use of credit cards or wrong interpretations of their functions are frequent even after tens of years of credit-card extensive use. Actually, there are 4 most frequent causes for problems; one is related to overspending, the second is about missing money; this is usually connected to the 3rd problem - unauthorized use and finally there is the issue of forgotten information. All these problems are interconnected and can lead to serious financial problems. However, there are a few simple things that you can do in order to avoid hassle.

First and foremost, remember that your credit card has a limit. When you open a credit line you will be given a certain credit limit that can vary from twice your monthly income to 3 or maybe 4 times that income, depending on past credit history. However, do not spend more than you can pay back. At the end of each month you will have to pay-back the borrowed money and there will be no exceptions from the rule. So lesson number one is "spend within limits".

The second thing you need to do is keep a record of your expenditures. Keep bank statements, receipts and carbons in a safe place and at the end of each month make a calculation of your deposits and withdrawals. If there is any discrepancy between the two, make sure to contact your issuer bank immediately and solve the situation. Most people find out that they have forgotten about a certain payment that was made with the card, yet you may find out more important information than this.

A credit report is basically a file about you kept by lenders and banks. As annoying as it may be, it''s still perfectly legal for them to gather all sorts of details about you. In turn, you have the right to check this file - and you should do so and inquire regularly about your credit report and your credit score, particularly when you plan a big financial change, for instance, before applying for a loan or a mortgage, you should always take time and review your credit report. This allows you not only to plan your moves accurately, but also to dispute any mistakes that might occur in the report.

The credit report is an accurate record of your financial activities, including the accounts you have, the credits you may have taken so far, any late payments, and the actions started against you for financial reasons. This report is used to determine your credit rating - which is a number indicating your financial risks.

The information typically included in a credit report refers to your personal identification data, credit information, public record information and a list of recent inquiries. The personal identification data, as you may expect, means your name, social security number, address (current and previous addresses), employer (also current and previous), your birth date, and so on. If applicable, your file may contain similar information about your spouse.

The credit information is your financial history - your accounts, loans and repayment records for the past two years, from all the banks, lenders, retailers, card issuers, other credit companies, and so on. The public record information records bankruptcy, monetary judgments and tax liens.

The list of recent inquiries contains the names of those who obtained your credit report in the past year. Various people and organizations may get access to your credit report, usually anybody who can prove a legitimate business interest, creditors, insurers, employers and governmental agencies. This list is kept for one year, while the credit history information is kept for seven years, and, if you file for bankruptcy, that sticks for ten years.

Millions of Americans suffer because of bad credit these days, and almost all of these people turn to the Internet for help. In the past 5 years hundreds of ''internet-based'' credit repair services have sprung up, preying on consumers in need of real help. Most of these companies have built less than desirable reputations by over-promising and under-delivering; all the while taking millions of dollars from those in need.

For this week''s article I am going to compare ''internet based'' credit repair services to repairing your credit yourself using a system like Loan Saver PRO: The One Hour Credit Repair System. Hopefully I will open your eyes to the fact that you can do everything they can do, for far less money, and achieve even better results in far less time.

Cost Comparison

Credit Repair Service ? Almost every credit repair company found on the internet charges a set-up fee of at least $60 and an ongoing monthly fee of at least $49. They initially tell you that your credit repair work will probably take around 3 months to complete. In reality, your credit repair work ends up taking close to a year or more and now you''ve paid them at least $600. The goal of most credit repair services is to take their time repairing your credit so they can keep debiting your bank account.

Do-It Yourself Credit Repair ? There are several ''do-it-yourself'' credit repair systems found on the internet. Most of these systems cost no more than $40, which is less than the set-up fees for most credit repair services, plus there is no monthly fee. Some of these products are good and some are bad-whichever one you choose, don''t use a ''do-it-yourself'' system that uses ''pre-made'' letters to launch disputes; I''ll explain this in more detail below.

In the olden days, about 10 years ago, before the internet, consumers would have to fill in applications for credit cards, loans, mortgages and so on by hand. It''s hard to believe now, but this lengthy process was the norm, with requests for extra documentation and references going backwards and forwards, until finally the application was accepted or rejected. These days with the advent of the Internet an application can validated, accepted and a credit card or loan offered with minutes.

The availability of credit card comparison engines has revolutionised the way people look for the credit cards. It means that when comparing credit cards a consumer can make very quick and meaningful comparisons very quickly. Consequently, they can compare the credit cards pertinent to their needs and identify the best card for them. It means that for things like balance transfers, the best available product can be found with relative ease.

Credit cards can be compared accurately using the typical APR or Annual Percentage Rate. Credit card companies are required to produce a typical APR figure under new regulations. It is an attempt to standardise the way a card can be promoted and to reduce the scope for misleading headline rates of interest. Credit card companies are required to include things like interest charges, penalties, annual fees and so on, in their calculation. It is the first thing to look for when comparing cards as it is the rate that balances will revert to when offers like 0% on purchases and 0% balance transfers expire.

A credit card can be applied for online with great ease, particularly if the appropriate information is to hand. You will need details of your address for the last three years and any existing borrowing commitments. Also, details of your employee and current salary are usually required. Once, all the relevant details have been entered the bank will usually give an indication of their decision with minutes. The decision will either be an acceptance, referral or rejection.

Credit card consolidation is a popular solution for those with significant credit card debt, usually distributed on three or four different cards. Basically, this means putting all your debts together on a single card, like transferring it all to one loan. Of course, the goal is to pick a card that offers better conditions than what you already have, in order not only to simplify, but also to reduce your payments.

Since there are so many offers out there, and lenders fight over your business, you can sometimes find solutions that can save you thousands of dollars per year. If you consolidate your debt to a credit card with low interest and 0% balance transfer, you can save considerably, and pay off your credit sooner (which, of course, is the main goal when dealing with credit card debt).

The most serious mistake people do when consolidating is to go though the entire process just to simplify their accounting, and they don''t pay enough attention to how much they could save. Another mistake is to close your zero balance accounts when consolidating. This practically means you close some of your credit options, which is never a good idea.

When you plan to consolidate, call your banks and explain the situation. They want your business, and you''ll be surprised how flexible and willing to negotiate they can be, once you explain to them that you have various options available to take your business someplace else.

There are many web sites offering solutions for debt consolidation. However, keep in mind that, while this is a comfortable and fast solution, you don''t have the options to negotiate directly with the banks. Also, most often the best offers come from banks that want to keep your business, so make sure you give a change to the banks you''ve had a long-term relation with. If you''re not pleased with the results, take your money elsewhere quickly.