Archive

Posts Tagged ‘credit report’

Credit Card Judgments and You

February 6th, 2010 Amber Deanwater No comments

Credit card judgments acknowledge that a debt is outstanding and spells out the way in which the debt may be recovered. This often takes place when a credit card cardholder has missed monthly paments and has not made an effort to work with the credit card provider to bring the account current.

Idealistically speaking, before getting to this point, it would be best to contact the card provider so things do not get out of hand. Credit card providers are often willing to work with a cardholder to either arrange a payment plan or to arrange for a pay off in full for a reduced debt amount.

A collection agency may end up with your credit card debt if you do not work with the credit card provider. Once this happens, you will no longer be able to negotiate with the credit card provider. Filing a legal action against you is not an option which collection agencies like to entertain. This is because law suits are costly and time-consuming. In light of this, collection agencies prefer to work with you to resolve the debt issue. They would prefer that you arrange to make a lump sum payment or agree to monthly payments.

If your debt does come before a judge for a credit card judgment, you have the right to appear before the judge and plead your case. If the debt is not yours or if the seizing of the assets would mean serious difficulties for you, the judge may take this into consideration. However, this is viewed on a case-by-case basis.

It is good to know that not all assets may be seized and the judge will ascertain which assets may be used to recover the debt. It is also possible that money may be taken from your bank account, your wages may be garnished (depending upon state law), and a lien may be placed on your real property.

It goes without saying that a credit card judgment will create havoc with your credit score. You will most likely be denied for most credit products and, if you are approved for any credit products, exorbitant annual percentage rates (APRs) and annual and monthly fees will be associated with those which are offered to you. Additionally, your credit report can carry this credit card judgment for up to seven years.

It is important to keep in mind that a credit card judgment will likely affect future employment opportunities or advancement related to your current position. Additionally, a credit card judgment can make finding reasonable rates for home and car insurance very difficult.

It is best to pay the credit card debt off as quickly as possible once the judgment has been issued. Once you have paid this debt off, you should try to contact the credit reporting agencies to attempt to have the debt removed in its entirety or to request this entry be revised to a “paid” status, at the very least.

See Actual Lexington Law Customer Results at www.lexingtonlawreviews.com.

Negotiation Settlements With Credit Card Collection Agencies

January 23rd, 2010 Mark Newman No comments

Collection agencies devoted to credit card collections have in recent times become busier and busier. This is because more and more people are having trouble keeping up with their bills.

One missed payment can result in an additional penalty which might just be what hurls you over your credit limit. Know what happens if you exceed your credit limit? That’s right. You get an over-limit fee assessed against your credit card. At this point you might be $100 over your credit limit and you still owe the initial monthly payment as well.

When this happens, it is wise to call your credit card provider and explain your circumstances. If you explain your situation, your credit card provider may be willing to work with you to get your account back on track. It is better to work things out at this stage than to ignore the situation and end up working with a credit card collection agency.

Debt sold to a credit card collection agency will normally be purchased at a fraction of what you actually owe, typically cents on the dollar. As credit card collection agencies make their bread and butter from collecting as much as possible from those who owe debt which they have subsequently purchased, they may at times be harassing and even threaten legal action.

It makes more sense for the credit card collection agency to work with you than to file a costly and time-consuming law suit. If you can acquire the funds, try making an offer to the credit card collection agency to reduce the amount of the original debt and pay the negotiated amount in full. You will want to make sure that the agreement is in writing. Also, be sure to keep copies of all documentation to and from the credit card collection company, and to mail all correspondence by certified mail, return receipt requested.

Typically, it is a good idea to begin the negotiation somewhere around 25% of the original balance. Though this sounds low, remember that the collection company probably purchased your entire debt at only about 10% of the original amount. It is likely that the collection company will decline this offer and will issue a counteroffer, which you then should counter as well. This will continue until you either come to an agreement or the negotiations discontinue.

If no agreement is reached, the credit card collection agency may lose the momentum for collecting your debt. It may determine that collecting a smaller amount is better than nothing at all. It may also decide that selling the debt to another credit card collection agency is a better idea. If this happens, the process will begin yet again and run its course.

Keep in mind that all along this process you are running the risk that one of these companies may indeed decide to file a law suit against you and that your credit score will be decreasing at an alarming rate. Additionally, a court judgment against you will devastate your credit score even further.

How I Stopped Midland Credit. I Erased a $14,072 Midland Credit Debt and Fixed my Bad Credit. www.MidlandCreditDebt.com

Online Credit Repair

January 23rd, 2010 Mark Newman No comments

Online companies offering credit repair services are becoming increasingly popular. These online companies assist people in repairing their credit so they become eligible for better credit products, such as credit cards and home loans.

It is obvious that, if you improve your credit score, you will become less of a financial risk to lenders. Being viewed as a better financial risk will go a long way in helping you attain credit products which have lower annual percentage rates (APRs) and better benefits. It is because of this that many people are turning to credit repair companies for help.

You will need to complete an online application first. This application will request personal data as well as financial data from you. It will likely request information related to any bankruptcies, foreclosures, court judgments or late payments which you may have.

It will normally take two to three days to receive a response after completing the application. The response should detail the sections of your credit report which need help, what steps should be taken, and how much it will cost to take these steps in order to improve your credit score.

It is important to know that any entries on your credit report which are accurately reported will remain on your credit report for up to seven years. There is no legal way to remove accurate information from your credit report. Also, be aware that it is illegal in the United States for a credit repair service to request payment for services which have not yet been rendered.

In case you are unaware, you can do on your own anything which a credit repair service can do. You are capable and have the legal right to take the same actions. If you take this endeavor on yourself, you will need to write dispute letters to the credit reporting bureaus requesting revisions or deletions of inaccurate or false information which has been reported on your credit report. You will need to include copies of any substantiating documentation. Copies of all correspondence to and from the credit reporting agency should be kept in your file.

The main advantages to using an online credit repair service are that it will save you the time and stress of dealing with this process. If these are good reasons for you to employ an online credit repair service, then the fees you will pay may be justified. If you would prefer not to pay the fees, then you might try do-it-yourself credit repair.

Learn How to Stop Midland Credit Management in its Tracks. Free Tips to Escape Debt in Less than Seven Days at www.MidlandCreditDebt.com.

What Will Happen If I Have a Charge-Off On My Credit Report?

January 15th, 2010 Mark Newman No comments

Many people want to know if it is possible to remove a charge-off from their credit report. The answer is, it may be difficult, but it can be done.

Some people are unclear as to what a charge-off actually is. A charge-off is a debt which a creditor no longer feels it can collect and subsequently decides to write-off. This will typically happen after several months of missed or late payments during which the creditor will send numerous letters and will try to communicate with the borrower by phone.

It is best at this point to attempt to negotiate a payment plan with the creditor to avoid the account going to collections. Do not ignore attempts by the creditor to contact you. Normally, creditors are willing to work with you if they see that you are trying to make an attempt at paying the debt.

It is important to understand that once your debt is written-off, your creditor may decide to pass or sell the debt to a collection agency. The collection agency will then attempt to collect the debt using any method of harassment and threat available to it, including the filing of a law suit to collect the debt.

A charge-off will appear on your credit report and can remain for up to seven years. This charge-off will severely damage your credit score and will harm your chances of obtaining credit from other lenders. This is why it is important to have charge-offs removed from your credit report.

A copy of your credit report will be needed to begin the process of removing a charge-off. When you have a copy of your credit report in hand, review it for any false or inaccurate information. If you discover any false or inaccurate information, you can write the credit reporting agency and request that it remove or revise the information. You will need to include copies of any documentation you have which corroborates your claim. If the credit reporting agency cannot verify the informaiton within 30 days, it must remove the entry from your credit report in its entirety.

If you contact the collection agency, it may be willing to come to an agreement with you. As you enter your negotiation with it, keep in mind that collection agencies purchase debt for cents on the dollar so the collection agency may well be willing to agree to a reduced total amount due. You can either offer a lump sum payment in exchange for this reduced amount or you can attempt to arrange a payment plan for the full amount. Above all, be sure that you obtain in writing an agreement which states the charge-off will be removed from your credit report or, at the very least, that the charge-off be reduced to a “paid” status.

To summarize, if you find yourself falling behind in your payments, contact your creditor and try to work out an arrangement to avoid a charge-off. If the charge-off account ends up with a collection agency, attempt to negotiate with the collection agency to pay the debt and remove the charge-off entry from your credit report.

How I Stopped Midland Credit Management, Fixed my Bad Credit, and Raised my Credit Score 163 Points in Less than 14 Days. www.MidlandCreditDebt.com

Will I Be Affected By a Judgment?

January 8th, 2010 Mark Newman No comments

If you have a debt which is subsequently sent to collections, you will drastically damage your credit score. Your credit score will be damaged even more significantly if your creditor decides to seek a judgment.

Your creditor is sending a clear signal that it is through playing games if you are served with a Notice to Appear in court for a judgment proceeding. You will have 30 days from being served to object to the filing. You can have the case dismissed if you can prove that the debt is invalid.

A creditor may or may not be serious if it threatens to file a law suit. However, going to court should be a very, very last resort in your mind.

If your credit report lists an “unpaid” judgment, it will remain on your credit report for 10-12 years. If the judgment remains unpaid at the end of this time, it can be renewed. A judgment which has been paid can remain on your credit report for up to 7 years from the date paid.

You should make an effort to contact your creditor to negotiate a settlement, provided the debt is valid, you would prefer this route to letting a judge decide your fate, and the debt is still within the statute of limitations (check your state’s statute of limitations laws). Be sure to check your state’s statute of limitations laws prior to doing this. The reason for this is that if your debt is outside of the statute of limitations, you no longer have a legal obligation to pay the debt and offering to pay may start the clock ticking again for payment purposes.

If you are ordered by the court to pay a debt and an official court order is issued, the impact on your credit score will be devastating. However, if you decide to contact your creditor and arrange for payment, you may be able to avoid this traumatic black mark.

Offering to negotiate a settlement is the best solution for all parties. Typically, creditors do not want to go to court and will accept a portion of the amount owed just to bring the matter to a close. If you do not have a lump sum to offer as payment, you can always attempt to negotiate a payment plan. If your creditor is not “in the mood” to consider any offers, you might think about calling the lawyer handling the case for your creditor.

A “legally void” entry will be shown on your credit history if a judgment is dismissed; this type of entry is much less harmful than a “paid judgment.” Your credit report can show a “paid judgment” entry for seven years.

In addition to a settlement, you should attempt to negotiate a deletion of the negative information in its entirety from your credit report. If you are able to accomplish this, it is imperative that you obtain the agreement in writing and obtain both parties’ signatures. It is good to remember that negotiating opportunites all but vanish once the court becomes involved.

It would be smart to consider seeking out the advice of a seasoned consumer credit attorney. The typical consumer credit attorney has handled hundreds, if not thousands, of these types of cases and can benefit you with his experience and knowledge.

Stop Midland Credit . Free 19 Page Collection Agency Deletion Guide at www.MidlandCreditDebt.com

No Credit Check Credit Cards

December 30th, 2009 Amber Deanwater No comments

The popularity of “No Credit Check Credit Cards” is increasing in the United States. More and more people are defaulting on their credit cards and home and car loans because of the difficult economic times in which we find ourselves. Therefore, consumers are turning to these no credit check credit cards as lenders become more stringent with their approval requirements.

Average or even above-average credit scores don’t even guarantee you a credit card anymore – as many people are finding out. It follows then that people who have below-average credit scores will find it incredibly difficult to be approved for a credit card of almost any type.

No credit check credit cards, as the name implies, are issued without the creditor running a credit check. This enables those with a poor credit history to apply and be approved in many cases. Even though a credit check is not run, these credit cards still have some requirements for approval. You must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. resident, have a social security number, be gainfully employed, and able to provide proof of address, identification, and current employment.

A great benefit of these no credit check credit cards is that they report to the three major credit reporting agencies – TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian – which will help to build the credit of those with a below-average credit score. This should, in time, help the cardholder to obtain better financial products with better terms.

Banks and other financial institutions are just two types of companies which issue these no credit check credit cards. It is important to note, though, that these cards are more readily found online. If you apply online for a no credit check credit card, you should receive notice of your approval or denial within moments. If you are approved, you should receive your no credit check credit card in the mail within a few days time.

Shopping around for the best no credit check credit card is important. You should be looking for the card which provides the lowest annual percentage rate (APR) as well as the fewest, and lowest, additional fees and charges.

After you have shopped for the best no credit check credit card, make sure that the company’s web site is secure before providing your personal information online. It is wise to perform a quick internet search and obtain other people’s opinions of the company.

Properly maintaining your no credit check credit card will yield great benefits. By doing so, you will begin to repair your credit score. Additionally, you should make every attempt to remain diligent in paying your monthly bills on time and staying below your credit limit. This will pay off in the future and you will be rewarded by becoming eligible for more desirable credit products.

Man Fixed my Terrible Credit and Credit Score is up to 745. Lexington Law Works. See Documented Proof at www.lexingtonlawreviews.com

Is It Important To Check My Credit Report?

December 29th, 2009 Amber Deanwater No comments

People are busier today than ever before. Because of this, the thought of reviewing their credit report is often something they just don’t think about. This means that most people don’t even know what is reported on their credit report.

In layman’s terms, a credit report is all of your financial information laid out in a very organized manner on a few sheets of paper. Items listed on your credit report include your credit borrowing history, such as mortgage loans, car loans, credit cards, etc., and your timeliness in paying your bills. Credit applications you have submitted for approval are also included on your credit report, as well as the acceptance or denial of the application.

Most of the time when you apply for credit, the company will request a copy of your credit report. (Believe it or not, even just this request for your financial information will be recorded on your credit report!) The company will then review the credit report and determine if they feel you are a credit risk. If not, you will most likely receive the loan or credit card for which you were applying. Adversely, if you are determined to be a credit risk, your application will be denied.

For this reason, it is vitally important that consumers know and understand what is detailed on their credit history. Just guessing at what is on your credit report is not wise. It is important to KNOW! Not KNOWing may cost you that vehicle you just fell in love with!

It is really very easy to obtain a copy of your credit report. You can utilize one of the many internet businesses which offer this service or you can go ahead and contact one of the three major credit reporting agencies – TransUnion, Equifax, or Experian – for a copy. These credit reporting agencies are legally required to provide one copy of your credit report, every twelve months, upon your request.

Once you receive your credit reports, allow yourself a few minutes to sit down and review each of them. The purpose of this review is to make sure that your spending practices are reported accurately. You will want to make sure that your payment history is correctly stated, old and present addresses are accurate, etc. You will also want to make sure that any old debts which were overdue but, subsequently, paid, are reflected as such. (For overdue debts which eventually were paid, you might consider contacting the lender or collection agency to see if they will remove the debt from your credit report in its entirety.)

If you find any inaccurate or false information on your credit report, it can be corrected. A simple letter to the credit reporting agency explaining the purpose of your letter and outlining the information which needs to be corrected, along with proof of your claim, should result in the information being amended.

The importance of a clean credit report cannot be over-stated. Oftentimes, people are so busy with their day-to-day lives that they may forget about an insignificant $20 payment. This missed $20 payment, eight months down the road, when you are trying to refinance your home or purchase a vehicle, can play havoc with your credit application. This is why it is important and necessary to review your credit report regularly.

Not KNOWING the contents of your credit history can cause financial chaos at the very worst time for you – maybe while you are trying to purchase a home. If false and inaccurate information is allowed to remain on your credit report, you may face years of high APR rates. Don’t let this happen to you. KNOW what is reported on your credit report!

Woman Fixed my Terrible Credit and Credit Score is up to 745. Lexington Law Works. See Documented Proof at www.lexingtonlawreviews.com.

What Are Second Chance Credit Cards?

December 24th, 2009 Mark Newman No comments

Have you made some mistakes with regard to your credit cards? Don’t feel alone, many people have! Issuers of “second chance credit cards” are willing to give consumers a second chance to prove their creditworthiness.

Another name for these second chance credit cards is “bad credit” credit cards. By providing the consumer a second opportunity to practice good spending habits, the card issuer hopes the cardholder will be able to improve his credit. As far as benefits go, second chance credit cards and “standard” credit cards are very much alike.

There are several types of second chance credit cards. Which one you will qualify for depends on how good, or bad, your credit is. Some people will qualify for an unsecured credit card, while others may qualify for a secured credit card or possibly even a prepaid credit card.

Prior to applying for any second chance credit card, it is best to contact the credit card provider. The credit card provider will be able to help you with regard to what type of card would be best to apply for, depending upon your credit history. The reason it is important to contact the credit card provider first is because applying for a credit card and being denied will be reported on your credit report and will further damage your credit score.

An unsecured second chance credit card is very much like a typical MasterCard or Visa. The main difference being that these cards normally carry with them a much higher annual percentage rate (APR). This means that the cardholder will pay a higher rate of interest with this card if the cardholder does not pay the bill in full each month. The reason these unsecured second chance credit cards carry such a high APR is that the cardholder presents a higher risk to the credit card company because of the cardholder’s past spending and payment behavior.

Secured credit cards are different from unsecured credit cards in that card providers require a deposit for the secured credit card. In other words, you must deposit money against purchases made with a secured credit card in order to guarantee the payment of any purchases you may make. The deposited amount then becomes the cardholders credit limit. If a payment is missed, it will be paid from the deposited amount. When the account is closed and provided the account is in good standing, the cardholder will receive the amount deposited with the card provider.

Both secured and unsecured credit cards can help a consumer to rebuild their credit score by the card provider’s reporting to the three major credit reporting agencies. This, of course, will require the cardholder to maintain good spending practices. After a while, the consumer will be able to qualify for credit cards with better APRs and lower credit card fees and charges.

If you wish to use a prepaid credit card, you will be required to “load” funds on the credit card by going to a location which offers this service or by using direct deposit. Because prepaid credit card providers are not offering a line of credit, these cards do not help to repair credit.

Stop Midland Credit Management. Free 19 Page Collection Agency Deletion Guide at www.MidlandCreditDebt.com

Judgment or Lien: Can My Creditor Take My House and Property for Non-Payment?

December 23rd, 2009 Jesse Smith No comments

You may be wondering if it is possible to lose assets because a creditor has filed or is threatening to file a judgment against you for non-payment. Simply put, yes, you can lose assets. If a debt goes several months without being paid, your creditor must go to court with the issue. Unfortunately, it is likely that the result will cost you in one way or another. Just as everyone’s case is unique, so will the result be.

Once the judgment papers have been served on you, you normally have 30 days to respond. These papers explain that you need to appear in court to address the debt issue. It would be exceedingly wise to spend this 30-day period communicating with the creditor in order to come to some sort of agreement.

Depending upon your state’s laws and if the creditor is successful in his suit requesting a judgment against you, legal remedies will be available to the creditor. Some possible remedies might be garnishment of wages, seizure of assets, and maybe even a lien against your property or home. If your creditor obtains a lien against your home, you will be unable to borrow against the property or sell it until the debt is paid in full.

To make matters worse, your credit score will take a horrible plunge! It is important to note that a judgment can be reported on your credit report for up to ten years. A judgment is the worst mark you can have on your credit report, other than a bankruptcy. During the financially difficult times we are presently experiencing, it is more important than ever to have an excellent credit score.

The bottom line is that your creditor just wants to be paid. Because of this, often creditors are willing to accept significantly reduced offers just to settle the debt. It may also be possible to arrange for a payment plan so the creditor does not have to follow through with a legal action. However, to do so, you will need to communicate with the creditor and negotiate the details.

Going to court is not a lot of fun! However, if you fail to reach an agreement with the creditor, you will likely find yourself in court. If you wind up in court, this will give the court the opportunity to rule against you. It is better to work with the creditor to reach a settlement which will be more beneficial for you. You should work to keep a judgment from taking place!

If you feel you don’t want to tackle this situation alone, you can look into hiring an experienced credit attorney who can guide you through the process. It is always best to deal with debt matters head-on rather than opting for avoidance.

NCO Financial Ruined my Life. What I Did to Get Revenge. www.myncodebt.com

The Pros and Cons of Bankruptcy

December 22nd, 2009 Amber Deanwater No comments

If you are considering bankruptcy, you should research all aspects of the process and the possible outcomes. This article is meant to be a very brief summary of the pros and cons of bankruptcy.

As it becomes increasingly difficult to make ends meet, many people begin to think that bankruptcy may be a good idea. Before jumping into a decision like this, though, you should research what bankruptcy really is.

A person files bankruptcy when he wants to obtain some relief from an overwhelming amount of debt. This happens when a person cannot pay all of his bills and needs a fresh start. Additionally, this type of legal proceeding is normally launched voluntarily. If the debtor wants to have his debts discharged, he files Chapter 7 bankruptcy. If the debtor wants to reorganize his finances and keep his assets, he files Chapter 13.

The main advantage to filing bankruptcy is that the person will be able to start fresh. The bankruptcy, once completed, will allow the debtor to take a breath and start anew. There will be no more harassing phone calls and letters and the debtor, hopefully, at this point, will be able to live within his means.

There are some misconceptions regarding bankruptcy. To begin with, you should not lose your job nor your social security benefits because of a bankruptcy. Additionally, your credit score will most definitely suffer, but it can be repaired.

With regard to your credit score, do not think it will not plummet. It will! You should keep in mind that you will likely be denied for most, if not all, credit products you apply for, maybe even for as long as ten years.

Depending upon which chapter of bankruptcy you file, you may lose some of your assets. There are, however, some assets which are considered exempt. A bankruptcy attorney will discuss this with you when you meet with him.

Additionally, the cost involved needs to be considered. There is a filing fee for filing the case with the Bankruptcy Court as well as attorney’s fees which can range from $1,000 to more than $2,000. Therefore, when the total debt is just a few thousand dollars, it may be best to just deal with your creditors than to file bankruptcy.

Professional counsel from an experienced bankruptcy attorney should be sought if your are thinking about bankruptcy. A seasoned bankruptcy expert can guide you through the process and give you an idea of the expected outcome.

Is Lexington Law a Scam? See What They Did to this Guy at www.lexingtonlawreviews.com.