Welcome to our website credit and debt managementr.

New offers options to American consumers who need an effective debt reduction plan. We have settled over 150 million dollars worth of unsecured, credit card debt while saving clients thousands of dollars. AmeriGuard believes it is important to make an informed decision especially when it affects your financial health. Understanding your options can be overwhelming; that’s why we offer experienced, knowledgeable guidance along the way. provides the information you need to participate in creating a better future..

Thursday, March 31, 2005

How to Write an Amendment to the Circuit Court

A circuit court is a place for appeals to be heard. Papers filed at this court must be as accurate as possible. Once you have submitted papers to the circuit court, you may not take them back. You will need to submit new papers to the court if any section of your original filing needs to be amended before the hearing. Filing an amendment is much like filing an original document. The main difference is that the court may not accept the amended document...

Wednesday, March 30, 2005

How to Meet Debt Obligations

Your debt has been piling up and now it's time to start meeting your debt obligations. Taking care of your debt will improve your credit score and it will improve your mood--you'll no longer have to worry about paying debts once you make that final payment. Unfortunately, there's simply no easy way out of paying your debt. You'll need to be frugal and financially responsible. Once you learn these techniques, you will hopefully never be in debt again....

How to Consolidate Secured Debt

Getting out of debt isnt easy. For this reason, many people consider a secured debt consolidation loan. Consolidations are beneficial because they combine all your outstanding debts into one loan. Thus, you dont have to worry about varying interest rates, payment amounts and due dates. There are many different types of debt consolidation loans. To ensure loan approval, its best to have collateral. Instructions 1 Check your credit report before applying for a loan. Although secured debt consolidation loans involve collateral, credit checks...

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

How to Sell Your Used Car Fast

Needing to sell your car fast be stressful. Cars are a large expense for many people, and you have to find a person who needs and wants your type of car, and also has the cash to pay for the car. Rather than listing your car for sale in one place and then waiting for the phone to ring, there are several things you can do to increase the chances of selling your car quickly. Instructions 1 Call your local bank's loan department, and ask for...

How to Reduce Garnishment Payments

Getting your paycheck and noticing a reduction in pay can spark panic. Less pay might result from a wage garnishment order sent to your employer. Creditors can request a garnishment from the court system if you refuse to pay a judgment. With garnishments, employers must withhold up to 25 percent of your income. In certain situations, such as delinquent alimony or child support payments, a wage garnishment can consume 50 percent of your pay. Instructions 1 Go to your local court's clerk office and schedule a hearing to discuss the wage garnishment...

How to Pay Off Student Loan Debt Fast

If you've gone to college and accumulated student loan debt, you're probably concerned about paying them off as quickly as possible. Having a lot of loan payments to make on a monthly basis can really rob you of wealth in the long term. The good news is that there are a couple of different ways to pay off student loan debt as fast as possible. Here's how to pay off student loans fast. Instructions 1 Search for an employer that will help you to pay off your student loan debt. Some companies or government entities will actually help you pay...

Monday, March 28, 2005

Does Canceling an Unactivated Credit Card Affect Your Credit?

Credit card activation means calling the issuing bank and following the instructions that come with your new card to make the account usable. You cannot make charges, get cash advances or do any other transactions without completing activation. Canceling your card before you activate it may affect your credit score, depending on how quickly you close the account. Timing Credit card companies do not immediately report brand-new accounts to the three credit bureaus. Your credit score comes from your TransUnion, Experian and Equifax credit...

What Is the Difference on a 1099-A Between the Balance of Principal & the Fair Market Value?

When a borrower defaults on a loan secured by property such as a car loan or mortgage or willingly abandons that property rather than continuing to make payments, the lender may take the property back through repossession, foreclosure or other legal action. On Internal Revenue Service Form 1099-A, a lender notifies a borrower that it has seized the property or considers it abandoned and will retake possession. Two pieces of information on the form the principal balance and the market value helps determine whether the borrower will face any...

Alternatives to Credit Card Bankruptcy

Credit card bankruptcy can help clear up your debts, but it will leave a lasting mark on your credit score making it difficult to borrow money in the future. There are alternatives to declaring bankruptcy, which will allow you to pay off your credit card debt and take control of your financial situation. Debt Settlement Debt settlement is when you negotiate with your creditors to lower your interest rates, monthly payments or to pay less...

Sunday, March 27, 2005

Can You Get Bonded for a Job as a Cashier With Poor Credit?

People with poor credit are perceived as being more likely to mismanage money or even steal, which keeps many of them from getting jobs where they handle money. However, avenues are open to this group that allows them to become bonded, thus increasing their chances of being hired. Determining Poor Credit You might assume you have poor credit because you've been late on payments here and there. However, it might not be as bad as they think....

Saturday, March 26, 2005

Good Credit Cards for People With Bad Credit

When you have bad credit, you can get stuck in a vicious cycle. You need a credit card to help rebuild a good credit history, but your history prevents you from getting one. Fortunately, there are some good credit card options for people with bad credit. Some will help you build up your credit rating, while others are mainly for convenience or budgeting. Even if your credit rating is low, you should be able to find one that fits your situation. Bank Cards Many banks will be reluctant to give you a credit card when you have bad credit. If...

Friday, March 25, 2005

How to Keep Track of Debts

In 2011 the U.S. Census Bureau reported that as a whole American citizens held $14,001,000,000,000 worth of debt in 2009. That being said, creating a system to keep track of and manage debt has become increasingly important. The good news is that most creditors are more than happy to update you on your debt status and may even be willing to work with you toward the goal of paying it off. The main ideas behind keeping track of debt are knowing how...

Connecticut Laws Regarding a Bounced Check

If a person writes a check without sufficient funds in an associated account to cover it, the check will bounce, or be returned for insufficient funds. Each state has laws regulating how merchants may respond to bounced checks. In Connecticut, the merchant may file a civil suit and press criminal charges if the check writer does not reimburse him for a bounced check after the merchant has sent several notices regarding the matter. Posted Notice Requirement Merchants and other business owners who accept checks must post a notice where customers...

Will Assets Be Frozen in a Foreclosure?

A mortgage lender has no power to freeze your assets. However, the lender has the right to seize assets to cover your debts. This is what happens in a foreclosure. Depending on the laws in your area and your particular situation, your lender has several ways to get your assets. Assets in Foreclosure If you miss your mortgage payments, your lender may foreclose on your property. In a foreclosure, your lender takes your property, which is an...

Thursday, March 24, 2005

How to Improve Credit While in Chapter 13

A Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows individuals with steady income to develop a plan to repay all or part of their debts, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Under this chapter, a repayment plan is configured where installment payments are made to creditors over three to five years. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy can remain on a credit report for up to 10 years after it is discharged. If you're filing bankruptcy, your credit may already be impaired, but there are ways to improve your credit while in Chapter 13. Instructions ...

The Best Ways to Collect Debt

Debt collectors are a tenacious lot. Most debt collectors are hired not according to a flat fee, but on commission: for every dollar that the debt collector collects for his client, the debt collector gets to keep a portion. This gives him a powerful incentive to collect, for which he mobilizes a number of different tactics. Calling One of the simplest and most effective means of collecting a debt is to call the person who owes the money. And then call her again. And again. And again. Debt collectors must follow a number of rules, outlined...

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

How to Use a PayPal Business Debit Card

PayPal, one of the most popular online payment processors, offers its account holders debit cards. Business account holders, as well as individual account holders have the option of apply for a debit card. To use your card, you must activate it and then use it as you would any other debit card. Your purchase or withdrawl amounts are limited by PayPal's daily limit restrictions, as well as the amount of money currently available in your PayPal business account. Instructions How to Activate Your PayPal Business Debit Card 1 Go to PayPal.com...

How Do Interest Rates Affect the Customer Demand?

Interest rates have a real and profound affect on consumer and retail demand. Interest rates relative to the consumer are about the cost of borrowing money, including credit card rates. At the same time, less directly, businesses see lower rates as a signal to expand, to borrow money and seek short-term profits by offering lower prices to the public. In the most general terms, low rates mean economic recovery and consumer spending. Low Rates The Federal Reserve controls general interest rates. This is important because the Fed also is in...

Can Social Security Benefits Be Garnished for a Defaulted Car Loan?

When a person in deep debt fails to make payments on his loans, a creditor may seeks to have a portion of the borrower's income garnished. Garnishment must be ordered by a judge before it can be accomplished by the creditor. While most forms of income are subject to garnishment, Social Security benefits are generally exempt. Features Under the Social Security program, individuals who are elderly or incapacitated receive regular payments from the federal government. These payments are designed to help them meet basic living expenses, such...

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

The Best Debt Settlement Plans

Finding the best debt settlement plan is difficult, as debt settlement is a complicated financial solution to an unfortunate situation. Engaging in debt settlement usually means having your credit score drop dramatically and paying large fees to a company that might not perform any useful service. Credit Score Some debt settlement companies might tell you they will keep your credit scores from being reduced. This isn't true. Any debt settlement plan will reduce your credit score and the best settlement companies will acknowledge this....

Credit Bureau Laws

A person's creditworthiness is an extremely important asset, and one given a high priority by lenders. Several major pieces of legislation regulate credit bureaus, the organizations responsible for collecting and standardizing credit information. Every aspect of the credit system is subject to stringent rules, although not all of them necessarily serve the interests of consumers. Significance Legislation pertaining to the U.S personal credit system began appearing in the 1960s and 1970s, when personal credit in the form of credit cards...

Monday, March 21, 2005

How to Negotiate & Settle Your Debt With Creditors

When dealing with debt, it can be challenging to know how to best negotiate with your creditors to settle the debt and get it off your credit report for good. This process is best done in a straightforward manner, with you -- as the debtor -- proposing what you can pay in terms of a settlement, including a proposed time line that resolves the account in a timely fashion instead of dragging it out over an extensive period. Instructions 1 Ask for an accounting for the final amount of the debt. In the time since you've paid on the account or...

How to Take the Debt Free Pledge

The U.S. Federal Reserve reported that the average American household carried nearly $6,500 in credit card debt in 2010. According to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, when people are in debt, they are 95 times more likely to meet their goal of becoming debt-free when they write it down. The NFCC is helping people do this by offering them the Debt Free Pledge, encouraging people to get themselves out of debt by committing to certain...

DIY Debt Secrets

You may feel you need step-by-step support and guidance to extract yourself from the vise grip of credit card debt. However, taking control of your finances and alleviating the burden you are carrying due to excessive debt and interest charges can be done on your own without the need for fee-based services. Call the Card Issuer Although high fees and interest may be welcome by credit card issuers, the last thing they want to see is you falling...

Sunday, March 20, 2005

Can You Be Taken to Court on an Old Credit Card Debt?

If you fail to pay back your credit card debts, you not only face the prospect of a damaged credit score and difficulty in getting a new loan, but your creditors also can sue you to recover the money. Facing a credit card lawsuit without assistance is difficult, so talk to a lawyer if you need legal advice. Credit Card Debts Every time you use a credit card, you pay for something by using the creditor's money. The creditor agrees to pay the money and you agree to pay it back at a later time with interest. When you don't pay the money back,...

Saturday, March 19, 2005

Do I Owe the Balance After a Repossession?

Repossessions occur when consumers pledge their vehicles as collateral and subsequently default on their loans. Consumers can pledge their vehicles in exchange for short-term title loans, to finance their vehicles or under lease arrangements. State laws govern the rights that creditors and third-party repossession agencies have to repossess their collateral. In most states, creditors can sell their repossessed vehicles and sue borrowers for any remaining deficiency balance. Repossession Basics In most states, lenders can repossess their...

How to Get Free Help to Stop Garnishing From Student Loans

The process of paying off student loans is a daunting task for many people. Adding to the challenge is dealing with collection efforts if your student loan payments become past due. One course that is taken in the collection of past due student loans is the garnishment of wages or bank accounts. Either type of garnishment seriously hampers your overall financial status. Facing either type (or even both types) of garnishment may motivate you to find...

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Debt by State?

State statutes of limitations for debt vary by state and by the type of debt involved. The statutes don't erase debts that people owe, but they do place limitations on how delinquent debts are collected. Debt collectors who file lawsuits to collect debts after the statute of limitations has expired are violating the U.S. Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. State Statutes A state statute of limitations on debt is the amount of time that a creditor or lender has to sue a consumer to recoup delinquent debts. The statutes don't release consumers...

Friday, March 18, 2005

How to Create a New Account in Quicken 2008

Intuits best-selling personal finance software, Quicken 2008, allows consumers to keep track of all of their financial information in one place. With automatic updates via the web, consumers can instantly see where they stand financially at any given point in time. When a user first installs Quicken, they will be prompted to walk through the setup and customization portion. Afterwards, consumers may find that they would like to add a new account. Read on to learn how to create a new account in Quicken 2008 after the initial setup. Instructions...

Thursday, March 17, 2005

How to Measure Your Risk of Being Sued by a Collection Agency

When a collection agency is in possession of your debt, the possibility of a lawsuit against you always exists. However, you do not have to operate in fear and anxiety, cringing during your trips to the mailbox. If you educate yourself on a few realities and take some simple actions, you will have a much better idea where you stand and perhaps avoid a lawsuit. Instructions 1 Check the statute of limitations on debt for your state. If your...

Does It Hurt Your Credit to Get a Credit Report?

Credit affects just about everything we do. Whether you're applying for a job, a mortgage, a car loan or a credit card, there's a good chance your credit is going to be scrutinized. Given how important credit is, it makes sense to keep an eye on your credit report and credit score. Fortunately, checking your credit to get a credit report doesn't hurt your credit. Credit Report Overview There are three credit reporting agencies: TransUnion, Experion and Equifax. Each may contain slightly different information. In general, each report will...

What Is the Next Step After Verification of Debt?

A debt collection agency or creditor must verify you owe a debt before beginning collection practices against you. This verification process often involves just a letter sent through the mail. If you don't respond, the creditor or debt collector considers the debt valid and proceeds with collection practices. The debt collection process involves an escalating series of contacts from simple written requests to phone calls and possibly civil litigation. Contact For Collection Once a creditor or collection agency verifies the debt in question...

Facts About the Automated Credit-Reporting Industry

Automated credit-reporting systems allow the three major credit-information providers---Equifax, Experian and TransUnion---to easily issue reports regarding a person's bill-paying history, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Potential Benefits Automated credit reporting saves lenders time when issuing information about their customers' bill-paying history and also when they are considering credit applications. This practice saves customers time when they apply for new loans or credit cards. Excluded Information Your...

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

How Credit Card Debt Consolidation Helps the Holders

Having too much credit card debt is a scary and powerless feeling. If you're in significant credit card debt, however, you have options that can help you to pay down your debts. One such option is debt consolidation. It's important to learn the best way to make sure a consolidation helps the account holder. Debt Consolidation Basics One of the biggest reasons that racking up the balances on multiple credit cards is so problematic is that you have to remember the due dates and minimum payments for each card. Juggling all of these different...

Can You Garnish Social Security Disability Payments?

Creditors facing the challenge of debtors who refuse to pay what they owe can take a number of different tactics to attempt collection. One of the most effective is garnishment. When a debtor's wages or other income is garnished, it means that the person paying the debtor must set aside a portion of the income and hand it over the creditor. Social Security Disability payments, however, are immune from garnishment by private creditors. Garnishment All garnishments must first be approved by a judge in a civil court before they can be executed....

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Can a Private Person Garnish Another Person's Wages?

A person need not necessary owe a debt to a company -- he can also owe a debt to another party. This debt may be secured in writing, or it may be an oral agreement between the two parties. In either case, the contract is legally valid and the creditor party has a right to collect payment, by force of law if necessary. This may include the use of wage garnishment. Legitimizing The Debt If two private parties have an agreement in which one party ends up owing the other party money, then the creditor party may try to extract payment outside...

Monday, March 14, 2005

What Are Debt Relief Programs?

There are a number of companies that provide debt relief service programs. The idea behind such a program is to help you manage your debt more effectively and efficiently. This allows you to get out of debt much faster than you normally would. When you enter such a program there are many avenues that the company can pursue to make your debt load more affordable. Settlements Some of the debt relief programs will contact your creditors and offer them settlements of 50 percent or better on your outstanding debt. Payment A lot of these...

Can a Creditor Sue You for Credit Card Debt in Pennsylvania?

Every time you use a credit card, you take out a short-term loan for the amount you are charging. If you do not pay your credit card bill, you are considered to have defaulted on that loan, and your creditor is entitled to take action to collect it from you. In many states, including Pennsylvania, suing you for the amount of the loan is one option for collection. Pennsylvania law prohibits creditors from garnishing a debtor's wages after winning a judgment against him in a lawsuit. No Wage Garnishment In most cases, creditors in Pennsylvania...

Does Having a Co-Signer Help Rebuild Your Credit?

People who have poor credit ratings can use a co-signer to rebuild their credit histories. However, some borrowers can't rebuild their credit even when someone co-signs on a loan or credit card because they fall into the same bad habits that originally led to their poor credit rating. Co-Signers People who want to use co-signed accounts to rebuild their credit need to consider a potential co-signer's creditworthiness. Co-signers must have good credit ratings themselves, because they're guaranteeing the repayment of a debt for the primary...