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..

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Who Pays the Hospital Bills After a Relative's Death?

Hospital bills can be a serious burden -- even more so if the bills are incurred by an individual who dies. Survivors may be worried that they are liable for these bills, which can easily reach thousands of dollars if expensive surgeries or medications were involved in the medical treatment. In most cases, the surviving family does not have to pay hospital bills, but who does pay the bills can depend on a number of different circumstances. Health Insurance Health insurance is available through both group and private policies and is designed...

How to Get Out of Garnishment

Garnishments are a form of debt collection in which creditors take money owed to them directly from the debtor's bank account or paycheck. Collection bureaus and government agencies may seek garnishment for many types of unsecured debts, including student loans, credit cards, taxes, child support and alimony. Before garnishing any accounts, the creditor must obtain a signed order from the court. Instructions 1 Establish that the creditor...

How to Write a Refusal-to-Pay Letter

A refusal-to-pay letter should be written in the same format as a business letter. This letter should be typed and written as professionally as possible. When writing a refusal-to-pay letter, focus on the facts and explain what you want the recipient to do about your situation. Be as polite as possible because either the recipient or a judge in a court of law will decide what to do about the outstanding debt you've accrued. Instructions 1 ...

How to Prevent Foreclosure From Affecting Your Credit

Foreclosure can severely affect your credit rating, so you should consider it only as a last resort. Considered the most damaging aspect of a credit rating, it can remain on your credit report for at least seven years. A foreclosure in your credit history lowers your credit score, which impacts interest rates paid in the future, and can brand you as a high credit risk. Instructions 1 Be mindful of your due dates in the mortgage. You should faithfully track your mortgage due dates, which is the primary step in preventing foreclosure. Contact...

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

California Law on Defaulting on Credit Card Debt

Tough economic conditions or personal hardship sometimes lead to credit card default. If you cannot pay your credit card bills in California, you still have rights under the state's debt laws. You cannot be harassed, threatened or treated unfairly by lenders or collection agencies attempting to collect a debt. Statute of Limitations The state of California has a statute of limitations on credit card debts to prevent creditors and collection...

Monday, March 29, 2010

Can an IRS Return Be Garnished to Pay for Food Stamps?

Food stamps, also known by their formal name, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, are designed to help a low-income household pay for groceries. These benefits are intended as a form of voucher that a person can redeem at participating retailers. However, if a person abuses the program, he may end up owing the state money. If this debt goes unpaid, the state may attempt to collect it through garnishment. Garnishment Garnishment occurs when a person has an income stream diverted by a creditor. If a creditor serves a garnishment...

How to Change Information on a Credit Report

The information on your credit report is used by financing companies to determine whether or not you should be approved for a loan or line of credit. Some employers also examine your credit report when you apply for a job. This is why it is important that your credit report is accurate. If you notice an error on your credit report, you should immediately report it so it can get corrected. It isn't a difficult process, as long as you know how to change information on a credit report. Instructions 1 Review your credit report. You can get your...

Sunday, March 28, 2010

What Happens If I Don't Pay My Medical Bills?

Medical bills, expenses and charges may seem astronomical, but they do not go away on their own. When bankruptcy is not an option, it's easy to forget about unpaid medical expenses while budgeting to pay more pressing bills, such as food and transportation. Unfortunately, ignoring unpaid medical bills will make matters worse. Ongoing Correspondence Typically, doctors do not collect their own bills. Instead, they employ staff or an outside agency to collect amounts due that are not paid by insurance companies. When a bill goes unpaid, the...

Statute of Limitations on Bills in Michigan

A statute of limitations for civil court is the legal time period in which a collector has a right to sue. The reason for a statute of limitations is that, after a certain amount of time, evidence begins to become misplaced or disappear, witnesses are lost and files are misplaced or destroyed. Every state has laws that govern statutes of limitations, and Michigan is no different. Bills of Debt The Michigan statute of limitations for bills...

Saturday, March 27, 2010

How to Deal With Garnishments

Garnishment allows creditors or debt collectors to transfer money from a person's bank account for an unpaid debt -- or to demand regular deductions from the debtor's paycheck. Garnishment is possible after a court order by a judge. Banks, credit unions and employers are forced by law to comply with garnishment. Garnishment freezes bank accounts as the debt collector withdraws money in a lump sum or as it becomes available. During garnishment, the debtor may access the account only to make deposits. Garnishment requires employers to send a percentage...

Friday, March 26, 2010

How to Get a Credit Line Without a Personal Guarantee

If you are a new or established business, you may be wondering if it is possible to get a credit line without a personal guarantee of your own assets and income. The answer is yes, in some cases. Some business credit card companies, like Advanta, will process a credit card application using only the business's name as a guarantee. Information about your business credit line is not reported to your personal credit report. There are a few things you need to do for your business credit application to be approved this way. Instructions 1 Register...

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

What Are the Primary Functions of Finance Companies?

A finance company seeks simply to finance the activities of other businesses and individuals. This means that the company is in charge of lending money to those interested in pursuing such funding. Finance companies focus solely on this lending aspect and do not accept deposits the way that banks do. This allows finance companies to respond more quickly to changes in interest rates, so they are often able to offer slightly better deals on the money...

Bankruptcy Counseling and Debt Information

Although many Americans do all they can to stay afloat financially, debt and bankruptcy often becomes a reality. This is not desirable, because debt decreases disposable income. Additionally, bankruptcy stays on your credit report up to 10 years and greatly influences your ability to get future credit. Bankruptcy counseling and debt typically go hand in hand. Purpose Often, people who file for bankruptcy file again later. This results in enormous losses for lenders. It also costs taxpayers money, because courts must meet the administrative...

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

How to Merge Debts

Reducing debt is often a long process as you send each credit account a little money each month. However, there are tactics to help you get rid of your debt faster and manage your debts. Debt consolidation is a way to merge your debts into one bill and make one payment a month. This benefits you if you have high interest rates on your credit cards, because debt consolidation often results in a lower rate and fewer interest charges. A drop in interest charges helps you pay down the balance faster. Instructions 1 Move your high interest credit...

How Bankruptcy Affects You

Consumers shouldn't use bankruptcies as a way to fix debt problems. Yes, a bankruptcy can wipe out your outstanding credit card and loan balances. However, the consequences are severe and long-lasting. Before filing a bankruptcy with your court system, consider the effects on your credit and personal finances. Credit Score Drop The full effects of a bankruptcy are unknown until the information shows on your credit report. A drop in credit score is expected, and the actual damage of filing a bankruptcy varies for each person. According to...

How to Reduce Debt by Up to 70 Percent

Getting into debt is easy. Getting out of debt is hard, but with determination, you can reduce your debt. If you face financial hardship, you may be able to use a debt reduction plan to reduce your debt as much as 70 percent. The reductions must be negotiated with creditors, and the percentage of reduction attainable varies. If you want to reduce your debt while your account is current, your creditors are unlikely to agree. If you are seriously delinquent,...

Monday, March 22, 2010

How to Put an Alert on a Credit Report

Identity theft is an increasingly common crime, and a fraud alert is one of the first steps to stop a thief from using your information. At least 9 million Americans are victims of identity theft each year, according to the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft website. Once you put a fraud alert on your report, lenders should contact you by phone before opening any account in your name, although they are not required to by law. Once you believe you're a victim of identity theft, it is fairly simple to request a fraud alert. Instructions...

Gambling & Credit Card Debt

Casual gambling can turn into a serious addiction that quickly depletes finances. Gamblers often turn to credit cards to fund their habit, only to find the mounting debt overwhelming. Statistics According to the SMR Research Corporation, 90 percent or more of those suffering from gambling addiction use credit cards to gamble. Approximately 10 percent of bankruptcy filings are linked to gambling losses and over 20 percent of compulsive gamblers...

Sunday, March 21, 2010

How to Fight an Aggressive Bill Collector

Falling behind on your credit card bills and other debts often ends up in endless calls or letters from collection agencies. Bill collectors can cause you serious problems, especially when they get aggressive and use harassing or even illegal tactics. Fortunately, you have specific rights against collectors, and when an agency or creditor gets overzealous, you can sue it in court and have it end up paying you. Instructions 1 Research the Fair...

Friday, March 19, 2010

Alternatives to Credit Reporting

The main purpose for a credit report is to determine how likely you are to pay your obligations on time and in full, based on your past history, and paint a picture of how you use your available credit. Sometimes, suitable reports are not available from the national credit bureaus, or you may need to show through alternate means that you are able to pay your loans. There are ways to do this outside of the credit reporting agencies. Lenders Using Alternate Credit Most lenders use the traditional FICO score, created by the Fair Isaac Corp....

How to Eliminate Charge Off Credit Card Debt

Charge-offs are accounts that a creditor has deemed "uncollectible." These are serious delinquencies on a credit report. If you have any charge-offs on your report, you should take immediate action to remove them. However, this process can be challenging. The credit bureaus reserve the right to report delinquent debt for a period of up to seven years, but they are not legally obligated to do so. Therefore, if you make a compelling case to them, the...

Thursday, March 18, 2010

How to Offer a Settlement on a Charged-Off Credit Card

Consumers that find themselves drowning in a growing pile of credit card balances and interest fees may look to offer a settlement on outstanding credit card balances. In a settlement, a debtor proposes to permanently close the account by paying less than what is owed. It is not a clean slate solution, as you still owe the remainder of the balance -- it is more of an agreement between the debtor and creditor to move on. Instructions 1 Conduct...

Help for Fixing Consumer Credit

Getting into trouble with credit is not hard to do. High credit card balances on multiple accounts, missed payment or collection can really hurt a credit history. A bankruptcy or foreclosure can damage it for between seven and 10 years. Consumers can fix their credit, but it takes commitment, time and effort. Sometimes it also takes a little help from outside sources. Credit Report Errors Many people in trouble with credit problems fail to...

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

What Is the Legal Process to Garnish a Bank Account?

Although most people intend to pay their debts on time and as outlined in their credit agreements, it sometimes isn't possible to avoid creditors from seeking collection via a debtor's bank account. Current debt and credit law outlines distinct steps for account garnishment. Legitimate companies follow these steps to get what debtors owe. Collection of Information Before a creditor can do anything regarding garnishment, they have to gather...

How to Remove Student Loans

Failing to repay a student loan puts you in default, most likely resulting in a negative score on your credit report. While there is a legal way of having this information removed, keep in mind that a borrower typically ends up in this situation because he didn't make the required payments on a student loan, according to the loan agreement. Seeing this failure, a lender will signal to the major credit bureaus that the borrower has a delinquent account. Instructions 1 Order your credit report from the three major credit bureaus--Experian,...

Definition of Skip Tracing

People seeking to escape collection agencies may be able to run, but they may not be able to hide very long. Those skilled in the art of "tracing" are always on the lookout for debtors who have "skipped" out on their bills. Definition Skip tracing locates missing debtors who are attempting to avoid having to pay bill collections or past-due judgments, according to Bene Finders. The person doing the work to locate the debtor is known as a skip tracer. Methods Skip tracers look for the person using a phone book, the Internet and public...

How to Make Quick Cash for a Debt

You don't need to cash out your car title or dig yourself deeper in the hole to pay off a serious debt. With a little creativity and determination, you may find a variety of money-earning opportunities. Some could even become ongoing activities in your future. Instructions 1 Sell things you don't use anymore through classifieds or Internet selling sites. School textbooks, electronics, musical instruments, games and computer equipment are hot...

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Can I Be Summoned to Court for Credit Card Debt If I'm on Disability & SSI?

Having a lot of credit card debt can be worrisome, particularly if you don't have many assets and have a limited income. While it is possible that a credit card company, or its collection agency, might file a lawsuit, it is unlikely that it will be able to collect much, if anything from you. State and federal laws make it impossible for most creditors to garnish or seize Social Security income and assets. Social Security Disability Programs Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal benefits program administered by the Social Security...

Reasons for UK Consumer Debt Increase

Consumer debt is outstanding, or unpaid, consumer credit. It is also sometimes called personal or household debt. Reuters reported in April 2010 that personal debt, including mortgages, in the U.K. stood at 1.5 trillion, or $2.16 trillion, and that one in ten people has debt problems. Credit Action, a charity, reports that this is a twelve-month growth of 0.9%. It adds that the average household debt in the UK is almost 9,000, excluding mortgages,...

Monday, March 15, 2010

How to Settle an Old Car Repossession Debt

When a repossessed car is sold at an auction the proceeds may not be sufficient to pay the balance you owe. If your car was repossessed and you had a balance remaining, some creditors will require you to pay it and some will not. If you have an old debt that is still lingering because of repossession, contact the creditor to make arrangements to pay. Sometimes you can settle for less than the balance owed. Instructions 1 Find out who you should pay. Many creditors turn remaining repossession balances over to a collection agency or third-party...

Five Things You Need for an Insurance Policy

Purchasing insurance is often a requirement more than it is an optional expenditure. This is especially true for car insurance as well as business insurance coverage. When setting out to determine which insurance policy to buy, and when you finally settle on a policy, there are various documents that you need. However, the precise set of documentation or things you need for an insurance policy may vary with the type of policy you want to purchase. Quotes Insurance quotes help to determine which insurance policy suits you best. You may obtain...

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Can You Stop a Court Order Judgment on a Credit Card Debt?

A credit card company you owe a balance to can seek a court judgment against you if you do not voluntarily pay off your debt. Or the credit card company can sell the account to a debt collector that also has the right to sue you and seek a judgment. A court judgment allows the creditor to recover the debt, typically by garnishing your bank accounts or wages. Under certain circumstances, you can stop a court judgment from occurring -- even if the...

Can Someone's Home Be Taken if an LLC Is Sued?

An LLC is a limited liability company. Some business owners choose this legal business structure to separate their personal debts and assets from those of the company. However, complete separation isn't always possible. Many banks and other lenders force owners of an LLC to personally guarantee loans made to the business. That means it is possible in certain instances for a business owner to lose his home because of a lawsuit against the LLC. Process Most business owners seeking credit for their LLCs initially apply for financing in the...

Can They Garnish My Wages Without Me Knowing?

Not receiving your full work pay due to a wage garnishment can create serious problems with your personal finances. You might not have enough cash to pay your bills and other living expenses, and garnishment can continue until a creditor receives full payment of a debt. Definition of a Wage Garnishment A wage garnishment involves a bill collector or creditor making contact with your employer, and the employer then withholding a percentage of your salary. This withholding occurs after your employer deducts state taxes, federal taxes and...

Can You Build Good Credit With a Low Spending Limit?

The three-digit number known as a FICO score determines what interest rate you receive for a new car purchase as well as the amount of deposit required from the utility company. Building a good score requires obtaining and using credit wisely. However if you are just starting to build a credit history or have undergone a bankruptcy, it may be hard to obtain a credit card with a large credit limit. Thankfully, credit management, not the credit limit, is the deciding factor in determining your credit score. Definition of Good Credit Typically...

Washington Collection Agency Laws

Financial debt can be a burden on many consumers, especially in an economic downturn. However, consumers do have rights under law concerning the collection of debt from creditors. In the state of Washington, there are explicit guidelines that must be adhered to by collection agencies when dealing with the state's residents. Contact by Collection Agencies Collection agents cannot threaten nor use offensive language when contacting consumers....