How to Add Someone as a Cosigner to Improve Credit

The Federal Trade Commission reports that companies that promise to repair credit are often a scam. In fact, they say that a legitimate credit repair organization would never advertise the ability to erase all your bad debt or to provide you with a new identity. However, if you wish, you can help a close friend or relative raise their credit score by allowing them to piggyback on your strong credit rating. Instructions 1 Make them joint credit...

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Oregon Medical Debt Statute of Limitations

Every state, including Oregon, has laws that limit how long you have to file a lawsuit, known as a statute of limitations. In Oregon, any creditor to whom you owe money has a limited amount of time to sue you to recover a debt you have failed to pay. Talk to an Oregon attorney for legal advice about medical debts and statutes of limitations. Kinds of Debts and Their Limitations Debts are typically incurred in one of four ways: through a written...

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How to Negotiate My Credit Card Debt Prior to Paying Off My Balance

Some Americans struggle with overwhelming credit card debt. If you have a large amount of credit card debt, you must make repayment a priority before it consumes you--financially and psychologically. One of the ways you can relieve some pressure is by negotiating with your lenders. There are several strategies, but you must pick the one that best helps you get out of debt. Instructions 1 Pull your credit report prior to approaching your credit...

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Recommended Debt Ratio

Intent and ability are equally important factors in the loan approval process. When reviewing your loan application, lenders look to your credit score to establish intent and to your debt ratio to establish ability. Although your lender uses a standard formula to calculate debt ratio, how it's applied when assessing your ability to repay depends on the type and recommended debt ratio for your loan. Identification Debt ratio, also called debt-to-income...

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Can My Lawsuit Monetary Reward Be Garnished?

When you owe large amounts of money to one or more creditors, you stand the chance of being sued for the collection of the money that you owe. In many cases, if the judge finds for the plaintiff creditors in the case, then you can have an order of garnishment levied against you. In some cases, you can have not just wages but a civil judgment seized or garnished by creditors. Civil Judgment Just as you may have a civil judgment levied against you in a debt collection case, you may be the recipient of a civil judgment levied against another...

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Definition of Trade Debts

Trade debts include all those payments that the purchaser is allowed to make at a later date. Thus, a trade debt is originated as a credit facility for increasing the sales revenue for a business. Trade debts for a company are of two kinds: trade receivables and trade payable. The accounts receivables include the amount of money that is yet to be recovered from the purchasers or users of a companys services. The accounts payable include the...

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How to Dispute Inquiries With TransUnion

When a lender looks at a copy of your credit report, an inquiry is posted to your file. Every lender who looks at your report for the next two years will be able to see who has looked at your file. This can affect your ability to get new credit if there appears to be too many loan applications. When lenders pull your credit report without permission, this could indicate possible identity theft and you should consider disputing the inquiries with the credit bureau TransUnion. Fortunately this is fairly easy to do, through phone or postal mail. ...

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How to Reduce Debt When Losing Your Job

Losing your job can be both psychologically difficult and financially stressful. If you are about to lose your job and source of income, and you are contending with overwhelming debt, you have a challenge ahead of you. It is still possible, however, to reduce debts while you are unemployed. It does take discipline and perhaps some help from a debt counselor. Instructions 1 Apply for unemployment benefits as soon as you lose your job. The earlier you begin the process, the earlier the application will be processed and, hopefully, approved....

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How to Stop Foreclosure Meetings

Foreclosure is a nightmare many people face daily. When a homeowner gets behind on his mortgage, a natural reaction is to ignore the phone calls and letters and hope the situation will go away. This is a bad approach because it almost always results in the homeowner losing his home. However, being behind on a mortgage does not have to mean the home is lost. There are things a homeowner can do to prevent foreclosure, even after several mortgage payments...

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What to Do If a Bill Goes to a Collection Agency?

Collection agencies purchase your debt, sometimes for pennies on the dollar, from your original creditor. Collection agencies can strike fear in certain consumers when they are attempting to collect a debt. Being armed with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and negotiation skills will allow you to resolve any issues if a bill goes to a collection agency. Reviewing Credit Report Obtain a copy of your credit report. A copy of your credit...

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How to Calculate Expected Unemployment Benefits

If you have recently lost your job, you may qualify for unemployment benefits. Weekly unemployment compensation amounts are based on the amount of money you earned before you were unemployed. The amounts vary from state-to-state, which means one calculation does not exist for estimating your benefits amount. As long as you have your earnings information, you can plug the data into a benefits estimator or calculator to determine your expected amount of compensation. Instructions 1 Gather your last paycheck stub for each job that you held...

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What Does G Mean on an Experian Credit Report?

While many consumers know their credit rating is based on a credit report, knowing exactly what is in a credit report can be difficult, especially if you're reviewing your report for the first time. Credit reports contain a variety of terms and information. A "G" on an Experian report can mean one of two things: an identifier of a kind of business or an account in collections. Experien Credit Report Experian, Equifax and TransUnion are the three main credit reporting agencies (CRAs). Experian maintains a credit report on any consumer who...

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Nonprofit Credit Card Counseling

Credit card counseling companies advertise helpful services for people who are having trouble managing their debt, and many counseling firms emphasize their nonprofit status. The Better Business Bureau warns that some lie about being not-for-profit, and even companies that really do have nonprofit status are not necessarily legitimate. The status is just one factor in judging a credit counseling firm's legitimacy. Status A credit card counseling company's nonprofit status claim is easily verifiable. The BBB explains that your state charity...

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About Debt Management Plans

Debt is a way of life for the typical American, with most people having mortgages, auto loans, school loans and/or credit card debt. When debts become overwhelming, searching for a solution to your financial difficulty is a logical next step. In some circumstances, a debt management plan (DMP) can get you back on track, but DMPs aren't for everybody. What Is a Debt Management Plan? A debt management plan is a systematic, organized method...

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Can People Pay Off Their Primary Mortgage Before They Pay Off Their Secondary Mortgage?

When you have multiple debts secured by your home, these mortgages are arranged by the lienholders' priority for getting repaid. In most cases, your primary mortgage will be the large one that you got when you purchased the home. Your secondary mortgage will probably be a home equity loan or line of credit. You can pay off the mortgages in whatever order you prefer. Mortgage Priority The mortgage priority refers only to the order in which the lienholders get their money back if you fail to make payments, not the order in which you have...

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Credit Score Vs. Interest Rate

Your credit score has a direct relationship on the interest rate you are charged for a new or current loan. The higher your score, the lower your interest rate should be on a new or current debt. Function A credit score tells a lender what the odds are you will repay your debt on time and in full. An interest rate is the percentage of the loan, or monthly fee, charged to the borrower for having the debt. Types There are three credit...

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Can a Business Charge My Debit Card Without My Authorization?

Businesses are not allowed to charge your debit card without your authorization, but it is a regularly occurring problem. Debit cards are stolen -- or their card numbers are stolen and replicated on another card -- and then used. Fraudulent telemarketers may use deceptive means to gain access to debit card information, then sign unwitting customers up for recurring charges. Federal banking regulations limit the amount of money you can lose to such schemes. Federal Limits Under federal banking regulations, you are liable for losses of up...

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What Happens When the Court Orders Payment of a Debt?

When a creditor wins a judgment against you with regard to an outstanding debt, he gains power to perform a number of debt-recovery actions. These powers allow him to lawfully go after your finances directly, effectively removing you from the debt payment equation. Some funds are protected from such actions by federal law though the greatest determiner of how much of your money is protected is the nature of the debt you owe. You Have to Pay the Debt Yes, when a court orders you to repay a debt you really have no choice. The court does not...

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How to Get a Personal Loan 2 Years After a Discharged Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is not the end of the world. Contrary to popular belief, you can improve your credit and secure financing after a bankruptcy. While you'll almost certainly face disadvantageous rates and programs, you can use sub-prime lenders and loans to begin repairing your credit report. While you may be disqualified for large loans (like mortgages), you can obtain a personal loan if two years have elapsed since your bankruptcy. The process, however,...

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What Does it Mean to Confiscate a Debt?

To "confiscate" a debt refers to forcibly seize an unpaid debt from a debtor. A creditor will generally attempt to confiscate this payment if other methods of collection have failed. Confiscation is generally limited to debts that are long overdue and for which the creditor has received a judgment in court. However, certain categories of individuals and kinds of income enjoy immunity from debt confiscation. Garnishment The most common type of forcible confiscation of debt is the garnishment of a person's income stream, usually wages from...

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Can Creditors Collect Disability Assets?

If you are behind on your bills, you may have creditors and collectors contacting you regularly about your outstanding debts. These collectors often make threats such as lawsuits and attachment to your income and bank accounts. If your income is primarily federal disability income or other federal benefits, you may be exempt from their collections attempts. Paying Creditors Generally, courts consider federal disability income to be exempt from garnishment by a debt collector. Disability income includes Social Security disability, or SSI,...

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New York State Laws for Credit Collection on a Frozen Bank Account

If a creditor sues an individual for a specific amount of money owed and a judge rules in the creditor's favor, the creditor will be awarded a money judgment. The creditor then has the right to collect that debt, and in some cases the creditor will be allowed to freeze the individual's bank account to remove funds directly. Exemption Notice and Claim If a bank account is frozen in the state of New York, the bank must send out proper documentation...

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What Happens With Accounts That Are Not Paid After Several Years?

When you fail to pay a credit card or charge account debt, the debt triggers a series of events. First, you will receive mailed or e-mailed reminders. After 30 days, the company owning the debt will likely report the delinquency to one of the three credit reporting agencies. You will then likely receive delinquency notices and a series of phone calls and letters from a collection agency. The creditor eventually may write off the debt as a total loss, then sell it for a fraction of the debt to a company specializing in long-term bad debt collection....

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Debt Collection Services of the Department of Education

Failure to pay your student loans can have serious repercussions for your credit and finances. If your student loan gets sent to collections, you can expect increased collection efforts, damage to your credit and the possibility of the Department of Education turning your account over to an outside collection agency. Student Loan Collections Paying off student loans can be significantly different than paying off other debts. If you have difficulty paying off loans backed by the Department of Education, you have several options for repayment,...

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Secrets to Rebuilding Your Credit

Rebuilding your credit after bankruptcy, credit charge offs, judgments or other financial problems can be daunting. You don't want to deal with rejection after rejection while attempting to rebuild your credit. Some companies specialize in bad credit loans and accounts, while other types of credit have a lower barrier to entry. Secured Cards A secured credit card requires an upfront deposit of your own money, placed into a savings account which the bank controls. In return, the bank issues you a credit card with a limit equal to the amount...

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Tips on Paying Down Student Debt

The National Center for Education indicated in 2008 that two out of three college students have some type of student debt after graduation. Debt can impact your ability to save money and pay your bills. The longer it takes to pay down the student loans, the more money you'll be spending on interest. Though repayment plans are available that let you pay small amounts of money over many years, in the end it's better to pay off your loans as quickly...

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What Is a Hardship Letter?

A hardship letter is a one-page document provided to a lender to explain delinquency and request a modification to your loan to bring you current. The most common form of loan modification is mortgage loan modification. A hardship letter with the right information can make the difference between keeping your home or losing it to foreclosure. Provide the Loan Information The first items contained in a hardship letter should be the loan number,...

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Can a Bank Garnish Wages for Vehicle Repossesion?

Except in states where garnishment for private debts is prohibited, most creditors are allowed to pursue the collection of an unpaid debt by garnishing the wages of the person who owes them the money. This includes debts that stem from the repossession of a vehicle. In some cases, even after a vehicle is repossessed, a debtor may still owe the creditor money. In such a case, the debtor may have his wages garnished. Car Loans When someone takes out a car loan, he is obligated to have the loan secured by the vehicle he is purchasing. This...

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How to Stop Foreclosure & Eviction

All across the country, homes are being foreclosed upon and people are evicted due to non-payment of their mortgage or rental payments. Although your first instinct may be to run and hide from your bills in order to avoid the consequences, this is not the way to stop foreclosure and eviction from your home or property. Instructions How to Stop Foreclosure and Eviction 1 Contact your lender or landlord. Do not put this off. Immediately contact your lender as soon as you realize you cannot make a payment on time. Do not wait until the second...

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Debt Consolidation Benefits

Combining multiple debt obligations into just one loan or bill is known as debt consolidation. To consolidate multiple loans into just one, you take out a new loan that is large enough to pay off all of your other creditors combined. Using the new consolidation loan funds, you pay all of your other debts in full so that you're left paying just one debt -- the new consolidation loan -- each month. Reduced Bills If you take out a debt consolidation...

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How to Fix My Credit Score After a Property Lien

Ignoring your tax debt or another bill can result in a property lien, and having a lien on your credit report can cause significant damage to your credit score. As your score drops after a lien, qualifying for a loan or credit card can prove difficult. But if a lien blemishes your credit history, you can fix your credit score. Instructions 1 Resolve the lien. Paying off a tax bill can help repair your credit score. Talk to the attorney handling your case, and make arrangements to pay the full balance or establish an installment plan to satisfy...

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Should I Pay Off Credit Cards or Go to Debt Relief?

A large amount of credit card debt is scary and can make you feel helpless. You know something has to change, but you don't see a way out of your hole. Ideally, you'd just pay off your cards and move on with your life, but it isn't always that easy. In times like these, debt relief may sound like a potential alternative. Minimum Payments Even if you have a lot of debt, you might think you can find your way out of trouble. You could make minimum...

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Tips on Negotiating Debt Reduction

When a person runs up a considerable debt with one or more creditors, it can often behoove him to attempt to negotiate with the lenders so that they agree to accept a payment less than the total amount owed. Borrowers can achieve greater success in these negotiations by following a few basic tips. Know How Much You Can Pay When negotiating for a lower payment, it's good to know how much you can afford to pay and insist on paying less than that. If you agree to pay more than you can afford, even if it's significantly less than you owe, odds...

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Why Debt Relief Is Bad

Debt relief programs offer promises of lower bills and financial freedom. Unfortunately, participating in a debt management program is not only good news. If you choose to explore the various debt relief options available to you, take note of some of the negative consequences you will face. Fees & Costs Paying a professional service firm fees for its time and expertise is not unreasonable. Debt relief firms of all types need to generate revenue from the services provided to pay their overhead and service their own obligations. Nearly...

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How to Repair Your Credit After a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Although a Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge can be a great relief, you may finish your bankruptcy wondering what to do next. Maybe you gave up your car or your house in your Chapter 7 and need to get an apartment or buy a new vehicle, or maybe you know you'll need a new vehicle in the near future. Bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 10 years, and it's difficult to get credit when your credit score is low; however, you can improve your credit score before that 10 years is up by getting new credit and using it responsibly. Instructions ...

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What Is a Credit Record?

A credit record or report is a list of your financial activities involving loans and your repayment of them. The report also lists any actions of creditors against you because of nonpayment. CRAs Consumer reporting agencies--Expedia, Experian and TransUnion--collect and sell credit reports to a list of allowed viewers. Sources of Information CRAs obtain your credit information from your past and present creditors, including banks and credit card issuers, such as Visa and department stores. Allowed Viewers Prospective...

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Debt-Free Management Plan

Many consumers dream of living debt free. During tough economic times, it is easy to become dependent on credit to pay for basic essentials such as gas, food, daycare and housing. Utilizing credit is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Unfortunately for some, over-extending the use of credit can lead to financial ruin if they do not know how to manage debts properly. Description Debt management plans are an alternative to bankruptcy. They...

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Florida Laws on Judgements for Credit Card Debt

A Florida resident who is overwhelmed with credit card debt needs to be aware that he can be sued by the credit card companies. If his creditors win their lawsuit, they have several ways of collecting the debt. However, the debtor also has rights that are protected under Florida law. These include the right to have a creditor lawsuit dismissed if the debt is no longer covered under the statute of limitations and restrictions on how the creditor can...

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