Credit Help

Credit Information

Chances are you've received quite a few of the "pre-approved" credit card offers in the mail, some with low introductory rates, high limits and other perks. Almost all of these credit card solicitations urge you to accept "before the offer expires." But before you accept, review our information and let us help you shop around to get the best deal. In the Credit Information section, we'll tell you intelligent ways to use your credit, how to understand your credit score and what it means, how to choose a credit card that's right for you and how to use it, and things to look out for when in the process of choosing a credit card.

Credit Debt Basics

If you are facing financial difficulty, there are a number of options and resources available to you. These options can range from simple solutions, like budgeting, to the last resort option of bankruptcy. Based on your level of debt, your level of discipline, and your prospects for the future, you'll have to determine which is the best option for you. By knowing the answers to a couple of basic questions about your debt, you will be better equipped to handle the financial difficulties you may be facing. Click "Credit Debt Basics" to get started.

Credit Repair

Everyone has experienced the welcome relief of being able to turn to credit resources for unforeseen emergencies such as medical expenses or car repairs. But without careful financial management these resources can sometimes get you into financial trouble. Fortunately there are a number of ways to survive such a financial crisis and get back on top. Many debt and credit agencies offering too-good-to-be-true solutions to your financial problems, are just that - too good to be true. Some businesses that offer debt resolution or credit repair plans may charge high fees and fail to follow through on the services they sell. Others may misrepresent the terms of their service, failing either to explain certain costs or to disclose the complete terms of the agreement.

Credit Building

Especially during the holiday shopping season we all have a tendency to overspend and go a little "overboard." Sometimes that means charging more than we can afford and subsequently paying for our purchases for many months after the event -- and many times over. Whether you're shopping online, by phone or at the mall, chances are you'll use a credit card for some of your purchases. The Federal Trade Commission offers these tips to keep in mind when you shop.

Credit Reports

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) - Designed to promote accuracy and ensure the privacy of the information used in consumer reports, the FCRA ensures that consumer reporting agencies (CRAs), such as credit bureaus, furnish correct and complete information to businesses for use when evaluating your application. According to the FCRA you have a right to receive a copy of your credit report for a small fee - the copy of your report must contain all of the information in your file at the time of your request.

Wealth Building

Most people don't save enough to retire comfortably. Here are our latest tips. Everyone hopes to lead an active, independent, worry-free life in retirement. But achieving these dreams takes money, and one message comes across loud and clear in research studies and forums on retirement savings: Most Americans are NOT saving enough for their retirement. Many authorities suggest that in your retirement years you need 70 to 80 percent of your pre-retirement income just to maintain your current lifestyle. But too many Americans, including large percentages of people in their 40s and 50s, have saved little or nothing for their retirement.