Archive for June, 2009

Debit Cards and Credit Scores

QUESTION: Will a debit card help build better credit scores?
ANSWER: No.
Even though the debit, or ATM, card that is linked to your checking account has a Visa or MasterCard logo on it, it is not an actual credit card.  Because the money comes out of your bank account and no credit is actually extended or loaned to [...]

Credit Card Tips

This website and our business is dedicated to consumer credit education.  Providing people with the information they need to understand their credit reports and get better credit scores is what we do. 
A significant part of that is using existing credit cards and retail accounts as credit building tools.  However, as the financial industry’s challenges continue, [...]

Writing Paper Checks

Yes, many people still do write paper checks.  These tips can help protect you against identity theft and keep your good credit rating.
1) DO NOT PUT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (SSN) or DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER ON YOUR CHECKS.  Yes, this warning has been around for a while, but some people still do it.  If you have boxes of [...]

Military Personnel Can Place Active Duty Alert on Credit

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Section 605(c), provides protection for active duty military personnel with the Active Duty Alert.  If you, or someone you know, is currently deployed or soon to be deployed, please pass this information on to them.
WHO CAN DO IT The active duty consumer or their personal representative can place a specific [...]

Do Store Cards Hurt Credit?

More people are learning about their credit and as they work toward better credit scores, we get many questions about what is true and what isn't.  Sometimes the advice comes from a source considered reliable.  However, the source may be uninformed in all aspects of credit building or may be giving advice from their own [...]

Before You Pay Collection Accounts

As the economy slugs along, companies are getting creative with ways to bring in revenue.  This is true with collection agencies, too, and some of their creativity may be pushing the limit on legality.
When we work with clients who are trying to correct their credit reports and get better credit scores, we provide instruction on [...]

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