You Are Here: Home » Author Archive
Sometimes during your life, someone will give you good advice. You have choices, you can hear the advice or investigate the situation, or you can take the advice. This article is about some opinions, some facts, and some advice. You read in the title...
One of the best ways to relieve stress is to do something (legal) that makes you feel great. If camping makes you feel great, then go camping. If producing television shows make you feel great then produce tv shows. If golfing makes you feel great, then...
Sweet stuff! Sounds good? Think again. Something is happening all over our country, perhaps all over the world. If you look around, really look around thoroughly in your supermarkets, in your mom & pop stores, in your department stores, you will...
As I sit here, I ask myself, do I write an article or a list? Do I list the names or just write an in-depth story about camping foods? Or can I make my list into an article. I will do both and all, so here we go. I have been camping many times...
You say you have no time for organizing ? You say that you just cannot find even a spare minute to be more organized than you are? You are busy at work or busy volunteering, busy taking care of a family or busy in mid-crisis, and know that it is almost...
What is in a meal and what ingredient makes the meal an excellent one? It all depends on whom you ask that question to. For myself, I would say that three , four or five of my most favorite foods in one meal would make an excellent meal. (Wow, let me...
Rehearse dying. You read those words and think that I am crazy to even think such a thing but if you really analyze what might happen if you rehearse dying, then you might smile and say, hey, that might work.
Are you living in a rut right now, not happy...
What do you say to a child who comes home from school? Some say, Hey, how was your day, while others say, What happened today. I remember hearing one mom and listening to what she said, every day, after school. She did not say either of those things,...
Matches, matchbooks, here they are , the entire collection. There are some old ones and some new ones. Most of them have matches in them and most of them are a little bit tattered. As I handle them I read the messages on the covers. Very interesting...
Where Is The Photographer?
You have an event coming up and you want great pictures. How do you get the great pictures and still avoid an enormous photography bill at the end of the event? You are the best. You are the person who knows the subject the...
Over the years, I have found wonderful sites for both real-life education, correspondence courses and online education. And the best opportunities there are for all people, no matter where or how they live are those that are at the sites for free online...
So, what’s our experience you want to know? Whom are we to tell you what to do about camping?
Instead of asking more questions, read the entire article and by the time you are finished you will have all the answers.
Before you go anywhere, decide...
If you’re the busy type and probably work two or three jobs, here’s a quick-fix method that’ll restore your credit rating starting in just a matter of three days.
Day One: Get your three-fold file from annualcreditreport dot com and...
A score increase comes from either of two ways in the game of keeping your credit rating breathing. It is either you record some good activities which your creditor takes note of and reports to the bureaus, or you take immediate steps to get rid of some...
I have come to realize that some people who prefer the self-help repair method for their credit report do so not just because it is can be cheaper for them in monetary terms when real cash is considered. I say this because the do-it-yourself process...
Getting instant points added to your total score ought to be quite an easy task. Unfortunately though, most people do not have the intellectual know-how. A good score is what banks and other financial institutions will be looking for to give you a loan...
For most job seekers, it can be nerve racking going through each day not knowing when an employer would eventually call you up in reference to a job application. With several applications sent out to prospective employers, you can never be too sure which...
The playing field is changing. There are more players but coaches are reluctant to hire. I’m not talking football or baseball here, but the game of job-hunting. It is worth discussing and most importantly, it’s imperative that you learn the...
It doesn’t matter how it is worded but if you’re repairing your credit report using a self-help method, then you should learn the rudiments of how to do it effectively, particularly what you say in disputing bad accounts on your file. Remember...
There are many things a creditor will consider before agreeing to give you a loan. Your income level, credit report, score, duration at which you’ve been on your job, etc. But really if you need to obtain a loan anytime soon and you’ve got...
Both equity and signature loans can put you on the path of getting credit approval. However, a distinction must be made if you’re caught up in the middle of the one you need at this point. You see, an equity loan requires that you tender a property...
First off, I got to clear the air regarding what signature loans mean for you to understand properly how it works. A signature is the opposite of equity loan. The way it works is that you do not need any form of collateral for you to be given the funds...
Sometimes it is inevitable avoiding problems with your credit. The problem begins when you need to pay up on loans and other forms of financial aid, e.g a mortgage loan. Responsibilities will definitely arise and threaten your ability to pay up. Many...
Before the legislation of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, only banks, insurance firms, and other types of creditors and financial institutions were allowed accessibility to our reports. This is not so anymore since the existence of FACTA....
What comes to mind these days when in need of something that costs so much that their savings cannot afford…a loan! If you’re one of such people, it is okay to think this way. But really, it is wise to always ask yourself if the item of purchase...
As good as using a credit card can be which helps you to purchase items that you can’t pay for with cash and without having deposited money previously with your card provider, it can likewise be disastrous too. This is because it requires a disciplined...
Take a moment to reflect on what our society would be without credit cards, you’ll begin to imagine if it would be possible to make certain transactions or without the help of these plastics we carry around in our wallets. But do you have any idea...
Some people have always wondered if ‘Fair Isaac’ is actually a person or some kind of name thought up just for the sake of stalking their financial lifestyle. Who is this fictitious man that thinks he has the audacity to assess our spending...
Every so often we hear it in the media…”sneaky credit repair companies lie, cheat and steal customers money”. But is this the total truth of credit repair and the companies that claim they can help you improve your ever so important...
Negative Collection and Charge-off accounts that are on your Equifax credit file can be a pain in the butt. Because Equifax is the most popular credit bureau (the other two are Transunion and Experian) the chances are high that any lender you approach...
Charge-offs and Collections are among the most common negatives found on the credit reports of consumers. It begins with a credit card account that got way out of control and you stop paying the bill. The credit card company will begin collection efforts...
A lot of people are totally unaware that they can restore their credit rating. For some strange reason there is a serious lack of knowledge taught to consumers about how the credit system works. In the article my goal is to give you the different stages...
There are three main credit bureaus, Equifax, Transunion and Experian. Each of these are 100% for profit companies that are in business to sell your credit reports to lenders. Lenders need a way to access your worthiness and they turn to these companies...
This is a good question, and the short answer would be all of them! Let me explain… The first thing you have to understand is that a lender that is looking to extend you cash would always find a way to check out your creditworthiness and they do...
Transunion is one of the three main credit reporting agencies. The other two are Experian and Equifax. Each of which sell their version of your files to lenders that you are looking to do business with. In this article I want to give you an idea of how...
A credit repair dispute letter is one of the best tools you have to improve your files with Equifax. It is the most effective tool for charge-offs, collections, bankruptcies’ or even foreclosure on your files that you dispute.
Now you can do this...
How you wound up with a poor credit score should not be your concern now, rather seeking out repair methods to clean off bad accounts and strategies to increase your score should be your main concern. There are varieties of steps you can take to get...
Collections don’t just appear on your file because you were unable to pay up a debt to a creditor. It gets recorded on your report when your creditor has gotten fed up and believes that it’d be more burdensome trying to get you to pay. Instead,...
Quite a number of people are still lost as to what steps they need to take if they have to improve their credit ratings and score. Reality is hard to swallow but the loose financial life that some of us have led in the past haunts us like a ghost today....
There are a few things you should learn as you begin to restore your score to a good position such that you can get good loans from creditors. Understand that you need a firm commitment to the cause and more discipline in some areas regarding your pattern...
It is not uncommon that many of us go about our daily lives with debts that we will have to pay someday. However, it becomes disturbing when we have a string of bad debts hanging around our necks and not knowing what to do to get them behind us. Bad...
There’s nothing we wish more on our credit reports than to have a squeaky clean file, an envious score and a rating that will delight decision makers in lending institutions. A good number of the debts we end up with would have been avoidable if...
Your credit report is the single most important document that will determine how you fare financially in the coming years. Why? I’ll tell you why. Remember that a lot of negative information last seven to ten years on a credit report and they don’t...
We often get the information from those around us who tell us that credit repair firms are not sincere in the claims they make that they can fix almost everything on a bad report. Well, the verdict will always lie with the client considering that some...
Before you sign up for any repair program to clean your credit report, the first thing you should do is to obtain your once a year free copy from annualcreditreport.com so that you can read it thoroughly before coming to a conclusion on the type of repair...
It is no surprise that many people are lost on what they need to do in restoring good information on their files once they discover that their rating has dropped. But the crux of the matter is that there are specialized agencies with years of experience...
There are indications that not everybody understands how a dispute letter is written in order to clean off bad accounts on their files. You see, it is a very essential skill you should acquire if you must effectively rid your file of negative accounts,...
Experian is just one of the three reporting agencies that compile information about your financial activities from the time you begin using revolving lines of credit, take out an installment loan, or sign up for any financial program which requires you...
Ever wondered how you could increase your score so that you can be eligible for that mortgage loan to help you get that dream house you’ve always admired? One way to live this dream is to start the dispute process now. Or perhaps, you’ve...
Repair, restoration, fixing. They all mean the same thing and they are common terms in the game of credit. I bet we both know that “your report” is the document that any financial institution will buy from bureaus when they need to make an...
Two instances are most appropriate for getting a secured card. If you are just establishing a credit history or rebuilding an old one, the benefits to be accrued from this strategy are worth undertaking. Usually, a bank or card-provider will require...
This is a real story about a dear aunt of mine. She’s a legal advisor for an insurance firm in San Antonio. I never expected a law expert like her to run foul in the game of maintaining a good credit rating, but when we sat down and she narrated...
What it takes to get a mortgage loan and at a very favorable interest rate is a good credit score. While some people know this and are already taking steps to improve their rating so as to be in a better position for good deals, some are not aware of...
The first and most important thing you need before you can be considered for a home loan by any of the lending institutions out there is a guarantee of your credibility, and there is no better way to show this to the lenders that you’re a good...
In spite of the poor state of the economy and the country struggling to pull out of recession, many financial institutions still give out loans to people needing to purchase a home. This is one of the reasons why they’re in business – to...
There’s no such thing as peace of mind once you discover that you’ve got a number of bad accounts and unpaid debts which are reflected in your report and consequently reduce your score and your credit-worthiness. Once you have an understanding...
There are many programs for restoring bad files that are being advertised daily on TV and in the newspapers. But have you ever pondered with some measure of confusion like I did years ago on which way to go or to find out what exactly works?
Well, there...
There is no need for an unnecessary sermon here – you should start the action of restoring your credit file immediately you discover that there are bad accounts on it. There’s no need to waste time, right? Sure! But nevertheless, you should...
Research has shown that about 1percent of the entire population has a perfect score. What number’s a perfect score anyway? 850. Some have it, some don’t. The only problem here is that a large number of us have not been able to figure out...
Your credit report is like a scorecard that is used to grade our financial lives. Though it is different from the kind of report cards we get back in high school, nevertheless, it is quite similar in purpose in the sense that information on it is used...
The three-digit number on your credit report is, perhaps, the most important number in your financial life next to cash figures. Why? Simply because it is what lenders, financial institutions and other decision makers such as landlords, insurance companies,...
I bet you must have heard some discussion about payment history at some point even if you don’t remember what was said about it. And what about credit use? Well, that one, even though it is self-explanatory, will be explained here – and of...
When you have issues on your file that are problems or potential problems, the best way to go is to challenge the appropriate reporting agency that has the information on their version of your file immediately. This method of challenging information...
If there was a time you were refused a credit loan or the conditions given to you before a loan approval seemed too much for you to afford, then there’s a great possibility that the problem you’re having can be traced to your credit score....
When fixing your own credit file by yourself, you should recognize that while a particular method may work for some people, it may not be very effective for you. I have recognized this issue and therefore, developed a simple rule that applies to anybody...
Before we begin this discourse of what you need to know about how to build a good history on your credit file, it is important to state just how much percentage this aspect takes on your file. This will help you know its importance and why you need to...
Hey, I know the subject of ‘what is FICO?’ won’t go away easily or may never go away, as everybody needs to be introduced to the idea behind it and what it really means. Fair Isaac Corporation is a company that was founded many years...
It is no joke really, but I wonder why some people go about their normal lives not minding the effects of a collection account or any other negative for that matter on their file. The consequences could be very nasty in times when you’re in dire...
When you miss paying a debt at any point in time, you may be worried by a number of the consequences that follows. From a reduced credit score, poor rating, and the overall effect it has on your report since your payment history takes up 35 percent of...
You probably have heard about a solution to a debt you’re unable to pay being to settle it with the creditor. Settlement requires you to pay a fraction of the exact amount you’re unable to pay. Some creditors will agree to this option, even...
It is always a great idea to try to negotiate some form of payment which is less than the amount owed with a collector. But have you ever thought of the difference and benefits you could get if you iron out your problem with the original creditor?
You...
Millions of people have one form of problem or the other on at least one of their three credit reports. Remember that you have three versions of reports from Experian, Equifax, and Transunion, and it is possible for a negative item to be reflected in...
I remember a period in my life, actually many years ago shortly before I got into the real estate industry – I used to think that some people where born with the ability to manage money problems which, of course, included the way they handled their...
The three-digit number on your report has become an important determinant in a lot of decisions that are made everyday in the lives of people. From loan approval, mortgage credit, car loans, job employment and interest rates on loans, your score will...
Do you really have any idea that a poor balance ratio can do more damage to your credit profile than just raising your interest rates? Okay, I think we need to have a good understanding of the relationship between your credit limit and balance ratios.
Balance...
Every form of negative information that can be recorded into any consumer’s file has a life span – that is the period it is allowed to stay on your credit report and cause lasting damages while it is there. For instance, bankruptcies and...
There’s nothing that can substitute for having one’s own house. When compared to living in a rented apartment or condominium, the security of one’s own shelter and the sense of being able to provide that same basic necessity to your...
Every individual’s credit report is as important as the person’s self in the economic circle today. It is perhaps the most important document needed for survival in the race for an improved living condition. But it is not only when you’re...
Several negative accounts have serious potential and capability of ruining how you’re rated by credit bureaus and financial institutions in the credit game. Your Equifax report is one of the three files that you have, the other two being Experian...
Do you, by chance, belong to the group of people who think it takes a genius or at least a college professor to clean up a really bad credit report? If that’s your take, then you’re absolutely wrong!
You see, the many problems people have...
Was there any point in time you made an attempt to clean up your credit report without much success? Or perhaps you just gave up before you started but have now renewed your interest to get it done. As easy as it may seem for some of us to fix a bad...
700 plus is the kind of three-digit figure that any creditor wants to see on your file when you need credit for any reason. I bet that’s worth repeating again but just go back to the start of this paragraph and read again. Yes, 700 plus. Don’t...
Perhaps, collection accounts are arguably the most common type of negative information that can be found on the credit report of any financially distressed person. It is so common that if you pull 10 bad reports together, at least 3 out of the 10 are...
Do you know the reason why FICO scores are so important, and do you have any idea why some folks seem to get good interest rates from mortgage institutions when they apply for loan applications? You see, I am yet to find any good yardstick that can be...
If ever there’s one habit that most people could do away with regarding their credit file, it is the need to curb procrastination. Many of us put off writing that dispute letter or sending it until tomorrow which will always come only to postpone...
“Is it possible to have a squeaky clean credit report?” That was the question I heard from the other end of the line when a middle-aged client called my phone one morning as I was just settling down to work. “Sure,” I said. “But...
Have you ever nursed the thought of getting your score around the 700 mark or more so that your chances of favorable terms and conditions when you apply for loan can be guaranteed? I used to daydream about that, not until I figured out exactly what to...
Before you read on, take a few seconds of reflection and think about how clean your apartment is. You see, what you see around you factors in on the way you handle most things in your life. Are you wondering what relationship the state of your apartment...
I believe that it is important you have a good understanding of the factors that will serve as your guide when you’re going for a total credit restoration. This is what I refer to as a complete makeover. You may be wondering why you need to go...
Everybody wants to know what it takes to increase their scores. The irony of this desire is that not everybody is willing to undertake the requirements to get to the desired spot. Personally, I don’t think anyone can be blamed for this. It is not...
Picture yourself going to war in those military fatigues and all, but you got one thing missing on your body which is the weapon you want to use to win the battle. How do you cope? How do you win? This is the kind of situation many people throw themselves...
From my years of dealing with people who have issues with cleaning up a bad credit file, I discovered that the missing thing most people search for is the right information on what they need to do. You see, there are lots of commercials in the media...
You’ve got a very bad credit report and you just can’t figure out what to do to turn the situation into a better one? Well, congratulations because you’re not the only one in this sinking boat. There are thousands of people with pretty...
Anybody who has sore issues with their credit report will take the next available flight to Tokyo to get their credit rating from good to bad, provided they’re convinced it will work and so long as it is affordable. True. Here’s the fact:...
Repairing/restoring credit takes time and discipline but if you follow these steps it can be done. First, you must obtain a copy of your credit reports. You can get one free report a year by going to annualreport.com. Keep in mind the reports do not...
Repairing your credit is not hard as long as you have patience, time, and discipline. One obvious thing to do is to reduce balances. Maxing out credit cards decreases your credit score. Try not to spend more than sixty percent of the card’s limit.
It...
How do you know you’ve got your game intact when you’re about to start the restoration of your credit file? There’s no specialty to it other than having the right tools to get the job done. In this case, your most important tool is...
It is important for those who will prefer to repair their bad credit files themselves to know what moves to make and what mistakes they shouldn’t make. This is because the self-help repair method is time consuming when compared to the agency repair...
People sound like broken records to me every time I hear them moan about how they applied for a mortgage loan and were turned down or how they couldn’t afford to get their family a car that will be useful for vacations and long trips. While they...
I pondered on this question for a short while when a client asked me if it is possible to regain the once good credit-worthiness she had before she got herself into a myriad of financial woes. To me, it felt like a biblical story I once read where a...