Parents Universal Resource Experts (Sue Scheff) Identity Theft and Teens

Source: Connect with Kids“If they’ve managed to get a hold of your Social Security number and take out credit card applications in your name, ... the problem.”– Suzanne Boas, president, Consumer Credit Counseling ServiceIdentity theft is an ever-increasing threat for all consumers -- one that could damage your credit ratings and cost you thousands [more...]

Date: 2008-10-18 12:59:00

Blog posts (36) | Videos (16)
 

The European Privacy Partnership warns that consumers may lose more that their credit rating if they default on loans; jobs are at stake

This month's UK bankruptcy figures show that UK business and individuals are still choosing bankruptcy as a seemingly easy way out of debt problems ... and employers often check credit history to ascertain an applicant's reliability or risk rating. In many ... may be refused employment due to a bad credit rating."In the current climate perfectly honest [more...]

Date: 2008-11-19 18:32:00

Obama - McCain - Obama Can Win; The Economic Problem Is Why

This video was created just before the debate, but my prediction seems to have held and for the reasons I state here ... : 1) According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Civilian Labor Force Participation Rate topped out 10 years ... problems consumer credit shot to rapid rates of annual increase starting just before the turn [more...]

Date: 2008-10-08 07:30:37

Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News

GM shifts into high gear after GMAC bailout. General Motors (GM) ... on hold when GMAC was forced to tighten its credit standards in October. GM will also offer low ... to consumers with lower credit ratings and has begun reaching out to customers worried about credit [more...]

Date: 2008-12-31 12:29:02

A Trillion Dollars Ain't What it Used to Be

There is a report floating around arguing that with the collapse of the consumer credit market, ... markets without causing rates to get squirrely. That strikes me as an awfully simplistic view of things. First, there is a reason why consumer credit has gone south, and that plays back into debt [more...]

Date: 2008-12-23 20:17:00

Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News

GM shifts into high gear after GMAC bailout. General Motors (GM) ... to consumers with lower credit ratings and has begun reaching out to customers worried about credit ... on hold when GMAC was forced to tighten its credit standards in October. GM will also offer low [more...]

Date: 2008-12-31 12:12:10

Getting Rid Of Bad Credit

By Michael Benifez Today's credit crisis is resulting in a more difficult road for consumers to getting a loan and obtaining good rates ... . 1: Obtain a copy of your credit report. You can't repair something you don't know is broken. Once ... . If your credit rating is less than stellar, you can pretty much guarantee you're not going to get the best [more...]

Date: 2009-01-03 08:21:18

Mortgage Interest Rates Hit New Lows

Mortgage interest rates are sitting at about the lowest they have ever been. The averaged 30-year fixed rate loan is hovering at about 4.97% and the average 15-year loan is sitting at just 4.25% as of the week of September 25 th , 2009. These banner rates will be available to consumers with good credit scores, have significant home equity, and know how to shop around for the best deal. If you meet this criterion, it’s an absolutely great time to refinance your loan. [more...]

Date: 2009-09-30 17:45:59

Will Credit Repair Enhance Your Plunging Credit Score?

As lending rules get stricter by the day, an increasing number of consumers are desperately looking for ways to improve their credit ratings ... but nevertheless accurate entry on the client’s credit report. This technic exploits a provision ... or out-of-date information from their credit report. This technic works under the premise [more...]

Date: 2008-12-08 07:00:23

The Affects of the Fed's Rate Cut on Consumers - December 17, 2008

So what does yesterday’s Fed rate cut mean for the average consumer? In a statement made Tuesday afternoon, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke confirmed the report ... . It would be here that home-equity line of credit and certain credit cards with variable interest rates [more...]

Date: 2008-12-17 20:49:00

News and Blogs: Friday, November 14, 2008

America’s 20 Best Health Plans. Unsurprisingly, my plan is not on this list from MSN and US News & World Report ... higher interest rates on consumer credit cards. For the “News and Blogs” features, which I plan ... . I should take advantage of my Aetna plan more by visiting a doctor for a check-up once in a while [more...]

Date: 2008-11-14 18:30:08

The Credits Secrets Bible Can Help Your Credit Score

Credit is a necessity that we all need. But if it is abused or overextended, you could end up in a bad situation. Credit cards and loan debt is at an all time high and people are looking for ways to repair a damaged credit rating. A product called Credit Secrets Bible (CSB) is now available from the Consumer [more...]

Date: 2009-01-11 14:35:09

More Interest Rate Cuts - Hot Or Not?

Question from a reader:”Fed going to cut interest rates again like you said they might? ... of us who have some savings, some sort of employment and are struggling to make ends meet.  For those already in the deep end ... rate that banks will lend to consumers - their very best credit worthy ones or people [more...]

Date: 2008-12-16 05:09:34

Debt Consolidation Loans For Bad Credit Dont Get Stung

It isn’t uncommon these days for consumers to be facing problems meeting their monthly payment obligations on loans and credit cards ... and have seen their good credit ratings suffer because of it. At this point they may be looking for a way ... things in mind to protect yourself from becoming a victim: Be Confident Your credit score may [more...]

Date: 2009-01-14 03:04:51

Global Investing Roundups, Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

NBER: U.S. in Recession Since Dec. 2007; Fed Reserve Could Buy T-Bills; JP Morgan Sees 0% Interest Rates; Pilgrim’s Pride Files for Bankruptcy Protection; Consumer Credit Crunch in the Making; Crude ... has been in a recession since December 2007, the National Bureau of Economic Research said yesterday (Monday). Already [more...]

Date: 2008-12-02 16:25:29

Consumers advised over action to take if rejected for finance

In the current financial climate an increasing number of consumers are finding themselves being turned down for finance, such as loans, credit cards, ... to check their credit report, as this will show them what their credit rating is like and will give ... they should take once rejected for credit. Many tend to make another application to a different [more...]

Date: 2009-01-02 11:45:58

Debt relief solutions are assisting thousands to get out of debt

Many consumers have been falling prey to the unscrupulous actions taken by the money grubbing credit card companies, ... negative slight against the debtor’s credit report. These practices are forcing consumers to look ... a negative on their credit report and giving the creditors the ability to raise the rate and basically [more...]

Date: 2009-01-16 14:48:15

Tell Us Something We Don't Know: Consumers Deeper In Debt

From the "not news" file comes a report from credit rating firm, Equifax, that consumers are falling more deeply into debt. According to Reuters, Dann Adams,... This is a content summary only [more...]

Date: 2008-12-23 20:47:24

Market Update 01/19/2009

Market Comment Mortgage bond prices fell last week pushing rates higher despite continued signs of economic weakness ... the credit crisis. Consumer sentiment came in surprisingly better than expected despite headlines ... indicator of the state of our economy. This report, provided by the Bureau of the Census, takes [more...]

Date: 2009-01-16 21:27:51

GMAC Now Officially Requires 700-Plus FICO Score For New Car Loan [Financiapocalypse]

The Financiapocalypse continues. We just received a copy of an e-mail that went out at GMAC, the lending arm jointly owned by GM and Cerberus, ... : you'll now need a minimum 700 credit bureau score to get a car loan at dealer invoice or below from GMAC ... consumers who have a minimum 700 credit bureau score, with an advance rate equal to or less than [more...]

Date: 2008-10-13 22:20:00

N.J. man learns modifying mortgage to cut payments may impair credit rating

by Moe Bedard on September 29, 2009 · 0 commentsin American Nightmare To confuse consumers even more, not all lenders follow the guidelines.That may change on November 1, when lenders can use a new code to report them as a “loan modification under government program.” The code will clarify which borrowers have taken modifications, but because the modification process itself is not streamlined, it won’t be the only worm squiggling out of the can.The bigger impact on credit scores may depend on how [more...]

Date: 2009-09-29 13:48:05

One Simple Way of Consolidating Credit Card Debt

Debt is something that has to be managed, and can easily get out of control if you’re not careful ... to a credit card that has a lower annual interest rate. For instance, you may have two or three credit cards ... . Credit card debt in particular is among the most burdensome financial problems for consumers [more...]

Date: 2009-01-08 00:02:16

GMAC limits loans to buyers with 700+ FICO rating

Filed under: Car Buying, GMIf you're in the market for a new car, you'd better get your credit score in order first ... to consumers with a credit score of over 700. That number is up from the 71% average ... . Auto lending units are looking for top tier customers right now, and GM's captive credit arm [more...]

Date: 2008-10-14 12:52:03

Credit Card Laws and Court Rulings–Have They Helped Consumers?

This is a guest post by Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com . Congress passed the Credit CARD Act in May but gave issuers and banks almost one year to implement the major provisions of the bill. Since then, issuers did exactly what they threatened to do–raise rates and fees on a broad group of cardholders. Consumers and elected officials are not happy about this, and members of Congress plan to introduce a bill to accelerate the effective date of the bill from February 22, 2010 to December 1, 2009. [more...]

Date: 2009-09-25 19:18:38

How To Build A CD Ladder and Get The Highest Interest Rate

During tough times, there is always the inevitable flight to quality as investors seek out stable investment options to keep their money safe from ... certificate of deposits (CDs). Because CD’s are issued by banks and credit unions, they enjoy ... fixed time asset offered to consumers and businesses by banks and credit unions. When you buy a CD [more...]

Date: 2008-10-21 03:29:32

William O’Donnell and others at financial giant UBS issued a report earlier in the week noting some reluctance by investors to buy government bonds ... the credit crunch, investors have demanded a greater premium on securities backed by mortgages, which means consumer rates are less tied to Treasuries than before. I asked O’Donnell if mortgage rates [more...]

Date: 2009-01-08 17:39:53

Sony Ericsson reports results for fourth quarter and full year 2008

.fullpost{display:inline;} Highlights:Global economic slowdown leads to contracting consumer demand Previously announced annual Euro 300 million cost ... to the global economic slowdown that resulted in contracting consumer demand and decreased availability of credit. Gross margin became 15% due to negative impact from exchange rate fluctuations [more...]

Date: 2009-01-16 07:56:00

Consumer Headaches: 15 ways to get help

My two-month-long fight with Qwest, which barring a stroke of luck will no doubt go on a lot longer, ... serious problems that might damage your credit rating or cost you big bucks requires you to roll ... and all sorts of enlightening reports will come up. This is where I learned that Qwest had pulled the “let [more...]

Date: 2008-10-26 02:56:28

TANSTAAFL - Ya gotta pay it sometime!

When TMEW and I spend more than we should, we end up paying for it later - by not buying much later ... more debt than they took on... Seasonally adjusted consumer debt -- including credit cards, auto loans and other unsecured debts -- fell by a record $7.5 billion, or a 3.7% annual rate, to $2.58 trillion [more...]

Date: 2008-12-16 18:44:16

The Sky Has Fallen: Now What?

Superstrategist Ed Yardeni is quoted by James Pethokoukis in US News & World Report on what could go right in 2009: (1) Lower mortgage rates fuel a refinancing boom which lifts consumer spending. (2) Home sales increase and home prices stabilize. (3) Easier credit conditions increase auto sales. (4) The drop in fuel [more...]

Date: 2009-01-14 15:51:36

The Fed Translated….

Release Date: December 16, 2008 The Federal Open Market Committee decided today to establish a target range for the federal funds rate of 0 to 1/4 ... indicate that consumer spending, business investment, and industrial production have declined. No arguments there. Financial markets remain quite strained and credit conditions tight. I’m not sure [more...]

Date: 2008-12-17 04:44:24

User-generated Content Impacts Health Determinations

User-generated Content Impacts Health Determinations WOMMA member GolinHarris’ latest blog post cites a Manhattan Research report that nearly half of ePharma consumers, 47% to be exact, credit user-generated descriptions, opinions and reactions ... in an uproar. Their huge response: trash the Amazon rating of “Spore.” At last check, 92 [more...]

Date: 2008-09-10 08:29:36

The Reality of The Good Cars We Are Building Today. Read On.

Too often the conventional wisdom in the looming credit crisis and the request of The Big 3 for a federal loan has been that it’s all Detroit’s ... independent survey on initial quality? Did you bother to read the Consumer Report that rated Ford on par [more...]

Date: 2008-12-23 00:09:27

Wednesday morning headlines

Economic UnrestFed cuts key interest rate to nearly zero (Washington Post)Drop in consumer prices is most since 1932 (MarketWatch)Bush says he sacrificed free-market principles to save the economy (AFP)Canadian PM Harper says ... Republican (James P. Pinkerton)Warning: A new credit card scam (Ted Twietmeyer)Misc.Bettie Page is laid [more...]

Date: 2008-12-17 11:34:00

The Fed Translated…..

Release Date: December 16, 2008 The Federal Open Market Committee decided today to establish a target range for the federal funds rate of 0 to 1/4 ... . No arguments there. Financial markets remain quite strained and credit conditions tight. I’m not sure ... . Let me rephrase that, in light of the Consumer Price Index report this morning, it’s pretty [more...]

Date: 2008-12-17 04:47:10

MortgageNewsClips: Catching Fraud, HSH on Fixed Rate, Super Human, Stephanie Pomboy, Reverses Go Live, Tom Brown, Mod Section 6 links, FDIC Highlights, Accounting

Discussing Loan Reviews with Andy Hall  - John Clapp - MortgageOrb chats with Andy Hall, ... that it will take consumers at least five years - and probably more - to recover from the credit crisis ... Oversight Panel’s First Report: Unfortunately, Just What We Expected  Elizabeth Warren seems determined [more...]

Date: 2008-12-20 12:53:02

36 Results