7 smart moves to improve your credit score. There are no shortcuts. But follow our advice and you'll see results, making it easier to land a loan at a better rate.
Get free copies of your credit reports. The first step toward fixing your credit is to find out what the major credit-reporting agencies are telling everyone from banks to employers about you -- and make sure it's accurate.
Get your FICO credit score, not a substitute. Don't be fooled by ads that try to sell you a "credit score" without specifying that it's your "FICO score." Lenders rely on FICO to evaluate your creditworthiness.
How to avoid foreclosure.Here's what to do whether you've got an unaffordable ARM or just lost your job and are out of money.
How to avoid foreclosure.Here's what to ask for to avoid foreclosure if you've lost your job and fallen behind on your payments.
Can bankruptcy save you from foreclosure?It can delay the process and wipe out other debts so you have more money for mortgage payments. But judges can't modify most home loans.
When to walk away from your home. No one wants to lose their home to foreclosure. But there are 8 reasons it might be time to accept the inevitable, cut your losses and let the bank foreclose.
10 steps to a graceful exit. Foreclosure may be inevitable, but you can avoid an angry, chaotic eviction. Here's how to move out on your terms.
Is bankruptcy right for you? If your debt has become unbearable and unpayable, you may be thinking about bankruptcy. These 6 simple questions will help you decide whether your financial problems are so severe that they can't be fixed any other way.
Get cash right now. If you're out of money and need a couple hundred dollars to keep food on the table and gas in the car, you don't have to turn to a payday loan store. There are less costly ways to get the money you need.
Get debt collectors off your back. We have a 10-step plan that explains how debt collectors work and how you should deal with them.
The 10 things debt collectors can't do. You don't have to put up with threats and foul language. There are limits on everything from when they can call to what they can say.
Enlist the help of a good credit counselor. If you have a mountain of bills, you need reputable help that can negotiate a realistic repayment plan with your creditors and stop collection agencies from harassing you.
Make a plan to deal with back taxes. If you owe taxes to the Internal Revenue Service, it's time to face reality. They won't go away. Here's how to dispute errors, set up a repayment plan and deal with ignored tax bills.
Spot, and ditch, bad credit counselors. The most heavily promoted credit counselors are in it for the money. Your money. Here's how to avoid them.
Avoid your credit card's most costly penalty. It's called universal default, and many consumers don't even know it exists. Yet it allows most cards to raise your interest rate to painful heights if you miss a payment -- any payment, not just your credit card payment -- or commit any number of other financial sins.
Get out of universal default. If you've missed a few payments, your credit card may have pushed the interest on your balance up to 28% or more. To escape that onerous penalty, you'll have to call, complain and negotiate. We can help you get ready, ask the right questions and anticipate how the customer service representative will respond.
Get a good secured credit card. If you can't qualify for a conventional card, this is the plastic for you. Just don't waste hundreds of dollars a year on outrageous fees by applying for the wrong one.
Protect yourself from a financial emergency. You can do that even if you're living from paycheck to paycheck. Just try one or two of our suggestions and stop worrying that an unexpected car repair or illness will leave you penniless.
Microloans. They're a new way to borrow $1,000 to $25,000 at a reasonable cost.
A service of YellowBrix, Inc.
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