Especially in this tough economy, you want to protect your credit.
When the economy is in tough shape, lenders and business people and employers are more careful about what is on your credit
history. Businesses of all sorts want to cut their exposure to risk, and they are more likely to check your credit history
first before doing business with you. Employers are more likely to check your credit files now. So, here are some
ways you can maintain and improve your credit scores including legal and debt negotiation services in case you have problems
of your own making.
TIPS TO HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR CREDIT SCORE
Update
July 25, 2011 Here are some tips to improve your credit score. You should revisit this page every few months
to be sure you are on track.
Pay your bills on time. If you have missed payments, get current and stay current. The longer
you pay your bills on time, the better your free credit score. (Paying off a collection
account will not remove it from your credit report and it will stay on your report for seven years.)
Keep balances low on credit cards and other “revolving
credit”.
Pay
off debt rather than moving it around. Shuffling debt from one credit account to another will not help you. Don't
close unused credit cards as a short-term strategy to raise your score-- open but unused credit accounts might actually help
your score. Don't open a number of new credit cards that you don't need, because each new account might hurt your score.
If you have been
managing credit for a short time, don't open a lot of new accounts too rapidly because new accounts will lower your average
account age, which can look risky if you are a new credit user.
What You Post On The Web Can Hurt You...
Update July 25, 2011 A couple of years ago, I wrote an article here about
an interesting conversation I had with a software consultant who works for several big financial companies.
His job was to set up software that will "crawl" the Internet looking for information that could affect the
clients of the financial firms. Well, everything he told me a couple of years ago has come true.
The discussion a couple of years ago was about online social sites
such as Facebook and MySpace and YouTube and even Internet newsgroups and discussion groups. He told me that the
financial industry was working on software that will crawl or read through these sites, compile data about the individuals
who use these sites, and then financial companies would be able to use this data to determine if they want to do business
with certain clients who show up in these social networking web sites.
In other words, he told me then,
what you post in MySpace or on YouTube or on Facebook could be read by banks and mortgage companies and stockbrokers and based
on what you post they could decide if you might be a bad risk for a loan or a business relationship.
And why not?
These same companies, he told me several years ago, use your credit file to determine if they want to do business with
you or grant you a loan, or even if they will hire you-- so why not use anything linked to your identify that shows up on
a social networking site such as Facebook or YouTube or MySpace.
And as our conversation evolved back
then, it became clear that these banks and financial services companies might also subscribe to dating web sites
to see what you say to lure the opposite sex: do you brag about high roller trips to Vegas or Atlantic City or do you boast
about your upscale tastes for diamonds and jewelry and furs -- it could all come back to haunt you.
I saw an interesting
public service announcement on TV -- where a bus driver and others were recognizing a young school girl and commenting about
her pictures posted on the web. The message of the public service announce (the PSA) was to be careful about what you
post online because the whole world can see it. Well, the message is not just about photos, it applies to all sorts
of data and information about you as a consumer, as an employee, and as a citizen. It really can all come back to haunt
you.
These kinds of software systems are in place and are now being used by banks and stockbrokers and mortgage
companies so they can search the world wide web for information about you-- about what you like to buy and how you spend your
money, and where you shop, and what your tastes are. Just like they can search your credit files today. And all
of this information can be used to decide just what kind of a "credit risk" or "employment risk" you are.
CONTROL YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Update June 1, 2011 Everybody asks for
your social security number -- from your bank to the veterinarian you use to treat your pet. Every time you give out
your social security number, you increase your risk of identity theft, that is why having identity theft protection services is a great idea. This is why Congress and the White House and the Federal Trade Commission are now considering legislation
that will limit who can ask for and who can use your social security number for their business.
I think that controlling access to consumers' social security numbers is a good idea. I
don't think my dentist or my pet's veterinarian need my social security number. So, until federal laws are passed restricting
the use of social security numbers, I urge you to ask "why?" You can say to Fido's vet, "really,
do you need my social security number? Isn't my MasterCard account number what you really
need?"
When it comes to banks and mutual funds and stockbrokers
there is no question that they need my social security number. But when everyone is asking for it, you know there must
be other businesses who can find another way to keep track of their customers. What's wrong with a list of customers'
last names?
THE LAW OFFICES
OF JOHN M. RIBARICH & ASSOCIATES
One
of the services of The Law Offices of John M. Ribarich and Associates is to help consumers resolve their credit card and debt
problems. While bankruptcy is an option -- attorney John Ribarich says it is possible to negotiate with the credit card
companies and banks so that bankruptcy can be avoided. He told me that his firm has contacts with the credit card operators
to talk to them about debt resolution.
"Facing
overwhelming debt may place a person in a situation of embarrassment and a great deal of stress due to angry creditors, the
possibility of foreclosure and an uncertain financial future," John Ribarich told me. "At the Law Offices
of John Ribarich debtors can seek the legal assistance they may need in the face of creditor harassment, foreclosure
and overwhelming debt. Our law firm is one of the leading firms in the field of debt relief, and we represent clients
throughout Ventura, Los Angeles and San Bernardino, California." They also serve consumers in other areas of Southern
California as well.
If you are interested in
finding out more about our services and how Attorney John Ribarich may be able to assist you, do not wait to call us at 877-306-6343
today. Relief may be closer than you think. Their website is www.RibarichLaw.com.
Below is my TV interview with John Ribarich
about debt and credit relief and other legal matters.
A STRATEGY FOR YOUR CREDIT CARDS NOW
Cuts by the Federal Reserve have lowered rates on home equity loans, personal loans and even plastic.
Your best investment now is to pay down your credit card debt first.
If you are paying 20%, then paying off your plastic will immediately give you a return of 20% on
your money. You can't get those kind of returns anywhere else. Do not close credit lines, as that can lower your
credit score. Banks are cutting credit lines and while there is no way to prevent this from
happening if your credit card account is active and in good standing with on time
payments then you might escape the bank's credit line axe.
CONSUMER ADVOCATE
GROUP CAN NEGOTIATE FOR YOU
The
Consumer Advocate Group is a lawyer-supervised debt resolution service that can settle various debts including credit card
debt, unsecured loans, unsecured personal loans, unsecured personal lines of credit, medical bills and stop collections.
The Consumer Advocate Group says it will negotiate with your creditors and says it can reduce debt by up to 60% of the actual
debt amount. Attorneys are involved in the negotiations on your behalf. The CAG says its program can get consumers
debt free in four years or less while it reduces payments and overall debt amounts. This program can also help you avoid
filing for bankruptcy and can help make your cash flow stable. Call for information at (888) 456-6165 or go to the website www.mycag.com for information. Watch our TV report below.
THE ALLIANCE LAW GROUP IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER DEBT HELP
FIRMS
Update April 15, 2011 The Alliance Law Group has twenty
years of experience representing consumers and helping consumers deal with their debt. But unlike other firms that say
they will help you with your debt problems, The Alliance Law Group is a consumer litigation firm which means they can go to
court to protect the rights and the resources of consumers. The Alliance Law Group provides a no-fee full evalutation
of your situation to determine the best options to take -- and these options will vary with your special circumstances.
While other law firms specialize in bankruptcy filings and their goal is to get you to file bankruptcy, The Alliance Law Group
has other options to consider for you.
Some other options besides bankruptcy include
negotiating your debt with your creditors-- and this can mean greatly reducing your debt without the problems that bankruptcy
might cause. And if The Alliance Law Group finds that your creditors acted unlawfully against you they can offer a true
litigation defense to protect you against bill collectors and even other lawyers. And if bankruptcy is indeed the best
option for you, they will handle your bankruptcy skillfully.
Because The Alliance
Law Group carefully monitors the law and knows your legal rights, they will make sure that any bill collectors trying to get
your money have a valid right to collect your money. Very often bill collectors do not have the legal rights that they
claim to have -- and this is one of the valuable reasons you should speak with The Alliance Law Group. There are offices
in Santa Ana and Irvine and you can call them at 866-956-4827 or go to www.TheAllianceLawGroup.com for more information about debt resolution, and bankruptcy. "Our services were developed in response to growing
epidemic of honest Americans who have fallen victim to increasing interest rates and unfair business practices," is what
The Alliance Law Group wants you to know.
·
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