In accounting classes, debt consolidation still hasn't made it to grade. The term "debt consolidation firm", in that case, wouldn't be found in any textbook. But in reality, debt consolidation is one of the most important things a person with struggling finances should be aware of. For the record, though, debt consolidation is reaching a point in life where the sheer abundance of bills flooding your mailbox overwhelms you into a state of helpless frustration. So you choose debt consolidation as an alternative.
Now, it's important to choose a firm that you know you can trust. It's not enough to see lots of advertisements about the firm. Try researching about the background and financial records of the firm. It's better if you personally know someone who did business with that particular debt consolidation firm so you can rest assured that your financial future is in good hands. Check with the Better Business Bureau if the debt consolidation firm you're eyeing has a good rating with them. Although some say that an A rating with the BBB counts for nothing nowadays, it's still better than no rating at all or worse, a negative one. Some websites also have a list of companies to avoid and so if the debt consolidation firm you'd like to make business is part of the list, better hit the yellow pages again and look for another one.
One debt consolidation firm that has been making headlines is AmeriDebt. Recently, it was even ordered to close down but lo and behold, it's still up and running, this time supposedly disguising itself as 800CreditCardDebt.com. Now, this author has nothing against either of those companies mentioned but I think it's prudent to suggest that it's better to choose a debt consolidation firm with a reputation not as colorful or as sensational as the aforementioned.
So how do you spot a good debt consolidation firm? Well, to be perfectly honest, spotting a good and trustworthy debt consolidation firm is not an easy task at all. It's like being asked to determine if one's feminine assets are all-natural like chamomile tea or proof of the wonders of Nip/Tuck. If you've been around the business for a long time, you'll be wise to their tricks. But if not, you better pay attention to the following tips.
A good debt consolidation firm, first and foremost, will truly keep the creditors at bay. One of the Ten Commandments of all debt consolidation firms, is, of course making sure that you need not worry about paying off your bills anymore. All those irritating calls and letters --- gone in a flash! All you have to do is continue paying the debt consolidation firm and the latter will be responsible in making sure that you're given lower rates, more leeway when it comes to due dates, affordable monthly payments and so on.
A good debt consolidation firm will also keep classified information classified. This is harder to certify if you're having your debts consolidated online. With an Internet transaction, you don't have the luxury of having an office to go to, a face to picture and a company name to report. So it's safer for you to choose a debt consolidation firm that makes its transactions face to face.
Lastly, if you still don't have any confidence in yourself about choosing
a good debt consolidation firm, then allow me to make a last suggestion: check
out Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS). It's one of the most
recommended and it's a good place to start as any.
The Fed Proposes a Rules to Limit Credit Card Fees
The Federal Reserve has proposed a rule that would limit penalty credit card fees - those fees that are imposed when you default on your credit card, e.g. miss a payment. Right now, credit card companies are charging the maximum penalty fee to the majority of their customers. If it's passed by Congress, the new rule could end that practice.
The rule would stop credit card companies from charing fees that are more than the violation. For example, if you go over your limit by $5, your maximum over-the-limit fee would be $5. The rule would stop inactivity fees and prevent cardholders from being charged multiple times for one violation.
You can let the Federal Reserve know what you think about the proposed rule by commenting at their website. Make sure you leave a comment for R-1584.
The Fed Proposes a Rules to Limit Credit Card Fees originally appeared on About.com Credit / Debt Management on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 02:10:52.
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...(more)Watch Out for Unauthorized Charges From iTunes
Note: This news story came out last year, but many readers are still facing problems with fraudulent charges from iTunes.
A MyFox New York story warns about fraudulent credit card and check card charges that appear to be from iTunes. The first signs of the fraud include charges or pending authorizations from a APL*ITUNES business for $1.00 which might seem to be accurate or an email for gift card receipts that were purchased with your account. The fraud is happening to a wide-variety of people who may or may not have an iTunes account. From the news story:
The high-tech scam has claimed victims from New York to California. At the heart of it all is Apple's wildly popular iTunes. Victims say it starts with an unexpected e-mail for purchases they never made. That's how Rachel Katz from Manhattan found out, "I got two emails thanking me for my purchase."
But by the time victims get the e-mail receipt it's usually too late. The receipts appear to be legitimate, and come from Apple, generated by the user's iTunes account. The receipts show purchases for iTunes electronic gift certificates and charges that hit checking accounts, credit cards or PayPal depending on what the user has linked to his or her iTunes account.
Some of the thieves wait for the $1.00 charge to complete before hitting the account with even higher charges. Sending an initial small charge through first allows the thief to determine whether the account is legitimate.
Many victims of the fraud are having trouble fixing the situation. Neither the banks nor Paypal nor Apple accept ownership. Meanwhile, victims are left without hundreds, even thousands of dollars.
Brett Larson with MyFox recommends deleting your credit card information from iTunes. Instead, he suggests you fund your account with an iTunes gift card. The cards can be purchased from many retailers like Wal-Mart, Target, and Best Buy. Or, you can make iTunes purchases with single-use credit card number available from your credit card company.
I just deleted my credit card information from iTunes by going to Store --> View My Account. I clicked on Edit Payment information and next to "Credit Card" I selected the radio button next to "None."
If you notice an authorization or charges from Apl*itunes, contact your bank immediately. Here are some Tips to Avoid Credit Card Scams and information about disputing inaccurate credit card charges.
via Consumerist
Watch Out for Unauthorized Charges From iTunes originally appeared on About.com Credit / Debt Management on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at 02:05:33.
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...(more)Are Some Creditors Trying to Hide the True Cost of Credit?
Credit card issuers are now required to include credit card repayment time and cost on the front of your billing statement, but they may be trying to skirt that new requirement.
Credit card issuers are now required to give a minimum payment warning letting you know just how much you'll end up paying in interest if you make the minimum payment on your credit card. They also have to clearly state late payment penalties including late fees and penalty rates. Both these disclosures are supposed to be printed on the front of your billing statement.
The rule applies to printed statements and if you check your billing statement online, you might not see the warnings unless you download the PDF version of your statement. Could this be the real reason why some private-label credit card issuers started charging consumers a dollar to receive paper statements?
CreditCards.com reports that back in December of 2009, retailers who issue through Alliance Data Systems gave cardholders the option to get their statements online or pay $1 for paper statements. Of course, there'll be some customers to pay the fee because they can't or won't check their accounts online. The ones who opt for online statements could miss out on vital information about how much they're paying for credit.
Are Some Creditors Trying to Hide the True Cost of Credit? originally appeared on About.com Credit / Debt Management on Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at 02:42:48.
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...(more)Credit card skimming is a type of credit card theft that allows thieves to steal your credit card information without stealing your credit card. After being hidden in ATMs and other credit card machines, credit card skimmers collect your data in what would have been a legitimate transaction. Waiters, retail clerks, and other customer service representatives can hold skimmers in their hands and swipe when you're not paying attention. Learn more about credit card skimming, how to recognize a skimmer, and how to avoid the theft.
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Beware Credit Card Skimming originally appeared on About.com Credit / Debt Management on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 00:18:06.
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...(more)5 Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund
It's tax season and for many taxpayers that means a tax refund is due. If you know you're getting a refund, you've probably already started thinking about how you're going to spend it. Buying consumer goods would stimulate the economy, but paying off some credit card debt would stimulate your get-out-of-debt plan. See 5 Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund for some ideas on what you can do with this year's income tax refund.
5 Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund originally appeared on About.com Credit / Debt Management on Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at 00:18:53.
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