Consumerist
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collection agencies
Am I Responsible For My Parents' Debt?
Jay's parents have gotten quite, uh, spendy with their retirement income, and now they've got a lot of debt they can't pay off. This has become Jay's problem not because he's a party to any of the debt, but because they've put him down as a reference and now bill collectors are harassing him. More » -
creepy
Bill Collector Accused Of Offering Debt Forgiveness For Sex
A Rent-A-Center employee near Detroit has allegedly found a new approach to helping consumers get out of debt: making their bills go away in exchange for sex. More » -
credit scores
Negotiating Reduced Payoff Can Hurt Credit Score
Did you know negotiating a reducedpaymentpayoff with a lender negatively affects your credit score? More » -
mortgages
When To Buy A Home And How To Avoid Screwing It Up
Are you hitting that stage in life where you're thinking of becoming a homeowner? Morningstar has published two home buying articles that together offer some good, concise advice to the prospective buyer, especially if you're a first-timer. More » -
debt
40 States Ask FTC To Crack Down On Debt Relief Companies
Attorneys general in 40 states just asked the FTC to step up the fight against debt relief companies that mislead and overcharge consumers, like Credit Solutions of America (CSA), reports Consumer Affairs. More » -
debt
Am I Responsible For My Fiancée's Prior Debt?
A reader wants to know whether or not he's going to be held responsible for his fiancée's old, bad debt now that they're getting married. Because we went to Google Lawyer University just now, we're happy to try to help. More » -
personal finance
Consumers Pay Down Credit Card Debt For 11th Straight Month
The Federal Reserve has released data on consumer debt for August, and for the 11th month in a row we've paid down credit card debt and increased savings. Take that, rate-hiking credit card companies! More » -
personal finance
Where To Find Great Personal Finance Writing Online
If you don't know about the Carnival of Personal Finance, it's a weekly round-up of interesting posts from the glut of personal finance blogs and websites that now litter the web. I discovered two of today's posts—the 23 debt-saving tips and the the alkaline-vs-rechargeables story—through the most recent Carnival. More » -
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personal finance
23 Tips On How To Pay Down Your Debt
If you're still floundering when it comes to paying off debt, here's a great starting place for you. The blog DoughRoller has listed 23 ways to get started on freeing yourself from debt, along with lots of links to tools and other articles or websites that can help.
"23 Powerful Tips and Tools to Eliminate Debt" [Dough Roller] (Photo: mskogly)
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personal finance
Financial Advice For College Students
The San Jose Mercury News has compiled a list of financial tips for people just entering college. These are the sorts of things that will help you avoid racking up huge debts or wasting money you don't have on fees and penalties—and of course they can apply to pretty much anyone, not just college students. More » -
negotiation
Banks Are 'Quietly' Negotiating Credit Card Debt, WashPo Says
The Washington Post says banks have grown more sympathetic to stressed-out consumers and are now more lenient when it comes down to renegotiating interest rates and minimum payments. Banks aren't out there advertising their willingness to bend, but they're more willing to listen, the story says. More » -
economy
Consumers Cut Spending, Save Money, Pay Down Debt, Ruin Economy
Good work, consumers of America! You've collectively reduced your outstanding debt by $21.5 billion during the month of July. We're so proud. Except, oops, that's not so great for the economy. More » -
clerical errors
Congratulations, You May Have Your Own SSN Pen Pal In Micronesia
If you get a call from a debt collector for a loan you never took out, and your Social Security number starts with a zero, try this excuse: "[My SSN] ended up linked to a Micronesian man who defaulted on a disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration." More » -
money
Should You Have a Mortgage in Retirement?
A growing personal finance debate centers around whether or not individuals should have a mortgage when they retire. A surprising number of retirees maintain a mortgage — 4 in 10 in 2007 — but is this good financial management? More » -
deadbeat defense squad
How To Fight Back Against Debt Collector Ninjas
Debt collectors, like vampires, have certain rules they must follow. For example, both are vulnerable to sunlight and garlic, but only vampires glitter when they're playing baseball. More » -
student loans
Credit Unions Dive Into The Student Loan Market
Private loans are the worst type of student debt, but the best place to get them may be your local credit union. Like most credit union products, their loans are usually a better deal with more favorable terms than similar loans from bigger banks. More » -
arbitration
Arbitration May Be Dead, But Courts Offer Imperfect Alternative
Last month, the Minnesota Attorney General brought an oppressive arbitration regime to its knees. Nation Arbitration Forum handled over 200,000 arbitrations per year. But many of those cases will end up in the 50 states' district courts, where consumers may fare no better. More » -
personal finance
The Five Universal Financial Truths
Saving can be boiled down to a few universal financial truths. The sooner you know and internalize them, the sooner you can start enjoying a responsible, sustainable lifestyle. More »
debt
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Sat Nov 14
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