../../../..//2007/07/24/most-so-called-free-credit-report/
Most so-called “free credit report” sites are total fucking scams. [The Red Tape Chronicles]
credit
What's A Credit Freeze And How Can I Get One?
By 7.5.07
A credit freeze is a tool to prevent ID theft for those people who believe that their information has been compromised. If an ID thief applies for credit and your report is frozen, the thief will be denied.
How To Get A Checking Account: Solutions For The "Underbanked"
By 7.2.07
There are three types of unbanked or underbanked people:
By 7.2.07
../../../..//2007/07/02/debt-collector-denied-unemployment-benefits/
Debt collector denied unemployment benefits because he was abusive towards debtors… the same conduct that had gotten him promoted to a supervisor position within the company.
Consumerist's 10 Commandments of Credit
By 6.30.07
Keeping a balance on a credit card is a sin in the eyes of the Consumerist. If you have a balance, make it your priority to pay it off as quickly as possible.
AT&T: Don't Worry, We Reject Everyone On The Basis Of Their Credit
By 6.28.07
Jim writes to tell us that he ordered AT&T U-Verse (it’s supposed to be installed tomorrow) and was surprised to find a letter in his mailbox telling him that AT&T had decided to “Limit and/or deny the purchase of products and/or services” based on his credit report.
Your Credit Score Demystified!
By 6.27.07
Bankrate has an interview with Craig Watts, public affairs manager at Fair Isaac Corp., the creator of the popular FICO credit score. Craig talks about credit myths and strategies for people who are looking to raise their credit scores. Nothing terribly ground-breaking, but we know our readers tend to obsess over their credit scores, so it’s good to get some info straight from the horse’s mouth.
American Airlines Offers 6 Month No Interest No Payments Financing
By 6.26.07
American Airlines is offering no interest no payments for 6 months on airline tickets purchased through an offer on their website. This means that, essentially, one can purchase an airline ticket in the same way that one purchases, say, furniture or a camcorder.
House Financial Services Committee Holds Hearing On Credit Report Inaccuracies
By 6.19.07
The House Financial Services Committee wants to know why it is so difficult to dispute inaccurate information on your credit report. You can watch the hearing live thanks to a webcam connected to the tubes.
The hearing will examine factors that continue to contribute to inaccurate consumer credit reports and evaluate the adequacy of the consumer dispute process under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). In addition, the Committee will hear recommendations for improving the process and efforts that furnishers, credit bureaus and the regulators are taking to improve the accuracy of credit report information and will review the status of key rule makings and studies mandated by the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA) related to the accuracy of information furnished to consumer reporting agencies and the adequacy of the dispute resolution process.
Hot! The Committee will hear testimony from the FTC, the Federal Reserve, consumer advocates, and industry representatives. Not invited to testify: The Consumerist. Don’t worry Chairman Franks, you can invite us to the next hearing. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER
Don't Finance Your Car With Your Home Equity Loan
By 6.15.07
Maryland consumer attorney Sonya Smith-Valentine warns not to use a home equity loan to purchase a car. Her reasoning makes sense. When you use a home equity loan, you pay for the for many years longer than you would with a regular car loan, multiplying the interest you end up paying.
Private Student Loans Are Potentially Evil
By 6.12.07
The New York Times has an article explaining some of the reasons that private loans are both more popular and more risky that they really ought to be.
Ask The Consumerists: What Do I Do About Credit Cards I Never Requested?
By 6.12.07
I’ve gotten two of these unwanted cards in the last 12 months after signing up with two different financial institutions for two different reasons. The first was a mortgage I signed, the second for a business checking account where I was the primary account user. I’ve worked hard all my life to maintain good credit, and I don’t want these things to affect my excellent rating. What should I do now?
Read Beau’s letter and our advice, inside.
Bank Of America's Special New Amex For Rich People
By 6.11.07
Do you have over $100,000 on deposit at Bank of America? If you do, you might qualify for a special new Amex just for Bank of America’s wealthy customers. Oh my, the perks are fat!
20% of Americans Fear They'll Never Escape Credit Card Debt
By 6.6.07
According to a new survey by Lending Tree, 20% of Americans fear that they will never escape their credit card and other non-mortgage related debt and will be stuck with it for the rest of their lives. That’s depressing. Elizabeth Warren at Credit Slips says:”Lending Tree tries to put a happy face on some of the data (most people “perceive themselves as some day being debt free”), but I didn’t feel any better when I read it.” Yeah, we don’t feel any better either.
Proper Care And Feeding Of Your Credit Score
By 5.25.07
The topic of what helps or hurts your credit is a hot one around these parts, but Get Rich Slowly is stepping into the fire with some info about what makes up a credit score and how to properly take care of it.
Even Reporters Can Not Get Capital One To Act Responsibly
By 5.23.07
Capital One is so evil that not even media inquiries phase it. Around here we tend to roll our eyes just a little bit at consumer reporters who praise companies for doing the right thing post-media inquiry. After all, what company wouldn’t fix a situation rather than suffer a public shaming by a newspaper? Finally, the answer has been found. That company is Capital One.
