By: John Janney

Executives at Debt Shield, Inc., a Maryland-based debt settlement firm, said that the increased minimum monthly payments on credit card balances will most likely not double, as it is widely reported, but that the increase might push financially struggling cardholders into bankruptcy or bankruptcy alternatives, like debt settlement.

"While credit industry experts and the media claim that credit card companies are doubling their minimum monthly payments from 2% of the outstanding balance to 4%, the actual minimum payment increase is more complicated and less drastic for most cardholders," explains Mark Baylis, President of Debt Shield. "The new rules require credit card banks to set their minimum payments to cover all interest and fees plus 1% of the outstanding balance, which will result in significant increases for h ... Read more »

By: Pat Hicks

Where large sums of money are concerned, it is advisable to trust nobody. Agatha Christie (1890-1976)

You notice I called credit cards by their real name. Make no mistake, the outcome of using a credit card is to create debt. It would be a lot more difficult to market a "Debt" card but that is what they are. In case you weren't aware of it, Federal regulators are pressuring banks into raising the minimum credit card payment from 2% to 4% to "help" consumers get out of debt quickly but somehow failed to address the usury interest rates charged by these companies.

Here are a few things you might not know about the credit card industry.

Credit Card Industry F ... Read more »

By: Gerard Korsten

I want you to take a good long look at your debt. Do you really know what it costs you to be in debt? Are you thinking that you can handle it or is it getting you down?

Once you start really analyzing your debt position and the cost (to yourself) of having the debt, the results can be mind-numbingly shocking. 

I've found that debt is a lot like smoking. When you start out, you believe you're in control and you can quit at any time. As the months and the years roll past, this initial belief does not fade away. With every debt you incur, the mantra "I can afford this", repeats itself in your subconscious until you wake up one morning and realize that you're in over your head.

... Read more »

Considering soliciting the services of a debt consolidator is a good idea if you have massive debts, and are struggling to stay afloat. The economy is such at this present time that even many middle class families are having a difficult time. Housing is a big issue - homes are not selling, big reductions in the price of a home is seen, and new building construction is down. The evening news has many stories about people unable to pay rent, pay an ever-increasing heating bill, and unable to pay the high price of gasoline to even go out and look for work. We are a nation in deep economic trouble.

People today are more and more turning to debt consolidation services to help bail them out of an unstable financial position. Services provided can help you to bring down your rate of interest and your amount of repayment on a scheduled basis. It will also help to decrease the st ... Read more »

By: Heather Peters

Credit cards are fast becoming a blight on the American economy, but they also help stimulate growth. The problem comes when users are forced to (or voluntarily) overspend and begin the never ending cycle of paying less than the full balance on the credit card. At this point you officially have credit card debt.

When we got married we had over $34,000 in outstanding debts, much of it on credit cards. After sitting down to have a good cry I got things into perspective. With a solid plan and the determination to stick with it, we could have those debts completely paid off within a couple of years.

The time it takes to clear those debts depends on your income and ability to trim other expenses in order to funnel as much money as possib ... Read more »

By: Lee Dobbins

When you start to get behind in your bills, your creditors often wait a several weeks before notifying collection agencies. During this time, it might be smart to write your creditors and request an extension or a reduction on what you owe so that you can pay the debt off slowly.

Since most creditors want the money they will extend your time to repay the debt. This is to their benefit too as it is a big hassle for them to go through the motions of reporting you. Most creditors want their clients to come back and believe that if given a chance you will pay off your debt and start a new account.

After you have talked to each creditor, set up a budget plan that will help you through eliminate your debts. The first thing you must do is add ... Read more »

By: Lee Dobbins

If your debt is out of control you must take some time to seriously think about your situation. Think before you charge anything and stay alert to the charges on your credit report. 

Don't stop paying your debt all together - paying something toward your bill is better than avoiding your obligations. If you take review your bills and compare to your funds and decide that you do not have enough to pay the entire amount of the bill, you might be able to pay the minimal balance temporarily.

If you have a bill and the money to make payment tell the creditor that you intent to send the money via regular mail immediately - and do so. Creditors prefer that you phone them to negotiate payment schedules and sometimes creditors will even lo ... Read more »

By: Lee Dobbins

Keeping your credit clean is a matter of due diligence and you should make it a priority to give yourself a "credit checkup" every year, much like you would make it a priority to get a medical or dental checkup. 

Even if you don't think you have credit problems, you should get copies of your credit report. You can get them from TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. Check these to make sure everything on there is correct. If you find errors on your credit report, clear these up immediately.

If you apply for a credit card or loan, then you can get all 3-credit reports for free. Additionally, if you receive a letter that denies you credit, make a copy of it and enclose it with your written request for a copy of your credit report.

By: J Shipper

Keep Your Credit History Clean - Remove A Negative Credit Record From Your Credit Report

It can make a difference of up to 18% in loan repayment costs. For example, on a 30-year, $150,000 fixed rate mortgage, a borrower with the best credit score, 760-850, will pay 5.59%, or $860 per month, while someone in the worst score range will pay 7.18%, or $1,016 per month. This can make a big different to the household budget, so it's to your advantage to keep your credit score as low as possible.

The 3 major credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and Trans Union are similar and feature a "Credit Score", which is derived from credit report information submitted to them about you.

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There are 2 sides to the changes in bankruptcy rules.

It will be a lot harder to file bankruptcy under chapter 7 and get a totally clean slate.

For businesses, relying on issuing credit, the new personal bankruptcy law is doing great, reducing personal bankruptcy claims from the thousands to double digits (in the short run). 

However, lawyers working with the actual people filing for bankruptcy say that the new law is seriously flawed because it puts more financial burdens on already broke clients and reduces potential debt repayment to small businesses. 

And then of course you have the credit card companies charging high interest rates which in quite a few ca ... Read more »