Hollywood 911:Learning from Celebrity Money Mistakes

As turbulent economic times continue to influence our financial strategies, you can turn to financial experts such as CNN’s Clark Howard or Suze Orman, or you can do as much of America is doing and take a lesson from celebrities!

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What the Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights Means for You

This Friday, President Obama is expected to sign the ‘Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights’ into law. The House of Representatives passed their version of the bill on April 30th by a 361-64 margin. In similar overwhelming fashion, the Senate passed their version of the bill in a 90-5 route. The House has agreed to collaborate and adopt the Senate’s version of the bill, which has been deemed to be more strict on credit card providers than the House version. So what does this mean for you?

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Will the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Bring Credit Relief?

In this economy, consumers are already reeling from credit card debt and the high penalty fees charged by credit card issuers are preventing many from escaping this downward spiral. The Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights, already passed by the House and winding its way through the Senate seeks to reform the credit card industry by providing protection for credit cardholders. Will it provide the relief that families need?

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Silence the Sales Pitches

If popularity were measured by telemarketing calls and bulk-rate marketing pitches, I’d be the Julia Roberts of junk mail.

One month, I counted 92 telemarketing calls, 17 preapproved credit card offers, and a full recycling bin’s worth of fliers for satellite TV service, foreclosure avoidance help, and consolidation deals.

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Why Even Good Credit Might Get Cut

You can afford your mortgage, you have a high credit score and you pay your bills on time every month. So why did American Express just slash your credit limit?

A combination of the credit crisis and the use of predictive analytic models for determining credit limits mean that it is no longer enough just to maintain a good credit rating. With credit card companies analyzing spending patterns, you have to pay more attention than ever to both where and how you shop.

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5 Ways to Ruin Your Credit

Just a few false moves, and in no time, your credit reputation starts to suffer. It doesn’t even need to be something extreme, either. Just a late bill payment here or a retail splurge there is all it takes. Woe to the consumers who make a few missteps in a row and find themselves slogging through suboptimal loans (high rates, high fees) the next time they’re shopping for credit.

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Get Good Credit if You Want to Buy a Car

In this time of economic uncertainty many are putting off a major purchase such as buying a car. Why incur even more debt? But while the high price of gasoline might dissuade you from purchasing a gas guzzling sport utility vehicle (SUV), you probably don’t have the luxury of giving up driving entirely. Better make sure you have good credit if you want to buy a car.

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How-To Guide: The Path to Perfect Credit

Achieving perfect credit may seem like a daunting task. But just as a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, the path to perfect credit is made up of small tasks that can eventually add up to big improvements in your credit.
To get better credit, you first have to know where you [...]

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Get It Done: Peek Into Your Secret Files

By now, most people know that we’re allowed a free credit report from the three major credit reporting bureaus once a year. (If this happened to slip your mind, please visit annualcreditreport.com to jog your memory.)
The complimentary data buffet doesn’t end there. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, consumers are entitled to see all the [...]

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What To Do If the Thieves Get You

If you’re reading this, there’s probably no time to waste. If you suspect that you are a victim of credit fraud or identity theft, here’s how to get help:

1. Report the theft to the fraud center at each of the three major credit bureaus.
Ask that a “fraud alert” be placed on [...]

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