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Monday, January 5, 2009

Lifting the Fog Around Reverse Mortgage Property Types

By Reverandmortgage Vanrock

The goal here is to enlighten and educate those who may be getting misinformation about what is and is not possible in terms of property types available for a reverse mortgage.

The Federal Housing Administration is the insuring body for 95% of all reverse mortgages. That means they write the rule book from which the mortgage companies follow if they wish to stay competitive.

FHA has always been considered the first time home buyer's mortgage. It's not really a mortgage. It's an insuring body for the mortgage and was set up in 1934 to increase home ownership.

FHA, outside of large apartments, is only in the business of insuring properties in which the home owner actually lives on the premises.

So, the first thing to understand, as a basis for understanding FHA insured reverese mortgages, is that the reverse mortgage is for owner occupied properties. Rental homes and second home do not qualify.

Some primary residences are also used as investment properties. For instance, duplexes, triplexes and four-plexes are all eligible for reverse mortgages if the owner lives in one of the units.

What if the owner lives in the property and it is used as a bed and breakfast? No. FHA will not allow for any commercial purpose even if the owner lives on site.

Some customers come to me with a home on large acreage. The lender will finance a home and land up to what is customary for the area.

For example: if a home resides on 200 acres and the typical home in the area is on 3 acres, the mortgage company closes a loan on the home and 3 acres only. The remaining acreage can not be part of the transaction.

In some rural areas I get calls regarding manufactured homes. This is okay under certain conditions: Home is built after 1976, double or triple wide, and sits on an approved FHA foundation.

Other properties eligible for FHA financing are cooperatives, condominiums, and townhouses.

Non-FHA insured reverse mortgages are out there with greater flexibility in terms of property types. Be careful of these. A system of checks and balances doesn't exist with these loans as it does with an FHA insured reverse mortgage.

Credit Cards For People With Bad Credit

By Gray Rollins

People who have had problems with credit in the past find that it is very difficult to be approved for a credit card; they may even be completely unable to qualify for a traditional credit card. This is a tough situation to be in - it's hard to get by without a credit card these days.

In fact, you cannot reserve a hotel room, buy anything online, or even rent a car without a credit card. It's getting harder every day to get by without having a credit card. There are entire portions of the economy which are closed to people without credit cards - not having one can make you feel like you are less valued as a member of society.

However, there is some good news. Even if you have bad credit, it is still possible to get a credit card; there are a couple of options available to you no matter what kind of credit history you may have. These credit cards come with some conditions and charges not associated with traditional credit cards, but they can help you to participate more fully in the economy and can also help you to rebuild your credit.

People with poor credit histories can try cards such as the ones offered by many credit card companies to those who would not otherwise qualify; these card have annual fees and APRs which are higher than other offerings, but for many, the chance to rebuild their credit and have the convenience of a credit card make these a worthwhile cost.

Secured credit cards are another option for those with less than perfect credit. These cards require a small deposit (usually a few hundred dollars) and come with a small spending limit, but are otherwise the same as any credit card and can be used anywhere credit cards are accepted.

Prepaid credit cards can also work well for people with poor credit histories - these function just like any other credit card, but are associated with an account which you need to deposit money into before you can use it. Since you cannot spend more than you have deposited, you cannot get yourself in debt using these cards; they are a good choice for people who want to rein in their spending.

Prepaid credit cards let you buy online, rent cars and do all of the other things which a credit card is necessary for.

Bad credit can be tough to deal with. Don't give up; these credit cards for bad credit can help you as you rebuild your credit - just be careful with your new credit card!

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Learn 3 Reasons Why Credit Repair Law Firms Are Scams

By David Wada

There are hundreds of law firms out there that specialize in credit repair. I may get sued for writing this, but its my opinion that credit repair law firms like Lexington Law are scams.

Let's say you have a goal to have perfect credit, meaning no negative entries and the highest credit score possible. Keep in mind that often these law firms can do a great job, but there are couple major problems.

Problem #1: Price Is NOT Right

The most popular law firm charges a $99 set-up fee, and anywhere from $39 to $79 every month that they work on your file. The problem is since the law firms make their money from monthly charges, the longer they take to repair your credit the more money they make. That means that it will cost you between $567 and $2,000 to get your credit fixed. Which is why they're getting very, very rich.

But even that much would be worth it, wouldn't it? If they fix your credit for you? But how much sense does it make to pay $2000 or even $500, when you can get the same benefit from credit repair programs for less than a hundred bucks?! Well, you might say that your time is valuable and it's worth it to pay someone to do all the work.

Problem #2: You Do Most Of The Work Here's a dirty little secret with credit repair law firms. You still have to do most of the work yourself. More work, in fact, than when you use credible repair programs. Here's why:

First of all, you have to sign all kinds of paper work and Power of Attorney forms just to start the process. Some of these forms even require you to get your signature notarized. So the sign up process alone can take hours.

Then, you have to order your own credit reports from the credit bureaus.

Then, the credit bureaus are going to send the reports back to YOU, not to the law firm.

Of course, you then have to re-send the same letters to the law firms so that they have them for the records and making sure you make copies for your own file too.

Then, the law firm is going to scan your credit reports into a computer, and post it on their website.

Then, believe it or not, even with all the money you're paying the law firm, you still have to go to their website and choose for yourself which items you want to dispute and even how to challenge each negative credit item. You heard me right. When I hired a credit repair company, hoping they would take care of my credit, I had to choose which 'items to question' and know which items were errors. I wanted to protest, "How am I supposed to know? That's why I hired a professional!"

The law firm then takes the information you put on their website and create a standard dispute letters that they send to the credit bureaus.

Finally, the credit bureaus will still send all correspondence to your home address. So you will have to open every letter, read it, figure out if it's important, make copies of it for your records, and then put it in another envelope, address it, stamp it, and send it back to the law firm. You might have to do this five or six times every week.

So you can see how inefficient this process is. And because all of this takes so much time, the process drags on and on and the law firm just keeps making more and more money. In fact, credit repair law firms tell you that it can take a year, two years, or even three years before you reach your goal.

Problem #3: Forget about their crappy guarantee All they have to do is improve one item, such as a credit card inquiry, and they consider that they've done their job. Really! There's no money back even if 90% of your credit report is still negative after three years and $2000.

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Stock Market Running Seniors to Reverse Mortgage

By Rimj Vanrock

It isn't a secret that that the stock market is down a solid 35% or more. I don't keep accurate tabs on it because I don't have money in the market.

My money is in real estate. Doesn't that make me smart? That's sarcasm, case you are wondering.

With the stock market down as far as it is I'm getting a ton of calls lately from seniors desirous of getting a reverse mortgage.

Now the question I'm asking them is, "what do you hope to accomplish with a reverse mortgage?"

Well, the first thing I need to do is step back and understand the stress they are under.

But the question of using a reverse mortgage as some sort of damn to the financial mess or financial safety net doesn't make sense. Not at this point, at least for the reasons at hand.

The majority of my recent phone calls want a reverse mortgage to act as an additional layer of security for them. After a 40% reduction in their saving one can relate, but one also has to ask if this is prudent.

I have serious questions about this logic. Other, more panicked or more aggressive potential clients (I'm not sure which) believe the market has seen its worst days are looking to plant reinvest their home equity into the market.

I have to admit I believe this second person is making a mistake. I mean, what is a good return anyway? 10%, maybe. Well, it will probably cost them over 6% to get the reverse mortgage.

The math doesn't work out very well, even if they get 10%. Less than a 4% return.

Look, the reverse mortgage is not the best investment strategy. Now, if you have a sure fire winner, I'd say go ahead and do it. But who has that. Last person I knew who had a sure fire winner went to jail for insider trading.

The best thing to do is to have glass of milk and cookie right now. Take a deep breath thereafter and sleep on it. Tomorrow, if you still want to get a reverse mortgage, call me.

Credit Cards For People With Bad Credit

By Gray Rollins

If you have had credit trouble or other financial difficulties in the past, it can be difficult, if not impossible to be approved for a credit card. This is a very heavy hardship, since a credit card is needed to do many things now.

Want to rent a car? Reserve a hotel room? Buy plane tickets online? You need a credit card for all of these and other activities which are part and parcel of ordinary life for many. Without a credit card, whole sectors of the economy are basically closed to you - it's a hassle and makes you feel like a second class citizen!

People with bad credit do still have a few options open to them. Even with poor credit, there are ways to get a credit card. While these cards come with some larger fees and interest rates attached, they can help you to rebuild your credit and let you participate more fully in daily life.

People with poor credit histories can try cards such as the ones offered by many credit card companies to those who would not otherwise qualify; these card have annual fees and APRs which are higher than other offerings, but for many, the chance to rebuild their credit and have the convenience of a credit card make these a worthwhile cost.

If your credit is in especially poor shape, another way to get a credit card and start rebuilding your credit is to get a secured credit card. There are some limitations on these cards (a low spending limit, basically) as well as a deposit which you'll need to make in order to receive the card. This deposit is generally pretty low - a few hundred dollars, typically. These are one of the best options for people who cannot get a traditional credit card.

Prepaid credit cards can also work well for people with poor credit histories - these function just like any other credit card, but are associated with an account which you need to deposit money into before you can use it. Since you cannot spend more than you have deposited, you cannot get yourself in debt using these cards; they are a good choice for people who want to rein in their spending.

These prepaid credit cards do not have all of the advantages of traditional credit cards, but they do allow you to have access to those transactions which can only be done by credit card. These cards are a good tool for those rebuilding their credit and trying to keep a handle on their spending as they do so.

When you find yourself with bad credit, it can be a difficult situation. Don't despair though - these credit cards for bad credit can help you to reestablish your good credit and demonstrate your trustworthiness to lenders again. Just remember to use them with care!

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Getting The Right Guaranteed Student Loans

By Trinity Foster

So youve decided you want to go to college, but you arent sure how you are going to pay for it? There are several different scholarship and loan options available to future college students. If you do need to borrow money, youll want to be sure you receive the best loan possible for you.

Government guaranteed student loans are usually the least expensive to students. This is because the government assumes the responsibility for the loan so the lending institution doesnt have to.

For almost fifty years, these types of loans have been offered. The government assumes all of the responsibility of making sure the loan is repaid on time and in full. Any default on the loan is covered by the government so the lending institution doesnt have to be as concerned about losing money on the loan. Lenders wont use your credit score as a qualifying factor in receiving the loan. This is good news for some of you who may have bad credit.

Stafford loans are especially advantageous. Your credit history is generally not a qualifying factor either since the government is assuming the responsibility for any default on the loan. The lending institution doesnt have to be as concerned with losing money on the loan.

The government also takes the responsibility for the interest accrued while you are in school and for the first six months after you are done with school. Obviously, this is a really great benefit to the borrower. Rather than accruing interest on the money youve borrowed throughout the entire time you are in school, you only owe the principal. This allows you proper time to concentrate on school and complete a degree.

The six months after school gives the student time to find a good job so there is a greater likelihood of being able to repay the loan in full. Historically, a subsidized Stafford loan was always called a guaranteed government loan.

But now, any loan which is guaranteed against default by the government is referred to as a government guaranteed loan. Subsidized Stafford loans are still the least expensive loans since there is the benefit of not accruing interest, but in order to qualify for one, you have to prove financial need.

So, if you dont qualify, there are still other government guaranteed student loans you can receive. They continue to be the safest way to borrow money for school.

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Help If You Have Less Than Perfect Credit

By Linda Kay Holt

The economy has forced many with pristine credit records to seek alternative lenders for loans. Bad credit lending has become big business recently. Since many of the major lending companies reject the business of bad credit borrowers, these bad credit lenders specialize in a niche market that grows larger every day.

This is why you will hardly find any which will allow you to negotiate their interest rates to more affordable rates. Since these private companies are taking so much risk in lending cash to somebody who is supposed to be not eligible for more conventional loans, they are in position to charge more for their loans.

For the person who badly needs the loan, these bad credit lenders are their only options. Use caution when applying to the numerous bad credit lenders. Many charge for the right to make an application. It is therefore important that one should not dive into the first offer that you get. It could be absolutely devastating to be in a pit of debt and be scammed. So, a thorough research of the company background should help.

Getting new loans from bad credit lenders is possible. It will require some diligence on your part. Be prepared to provide more documentation than what is typical in a traditional loan process.

Lenders know you have less than perfect credit. They will however want to now why. That will have to be provided in a explanation letter. You may have to write several of these letters.

It is likely that you once had good credit and circumstances change in life. Lenders just want to know, you will pay your bills again. Given proper documentation lenders are more apt to provide a loan.

It costs more to obtain a loan with less than perfect credit. Do not expect those lower rates you have seen advertised. Those rates are reserved for those with pristine credit. You will pay more to secure your loan, but a good payment record over time will allow you to refinance at some point in the future to get that lower rate.

One year of paying your loans on time is all it takes to restore your credit history and insure that you can qualify for more loans in the future.

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Military Retirement - Special Tools for Planning

By Michael Geoffrey

Military retirement calculators are a special tool designed to help people in the military plan for their retirement. A normal military career is only 20 years which is much shorter than the average civilian career which starts in your mid twenties and doesn't end until your early sixties. Therefore, a person retiring from the military has a comparatively shorter amount of time to prepare for retirement. For these special retirement needs there is a special military retirement calculator.

Of course planning for your retirement from the military should start while you are still actively in the military. Your banking institution will be able to help you in finding a military retirement calculator that can help you start planning. Most people in the military are members of a credit union and that is always a great source of information.

Getting help at your credit union is a good idea because they have years of experience working with the military personnel and their specific retirement needs. They can answer any questions you have about your military retirement and they can do so using a military retirement calculator.

A Military Retirement Calculator Will Provide Important Figures

One of the unique circumstances of the military is that they do not stay in one place very long. While other people may continue to live wherever they have worked for years after they retire, a person in the military will have to think about where to live since he has probably lived in several places while he was working. The matter of where to live is going to have great impact on retirement planning.

After retirement, military people will have to make decisions about their permanent residence. They might want to consider proximity to a large military facility where they might do their shopping to save extra money. Military bases might provide them extra savings on car repair and gardening as well as groceries. These factors might be considered when using a military retirement calculator.

A military retirement calculator can be a great tool, but it is only as good as the figures entered for calculations. Each person using one of these great devices should make sure that they get their facts and figures straight before using a military retirement calculator. A calculator will not know that you are eligible for certain benefits based on military service.

The calculator can handle different sets of circumstances depending on the facts provided. The calculator will not figure out that you want a beachfront cottage which might be more expensive, but a savvy person will find out the figures for this type of residence to use when making calculations.

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Choosing The Right Home Mortgage Loan

By John Bear

Do the words fixed rate, balloon loan, and adjustable rate mortgages mean anything to you? If they don't and you are planning to buy a home, then you have to go through a quick terminology lesson. Those previously mentioned words happened to be the three most common types of home loans, so let's discuss each one of them so as to choose the best mortgage deal.

First is the fixed rate loan and with this, you will have a fixed interest rate and that will not change for the life of the loan. So if you plan to buy a home and stay in it until you pay it off, then this would be the loan for you. Just take note that if interest rates go higher, yours will just stay the same. But just hope that they will not go down as you will be paying a higher interest rate.

The second type of loan is the adjustable rate mortgage or ARM wherein its interest rate goes along with the market. So when the interest rate goes low, your home mortgage rate goes low as well and if high, then your rate goes high too. Since the rate on a home mortgage loan affects your payments, you will not have any idea how much you will be paying for your monthly mortgage.

This type of loan would be more preferred by those individuals who buy a house for investment purposes then plan to sell it fast as they can probably use the low interest rates, especially if they may get lower.

Another smart move in using an ARM is to buy a home during the time when interest rates are on the decline. You can have the ARM changed to fixed rate home mortgage loan whenever the interest rates reach the bottom.

The third type is the Balloon Home Loan. With this type, you will make monthly payments for a fixed amount of time, with a fixed interest rate. The difference is that at the end of the payment schedule, you will likely owe the unpaid balance in one lump sum. So if you use a balloon mortgage, you will find that the interest rates are much lower than either a fixed rate mortgage or an ARM.

The only drawback of a balloon loan is at the end, you have to make a huge payment but if you plan to keep the house for only a short period, this can just be the right loan for you.

When you get to really understand the types of home loans then you will be more confident and prepared to make the right decision in getting the best home mortgage loan for you and your family.

?Credit Repair Form Letter ??" Good to Use or Bad to Use?

By William Blake

There are form credit repair letters all over the internet. They can be helpful if you find yourself needing to correct an error on your credit report or you are being harassed by debt collectors who are constantly calling your house. It is a stressful thing to have to deal with credit report errors or debt collectors. You may not feel that you are able to write an effective letter under such a stressful situation. Should you turn to the form letters on the internet for help?

Warning Signs

There are thousands and thousands of form letters out there to choose from. There is also sample letter prepared by the government that can be found on the Federal Trade Commission website. Which is a better choice? How can you decide?

When you are trying to choose a form letter to go by there are a few warning signs to look for of letters you do not want to use. For example, if a letter is threatening you do not want to use it. Words like, "if you ignore this letter I'll sue" or "you better stop harassing me" are phrases to be avoided. If a form letter contains statements like these keep looking. You do not want to send this type of letter to a credit bureau or any of your creditors.

Another warning sign is sentences in phrases written in all caps or sentences ending with an exclamation mark. This is not a professional way to write. It is like screaming at a person and that is anything but professional. If you send a letter like this you can expect that your letter will be ignored. It is disrespectful and therefore will earn you no respect.

When Worse Comes To Worse

If the form letters intimidate you and you just can't decide it may be best to write you own letter. If you are going to do this remember that you want to keep the letter short. Be direct and respectful. Briefly explain what the letter is and your purpose in writing it. If you have a friend, an accountant or other financial expert that you can talk to, get some advice about how to write the letter.

Write the letter as if you are writing it for someone else and you are not personally involved. You do not want to show any emotion ??" anger, fear or frustration. Just state the facts as clearly and briefly as possible.

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Simple Tips On Refinance Mortgage Loan

By John Bear

Finding the best refinancing deal would have to involve comparing lenders, but we know for a fact that those numbers can get pretty complicated, especially when you are to investigate rates, fees, and points. But of course, if a mortgage company has the lowest rates, it doesn't necessarily mean that it has the best deal for you.

Many of the financing companies post their rates online. In fact, the lower interest on an ARM or fixed-rate mortgage can be tempting, but do look at the fine print. What fees or points are required for the rate? Mortgage lenders tend to lure consumers with low initial numbers only to have high closing costs. The best number to look at is the APR.

The federal law requires the annual percentage rate, or the APR, to be disclosed to consumers before signing any contract. The APR would include the interest rate of the mortgage and closing costs and this will give you an accurate idea of the total cost of the refinance mortgage loan.

Yes, your refinanced mortgage may also have closing costs, just like your original mortgage. The standard fees would include origination, appraisal, and closing fees, and points may be required to secure a low rate. Just by looking at the APR, you can then figure which lenders will be offering the best fees in relation to the rates.

When researching for a mortgage, ask about penalty fees too, as early payment or late payment fees can be expensive. In some cases, you may waive part of these fees, such as early payment, by paying a point at closing.

However, depending on your current situation, the lowest rate refinance mortgage loan may not be the best deal all the time. Take for an example, if you plan to move in a couple of years, paying points for low rates may not be able to save you more money.

Before refinancing, decide on how long you plan to keep the mortgage. Then, compare the costs of mortgages for how long you will have them, even if you take out a 30 year mortgage that you plan to have for only a couple of years. Mortgage calculators can always help with the math.

So to find the best option regarding your refinance mortgage loan, request quotes for refinancing your mortgages together and separately. Try to look at different lenders to ensure you are getting the most competitive deal. Doing research and analyzing lenders will surely help you get the best refinancing deal for your situation.

A Story About Signature Loans for People with Bad Credit

By Mark Richardson

The day may come when you have use for a personal loan with a term shorter than a few months. For example, you might find yourself in early April faced with a big tax burden and no liquid funds on hand to pay the government. You had no your business's sales were going to be so stellar, and now you're up against the bitter sweet situation of earning a lot of money and consequently owing a lot of it to the government.

You face one big challenge: in spite of the fact that you put in reserve the necessary funds for the government's bill, your tax account no longer has any money in it due to the fact that you and some associates took an unplanned vacation to Las Vegas. If only the government had sympathy toward your spontaneous lifestyle, you wouldn't have any stress right now. Unfortunately, they don't, and now you're going to have to get someone to lend you enough money to pay your taxes - or you'll be paying the penalty.

And here you are without the cash, and that's not all. You also don't have the good credit a person might use to borrow the cash you need to pay your taxes. It turns out having your brand new Chevy Truck taken back by the bank when you couldn't make your payments ruined your credit. If you had good credit any number of banks or credit card companies would give you the money to pay the government right now, but no such luck.

And now you face quite the dilemma - the government wants its money, your cash reserves are empty, and tax day isn't getting any further away. But it doesn't have to be a total loss - you can borrow the money you need, but it's going to take some creativity. You can find signature loans for people with horrible credit.

What exactly is a signature loan? You go to your local bank, fill out their forms, smile, shake their hands, and head home with a wad of cash to help you survive tax day. It's an uncomplicated process, but their going to want more than a big smile from you if they're going to give you the money.

How much money do you make? Any intelligent bank will want to know that your earnings are at least triple the amount of your loan amount. In the face of a sub-600 Fico score, big paychecks will soothe the worries of a skittish lender.

Another qualification requirement may be to secure their money with some type of collateral. Any savvy lender, whether it's a bank or your cousin Mel, likes the idea of being able to recover their money through the sale of your possessions in the event you decide to take off to Mexico before completing your payments. Be smart about what you offer as collateral - the ideal scenario here is you'll give them something with some value, but not something you'd actually be sorry to lose.

Make a strong case to your prospective bank. Let them know you're a person of integrity, and you will repay the debt if they take a chance on lending you the money. And for future reference - don't spend your tax money in Vegas.

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Why It Is Important To Control Your Credit Card Spending

By Michael Benifez

The next time you whip out your credit card to pay for something, you need to remember that as easy as it is to use that card, it is just as easy to run up an enormous debt. Most people do this without a second thought, but it happens before you even realize it.

Attempting to pay off credit card debt can be daunting and a scary prospect, it requires discipline and dedication. Most people do not intentionally run up debts they cannot pay, it happens over a long period of time due to reckless and careless spending. Credit card debt out-of-control does not take long to catch up to you, and sooner or later you are going to feel the pinch.

The harsh reality is that there is no quick fix to paying off your credit card debts, but there are things you can do now to be proactive and handle the situation. The first step is to cut up all of your credit cards and stop spending or the temptation to overspend.

You have to learn to live within your means and not to be heavily dependent upon the ease of using a credit card in daily life. You have to learn to live on a budget for things such as groceries and gas, these are everyday expenses that you cannot avoid. You may find you have difficulty in paying off monthly expenses, but you need to move forward to the next step in getting out of credit card debt.

Most people find breaking the reliance on credit cards is a very hard cycle. You have to work hard to save money in whatever way you can and avoid spending money on things you do not need. If you have the chance to work overtime at work do it, and take the extra money and apply it to paying off the balance on your credit cards.

You may even have to buckle down even further and take on a second job to get the debt paid off faster, or you might as well try some balance transfers options if you are using more than one card, you have to do whatever it takes if you are going to get out of the vicious cycle of credit card debt even if you have zero-interest balances. You will hate giving up things you enjoy and you will possibly even resent not being able to spend your extra hard earned money, but at some point all this hard work is going to pay off.

You will see the end results when you see your balances shrinking each month. If you work your plan and plan your work, you will be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to get control over your finances again.

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3 Tips for Finding a Consumer Credit Counseling Service

By Steve Collins

Selecting a consumer credit counseling service seems like a pretty straightforward task. However, with the field growing by leaps and bounds, it is in your best interest to take some time and follow a few tips to make sure that the consumer credit counseling service you choose is reputable and offers the best services.

One recent and regrettable trend in the industry has been a steady rise in the numbers of consumer complaints lodged with various reporting agencies and watchdog groups that keep an eye on the consumer credit counseling service industry. Sadly, whenever an industry sees real growth year after year, the temptation of easy money invites disreputable players who, provide poor service and even actively work to cheat customers. It is particularly upsetting when the business caters to people who are already facing grave financial problems.

One of the best tips when searching for a credit counseling agency is to pass over any consumer credit counseling service that has not been in business at least 8-10 years. An extensive track record in the consumer credit counseling service industry usually indicates a business that is run professionally and that provides good services for the fees they charge.

A second tip is to verify the professional accreditation of each consumer credit counseling service you're considering. Look for agencies that have been formally accredited by either (or both) the Council on Accreditation (COA) or the International Standards Organization (ISO). Note: always make sure that the consumer credit counseling service you choose has a current accreditation with these organizations! Some will have been accredited in the past, but may be operating now on a expired certificate.

Finally, due diligence requires verifying with the Better Business Bureau and your State's Attorney General's Office for complaints against the agency. You might be surprised by what you uncover with these simple checks. Many disreputable credit counseling agencies remain in business, even after many complaints have been lodged against them. Take the time to check each one out thoroughly before choosing one and paying them for their services.

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What Is The Leading Poor Credit Mastercard?

By James Read

Even in these hard times there are a huge number of credit cards inundating the market and even if you unfortunately have a bad credit score, the likelihood is you may still be eligible for some of them. All The Same, individuals who are finding themselves in a poor credit situation will find that Mastercard and Visa are the two companies that are most likely to say yes to to supplying a credit card. The main thing you need to consider is, what makes a poor credit Mastercard a more advisable choice to try for over Visa?

Retail outlets around the globe readily accept both forms of credit card and although Visa seemed to have a greater number places it was accepted, that is not the situation as these are now closely matched. Now it seems, in many cases it is often Mastercard that is recognised more easily and received in retail outlets and other establishments. While the advantages of both will be pretty similar to the other cards, they will more than likely discover that the interest amount charged by the two parties will be a little higher than usual. Nevertheless, providing the person issued a Mastercard only ever uses it in a responsible fashion, and makes the payments before they are due, they will soon see improvements in their credit rating. This behavior may also have a reduction in the interest rate you would normally pay once the credit has been cleaned up.

Generally with any financial agreement, it is always best to check out the terms and conditions you have to adhere to if you are making an application for a bad credit, credit card. Of course, the Internet is the quickest and easiest method to find out more about what avenues are open to somebody in your financial predicament. Those unfortunate people with a poor credit record can see exactly which companies will issue a Mastercard to an individual who is experiencing this situation.

Listed below are just a couple of the potential cards you may discover or be allowed to request, so it is a good idea to learn exactly what you will be able to anticipate from them in advance.

1. Continental Finance Gold MasterCard

With this card, information is sent to the three main credit accounting agencies on how sensibly you are utilising your card which provides a continual way of repairing your credit history. Quite often a credit company will choose to increase the amount available to spend on the card if they see the person it has been supplied to is behaving well and making instalments regularly.

2. Orchard Bank Platinum MasterCard

Quite often, companies will need an administration payment before issuing the credit card which can be awkward for numerous people but that is not the case with this card and despite this they still extend protection on all the products it is used to buy. You can also be assured that this card, just like the Continental Finance Gold Mastercard, forwards accounts on a regular basis to the three credit authorities which can quickly better your record. The two primary advantages to this unusual card over similar versions includes the closely matched APR it makes and a much smaller annual payment which can be of fantastic assistance to those who are in a bad way.

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