By Sarah Rigg
Perhaps one day you get a credit card bill and it seems higher than usual. After looking more carefully, you notice that your interest rate has gone up. You may wonder who decides when your rates go up and how you can fight back against traps hidden in the fine print. Here you'll learn more about the regulation of credit card interest rates. Credit card companies are not directly regulated...
By Joseph Nicholson
A credit inquiry occurs any time you or a legitimate business checks your credit. Before a lender can make an offer, they almost always first check your credit history, and use the information there to determine how much they're willing to lend, for how long, and at what interest rate. From a lender's point of view, a borrower is only attractive when they borrow within his means to repay. ...
By Lola James
In the world of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development lending there are two types of certifications required to become a lender. The certificate a lender should obtain depends on the type of business transactions the lender would like to do. If you want to deal in home purchases, reverse mortgages or refinances, you want to get a Title II certificate. If you would like to deal with...
By Nicole Harms
If you are ready to apply for a credit card, you may be tempted to just reach for the next credit card application to cross your mailbox and apply. This could be an expensive mistake if you have not done your research. Choosing the best credit card takes a little time and energy, but the results are very worthwhile. If you choose wisely, you could end up with a card that has a low APR, few fees...
By Brian Nelson
Good credit opens up a realm of opportunities. With good credit, a person can not only get loans easier, but also rent a home easier, open a bank account easier, and even get a job easier. So, the question is, just what is good credit and how do I get it and keep it? Good credit comes from having predominantly positive information in a credit report. That good credit history serves as proof to...
By Richard Thomas
Credit card companies want your business just like any other enterprise, so they compete for it. Part of that competition is attracting customers away from rivals by offering special balance transfer APR rates, which encourage borrowers to move debt from other cards onto their cards and the lower, special APR. Sometimes the balance transfer is a good money management practice, but that depends on ...
By Ronni Dee
One single credit report contains a ton of personal information. What can you expect to find on yours? Your credit report will include all of your personal identifying information.
Your full name will be included as well as any known aliases such as maiden names or shortened versions of your first name. For example: Rick or Ricky may appear for a man named Richard.
Your current address as well ...
By Jacquelyn Jeanty
Statistics gathered by the Georgetown University Credit Research Center show as many as 2 million to 2.5 million Americans used credit counseling services in 2002. Almost 75% of them held substantial credit card debt. There are free programs available to assist with managing financial difficulties, and many of them also work to educate their clients on how to better manage their money. Debt...