Why Some “Free Credit Reports” Are Not Free
Have you ever heard that catchy jingle on TV that talks about a free credit report? Did you inquire more with a visit to their web site, only to be either disappointed, or worse, fooled into paying...
View ArticleGetting it All on Paper – How to Make a Budget
Congratulations! You’ve decided to make a budget. This is an important first step on the way to financial freedom. But where to start? It can seem overwhelming at first. But if you take it...
View ArticleWhat is “Reaffirming” Secured Debt?
With a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you need to disclose whether you intend to keep or give back certain things, like your house or your car. If you want to keep something and continue paying on it, though,...
View ArticleWhat to Expect at the 341 Bankruptcy Meeting
When filing for bankruptcy, many clients express anxiety at the thought of the Meeting of Creditors (also called the 341 meeting, after Section 341(a) of the Bankruptcy Code). Knowledge is power, and...
View ArticleHow to Stop Wage Garnishment
Wage garnishment can be a very distressing event. Wage garnishment means that a creditor has gone to court and gotten a judgment against you, and you haven’t paid. The creditor can then go back to...
View ArticleCredit Cards and Bankruptcy
With credit cards as easy to get as ever and disruptions to income, such as job loss or serious medical disability, occurring to people every day, it’s no wonder that credit cards make up a large...
View ArticleHow Can Using Retail or Gas Cards Help Re-Establish Credit?
After bankruptcy, you may have to use more than one approach to re-establish credit. With any approach, the main thing is making regular payments. You are rebuilding trust with lenders and on time...
View ArticleSecured Credit Cards: An Option for Restoring Credit after Bankruptcy
Whether you are a young person starting out with no credit or are re-establishing credit after bankruptcy, one credit-building option is a secured credit card. A secured credit card requires a deposit...
View ArticleActions that Damage Your Credit Score the Most
Today, people can monitor their credit scores by subscribing to services that provide them with periodic credit reports. People often have a fear of never fixing their credit scores after bankruptcy or...
View ArticleHave Faith, and a Plan: Tips to Restore Your Credit
Follow a Budget. Your budget is your spending plan that will help you live below your means, preventing you from accumulating unnecessary debt. Set money aside. Open a long-term account at a bank or...
View ArticleKeep An Eye on Your Bankruptcy Risk Score
Vince Laboon needed a loan to make home improvements. Shortly after he applied for a $15,000 home equity line of credit, Laboon got a letter from the bank with his “bankruptcy score." The letter did...
View ArticleHow to Correct a Credit Report Error
Gary Lindner is a Pittsburg small-business owner who always pays his bills. In his 20 years as a Duquesne Light customer, his service was never interrupted for nonpayment. You can imagine his shock to...
View ArticleCommon Credit Report Errors
Credit report errors are more common than you many think. A recent study from the Federal Trade Commission found 26 percent of consumers had a material error on their credit report, and five percent of...
View ArticleShort Sales Increase Across Pennsylvania
Short sales are on the rise across central Pennsylvania. A short sale is a potential way to avoid foreclosure for homeowners who find themselves underwater on their mortgages. It allows home owners to...
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