Published Sunday, December 18, 2011 @ 8:37 am

Think your old credit score was bad?

Well, now there’s a new kind of credit score taking center stage…and setting the stage for financial institutions to make even more money off of the poorest Americans.

According to The Huffington Post, “The new CoreScore looks at financial records such as credit card borrowing, bank transactions and mortgage information, much like a traditional FICO credit score.…

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Published Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 5:13 am

Everything old is new again with news that private investment firms are now lending to subprime borrowers again.

In fact, based on a Wall Street Journal report, subprime borrowers—home buyers whose credit scores do not meet the standards of banks—who had been largely shut out of the lending market in the years since the financial crisis, are now finding a much more liberal environment for getting a home loan.…

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Published Wednesday, June 15, 2011 @ 2:36 pm

While many Americans learned a harsh lesson during the economic recession—turning away from reckless spending in an attempt to increase much-needed savings and avoid high-interest consumer debts—auto lenders still did well during the downturn, as demand for cars remained high and auto loans became one of the very few types of consumer debts that grew even as consumer confidence dwindled.…

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Published Monday, May 30, 2011 @ 8:28 am

Whether you’ve just concluded the bankruptcy process, been denied credit, are checking up on an identity theft incident, considering buying a home, or any other financial endeavor, it pays to check out your credit report. Why? Because when you’re trying to rebuild your credit health or prove you’re a good credit risk, it’s important to see what others see, namely your credit score.…

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Published Saturday, March 26, 2011 @ 11:00 am

For jobless Americans—forced from their careers during an era of economic uncertainty (and in an environment of staggering unemployment rates)—the lingering financial malaise has proven to be more than just a little bit hazardous to their health.

As it turns out, nine million laid-off Americans lost all health insurance in last two years.…

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Published Monday, March 7, 2011 @ 7:49 am

If you’re a recent retiree or even if you have long-since left the workforce, the lingering economic malaise just got a little bit more hazardous to your health. As it turns out, many states and municipalities searching for places to trim their budgets are setting their sights on the relatively sizeable expenses of providing health care benefits to millions of retired state and local workers.…

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Published Monday, January 24, 2011 @ 6:19 pm

In the beginning weeks of 2011, Americans all across the country are making (and sometimes breaking) resolutions of all types: vows to finally lose those holiday pounds; promises to eat healthier and exercise more; and possibly (and more probably) earnest efforts to lower debt and save more during these tough economic times.  But for those financially-strapped individuals who are bankruptcy bound or finally exiting the process, some resolutions are worth keeping.…

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Published Monday, December 20, 2010 @ 7:17 am

Question: When can an $11 medical bill mean bankruptcy?

Answer: When the bill is issued in error and the resultant collection proceedings drop your credit score to the point where you can’t get a credit card to help pay the bills, apply for a car loan that helps you get to work, or even refinance your mortgage to a more affordable rate.…

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Published Friday, July 30, 2010 @ 8:42 pm

It seems that in today’s difficult economic weather, just about everyone is a risk for a lender.

Earlier this month, FICO, Inc. (the company that develops credit risk metrics) reported that America’s collective credit score is at an all-time low. Close to 43.4 million consumers have a credit score at or below 599, which is the risk benchmark for the majority of lenders.…

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Published Friday, July 2, 2010 @ 8:14 am

Bankruptcy Myth #1: You won’t receive credit offers after your bankruptcy.

Don’t be surprised to receive many credit offers following your bankruptcy. Car lenders, mortgage financiers, credit card companies and more, often line up for the chance to provide post-bankruptcy debtors with all types of consumer spending opportunities.

Bankruptcy Myth #2: Taking creditors up on all of their offers is a good thing.…

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Published Saturday, February 6, 2010 @ 8:29 am

As someone facing serious financial difficulty, learning how much money is made by the huge banks to which you owe money can be frustrating. While we understand that we need to be accountable for our decisions, it stings to realize that profit models are often based on customers going into debt.…

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Published Saturday, January 9, 2010 @ 8:45 am

By now most consumers know that one of the first things to take a hit when debt problems come knocking is the good ol’ credit score. Sometimes people end up with a bad debt hanging like an albatross around their necks–and dragging down their credit scores–for years. But there is light at the end of the tunnel: negative information can only legally remain on your credit report for so long before it gets wiped away.…

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Published Tuesday, December 8, 2009 @ 1:40 pm

When you are dealing with debt collectors, it’s essential to stand up for yourself and remember that your rights are protected by federal law. Debt collectors like to intimidate debtors by making them feel like they play fast and loose with standards of debt repayment. Yet in reality, it is often the debt collectors who play fast and loose with the law.…

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Published Thursday, May 28, 2009 @ 12:31 pm

As if we didn’t have enough things to worry about, it seems like every day another TV commercial, pop-up ad or credit card offer is telling you to worry about your credit score and pay someone to look at it.  Unfortunately, these messages, while pesky, are partly right; credit scores are now an important tool in the arsenal of an informed consumer.  Based on the way these offers are phrased, anyone might think that simply looking at your credit score is going to somehow fix it.…

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