After Bankruptcy 4. – Check your credit
You’re entitled to a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months from each of the three national credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
Under those circumstances, if you dispute an item on your credit report, the credit bureau has to complete its investigation in no later than 45 days.
After Bankruptcy 3. – Secured card option
Of course, in today’s credit-driven society, it’s hard not to have a credit card. You need one to rent a car and reserve a hotel room. One way to re-establish your credit is by obtaining what’s called a secured credit card.
A secured card requires a cash collateral deposit that becomes the credit line for that [...]
After Bankruptcy 2. – Don’t put it on plastic
Use consumer credit as little as possible and only as a last resort. This doesn’t include a mortgage or perhaps a car loan.
Don’t be surprised if after bankruptcy you’re inundated with credit offers because creditors know that you’re starting with a clean slate, and they’re eager to get you back into the credit world.
After Bankruptcy 1. – Spend smart
After a bankruptcy, the first thing you need to do is to figure out how you got into financial trouble in the first place.
Was it simply that you didn’t live within your means? Or did you lose your job or suffer a serious illness?
In the News
Financial institutions, including credit card companies, can have difficulty weathering slowdowns in the economy, just like we consumers can. Recessions force credit card companies to find stable ways of making money. According to the credit website lowcards.com, a British bank now owned by American company Citigroup could be setting a disturbing precedent.
Ameriprise financial advisor Jason [...]
Surviving credit card temptation in college
Debt 101: Jennifer Moreau, a fourth-year student at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, knows quite a few people who have looked to credit cards or loans to make it through college. And some of her peers have fallen victim to credit card debt.
It’s a miserable situation. And it ruins your credit, which is extremely important [...]
Navigating the deluge of credit cards
In a country from which there are hundreds of credit cards to choose, picking one that best suits your financial needs and lifestyle is no easy task.
There are cards that offer rewards, cards that tout low interest rates and cards that have no annual fees.
Many of these credit card offers have been dropping into mailboxes [...]