Don't assume a debt collector is throwing you a life preserver. Demand they verify your debt first. (Photo Credit: CC BY-ND/Gibson Regester/Flickr)

If you’re drowning in debt and need major credit repair, don’t automatically assume that debt collectors have your best interests at heart. Their job is to get paid, and the truth is that sometimes, unscrupulous techniques are used that can be illegal. Before agreeing to a payment plan or even filing for bankruptcy, demand that the collector verify your debt in writing.

Debt validation: A bankruptcy scenario

Bankrate.com provides a useful example of a scenario in which someone should demand that a debt collector validate a debt. A couple has a home with a mortgage that is in both their names. One person is in collections with $30,000 in credit card debt solely in her name. She is considering filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, but the couple is concerned about losing the house in the deal.

While there are some potential complications that would require the consultation of a bankruptcy attorney (or two, if a second opinion is desired), Bankrate points out that filing for either Chapter 13 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy will generally not put a home at risk.

How to get aggressive with unscrupulous debt collectors

Get everything in writing when dealing with debt collectors. Don’t reveal bank account information when they push to set up automatic payments. Demand that the debt collector provide a fax number or address to which you can submit a request for debt validation. Simultaneously, dispute the debt in question.

By demanding debt verification, you’re demanding that the debt collector prove that you owe the money, that the collector has the legal right to collect and that the original company that held the account is clearly identified. By disputing the debt, you’re one step ahead in case the debt is erroneous or the collector does not have the information. Few things are as fruitless as giving money to a collection company that may not even own your account.

Know your legal rights

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a consumer has the right to force a debt collector to validate a debt. Attorney Tom Martin of Price Law Group says that if debt collectors fail to comply, they cannot legally continue to harass a consumer for payment. If the collector continues, the consumer may even be entitled to monetary damages. But that’s not all:

“If a debt collector receives a dispute from a consumer, and the debt collector has been reporting the consumer’s account to the credit bureaus, the collector must also start reporting the account as disputed,” Martin reminds.

As a final note, the “get it in writing” directive must also apply to the consumer. If any debt payments are made, receipts and statements should be kept as proof in the event of a lawsuit.

Sources

Bankrate
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
Lawyers.com: bankruptcy attorneys
U.S. Courts

What happens when you’re drowning in debt?

Renters, Experian wants to help you with credit repair. (Photo Credit: CC BY-ND/Christopher/Stumble Forward)

Renters interested in rebuilding their credit scores now have another tool at their disposal, reports The Detroit News. The credit bureau Experian, which acquired the property management database company RentBureau last summer, will begin factoring rental history into credit scores. This move will help scores of consumers, but it may also hurt, experts say.

Millions affected by Experian’s decision at launch

Experian RentBureau, which collects rental history data from property management companies across the U.S. on a daily basis, makes renter data available almost instantaneously through a powerful database delivery system. Before the acquisition, RentBureau had collected up-to-date payment history data on about 8 million renters, a number that is expected to expand exponentially thanks to the new connection with Experian’s database of more than 215 million U.S. consumers. A few million consumers will appear in the Experian RentBureau database at roll-out.

Not only will Experian RentBureau make it easier for consumers interested in credit repair, but it will make the tenant screening process much simpler for resident screeners and property managers, enabling them to better protect their investment. Debt collector recovery rates have also increased through the use of the RentBureau system.

Getting credit for being on time

Experian RentBureau Managing Director Brannan Johnston said the service could help one-third of Americans who rent rather than own.

“It’s a huge thing for those individuals who don’t have a credit history, whether they are a recent college grad, an immigrant or maybe even a divorcee,” said Johnston.

Experian began adding positive rental history data in December, reports The Detroit News. By 2012, the company will also begin uploading negative information regarding evictions and skipped rent. Experian currently has no plans to add late payment data, which is not easily reflected in the company’s credit reporting system, but that doesn’t mean that renters can slack off and expect their credit to get off Scot free.

“If you skip out on your apartment, chances are that the manager is going to turn it over to collection and the collection agency will report to a major bureau,” said Johnston.

The credit reporting industry hasn’t caught on – yet

Credit bureaus Equifax and TransUnion, as well as credit-scoring company FICO, do not have plans to incorporate RentBureau information at this time. FICO spokesman Craig Watts said that once FICO has analyzed RentBureau data internally, the company will make a decision as to whether it should factor in to a consumer’s overall credit score.

Tips for renting without a credit check

In some cases, it is possible for a consumer to rent an apartment without undergoing a credit check. Much like consumers with bad credit who are able to take out short term loans, other methods of evaluating a tenant’s worthiness are available. Ask around. About.com suggests using Craigslist and Sunday newspaper classifieds to find landlords who do not use traditional credit checks. In general, a no credit check rental agreement will need a co-signer and should expect to pay more each month.

Sources

About.com

The Detroit News

Experian

How RentBureau works

Experian is adding renters history to its formula for credit scores, which is good news for many people. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Credit score bureau Experian is now including renter history in its formula for adding up credit scores. Previously, only negative marks on a renter’s history, like evictions from non-payment, were added. Now positive marks will be added.

Pay the rent on time and do some credit repair

Credit bureaus typically do not factor renter’s history when calculating credit scores, except when things go horribly wrong. Paying rent on time doesn’t get noticed by credit agencies even if “the rent is too damn high” as Jimmy McMillan astutely observed. However, eviction for financial reasons is reported. The credit bureau Experian is going to start adding rental activity to its score formula, according to CNN. That will include rent payments, whereas only mortgage payments were previously included in calculating a credit score. Now a person only needs to pay rent on time to do a little credit repair.

Participation unfortunately limited

Rental history being reported to credit bureaus would be fantastic for many people, as it would mean a positive history is established before trying to get a loan for a home or a car. However, participation is going to be limited for some time. Experian’s RentBureau unit is only getting reports from 45 rental property management companies and info on  eight million renters so far. Unfortunately, college students from Arizona to Alabama and beyond might not be improving their scores by being responsible. Those interested to know should contact their landlords to find out if they report to Experian or request a credit report from Experian.

New rules for credit scores

Credit bureaus have new rules to abide by because of the Dodd Frank Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which alter the rules for credit disclosure, according to the Wall Street Journal. A person applying for an installment loan has the right to know what their credit score is. However, the laws don’t mandate that loan lenders disclose which credit bureau’s score was used. However, one free annual credit report from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion can be requested through AnnualCreditReport.com.

Sources

CNN

Wall Street Journal

People looking to rebuild or establish credit could try secured credit cards like the kind offered by Wells Fargo and US Bank. Image: MoneyBlogNewz/Flickr.com/CC-BY

There’s a great tool for rebuilding or establishing credit called secured credit cards. Secured cards work just like traditional cards, except the limit is determined by an upfront deposit that secures the credit. Most major banks offer them.

For lousy or nonexistent credit, try secured credit cards

Credit cards are one of the most ubiquitous forms of credit in modern America. There is a way for people who have either a dismal or nonexistent credit history to get credit cards that will help with credit repair or establishing a credit score. They’re called secured credit cards. Secured credit cards have the backing of collateral in the form of an upfront deposit. The deposit, whether for a few hundred or a few thousand dollars, determines the credit limit. Other than that, they work just like typical credit cards. Payments have to be made, and discretion should be used making purchases.

Great way to get credit back on track

Just like trying to find the best personal loan rates, the interest rates and fees of card companies should be checked out thoroughly. Consumers should be cautious; there are perfectly legitimate companies out there, but others are out to rob people blind. If something looks too good to be true, it usually is. If e-mails show up from “Bank of the Gobi Desert,” don’t open them. Beware of cards endorsed by celebrities as well; the “Kardashian Kard” was rated among the worst prepaid debit cards in existence by US News and World Report. Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, and other institutions offer secured cards. You should also consult with local community banks and credit unions. Community banks and credit unions invest into the local area, whereas huge multinational banks invest in ski chalets in Scottsdale and Aspen for executives.

Credit is important

Access to credit is an important part of modern American life, for good or ill. People who want to get a loan to buy a house or fly to Birmingham to watch an Auburn Tigers game but lack sufficient cash on hand, need to have the credit available.

Sample of secured credit cards

Here are the secured credit card offers from Wells Fargo and US Bank.

Get professional credit repair help

Speak to a professional today and take proactive steps to repair your credit. For a FREE credit consultation, call 1-877-563-2076.

Source

U.S. News and World Report

Credit Karma is one of many sites emerging on the web supported by advertising that allows users to access credit score information for free. Vramak/Flickr photo.

Credit Karma is one of many websites that have emerged offering free credit scores. Learning your credit score is easier now, thanks to the financial reform bill signed into law this month. Financial reform legislation, otherwise known as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, requires lenders to show you the credit reports they used to turn you down. But you can keep that from happening by knowing your credit score beforehand and taking steps toward credit repair. Websites like Credit Karma offer to make your credit score available for free anytime, as often as you want to check on it.

Credit Karma service supported by advertising

Credit Karma is a free service supported by advertising. That makes it different from most websites that offer free credit information and then try to lure you into paying for your credit score. Consumer Commentary reports that Credit.com offers a similar free service. Among their differences, Credit Karma evaluates more categories than credit.com when assigning users their credit grade. However, credit.com offers a range for several different types of credit scores. Credit Karma only offers one score directly from one of the reporting bureaus that isn’t a FICO Score.

Is Credit Karma enough for credit repair?

When it comes to credit repair, the usefulness of the credit score available from Credit Karma is questioned by some. At mymoneyblog.com, there’s a catch: it’s not a real FICO score. Your credit score from Credit Karma is a “FICO clone” with a range from 300 to 900. FICO scores range from 300 to 850. Credit Karma, which says it pulls data from Experian, Equifax and Transunion, doesn’t say which bureau supplied the data your credit score is based upon. Plus, you only get your credit score, not who’s pulling your credit, how often they are doing it or information about your existing credit lines.

Are free credit scores really free?

Objections aside, Credit Karma and credit.com appear to be extremely helpful for building, maintaining and repairing credit. Giving up some personal information in exchange for useful credit data is much better for most people than paying $89.95 a year for FICO’s Score Watch. Free credit information is also available at the government-sponsored credit site AnnualCreditReport.com. The site will not give you a numeric credit score, but it will deliver a detailed rundown of factors that affect your credit score. Stay away from sites like creditreport.com and freecreditreport.com. They say you can sign up for free, but after seven days they start billing your credit card $14.95 per month until you make them stop.

Get professional credit repair help

Speak to a professional today and take proactive steps to repair your credit. For a FREE credit consultation, call 1-877-563-2076.

How you handle these could affect your car and house insurance rates. Image from Flickr.

In a Michigan Supreme Court ruling yesterday, insurance companies were given the green light to use one’s credit score as a determining factor for insurance rates. The ruling does not change current insurance company practices. What the ruling does change, though, is the legality of the company pulling a credit report to determine rates.

The credit report insurance rate argument

The argument many insurance companies present to justify using a customer’s financial history to determine rates is simple. Insurance companies say that customers that can get the best personal loan rates also file fewer claims and cost the company less. By giving a good credit break on insurance rates, companies claim to be rewarding customers that cost them less.

The state regulator argument

In 2005, Michigan state regulators tried to ban the credit counseling approach to pricing insurance. The argument is that the practice is discriminatory, especially to customers in lower income brackets. The intent of the law was to create affordable insurance and equal opportunities for all customers.

Supreme Court ruling on credit reports

The Michigan Supreme Court, in the third ruling on this case, declared that the ban exceeded state authority. Michigan law, according to the Supreme Court’s 4-3 ruling, allows the practice of determining insurance rates on credit score. Writing for the majority, Justice Maura Corrigan wrote that “It is difficult to see how offering discounts to some insureds on the basis of good insurance scores is inconsistent with the general purpose of availability and affordability of insurance for all consumers.”

What this means for consumers

What this ruling means for Michigan insurance customers is higher rates for some people. These higher insurance rates are based on a credit score, which may give one more push for customers to explore credit repair. Though credit has not necessarily been shown to be a good indicator of behavior beyond the financial, credit reports are used practically everywhere. Job applications, insurance rates, cell phone plans, even prices on large purchases may be set by someone’s report.

Get professional credit repair help

Speak to a professional today and take proactive steps to repair your credit. For a FREE credit consultation, call 1-877-563-2076.

Knowing your credit score is the most basic fundamental of credit repair. But it’s even more important to know what affects  your credit score. And even more important than that is knowing what you can do to improve your credit score.

Your credit score is free

Thanks to financial reform, doing something about your credit score is easier than ever. Free credit report services are advertised all over the Internet. Until now, those free credit reports didn’t include your credit score. You had to pay extra for that. But part of the recently passed financial reform bill ensures that you can get a free credit report that includes your credit score once per year.

Why is your credit score so low?

When it comes to credit repair, most people don’t know how they affect their credit score. For instance, Wallet Pop reports that many people assume if they pay their bills on time, their credit score is good. The truth is, even if you always pay on time, when your credit cards are maxed out, your score is lower than it should be. When credit bureaus see borrowing to the limit, they see risky behavior. To improve your credit score, tackling excess credit card debt is your first priority.

Credit repair: pay off credit cards first

To raise your credit score, pay off credit card debt first. There are two basic types of debt. Installment debt is secured by collateral, like a car loan. Revolving debt is your credit card balances. For some people, credit card debt revolves forever, which is not good for the credit score. Since credit card balances are unsecured, credit report companies like FICO say they’re more risky than installment loans. So paying off your credit cards will do more to raise your credit score than paying off your car.

Pay off collection agencies last

Unfortunately, if you’ve been taken to collections, your credit score is already hurt. Paying the collection agency won’t change the numbers. Bankrate.com reports that by the time your debt goes to collection, your creditor has already written you off. Although paying the collection agency will end the harassment, the payment won’t erase the delinquency from your credit report. Bear in mind that a surprise call from the collection agency can result from missed payments on everything from utility bills to library fines. The key to protecting your credit score is to avoid collection in the first place.

No thanks to charge cards

To keep your credit score from dropping, keep refusing that charge card every department store tries to sell you. This is because opening and closing credit accounts can lower your credit score. Wallet Pop said FICO credit bureau research has found that opening any type of credit account is automatically seen as more credit risk. If you do get that charge card and pay it off in full, your credit score will rebound in a few months, but it won’t rise above the level it was before you bought that new outfit.

Don’t cancel your credit cards

Sometimes when it comes to credit repair, it looks like the deck is stacked against you. Especially when canceling credit cards can lower your credit score. When you cancel a card, the line of credit it carries goes away. With less credit available, your credit score goes down. Instead of canceling, just zero the credit card out and throw it in your dresser drawer. New credit card rules prohibit credit card companies from canceling cards you don’t use–which used to hurt your credit score–so you don’t  have to worry about that anymore.

Use installment loans wisely

Taking out an installment loan for credit repair is risky, but it can work to pay off credit card debt with personal discipline. If you have a bunch of maxed out credit cards, the new installment loan won’t negatively impact your credit score as much as those debts. For this strategy to lower your credit score, you have to make yourself pay off the credit card debt with the installment loan, and throw the credit cards in the drawer until the installment loan is paid off.

Get professional credit repair help

Speak to a professional today and take proactive steps to repair your credit. For a FREE credit consultation, call 1-877-563-2076.

Personal installment loans online are a practical solution for debt consolidation when overall monthly payments can be lowered with one payment. Flickr photo.

Personal installment loans allow you to borrow cash for whatever you want. You can now apply for personal loans over the Internet, where there are an infinite amount of choices and terms. Personal loans can be used for all types of financial needs . Personal installment loans can be a practical solution for debt consolidation and debt relief, especially if the loan has a lower monthly payment than credit card debts. A secured personal loan requires you to provide the lender with an item or items of collateral. with unsecured personal loans the lender cannot take any of your assets if you default. More risk for the lender makes the interest rates higher.

Loans for people with bad credit

Personal loans online are available for just about anyone, even people with bad credit, a limited credit history or no credit history at all. In all these cases, you can qualify for a personal loan. The interest rate will be higher and the term shorter, but once you get a personal loan and always make the payments on time, you will boost your credit rating and future loans will be easier to get, with better rates and terms.

Fast cash loans no credit check

Personal loans online, unlike auto loans or mortgage loans, can be used at the borrower’s discretion. Any financial need — vacations, car repairs, school expenses, unexpected medical bills, emergency home repairs — can be addressed by setting up a personal loan online. The maximum loan amount for an unsecured personal loan online depends on the lender’s personal loan guidelines. the Best part about getting an unsecured personal loan online is that the entire approved amount appears in your bank account not in months, weeks or days, but right away.

Loan consolidation for debt relief

Debt consolidation and debt relief are some of the most practical reasons to get a personal loan online. Many people use these loans to consolidate other debts into a single monthly payment. The objective debt consolidation is to reduce overall monthly expenses. Before taking out the online personal loan, make sure the monthly payment is less than the total of the payments you were making on all the other debts.

Online loans for credit repair

Getting a personal loan online for debt consolidation is a sound solution for credit repair. A set monthly payment will free you from the endless minimum payment trap of credit card debt. But don’t borrow any more than you need and keep the term as short as possible. The longer the loan term, the more you end up paying. You have to be disciplined enough not to create more debt. Never apply for a personal loan online for debt consolidation until you make an honest commitment with yourself to stop spending more than you earn.

Get professional credit repair help

Speak to a professional today and take proactive steps to repair your credit. For a FREE credit consultation, call 1-877-563-2076.

The oil spill live feed is coming from an internet-connected camera - though one much more water-proof than this. Image from Flickr.

The BP oil spill has been pumping oil into the ocean for more than a month. Just a few days ago, BP released the oil spill live feed at the request of Rep. Edward Markey of Massachusetts. The Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming is co-hosting the oil spill live feed.

Oil spill live feed goes down

Almost immediately after the oil spill live feed was put on the web, it experienced incredibly heavy traffic. On both the committee website and BP website, the oil spill live feed went down multiple times. Since then, though, the feed appears to be fairly reliable. The Spillcam website is maintaining an all-day-every-day feed of the oil spill.

Why the oil spill live feed?

The oil spill live feed was made public after repeated requests to British Petroleum. BP has not been able to provide consistent or definitive answers about how much oil is spilling into the ocean. Credit repair for this beleaguered company will most likely take years – and for good reason. The oil spill live feed has been made public not only in the name of public information, but in the name of possible solutions.

The range of the oil spill

The BP oil spill live feed shows the hundreds of thousands of raw crude oil spilling into the ocean every day. Scientists are analyzing not only the live feed, but the oil that is starting to show up on the coast of the United States. The Loop Current of the Gulf Stream is starting to pick up the oil, and it has the potential to take it as far away as Cuba, the Bahamas, the Eastern Seaboard or farther. While BP has claimed partial responsibility for the spill, Haliburton, Transocean and others have refused to take part of the responsibility for the spill.

No matter who ultimately is responsible, the oil spill live feed is providing a view into the impact of the BP oil spill. The cleanup of this environmental disaster is sure to take years, if not decades.

Christopher Hitchens (left) and Richard Dawkins. (Photo: Flickr)

Scores of people – including some Catholic priests – are urging Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) to resign from his position as Holy Father of the Roman Catholic Church in light of the recent sex abuse scandals and alleged cover-up. However, individuals like prominent biologist/author Professor Richard Dawkins and journalist/author Christopher Hitchens go so far as to support a pending legal case where Pope Benedict would be arrested for “crimes against humanity” when he comes to their native UK later this year, reports the BBC. The campaign that was initiated by Hitchens is backed “wholeheartedly” by Dawkins. The Vatican has already stated that Ratzinger will not resign as a result of the scandal, so nobody should wager any payday loans over it.

Can Dawkins and Hitchens bring suit against the Pope?

This question that Dawkins and Hitchens are pursuing through barrister Geoffrey Robertson and solicitor Mark Stephens isn’t as clear cut as it may first seem. According to the BBC, legal counsel may ask the Crown Prosecution Service to pursue criminal charges against Pope Benedict. Alternatively, they may either refer the case to International Criminal Court or initiate a civil action. Hitchens does not believe the Vatican is a legal state, as it is accepted by the United Nations only as non-member observer state, which could address the likely defense of diplomatic immunity. It remains to be seen what will be decided in this case.

It’s ‘wonderfully lunatic,’ says Dr. William Oddie

Dr. Oddie, former editor of The Catholic Herald, thinks that Dawkins and Hitchens are off their rockers. “What’s lawful is what is lawfully agreed by lawful authorities,” Oddie told the BBC. “In this case, Italian law – the government of Italy – and secondly, international law, determined by the United Nations. Both legal authorities accept the Vatican is a legal state.” Again, the United Nations’ stance and role in any potential lawsuit remains to be seen. Dr. Oddie’s statement may not be entirely correct and his reputation could end up needed credit repair.

Equality before the law

Dawkins recently blogged that he is optimistic that the British government will at the very least “find it very awkward indeed to go ahead with the Pope’s visit.” While sources like BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott point out that some may view Dawkins and Hitchens’ efforts as “a mischievous attempt to create and air of criminality around the Pope,” Guardian columnist George Monbiot believes that putting Pope Benedict XVI on trial would truly show what “equality before the law” means.

Related Video:

Chan Ho Park and wife Ri-hye Park. (Photo: Ump Bump)

While the initial reaction of many Americans to New York Yankees pitcher Chan Ho Park’s diarrhea comment will undoubtedly be laughter, the reality is that the incident reflects a cultural divide between South Korea and America. Sports media in America – particularly New York – approach players aggressively. Players are expected to “play ball” and submit to their questions, or they’re labeled some form of “malcontent” or “clubhouse cancer.” Credit repair is needed after those labels are affixed. Yet South Korean culture dictates that athletes and citizens in general place high value on such concepts as che-myun (“saving face”) and kongson (“politeness”). In explaining why he’d pitched ineffectively in his two appearances previous to the legendary April 7 “Chan Ho Park diarrhea” video, Park no doubt wanted to establish common ground with the American reporters and be cooperative while establishing the bigger picture for his stint of poor pitching.

Chan Ho Park and diarrhea – not a unique New York Yankees experience

Back in 1986, if Chan Ho Park had announced diarrhea to the New York Media, they’d have told him to come up with an original excuse. You see, Yankees pitcher Ed Whitson was already feeling the heat of the New York spotlight back then, and it literally caused him gastro-intestinal distress. Chan Ho Park experienced a human ailment that’s easy to address with payday loans if his salary was tied up in investments at the moment. Yes, diarrhea may be funny to Americans, but South Koreans do not necessarily share the same sense of humor. And, as stated above, it is culturally taboo not to cooperate with authority figures (and the media are treated with less scorn in Asian countries like South Korea than they are in America). Chan Ho Park was only being honest, and if you watch the video, it seems clear that he’s confused by how funny the American reporters find his statement. Either that or he has a great poker face.

What Chan Ho Park diarrhea has to do with the Power Distance Index

According to Dutch psychologist Geert Hofstede, the Power Distance Index (PDI) measures how a particular culture deals with hierarchy and authority. According to veteran military pilot and essayist Albert Southwick, “a culture with a high PDI is more apt to respect authority even when authority is plainly in error.” This could possibly suggest that America’s low PDI score – in tune with the nation’s general lack of respect for authority and foreign beliefs – indicates why the American sports media is always pushing for the sensational story. A native of South Korea – a nation with a high PDI score – would respect the media authority, even if they’re invading his privacy. That could be why Chan Ho Park complied with their questions and revealed what Americans would consider TMI – too much information.

But that’s nothing compared with flaming plane wrecks

Further study of Southwick’s article illustrates the Chan Ho Park diarrhea dynamic, but on a much more serious scale. In the 1990s, Korean Airlines jets got into fatal accidents. The reason speculated is that rather than questioning the clarity of English language instructions from air traffic control towers and possibly appearing as though they were questioning authority, the Korean pilots remained silent and misunderstood. “Chan Ho Park diarrhea” is hardly a “Koreagate” when compared with loss of life, right?

Related Video:

Yes you can really get same day loans!

Yes, you really can get same day loans or short term loans. If you have struggled with less than perfect credit, another late payment on your credit report is the last thing you want. Luckily, even if you have bad credit and you need cash right now, there really are such things as same day loans, which are short term loans you can get today. Luckier still, same day loans are easy to get and are even easy to pay back. There’s typically no credit check. It’s all online. There’s no need to make a phone call or fax anything. The funds of your loan are deposited directly to your bank account.

Same Day Loans help you over the tough times, and here are the good parts:

• Secure, hassle-free, online application
• Funds available in as little as two hours
• Nothing to fax
• No credit check
• Bad credit okay
• No credit okay
• Bankruptcy okay
• Military loans okay

Same Day Loans can keep the situation from getting worse

Bringing your accounts current and paying your debts down are the most important things you can do when your credit score has been compromised by excessive debt or late payments. Just as it took time to damage your credit score, it takes time to repair it. While you’re working toward that goal, it’s essential that you not get further behind.

Making ends meet can be hard, especially if you’ve had a bankruptcy. It can be a wise decision to borrow money if doing so will keep you on track while you rebuild that credit.

Same day loans can be a better choice than credit cards

Even with bad credit, sometimes it’s possible to get credit cards. But using a credit card when you’re out of cash until payday can lead to overspending. You can’t overspend with same day loan, and there are no surprises. It’s easy to spend more than you can pay back month after month with a credit card, until the debt becomes unmanageable. You’ll know exactly how much you owe, when it will be paid, and how much the loan will cost, when you get a short term loan instead of using a credit card.

Same day loans are easy to pay back

Most payday loans are paid in full through a single automatic deduction from your checking account on your next payday. But with a short term loan, you make several smaller payments over a longer period of time, instead of deducting the full amount on your next payday. With a short term loan, you won’t find yourself short of cash again and the payments are easy to work into your budget.

For Same Day Loans Apply HERE

If your child has had the Rotarix vaccine, there is no danger to their health. Image from Picasa.

Yesterday afternoon, FDA drug regulators sent a notice to pediatricians, recommending that they stop using the Rotarix rotavirus vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline. The European Medicines Agency and Swissmedic have also issued this advisory to doctors in Switzerland and most of Europe. There does not appear to be any danger to humans, and the vaccine is not being recalled – yet. British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline manufactures the drug, and spent several million dollars – some of it from a loan company – on Roatrix’s development.

Rotarix is intended to vaccinate against diarrhea

Originally approved by the FDA for use in 2008, Rotarix is a vaccine intended for children. It vaccinates against the rotavirus, an intestinal infection that can cause severe dehydration. The virus is responsible for more than 600,000 children’s deaths each year worldwide. Rotarix is not the only vaccine on the market intended for this use – Merck’s RotaTeq was approved in 2006. Rotarix is a two-dose vaccine, while RotaTeq is a three-dose vaccine. The FDA estimates that Rotarix has been used to vaccinate approximately 1 million children.

PCV1 found in GSK’s Rotarix

The recommendation that doctors pause the use of Rotarix came after independent researchers found porcine circovirus 1 (PCV1) in the Rotarix vaccine. The PCV1 virus is not known to cause illness in humans or animals, and every health agency has stressed that there is no risk to anyone who has had the Rotarix vaccine. The reason they have asked doctors to stop the use of Rotarix is based, instead, on the fact that vaccines are supposed to be sterile and the virus is unexpected in the Rotarix drug.

What will happen to Rotarix

The FDA has announced that it intends to convene an expert advisory committee within the next few weeks to make recommendations on the use of rotavirus vaccines. GlaxoSmithKline has also issued a statement on the contamination of Rotarix, stating that they will continue producing the vaccine with the extraneous virus that originated in pigs until they could find an “acceptable substitute.” It is without question, though, that GSK will most likely have to do more toward its reputation credit repair in the future.

What to do if your child has taken the Rotarix vaccine

If your children have been given the Rotarix vaccine, there is no risk to to their health. PCV1 is regularly found in both the food supply and the environment, and is not considered dangerous. Both Rotarix and RotaTeq are multiple-dose vaccinations. If your children have had one dose of Rotarix, they will be fully protected if they are given two additional doses of RotaTeq. As with all vaccines and medications, keep a close eye on your children and talk to their pediatrician if you have any concerns.

Sources:

Reuters News Service
U.S. News and World Report
The New York Times

Joe Biden is well-known for his verbal missteps. Image from Flickr.

Nobody has ever accused Vice President Joe Biden of being the most tightly laced politician. During the press conference where Obama announced the signing of the new health care bill, though, Vice President Joe Biden added his own unique take on the moment by saying “this is a big f-ing deal” to President Obama. I’m sure Joe Biden is wishing now that he’d been able to use instant cash loans to make sure the microphones were off.

Biden drops the F Bomb

After announcing President Obama to the press corps outside the White House, Vice President Biden turned away from the microphone to welcome the President. During a quick hug, Biden said into the President’s ear “This is a big F-ing deal!” Biden’s F-bomb was captured on every microphone, video camera and camera in the area. Biden almost certainly meant this to be a private moment, but it ended up being quite public. The White House has reacted to Biden’s F-bomb with amusement more than anything, with the official U.S. Press Secretary’s Twitter account saying “And yes, Mr. Vice President, You’re right…”

See Video of Biden’s “Big Deal” moment

Joe Biden’s history of gaffes

Vice President Joe Biden is fairly well known for saying the things that many others may just be thinking. The signing of the health care bill is not the first time Biden has been caught dropping the F-bomb on live microphones. On March 13, 2009, Biden was caught saying “An hour late, oh give me a f-ing break.” The Vice President has become rather infamous for his “Bidenisms,” and there are some web sites, such as Slate’s Bidenisms, dedicated entirely to recording the Vice President’s gaffes, misspoken statements and outright mistakes.

Biden was right – health care is a big deal

The new health care bill, which President Obama signed into law today, is most definitely a big deal, as Joe Biden pointed out. The health care bill makes significant changes to the health care system over the next 10 years. To see a summary of the new health care bill, see Health Care Reform basics Part 1 and Health Care Reform basics Part 2.

Democrats have hailed the passage of the health care bill as “historic,” while Republicans such as Randy Neugerbauer and David Frum are calling the passage of the bill “tragic.”  The cost of the health care bill is hotly debated, some saying it will start the government on the path of credit repair, others claiming it will cost more than an online cash advance. Either way, Joe Biden was right – health care reform is a “big f-ing deal.”

I'm not looking at Dennis Kucinich in this photo, either.

The battle for health care reform may be nearing a vote in the House, as President Obama has predicted. Now a major stumbling block has been removed, as Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich has changed his stance on the current version of the health care bill, which brings to mind credit repair – for his image.

It remains to be seen what it was that swayed the former critic of the bill, but the New York Daily News reports that pressure from the president and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may have had a lot to do with it. They apparently put the screws to him in his home state of Ohio this week.

Dennis Kucinich says yes, but with reservations

While his vote brings Nancy Pelosi one closer to the 216 needed to pass health care reform, Dennis Kucinich won’t say that the version of the health care bill that’s on the table is perfect.

“I have taken this fight farther than many in Congress have been willing to take it,” Kucinich said in a statement to the media. “In the past week, it’s become clear that the vote on the final health bill will be very close.”

Then he said he didn’t want to be the one to deep-six the bill

That sounds like Dennis Kucinich doesn’t want to draw someone’s wrath. Who might that be? President Obama? Speaker Pelosi? His wife Elizabeth could also be a culprit.

The big question is – how will we pay for this health care bill?

Depending upon who you ask, we could either have it covered AND reduce the deficit or continue to pay for this many generations later, saddling them with tax debt. Dennis Kucinich hasn’t forgotten this part of the equation, which is most likely why he said that he has “taken a detour through supporting this bill,” and that he will continue to seek more “robust” reform. Whatever scores points with the English rose, Dennis.

(Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/65235746@N00/ / CC BY 2.0)

Related Video:

The Transportation Security Administration is responsible for airport security. Image from Flickr.

Robert A. Harding, a retired Army General and security company head, is rumored to be the White House’s pick to lead the embattled Transportation Security Administration. With extensive security experience and 33 years in the Army, Robert A. Harding is well-positioned to be confirmed by the senate in less time than it takes to get no credit check personal loans.

General Robert Harding’s Army experience

Robert A. Harding served in the U.S. Army for 33 years. Harding was a “senior human intelligence officer” of the Defense Intelligence Agency, which is a part of the U.S. intelligence community – much like the CIA, but with a focus on military intelligence. Before serving for the DIA, Robert Harding was the director for the intelligence for the Army’s Southern Command. In this post, Robert A. Harding was responsible for the military intelligence covering Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. In this position, he was in charge of planning and executing all intelligence operations in this area, which most likely included dealing with getting armed forces loans for his agents when necessary.

Robert A. Harding’s Military Decorations

According to Executive Gov, “Harding’s military awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Medal, the Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters.” With such an extensive military record, Harding is well-positioned to be easily confirmed by the Senate.

Harding Security Associates

After leaving the military in 2001, Robert A. Harding started Harding Security Associates in 2003. Harding Security Associates is a private contractor and consulting firm that, according to their website, provide “security specialists, intelligence analysts, counterintelligence professionals, forensic technicians and senior program advisors” to U.S. Government agencies. Robert Harding himself sold Harding Security Associates in 2009.

Transportation Security Administration to be headed by Harding

Robert A. Harding was not President Obama’s original choice for the top job in the TSA. Erroll Southers, who is an airport police official at the LAX airport, was Obama’s original choice. However, Republicans made it a point to block the nomination based. This block was because of the fear Southers would create a screener’s union, which would increase costs for the government. Robert Harding will most likely be fairly easily confirmed by the Senate.

TSA not without controversy

Created in 2001, the Transportation Security Administration that Robert A. Harding is set to take over is not without controversy. The screening of commercial airline passengers and luggage is a large security, intelligence, and public relations task. Many airline passengers are becoming increasingly frustrated with the long wait times and strict regulations they must comply with. Full-body scanners are also currently in testing at some TSA station, which is raising very serious privacy concerns. Robert A. Harding will have to not only head up the security of the nation’s airports, he will also have to balance that with the rising discontent and frustration of air passengers. It will be a very difficult job, though President Obama seems to believe that Robert A. Harding is the one to take on the credit repair of this agency.

February job losses did not result in any significant change in the number of unemployed persons, and the official government unemployment rate remains at 9.7%. Had the job economists been right, the unemployment rate for February would have increased to 9.8%.

The revolving door of unemployment

Taking the February unemployment report to a level that matters, 36,000 people lost jobs in February and about that many found jobs. Many thousands of previously unemployed workers will at last start bringing home paychecks and in just a short time, they’ll also be able to obtain short term personal loans and emergency money when needed. Just as many recently employed workers will be out of luck, however, and may eventually find themselves in serious need of credit repair.

Unemployment rates can depend on the weather

This may be of no consolation whatsoever to those 36,000 newly unemployed workers, but unemployment rates are fickle things: They can depend on the weather. Severe winter storms on the east coast last month may have affected the government’s unemployment report.

According to the CNNMoney article, the Labor Department conducted its job survey in the middle of February when blizzards were blanketing the area with several feet of snow. Businesses were temporarily closed because of the storms and snowed-in workers, especially retail, manufacturing, and construction employees, who did not work and went without pay were not included in the government’s payroll survey.

Underemployment rates can depend on the weather, too

Underemployment, apparently, can also depend on the weather. Snows in the east may have skewed the number of people working only part-time hours while seeking full-time employment. The underemployment figure for February rose by nearly 400,000, resulting in an underemployment rate increase from 16.5% in January to 16.8% in February.

The Amazing Randi knows all the tricks (Photo: thatsmyskull.blogspot.com)

It’s been said that a magician never reveals his secrets. In the case of “The Amazing Randi” and the current controversies surrounding crock bomb detectors unscrupulous companies are attempting to peddle for soldiers in Iraq, James Randi is happy to reveal exactly what’s going on. As you’ll see, the military should never invest in such hoax products; if they need to borrow money for something that works, that’s exactly what they should do. Soldiers and police in the field deserve no less, as they have given their lives to serve.

“The Amazing Randi” disproves the charlatans

As a stage magician himself, James Randi knows all the tricks. That’s why he’s the perfect choice to investigate fraud bomb detection devices. AOL News reports that Randi calls them “dowsing rod” bomb detectors, named after the old divining rod trick. Such devices have shown up in Iraq, and as Randi puts it, “There’s nothing inside, or some dummy device, like discarded circuit boards from a TV remote controller.”

Antennas swivel – is it a bomb or motion from my hand moving the device?

Devices like the ADE 651, GT200 and Quadro have drawn The Amazing Randi’s ire for their bogus nature. The New York Times exposed the first, which lead to the arrest of the head of the British company that manufactures them. The Iraqi government is going to sue the company, as well. Here’s what Randi has to say about these devices:

“They’re classic dowsing rods, which use an antenna that swings back and forth, allegedly pointing to where the explosives — or whatever the substance being detected — are supposedly located. The antenna responds to very slight movements of the human hand, making people think it’s being directed by the device, when in fact it is responding to their own movements.”

It’s the ideomotor effect

Randi tells AOL that this is “a subconscious reflex that triggers human movement.” It’s similar to the “mystic channeling” people achieve with Ouija Boards, facilitated writing and… dowsing rods.

What’s truly disturbing is that such quackery could creep over into something as serious as bomb detection. The Amazing Randi told AOL that he was once at Miami International Airport. He saw Homeland Security attendants checking bags with what he claimed to be “dowsing rods.” After questioning the security as to whether their methods were legitimate, Randi claims the security staffer said no, and that it “was unofficial.”

What’s the point, then?

Either you’re keeping people safe from bombs or you aren’t. Let’s not play at waving wands to make your job appear justified. Personal Money Market doesn’t wave a magic wand to help consumers with credit repair; we put you in touch with real sources that can help.

As for soldiers and police in the field, would they be happy to know that their bomb detector might be something out of a Cracker Jack box? Should America, Iraq, or any other nation be happy with that knowledge?

Related Video:

The contents of your credit report can make or break your next loan application and your ability to borrow money. A good FICO score is the key to success. However, if your credit has taken a beating in recent times, you will have to do a little dusting off. The good news is there is still hope and you can easily impress a scrutinizing loan officer by implementing a few simple strategies discussed in this article.

How lenders grade your credit worthiness

There are various factors that lenders look at when it comes to underwriting a loan. To keep track of all these factors in today’s credit-driven environment, lenders use FICO scores to put everyone on a standardized scale. Doing this is useful in making quick decisions about a borrower’s:

- loan balances

- ability to pay

- payment habits

- history of seeking credit

To repair your credit, follow the steps below and your FICO score will improve accordingly.

Step 1: Make a plan

Planning to apply for a loan in advance of actually putting in your application can affect your outcome tremendously. If you have a poor credit score, a window of 3-6 months will give you plenty of time to make important changes. What is most unfortunate is how little attention people devote to planning.

A poor (or, less than stellar) credit rating can not only affect your approval status, but it can also affect the amount of interest you will pay. As such, planning before applying not only improves your chances for getting approved, but it also saves you money in the long run by lowering your borrowing costs.

Step 2: Decrease your loan balances

In simple terms, if you are using all of your credit (or worse, exceeding it), you are not likely going to be approved to add yet even more credit to your portfolio of debt.

As a general guideline, you should not exceed 75% of the credit limit on each account. Notice how I’ve said the credit limit for each account rather than all of your accounts combined. If you have a credit card with a $1,000 limit, pretend that the limit is actually only $750 and commit to sticking to this personally-imposed reduced limit. Apply the same formula to all of your other cards and their respective limits. This practice can impact your score dramatically, which will ultimately help you borrow money successfully. Use the next 3 – 6 months to bring down your limits to ideal levels.

Step 3: Know about your ability to pay

Aside from usage, there is another factor that relates to loan balances that can affect you. If you have too many accounts open and not enough income to service those accounts, lenders might classify you as a risk that they’re not willing to take.

Unfortunately, if this is the case, there’s little you can do. You could pay down your balances, which would be good for your FICO score anyway, but it won’t eliminate all the excess credit you have (which will still affect your debt ratios).

If you are tempted to close down some of your accounts that you don’t use, think again. Closing down various accounts is not always a good idea because that can affect you credit negatively. The only advice I have here is to refrain from opening up useless accounts in the first place (like department stores or specialty cards that you really don’t need in the long run) and simply lower your balances. Working to improve other factors will help your score overall.

Step 4: Improve your payment habits

If you have had many late payments in the past, your score is bound to be bruised as a result. However, if you start to improve your payment history from this day forward, your improved activity will be reported and you will start to notice boosts in your FICO score. Vow to make all of your payments on time – from this day forward!

Step 5: Do not seek credit

If you plan to apply for a loan in the next 3 – 6 months, do not seek any credit whatsoever between now and the time that you apply. Each time you seek credit, you get what is known as a ‘hit’ on your report. Hits lower your FICO score slightly. While they don’t make huge impacts, having plenty of them (and, being subsequently rejected) is not a good situation for prospective lenders to discover when they pull your report.

Put the above strategies into play and you will start to see dramatic improvements in your FICO score. To borrow money, lenders just want to make sure you are a good credit risk. They actually want to lend out as much money as they can. That is how they profit, after all. However, before profits, lenders have another priority and that is to protect their capital. If you do all your homework, and launch a plan in advance and put the strategies discussed in this article into play, you will come out ahead.

Get professional credit repair help

Speak to a professional today and take proactive steps to repair your credit. For a FREE credit consultation, call 1-877-563-2076.

Apply for No Credit Check Payday Loans HERE!

Image from Flickr.

I think a lot of my fellow Americans would agree that we can be a bit cocky at times. It’s funny, though, because the U.S. lags so far behind other countries when it comes to health care and education. Plus we are in so much debt, I don’t think any amount of credit repair could help us. Also, I have known ever since I can remember that all kinds of tests have shown that American students lag behind those in many other countries when it comes to academics.

Well, the White House has decided to do something about that. The government will spend $250 million, which will be matched by private funding to bring the total to $500 million, to prepare and train 10,000 new math and science teachers, according to the Washington Post.

What will the money do?

The Post says that the U.S. federal government is spending this money on mat and science education “aiming to help the nation compete in key fields with global economic rivals.” Perhaps so we Americans will stop buying all of our cars and electronics from Japan and China? From the Washington Post:

With funding from high-tech businesses, universities and foundations, the initiative seeks to prepare more than 10,000 new math and science schoolteachers over five years and provide on-the-job training for an additional 100,000 in science, technology, engineering and math.

Though the government funding for this project is going toward a very good and much-needed cause, it’s a whole lot of money during a time when the government has been spending, spending, spending. I am sure we can expect to hear a whole lot of squawking about how much it costs and how much money the government is throwing around. What do you think? Is spending $250 million in government funds for math and science teachers worth it?