good info but what does it do to your credit score?
Posted By: SM on 2008-01-05
In Reply to: I went with a company...sm - Maxed out
I basically did what you are doing but on my own. I owe a lot. My credit card companies wouldn't work with me as far as lowering my previous rates so I investigated and found a site that lists all the current 'deals' with other cards and did balance transfers. Let me tell you for one I got 0% for a while and then 3.9 for the life of the balance! I still can't believe it. Another was 0% for like 18 months and then 8.9 for the life of the balance. So I'm proof it can be done! You do need near perfect credit though to get these really good deals but it's worth the little bit of work involved for those who do pay on time and are just tired of paying those high interest rates :)
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Credit Score will hardly be touched by closing them
xx
The more available credit, the better the FICO score is what Suze says.
dd
Cancel them now...rather be free of temptation. Credit score
xx
Mortgage recommendations for not so good credit...
a family member needs to get a mortgage for a home they are currently "buying" from a friend on contract. I say "buying" in a very loose term, because I am not sure that they even have a written agreement, sometimes it sounds like they are just "renting". Anyway, credit is a problem for them.. bankruptcy 7+ years ago, collection accounts they are currently paying on, etc. and probably some current finance company bills and "of course" the "new-used SUV" they got about 8 months ago. You all know what I'm saying here, this is not a "one time credit problem" .... Supposedly, they tried one mortgage company but, according to the wife, after about 3 months they got mortgage approval but PMI insurer turned them down. They actually have a good deal on the home, appraised at approx 90,000 and they are buying it for approx $78,000, so there is some equity. Of course, they have actually no $$$ to really put down. The situation is that they have been living there a few years and the seller "a friend of theirs" needs the cash by October, so that he can purchase a property he is currently buying on contract from his sister, who needs the money now, etc. and on and on it goes. Anyway, if they cannot come up with a mortgage, they are out, have to move and of course, they will be trying to hit us up for cash or, heaven forbid, a place to live!!! I need any suggestions anyone has or any names of mortgage companies that deal with this particular situation. The wife called us and asked us to co-sign, but that's out of the question. Appreciate any advice
Anyone know who to get college loans when you have less than good credit?
Daughter is going to school and she can get a loan with a cosigner but due to my and my husband's finances we do not qualify. Asking anyone else in the family is out of the question, tried, no luck.. Are there loans out there where my daughter would not need a cosigner. She is a first year freshman.
Read the book Good Credit Is S*xy by Welsh (nm)
Some good info...
I have a 9 y/o shih tzu with diabetes. The symptoms run so close that I am almost convinced it is Cushing's instead. Just a matter of convincing the vet to do the correct tests. This web site gives a good crash course in Cushings.
http://www.kateconnick.com/library/cushingsdisease.html
My Tazz has all of the symptoms listed for Cushings. I have had to put him on a diet, "low to no" carbs which puts buiscuits out of the picture but we eat a lot of fruit and veggies now and high protein treats. He also takes insulin 32 units twice a day. I was blessed here with a dog that does not mind shots. I actually diagnosed him myself just from the symptoms and asked to have sugar checked. Vet blamed it on stress from an eye infection until I kept taking him back. He still drinks a lot and will eat everything in the house if I will let him. He had gained a lot of weight. He was 32 pounds and for a shih tzu that is a lot. He is unusually large for a shih tzu to start with which goes with an adrenal disorder, but he has lost weigh since being put on insulin and the diet, but still drinks about a quart of water at a time and urinates just that much. In Cushing's they tend to be immune to the insulin and that's what happened to us...took a while to regulate him. He is taking Vetsulin now but will be changed tomorrow to NPH, hopefully which is cheaper. If they have to get needles buy them at wal-mart or somewhere equivalent. BIG difference in price. I started giving chromium picolinate as well, which is really what regulated my boy. I also give daily vitamins and acidophilus for his intestinal tract. Feel free to email me with questions at any time if I can help. There is also a site.. http://www.petpeoplesplace.com that has a pet forum you can pretty much go there at any time, even in emergencies and will get great help from owners, rescuers, vets and vet technicians. Good luck. With treatment it is possible for your parent's dog to live longer, it is not always fatal.
This is good info.
Today is the second day with our first puppy (7 week basset hound). The pooing after eating is helpful info. He has had a couple of accidents, but we generally get him outside before he goes, and now maybe we can prevent future accidents. As for peeing, he seems to pee every 10 minutes unless he is on the couch or in the bed.
Last night was his first night by himself in the crate and he cried for three hours straight. We finally gave up and brought him into the bed with us. He actually did fine all night. Only had to go once (around 3 a.m.) before it was time to get up for the day.
Take Drive Only?...good info
I was going to suggest maybe removing the hard drive and shipping it and then purchase a computer there and replace it, or save all files needed to disc and then just take those. At least buying a computer you would have something to show for your money. Attached URL has some interesting information that might be worth considering. In the left hand column, where it says moving to spain, click on "What to take" and it gives some computer info.
Thanls for the good info, Cat, I thought
it was last night, had my grandson out there, was real clear, then I got the right date....Duh Grandma tried, we will try it again tonight!
search archives - there was some really good info about this a month or two ago. nm
;
good info on aluminum and other modes of cooking
http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/hgic3864.htm
Why does closing a credit card account negatively affect your credit report
Especially when I never use it anyway, and really never wanted it?
With all the bank rearranging going on in the past few months, one of my accounts was tranferred to Bank of America. I was sent new cards and a new agreement, new interest rate etc...
So I called them up and cancelled but before they did, I had to listen to a spiel about how this would negatively affect my credit report.
Huh?? Why is that?
Credit Card Reform Can Cost Good Card Users
Part of article:
Credit cards have long been a very good deal for people who pay their bills on time and in full. Even as card companies imposed punitive fees and penalties on those late with their payments, the best customers racked up cash-back rewards, frequent-flier miles and other perks in recent years.
Now Congress is moving to limit the penalties on riskier borrowers, who have become a prime source of billions of dollars in fee revenue for the industry. And to make up for lost income, the card companies are going after those people with sterling credit.
We pay off our balance every month. If they do this (punish those who have sterling credit) Ridiculous!! I'll stop using my CC and pay by cash or check.
So much for reform.
Who do you think will win and what will the score be
I did and his feedback score was around 98-99%.
nm
Elevated ALP score
Has anyone ever been told they have a high ALP score? My was a little elevated to 130 and told that I will need additional blood work and ultrasound of my liver.
I am a little stressed out - any comments will be appreciated - thanks
I only got 5. Pitiful score but fun to do!
thank you!
Closing an account affects your score because
if you carry balances on other cards, by closing an account you instantly increase the percentage of available credit that you are using. An assessement of the percentage of use is a significant element in your credit score.
If you have other cards with high limits and low or no balances, closing an account will have only a small, probably temporary, effect, unless you are closing the account with the longest history. As another poster mentioned, length of credit history is another significant element of your credit score.
If you have high balances on other cards, leaving open an unused account will make those balances a lower percentage of your available credit, which can boost your credit score. However, in that case, paying down the balances will have a much larger positive effect on your score.
credit
My girlfriend did use the service. It worked great for them. It also put all their payments in one. The only thing is you need to watch what "items" you put under the service because it will keep you from purchasing items for so many years.
credit
I have used Consumer's Credit Counseling Services locally. They were wonderful to me. Put me on a generous budget, put all my bills under one payment (had to cut up all credit cards - which was a blessing and freedom after I got used to it), cut the credit card interests way-way-down or to none, and finally got everything paid. At first there was no charge from them, but later I paid $5 a visit, but I imagine they have surely put a low charge now. They were pretty strict with me (which I needed), but it worked. They were always accessible to talk with, which I really liked too. Also it was nice to refer callers to them, saying, "I am a client of CCCS and they are helping me" and not have to deal with the callers any more. In fact, after they were notified of intent to pay by CCCS they never called again.
Good luck. It meant freedom to me.
credit
I did hear that credit counseling is reported to the credit bureaus, but so are late payments, over-limits, missed payments, etc., etc. so ultimately I don't imagine it could ding your credit score any worse.
credit
I don't know the answer to that. We have only bought cars and a house on credit since then. Be sure to talk to the credit counselor before signing up and find out. They will know.
Credit card (SM)
There was information about credit cards and interest rates going around late last year/early this year. Basically, from what I understand with the new bankruptcy law this was attached to it. The credit card companies can and will charge you and me whatever interest rate they want to, and the only thing we can do is cancel the card and pay off the balance. There were these little inserts with your statements that many of us just throw away and never think about it. But I did read the ones that were sent with several of my statements, and I kindly told them to keep my rate where it was and I canceled the card. Sad but true. 
NO more credit cards
I had a credit card with a high balance. I got a second mortage to pay it off. I called the credit card and got the payoff balance and my bank sent a check to them. I kept watching on line to make sure they got it and when they did I noticed that there was a $95 credit. So, I called and said how do I get my money back. They sent me a check and when I got it, I called and closed the account. This was about two weeks ago. Today I get a statement from them with a balance due of $45! Huh??? I called and they keep telling me it is a finance charge. I got pretty steamed and finally ended up saying that I would pay it, but no more. Well, I wrote out the check and put in in the mailbox, but I'm still stewing about this. If I still owed them money, why did they send me a credit?? What is the finance charge on if I had a credit balance? I suppose I will just pay it because they will only keep tacking on even more charges, but it is really bugging me. Has anyone else had any experience with this??
I will say one thing - NO MORE CREDIT CARDS EVER EVER EVER. REALLY. I mean it this time.
About my credit card
I owed close to $10,000.00 about 2 months ago on my credit card and called to make sure I sent the right amount as paying it off. After I paid in full, they also sent a "finance charge" for around 35 to 40 dollars. I paid that but have discontinued using that card. I have another card, used during Christmas, interest about half of the other one and getting that paid off before long also, just sent $500.00 towards that yesterday. I on the first had asked for payoff amount but the finance not there when I asked.
Our credit was very shakey (sm)
when we bought our house 6 years ago and we have now (both husband and I) been ICs in this biz for 11 years. As an IC you are supposed to work for different companies according to the IRS so you could really jam yourself up if you got a letter like that from your current company. Personally - I would refuse and find another mortgage company. I had a very young and inexperienced mortgage person when we refinanced our house through a credit union - it was literally a nightmare - I don't have the time anymore! If you have good credit move on and find someone who appreciates your business
ruined credit????
Went to work for a company about five years ago. The pay was EXCELLENT, however, they paid me "when they got around to it." Now my credit is so terrible I can hardly qualify for a home loan!!! Has anyone else experienced this problem???? Still suffering after having quit four years ago!!!!!
Sorry to say, but you have proven yourself a bad credit
x
Not the only way, my credit just restored on its own
after years of not having as posted below, went and had a clean slate just as if no credit at all in my life, went from bankruptcy to nothing bad about me, nothing! I did learn how to be responsible after that time though, now have excellent credit rating.
Credit for your daughter
As DW stated, federal loans are given to students - have her go to financial aid office/web site of school and see what she needs to do to apply for them.
Does your daughter have a credit card? Yeah, I know, scary thought, but the sooner they can establish good credit, the better off you all are. My son has a card for college students from Citi Bank. He's had it since senior year of high school and I tell him to use it for EVERYTHING. Gas, pizza, books at school, etc. He keeps track (amazingly) and pays the card off every month so he never gets charged interest. His bill is usually for under $50.
He's been having problems with his cell phone, it's already been fixed once, yet the same problem keeps happening. The contract for the phone was up last week which means he could get a new phone for next to nothing provided he renew for another two years. I told him I'd buy him he new phone for a Christmas present. I've been paying his cell bill of $45/month for years. He wanted text messaging added to his plan. I told him I will only pay the $45, he can pay the difference if he wants to text his friends because NWIHAIPFI so he can ask his BFF what time they can meet for lunch when he could just call the dude and leave a message if he isn't there! Well, a two-year commitment with the phone company would bring us to 6 months AFTER he graduates from college and he could be in Madagascar by then for all I know with the cell bill still coming to me. I asked the cell phone company if the contract can go in my son's name. They told me no, because his credit rating as a student wouldn't qualify him. I asked them to check anyway. They did, the woman was shocked, he was approved, and now he has a new contract with text messaging for $10 more and the bill goes to him! I'll deposit $45 in his checking acct every month and he can write the check.
This is partial payback for the night I had to spend in a battleship with 400+ other Cub Scouts and their fathers when my son was little. Hot dogs and beans was the dinner. Need I say more? Bunks stacked 5 high with me on the top bunk and hot air rises. He will owe me for that for many years to come.
I think its credit cards...
The newspaper had an article the day after Christmas how people are defaulting on their credit cards all over the place. This added to the mortgage companies having problems with people unable to pay their balloon payments and the bad housing market, price of gas is sure to lead (the article said) to a recession.
When I was shopping I saw all the people with tons of things in their carts, DVD players, computers, etc. on Christmas eve. This was regular people at Walmart. I saw a lot of credit cards flashed around. Paying minimum payment will cause Christmas to cost tons more and they will be paying beyond the item's life which they purchased.
We went through this. We tried to sell our house, rented to own another and went broke in 3 months. After we had 2 house, fell back on credit cards the interest piled up and it was terrible! We moved back and are on a budget. So, I shopped without credit this year, and you know what? I had more fun. And I have 3 kids. Their things were simpler than the fancy things they got last year. The most expensive things we got were bikes because they are growing and we got those on sale. The rest were creative items. I am not saying that what we did is so great. What I am saying is that peeople are not looking at the big picture these days and if they do not use cash (as we had not in the past), they may not be able to pay their debt if hard times fall. In the meantime, grandpa sent my son 100 bucks, which I let him spend on a train set (I should not have let him do that he is 7) and he cried that his money was all gone and he did not want the train set anymore. I bet if I had him save some of it and had him buy simpler things, well I bet he would not have been crying. At least at age 7 he is learning that money is not easy to come by. And he is learning the hard way because I will not give him more money to replace what he spent. Sorry such a long message. It is just that we did not even afford an XBox, and I wanted a Wii myself, but we avoided all of that because in the end we learned that Christmas is not about credit cards, the junk it buys. I think the end of the cartoon the Grinch where the Who people did not even care about the presents was correct. Maybe we'd be happy with less things and more love. I don't know. This was not meant to be a sermon forgive me. We all have to learn what Christmas means to us and I say let people do what they want, consequences are always result of actions anyway. Just IMO. Happy New Year everyone!
Can't take credit for the idea.
When I was in my late teens I nannied for a very wealthy family who bought a truck load of stuff from a children's hospital as well as made a huge donation and I spent WEEKS handwriting "A donation has been made in your name" to this hospital and then including a sweatshirt, t-shirt, mug or whatever else they bought.
credit counseling
I did use one, but in retrosepct I don't think I would do it again. It ends up lowering your payments or your interest a little, but they also charge you a monthly fee - mine was 35.00. All they basically do is pay your bills for you with what you send them. It takes a good 2-3 months to get set up and working and by that time your bills are even more overdue. I think your best solution is to talk to all your creditors and be disclipined about paying to the exclusion of having a life until you are caught up. I finally got out of the hole, but it was hard and seemed like it would never happen. Good luck to you. You can do it.
which could damage your credit
x
they can be put on your credit report...
I know for sure b/c I have one on mine. :(
credit card
I've not had personal experience, but I know to be wary of some of those companies that advertise. I saw a financial advisor on the Today Show and she said to make sure you go with Consumer Credit Counseling; maybe there's a link on the Today Show website. Good luck!
credit debt
Wow thanks for all the good tips.
As this got off the subject and onto other things, I just wanted to say I have heard Al-Anon is excellent for people dealing with alcoholism in a spouse or other loved one. It might be a great place for support for you and your kids. Just a thought.
Pay off our credit card
And with the little we'd have left just put it in the bank
Credit Check
For several years now almost all employers have been running background and credit checks on all employees before they are hired. It has nothing to do with "your son". It is now common practice. Most likely if he is behind on his child support as soon as he gets a job they will attach his wages for payment. Alot of employers do not want to deal with the paperwork involved with that kind of stuff. The stigma of not paying your bills may soon change with the state of the economy and employers may start taking a different look at it. Did your son go to court and file to get his child support adjusted given his unemployment status? That would have helped him at least not be so far behind and may keep him from wage attachment when he does get a job.
At any rate don't get so upset, it is common practice for employers to do credit and background checks on every employee now (in fact your son probably signed the paperwork authorizing them to do so) and they use the results to make their hiring decisions.
credit card debt
Not sure what will happen, but I do wish you luck. Credit card debt is an unsecured type of debt. I don't know what more they can do to you other than a judgement. Not sure you can put that under a bankruptcy either once the judgement has been placed. I know a lawyer that handles a lot of bankruptcies -- did some work for him. He always asked his clients if late payments had gone to judgements. If they had not gone that far he was pleased about it. I guess it made things easier legally. Not really sure.
Your credit is ruined because you didnt do anything about it
x
Homeless has nothing to do with poor credit.
nm
You let credit get bad before house sale.
s
How my daughter got her credit started
I years ago put my son on my credit card and paid it well and then he automatically had great credit. My daughter got credit with a small amount at a store here in town that would give credit easily. I told her to do this, pay the payments as she should and even a little more and there it was, good credit for her. She now has ecxellent credit and has loads of past and present accts she has been responsible for.
I use my credit card!!!! Priceless!
Actually it was an expired one. Hubby laughed. I use Dawn Power Disolver in the blue bottle. Works wonders. Then IF I have to scrape I have used the credit card of course, but fine metal spatula or a razor, but I use one of those like you scrape paint with that has the handle like an ice scraper.
But doesn't it ruin your credit?
I would like to just consolidate mine into one large payment. I am not having problems paying the minimums now but it's gotten to a pretty high amount combined and I fear I'll be paying forever.
However, I have heard doing this ruins your credit.
Is that the case?
TIA
Free credit reports
A lot of people don't know this, but you can get FREE annual printed copies of your credit reports online in seconds from the 3 major credit companies.
There are a lot of online companies out there saying you can only get this information if you pay for it and try to get you to sign up for some type of credit services. Not true.
''This central site allows you to request a free credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion''.
www.annualcreditreport.com
is the official site to help consumers to obtain their free credit report.
Hope this helps others : )
I can't take credit...someone else posted it a few days ago.
I just did a search here for "monitor sideways". It must be 5yo screw up monitor season! LOL
if it does show up on your credit report sm
You could try to get it removed. Tell the credit agency to remove it because you don't owe the money, that you sent a certified letter within 7 days to cancel this and that legally you don't owe it. Check out the state attorney general's office. If it were me, I would not pay it. If it does end up on your credit report, i don't know if paying it will get it removed.
Credit counseling - some bewares
The ones I talked to when going through a divorce were actually quite high for their fees except for the Christian one and then there were some that they did not work with or would not work with them. That is always a possibility. Also beware when talking directly with the cards or accounts of if any service offers you a "buy out" where you pay so much on the dollar - seems quite cheap -- but when you do at the end of the year they will send you a 1099 showing what amount you did not pay and you have to declare that as "income" on your income tax and thus you will simply pay the government what you did not pay your creditors. Again, talk with the creditors, pick out a plan and stick with it and it might take two to three years but you will be out of debt and you did it. Again, don't promise something you cannot keep. Also remember that there is a 5 to 7 year time line after which they cannot pursue collection of the debt but it is from your last payment and so if you ever think about doing that -- just not paying -- do not ever make a payment as then the 5 to 7 years starts all over again -- heard that on Suzie Orman show. Again, if in clear conscious you want to work with the creditors, they will work with you but you will probably not have credit for a while. You have nothing to lose to talk with them. Good luck. I am sure 90% of us have been there at some time in our life.
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