There are many ways to keep debt down and your credit score up. In Credit & Debt Management, topics include credit reports, bankruptcy, how credit cards work and new technology.
Some people are so deep in debt they feel hopeless like there's not way out. But one agency helps people take control of their finances, wipe out debt and budget for a new home. See more »
For something so relatively easy to obtain, credit can easily cause a careless borrower lots of stress. Here are 10 simple ways to build credit -- and keep it.
See more »
Your credit score plays a large part in whether you can buy a house or car. In certain circumstances, it even affects whether you can get a job. But where does the number come from?
See more »
Debt can be a complex problem, between managing your interest rates, knowing your rights and sticking to your payment plans. Take the debt quiz to see just how much you know about paying off that debt.
See more »
It's a piece of advice you've probably heard: Don't pull your credit report too often, or you'll hurt your score. But what's a soul to do when you're shopping around for the best interest rates on a new house or car? How often can you look at your re
See more »
It's bad enough when an individual has to file for bankruptcy, but filings by high-profile companies like Adelphia can have a big impact on the economy. What exactly does it mean to file for bankruptcy?
See more »
Tired of all that time-consuming swiping at the register? Credit cards using contactless technology allow you to pay for stuff by holding the card near a special reader instead of handing it to a clerk or wondering if you slide it with the stripe facing up or down.
See more »
If you're trying to work your way out of debt, consumer credit counseling might be a good step to take. What happens during, and after, the counseling session?
See more »
These days, more people buy with credit than with cash, and most of them have the credit card debt to show for it. Learn all about credit cards, from the magnetic stripe to how you can get rid of that high-interest balance.
See more »
Credit reporting agencies collect your credit history from credit card companies, banks, mortgage companies and other creditors to create an in-depth credit report. But how is that report used?
See more »
Like it or not, your credit score is a major factor in your financial well-being. But what do those numbers on your credit report really mean? And how will they impact your financial future?
See more »
Do you know your credit score? If not, you should find out -- and we'll explain why. In this article, we'll examine how your three-digit credit score is used and how it affects what you pay for credit, insurance and other life necessities.
See more »
Dealing with debt collectors is becoming a common experience. But what can you do to avoid debt-collector harassment, short of switching off your phone service or allowing your unread mail to pile up on the kitchen counter?
See more »
Life without debt sounds good. Can debt consolidation, or taking out one new loan to pay off all your other loans, help you reach that lofty financial goal?
See more »
The world is drowning in debt, and experts fill the airwaves with doomsday predictions. What exactly is this monster called debt that's sucking up all of our income, ruining our credit scores and making politicians sweat?
See more »
You saved up your money, got a home loan, got the keys and moved in. But now you've lost your job and you can't pay up. What happens to your house? Maybe foreclosure -- but there are ways to avoid it.
See more »
Interest-only loans let you afford a nice house and make low payments. But there's a catch -- once you have to pay up, circumstances may not be in your favor.
See more »
Sometimes, try as you might, the bills just don't get paid on time, and debt collectors come knocking. That's when you need to know your rights.
See more »
Some people are so deep in debt they feel hopeless like there's not way out. But one agency helps people take control of their finances, wipe out debt and budget for a new home.
See more »
Credit counseling and debt settlement services are supposed to help you conquer debt. Who makes sure they look after you like they should?
See more »
It lurches forward, seemingly unstoppable by the arsenal of data you've collected against it. You battled this foe years ago, but like the undead, it's come for you again and again -- this time in the form of letter from a collection agency. It's name? Zombie debt.
See more »
