http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips Creditnet.com provides a weekly tip to help you stay afloat during this storm they call the 'credit crunch'. en-us Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:55:01 -0800 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:55:01 -0800 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Creditnet RSS 2.0 rss@creditnet.com (Creditnet RSS Editor) webmaster@creditnet.com (Creditnet Webmaster) http://www.creditnet.com/images_splash/creditnet_logo_small.jpg http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips 100 29 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/put-your-tax-refund-to-good-use.php Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/paid-collections-will-they-go-away.php credit reports. Unfortunately, it's a common misconception that paying off an account in collections will simply cause it to go away. The truth is that's not always the case. A paid collection can...]]> Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/some-variable-rates-only-go-up.php credit cards currently carry variable interest rates. And while the term "variable" seems to suggest that an interest rate could vary up or down depending upon the movement of the index to which it's attached, that's not always the case. It's actually becoming more common...]]> Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/watch-out-for-minimum-finance-charges.php Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/say-no-to-refund-anticipation-loans.php Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/beware-of-tricky-credit-card-payment-terms.php credit card bills in several payments throughout the month. Why would they want to do that? Well, there are several reasons. Perhaps they have a low credit limit and prefer to keep their Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/FICO-score-is-no-respecter-of-income.php FICO score couldn't care less. While it's true that a six-figure income shouldn't hurt your ability to...]]> Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/whats-the-FDCPA.php Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, protects consumers from abusive collection techniques and provides legal recourse to fight back against third-party debt collectors who violate the law. Have you ever dealt with debt collectors that call repeatedly before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m., use profane...]]> Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/considering-a-charge-card-keep-your-credit-score-in-mind.php credit cards to a charge card, you should understand that the switch may have an unintended effect on...]]> Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/dont-ignore-your-credit-card-mail.php Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/pay-the-first-bill-of-2010-to-yourself.php Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/conduct-a-year-end-credit-card-inventory.php credit card users unaffected. That's why this time of year presents...]]> Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/make-a-list-and-check-it-twice.php Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/what-is-the-CROA.php Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/dont-forfeit-credit-card-rewards-miles.php credit card purchases—pay your bill on time, or forfeit those coveted rewards. Effective January 2010, American Express customers who use rewards cards such as the Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/how-chexsystems-works.php ChexSystems is essentially...]]> Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/whats-the-FCRA.php credit reports, and disseminate information to third parties such as credit issuers or employers. The FCRA, or Fair Credit Reporting Act, was enacted in 1970 to protect this...]]> Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/do-i-qualify-for-the-homebuyers-tax-credit.php Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/give-your-holiday-budget-a-boost.php Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/beware-of-POS-overdraft-fees.php Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/holidays-are-a-hotbed-for-ID-theft.php Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/right-to-opt-out-excludes-minimum-monthly-payments.php credit card accounts, such as increases in interest rates and other unwanted fees. What's this mean? Opting out basically means you choose to cancel your credit card, make no further purchases, and pay off...]]> Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/to-cosign-or-not.php credit, there will likely come a time in life when a close friend or relative asks you to cosign a loan. Should you say yes? The easy in answer is "no", and here's why. Since you've worked hard to build a solid credit...]]> Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/is-your-annual-fee-worth-it.php Credit CARD Act of 2009 limits annual fees, so credit issuers are already beginning to rethink their annual fee structures in an effort to fight eroding profit margins. In fact, a new strategy is emerging that provides consumers with the option to choose a...]]> Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/extra-time-to-pay-your-bill.php 2009 Credit CARD Act's major provisions don't take effect until early 2010, bill-paying procrastinators have something to cheer about already. Effective August 20th, you now have more time to get that credit card bill paid after your credit issuer delivers your...]]> Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/does-your-card-have-an-interest-rate-floor.php Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/whats-the-FCBA.php Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/when-you-cant-opt-out.php Credit Card Act requires credit issuers to provide 45-day advance notice of a change in interest rates. The idea is that consumers will now have a sufficient amount of time to review the changes, exercise their right to opt out of the new...]]> Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/how-to-avoid-credit-card-cancellations-due-to-inactivity.php credit cards for months or even years, don't be surprised when you receive a letter in the mail notifying you of an account cancellation. Some credit issuers may be kind enough to provide advance notice; however, in many cases you...]]> Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/credit-reports-may-be-accessed-without-your-permission.php credit reports can only be accessed with your exclusive permission. So, you may be surprised to find out that the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) actually includes eight "permissible purposes" for your credit reports to be pulled,...]]> Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/how-many-points-will-my-credit-score-drop-from-hard-inquiries.php credit reports when you apply for new credit products, cell phones, insurance, or maybe even a new job. They are essentially a record of every time a business has viewed your credit report information for the purpose of an application, and...]]> Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/authorized-user-vs-joint-account-holder.php credit card account, you'll need to first decide whether you want to add the individual as a joint account holder or an authorized user. While this can be a confusing topic for many people,...]]> Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/looking-for-a-loan-think-small-and-local.php home loan, auto loan, student loan, business start-up loan, or simply a credit card, you...]]> Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/under-21-new-rules-limit-access-to-credit.php Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/see-what-income-based-repayment-can-do-for-you.php 2007 College Cost Reduction and Access Act, known as IBR (Income-Based Repayment), may be just what you've been waiting for. Although the law was passed in 2007, it...]]> Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/auto-pay-credit-cards-from-online-savings-accounts.php Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/closed-by-consumer-vs-closed-by-creditor.php Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/how-many-credit-scores-do-i-have.php Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/shop-credit-cards-the-smart-way-compare-and-apply-online.php Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/bid-double-cycle-billing-goodbye.php Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/reward-yourself-with-the-citi-forward-card.php Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/moneystrands-helps-put-your-financial-house-in-order.php savings accounts, and credit cards to manage on a monthly basis. So, how can...]]> Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/build-credit-with-secured-credit-cards.php Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/is-a-prepaid-debit-card-right-for-you.php Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/can-social-security-benefits-be-garnished.php debt collectors as well, you can...]]> Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/i-paid-my-tax-lien-why-is-it-still-on-my-credit-report.php IRS has 30 days, according to its own rules, to release a tax lien once you pay or settle the debt. However, in reality this is something that is often overlooked. Unaware consumers may go for years before they notice the pesky tax lien still...]]> Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/collection-accounts-linger-for-7-years.php Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/should-i-pay-my-taxes-with-plastic.php Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/avoid-credit-card-late-fees-pay-more-often.php Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/credit-reports-dont-merge-after-marriage.php Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/what-is-a-default-interest-rate.php Default Interest Rate. Generally looming in the 25% to 30% range, a default rate is significantly higher than the standard...]]> Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/dont-ignore-the-schumer-box.php Federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA) requires credit card companies to disclose certain information in any offer they make to you. In addition, the "Schumer Box", named after Sen. Charles E. Schumer who sponsored the provision to the TILA that requires it, ensures that credit issuers...]]> Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/beware-of-hefty-over-the-limit-fees.php Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/beware-of-identity-theft-on-social-networking-sites.php Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/is-forgiven-debt-really-considered-income.php Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/bid-farewell-to-your-experian-credit-score.php Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus, are no longer available to consumers. Equifax and TransUnion FICO scores can still be accessed via www.myfico.com; however, Experian FICO scores will no longer be available from myFICO or any...]]> Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/whats-the-best-way-to-pay-off-credit-card-debt.php Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/credit-tips-for-newlyweds.php Mon, 02 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/beware-of-double-negatives-on-your-credit-report.php credit report is a negative account that shows up twice. Unfortunately, double entries can happen quite easily in the credit reporting system, and it takes a real eagle eye to scour over the details of your...]]> Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/dont-sweat-the-soft-inquiries.php credit report when an existing creditor reviews your file, a prospective creditor pulls your report for marketing purposes, or you order your own credit report for monitoring purposes. A common misconception is that these soft pulls impact your credit score,...]]> Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/why-is-my-exs-mortgage-still-on-my-credit-report.php Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/how-to-build-credit-with-no-debt.php Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/understand-your-credit-cards-grace-period.php credit card provides a 20 to 30 day grace period. What that means is your credit issuer will not charge interest on your new purchases during this time period. It's probably as close to an interest-free loan as you will ever get. However,...]]> Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/the-right-time-to-buy-a-car.php Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/house-hunting-keep-an-eagle-eye-on-your-credit-score.php Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/purchase-protection-can-come-in-handy.php credit cards at home when hitting the malls this holiday season. Paying for everything with cash can certainly be beneficial for those who just don't know how to...]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/leave-your-social-security-card-at-home.php Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/opting-out-of-credit-card-interest-rate-hikes.php Citigroup Inc. and American Express are two of the largest credit-card issuers who recently announced they will hit millions of consumers with interest rate hikes just before the start of the holiday season. A two to three percentage point increase seems to be the target,...]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/whats-loss-mitigation.php Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/rates-drop-in-us-and-uk-but-banks-fail-to-follow.php credit cards are pegged to the prime...]]> Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/750-is-the-new-650.php Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/how-will-a-short-sale-affect-my-credit-score.php home loans and possibly facing foreclosure. A "short sale" can provide an alternative to foreclosure if you're able to negotiate a deal with your mortgage lender to take less than you owe on...]]> Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/does-your-credit-card-have-a-penalty-rate.php Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/a-poor-credit-score-influences-more-than-lenders.php home and auto insurance? Will a poor credit score affect your ability to get the type...]]> Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/times-are-tough-but-basic-rules-remain-unchanged.php credit card accounts, begin stockpiling...]]> Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/how-will-foreclosure-affect-my-credit.php Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/what-should-i-look-for-on-my-credit-report.php credit reports once a year might be sufficient. However, if you are in the process of rebuilding your credit or preparing to make a large purchase within the next year, you will want...]]> Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/credit-talk-forum-helps-users-navigate-the-credit-world.php Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/want-a-lower-credit-card-rate-just-ask-for-it.php Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/beware-of-voter-registration-id-theft-scam.php Federal Trade Commission recently reported that identity theft scammers are hard at work using the looming election day as a new way...]]> Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/worried-about-missing-your-next-credit-card-payment.php Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/leaving-monthly-balances-wont-boost-credit-scores.php Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/same-as-cash-offers-hurt-credit-scores.php Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/piggybacking-lives-on.php Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/avoid-retail-cards-at-register.php Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/univeral-default-clause.php Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/good-credit-score.php Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/excessive-debit-card-holds-at-gas-pump.php Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/how-to-save-money-eating-out.php Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/five-tips-for-safeguarding-your-identity.php Federal Trade Commission's List of Top Consumer Fraud Complaints also reported that the most common form of identity theft was credit card fraud, which accounted for...]]> Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/how-to-save-at-the-gas-pump.php Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/credit-cards-0-percent-foreign-transaction-fees.php Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/i-never-use-my-first-credit-card-anymore-should-i-just-close-the-account.php Mon, 26 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/will-too-much-plastic-hurt-my-credit-score.php Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/will-shopping-the-market-hurt-my-fico-score.php Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/emergency-funds-a-personal-cure-for-the-credit-crunch.php Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/there-is-an-error-on-my-credit-report-where-do-i-begin.php Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips/have-trouble-making-your-payments-on-time.php Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700