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<title>Weekly Credit Tips on Surviving the Credit Crunch - Creditnet.com</title>
<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly-tips</link>
<description>Creditnet.com provides a weekly tip to help you stay afloat during this storm they call the 'credit crunch'.</description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:21:49 -0800</pubDate>
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<item>
	<title>What's Loss Mitigation?</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/whats-loss-mitigation.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[What does this financial buzzword you're hearing everywhere really mean?  If you're a homeowner facing the possibility of foreclosure, it should mean a great deal to you because loss mitigation is a process available to help keep you in your home.  And while loss mitigation includes various methods...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>Rates Drop in US and UK, but Banks Fail to Follow</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/rates-drop-in-us-and-uk-but-banks-fail-to-follow.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[In an effort to ward off a deep depression, the Fed dropped its benchmark rate to a record-tying low of 1 percent, and the Bank of England recently slashed Britain's base rate by a record 1.5 percent.   Since many <a href="http://consumers.creditnet.com/Credit_Cards/search.php" target="new">credit cards</a> are pegged to the prime...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>750 is the new 650</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/750-is-the-new-650.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Prior to a few months ago, there was basically no difference between a credit score of 650 and 800 for most loans.  Whether you were looking to get into a car, a home, or simply a new credit card, a score above 650 would land you the best interest...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>How Will A Short Sale Affect My Credit Score?</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/how-will-a-short-sale-affect-my-credit-score.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[As property values continue to head south, many people are finding themselves upside-down on <a href="http://consumers.creditnet.com/Credit_Services/Loan_Services/Home_Loans/" target="new">home loans</a> 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...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>Does Your Credit Card Have a Penalty Rate?</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/does-your-credit-card-have-a-penalty-rate.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Buried deep in the fine print of your credit card's terms and conditions, chances are you will find something known as the "penalty rate clause".  In fact, more than 75% of credit card issuers include a penalty rate clause with their card offers, and this number is increasing as...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>A Poor Credit Score Influences More Than Lenders </title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/a-poor-credit-score-influences-more-than-lenders.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[People with good credit are finding it difficult to get loans these days.  For those with poor or damaged credit, the task is even more daunting.  But what about <a href="http://consumers.creditnet.com/Insurance/" target="new">home and auto insurance</a>?  Will a poor credit score affect your ability to get the type...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>Times are Tough, but Basic Rules Remain Unchanged</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/times-are-tough-but-basic-rules-remain-unchanged.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[The economy is hurting and credit markets are in the tank.  In fact, it's easy to understand why all the media hype concerning the credit crunch has consumers scared about what the future will hold.  So should you close all your <a href="http://consumers.creditnet.com/Credit_Cards/search.php" target="new">credit card accounts</a>, begin stockpiling...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>How Will Foreclosure Affect My Credit?</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/how-will-foreclosure-affect-my-credit.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[The credit markets are in the tank, and mortgage foreclosures are happening everywhere in today's economy. Whether voluntary or involuntary, it's important to understand that a foreclosure on your home will severely damage your credit score. In fact, a mortgage foreclosure will remain on your credit file for 7 years...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>What Should I Look For On My Credit Report? </title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/what-should-i-look-for-on-my-credit-report.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[If you already have excellent credit and sparingly apply for new credit, checking your <a href="http://consumers.creditnet.com/Credit_Services/Credit_Reports/" target="new">credit reports</a> 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...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>Credit Talk Forum Helps Users Navigate the Credit World </title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/credit-talk-forum-helps-users-navigate-the-credit-world.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Are you ready to take matters into your own hands and improve your credit?  If so, congratulations for having the courage to do something about your credit problems.  Many people choose to avoid the issue in every way possible, so you are taking an important step in the...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>Want a Lower Credit-Card Rate? Just Ask for It</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/want-a-lower-credit-card-rate-just-ask-for-it.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Existing credit card customers are of great value to credit issuers, and that will never change.  In fact, some analysts estimate it costs credit card companies more than $200 to acquire a new customer. Therefore, once they have you, they really don't want to lose you.  So if...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>Beware of Voter Registration ID Theft Scam</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/beware-of-voter-registration-id-theft-scam.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Identity theft scammers never grow tired of finding new ways to deceive the unknowing into divulging personal information over the phone.  In fact, the <a href="http://ftc.gov/" target="new" class="hidden">Federal Trade Commission</a> recently reported that identity theft scammers are hard at work using the looming election day as a new way...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>Worried About Missing Your Next Credit Card Payment?</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/worried-about-missing-your-next-credit-card-payment.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Credit card delinquencies are soaring in 2008 as consumers continue to struggle with the subprime loan crisis, higher energy prices, and a sputtering U.S. economy.  In fact, some experts estimate a quarter of American households are behind on at least one bill by a month or more.  If...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>Leaving Monthly Balances Won't Boost Credit Scores</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/leaving-monthly-balances-wont-boost-credit-scores.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[It's likely you've had friends tell you how they established credit history faster by leaving monthly balances on credit cards instead of paying in full.  Hope you didn't fall for this one!  The truth is this happens to be one of the most common credit card myths out...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>"Same As Cash" Offers Hurt Credit Scores</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/same-as-cash-offers-hurt-credit-scores.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Even though you really want that new high-def plasma TV with the booming home theater system, $5,000 smackers might sound a bit too rich for your pocketbook at the moment.  So why not use a "same as cash" offer to postpone paying the debt for 90 days or maybe...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>'Piggybacking' Lives On</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/piggybacking-lives-on.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Piggybacking, a technique that allows consumers with good credit to boost other's credit scores by adding them as an authorized user, will live on.   If you haven't heard the term before, it's not a new thing.  Parents have used the technique for  many years to help...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>Avoid On-the-spot Signups for Retail Credit Cards</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/avoid-retail-cards-at-register.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Retail Credit Cards can become a huge problem for those who find it difficult to just say no to the "Get 10-percent off your purchase today" sales tactic.  Remember credit card companies are in business to make money, and the whole point of a retail credit card program is...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>What's the Universal Default Clause?</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/univeral-default-clause.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Hidden deep in the small print of your credit card terms and conditions, you may find the dreaded policy known as the "Universal Default Clause".  This clause gives credit card companies the ability to increase your interest rate to the maximum default when you make a late payment on...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>What's a "Good" Credit Score?</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/good-credit-score.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Everyone seems to care what your credit score is these days.  Even insurance companies and employers are taking a look at your credit history to determine if you are a "risk" worth taking.  You may pull your credit report regularly and know what your credit score is, but...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>Beware of Excessive Debit Card Holds at Gas Pumps</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/excessive-debit-card-holds-at-gas-pump.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[If you are a fan of using your debit card to make everyday purchases, you may want to think twice before filling up this July 4th weekend.  Consumers have been complaining across the country about excessive holds on debit card transactions at gas stations.  For instance, if you...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>How to Save 15-75% on Meals</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/how-to-save-money-eating-out.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[If your busy life forces you to eat out often, then you should know just how painful it can be on the pocketbook.  In fact, eating out is by far the biggest variable expense most families have each month.  Take a moment this week to review your credit...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>ID Theft Tops FTC's List&#8212;Are You Protecting Your Good Name?</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/five-tips-for-safeguarding-your-identity.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[For the eighth year in a row, identity theft led the way in 2007 as "the number one consumer complaint category".  The <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/02/fraud.shtm" class="hidden">Federal Trade Commission's List of Top Consumer Fraud Complaints</a> also reported that the most common form of identity theft was credit card fraud, which accounted for...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>How to Ease Your Pain at the Pump!</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/how-to-save-at-the-gas-pump.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[The media was talking about the "$50 fill-up" like it was an anomaly just a few years ago. With the average national price for regular gas hitting $4 for the first time, a "$50 fill-up" these days probably means you still had a half-full tank when you pulled into the...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>Traveling outside the US? How to avoid foreign transaction fees</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/credit-cards-0-percent-foreign-transaction-fees.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Currency conversion fees are often as high as three percent and are charged by virtually all credit card issuers for purchases made overseas.  If you are like most travelers these days, credit cards will be your preferred method of payment as you set out on your next adventure. ...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>I never use my first credit card anymore - Should I just close the account?</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/i-never-use-my-first-credit-card-anymore-should-i-just-close-the-account.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Closing out your oldest credit card immediately shortens credit history and negatively affects your credit score.  Length of credit history accounts for approximately 15% of your credit score, and lenders naturally tend to view borrowers with short credit histories as riskier than those who have responsibly held credit for...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Mon, 26 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>Will too much plastic hurt my credit score?</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/will-too-much-plastic-hurt-my-credit-score.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Credit is hard to come by these days, and it is more important than ever to maintain a good credit score.  So, will having too much plastic in your pocket hurt that solid score you have worked so hard to build?  The answer will always depend upon which...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>Will shopping the market hurt my FICO score?</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/will-shopping-the-market-hurt-my-fico-score.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[While multiple inquiries at one time for your credit report information can theoretically hurt your credit score, the fact is it probably will not drop too much.  If you are searching for the best deal on a home or auto loan, it is definitely worth shopping rates with at...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>Emergency funds - A personal cure for the credit crunch</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/emergency-funds-a-personal-cure-for-the-credit-crunch.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Do not rely on credit as an emergency fund.  Everyone's personal financial plan should include a goal of having at least six months' worth of living expenses saved in a liquid emergency fund such as an online savings account.  If you find yourself in desperate need of credit...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>There is an error on my credit report - Where do I begin?</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/there-is-an-error-on-my-credit-report-where-do-i-begin.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Mistakes happen all the time, and it is more important than ever to make sure there are no errors on your credit report.  To ensure an error gets corrected as soon as possible, be prepared to write a letter to both the credit bureau and the organization that provided...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
	<title>Have trouble making your payments on time?</title>
	<link>http://www.creditnet.com/weekly_tips/have-trouble-making-your-payments-on-time.php</link>
	<description><![CDATA[The best way to prove you are a reliable credit risk is to always make your payments on time.  If you find yourself forgetting when your credit card payments are due, take a few moments to set up direct debits for all of your cards from one central checking...]]></description>
	<pubDate>Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
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