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01/04/2012
Now is the time to plan ahead so the 2012 holidays are not overshadowed by looming debt. Starting a Christmas Club account might be the perfect way to get your finances off to the right start this new year.
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09/15/2010
The housing market in the United States may not be thriving, but business is booming for foreclosure rescue and loan modification scammers.
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09/01/2010
If a debt collector is contacting you about a debt you know you don’t owe, explaining your case can be an uphill battle. The Better Business Bureau recommends five steps to fight back.
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07/30/2010
Better Business Bureau recommends that consumers try to work out a deal with the lender directly before paying out hundreds in upfront fees to a loan modification company.
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07/22/2010
On July 1st, new rules went into effect concerning overdrafts on debit or ATM cards. The change gives consumers the ability to choose what happens when you make a charge and don’t have enough money in the account.
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07/01/2010
When faced with overwhelming credit card debt, we’re awash with options on how to deal: handle it on our own; try debt settlement; obtain a debt consolidation loan; file for bankruptcy; tap home equity, or join a debt management program through a credit counseling agency.
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06/01/2010
While the economy improves, banks are still reticent about lending to small business owners and Better Business Bureau recommends developing a solid business plan to earn the bank’s trust and increase your chances of landing a loan.
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11/02/2009
With layaway experiencing a comeback, your Better Business Bureau offers the following guidance on how to use this old fashioned payment plan in lieu of credit cards.
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06/01/2007
The possibility of losing your home because you can't make the mortgage payments can be terrifying. Perhaps you are one of the many consumers who took out a mortgage that had a fixed rate for the first two or three years and then had an adjustable rate. Or maybe you're anticipating an adjustment, and want to know what your payments will be and whether you'll be able to make them. Or maybe you're having trouble making ends meet because of an unrelated financial crisis.
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03/01/2007
With prices averaging more than $28,000 for a new vehicle and $15,000 for a used vehicle, most consumers need financing or leasing to acquire a vehicle. In some cases, buyers use “direct lending:” they obtain a loan directly from a finance company, bank or credit union. In direct lending, a buyer agrees to pay the amount financed, plus an agreed-upon finance charge, over a period of time. Once a buyer and a vehicle dealership enter into a contract to purchase a vehicle, the buyer uses the loan proceeds from the direct lender to pay the dealership for the vehicle. Consumers also may arrange for a vehicle loan over the Internet.
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02/01/2007
Using a credit line to borrow against the equity in your home has become a popular source of consumer credit. And lenders are offering these home equity credit lines in a variety of ways.
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01/01/2007
It’s your lucky day! You just won a foreign lottery! The letter says so. And the cashier’s check to cover the taxes and fees is included. All you have to do to get your winnings is deposit the check and wire the money to the sender to pay the taxes and fees. You’re guaranteed that when they get your payment, you’ll get your prize.
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01/01/2007
If you're refinancing your mortgage or applying for a home equity installment loan, you should know about the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994 (HOEPA).
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12/01/2006
For many consumers, electronic banking means 24-hour access to cash through an automated teller machine (ATM) or Direct Deposit of paychecks into checking or savings accounts. But electronic banking now involves many different types of transactions.
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11/01/2006
The next time you write a check to your local merchant, the cashier may hand it back to you after the payment has been processed – electronically. Or maybe you’re mailing a check as payment to a company. That payment, too, may be processed electronically. Why? More merchants and companies are using electronic check conversion, which converts information from your paper check into an electronic payment from your bank account. In fact, NACHA – the Electronic Payments Association – estimates that more than 1.7 billion paper checks were converted through in-store and mail-in transactions in 2005.
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