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If you are like many other people in this country, you have debt, and maybe more than you can handle.

Many of us have things come up in our life that we end up using credit cards to pay for, such as groceries and gas, which are regular expenses that we really shouldn’t be charging unless we can pay it off at the end of the month. We know we shouldn’t be accumulating all this debt, but we do it anyway. What do you do when all your credit cards are maxed out and you only have enough money to pay the minimum monthly payment? Most of us will never get out of debt that way. What’s even worse is when you have to choose what your limited funds will go for; do you pay the bills, or buy groceries and gas and pay for the kids’ school lunches? Which do you choose? At this point we are in a financial crisis and something must be done. Do you file bankruptcy or do you try one of those debt counseling services?

Another option may be for you to apply for a debt consolidation loan.

Interest rates are very low right now and there are quite a few options available for loan debt consolidation. If you own your home or still have an existing mortgage, you may be able to apply for a second mortgage. This will allow you to get a great rate, and spread your debt out over a longer period of time, lowering your payments making them more manageable. No one likes living paycheck to paycheck, and unless you win the lottery or are the recipient of a large inheritance, somehow getting out of debt on your own is your reality. Because there are many other people also in your same financial situation, there are a multitude of online sites you can check out that offer credit counseling, loan debt consolidation, and information on debt settlement and reduction.

Bankruptcy is not the only option, and now, new bankruptcy laws make it more difficult for just anyone to file.

You truly must have a financial hardship, and most cases, an arrangement is made with creditors so that debt is reconstructed and not eliminated. If you have student loan debt, you are stuck. There is nothing that can erase these loans, and you will have to pay until you die. Apply for all the free financial aid you can get, because when all those student loans start coming due, you’ll be wishing that you hadn’t borrowed extra for those expenses that you could really have done without.

If you are tired of never having enough money, then loan debt consolidation may be right for you.

There are many organizations that have a variety of solutions that will help you reduce your debt, so you actually have some money left over after you get paid. Interest rates are still low, and loan debt consolidation may be your best option. Just remember, that after you consolidate, don’t go spending that extra cash and again creating more debit. Otherwise, you’ll be right back where you started- broke!

Having a bad credit history can be a real nightmare and major source of headaches.

With a bad credit history you are pretty much financially disabled from everything except transactions that can be covered with cash. Finding an apartment to rent, trying to buy car, putting a down payment on a house, or applying for a credit card or a loan from a bank can all be activities you are basically barred from with a bad credit history. Banks, businesses and landlords can see a bad credit history a mile away and will avoid you like the plague. And it seems like all the steps that are supposed to build credit require good credit in the first place. How can you break out of this credit catch-22 once you get stuck in it?

A good place to start if you have a particularly bad credit history is to contact a credit counseling service.

These services will help you to identify why it is you have a bad credit rating, and will help you figure out some steps you can take to repair your bad credit history. A lot of people struggle with credit at one point or other in their lives, and the use of these counseling services is a great way to get back on track.

Most counseling services will tell you that improving your bad credit history should start by clearing up any past debts or forgotten bills.

Missed payments have a tendency to work themselves into ugly marks on your credit rating, and make for a bad credit history. It is not in their nature for businesses to forget that you didn’t pay them what you owed, and they will almost always eventually contact a collection agency. When a collection agency decides that you aren’t going to pay, they’ll do everything in their power to give you a bad credit history.

These collection agencies are supposed to contact you about your debts first, but if you’ve moved or changed you phone number and they don’t succeed, they won’t be shy about ruining your credit without your permission. If you have a bad credit history, you might have been an unknowing target of one of these agencies.

Whatever the reason, clearing up a bad credit history should start by settling old debts or forgotten bills.

Additionally, you want to take steps to show that you can make payments responsibly. Use your credit cards often and pay the minimum payments on your bills immediately. If you don’t have a credit card, get a secured card and likewise make your minimum payments promptly. Credit counseling services can help you find additional ways to fix your bad credit history as well.

The difference between the success and failure of a small business can often be found in whether or not they accept credit cards.

In order for a business to thrive they need to cater to the needs of their customers. Most customers want a method of payment that is easiest for them. If you accept credit cards you’ll give your customers another choice in payment options.

Many people carry credit cards because they are one of the most convenient and accessible methods of payments.

Almost every major type of retailer will accept credit cards. The customer doesn’t have to worry about having enough cash nor do they need to use a debit card. Most banks allow you only a limited number of transactions on your debit card each month. If you surpass this, you’ll be faced with use charges.

Credit cards don’t have these same limitations and therefore many people use them as their primary method of payment. If they come across a business that doesn’t accept credit cards they might decide to take their money elsewhere.

If you are indeed a small business and it seems that having the ability to accept credit cards is out of your reach you might be wrong. It’s possible for many businesses, regardless of size, to obtain a merchant account which then affords them the privilege of being able to accept credit cards.

The first step is to visit your local bank.

There you’ll be able to discuss with a financial advisor how your business can take the leap into the credit card world. He or she will explain the process and costs involved to you so that you can begin to accept credit cards.

There is a bit more paperwork involved when you do offer credit card payments to your customers. However, any extra work is more than made up for in the increase in business.

It’s especially vital that an online business has the ability to accept credit cards.

When someone visits your website and spots a product they want to purchase, it’s important to them that they can buy the product quickly and effortlessly. They do not want to write you a check or go get a money order. They want to be able to go through the order process online which includes using their credit card to make the purchase.

If you want to give your business its best chance of success than get set up to accept credit cards. Your future customers will appreciate the convenience and you’ll enjoy the benefits as well.

Some of us have no business writing about the three major credit bureaus, and some of us have no need for all that is involved in the 3 major credit bureaus.

(And some of us fit in both of these categories, having no real assets to work with or write about!) In the same respect, the leading bureaus do factor into most of our lives—if we have ever purchased a home, a car, or other major item or if we use credit cards.

When we shop for autos or houses or even appliances or electrical or computer equipment, and we want to finance the items (get them on a loan to own or credit basis), the ones doing the financing will run a credit check with one of the 3 major credit bureaus: they will consult with or contact Equifax, Experian, and/or TransUnion. Listed here in alphabetical order are some of the particulars of each of the three major credit unions:


Equifax – www.equifax.com – Equifax offers services and products to protect against identity theft, to manage and check credit, and to prepare for a major purchase.

Equifax also provides tools for checking the value of a property, credit ranking, and the latest in business solutions (for B2B, B2C, and direct marketing, for example) and news …featuring such valuable articles as “Small Businesses Beware: ‘Rip Me Off’ is Written all over You;” “Yo Say You Can Smell Phish in Your In-box?” “Credit Union Thwarts Phishers and Reveals How;” and “Websites Let Users Send Email to Future.”

TO CALL
For general concerns, call 1-800-685-1111
To report or investigate fraud, call 1-800-525-6285

TO WRITE
To send snail mail correspondence, write to
PO Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374


Experian – www.experian.com – Experian also offers products and services to protect against fraud, to check 3-credit bureau reports, to check vehicle history (with a report), and to get further educated—understanding your credit and heeding customer alerts (such as those on Experian’s Katrina victims help pages and how to beware of phishing).

TO CALL
For general concerns, or to report or investigate fraud, call
1-888-397-3742

TO WRITE
To send snail mail correspondence, write to
PO Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion – www.transunion.com – Like the latter two, TransUnion offers products and support services for credit monitoring, provides fraud-prevention education and help, and free credit card report disclosures. As well, you can subscribe to the newsletter, to stay updated and get helpful credit tips; can find much information on preventing fraud or resuscitating your credit if you have been a victim of fraud; and can dispute credit card items you suspect or know to be false.

TO CALL
For general concerns, call 1-800-888-4213
To report or investigate fraud, call 1-800-680-7289

TO WRITE
To send snail mail correspondence, write to
PO Box 2000, Chester, PA 19022

If you need to, use all three major credit bureaus, then, for help or support…or use one, as each of these three offers a combined, 3-in-1 report.