Latest Articles
Protecting Your Little Ones from Identity ThievesPosted on September 2, 2010
Car Buyers’ Lack of Knowledge is Costing ThemPosted on August 31, 2010
Don’t Wait for Winter to Start Thinking About the HolidaysPosted on August 30, 2010
What Can I Dispute On My Credit Report?Posted on August 3, 2010
Do You Know Your Credit Score?Posted on July 27, 2010
5 Steps to take if you are the victim of a loan scamPosted on June 23, 2010
02Sep2010
Protecting Your Little Ones from Identity Thieves
When you think of identity theft, you may not immediately think of children as victims. Sadly, children are included in the 9 million Americans estimated by the Federal Trade Commission to have their identities stolen each year. Even more disturbing is the fact that the perpetrator may be a family member or a person known by the family. Children
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To Close or Not to Close Your Credit Card – That is the Question!
Do you want to close a credit card account but are unsure how it will affect your credit score? There are many reasons why we may want to close a credit card, such as avoiding annual fees, too many fees, high interest rates, or unsatisfactory customer service. Whatever the reason, please review the following to determine what is best for
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What Seniors Should Know About Identity Theft
Did you know that seniors are prime targets for identity thieves? It’s reasonable to believe that seniors who avoid using credit cards or the Internet would be the least likely victims of identity theft. Surprisingly, that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, seniors may be at a greater risk for a number of reasons, including the
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How Long Must Negative Credit Report Items Report For?
Accurate, negative information generally can be reported for seven years, but there are exceptions. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), there is a statute of limitations for reporting. Negative entries on your credit report have different reporting limits. Typical retention periods are stated below, and may vary by
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Restore Your Checking Privileges After ChexSystems Strikes
Thousands of consumers in the U.S. live with the aggravation of not being able to open a bank account after their prior bank account was revoked and their poor history reported to ChexSystems. A checking account is much more than a way to pay for goods and services. Checking accounts make conducting financial business safer, more
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Simple Ways to Improve Your Credit Score
Review your credit reports on a regular basis. You may obtain your credit report for free at www.annualcreditreport.com Dispute any inaccuracies as these may affect your credit score; you may use Springboard’s sample dispute letters in our Consumer Guide to Good Credit: http://credit.org/resources/materials Pay bills on time. More recent
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“Active Duty Scam Alert” for Military Personnel
Now more than ever, it’s important to take preventative measures to protect your personal information from identity thieves. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. The FTC calls identity theft one of the fastest growing consumer crimes in America. While this is
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What Can I Dispute On My Credit Report?
Consumer credit reports can vary in the way they look and the order information is listed depending on which of the three major national credit-reporting bureaus provided the report. Consumers can obtain their free credit reports once every 12 months at www.annualcreditreport.com. If you believe that there is inaccurate information on your
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Springboard Applauds FTC in Debt Relief Rule Issued
You’ve probably heard or seen advertisements from debt settlement companies promising to eliminate half or more of your credit card or other unsecured debt. In this current economic climate, debt settlements may sound like an attractive option to consumers facing mounting debts, but the offers often come with serious consequences that should
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Do You Know Your Credit Score?
Do you want the home of your dreams? Would you like a nice dependable car? If the answer is yes, you may want to take a look at your credit score before applying for credit to purchase these and other items. What IS a credit score? A credit score is a three-digit number that banks, lenders, and other creditors use to determine risk and the
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