Credit Report Experts

Free Credit Report Services Are not Created Equal. Read Our Reviews

Browsing Posts in Fix Your Bad Credit

Nadya Suleman, more famously known as “Octomom”, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, according to ABC News.

Suleman became famous after giving birth to octuplets who were the result of an assisted reproductive technology procedure. She is a mother of a total of 14 children.

Suleman claims she owes creditors between $500,000 to $1 million. According to court documents she has less than $50,000 in assets.

Octomom’s most recent public payday was a highly publicized semi-nude feature for U.K magazine Closer in which she was reportedly compensated $10,000.

Creditors of Suleman’s include Verizon Wireless, Kaiser Permante, DirectTV, Sylvan Learning Center and the owner of her home that was recently the subject of news stories due to the poor living conditions the children were reportedly to be living in. According to CBS News, Octomom owes more than $30,000 to the owner of the four-bedroom home that she currently is renting in California.

Earlier this month Suleman reportedly received death threats after announcing that she had gone on state assisted food stamps in California, according to Reuters.

In an attempt to earn income to potentially pay off creditors, Suleman has recently announced that she will be performing in a pornography video. The amo

Full Post…

Like many things in life, it is sometimes the case that the three major credit agencies get things wrong when it comes to your credit report. Now we all make mistakes, but if TransUnion, Equifax, or Experian have got something wrong, you will find that accessing finances is difficult. So, rather than letting them get away with it, you need to step up your game and challenge what they have incorrectly recording. The best credit monitoring services will allow you to see what all three agencies have got to say about you, so monitoring your credit file is the best place to start.

First of all, you need to know who you will be disputing your reports with. It is best to approach all three agencies, even if only one currently holds the mistake on their system. By doing this, you will ensure you have a case against them, as well as the creditor who has incorrectly recorded information. By law, you cannot approach your creditor with a case if you haven’t disputed with all three agencies. So, by contacting your creditor, and all three agencies, you will be on your way to having a clear credit file.

Next, you need to make sure you approach them in the right way. W

Full Post…

I say it was a privilege because these brave women all have a story (don’t we all) – about raising children on their own, making homes and marriages work, finding work and losing jobs – and the thrill of getting a new job again.

Most have a high school education – several some college – or college degrees.

They learn about three credit scores and more – and really how good scores can open doors.

I received lots of great insightful questions –

Like – “if I don’t keep a balance on my credit cards, does it mean that I do not get credit for making payments on my credits report?”  Of course the answer is no.  You get credit as longs as you pay your bills on time.

Another woman is paying off a college loan that she feels was already handled – but she is diligently doing it.

Which led me to this – we really need to educate Americans (especially those in high school) about credit scores and more.

Many schools are making this part of the curriculum.  I arrived to help these women.  I hope for them, we arrived in time to help them – because it is never too late to improve your credit standing and credit scores.

Like anything in life, you just need to know what to do.

Which leads me to Debbie Venditti, my host, who runs Dress For Success in Fairfield County.

She is an amazing woman helping women.  When I wrote earlier about the thrill of getting a new job – it is Debbie and her team that gives these women the courage, confidence and belief that that can land back in the workforce.  Debbie and team make dreams into reality for many.

Medicare programs will see big changes in 2012, which could play a significant impact on older citizen’s ability to avoid medical debt, and may cause shifts in consumers’ propensity for filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Some of the changes to Medicare reflect routine shifts in the mechanics of the program, but other adjustments reveal more profound shifts in government policies.

By keeping yourself informed of Medicare changes, you may be able to better monitor your health care coverage.

According to a recent report in the Burlington Times-News, Medicare, which is the federal insurance program for people older than 65 and some younger citizens with disabilities, will see several changes in 2012, including:

  • Open enrollment closed. This year’s open enrollment program started earlier than it did in 2011, and has already ended.
  • Special enrollment period. However, a new special enrollment period allows eligible people to opt at any time of the year for a Medicare Advantage Plan, which is similar to an HMO plan, or a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan with a five-star rating.
  • More preventive services. Sourc

Full Post…

Here’s an inspirational story for anyone who has filed for bankruptcy and felt overwhelmed by the burden of their debt.

Resurrected NFL star Michael Vick has bounced back from a prison sentence and a Chapter 11 bankruptcy case that included $18.97 million in debts owed to creditors. At present, according to TMZ.com, he owes less than $400,000 to creditors. (To put that in perspective, Vick earned about $11 million in his most recent season playing for the Philadelphia Eagles.)

While Vick’s debts and earnings are well beyond what most of us manage to accrue, his attitude toward bankruptcy and success in powering through provide useful insight about what it takes to get past a personal bankruptcy filing.

Beat Bankruptcy the Michael Vick Way

Follow the NFL star’s path out of bankruptcy to make your own comeback after debt has gotten you down:

  • Keep bankruptcy in perspective. Michael Vick filed his Chapter 11 bankruptcy case in 2008, when a conviction on dog fighting charges landed him in jail. At the time, he was viewed as a disgraced star whose career was cut tragically short. But h

Full Post…