Talk about the 2010 Census has a lot of people riled up. Some Internet rabble-rousers have been declaring that this census is the longest and most intrusive of any we’ve ever had – and instructing people to shut the door in census takers faces.

The truth of the matter is this year’s census asks only 10 questions. These are basic questions about population and they do not ask for your financial information nor your Social Security number.

Despite the truth, the news articles and hype surrounding this census have many citizens believing that they will be asked for personal information. And some – especially senior citizens – will feel it their patriotic duty to answer those questions.

And that is where the fraudsters see their opportunity. These crooks, bent on both identity theft and cash theft are posing as legitimate census takers and collecting information and cash from unwitting citizens.

You could be contacted in person, by phone, by postal mail, or by e-mail.

Be aware that there are no official emails going out from the Census Bureau. Anything you get that claims to be from the Census Bureau is an attempt at identity theft.

But that doesn’t stop these crooks from trying. Since bogus email senders can strike and be gone quickly, they aren’t afraid to contact hundreds of thousands of citizens in an attempt to gain information.

Generally, these e-mails say you didn’t fill out the form correctly, then ask for your bank account information, your Social Security number, or even your computer user name and password. (It takes a lot of nerve to ask for that!)

You could also receive a bogus form in the mail. If it asks for personal financial information it’s a fraud… toss it!

If they call on the phone and ask for such information they’re also crooks, even though their caller ID may be set to read “US Census.” Just remember, a legitimate census worker will not ask for your financial information.

Census takers could also show up at the door, and they may ask for personal information or for money – which is illegal. Get their ID and name and report them.

These could be actual paid census takers who have seen the opportunity to make some money on the side. The Census Bureau does screen employees, but they now know that a few identity thieves who have no criminal record are now operating under the protection of their Census Taker status.

Be careful. Don’t give out personal information – ever.

Author: Marte Cliff

CreditScoreQuick.com your resource for ground breaking Credit News.

February 22 marked the effective date of the Credit CARD Act of 2009 – bringing relief to consumers who will no longer be subjected to practices such as increasing interest rates on existing balances and reducing credit lines to less than the balance owed.

The Act, while not covering all credit card abuses, is good news for consumers struggling to keep up with mounting debt during the economic crisis.

But there’s one thing we didn’t hear about while learning the many benefits of the new law: it doesn’t apply to business credit cards.

This can come as a surprise to many of us who never stopped to consider the difference between a personal credit card and a business credit card. Aside from keeping expenses separated for accounting purposes and the fact that the rewards might be different, we probably viewed a business card the same as any other. But, as it turns out, they are two separate things, covered by different rules.

Credit card issuers may choose to extend the CARD Act rules to their business credit cards, but they are not obligated to do so. Thus, the interest rate on the balance you carry on your business credit card can still be increased for any reason.

To avoid this threat some small businesses are transferring business debt to their consumer credit cards, but experts say that is not a good idea. For one thing, using a consumer card for business could turn it into a business card under the law.

Next, using a consumer card for business expenses can lose the tax deductions allowed for interest on business expense. Any time you mix business and personal expenses on the same card, it becomes difficult to calculate interest paid on each, so the IRS will disallow all interest deductions for that card.

This use can also lower your FICO credit scores because business debt will be reported as personal debt. Until recently, no business debt was reported to the credit bureaus. Capital One has recently changed their methods and does now report small business credit use to both business and consumer credit bureaus.

Finally, financial advisors are warning that small businesses should act quickly to create a back-up plan for business expenses. If possible, obtain a fixed rate small business loan to cover any outstanding business credit card debt.

Since the CARD Act prevents credit card issuers from imposing penalty rate increases on consumers, they will be losing a revenue source of approximately $10 billion per year. Experts expect that they will attempt to regain some of that loss through rate and penalty increases on small business credit cards.

Author: Mike Clover

CreditScoreQuick.com your resource for credit report, credit cards, loans and Credit News.

Hearings before the House Financial Services Committee could spell changes for FHA loan guidelines this year.

Testimony centers around proposals to raise the minimum down payment from 3.5% to 5% – and to 10% for borrowers with credit scores of 500-579. Borrowers with scores below 500 would be ineligible.

Some, citing the danger of inflated appraisals, also wish to lower a sellers’ maximum contribution to buyer’s closing costs from 6% to 3%. Mr. Charles McMillan, representing the National Association of Realtors, warned that such a move could cause a severe drop in home sales in areas of the country where home prices and closing costs are high.

Mr. McMillian also argued that credit scores are not a perfect indicator of the ability to repay a loan, and that raising the down payment to 10% for borrowers with scores below 580 will negate the intent of FHA financing – which is to serve those under-served by the private market

FHA Commissioner David H. Stevens, in an 18-page prepared speech, warned that raising the required down payment could seriously impact recovery of the housing market. According to an agency evaluation of recent loans, raising the down payment requirement would reduce the number of FHA loans by 40%.

Thus 300,000 buyers – the majority of whom were first time buyers, Hispanics, and African Americans – would not have received mortgage loans.

Instead of raising the down payment for borrowers with a minimum 580 FICO score, FHA now proposes to lower the up-front FHA mortgage insurance and increase the annual premium, which is paid monthly. At present, the up-front mortgage insurance premium is at 2.25% of the loan value and is financed into the loan balance.

This move would change the loan to value ratios, but would mean little to borrowers as they make their monthly payments – the mortgage insurance will still be an additional cost over the principal, interest, taxes and insurance included in their monthly payments.

The proposed changes are an effort to reduce risk while increasing revenues for FHA. Due to the recent mortgage crisis, FHA secondary reserves have fallen below the required 2% level. Stevens noted, however, that FHA has not been hit with the delinquencies and foreclosures that have plagued the subprime market. This is due to the fact that throughout the housing boom and the era of easy loans, FHA maintained loan standards such as requiring verification of borrower income and employment.

Eight individuals, representing various sectors of the real estate industry, presented their prepared comments – many of them conflicting and at least one citing record-keeping errors that skew the results of FHA evaluations. To read their remarks, go to http://www.house.gov/apps/list/hearing/financialsvcs_dem/hrhousing_030410.shtml

Author: Mike Clover

CreditScoreQuick.com your resource for Credit News.

The Credit CARD Act of 2009 is now in effect, so if you’re living on a college campus you’ve probably noticed something missing.

You’re no longer seeing tables with credit card representatives trying to lure you into making application for their cards. You’re no longer being offered pizzas, t-shirts, and teddy bears in exchange for your signature on the dotted line.

That’s because the credit card companies are no longer allowed to use these enticements – and many economists see that as a good thing.

The era of easy credit for college students has led to an average credit card debt for college students of more than $3,000. That might not seem like much for an adult earning a good income, but for a college student who is not yet earning income, it’s a hefty sum.

Some financial experts believe that lack of access to credit will force college students to budget and make wise spending choices – a good way to enter adulthood by anyone’s estimation.

But still, life does sometimes present us with emergencies, and sometimes fast credit is the only way to deal with them. What do you do if your bank account is hovering near empty, you need to drive 20 miles to class each day, and the transmission on your clunker gives out?

Having a credit card in your pocket for emergencies is a secure feeling.

So how can you get a credit card if you’re a student, under 21 years old, and you missed the February deadline? The most obvious way is to gain employment that would qualify you for your own card. But if you’re dedicated to earning a degree, employment may be out of the question right now.

The next-best way is to get a parent or guardian to co-sign. This is a risky move for them, so handle it carefully. If you use the card wisely and make all the payments on time, their credit scores will be improved. But if you max-out the card or fail to make a payment, you’ll be hurting the person who helped you.

One safeguard for your benefactor is that you won’t be able to increase the credit limit without their permission. So if they agree to co-sign for a $1,000 credit limit, you can’t increase it to $5,000.

Once you turn 21 or gain employment that would enable you to meet the payments on a credit card, you should apply for a new one under your own name. Once you have it, close the joint account and release your family from the obligation.

Author: Mike Clover

CreditScoreQuick.com your resource for credit cards, credit reports, loans and Credit News.

While FICO isn’t giving away all of their secrets, they have now revealed the damage done by a few common credit scenarios.

Unfortunately, in the current economy, these scenarios aren’t so much mistakes as situations/events caused by widespread unemployment and pay cuts.

Interestingly, the “Damage Points” chart shows that the higher your current credit score, the more damage will be done by one of these events.

Topping the list of most damaging to credit scores is bankruptcy. A consumer with credit scores averaging 780 or more can expect scores to drop 220-240 points, while a consumer with scores of 680 will see a drop of only 130-150 points.

Least damaging is a maxed-out credit card, hurting those with 680 scores by only 10 to 30 points, and dropping a 780 score by 25 to 40 points.

Depending upon your initial scores, a 30-day late payment will drop scores from 60 to 110 points, debt settlement will cause a drop of 45 to 125 points, and foreclosure will have an 85 to 160 point effect.

Lenders use these scores to determine your credit worthiness. In general, the higher your scores the greater your chance of getting a loan, and getting a favorable interest rate on that loan. However, credit scores are not the only criteria. Lenders also look at other details, such as your total debt to income, the length of time you’ve been on your job, and the number of dollars you have in savings.

These situations can’t really fall under the category of credit mistakes, but we know there are plenty of mistakes that can affect your credit.

For instance, the report shows the damage if you max out a credit card. What’s the damage if you use 65% of your available credit instead of staying below the recommended 30%? What’s the impact if you let a merchant or a prospective landlord run a credit check on you? How much will it hurt if you get mad at a credit card that’s raised your interest rate – and close that account? How damaging is it to not carry any credit cards?

Since we don’t know the answers to those questions, the best course of action is to use credit, but use it sparingly, and pay all bills on time. If you carry several credit cards, be sure your balances are spread out, showing that you have access to far more credit than you use on each card. And don’t let anyone check your credit until you’re sure you’re ready to make a purchase.

Finally, keep a close eye on your credit report and correct all errors promptly.

Author: Mike Clover

CreditScoreQuick.com your resource for credit reports, credit cards, loans, and Credit News.

Soon consumers who find errors on their credit reports will be able to request corrections directly from the merchant who reported the inaccurate information.

Previously, consumers had to report the error to the credit bureau who included it in their credit report. The credit bureau would then contact the merchant and wait for a response. Unfortunately, the method of contact made resolution difficult for merchants because the credit bureaus use a code number to describe the complaint, rather than an explanation.

This rule change by federal banking regulators was finalized in July 2009 and goes into effect July 1, 2010.

The new rules also require merchants who report information to do so with “integrity.” In this case, integrity means that they must clearly identify you and use a standardized format to convey their information. The information must include the time period to which the information refers and the credit limit on your account.

Reporting credit limits has the potential to raise consumer credit scores in the event that the consumer is using only a small portion of their available credit.

One danger to consumers is that their complaint may be disregarded as “frivolous” unless they comply with reporting requirements. So if you’re a consumer upset over an error on your credit report, don’t get angry and ramble. Instead, use this standard format:

• Provide your full name and your account number.
• Clearly state the reason for our dispute. Give the date of any transaction in dispute and explain the nature of your complaint. For instance, if they have reported a payment as late and you believe it was paid on time.
• Provide documentation to show why the report is incorrect. In the case of a late payment, provide a copy of electronic banking records or your cancelled check. If an account has been paid in full, provide a copy of a final statement as proof.

Once you have provided proper information, the merchant will have 30 days in which to investigate and get back to you. Should they fail to do so, the FTC, state attorneys general or bank regulators could potentially bring a case against them, with civil penalties of up to $3,500 per occurrence.

After an error has been verified and correction has been made, the merchant is required to send a corrected report to the credit bureau.

Considering the amount of data transmitted daily and the ease with which a typographical error can be made or a line in a report skipped, consumers with errors should not take them as a personal affront. Instead, they should take immediate action to correct the error.

The fact that over 70% of all credit reports contain errors is one reason why we believe all consumers should read their own credit reports monthly. Just one 30 day late payment can reduce credit scores from 60 to 110 points – having a serious effect on the consumer’s ability to qualify for good interest rates.

Author: Marte Cliff

CreditScoreQuick.com your resource for credit reports, credit cards, loans and Ground Breaking Credit News.

Identity theft has been a problem and a concern for many years, but the current state of the economy has turned it into big business. Stealing your identity could mean big profits for those who don’t mind “earning” their living on the shady side of life.

Small-scale crooks will steal identities one at a time, while the large-scale thieves will simply hack into a database and take thousands all at once, but the result is the same. Your name and your good credit is stolen, to be used by “a person or persons unknown.”

Identities, once stolen, may be used by the thief to make a few purchases with a credit card before moving on to the next name, or may be sold to an “end user.” And not all identities are stolen for the same reason.

Some definitely want to use your good credit to make purchases. Others want to use your identity in order to gain employment or rent a house. That’s the kind of theft you won’t even notice unless you read your credit report – or until the IRS demands to know why you haven’t declared all of your earnings on your tax return.

This very real threat to your mental and financial well-being is one reason why www.CreditScoreQuick.com brings its readers the latest information on protecting themselves from identity theft, and why they recommend services that monitor your credit report for activity on a regular basis.

Articles on site alert readers to the “red flags” of identity theft – such as a change of address or an incorrect employer listing. Other articles explain what to do when you find errors or signs of theft. Still others warn of the latest scams perpetrated by identity thieves.

For instance one of the current threats is so slick that thousands of victims have already fallen prey. It happens when consumers get a phone call supposedly originating from their credit card issuer. The caller asks if they’ve just made a specific large dollar purchase and when the consumer says no, the caller says she will deny the charge and file a report.

The caller knows the credit card number, the consumer’s address, and possibly even their Social Security number, and asks the consumer to verify all that information. Then, after some conversation and rapport-building, the caller asks the consumer to check to see if they have their credit card in their possession. And in order to verify that yes, they do, she asks for the 3 digit code on the back.

Of course the call was bogus, but now the crooks not only have the credit card number, but the 3-digit code.

So beware – and don’t give out any information over the phone!

Author: Marte Cliff

CreditScoreQuick.com your resource for credit reports, credit cards, loans and ground breaking credit news.

February 23, 2009: Today, www.ftc.gov released an article entitled “FTC Amends Free Credit Reports Rule To Help Consumers Steer Clear of ‘Free’ Offers that Cost Money”

This report outlines the fact that consumers are entitled to a free credit report each year from the 3 major credit bureaus – there is no charge and no obligation to leave a credit card number. Consumers can simply go to  AnnualCreditReport.com and get their free report.

It goes on to say that “Free Credit Report Sites” such as www.creditscorequick.com are misleading consumers because the credit report providers want them to enroll in a service that will give them access to their credit reports year-round and will alert them when there’s activity on their credit reports.

Beginning April 1, all sites offering free credit reports will be required to include the following:

THIS NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY LAW. Read more at FTC.GOV.
You have the right to a free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com
or 877-322-8228, the ONLY authorized source under federal law.

The Web site disclosure must include a clickable button to “Take me to the authorized source” and clickable links to AnnualCreditReport.com and FTC.GOV.

That’s all well and good, but the article and the warning both fail to mention three important points.

The first is that no consumer is obligated to continue the service when they obtain a free credit report from www.creditscorequick.com or any similar website. They can get their free credit report and then cancel the service with no payment whatsoever.

The next is that the free reports from Annual Credit Report contain just the information, without analysis or credit scores. If the consumer wants to know their credit scores, they do have to pay. Since knowing your credit score is important, their free service is sadly lacking.

Finally, checking your credit report only once per year is not good financial management.

With identity theft running rampant, a consumer could find himself or herself in a financial and legal morass by the end of a year.

By checking monthly and signing up for alerts, consumers can put a fast stop on identity theft – saving themselves thousands of dollars and months of red tape. In addition, consumers who keep a close watch on their credit reports can catch and correct errors quickly. Those who wait to see their credit reports until they need to use credit are often shocked to learn that a mistake has lowered their credit score – making it impossible to obtain credit at a reasonable interest rate.

Even representatives from FICO admit that over 70% of all credit reports contain errors – and that those errors usually have a negative impact on credit scores.

And that is important. Everyone from the credit card issuer to the mortgage lender to a potential employer or a rental manager will judge a consumer on those scores. But most people don’t know what to do to improve them.

The service offered by credit report providers such as Identity Guard tells consumers the answers – giving a clear reason why a score is lower than it might be. This gives consumers the opportunity to make adjustments and raise their credit scores before they need to use credit.

Wise consumers will decide for themselves: “Is it good enough to see a credit report with no scores once a year, or is my financial future important enough for me to keep a close eye on my credit from month to month.”

Author: Marte Cliff

CreditScoreQuick.com your resource for credit reports, credit cards, loans and credit news.

Having bad credit can be a nightmare. Especially if you don’t have any money saved. You might find yourself in need of a loan, which will require use of your credit. I assure you that there will be a point in your life where your credit will be required of you. It is quite possible that you are in this very predicament now. All of us have read that everyone is pulling our credit reports to see our credit history. Your credit report can be quite violating, kind of like being in front of a crowd with no clothes on.

With your credit no longer being a secret and a intricate part of our lives, the question is does past credit mistakes really ever go away? The credit bureaus say that some past credit history goes away after 7 years. Some debts don’t to away until you pay them off, especially debts owed to the government. Let’s assume you have old collections on your credit report that fall into the 7 year rule with the bureaus. You pull your credit report and notice a collection that is well over 7 years old and you are still getting calls for this collection as well. What do you do? The first step is to dispute the collection with the credit bureaus that is still reporting the collection. When you dispute the collection, you dispute the fact that the collection has expired. Within 30 days the collection will be removed. So yes, after 7 years of collection calls and being told no, your collection will eventually go away. This is granted that the bureaus have removed that collection, but in some cases you will need to dispute that collection to get it removed.

I wrote an article a while back on collections and when they expire. Go to collection expirations article. I would recommend reading this article after you have pulled your credit report. If you find some collections on your report have expired, dispute them with our online resource.

Author: Mike Clover

CreditScoreQuick.com your resource for credit reports, credit cards, loans and credit news.

Did you think that your bad credit score might affect our economy or somebody else? If you thought this, your thoughts were correct. Let’s use some logic here. If your credit score is bad, this means you did not pay someone a debt owed which may have caused that company or person not to pay somebody else. I am sure people typically don’t think of this, but your bad credit and bad decision making caused a big part of what is currently going on in our present day economy.

When matters get bad it’s so typical of everyone to blame someone else. The fact of the mater is you are responsible for your own actions. Don’t blame it on the economy, or that you lost your job. Everyone is supposed to have 6 months savings in the bank for job loss or issues resulting in a down economy. Any financial advisor will tell you this. Like I have said in other articles we need better education of financial accountability in our schools and homes.

When people don’t pay there bills it affects everyone. Remember this, and don’t buy stuff you cannot afford or don’t need. I know we live in a materialistic world, but if you think about it, all this stuff really is not ours. We are just stewards of it. The bad decisions you make will ultimately affect other people. Before you embark on bad decision making, think again how that might affect others down the road.

I know the current media is making the banks out to be the bad guy, but ultimately we are responsible for what we do. Remember these companies that lend money are in business to make money, not to give you loans and credit cards for free. If you don’t want to get in debt which ultimately causes credit issues, don’t get stuff you cannot afford to pay back. I would recommend getting with a financial advisor today to get your finances in order before it’s too late.

Author: Mike Clover

Your resource for credit reports, credit cards, loans and ground breaking credit news.