Filed under: Debt
Debt settlement companies can be very useful tools when it comes to reining in an out-of-control debt spiral. Unfortunately, a number of individuals, some criminal and unethical, others just inept and inefficient, have set up companies that end up making a consumer’s debt problems worse rather than better. In this series, WalletPop takes a look at the debt settlement industry, explaining how it works and talking to some of its players. This is the second installment in our debt settlement series.
If you’re thinking of working with a debt settlement company to help you reduce the amount of money you owe on credit cards or some other unsecured debt, you should be aware of the new rules instituted this year by the Federal Trade Commission that should, if all goes well, keep consumers from being ripped off. (Continue the story…)
Filed under: Banking, Extracurriculars, Career
The era of receiving a paper paycheck is rapidly becoming as distant as the days when we relied on landlines for all our communication needs. To make things easier on workers — and save a bundle on administrative costs in the process — companies increasingly have been relying on electronic payment methods. Many workers now are paid via direct deposit to a checking or savings account.
(Continue the story…)
Filed under: Banking, Shopping, In the News
The Federal Reserve Board proposed rules Thursday that may dramatically cut the interchange fees that banks charge merchants for debit card transactions.
The Fed suggested capping the fees at 12 cents a transaction. Currently, banks charge merchants 1% to 2% of the dollar value of the transaction.
(Continue the story…)
Filed under: Debt
Debt settlement companies can be very useful tools when it comes to reining in an out-of-control debt spiral. Unfortunately, a number of individuals, some criminal and unethical, others just inept and inefficient, have set up companies that end up making a consumer’s debt problems worse rather than better. In this series, WalletPop takes a look at the debt settlement industry, explaining how it works and talking to some of its players. This is the first installment in our debt settlement series.
When the holidays are over, there are bound to be some cash-strapped Americans who are going to take a long, hard look at their financial situation and ponder whether it’s time to get some help from a debt settlement company.
(Continue the story…)
Filed under: Retirement, Investing, Retirement – 401(k), Retirement – 403(b), Retirement Advice
Do you or don’t you want to convert to the Roth 401(k) or a 403(b) by the end of 2010?
(Continue the story…)
Filed under: Credit, Debt, Credit Cards
Banks just a few years ago were handing out cards and extending lines of credit to just about everyone, a decision that came back to haunt them in a major way when borrowers, beset by job losses and falling home values, began defaulting in huge numbers. Banks battened down the hatches and severely curtailed their lending, extending credit to only the most affluent customers or those with near-perfect credit scores.
Recently, though, it seems that banks are once again engaging Americans with blemished credit. The number of solicitations sent by mail has increased significantly, according to a report in the New York Times. HSBC, Citigroup and Discover are all sending out 10 times as many offers as they did a year ago, while Capital One is sending out 50 times as many. The number of offers going to riskier borrowers has gone up 10 percentage points in only a year, although the number of offers is still much smaller than five years ago. As the article points out, these offers aren’t exactly generous; one Capital One card being marketed to people with troubled credit, for example, carries an 18% interest rate and a $50 annual fee. (Continue the story…)
Filed under: Retire, Saving Money
Figuring out how to get the most out of Social Security when you finally retire is a little like playing chess: Understanding the strategy is the only way to win.
Here are three things that aren’t obvious about the Social Security system that will help you get the most out of Uncle Sam’s retirement program:
(Continue the story…)
Filed under: Retire, Saving Money
Figuring out how to get the most out of Social Security when you finally retire is a little like playing chess: Understanding the strategy is the only way to win.
Here are three things that aren’t obvious about the Social Security system that will help you get the most out of Uncle Sam’s retirement program:
(Continue the story…)
Filed under: Retire, Saving Money
Figuring out how to get the most out of Social Security when you finally retire is a little like playing chess: Understanding the strategy is the only way to win.
Here are three things that aren’t obvious about the Social Security system that will help you get the most out of Uncle Sam’s retirement program:
(Continue the story…)
Filed under: Bargains, Home, Real Estate, Simplification, Mortgage Confidential
Everyone likes a little room to stretch out at home, but with the new homes that KB Home is selling, that may be a little difficult.
(Continue the story…)
