“Consolidate your bills into one monthly payment without borrowing”

“STOP credit harassment, foreclosures, repossessions, tax levies and garnishments”

“Keep Your Property”

“Wipe out your debts! Consolidate your bills! How?

By using the protection and assistance provided by federal law. For once, let the law work for you!”

While the ads pitch the promise of debt relief, they rarely say relief may be spelled b-a-n-k-r-u-p-t-c-y. And although bankruptcy is one option to deal with financial problems, it’s generally considered the option of last resort. The reason: it has a long-term negative impact on your creditworthiness. A bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 10 years, and can hinder your ability to get credit, a job, insurance, or even a place to live. What’s more, it can cost you attorneys’ fees.

Step 1: Advance-Fee Loan Scams

These scams often target consumers with bad credit problems or those with no credit. In exchange for an up-front fee, these companies “guarantee” that applicants will get the credit they want — usually a credit card or a personal loan.

The up-front fee may be as high as several hundred dollars. Resist the temptation to follow up on advance-fee loan guarantees. They may be illegal. Many legitimate creditors offer extensions of credit, such as credit cards, loans, and mortgages through telemarketing, and require an application fee or appraisal fee in advance. But legitimate creditors never guarantee in advance that you’ll get the loan. Under the federal Telemarketing Sales Rule, a seller or telemarketer who guarantees or represents a high likelihood of your getting a loan or some other extension of credit may not ask for or receive payment until you’ve received the loan.

Step 2: Recognizing an Advance-Fee Loan Scam

Ads for advance-fee loans often appear in the classified ad section of local and national newspapers and magazines. They also may appear in mailings, radio spots, and on local cable stations. Often, these ads feature “900″ numbers, which result in charges on your phone bill. In addition, these companies often use delivery systems other than the U.S. Postal Service, such as overnight or courier services, to avoid detection and prosecution by postal authorities.

It’s not hard to confuse a legitimate credit offer with an advance-fee loan scam. An offer for credit from a bank, savings and loan, or mortgage broker generally requires your verbal or written acceptance of the loan or credit offer. The offer usually is subject to a check of your credit report after you apply to make sure you meet their credit standards. Usually, you are not required to pay a fee to get the credit.

Hang up on anyone who calls you on the phone and says they can guarantee you will get a loan if you pay in advance. It’s against the law.

Step 3: Protect Yourself

Here are some tips to keep in mind before you respond to ads that promise easy credit, regardless of your credit history:

* Most legitimate lenders will not “guarantee” that you will get a loan or a credit card before you apply, especially if you have bad credit, or a bankruptcy.

* It is an accepted and common practice for reputable lenders to require payment for a credit report or appraisal. You also may have to pay a processing or application fee.

* Never give your credit card account number, bank account information, or Social Security number out over the telephone unless you are familiar with the company and know why the information is necessary.

Step 1: Look for:

* The Annual Percentage Rate (APR). If the interest rate is variable, how is it determined and when can it change?
* The periodic rate. This is the interest rate used to figure the finance charge on your balance each billing period.
* The annual fee. While some cards have no annual fee, others expect you to pay an amount each year for being a cardholder.
* The grace period. This is the number of days you have to pay your bill before finance charges start. Without this period, you may have to pay interest from the date you use your card or when the purchase is posted to your account.
* The finance charges. Most lenders calculate finance charges using an average daily account balance, which is the average of what you owed each day in the billing cycle. Look for offers that use an adjusted balance, which subtracts your monthly payment from your beginning balance. This method usually has the lowest finance charges. Stay away from offers that use the previous balance in calculating what you owe; this method has the highest finance charge. Also don’t forget to check if there is a minimum finance charge.
* Other fees. Ask about special fees when you get a cash advance, make a late payment, or go over your credit limit. Some companies charge a monthly fee regardless of whether you use your card.

The Fair Credit and Charge Card Disclosure Act require credit and charge card issuers to include this information on credit applications. The Federal Reserve Board provides a free brochure on choosing a credit card and a guide to credit protection laws at their web site.

Step 2: Comparing Cards

* Bank Rate web site provides free credit card tips and information.
* Consumer Action web site has a site that features credit card surveys of interest rates, fees and other terms from dozens of credit cards, as well as free brochures and guides on choosing and using credit cards.
* Card Web lists credit cards and offers e-mail newsletters, frequently asked questions and online credit card calculators.
* Card Ratings lists and reviews credit cards, and offers tips and credit card calculators.

Step 3: Lost and Stolen Credit Cards

Immediately call the card issuer when you suspect a credit or charge card has been lost or stolen. Many companies have toll-free numbers and 24-hour service to deal with such emergencies.

By federal law, once you report the loss or theft of a card, you have no further responsibility for unauthorized charges. In any event, your maximum liability under federal law is $50 per card.

Step 4: Complaints

To complain about a problem with your credit card company, call the company first and try to resolve the problem. If you fail to resolve the issue, ask for the name, address and phone number of its regulatory agency.

If the word national appears in the name or the letters N.A. appear after the name, the Office of the Comptroller oversees its operations.

To complain about a credit bureau, department store or other FDIC-insured financial institution, write to the Consumer Response Center.

If abused credit cards can result in high levels of debt, which can create huge financial problems for the future. It is therefore worthwhile remembering some valuable tips in order to make the most of your credit card whilst reducing the risk of falling into unmanageable levels of debt:

Step 1. Always try and repay the balance in full when it comes to your credit card repayments, as this will enable you to avoid paying interest on your borrowing, and will also help you to avoid being charged for late or missed repayments.

Step 2. If you cannot repay the balance in full on your credit card, always try and pay more than the minimum requested repayments. If you only every pay the minimum it could take you years to clear a relatively small balance, and it could cost you a fortune in interest.

Step 3. Make sure that you compare credit cards in order to find the best one for your needs. For instance, if you tend to repay your balance in full at the end of each month then a rewards based credit card may suit your needs. However, if you plan to spread your repayments then you may fare better with a low interest rate credit card.

Step 4. If you already have existing credit card balances on which high interest rates are being charged, it is worth considering consolidating these. You could do this through a 0% balance transfer credit card, or by taking out a loan to repay all of your cards.

Step 5. Resist the temptation to use your credit card for purchases that are not really necessary simply because you have it to hand. Remember, you will have to repay whatever you spend on it, so if you can’t afford to make the purchase then don’t.

Food is one big area where many families could be more thrifty. Families spend an average of $2,434 on food away from home, according to the Consumer Expenditure Survey from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you (and your spouse and your children) eat lunch out every day of the week then try brown-bagging at least one of those days. If just one of you does it you may save up to $400 a year and if you can double or triple that savings you could finance a family vacation with it.

Another major expense is your home. When was the last time you looked at refinancing? Can you find a lower interest rate? Can you renegotiate to a shorter time frame? Even if you can’t change your mortgage payment you may be able to pay a bit extra each month which over time will help pay down your mortgage faster. Also, don’t overlook your utilities. There are ways to save in this area as well including updating your insulation and weather stripping, keeping up-to-date with maintenance and cleaning of your furnace and air conditioner or using a programmable thermostat to take advantage of those times when your house is empty or the family is asleep.

Transportation is another major expense for many families. Not only are vehicles expensive to buy but also to maintain and operate especially with gasoline prices at such high levels. Is carpooling an option for any members of the family on at least a part-time basis? Make sure to combine errands and trips to cut down on your travel and save money when buying gasoline by taking advantage of special programs and discounts and remaining vigilant about gas prices. In addition, following a regular maintenance schedule and proper tire inflation can also help you achieve maximum gas mileage for your vehicle.

Choosing your bank wisely can be another way to save money. Make sure the bank you use offers free (or at least low cost) checking as well as electronic bill-paying. Electronic bill-paying and a debit card can cut down on your need to use checks and postage which will save you in the long run as well as help you better manage payments so you will avoid fees, penalties, and higher interest rates.

Cutting your credit card costs can be another major savings. This means making sure you are using the best possible credit card with a low interest rate and low or no annual fee. Shop around until you find your perfect match and don’t forget to cancel and cut up those rejected suitors.

Health care is not really an area where you can cut expenses but you can save money by taking advantage of special offers and programs. For example, many employers offer a Flexible Spending Account where you can save money before taxes for out-of-pocket medical expenses for prescription and nonprescription drugs, dental expenses, and eye care.

Tuning up your insurance policies can also help you save money. When did you last compare rates for your home, your vehicles, and yourself? Some other ways to cut costs are to raise your deductible level or using the same company for multiple coverage (your home and vehicles). When you are shopping around make sure to give your current company a shot at keeping you. Sometimes they can offer a better rate too.

Another major expense for many families is the cost of communication including local and long distance phone service, cell phones, cable or satellite television, and Internet access. Review your expenditures and cut out the services you don’t need. Can some of these expenses be bundled to save money? Are there better plans for your needs?

When looking to save money it is important to become an aggressive shopper. The Internet makes it possible today to compare prices and product reviews while not spending a lot of time and money driving from store to store. Any big ticket item (and that includes your weekly groceries, cleaning products and health and beauty aids) deserves a closer study.

Over the next, month take time to review your family expenses and expenditures in each of these nine areas. Making a few alterations in your family’s spending habits will soon make a difference in the overall household budget. You can raise your family’s quality of life by making just a few changes in your monthly budget.

• Debt collectors may contact you only between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.

• Debt collectors may not contact you at work if they know your employer disapproves.

• Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you.

• Debt collectors may not lie when collecting debts, such as falsely implying that you have committed a crime.

• Debt collectors must identify themselves to you on the phone.

• Debt collectors must stop contacting you if you ask them to do so in writing.

Step 1 Solving Your Credit Problems

Your credit report can influence your purchasing power, as well as your opportunity to get a job, rent or buy an apartment or a house, and buy insurance. When negative information in your report is accurate, only the passage of time can assure its removal. A consumer reporting company can report most accurate negative information for seven years and bankruptcy information for 10 years. Information about an unpaid judgment against you can be reported for seven years or until the statute of limitations runs out, whichever is longer. There is no time limit on reporting information about criminal convictions; information reported in response to your application for a job that pays more than $75,000 a year; and information reported because you’ve applied for more than $150,000 worth of credit or life insurance. There is a standard method for calculating the seven-year reporting period. Generally, the period runs from the date that the event took place.

If you are having problems paying your bills, contact your creditors immediately. Try to work out a modified payment plan with them that reduces your payments to a more manageable level. Don’t wait until your account has been turned over to a debt collector.

Step 2 Here are some additional tips for solving credit problems:

• If you want to dispute a credit report, bill or credit denial, write to the appropriate company and send your letter “return receipt requested.”

• When you dispute a billing error, include your name, account number, the dollar amount in question, and the reason you believe the bill is wrong.

• If in doubt, request written verification of a debt.

• Keep all your original documents, especially receipts, sales slips, and billing statements. You will need them if you dispute a credit bill or report. Send copies only. It may take more than one letter to correct a problem.

• Be skeptical of businesses that offer instant solutions to credit problems: There aren’t any.

• Be persistent. Resolving credit problems can take time and patience.

• There is nothing that a credit repair company can charge you for that you cannot do for yourself for little or no cost.

If you’re not disciplined enough to create a workable budget and stick to it, work out a repayment plan with your creditors, or keep track of mounting bills, consider contacting a credit counseling organization. Many credit counseling organizations are nonprofit and work with you to solve your financial problems. But not all are reputable. For example, just because an organization says it’s “nonprofit,” there’s no guarantee that its services are free, affordable, or even legitimate. In fact, some credit counseling organizations charge high fees, or hide their fees by pressuring consumers to make “voluntary” contributions that only cause more debt.

Step 3 Most credit counselors offer services through local offices, the Internet, or on the telephone. If possible, find an organization that offers in-person counseling. Many universities, military bases, credit unions, housing authorities, and branches of the U.S. Cooperative Extension Service operate nonprofit credit counseling programs. Your financial institution, local consumer protection agency, and friends and family also may be good sources of information and referrals.

Reputable credit counseling organizations can advise you on managing your money and debts, help you develop a budget, and offer free educational materials and workshops. Their counselors are certified and trained in the areas of consumer credit, money and debt management, and budgeting.

Counselors discuss your entire financial situation with you, and help you develop a personalized plan to solve your money problems. An initial counseling session typically lasts an hour, with an offer of follow-up sessions.

Step 1: Bad credit payday loans are generally short term loans that are given to meet the urgent requirement of money. These loans are meant to fill in the time gap between two pay checks.

Bad credit payday loans cater to the money requirements when you have an unexpected car or medical bill, electricity bill, grocery bill or bill of an item purchased from a sale or auction.

No credit check is required while applying for bad credit payday loans. Persons who have earlier filed for bankruptcy can also apply for the loan. The loan provider is not concerned with your past. What he requires is repayment within the fixed time period.

Step 2: Before applying for bad credit payday loans, the borrower needs to check the eligibility criteria. The loan qualification verifies the following things-:

• The borrower must be of 18 years of age or above.
• He should have a regular job with a fixed income.
• He must have a bank account.

The credit score of the borrower is significant in getting bad credit payday loans approved. Knowing the credit score will protect you against treachery by the lender and will help you to get the loan at a favorable rate of interest.

Step 3: Repaying bad credit personal loans is easy. When the borrower receives his paychecks, the loan term gets terminated automatically. The loan provider withdraws the fees from your bank account. If you want to eradicate this fee, you need to make the repayments earlier.

Step 4: Applying for bad credit payday loans is very simple. The borrower can submit the loan application online. He can even fill in the online loan application form at midnight. It saves you time as you don’t need to travel here and there in search of the lender. The loan provider will require you to present certain documents like the latest electricity bill, driving license, bank statement etc. The loan request will be preceded immediately after the lender receives the necessary proofs. The loan amount gets directly deposited in your bank account in less than 24 hours.

Bad credit payday loans help you to overcome your financial disaster. But these loans are not every borrower’s cup of tea. Therefore, these loans should not be used so often. If you use bad credit payday loans twice a year, you certainly need to keep a check on your spending habits.

Step 1 Pay on time or sooner

Make all the payment before the due date because it will enhance the goodwill of the business in the eye of customers and helps in future to obtain a loan.

Step 2 Establish Payment History

One you one time do businesses with a supplier it will create company’s creditworthiness. The company should make a purchase using your credit in order to create a solid payment track record.

Step 3 Add Trade References

If the company has suppliers that are not listed in the company’s record. The company can do this by utilizing DNB’s trade reference builder program. Due to this there is an improvement in the business credit score.

Step 4 Increase Credit Limits

Ask for credit limit increase with suppliers or creditors if you need that you have a good track record with the company. But keep in mind, you may have higher interest and shorter grace periods upfront.

Step 5 Establish a Reporting Bank Loan

If the company gets a reporting bank loan in the files of a company is priceless and can open more doors for the business. Sometime the creditors comprehend the scrutiny that banks impose on a company in order to get a loan.

Also to maximize the bridge capital loan, diversify your types of credit because it will enhance the credit worthiness of a business .There is a proper need to clearly mention the diversity of loan such as trade credit, revolving credit. Please visit stepsto.com for more great business advice.

Step 1 Borrow again

Use the next level of financing. Since the bridge capital is only meant to carry your business for a short time by bridges the gap between your current financing and the next level of financing. You must negotiate a better second round of financing before getting a commitment to repay the bridge capital. However, be sure to have a plan to repay the second bridge capital loan from your business.

Step 2 Use short term profits

Use short-term profits to repay bridge capital. This means you must refrain from any spending and expenses to the minimum basics because the your business is in live support and you must never risk any more spending before the next financing is available.

Step 3 Use credit

Use credit instruments and increase credit periods of repayment by negoitiating with creditors. This ensures that you r use of credit terms periods allows time to use credit products and get payments thereby using the short time profits to repay the bridge capital while cushioning the business from start up capital crunches associated with lack of creditor confidence.

Step 4 Trade in your accounts receivables

Accounts receivable is good financial instruments if used wisely. YOu can use accounts receivables to factor the terms of the repayment terms. Factoring allows you to collect cash before your customer pay or by your debtors based on the receivables. The lender of this money are now in charge of your collections and charge up to ten percent of your receivable. But you are able to use this to repay your bridge capital commitments.

Step 5 Build your credit

Finally use the experience to build your credibility and creditworthiness to get the next level financing to meet the long-term needs of your business as well as the strategic capital reserves for future contingencies.

You can also sell of some assets to repay bridge capital or you can renegotiate terms of repayment if you are in dire straits. Please visit stepsto.com for more great business advice.

Step 1 Cash Rebates
Unlike most other cash rebate business credit cards, the American Express Blue Cash for Business credit card allows you to start accumulating cash back rewards from the first time you use your card.

The cash back structure of the American Express Blue Cash for Business credit card is highly competitive and works on a sliding scale: 0.5% for the first $7,500, 2.5% from 7,500.01 to $15,000 and 1% from $15,000 upwards. When you purchase from an OPEN partner, the percentages double automatically.

The cash back rewards you can earn on your American Express Blue Cash for Business credit card are not capped and you are not penalized if – like most small business owners – you decide to settle your monthly balance in full.

Any additional American Express Blue Cash for Business credit cards you may choose to issue to your staff also earn cash rebate rewards.

Step 2 Discounts
Over and above doubling the rebates you earn on your American Express Blue Cash for Business credit card, you receive discounts of between 3% and 25% from OPEN partners on business purchases such as travel, dining, business supplies, business services and business building tools.

Step 3 Terms
The American Express Blue Cash for Business credit card is a very economical cash rewards business credit card when compared to its direct competition. In most of the reviews the four salient features that differentiate the American Express Blue Cash for Business credit card are:
$0 annual fee
0% APR on purchases for the first six months
Low on-going 11.24% APR on purchases
7.99% APR on balance transfers for the life of the amount transferred.

Step 4 Business Support
Finally, many of the reviews report a willingness on the part of American Express to go the extra mile for small businesses. As a holder of the American Express Blue Cash for Business credit card, you gain access to:
24/7 customer support services.

Chat facilities and forums where you can speak to other small business owners and experts, Articles and reports purposely compiled for the small business sector.

American Express also offers online reporting and management tools, to help you automate some of your tedious administrative tasks.

Step 5 To conclude
The holistic, partnering approach adopted by American Express in designing products such as the American Express Blue Cash for Business credit card, indicates that they are serious about the small business market and committed to adding real value to their small business customers. Judging by the responses on the internet, it is clear that this particular approach has hit the mark.

Step 2: The first thing that all households should do regardless of whether you have credit cards or not, is to establish an emergency fund to cover your household expenses for up to six months. At a bare minimum this should include the sum totality of your mortgage, car loans, credit cards, and student and other installment loans for six months. By having this emergency fund available in an easily accessible form, like a savings account you can ensure that your bills are still covered for some time while you are seeking employment.

Step 3: Also when you begin to apply for credit cards, you should look beyond the available credit, interest rate, and perks to the credit insurance. Many companies now offer credit insurance that will cover your monthly payments for a certain period of time while you are unemployed or temporarily disable. While you will still be accruing interest charges on your account during this time, what you are concerned with and paying for is the protection that this insurance provides from negative markings on your credit report from the 30 day, 60 day, and 90 day mark of nonpayment.

Step 4: In the event that your emergency funds run out or you don’t have one, to at least ease the amount of stress placed on you from multiple calls from your credit card companies, you should be proactive by contacting them and informing them of your situation. While this may not help your credit score, it will at least give you peace of mind. Additionally, the companies may be more willing to work with you as you try to get things back together because you have been upfront about your situation rather than avoiding them by screening your calls.

Step 5: At some point or another you or someone you know may be faced with unemployment. When unemployment raises its ugly head, to ensure that you are left standing, you must have a plan. This plan should consist of developing an emergency fund that includes enough money to cover your living expenses including your mortgage, car, student and other installment loans, and monthly credit card payments for at least six months. In addition to having this money available for a rainy day, you also need to be more forwarding thinking in your future actions. For instance, any time you think about completing an application for a new credit card, you should consider purchasing credit insurance as a back up plan in the event that you are out of work. While you may believe that your skill set will allow you to obtain a new job within a week or so of being released, purchase the insurance any way in case you are wrong and your emergency fund is not fully funded to last for six months.