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Last Updated: May 17, 2009 - 12:42:55 PM |
Credit Cards | Credit Reports | Credit Ratings
FBI Warning - Guard Your Financial Info
Customers of a telecommunications firm received an e-mail recently explaining a problem with their latest order. They were asked to go to the company website, via a link in the e-mail, to provide personal information-like their birthdates and Social Security numbers. But both the e-mail and the website were bogus.
Apr 4, 2009 - 8:41:22 PM
Announcements
New Video: AnnualCreditReport.com is the Only Authorized Source for Free Annual Credit Reports
Despite the musical claims of
some TV commercials, the only authorized source to get your free annual
credit report under federal law is AnnualCreditReport.com. To
reinforce this message, the Federal Trade Commission is featuring two
new videos with their own catchy tunes
Mar 11, 2009 - 9:08:21 AM
Credit Cards | Credit Reports | Credit Ratings
U.S. Financial Crisis: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The United States is in the midst of a serious financial crisis. You can read full text of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on the Thomas web sitefrom the Library of Congress.
Feb 10, 2009 - 9:43:02 AM
Announcements
The Cousins Are Back and They're Filing Online for Social Security Benefits
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, and Patty Duke, Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy winning actress, today unveiled Social Security’s new online retirement application and launched the agency’s Retire Online campaign.
Jan 8, 2009 - 11:58:36 AM
Announcements
2008 Direct Loan School Guide
The Direct Loan School Guide is being reorganized and updated to reflect the regulatory requirements and electronic processes for the 2008-2009 award year.
May 22, 2008 - 9:45:46 PM
Credit Cards | Credit Reports | Credit Ratings
Credit Repair: FTC Charges Credit Repair Business with Violations
A home-buying consulting business that offers credit repair and home-buying consulting services has agreed to settle with the Federal Trade Commission for alleged federal law violations, including illegally charging an advance fee for credit repair and falsely claiming that they can remove negative information from consumers’ credit reports, even if the information is accurate and timely. At the Commission’s request, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed the FTC’s complaint and proposed settlement in federal court
May 22, 2008 - 8:33:51 AM
Credit Cards | Credit Reports | Credit Ratings
Reducing Credit Card Offers
Preapproved credit offers
are based on information in your credit report that indicates you meet criteria set by the credit offeror.
May 19, 2008 - 6:54:38 AM
Credit and Money Management
Money Smart for Young Adults
The FDIC’s Money Smart for Young Adults curriculum helps youth ages 12-20 learn the basics of handling their money and finances, including how to create positive relationships with financial institutions. Equipping young people in their formative years with the basics of financial education can give them the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to manage their finances once they enter the real world.
Apr 15, 2008 - 8:11:51 AM
Announcements
Standard & Poor’s Boycott: Chiang Calls for State and Local Governments to Consider Standard & Poor's Boycott
As an option, we ought to consider boycotting Standard & Poor's until they constructively engage California and national municipal issuers on credit rating reform. The costs passed on from the current rating system to states, local governments and, ultimately, taxpayers across thecountry, are serious enough to consider not paying for the ratings unless municipal bonds are judged on an even playing field
Apr 8, 2008 - 6:54:11 AM
Announcements
Federal Government Announces Stimulus Tax Payments for 2008
The U.S. Federal Government has announced economic stimulus payments for 2008. Even if you are not otherwise required to file a U.S. Income Tax Return, you may still be entitled to an economic stimulus payment from the U.S. Federal Government.
Mar 10, 2008 - 12:07:46 PM
Credit and Money Management
A To-Do List for Fine-Tuning Your Finances
Any time is a good time to prioritize your financial goals and begin taking steps to achieve them. Here are suggestions to consider for your financial to-do list.
Feb 20, 2008 - 9:11:08 PM
Credit and Money Management
Building Your Financial House: The I.I.I.’s Free, Personal Finance Software Makes Keeping Track of Your Finances Easier than Ever
What would happen if you became ill and couldn’t make financial decisions to safeguard your family? Or if your family were unable to find vital records after your death? Have you done all you can to reduce your debt while saving for the future? The Insurance Information Institute’s (I.I.I.) free, downloadable personal finance software can help you put your financial house in order.
Jan 25, 2008 - 11:27:58 AM
Credit Cards | Credit Reports | Credit Ratings
Online Marketers of Prepaid Debit Cards to Subprime Consumers Will Pay More Than $2.2 Million to Settle FTC Charges
An operation marketing Visa- and MasterCard-branded prepaid debit cards to subprime consumers has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it made unauthorized debits from consumers’ bank accounts and engaged in deceptive marketing practices. The settlement requires the defendants to pay $2,258,258 for consumer redress, plus the proceeds from the sale of an automobile. In addition, one of the defendants, Dale Paul Cleveland, must pay taxing authorities an additional $667,288
Jan 25, 2008 - 11:21:17 AM
Credit Cards | Credit Reports | Credit Ratings
California Settles Annuity Sales Scam
Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. and Insurance Commission Steve Poizner today announced a $7.2 million settlement with American Investors Life Insurance Company, Family First Insurance Services, and Family First Advanced Estate Planning, resolving allegations that the companies sold thousands of annuities with exorbitant fees to vulnerable senior citizens
Dec 26, 2007 - 11:21:49 AM
Identity Theft
Don't Print Full Credit and Debit Card Numbers on Customers' Purchase Receipts: FTC Reminds Businesses
To reduce the risk of fraud and identity theft, the electronically printed credit and debit card receipts given to consumers must not include more than the last five digits of the card number, and must not show the expiration date.
Dec 14, 2007 - 10:55:19 AM
Credit and Money Management
Nationwide Debt Collector Will Pay $1.3 Million to Settle FTC Charges
A Texas-based debt collection company will pay more than $1.3 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it misled, threatened, and harassed consumers in violation of federal law.
Nov 6, 2007 - 8:43:37 AM
Credit and Money Management
FTC Creates Consumer Hotline for Consumers Who Paid for Debt Reduction Services
The Federal Trade Commission has created a consumer hotline for consumers who purchased "debt reduction services" from Edge Solutions, Money Cares, the Debt Settlement Company, the Debt Elimination Center, and Pay Help Inc. The hotline is in addition to a letter that was recently sent to the customers of Edge Solutions and the other companies, notifying them that the companies were shutdown.
Nov 6, 2007 - 7:38:02 AM
Credit and Money Management
5 Tips for Protecting Your Checking Account
Make sure all the checks, debits, automatic payments, and other withdrawals are ones you authorized. If you see a transaction you did not authorize, notify your bank immediately. If your bank has online banking, you don’t have to wait until your bank statement comes--you can check your transactions at any time.
Nov 5, 2007 - 6:10:45 AM
Credit Cards | Credit Reports | Credit Ratings
Consumer Credit Limitations for Military Service Members and Dependents - Limits interest to 36 percent MAPR
The rule applies to all persons engaged in the business of extending consumer credit and their assignees. The final rule applies to consumer credit, which the DoD defines as payday loans, vehicle title loans and tax refund anticipation loans that meet specific parameters. For these defined transactions with covered borrowers (covered transactions), the DoD rule.
Oct 17, 2007 - 6:07:16 PM
Credit and Money Management
Feds Urges Improved Underwriting Standards on Third Party Loans
When a bank makes a loan that it plans to hold, the fundamental standard it uses to underwrite the loan is that most basic of credit standards that I’ve already talked about: the underwriting must be strong enough to create a reasonable expectation that the loan will be repaid.
Oct 8, 2007 - 10:56:26 AM
Credit and Money Management
Give Yourself Credit – Good Credit; It Reaps a Variety of Financial Rewards
Having a solid credit history can affect consumers in a surprising number of ways. Credit histories influence everything from renting an apartment and getting a mortgage to applying for a job or qualifying for a lower rate on auto or home insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).
Oct 3, 2007 - 5:20:24 AM
Credit Cards | Credit Reports | Credit Ratings
Home Equity Lines of Credit - Who Uses This Source of Credit?
This report profiles single-family homeowners who used home equity lines of credit in 2001 and compares them to their counterparts from 10 years earlier, including age, home value, mortgage, age of home, number of loans for home improvements and proportion of people using home equity for debt consolidation.
Sep 26, 2007 - 10:57:26 AM
Credit Cards | Credit Reports | Credit Ratings
Seven Credit Rating Agencies Register with SEC as Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations
Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2007 — The Securities and Exchange Commission issued orders today granting the registrations of seven credit rating agencies as nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSRO”). The firms are the first to be registered with the Commission under the Credit Rating Agency Reform Act of 2006.
Sep 25, 2007 - 8:58:05 AM
Credit Cards | Credit Reports | Credit Ratings
Underfunded Pension Plans: Treasury, IRS Issue Proposed Regulations
Washington, D.C.--The Treasury Department and IRS issued today proposed regulations to provide guidance on new rules enacted as part of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA) that restrict benefits in pension plans that are underfunded.
Aug 28, 2007 - 1:58:21 PM
Credit and Money Management
Paying for College ... the Smart Way
The cost of college has risen faster than the general inflation rate for many years. So, it's no surprise that many parents borrow to pay for higher education and that many college graduates owe tens of thousands of dollars on student loans and related debt. Here are strategies for keeping college financing costs down.
Aug 25, 2007 - 7:35:11 AM
