Mortgage Preparation Tips      
Buying a home is probably the single largest investment most people make in a lifetime. By preparing yourself and your credit before a home purchase or refinance, you can ensure a smooth finance process and can potentially save thousands on your loan. Improve your financial profile now so you can take advantage of the low interest rates before they disappear.
 
Top 5 Credit Misconceptions      
We have all heard the rumors...from neighbors, relatives or friends. There are a wide variety of myths floating around about what you should and shouldn't do to improve your credit reports and credit scores. The buck stops here! TrueCredit has exposed these urban legends to provide you and your informers with the truth about credit:
 
Checking Your Credit Report      
To obtain a copy of your credit report, you must provide the following in writing: 1) Full name, including any previous names 2) Current address 3) Previous address (if needed for five-year credit history) 4) Social Security number 5) Date of birth 6) Signature
 
Develop a Credit History During College      
You've probably heard some horrifying statistics and stories about college students and credit card debt. In 2000, 78 percent of undergraduate students had credit cards and the average debt on them was $2,748, according to Nellie Mae, a student loan agency. In addition, one out of ten undergraduates owed more than $7,000. The stories are equally worrisome. Tales abound of parents bailing out their kids from credit-card debt amassed during college. There are also innumerable accounts of students having to cut back to part-time status or drop out of school altogether to make enough money to pay off their balances. Then there are the much-publicized stories about students committing suicide over their credit-card debt. In some cases, these students owed only several thousand dollars
 
Financial Basics for College Students      
If you're going off to college, or are already a current student, you should know some financial basics that will help keep you out of money trouble. Here are some ways for college students to succeed financially
 
Group Warns Students of Pitfalls of Credit Card Debt      
(U-WIRE) NORMAL, IL -The nonprofit organization National Consumer Council has created a website called Student Advocate, warning college students about the dangers of credit cards. NCC offers important information that is not available to college students, NCC President Harvey Warren said.
 
Will closing a credit account hurt my credit score      
Caution: Don't cut up either of your credit cards. They are helping you build your credit and closing an account never helps your credit score go up. You just need to manage your use of them and pay down the debt.
 
Beware Of Hidden Credit Card Fees      
Credit card agreements are renewed each year. The issuer sends a "new" agreement to the cardholder and, by using the card, the cardholder agrees to the new terms. If these "extras" are important to you, review the agreement each year to be sure they are still included with your card.
 
Limited Liability for Stolen Debit Cards      
Many card issuers offer debit cards that deduct money directly from your checking account. These often look like a Visa or MasterCard (credit card) but you do not have the same rights under the law for purchases made with these cards. Also, if the card is lost or stolen, your maximum liability is $50, but you must report it within 60 days, or pay the whole bill. The more desirable credit card accounts (lower fees, lower interest rates, "extras") are more easily acquired by people with better credit histories, but it's a very competitive business. Read the fine print and shop around!
 
Pay Monthly Credit Card Balance in Full      
When you carry a balance from month to month, there is no grace period on new purchases with most cards. The grace period where no finance charges accrue only applies if you pay your balance in full each month. Some card issuers charge two months of interest for the first month you fail to pay your balance in full. This occurs when you switch from paying in full to carrying a balance from month to month. Most card issuers charge interest from the day a charge is posted to your account if you don't pay your account in full each month. Some, however, charge interest from the date of the purchase, often several days before they have paid the merchant on your behalf!
 
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