If you do not have the answers to these questions, it is time you learn. Those who are not aware of identity theft parameters and dangers are most likely to fall prey to cyber-crime.

Take time and research possible tactics that can become a threat online. Be extra careful about the use of the Internet by your children.

Children are likely to use credit cards for shopping or obtaining access to sites that require age verification. Take precautions that credit cards are out of reach of children. It is also important to make children aware of the dangers of internet use and the importance of protecting their identities.

Source:  What do you know about identity theft?

Never give your financial data online to anyone. Be aware that banks will never ask for your PIN and/ or passwords. If you find any email that has asked you for this information, report it to the bank immediately.

Install verified security software on your computer. In this day of technology simply having an anti-virus software will not do. Ensure that this program also has anti-phishing, anti-malware and antispyware so your computer is fully protected. It is very important to keep this software up to date and to run periodic scans.

Do not give your password to your friends or colleagues. You never know where they keep the password or how they use it. This can potentially leave you exposed to Internet identity theft.

Source: Internet Identity theft

If you access the Net from your laptop or PC you are in danger of having your data compromised. This might not be a big danger if you have nothing to do with finances or sensitive data. However, if you have any important data on your computer, then you need to take measures to ensure that no one gains access to it. A few simple steps will go a long way to ensure that you stay safe.

Whenever you access your bank account to make transactions, ensure that you not only log out, but also close the window from where you accessed the website.

Never access your bank account from any email message you have received – no matter what the message is. The email could potentially be from hackers who would absorb your passwords when you attempt to access your account through the link in the email. Close the email and open a separate window to access the bank account directly from the financial institutions secured website.

Source: Data Theft – How Is It Done?

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What should you do? Be careful as to what information you divulge about yourself on the Net. Always ensure that website URL is on a secure server. If you were on a secure server the   URL would begin with https://. If you are not on a secure server, DO NOT DIVULGE SENSITIVE PERSONAL INFORMATION.

When typing credit card details, double check that you are on a server that encrypts the number. This will be indicated by a small lock either at the top or at the bottom of the page and the page will have an announcement with something similar to this “Verified by VeriSign and Secured using SSL.”

Source:  Identity theft

How can you avoid falling victim to such identity theft software? Always use a reputed anti-virus/ anti-spyware program. Since some of these programs gain entry to your computer as a virus. Always be careful when something pops up on your screen and asks you a question. Most of us do not bother to read, and just press ‘Yes’ to continue to the next screen. Many times this oversight is an invitation for a spyware program to download itself onto your computer and begin wreaking havoc on your financial life.

This is one of the easiest ways the identity theft software gains entry.
Be careful. Stay safe.

Source:  Identity Theft Software – Be Careful

The best way to educate yourself is through the Internet. Identify and use the various forums available on the Net on this specific topic to learn from the experience of others. There is plenty to learn from the advice, complaints and information shared by the previous victims of identity scams.

You could also read about various online and offline scams from the many dedicated blogs on this matter. There are many people out there who have made it their lives’ goal to make this information available to the general public. They seek to warn people about the various scams in order to protect people at large.

Source:   Identity theft scams – Watch Out!

Once you get a hold of 2-3 credit cards you have begun rebuilding your credit. To maintain on the right track make sure to keep up with the repayment terms especially by paying your bills on time. The sooner you rebuild your credit history the sooner you may begin enjoying the benefits of financial stability.

Rebuilding credit after bankruptcy is necessary because without such concerted efforts, you would never be considered for a loan. The creditors need to know that you are making the effort.
Rebuilding credit after bankruptcy is difficult and slow. Do not be fooled into believing otherwise. This is hard work, but the good news is that it is possible.

Source:  Rebuilding Credit after Bankruptcy – An Uphill Task

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Needless to say always try to avoid filing for bankruptcy. Find all possible avenues that can protect you from such a move as life after bankruptcy is difficult.  If this is inevitable, ensure that you understand bankruptcy in all its depth.

In fact, it would be an excellent idea to consult an attorney who would either help you go through the process or help with your understanding bankruptcy better. Most people realize too late that this is a very complex process that needs the best legal advice to ensure the best possible outcome.

Understanding bankruptcy will protect you from further harassment by also ensuring that you are not surrendering more than necessary.

Source: Understanding bankruptcy – why this is of paramount importance?

It can take as many as 11 years to recover from bankruptcy. Therefore, you need to be very careful about every move and decision you make during this milestone in your life.

My best advice would be to find a qualified experienced attorney that specializes in bankruptcy.  Only an experienced attorney would be able to maneuver in such a way that you may be able to salvage some of your assets, and you are protected by law post the process.

A bankruptcy checklist can go a very long in keeping your organized and protected.

Source: Bankruptcy Checklist – An Important Add On

Though most commercial bankruptcy are voluntary, creditors can unite to trigger forced bankruptcy provided there is a minimum number of creditors in this alliance, and the amount of debt is prescribed by the applicable law. These vary from case to case, and sometimes even from State to State. If the move against the debtor be found without merit, the creditors would have to pay the costs of the trial and also incur heavy fines.

According to the law, if there are more than 12 creditors for a small business, any 3 could form an alliance to initiate forced bankruptcy.

Source:  What is forced bankruptcy?

Another mean bankruptcy myths is that you will never be considered for a loan again. This is not true. In actuality you may find the opposite to be true. Just a few months after the bankruptcy has been declared, you may start getting offers – especially form credit card providers.

The third of the meanest of bankruptcy myths is that once the bad debts are gone, your credit score would improve. Not true. Improving your credit score after bankruptcy is a slow and very arduous task. The ‘mark of bankruptcy’ will stay on your credit report for as long as 11 years.

Source:  3 Mean Bankruptcy Myths Exploded

1) Discharge your bankruptcy first, then apply for the loan. Do not start the process while you are going through the bankruptcy period. This would warrant a super low score and a reject notice from the prospective lender. You actually need about 6 months to pass after your bankruptcy. Sometimes, you can get your loan application processed earlier, but never more than 2 months after the bankruptcy has been discharged.

2) Have something put in your credit record that show that your financial behavior is better than the pre-bankruptcy period. This is difficult to accomplish given the fact that no lender will consider loan application before at least 2-3 months after discharge. However, do not be disheartened. The approval rates are far higher than you would expect.

Source: What About Loans While In Bankruptcy?

You need to stay aware about recent developments by following identity theft news on the Net and other media. Information translates into protection. In order to place adequate measures in place for your safety it is imperative to understand the determination and ingenuity of criminals seeking to prosper with your hard-earned money.

The habit of following identity theft news will also keep you abreast of the scams that have already been uncovered. Often, such information is very helpful to check whether you have been victimized in the past.

Source:  Follow Identity Theft News and Stay Safe

1) Discharge your bankruptcy first, then apply for the loan. Do not start the process while you are going through the bankruptcy period. This would warrant a super low score and a reject notice from the prospective lender. You actually need about 6 months to pass after your bankruptcy. Sometimes, you can get your loan application processed earlier, but never more than 2 months after the bankruptcy has been discharged.

2) Have something put in your credit record that show that your financial behavior is better than the pre-bankruptcy period. This is difficult to accomplish given the fact that no lender will consider loan application before at least 2-3 months after discharge. However, do not be disheartened. The approval rates are far higher than you would expect.

Source: What About Loans While In Bankruptcy?

There are many bankruptcy helpline offices throughout the USA. Whenever you feel overwhelmed, give them a call and talk with them. The people working on these helplines are not judgmental, will not give you advice until you ask for it and may offer, on request, alternatives to bankruptcy. A Bankruptcy helpline is often one of the best things you could approach, because it can indeed change your life … for the better.

Source: Bankruptcy Helpline – As Good As A Lifeline

Have you heard about identity theft crime yet? Are you prepared for it? Yes, I know most people will groan inwardly saying, “Oh heck, I’m not living under a rock, buddy!” At the same time, you may be surprised that 7 out of 10 people today have their computers hacked, have their identity stolen, or are victims of some or other identity theft crime.

How does this happen, when you say you are aware of it? Aren’t you taking measures against it?

This happens because you let your guard down, safe in the knowledge that you know about the dangers. What happens actually is that in your belief that you are smart enough not to be trapped or victimized by identity theft crime, you allow yourself to be casual about it.

The moment you are casual about the identity theft crime  – that is the exact time when you are most vulnerable against it. Beware – and stay safe.

Some of the matters that amount to bankruptcy fraud are:

Concealing valuables/ property/ anything of value that can be used to facilitate the payment of the outstanding dues
Knowingly concealing information about secret dealing and contracts that provide “on-the-side” (un-declared) income
Transferring/ buying property in the name of your spouse, just so it will not be absorbed into the bankruptcy listing as assets

Criminals count on this lethargy people feel for identity theft checks. Most people do not “blow a hole in the wall” when they get access to your financial account. They rather milk your account slowly yet steadily, for a long-term residual income.

When at last you wake up to the problem, it will most likely not be due to an identity theft check, but will usually be due to some alert from a bank.

You want to reduce the risk of victimization in this matter, ensure that you carry out a regular and thorough identity theft check.

One of the most popular bankruptcy myths is that you can start with a clean credit slate. Nothing is further from truth. You will in fact, carry the stigma of being a risky investment for 10 long years once you have filed for bankruptcy.

Another popular bankruptcy myths is that all your debts will be discharged after the filing. Again, the truth is different. Certain debts such as alimony, child support and student loans do not come under the purview of the bankruptcy filing.

Another very dangerous bankruptcy myths is that if one’s spouse files for bankruptcy, the other will not be affected. Wrong – if there are joint accounts, it will affect the spouse.

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If you are looking at it carefully, all identity thefts are criminal activities; however, in this case, by criminal identity theft it’s meant more than just breaking the law. It means that this is done with criminal intent – such as planning embezzlement of money, stealing jobs or benefits, acquiring false insurance payments, and so on.

When you talk about criminal identity theft this is a serious matter than cannot be mistaken to be anything but a crime. Every person out there is vulnerable to such activity – especially if you are active on the Internet.

The best defense against criminal identity theft is presence of mind and alertness. Be always alert about any changes in your account, billing, Internet passwords, etc. Stay alert, stay safe.

Why should your credit report after bankruptcy be important anymore? You might not think you have anything to worry about regarding debts and payments once you have filed for bankruptcy and the deed is done. After all, you will wear the “mark of the beast” for the next 10 years – so what the heck, what is there to see any more?

But this is a wrong-headed approach. There’s plenty to see and check on your credit report after bankruptcy is filed. For one, you need to know that the date is entered correctly. A lot can change in legalities regarding your property and debts based on that date.

Second, you should check that ALL your debtors have been included on your credit report after bankruptcy. It should not happen that you get one or two old creditors beating at your door even after bankruptcy has been filed, just because they were not included.

The most important role of this person is to ensure that all matters pertaining to the bankruptcy are administered correctly and are represented in an accurate manner.

The bankruptcy administrator  will also have the authority to assist any investigation in alleged bankruptcy abuse and fraud. This person will have the freedom to interact across different government agencies in such investigations, such as IRS, Department of Justice and FBI.

The powers and role of the bankruptcy administrator are established by the United States Bankruptcy Administration Program (USBA), which was established in 1986.

When you are passing though bankruptcy, you will have a few thoughts about loans while in bankruptcy. After all, you are losing everything including all the credit cards you have not paid until the bankruptcy filing date.  If you are thinking about such a loan – the good news is that it’s possible. However, this is a tricky situation and needs to be applied very carefully.  The loans while in bankruptcy are meant to help you through a bad financial situation. Usually these loans have many clauses attached to them and therefore, you need to be careful about what you do when you apply for, and after you get, the loan.  Contact a good and reputable credit repair agency or professional to give you the best possible advice on loans while in bankruptcy, before you even consider it. This is very important, lest you sabotage your few benefits that accrue from filing for bankruptcy.

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You want to liquidate all your loans, but there’s nothing with which you can buy the next meal. You have reached rock-bottom; the good news is, that if you reached rock-bottom, you have the worst behind you. Now the only way to go is up, right?

Chose the file bankruptcy option only when you have completely rejected everything else as an impossible idea. This is not an option that you should be proud about. You might think it’s easy to just wrap it up with the a “bankruptcy sign” – actually, you are not the only one nurturing this thought.  However, this is one of the worst  – since bankruptcy has deep roots and will harass you for a very long time.

Here are a few steps that will keep you safe and protected from harm:

* Verify closely all your bills (credit cards, debit cards, utility bills, etc)
* Scan your bills and keep them on your hard disk with a strong password; in this way, even if your computer is hacked, nobody will get to your financial data
* Instruct your bank to inform you if there is any unusual trend in transactions
* Keep a close watch on identity theft news, so you’ll know how what are the latest developments in the field.

So, what do you do?

You do your homework well! Find the dealers that gives the best price for your chosen car. Chose 2-3 such dealers and get the ball rolling. Use the financing option they have, and allow them to present you with their best option for buying a car after bankruptcy.

Do research on the Internet and find out what can be the range of interest rates that you can get under the circumstances. Negotiate consistently with the car dealer until you get the best possible interest rates for buying a car after bankruptcy.

Be careful, even 0.1% can spell a big difference in the total payment – so, be tough while negotiating!

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In that case, be sure you get the best bankruptcy advice available in the market. Do not look at the money at this time; even if you have to spend your last penny, go for the best bankruptcy attorney or professional, and let them give you personalized bankruptcy advice on how to best deal with your situation.

There are plenty of measures that can save you a lot of trouble in the future – or get you in trouble, unless you take the right bankruptcy advice.

One of the easiest ways to prevent such fraud – or at least keep it to a minimum – is to have the provider send you SMS alerts on your cell phone every time your card is charged.

This has two benefits :
(1) it keeps a close tab on your balance available, and
(2) it will alert you whenever your card is used.

In case you find that your card has been used without authorization, you can immediately alert your bank and the police regarding the credit card fraud in progress. It’s possible to track the transactions made on the card, and the culprit can be nabbed and brought to justice.

Most people will tell you that bankruptcy solutions are to be avoided at all costs, and this is true to some extent. However, there are times when some of these solutions could give you just the right platform to bounce back to a healthy financial status.  Bankruptcy solutions are best considered when you are going through a devastating, yet temporary financial setback. This means that all you need to get back on your feet is a little time. When you need to buy time, you could go for Chapter 7 or 13 of the Bankruptcy Act and buy yourself some time.   Bankruptcy solutions are not the best solution if you have no plans for getting back on your feet. In that case, you should try your best to consolidate your debts. Only if you fail in this last step, should you consider filing for bankruptcy, because this will stay with you for 10 very long years.

A word of warning though – when you see the answer as “yes” to “Does bankruptcy stop foreclosure?” be careful. You will need to have a financial backup system in place fast enough. While it’s true that you gain time to pay the defaulted sum, it’s also true that you will have to catch up and be up to par by the time your leniency period is over.

The “do it yourself bankruptcy” option is a good idea only if you are a lawyer yourself. Otherwise, it’s best that you put the nitty-gritty of this operation in the hands of a professional. In this way, you will be able to protect yourself best and come out with the least possible damage. Since each case is different, only a professional will be able to point out the best possible way out for you.

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There are millions of ways to pull off identity theft. However, it’s hard to list any particular identity theft steps that you could spot as a warning. The most important thing is that you be very alert when you manage your account online or whenever you use a credit or debit card for purchases online.   Among the most common identity theft steps that police constantly warn against, is attempts by these thieves to gather your personal information over the phone. They will call posing as representatives of your bank or credit card provider, and ask you questions pertaining to your personal information such as your date of birth, Social Security Number, pin number, and the like.   Beware! Such calls are fraudulent. In case you get such a call, ask them the name of the bank, address and officer details, and tell them you will go in person and provide all the information. Alternatively, call your bank manager and ask them whether such a call had been initiated from their bank.

Second, ensure that you carefully scrutinize your credit card bills; are there any entries that are unaccounted for? The same applies to credit or debits from your bank account. One of the common ways to avoid identity theft is to first deposit some money into your account and then withdraw it. So, whether your bank account shows more or shows less, you need to investigate the matter at the earliest.

Third, ensure that you do not carry sensitive personal information in your purse or handbag. This could be stolen and fall into the wrong hands.

The answer to your question, “Should I declare bankruptcy?” also depends upon your patience to wait for 10 years for this entry to disappear from your credit report. Ask yourself another question, “Is this step worth the trouble that will follow me for 10 long years?” If you answer is “yes”, then go ahead and move forward. But if there is even the slightest hesitation, you would do better to look into all possible alternatives available to you before declaring bankruptcy.

* You get your bank to send you alerts whenever your account has been debited by any amount. This will help you keep tabs on your money pretty accurately.
* Keep a low ceiling on your credit card expenses, and require special permission to extend that ceiling
* Use only electronic statements instead of paper ones
* Ensure that you dispose of your ATM stubs safely – preferably using a shredder
* Obtain your credit report on a quarterly basis, and carefully scrutinize it for mismatches that will help you identify theft

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that will loom across your credit report for 10 long years after you declare bankruptcy.

Whether you’re a small business or this is a personal financial crisis, you should always try as best you can to avoid this

particular end. Your choices will be personal hand-loans, government grants, debt consolidation and credit repair among many others.

While bankruptcy might seem the best choice at times, do not be led into believing it. Your life following this event will be quite

difficult and you will end up paying your debts many times over through the social stigma attached to your credit score and status,

as well as through the incompatible rates of interest charged for any credit you seek.

few steps that will protect your child’s identity from being stolen or misused:

1.Be careful about the Social Security Number. You might need to enter the child’s SSN in a health insurance form or similar

documents. Ascertain that this information is protected and not accessed without proper authorization.

2.Do not put the information on the Internet. Educate your child about the danger of child identity theft, and how using his or her

SSN on the Internet can facilitate it. Do not forbid the child to use it, but rather explain and convince your child about the

necessity of protecting such private information.

3.Keep all records and important papers locked up. It’s easy for children to spy through papers and use the information they find on

the Internet. Ensure that such information is always under lock and key to prevent children identity theft.

student loans. Now you need to prove that the repayment will cause undue hardship to you and/or your family before the bankruptcy

clause will become applicable in your case. “Undue hardship” in this context is interpreted as living below the minimum standard of

living.

In case you have trouble with repayment, instead of considering bankruptcy, it’s better to consult an attorney or a credit repair or

finance professional who will  offer you the best solutions available in your case. Often solutions are not easy to see to the lay

person – but with the right guidance and information you will be able to find better ways out of the financial crisis than filing for

bankruptcy.

1.There is no guaranteed outcome; if there is any guarantee related to repairing of credit repair, you are walking into a credit repair scam.

2.There is no quick-fix outcome; if anyone tries to convince you that this process can be fast-forwarded, beware! He or she will be promoting some type of illegal ploy.

3.You cannot change your SSN number, nor can you have get a “new credit report.” If the agency offers you a “new identity” or “new lease on life” beware! … this is highly improper and illegal.

4.You should not, and cannot, dispute everything negative entery on your credit report. If this is the process the credit repair agency plans to use to improve your score, that agency is among hundreds of credit repair scams that prey on the market of gullible people.

Another very effective identity theft protection measure to destroy (by burning or shredding) any an all bank statements as you receive them. Never throw these in the dustbin. Your identity theft protection measures should ensure that there is nothing in your garbage bin that will give away any information regarding you or your family.

One last very important identity theft protect measure is that you should always log out after you complete online transactions with your bank. Very often hackers have the ability to capture non-logged out accounts and impersonate you.

Avoiding identity theft may not always be easy; however, with a little care and alertness, you will be able to avert it to a large extent. Here are three tips that you should keep close to your heart:

1.Never put an automatic password feed into your laptop. You might have the laptop stolen and all your passwords with it. This will make it a walk in the park for a thief to access all your private and confidential information – making it easiest to take over your identity.

2.Never give any private information about yourself or anyone in your family over the phone. No matter how urgent the caller says it is – NEVER give any such information. Ask for the address and name, and offer to go there in person to give this information. Before doing so, check with the source for accuracy of the inquiry.

3.One other way to avoid identity theft is to change your credit card and utility bills to email statements. Most identity thieves look for and obtain information from the bills you receive in your mailbox.

Most people if asked will reply that they know the real implications of bankruptcy. One direct outcome will be that obtaining loans will become very difficult. Another will be that the interest charged for any loans will be ridiculously high. A third aspect will be that obtaining a credit card will not be as easy as it was previously.

These are a few very obvious implications of bankruptcy. However, there is more to it; factors and outcomes that do not show immediately. For example, relationships with friends and relatives may suddenly become strained. There will be stress on the employer-employee relationship; there could even be the danger of job loss. You will not be able to start a business until the bankruptcy is removed from your credit report.

Therefore, beware of the hidden implications of bankruptcy. This might not seem a bright idea, once you have a glimpse of what all you will tend to lose.

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1.Do not leave this decision for last. You want to have quality, so take your time researching and comparing the best there is on the market, within your budget. Experienced bankruptcy firms are always better than fledglings because they will be able to see many dangers that might not be visible to you.

2.Do not cut costs here. Good bankruptcy firms will not come cheap; however, even if you are hard pressed for money at the time, it’s well worth it. This will save you not only money but also much heartache.

The method by which you can settle debt without bankruptcy has three steps:

1.Suspend payment to your creditors for a few months and pile the money into a saving account under the guidance of a reputable debt negotiation agency.

2.Let the credit repair agency take over. The moment you stop payment you will invite hounding collection on behalf of your creditors. Let your agency handle it.

3.The third step of settling debt without bankruptcy is to negotiation for better terms. Normally a agency will have experts negotiators who will be able to cut your outstanding loans by as much as 40-60%.

The best way to go about it is to find a reputable bankruptcy law firm, or experienced credit repair agency that can guide you in choosing the best from among the available bankruptcy solutions. Make the extra effort in identifying a reputable professional agency that can offer you the required guidance.  The survival of your business and your future depend upon the path you take when you are threatened with bankruptcy.

These Chapters of the  are meant to allow you grace time that varies from 3 to 5 years. Such bankruptcy solutions can save you from more than 10 years of heartache.

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Chapter 10 bankruptcy is designed to aide small and micro entrepreneurs, who would otherwise lose their business to their creditors. Under this clause, the company will ask for a reasonable time during which they will draw up a realistic time and action plan to rebuild their financial base. If the Court find it acceptable, then the company will be offered protection under the Chapter 10 bankruptcy Act.

The main conditions imposed by Chapter 10 bankruptcy Act is that the company’s rejuvenating plans should not exceed three years or the total debt be more than US$2,500,000.00

You will also find professionals of high repute who will do their very best to restore your credit to “good health.” But that leaves one with the problem of how to go about finding which companies are reputable and how to stay safe from the traps the fraudulent credit repair business agents lay for you. Contrary to common belief, picking out a deceptive credit agency isn’t so complicated. The first warning sign is when the business you are looking into purports to repair your credit “quickly.”

Because your credit history was formed over the span of many years, it’s just not possible to improve your credit score overnight. If you hear a credit repair business tells you they can perform what you know is not possible, you need to back off, because they are definitely fraudulent!

In addition there are other warning signs you should look out for as well. The deceitful “professionals”, in most cases, will require full payment upfront.

A credit repair organization, under federal law, may not charge their entire fees up front. No matter how bad your credit report is, do not pay in advance of any services being rendered.

A less-than-reputable credit repair business is more than willing to use illegal methods. They will even advise that you use illegal means and talk you into thinking it’s OK to do so, since they have somebody on the “inside” in the credit bureaus who can cover up for them and you.

Make sure you don’t fall for these kinds of lies! Do not accept any tactics in order to improve your credit unless it’s 100 percent legal. No matter how bad your credit problems, they’ll be made so much worse if you’re caught trying to amend the situation illegally. You are primarily responsible when your credit report is repaired through illegal means; therefore, you can be prosecuted if caught breaking the law. Everything considered, it just isn’t worth risking it!

Another simple way to establish whether the credit repair business you’re considering is reputable, is to ask that they help you understand more about repairing credit. A reputable agency will be happy to give you guidance and advice (and possibly some “hand holding”) in your quest to learn more about how to repair credit. A trustworthy business will work as a facilitator, while a fraudulent company will be resentful and wary about sharing information in regard to repairing your credit.

One of the greatest and most harmful among the identity theft series is the social security identity theft. This enable the thief to impersonate you and avail for employment benefits, medical insurance, bank mortgage and other loans and many other such things that will leave you in a very precarious position with the law.

It’s very difficult if not impossible to identify and backtrack which tasks have been done by you, and which ones by the thief, for which legally, you remain responsible for everything that your impersonator does.

Beware – do not carry your SSN number in you handbag or wallet. Do not give this number or any other personal information over phone or email to anyone. In case any bank or other such authority asks this of you, reply that you will do it in person. You CAN prevent social security identity theft – and prevention is the only way you will remain safe.

Find a person who will be willing to lend his good name (his or her credit score should be high and his credit report impeccable) as a co-signee to your loan.  His assurance to the bank or financial institutions will indicate that he will make good on the loan in case you fail to do so.

Beware that default payment involves far more than repayment in such cases. The credit score and report of your co-signee will reflect such failures, and his score will be degraded. Be very careful about the repayment schedule of such loans, as this will reflect your friend or relative in a bad light and damage his or her credit standing.

When you are on the brink of losing everything and you desperately want a professional opinion where should you go? You have two choices – first, you can go to any leading attorney or legal agency for advice; second, you can go to a reputable and effective credit repair agency or agent.

These are the two places where you will find sound advice about whether or not to file bankruptcy; and if yes, how to do it in a manner that  harms you the least.

But the most vital bankruptcy advice would be to reconsider it again and again, until you have exhausted ALL your possibilities. This should be indeed your parachute – a last resort. It’s worthwhile to avoid declaring bankruptcy if you have any other alternative, because once it finds its place onto your credit report, the repercussions are very discouraging. You will have to bear the stamp of high-risk investment for 10 years … which is a very long time.

Do not hide such incidents! Come online and narrate your stories. Complain to the authorities concerned. Go to the local police, find the relevant cyber police websites and report your incident. For every reported incident hundreds if not thousands will become aware of new dangers.

It’s the duty of every citizen in the world to fight identity theft as this is becoming one of the most encountered and damaging of virtual crimes. You will be surprised to learn that now you will be able to find courses that teach how to hack sites and other related software programming.

This has become a lucrative business that asks for little investment and offers great returns. Unite and fight identity theft – this is the only way we can stay protected.

One of the most important benefit is that it takes the financial pressure off your shoulders. When you make the decision, the relief is almost palpable. Bankruptcy also teaches you a very valuable – not to mention expensive – lesson about finances. It tells you that you are responsible for the consequences of your actions. Nothing can drive this point home better than your bankruptcy status. Many people turn a over new leaf after such an episode, and start valuing the importance of proper financial management.

Lastly, one of the best advantages of bankruptcy is that you can start from the beginning; with a clean slate!

You must take some measure to prevent it. The cost of identity theft is much more than the money siphoned!

It costs you your financial reputation, as your credit score will dip for non-payment of bills for loans that you never knew you had. It costs you your health due to the stress of worrying about how to improve your credit score, and how to pay back the siphoned amounts for which you are responsible unless you can prove 100% that you are a victim of identity fraud – which is often very difficult.

The cost of identity theft also involves your peace of mind. Once bitten, twice shy – you will be scared to work on the Internet for fear of becoming a victim yet again.

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There will come a day when, like the installation of anti virus software, you will have something that guards you and your computer from identity theft. Until then, you should use your common sense and stay alert. Your best identity guard theft is your own alertness!

Most identity thefts occur when the hackers send you a link that opens a cloned website that looks identical to that of your bank or email id provider, and asks you to fill in personal information for verification/ upgrading/ re-registration and so on. You need to make it a rule to NEVER give any personal information, especially passwords or ATM / debit or credit card numbers to anyone over the Internet or the telephone. While shopping online, ensure that the site is encrypted and marked so by Verisign – there will be a tiny yellow lock in the lower right hand corner of the page.

First, you can ask your friends and relatives to help you. Ensure that you give them a plan of repayment and you adhere to it. It is very easy to spoil relationships over a personal loan, so be very careful. Second, you have the choice to apply to bankruptcy specialized financial institutions who will be happy to lend you the money provided you offer collateral, a co-signee or are willing to pay a high interest rate.

You will have to choose the solution that suits you best. In case you ask a friend to co-sign the loans for you, remember that any payment deviations on your part will reflect on his/her credit report as well!

Let’s take a closer look and focus on credit improvement.

When you run into problems with bad credit there are two routes you can take -
(1) do it yourself, or
(2) avail the services of a credit repair professional.

1. Repair your credit on your own – if you choose this route, you’ll need to learn about the business of credit repair. While there is a lot of advice on the Internet about self-help credit repair, it is not a simple task. Many who try it are overwhelmed by the task and realize that the $50-100/month that the average credit repair agency charges for their services is worth the cost.

But for those who want to do it themselves there’s a tool to streamline the process – credit repair software. This is something that has many things automated, such as simulating credit scores to improve your understanding of how they are calculated, generation of dispute letters, tracking, debt settlement negotiation and the like.

2. Hire a credit repair company – if you have decided you do not wish to spend the time and effort to do it yourself, you can hire the services of a credit repair agency. These, at reasonable cost, will take on the task of improving your credit score little by little. These agencies also use credit repair software so they can improve their efficiency and accuracy.

Is the credit repair software used in a different manner in one case or the other? If a layman uses the credit repair software, he or she will bank on the software’s automation abilities without a full understanding of what that automation does. Consequently a lack of knowledge and understanding renders the credit repair software less useful than it might be in the hands of a professional.

On the other hand when a professional uses the credit repair software the have the knowledge to understand what it should do and what customization is necessary to produce the best outcome for a given client. This is why the software in their hands seems to work much better than with the layman. The agencies utilize it to bolster their speed and accuracy of follow up – as a useful tool; while the inexperienced use it without knowing the “why and wherefore” of its workings.

Therefore, one might reasonably conclude that the real issue is not actually whether using the credit repair software is a good choice; but instead how best to use the software. Whether the software is used by an experienced company or by the layman, you cannot achieve best results with the software unless you have educated yourself regarding the credit repair process. If you use this type of software in conjunction with a firm knowledge of the process, the software gives you an awesome advantage; otherwise it’s just generalized automated processing software.

The credit repair industry is one business where customization is of highest importance – and so, lacking the necessary knowledge and experience in applying the software, the outcome could prove substandard.

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Does that surprise you? Let’s take a look at it.

When you’re looking to get your credit fixed “fast”, you are leaving yourself open to corrupt credit repair services that are conceptualized and marketed exactly along these lines. Here are five important tips that will ensure you get the best credit repair services, and not get involved with corrupt credit companies.

Tip No 1 – trustworthy credit repair agencies never advocate quick-fix methods to help your credit report or score. Rather,, a trustworthy credit repair agency will make sure you are informed as to what credit repair services you can expect. These services will be spelled out in a contract. Be sure to insist on having a contract; and if the contract is absent, it’s a dead giveaway that this agency and the credit repair services they offer are fraudulent.

Tip No 2 – All the above board credit repair companies will make you aware of your rights and guide you regarding the credit repair services you can do for free. Things such as getting a free annual credit reports from the three bureaus, detecting errors in your report, disputing those errors, managing your finances and so on, are things that you may, at one point in time, do on your own.

The company will teach you what you can do yourself with little effort, and what will better be left in the hands of professionals. The trustworthiness of the credit repair company you are considering can be determined based on these kinds of interactions.

Tip No 3 – No reputable credit repair agency will ever hint at using illegal means. There will be agencies that advertise a “new identity”, complete and guaranteed removal of bad entries, increase of a poor credit score overnight and so on.

Please! Before you take such claims seriously, visit the Government site of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and checked out what it says about repairing your credit score. You will then understand that the credit repair services promised by companies such as these are fraudulent and even illegal in some cases.

Tip No 4 – Every trustworthy credit repair company offers, as a part of their services, quality counseling without additional charge. As we have already discussed, an ethical credit repair company is always prepared to help you become financially self-sufficient. They will be prepared to offer you top-quality credit repair services and at the same time show you what you can handle on your own. If you find that the agency discourages you from learning about credit repair, contacting a credit bureau, and/or discourage you from taking any action on your own, than you would be well advice to look for another company.

Tip no 5 – I am leaving the best tip for last, because this is what will remain in your mind long after you finish reading. Look into those organizations with which your company of choice is affiliated. As an example, many leading companies of this industry adhere to the code of ethics outlined by the ECRA (Ethical Credit Repair Alliance), which ensures that you – the customer – get the best possible credit repair services. Make sure the agency of choice has membership in a recognized regulatory agency.

1. Check to see that the company is a member of the Ethical Credit Repair Alliance (ECRA) or a similar organization.

You You are often advised to choose businesses who have membership in the BBB (Better Business Bureau) when considering whether to hire a service. But when evaluating credit repair companies, those businesses that are members of the ECRA are most likely to be the best choices.

This body has its own stringent codes of conduct and any business that gets their approval will give you their best services. All credit repair companies that find approval under this organization must maintain high standards of ethics in dealing with their clients. This means protection for you, the consumer, from being “taken” by a predatory scammer.

2. Know what credit repair is before seeking help. Most of those who end up being scammed while they are seeking ways out of a financial jam, have no prior knowledge of what credit repair is all about. It’s important to know what what these companies are able to do and what they cannot do.

Only if you have knowledge of the difference, will you be able to distinguish those companies in which you can place your trust. For example, no one can remove derogatory accounts on your credit report if those accounts are verified by the credit bureaus.

Many credit repair companies telling you that they can give you a clean credit report within a month or less. Think carefully; is this even possible to do legally? If the answer is negative you would do better to pass.

3. Never accept unsolicited offers by e-mail. It’s not fate that sent you an email offering to repair your credit at a time when you are desperately looking for help. These kinds of e-mails come from fraudulent businesses who use shady methods to get your e-mail address, and are sending out millions of spam emails trying to fool a person desperate for help whom they can scam for all they’re worth!

Never be fooled by such shenanigans. In the vast majority of cases these are unscrupulous thieves hoping to prey on the unwary. Reputable credit companies will contact you by e-mail or US mail only after you have ask for them.

4. It is illegal to create a “new identity.” This is the “Big Lie” many people fall prey to, the reason being that it looks like the “magic solution” to all their difficulties. This idea is so widely accepted due to a general ignorance regarding credit repair. This is called”File segregation.” Avoid it like the plague – it’s illegal!

Your credit score is a reflection of your payment history from the onset of adulthood until the present. How can you get a second and “new” such history? And since it’s not possible, any attempt to do so would have to be illegal. So it’s clear that the credit repair companies that offer you such a way out of your problems are fraudulent.

5. Demanding complete payment upfront should raise a “red flag.” The Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA) stipulates that the agency must provide you with a written contract and that they cannot charge you a fee prior to completion of the services offered. In addition you have three days to cancel the contract if you so choose.

There are companies who do charge an upfront fee for an initial consultation, and charge monthly fees after that as they follow up with the credit bureaus on a continuing basis. But if a company demands their entire fee be paid in advance, chances are the reason is because they realize you will not be inclined to pay later when it becomes clear that their claims have been overstated. Organizations such as these are fraudulent and you would do well to avoid them!

6. Credit repair won’t happen overnight. As we discussed, no reputable organization can solve your credit problems in the blink of an eye or change your credit history entered on the credit report if it can be verified.

In a best case scenario, less serious issues can be fixed within two or three months, by removal of mistakes, and by means of changing your habits so as to pay your bills on time. More serious derogatory items such as leans and foreclosures remain on your report for 7 years ( bankruptcies for 10), notwithstanding the best management of your finances.

If there are bankruptcies, they will be there for 10 years. “Guarantees” that these can be removed overnight means fraud.

7. No contract? Forget it! If you don’t want to be ” taken” make sure there is a contract; and according to the law, this is your right. Dishonest agencies would prefer there’s no contract, and if they do there will be information missing on various aspects of the services to be provided, what the fees are, and the like. You will learn a lot about these businesses based on their contract. And if there is not a contract, do not hire them.

8. If a company makes any guarantees, do not trust them! Not even the best and most experienced agencies will make guarantees in regard to results of their credit services. After looking at your credit report, they can promise to use all legal means to affect improvement in your score. But to guarantee results is dishonest and unrealistic.

Unfortunately, due to the nature of human beings, most people are more inclined to believe – and to hire – an agency that tells them what they prefer to hear, rather than hire a credit repair business who gives them an honest and truthful assessment of the situation. Avoid falling prey to this trap! Even though you would prefer to hear about guaranteed results, credit repair companies that guarantee they can achieve given results are not telling the truth.

9. See if counseling services are offered. Most reputable credit repair companies provide them for free. If the agency you are looking at does not, look a bit beyond. It might not be a trustworthy agency. All agencies of repute encourage and educate people on how to repair credit. The company performs those services that are for those matters that need professional intervention to improve one’s credit.

10. If you’re given wrong advice, look out! There are those businesses that encourage you to dispute every derogatory account on your credit report writing “this is not mine..” Although the short-term results may be impressive, the creditors whose remarks are thus disputed may later counter it, and the bureau will verify it with subsequent investigations.

Given the poor record keeping habits of the credit bureaus, the probability is very high that any trade lines on your credit report has mistakes regarding the details. But credit repair companies that advise you to claim “this is not my account” if this is not truthful, are not worthy of your trust.

As you can see, there are plenty of red flags along the way to warn against possible fraud. The first and most important thing you should do before you seek the services of credit repair companies it is to become knowledgeable regarding credit repair matters. You also need to know the minimum applicable laws before you go for any type of credit repair help. A good way to begin is to visit the FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection website and the Ethical Credit Repair Alliance.

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1) Shopping online and paying by credit card, without checking for VerisSign at the bottom of the page. Always ensure that the page that asks for your credit card details is encrypted by an approved regulatory body. This is particularly important when you receive promotional stuff in your email.

2) Accepting windfalls through email – it’s lovely to win a lottery, and everybody loves that. However, if you ever receive emails saying you have won a large sum of money for which you need to give them your personal and financial details, be careful. It’s almost certainly a scam!

3) Applying for online loan approval – let’s say you have applied online for any type of loan. They get back to you asking you very personal financial and personal details. Never give any personal details online to anyone!

Yes, of course! These seminars are often conducted by professionals who will be able to guide you in the best plan of action.

In many cases bankruptcy looks like the end of some very trying financial times; however, the post bankruptcy period of 10 years when you will be branded as financially unreliable will be as tough, or even tougher.

Bankruptcy seminars will be able to put you in touch not only with expert financial advisers, but also with other people just like you who seek a permanent solution to their problems. Very often, you will be able to develop an Internetwork with some very wonderful and talented people, who just like you are fast learning a lesson in financial management.

Have you ever experienced ID theft? How do you prevent it?

Here are a few steps that will be of immense help:

* Always have the ID laminated in a hard transparent cover, so it cannot be easily tampered with
* Always ensure that your ID has a recent photograph of you
* Never leave your ID lying around in the office or at home
* Immediately inform the respective authorities about the loss of the ID card, as this will track the person using your identity

The risk is often dependent and proportional with how sensitive your work is and where your ID is used; if you work in any type of high security area, never let your ID out of your sight, no matter what!

Look for solutions that lead away from declaring bankruptcy, because this is definitely not the best way out. Take the advice of experts and look for all possible alternatives before you throw in the towel. Use the trail of bankruptcy articles to lead you to empower yourself with information, and possibly to some great professionals and/or financial advisor agencies that could help you work out something to prevent the bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy articles and forums will also put you in touch with other people who are struggling to find solutions, just like you are. There are many success and failure stories recorded this way.

First of all, never carry more than one card with you.
Secondly, ensure that you do not have any pin number or any other such vital information in the same place as the card.
Third, register in your cell phone the customer service phone number where you can inform within minutes if there is a credit card theft.

Know what the formalities are, how long it takes and what it takes to get a replacement. It’s very frustrating to re-issue a credit card. Therefore, you need to be aware of the process and the time the process takes. Always have the card scanned and stored in your email inbox so you can provide the details of the stolen card with accuracy and speed

Government Grants as Bankruptcy Relief

There are many types of government grants meant to bail out people who run their own business and fail for some or other reasons. If you want to avail of such grants, contact the small and micro industries department of government in your state. There are grants that promote a certain type of professionals – MBAs, doctors, attorneys, etc. Look these up as well.

Grants are funds that need not be returned. It doesn’t matter if you are bankrupt or about to be bankrupt to avail of grants, because you need not return it. Just for this clause – the idea of applying for a grant should be interesting enough.

I use the Internet to check my bank account a couple of time every now and then. Since my husband and I have a joint account, it’s often necessary to check the balance before we issue any checks. Therefore, for convenience sake we both have access to our account through the Internet.

The other day, while shuffling through my emails I found an email from the bank with “Very Important” in the subject line. Curious, I clicked to see what it said and found that it asked me to revalidate my personal data because changes in rules and an upgrade in technology made it necessary.

I was about to enter the date when I realized there was no VeriSign at the bottom of the page. Suspicious, I sought other signs of ID theft and found that even the link was incorrect. I immediately called the bank and they denied having sent any such letter or fax.

This is how my identity theft story ended with a positive note.

Did you know that when you send a forward to your contacts, you are actually making it easy for some hackers out there to perpetrate data theft? Each name in your contact list becomes an auction object. There are people who siphon these names and email IDs, package them, and sell them to the highest bidder. They make a pretty buck while you start wondering where such a deluge of spam emails are coming from.

Stop data theft – don’t help data thieves! Ensure that you do not send these chain letters, no matter what. In case you like a particular email and wish to forward it, make sure that you delete all the forwarded email IDs that are imprinted in your email, so as to safeguard yourself and your friends.

Credit repair is not really easy to learn or do in spite of popular belief. It takes a lot of time and experience to be able to strike the right balance between what you need to write, when, and to whom. Why do you think there are so many credit repair agencies coming up? The demand for this type of work is extremely high, but that definitely does not justify the falsehood that thrives in the name of a credit repair guide

Be very careful that you choose a good company either through personal references of friends, and/or through patient and careful research on the Internet.

Here are 3 steps that make things easier for you:

1. Choose a reputable credit repair agency – use the Internet to find a reliable, trustworthy, and experienced company. Use the reviews available on Net to rate the company, as well as its affiliations and recognitions at the national level.

2. Entrust the task of fixing your credit to this agency – once you have found the right agency, allow them to do their job. Provide them with all the details of your financial situation most accurately. It will not pay to mislead them!

3. Avail of the free counseling this credit repair agency offers – learn about what went wrong and how this can be prevented in the future.

In order to ensure that you get what you are entitled to, you will have to fight tooth and nail with the lenders. Your arsenal should consist of various interest rates, terms, and conditions, which others in the market offer. Choose the most competitive prices and best reputation.

Bargain hard for the lowest possible terms of payment. Most people shy away from bargaining for a better price because they are already intimidated by circumstances. However, unless you do so, how can you hope for the best outcome?

Do not pity them. Poor credit lenders make huge profit from this type of business. Ensure that your interests are always taken care of. Remember: you are still a customer!

The best way to ensure that things are legal, safe and qualitative is to choose a credit repair agencies and agent that belongs to a nationally reputed and recognized regulatory agency, such examples are the BBB (Better Business Bureau) and ECRA (Ethical Credit Repair Alliance). Such regulatory bodies not only ensure high operational standards, but also monitor the member agencies constantly to ensure that they offer quality legal credit repair to their customers.

Another way to ensure that you are making the right choice is to research carefully the reviews and feedback written about the company in question.

Let me give you an example that will answer your question about the online identity theft situation. Recently my friend had her email hacked. The hacker sent almost all her friends an SOS letter requesting $1,500 to bail her out of a financial jam. The letter does not represent her style – she is a SOAS London PhD and her English is impeccable – nor her spirit. So, when she learnt that such a letter was sent in her name from her hacked account, she did not worry much thinking that anyone who knew her will laugh at such an attempt at fraud.  Surprisingly though, out of the 200 odd friends, 5 did reply to the hacker asking how the money should be sent and expressing concern. My friend was stunned to hear that her seemingly world-wise, highly qualified and well-travelled friends could fall for such a ruse.    Does this tell you enough about online identity theft? Out of the millions of such emails that are sent out blindly, even if 0.01% fall for it, these crooks end up with handsome returns

To prevent id theft it’s important that you keep close track of all your financial transactions, especially on credit cards and debit cards. It’s a good idea to keep the receipts of all the purchases you make, so you can check all the entries on your billing statement. In most cases, identity theft is done with great finesse and it can go on forever. Only close scrutiny will point you to the fraud.

It’s very important that you immediately report identity theft to your creditors, and even credit bureaus as any failure in repayments and excess debts can harm your credit score. Stay alert – and stay safe!

What do you understand when you hear “theft protection”? Most people will think about security guards, alarms, cameras and so on. But there is more to it than that, you know. The term theft is nowadays more used in connection with the Internet than the real world. The vast ground and the ability to go incognito in the virtual world has prompted many “brilliant” minds to carve out a career of swindling people.

It’s very easy to clone a bank website or email provider ID and ask people their personal data under the threat that if they do not comply, their account will suffer, be “locked”, etc. Most people do not even pause to think, leave alone check whether such “threats” or “directions” are genuine. As soon as they fill in their data, their lives are thrown into chaos. They find out that their accounts have been violated, used, robbed.

Do not be a victim! Ensure that you learn all that is about theft protection online, as this is as important as any other.

Let us leave aside gossip, rumors, and even statistics about successful credit repair businesses. Let’s look only at reality. Self credit repair is entirely possible and in keeping with in the law. Even lacking experience you can still do so successfully.

But it cannot be done without effort and a great deal of investment in time. Although it can be done, lots of people still choose to hire a credit repair agency they would rather turn the work over to someone else, saving themselves time and effort.

If you want to know how to repair your credit, these five simple steps will show you how. When you have considered how to go about it, it will be easier for you to decide whether you would like to do it on your own or use an agency to do it for you. All right let’s go.

Step 1
Order your free credit reports. This is a necessity and will get you started on learning how to repair your credit, since in most instances your score is low due to erroneous entries that must be removed. Call 877-322-8228 or visit www.annualcreditreport.com

Step 2
Identify the errors in your report and get to work on getting them deleted. Here’s what you’ll be looking for – erroneous entries, closed accounts showing as open, accounts incorrectly reported as being turned over for collection, etc.

Step 3
Draw up dispute letters – one for each credit bureau. Although you may have many errors on your credit report (by no means an uncommon occurrence) be careful about disputing too many at the same time, or your letter will be ignored.

If you have documentation, you might want to attach copies. The better documented is the proof, the faster it will be removed.

Step 4
Add good things to your report that will improve your credit history. Get them reported and entered. See to it that the report shows all your timely payments. Obtain a secured credit card and improve the credit to debt ratio.

If you can pay some of your debts off, especially those credit cards that charge astronomical interest rates. Prioritize your payments so you pay off those debts first, as it will save you paying high interest.

Step 5
However, a good and viable option is to find a reputable professional company as they are experienced in how to repair your credit. This will make your task much easier; all you need to know as far as how to repair your credit, is what company to choose.

And lastly some tips; do not close credit cards account after paying them in full; the credit limit on those accounts will keep your “debt to limit ratio” lower, improving your credit score.

If you do decide to hire a credit repair company, beware of fraudulent companies; do your homework and find out about the company. It would behoove you to inquire with the Ethical Credit Repair Alliance (ECRA), the “watchdog of credit repair companies.”

There are plenty of ways to gather identity theft information and with the Net it’s very easy to impersonate you without raising any doubt. Computers do not recognize faces or understand words. They only react to the information you feed in. If the thieves lay their hands on enough data to make the computer think he or she is you – the computer will give this person access to your life. Scary!

They do help. In fact, it’s an excellent idea to file for bankruptcy through any one reputable such agency because;

1. They will advise you about the law of the land and how to get the best possible deal under the circumstances
2. They will protect you and your assets from any unwarranted harassment
3. They will leave scope for you to build a new future
4. They will teach you the best way to interact with the concerned officials – so you will be treated right
5. They will help you with counseling that will put you back on your feet in no time

From the above it looks like the bankruptcy firms deserve their money. Don’t you agree?

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You might not be able to stop it, but you can prevent it to a large extent and you can spread awareness about it so others too can stay alert. Awareness and over caution is the answer to countering identity theft. Most online fraud coould have been circumvented if only a little more caution had been exercised.

A word of advice to you – when you are online, do not hurry. Pay attention to what you do and what you type. Caution, awareness and alertness – these is how to stop identity step or at least reduce it to a large extent.

Of course there is! Bankruptcy says only one thing about you – you are insolvent. It does not say whether you are capable or not; it does not say that you cannot revive from the ashes like the Phoenix bird; it does not destroy you. It’s your mind and your perception of the truth that often destroys you post bankruptcy.

Most people who stop wallowing in self-pity and pick up the reigns of life again, soon will have a second chance in life; and a third, and a fourth and so on. You are known to have failed only when you stop getting up. Do not stop living because there IS life after bankruptcy.

Myth – bankruptcy can be “managed” later. With the right kind of activity and a few strings pulled here and there, you can have the record removed in about one year or two.

Truth – there is no legal way to remove the bankruptcy record from your credit report, if this is correct information. You may be able to have it “removed” illegally – but that comes with heavy consequences.

Myth – bankruptcy is the easiest way out when faced with insurmountable bills.

Truth – No matter what the situation, bankruptcy is the worst possible option. Avoid it with all your might.

Myth – the worst that bankruptcy can cause is a dip in the credit score and high interests for any funds you would like to borrow.

Truth – there are worst things than a poor credit score. It requires nerves and a will power of steel to come around after such a drawback

Answer the following questions with “Yes” or “No.”

1. Do you receive your credit card/ bank statement by snail mail?
2. Do you keep your ATM, debit and/ or credit card PIN number along with the cards?
3. Do you dispose of your ATM/ Credit Card slips in your dustbin at home?
4. Do you carry your personal information in your wallet/ purse?
5. Do you check and re-check any website that requires you to give your credit card number?
6. Do you know what to look for to assure yourself that the web page you are using is secure?

If you answered Yes to 3 or more questions you are excellent material for identity theft. Think about it.

The second benefit is that you get rid of all the tension that was harassing you for liquidating the loans outstanding in your name. You know how the saying goes, “it’s the tension kills the man.” Once you take a decision one way or other, you will feel hugely relieved.

The third among the benefits of bankruptcy is that you will be highly motivated to lead a more disciplined financial life, since you will want to repair your credit score as quickly as possible. This will still take years, but a good track record post bankruptcy is recognized as a good sign.

1. The charges – unscrupulous companies will ask for their fees up front. The reason is that they know they will not or cannot deliver on their promises and they don’t want to wait until you find out. Normally, a reputable agency will usually charge on a “services rendered” basis that includes a retainer fee and subsequent payment at various levels of intervention.

The charges will always reflect what services are rendered. Ensure that you research the market closely both at the regional and national level to give you an idea of about what fees you should expect.

2. Getting your credit report corrected – competent credit repair services will correspond repeatedly with the three credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, until all the mistakes have been taken off your credit report. To accomplish this concerted effort and repeated follow-up is essential.

3. Provide you with the knowledge to be financially self-reliant – you will only be using the company services for a relatively short time. This is why you must learn good money management on your own. Good credit repair services will help you to become financially savvy.

The company will guide you on the way until you learn about how to monitor the entries by obtaining free credit reports at regular intervals from the three credit bureaus, how to contest wrong entries, and most importantly educate you in the matters of sound financial principles in order for you to maintain a high state of credit worthiness.

4. Customized approach – credit repair software will often be utilized by the company you hire. But this alone is inadequate. Everyone’s situation is unique, and the “cookie-cutter” approach of a computerized service alone will not do the job. The best credit repair services will shun the “cookie-cutter” approach and individualize their services based on your situation, in spite of the usefulness of modern state-of-the-art software.

5. Never stray outside legal means – aboveboard credit repair services will never consider using means that aren’t legal. If you have the least suspicion the agency is acting otherwise, ditch it right now!

Although you may feel a certain urgency about raising your credit score, or have your history modified to exclude things like debt collections and bankruptcy – you must understand that this cannot always happen. Agencies that promise they can do this use illegal means, and by knowingly becoming a participant you also become an accomplice. You definitely don’t want to go this route.

The best credit repair services may well provide other services in addition to those stated, but be sure to look for these at minimum. It’s a good idea to ask others you know for recommendations in making your choice.

Another good option is to insist on references. In addition, check with the “watchdog” of credit repair companies, the Ethical Credit Repair Alliance. Never be afraid to ask questions and insist on references, until you are comfortable with the choice you are about to make!

A majority of the people who were listed in her email contacts were sent a letter in her name saying that she was stuck in London (she is a PhD from London) and she needed about $2,000 to pay her hotel bills. Most of her close friends, who knew her whereabouts, realized that this email was a fake. However, there will be a good number of these people who will want to send her the money so she will be bailed out from her troubles. She will then be responsible for the repayment.

Beware of any such emails that ask you personal information or your user id and password.  You might be the next victim.

Most victims of identity theft are so devastated when they find out that they have been defrauded that they do not take any further action to protect themselves or prevent further siphoning of funds.  The first thing a victim needs to do is report the theft to the FBI and creditors (banks, financial institutions and credit bureaus). Even if there is nothing to do to reverse the loss and you are responsible for the repayments, it’s still beneficial to make it known that you have been defrauded.

Prevention of further fraud is the next logical step. Do not for one moment think that just because the theft has been discovered it will not be repeated. Hackers count on such assumptions and they will continue to siphon funds until you block all existing avenues. Having the credit providers message you on your cell phone after every transaction is a good way to ensure that you remain aware of all transactions made in your name.

Credit card theft can happen to anyone. You may have your credit cards stolen or lose them somewhere. What you do when you realize their loss is critical to cutting your losses. Common sense dictates that you inform the provider instantly. But before you do so you need to have a certain amount of information ready for verification. This is why, if you use and carry credit or debit cards, you need to have a list with the following information:

1. Card number, date of issue, expiry date, and the secret number (3 numbers) on the back of the card.
2. The 24×7 telephone number of the credit or debit card provider and their email id
3. The direct contact person for the “human touch” and reporting in case the automated call center line is not responding
4. An alternative source for urgent payments until the credit/debit cards are re-issued

They feel that they do “work” since hacking is indeed hard work – and justify their stealing saying that they generally “take money” only from super rich people who will not miss it. They usually latch themselves to a good account and then siphon very gradually a constant source of income. Unless you realize you are swindled and take appropriate steps to stop id theft, you can end up as a host for these parasites for years on end.

1. You are finding small but recurring charges to your account that you cannot explain. Most people attribute these mystery charges to various bank fees. However, this is a sure sign that your account has been compromised and someone is drawing funds from your account on a regular basis.

2. Urgent sounding email messages or phone calls that inform you that your bank account or credit card account has been compromised and in order to stop the fraud they needed your name, date of birth and/or password. Never provide your user id, personal information and/or password; ask for details of the bank or credit card provider and inform them you will provide the information in person.

• Data Theft
  Posted on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 in Identity Theft – Comments: (0)
  Date theft is one of the most common online crimes; and one that leaves you completely violated. The other day I opened my email box to notice a communication from my bank. Since I receive my statement electronically, I recognized their style and logo. The email contained a warning saying that unless I registered my account for the Net Security my debit card (I do not have a credit card) will not be recognized for transactions on the Internet.I was re-directed to a page that looked identical to the page of my bank. Through that page they asked me my account id, transaction id number, debit card number, the debit card (ATM) pin and lastly my date of birth.I was about to enter the details when I noticed the address of the URL which was completely different from that of my bank. Alerted, I closed the site and called my bank.

I was re-directed to a page that looked identical to the page of my bank. Through that page they asked me my account id, transaction id number, debit card number, the debit card (ATM) pin and lastly my date of birth.

I was about to enter the details when I noticed the address of the URL which was completely different from that of my bank. Alerted, I closed the site and called my bank. They denied sending such a mail. This is how I was saved from data theft – a very close shave indeed.

• debt consolitation
  Posted on Friday, October 2nd, 2009 in Debt Issues – Comments: (0)
  Debt consolidation is a last resort for some, and the best saving route for others. What does it mean to you? Debt consolidation is read by the credit bureaus as a negative; the fact that you need to consolidate your debts in order to repay them, means that you have not planned your finances well, and therefore have created risk for your creditors.On the other hand, debt consolidation can teach some very valuable lessons.1. You need to think ahead. Most people fall into the debt trap because they live for the present. They buy impulsively; they don’t save; they don’t pay their bills on time. Debt consolidation is a time when you are forced to sit down and chalk out the future of your finances.2. Live within your means. There is no magic wand that will make your loans disappear; there will be no lottery that will suddenly give you all the cash you need to square up your debts.
• Myths About Credit Repair Companies
  Posted on Sunday, October 4th, 2009 in Credit Repair Companies – Comments: (0)
  There are many things said about credit repair companies. Unfortunately, though such beliefs are widespread and popular, they are negative and false. Myth No 1 – credit repair companies thrive on your misfortune. Wrong! They actually provide vital help at a time when you are about to lose everything – your possessions, your peace of mind, and your reputation. Myth No 2 – all credit repair agencies are fraudulent; they’re only after your money. Wrong! Reputable agencies make clients for life. They become friends, philosophers and guides to their clients, teaching them the art of financial management. They show you the light, when you are lost in financial darkness. Myth no 3 – credit repair agencies can work miracles if you pay them enough. Wrong again! Trustworthy agencies will tell you right from the start what can be done and how long it will take. They will use only legal means, which are in no way “magic.
• Great Ways To Get A Credit Card With a Bad Credit Score
  Posted on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 in Credit Cards – Comments: (0)
  It’s difficult to get a credit card if you have a bad credit score, but definitely not impossible. The most common way is to get a “secured” card.With a secured credit card you deposit funds into a bank account and the provider offers you credit with your deposit as collateral. This is a good solution when you are looking to increase your credit limit and score by some clever financial manipulations.A second way is to have a relative or spouse have you as an add-on to their credit cards. The positive things here is that you can use the credit card without any problem; however, the positive or negative points for timely payment/non-payment of the bills will go to the main owner of the card. You are not affected by the transactions.The third way to obtain a credit card with a bad credit score, is by looking up introductory offers where people with poor credit are wooed.
• The Importance Of Knowing How To Improve Your Credit Score
  Posted on Monday, October 5th, 2009 in Credit Report and Credit Score – Comments: (0)
  Most people will tell you that knowing how to improve your credit score can keep you out of trouble. However, this is one of the most popular myths regarding credit repair. The most important factor is not maintaining a good credit score – through this is important in its own right – but learning how to manage your finances well.Learn proper financial management and you are automatically free from all other worries. Another fallacy is that good financial management means budgeting, saving, investing – in general spending wisely.  But there’s more to it that that. You also need to ensure that you are safe on and off the Internet in regard to identity theft.Identity theft is today one of the most quoted reasons for poor credit, second only to credit card abuse. Learn what it takes to be safe when making financial transaction on and off line!
• How To Get The Best Poor Credit Auto Loans
  Posted on Thursday, October 1st, 2009 in Credit Repair General Topics – Comments: (0)
  Poor credit auto loans are among the most wanted loans in the USA. Statistics show that almost 7 in every 10 Americans have suffered at one time or other from poor credit and had to apply and accept poor credit auto loans in spite of hostile terms and conditions. Here are three tips that can get you better deals next time:1. Use collateral. Do not agree to pay higher interest. Instead, offer collateral for the loan. This will eliminate the risk factor to a large extent, allowing for lower interest rates.2. Have a co-signee. Ask your friend or family member to co-sign for the loan. They should have good credit standing. When they agree to be a co-signee they provide live collateral to the creditor, which in turn offers you better leverage.3. Do without poor credit auto loans altogether; buy from auctions. These are A1 quality vehicles sold at police and bank auctions.

1. Years of experience – credit repair companies have had years of experience and have acquired the know-how to deal with the credit bureaus. Over the years they have repaired people’s credit many times. They are capable of achieving faster (and sometimes better) results than you could on your own.

We’ve all heard it said, “Given the know-how you can accomplish anything.” Credit repair companies already have that knowledge, and will use it to your benefit.

2. Keeps your time free – it takes a lot of time, not to mention effort, to get your credit report cleared of all errors, which are likely to be numerous. It’s essential that dispute letters are drafted correctly and continually followed up on until your credit report has been cleared of all errors. Trustworthy credit repair companies know what has to be done, and will work very hard to make certain all errors get removed from your credit report. Depending on your time constraints, getting help from a professional agency might be a very good choice.

3. Starts you in the correct direction – self learning is great, and very possible in today’s world thanks to the Internet. But we will always need to have teachers. In most any field, having a quality teacher is crucial if you wish to succeed. The better credit repair companies will educate you in financial matters in addition to helping with your credit. in fact, the best agencies will give you counseling services at no charge.

4. Monitoring – another thing you can expect from good credit repair companies is monitoring services. The credit repair process is only a start. When you’re credit report has had all the errors removed, it should be continuously monitored, especially with the threat of identity theft looming large. Close monitoring is necessary to identify additional errors, so they can be disputed and deleted. It will give you an overview of how the credit bureaus are handling your credit report.

5. Saves you money – sometimes trial and error is fine – but sometime it’s not. Improving your credit worthiness using the trial and error method could be very costly by way of high interest payments, unfavorable loan terms, and time spent. A trustworthy and experienced credit repair service will save you a great deal you would have had to pay because of higher interest rates. Their experience will enable them to get quicker results with less expense

As you can see there are lots of advantages to hiring the services of a good credit repair company. Whether or not to go this route is up to you. In the end hiring a credit repair company is simply a personal choice.

But is it?

No, it’s not. When you do throw in the towel you are sending out a message that you behaved irresponsibly and you lost your money and that of your creditors. The mark of bankruptcy will remain on your credit report for 10 years, and every creditor will consider you a high risk investment. Ten year is a very long time to bear the repercussion of a mistake.

It’s wiser to use the right to declare bankruptcy very cautiously, and only when every other possibility has been checked out. Look for hand loans, government grants, re-negotiation with creditors, second mortgages and so on – in the end you will find it’s well worth the trouble.

Never leave your ATM stubs in the ATM cubicle. Carry them with you and shred these or tear them into small pieces.

Do not answer any personal questions such as “what is your birthday”, “what is your mother’s maiden name”, “where were you born”, etc on the phone. Most identity theft cases happen with the help of information gathered in this manner. If the voice on the phone says it’s from a bank, lottery, or credit card provider – ask them their name and address and say you will give them the information in person after you are sure of their identity.

1) Never enter your financial data unless you are 100 percent sure it’s encrypted. The easiest way to steal vital information is setting up a false website that will sell you something where you need to pay with your credit card.

2) Do not give your password for your email or pin number of your debit/ credit card to anyone over email or phone. Banks will never ask you this information.

3) Ask for e-statements instead of printed ones that are sent to your mail box. Avoid printing it; and if you do shred it before throwing it away. Most data theft is done through disposed financial and credit card statements.

First of all immediately file a complaint with the proper authorities, so the fraud can be investigated and possibly be stopped before it draws in other victims. Once you have reported the scam, go back and find the right credit repair agency for help. Do not lose hope because you have gone through credit repair fraud.

This time ensure that you check the antecedents of the company thoroughly before you sign the dotted line. The best bet will be to check whether they are affiliated with any significant regulatory body such as the ECRA (Ethical Credit Repair Alliance) and/or the BBB (Better Business Bureau). When you avail of the services of such agencies you are safe from any credit repair fraud.

1. They all offer you pat solutions to your problems. All scams work on the desperation of their clients. They hook them by promising the impossible; and in their extreme anxiety the hapless clients are too relieved to see anything amiss.

2. They all ask for payment upfront – 9 out 10 credit repair scams are characterized by the charging of upfront fee. The fraudulent companies are too worried that they will be discovered, and therefore need their fees in advance.

3. They do not respect the law. All credit repair scams have no respect for the law. They do not think twice when offering solution that bend or even break the law.

What is the difference between the two services? A credit repair agency zeroes in on methods that help you repair your credit score in the fastest way possible; a credit advisor goes beyond that, and teaches you how to manage your finances.

Many reputable credit repair agencies also act as credit advisors, because they opt to deliver more to their customers than the subscribed services. Besides debt management counseling, these agencies will also help acquiring poor credit financing, working out a budget, finding alternatives to generate wealth and many such other activities that improve the overall financial status of the client.

While credit repair is a highly focused service, at the end of the day it’s the credit advisor that will be your real friend!