Finance Agreements

As the recession gets worse, more and more Americans are falling into debt, and more of us are declaring bankruptcy every day. Bankruptcy can be seen as a fresh start, relieving you of much of your debt and payments, but it will also tear up your credit score, staying there for ten years, and decreasing it by several hundred points. In most cases, bankruptcy should be viewed as a last resort because of how important it is to maintain a healthy credit score. If you are forced to file for bankruptcy, there are certain measures you should take to ensure that you can get on the road to financial recovery as quickly as possible.

The first step to rebuilding a healthy credit report, obviously, is to be aware of what it is. Be sure that it’s free of mistakes or errors because inaccurate information will extend the amount of time that it will take to score high enough for conventional credit. Everyone with a credit score is entitled to a free credit report every twelve months from each national credit bureau. That means you could check your score at all three bureaus at once to compare the scores, or check your credit score every four months to make sure that the information is accurate. Either way, make sure you are on the up and up.

After bankruptcy, it is a good idea to get a hold of a secured credit card. Generally, these cards are credit cards that are secured by a deposit account (typically a savings account) that the cardholder owns. These cards are made for people with poor credit so that they can stay in low credit-limit situations for a long time at a high interest rate, so that you can build up a good history after bankruptcy. Also, having more than one kind of credit line will help improve your credit report.

One of the keys to having a good credit score is to have at least two credit cards from well known and respected banks, and other payments such as a house payment. The people who have excellent credit reports keep balances below fifteen percent of available credit every month. Around ten percent of your credit reports is based on the kinds of credit that you use.

An additional ten percent is founded on new credit accounts that can include credit lines that you can establish after declaring bankruptcy. Try to remember if you are searching for a way to fix your credit after declaring bankruptcy that some credit “doctor” or credit repair businesses might make sensational claims that they can miraculously fix your credit file, many times for an exorbitant fee. It is wise to remember that only time, not some magic cure can cause your negative credit history to drop off of your credit score.

Mallory Megan works for Rapid Recovery Solution and writes articles on credit collection agencies. Free reprint avaialable from: Tips On Recovering From Declaring Bankruptcy.

When it comes to the subject of debt collecting, there are a lot of misconceptions and misinformation. Here are some tools of the trade that you can use if a debt collector ever calls you. When the collection agent calls, the first thing you want to do is determine if this is a third party collector or an in house collector. Third party collectors are hired by creditors on contingency, while in house collectors are the creditors.

Ask the debt collector “Are you contacting me as a creditor or a third party collection agent?” Not only will this give the bill collector the impression that you are competent, but it is important to know, because third party debt collectors must abide by strict regulations enacted under The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Keep in mind that most debt collectors are third party ones.

The debt collector will deliver what is known as a “mini Miranda.” What this means is that your phone call is being recorded and anything you say can be utilized by the company to collect debt. After this they will ask you about the debt that they are calling about. Instead of replying in any way that would acknowledge that you owe money, politely request some initial information from the collection agent before the conversation continues. By law, a third party collection agent is required to give you the name of the agency, their address, fax and phone number, and the name of the original creditor. Ask for all of this, the debt collector’s name, and their specific phone number.

After you have gotten this key information, inform the collection agent that you are busy right now and will call them back in an hour. Keep in mind that debt collectors will always try to achieve a sense of urgency and may insinuate that you must or should talk to them now, but you do not have to. Now, after hanging up, you are in control because the ball is in your court.

Take this time to try to remember if you know what debt the collection agent might have been asking you about. If you remember legitimately acquiring the debt, and the amount of the debt is correct, call back the debt collector and ask them if there is some type of repayment plan you could work out with them. It’s important to pay off this debt before the debt collector marks your credit score negatively, or even recommends that the creditor file suit against you.

Mallory Megan works for Rapid Recovery Solution and writes articles on commercial collection agencies. Check here for free reprint licence: The First Thing You Should Do If A Bill Collector Calls.

In the first two articles I described what a collections account was, how sending delinquent accounts out to an agency benefits a creditor, and the practice of selling an old debt to a third party collection agency.

I wrote about what type of information a collection agency will collect and use in their efforts, and also that third party collection agencies are governed by federal and state laws and are overseen by the FTC.

Some collection agencies will use illegal, deceptive and strong arm tactics to confuse and scare debtors that include pretending that they are one of their creditors and asking them to verify information, pretending to be an old friend or neighbor to catch a debtor off guard, repetitively calling or mailing a debtor to the point where it gets to be a nuisance, or sending threatening letters or leaving threatening voicemail messages.

Legal but manipulative practices include pressing the debtor, preying on their emotions, and using vague threats like “respond within ten days or further collections attempts will follow.” Other illegal methods include idly threatening lawsuits or pursuing lawsuits when the collection agent has no intention to, threatening to throw a debtor in jail, threatening to garnish wages or seize bank accounts when they have no authority to, lying about the amount that is owed, or asking for more than what is owed are used as well.

For the debt collection industry, time is the enemy and a good debt collector is fully aware of this. Their goal is specifically to obtain money as soon as possible.If you are talking to a debt collector, keep in mind that at any time you have the legal right to tell them you are busy and will call them back if you are flustered, hang up, cool off, develop a game plan, and contact them later. An aggressive debt collector will ask you why you can’t make payment arrangements today.

Rapid Recovery Solution is a commercial collection agency that writes stories on medical collection agencies. Check here for free reprint licence: Legal And Illegal Tactics A Debt Collector Will Use: Debt Collection Basics Part Three.