Confused about credit reports or credit scores? all you questions are answered right here in this category of questions from readers.
Have trouble getting approved for a credit card? Do you have bad credit? Maybe a debit card is an answer. But, not to spoil the surprise, it’s not. So, I’m going to help you to understand why a debit card is a much less form of payment, provides less protection from scams, and does nothing …
Question: Dear Steve, I need help with my credit history and payments. I contacted the credit collection companies and started paying on some outstanding accounts. How can I get my credit fixed and remove these accounts to be able to raise my credit score? Sonia Answer: Dear Sonia, This recent podcast talks specifically about how …
Question: Dear Steve, About three years ago, I acquired three credit cards – two from Credit One Bank and one from Fingerhut. I only applied for these particular ones because I had a bankruptcy in 2011, wanted to build up my credit score again, and could not find any other companies who’d issue me one. …
Question: Dear Steve, I have three credit card accounts, all with Citibank. Two of them are closed. The one open account has a credit limit of $1700. I am just $140 below the limit on it. The other two are at about 40% or less. I am getting dinged on my FICO score as they …
Q: Does a credit union have to provide a member in writing the amount of interest paid on a loan for tax purposes? A: Depends on what kind of loan it is. Reporting would be voluntary or required by IRS on certain types of loans. Q: How can a financial company put a charge off …
Q: Is it legal for a mortgage company to all of a sudden demand a deferment balance from 10 years ago now, or will they foreclose on the home I am one month behind on the monthly payment? A: That sounds a lot like a balloon mortgage (a mortgage in which a large portion of …
Question: Dear Steve, I had 2 mortgages from timeshare accounts default a couple of years back. One had the debt discharged in 2018, and the creditor issued a 1099c for the remaining balance. This was included as income in our 2018 return. The second one foreclosed in 2019, and the “credit grantor reclaimed the collateral …
Question: Dear Steve, Query about the question a reader sent to you that I read and that you answered Clarification, please, if a credit card debt is SOLD by a creditor not put into the hands of a debt collection agency to COLLECT the debt on their behalf. I note the answer you gave to …
Question: Dear Steve, Have a delinquent account for Macy’s DSNB That was charged off August 2017. I would like to pay the account off to have it not show negative on my credit report. I have attempted by going through Citibank and their affiliates for Macy’s credit card but they said the accounts too old …
The Federal Trade Commission is seeking comment on proposed changes that would bring several rules implementing parts of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) in line with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act). In separate Notices of Proposed Rule Making (NPRMs), which will be published in the Federal Register shortly, …