Banks and credit card companies are exploiting obscure legal powers to seize the homes of thousands of people who cannot pay their credit card bills. In some cases, people owing as little as £1,000 have been served with charging orders – the legal instrument enabling a creditor to order the sale of a property. The practice has emerged days after ... Read More »

Ariel “Dear Steve, I have 11 credit cards with zero balances and want to close them and keep paying out my other 5 open credit cards. if I close these 11 will it hurt my credit score or should I close them regardless? Ariel” The Answer   Dear Ariel, Your question brings up the greater issue of do we need ... Read More »

Store cards in good times are a good source of profit with their exceptionally high interest rates but in down times they can be an anchor around profits. Not only are store cards generally easier to acquire by people with lesser credit but they are often the first to go unpaid when there isn’t enough money to spread around. Target ... Read More »

Charlotte wrote to me at GetOutOfDebt.org and asked for free advice and help, which I gladly give. You can write me using the forms on the site. “Steve, I owe nearly $20,000 on a loan, a bunch of credit cards and some store cards as well. I’m 27 and I still live with my parents because I just can’t get ... Read More »