Credit Basics
Federal Trade Commission
- Consumer Protection: Credit
Extensive list of online publications on all aspects of credit.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menu-credit.htm
Choosing
and Using a Credit Card
From Maryland Cooperative Extension. http://www.agnr.umd.edu/MCE/Publications/Publication.cfm?ID=52
OR http://www.agnr.umd.edu/MCE/Publications/PDFs/FS697.pdf
Consumer Handbook
to Credit Protection Laws
"Consumer credit laws can help you apply for credit, keep up a good credit
standing,
and complain about an unfair deal. 44 pp. (1999)"
http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/consumerhdbk/
Credit
Matters
Qualifying for a credit card, establish a credit history, if your application
is denied, get the best deal, kinds of credit accounts, protect your credit,
you're responsible, and federal protections are discussed in this 5 page government
document. http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/money/credit-report/rscredit.htm
CreditPage®: The Place To Learn
How To Manage & Protect Your Credit
Credit education information sponsored by creditors and credit counseling organizations.
http://www.creditpage.com/
Debit
or Credit: Which Card is Safer?
Kiplinger.com article. http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/fitness/archive/2001/ff20010808.htm
Managing
Your Money Lesson 5: How Much Credit Can You Afford?
Ohio State University Extension lesson and worksheets.
http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/%7Eohioline/home/money/money5.html
An
Overview of Consumer Data and Credit Reporting
"This article describes the way the credit reporting companies compile and
report their data and gives background on the regulatory structure governing
these activities. This description is followed by a detailed look at the information
collected in credit reports. Key aspects of the data that may be incomplete,
duplicative, or ambiguous as they apply to credit evaluation are highlighted
in the analysis. The article concludes with a discussion of steps that might
be taken to address some of the issues identified." Federal Reserve Board
Bulletin, March 2003 article (27 pages). http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/bulletin/2003/0203lead.pdf
Payday
Advance Credit in America: An Analysis of Customer Demand.
Credit Research Center at Georgetown University April 2001 94 page report.
http://www.msb.georgetown.edu/prog/crc/order/Mono35.pdf
Payday
Loans
WI Dept. of Financial Institutions brochure aimed at consumers. http://www.wdfi.org/ymm/brochures/financing/payday_loans.htm
Survey of
Rent-to-Own Customers
FTC 4/00 Executive Summary. http://www.ftc.gov/reports/renttoown/rtosummary.htm PDF
report http://www.ftc.gov/reports/renttoown/renttoownr.pdf
Truth About Credit:
A Project of the State PIRGS
"A guide for getting a credit card, avoiding credit troubles and clearing
up your credit problems." From the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group.
http://www.truthaboutcredit.org/index.html
Debt
Using Power
Payments to Pay Off Debt - Money 2000 and Beyond
Six page fact sheet on how power payments can reduce debt. From UWEX Cooperative
Extension. http://www.uwex.edu/ces/money2000/pdf/powerpay.pdf To request a
personalized PowerPay© analysis, contact your University
of Wisconsin Extension county office. http://www1.uwex.edu/ces/cty/.
PowerPay Debt
Reduction Computer Program
Utah State University Extension developed the easy-to-use educational tool
that allows financial advisors to quickly show consumers the impact of power
payments on individualized consumer debt situations. (WI county extension offices
should request a copy from FLP if they don't have it already.) http://extension.usu.edu/cooperative/powerpay/
Debt
Collection: Your Rights and Responsibilities
Wisconsin Dept. of Financial Institutions brochure. http://www.wdfi.org/ymm/brochures/credit/debt_collection.htm
Getting
Out of Debt
Maryland Cooperative Extension fact sheet FS436. http://www.agnr.umd.edu/MCE/Publications/Publication.cfm?ID=31
Living
on Less
Money saving ideas from Maryland Cooperative Extension FS509. http://www.agnr.umd.edu/MCE/Publications/Publication.cfm?ID=43
National Foundation for Credit Counseling:
Budget Calculators
Has links to several online debt calculators under Budget Calculators link.
http://www.nfcc.org/
Overcoming
Financial Difficulties
University of Hawaii has developed a 20-page, self-help guide featuring sections
on gaining the strength you need, clarifying your finances, achieving rapid
recovery, and controlling your destiny. http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/FCL-1.pdf
Credit Reports
Consumer Credit:
When There's an Error on Your Credit Card Bill
Includes sample letter to show how to dispute billing errors. (NCR606-2) from
University of Wisconsin Extension. http://cecommerce.uwex.edu/pdfs/NCR606_2.PDF
Consumer Credit:
Your Credit Report (NCR606-3)
How to access and analyze your credit report and work to correct
any missing or inaccurate information. From University of Wisconsin
Extension. http://cecommerce.uwex.edu/pdfs/NCR606_3.PDF
Credit Reports
From Credit Info Center. Includes how to get a free copy of your credit report.
http://www.creditinfocenter.com/creditreports/
How
to Dispute Credit Report Errors
Federal Trade Commission fact sheet. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/crdtdis.pdf
Understanding
Credit Bureaus
Credit bureaus compile credit records which are records of consumers' debts
and how regularly those debts are repaid. From Maryland Cooperative Extension.
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/ces/pubs/pdf/FS700.pdf
What Your
Credit Report Says About You
From Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. http://www.phil.frb.org/consumers/creditreport.html
Credit Counseling
Fiscal
Fitness: Choosing a Credit Counselor
From Federal Trade Commission. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fiscal.htm
or
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fiscal.pdf
Wisconsin Dept. of
Financial Institutions
Has a contact list of Credit Counseling Services under Topics of Interest.
http://www.wdfi.org/wca/consumer_credit/
Green Path Debt Solutions
Has links to licensed agencies in WI, MI, and northwest IL. http://www.debthelpnow.org/
Money Management International
Free, confidential assessment for consumers with debt from this non-profit
counseling organization. http://www.moneymanagement.org/
Myvesta.org
Formerly Debt Counselors, site has many online publications and audio programs
on debt and financial recovery. Also links to their fee based online financial
recovery services. http://www.Myvesta.org/
National Foundation for Credit Counseling
Has links to most licensed agencies in WI, MN, and US. http://www.nfcc.org/
Bankruptcy
American Bankruptcy Institute
Complete current information, statistics, and legislation regarding bankruptcy.
Includes how to file and sources of advice under heading Filing. http://www.abiworld.org/
LII: Law About...Bankruptcy
Legal Information Institute's brief summary of bankruptcy with links to key
primary
source material including federal and state statutes, other Internet resources,
and useful offnet references. http://www.law.cornell.edu/topics/bankruptcy.html