- Subjects
- Published
-
New York :
McGraw-Hill
c2008.
- Language
- English
- Main Author
- Other Authors
- Physical Description
- x, 373 p. : ill. ; 24 cm. + 1 CD-ROM (4 3/4 in.)
- Format
- System requirements for CD-ROM: PC; Windows 2000, XP or Vista; Adobe Reader (7.0 or later); Internet access (recommended); CD-ROM drive.
- Bibliography
- Includes index.
- ISBN
- 9780071590662
9780071590693
9780071590686
- Introduction
- Chapter 1. The Basics of Credit Reporting, Part I: The Agencies and the Laws
- Credit Reporting Agencies
- The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
- The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act)
- Chapter 2. The Basics of Credit Reporting, Part II: The Data
- Where Does Credit Report Information Come From?
- What Is a Credit Score and Why Should U Care?
- Chapter 3. The Basics of Credit Reporting, Part III: Who Is Entitled to See Your Credit File
- Permissible Purpose
- Employers
- Illegal Requests for Your Credit Report
- Chapter 4. Your Credit Report: Getting a Free Copy - For Real!
- AnnualCreditReport.com
- Annual Credit Report by Mail or Phone
- FTC Facts for Consumers Brochure
- Chapter 5. Understanding Your Credit Report: How to Read the Big Three
- Personal Information
- Employment Information
- Scoring (Credit Score)
- Public Records
- Collections
- Revolving Accounts
- Installment Accounts
- Mortgage Accounts
- Inquiries
- Chapter 6. Repairing Your Credit Report, Part I: The Dispute Process
- FCRA Section 611
- Inaccurate or Incomplete Information
- FCRA Section 605
- Outdated Negative Information
- Negative Items That Do Not Belong to You
- Chapter 7. Repairing Your Credit Report, Part II: The Dispute Letter
- Verification Forms Used by CRAs
- Fill-In Dispute Forms
- Picking Your Battles
- Writing Your Own Dispute Letter
- Sample Dispute Letters
- Sending Your Dispute Letter
- What's Included in a CRA's Response to a Dispute
- Chapter 8. Repairing Your Credit Report, Part III: When Things Don't Go Your Way
- Sending a Second Dispute Letter
- 100-Word Consumer Statement
- Speak to a Professional If Necessary
- The Reality of Suing a Credit Reporting Agency
- Chapter 9. Collection Agencies: How to Deal with These Bad Guys
- How a Collection Agency Operates
- The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
- Validation of the Alleged Debt
- Drafting a Verification Request Letter
- Stop Calling Me
- Stop Calling My Employer
- How to Settle with a Collection Agency
- Chapter 10. How to Deal with Secured Accounts: Plus Student Loans & Tax Liens
- Repossession
- Foreclosure
- Student Loans
- Tax Liens
- Chapter 11. Bankruptcy: The Pros and Cons of Filing
- The Term "Bankruptcy"
- Chapters 7, 11 and 13
- Hiring a Bankruptcy Attorney
- How Bankruptcy Affects Your Credit Report
- Chapter 12. Raising Your Credit Score in 10 Days: Fast Fixes When Applying for a Mortgage
- The Rapid Re-Score
- Determining the Factors That Are Affecting Your Score
- Assembling Your Evidence
- Fast Fixes That Do Not Require Money
- Fast Fixes That Require Money
- Chapter 13. Marriage, Divorce and Credit: Being Prepared
- Before You Get Married
- During the Marriage
- Planning for the Divorce
- How to Handle Your Accounts and Creditors
- Chapter 14. You've Been Served: What to Do When a Creditor Sues You
- The Makeup of a Lawsuit
- Service of Process
- Your First Reaction
- The Type of Court
- Attorneys' Fees
- Chapter 15. How to Establish or Re-Establish Credit: The Building Blocks
- Gasoline and Department Store Cards
- Visiting Your Neighborhood Banker
- Secured Credit Cards
- Using a Co-Signer
- Becoming an Authorized User
- Maintaining Your Credit
- Conclusion
- Appendix A. The FCRA: Fair Credit Reporting Act
- Appendix B. The FACT Act: Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act
- Appendix C. The FDCPA: Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
- Appendix D. Bonus CD-ROM: The American Credit Repair Resource Center
- Installation Instructions
- Index