December 6, 2018Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert Credit Repair: Hire a Pro or Do-It-Yourself? Recovering from credit problems is often a long, uphill battle. There are certainly steps you can take to potentially speed up the process, but it’s important to begin any credit repair journey with the proper expectations. Your credit problems most likely didn’t […]
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November 9, 2018Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert Professional Credit Repair Bad credit is not only embarrassing and frustrating, it can also close a lot of doors. With bad credit you could have a difficult time qualifying for loans, landing a job, securing affordable insurance coverage, or even providing a place to live for yourself and your
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October 18, 2018Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert Free Credit Freezes: Do You Need Them? There is no surefire way to keep your personal information safe and protected. The Equifax Data Breach of 2017 alone exposed the sensitive, personal information of some 143 million consumers in the US. The Under Armour data breach, which occurred in the
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August 14, 2018Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert You work hard to earn an income. Wasting that money is the last thing you want to do. If you have bad credit, however, wasting money is inevitable. Bad credit is incredibly expensive and the cost of bad credit is compounded the longer your credit remains in poor shape.
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August 28, 2018Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert When should you start paying down your debts? So you have come into some money (or perhaps freed up a bit of room in your budget) and you are ready to start paying down your debts. Now you just need to choose where to start. Which debts should you
Which Debt Should I Pay Off First Late Payment? Read More »
September 18, 2018Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert Stop A Credit Report’s Late Payment You are working hard to clean up your credit and dig your way out of the hole when, all of a sudden, you are faced with an unexpected financial setback. Sound familiar? If so, you may find yourself asking the question “How late
Is There a Grace Period Before a Late Payment Will Hurt Your Credit Scores? Read More »
September 27, 2018Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and How It Protects You No one likes to pick up the phone or open the mailbox only to discover a debt collector on the other side. Sure, debt collectors are allowed to contact you regarding legitimate, unpaid debts, but they also have
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July 25, 2018Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert Co-Signing Impacts Your Credit Most credit questions asked of me can be answered exactly the same. “It depends…”Question: How will an inquiry impact my credit?Answer: “It depends” Question: How will opening a new credit card impact my credit?Answer: “It depends” Asking how co-signing impacts your credit is no exception.
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November 12, 2019Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert Do Medical Debt Damage Credit Scores? Lenders use credit scores to help predict risk. Credit scores are designed to calculate the odds that you’ll become 90 days late (or more) on any credit obligation within the next 24 months. The more likely it is that you might pay something
Do Medical Bills Damage Credit Scores? Read More »
August 21, 2019Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert Credit Card or Debit Card When it comes to credit cards, people have strong opinions. You’re probably either a fan of credit cards and the perks they provide, or you may prefer not to use them at all. If you’ve ever struggled with credit card debt in the past,
Should You Use a Credit Card or a Debit Card? Read More »