Friday, December 24, 2010

News, Consumer Alerts, and Other Recommendations

Loan Scammers Can Empty Your Wallet - Protect yourself and your finances from fake lenders and scam artists. Make sure to read up on the latest scam techniques, such as their use of legitimate company names and logos, taken from real loan companies, in order to hide their shady operation. Educate yourself about foreclosure fraud, advance fee loan scams, and identity phishers, so you'll be better able to recognize red flags when you see them. You will be able to fend off the increasingly-clever scam artists who take advantage of the desperate, vulnerable, and people with bad credit.

Tell Others About Lending Scams - A little public service can go along way. If you publish a website or blog that provides consumer protection information, you can help us raise public awareness to this growing problem and perhaps save someone from becoming a victim. Please tell people about our scam alerts and information pages. If you have been victimized, please report it to the Federal Trade Commission.

Consumer Statistics - Informative stats about consumer spending, credit and debt 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009

The Federal Foreclosure Prevention Plan - Designed to help reduce foreclosures, particularly among high risk families who are struggling to meet their home mortgage obligations in the face of increasing adjustable rate mortgages. Don't let the bank take your home away. Take the first steps to stop foreclosure on your home before it's too late. Learn about who qualifies for the federal foreclosure prevention programs and how these programs can help homeowners keep their house, as well as about the efforts of individual states and localities to ease mortgage woes and prevent ARMs-related foreclosures in their regions.

Living Debt Free - Proper debt management and reduction are the first steps toward securing your financial situation. A debt settlement company can help you settle your debt, negotiate your payoff balance, and reduce your interest rates with your creditors. If you own your home, it may behoove you to use your home's equity to eliminate your debt. If you qualify for a lower mortgage rate, you may save money by using a low interest home loan against your equity, and pay off your higher-interest items. Keep in mind that an equity line is secured by your home, and you must be able to pay the mortgage each month or you risk losing your home. There are also numerous loan modification programs that will enable you to modify your loan terms to help avoid foreclosure. So, weigh all your options before deciding how you will pay off your debt. By learning how to manage your debt, consolidate credit cards, pay off bills, and control your spending, you can get that second chance you deserve. Oh, and don't forget the advice your grandma gave you: always try to live within your means.

Secure Your Finances - Disaster planning, both in terms of personal and financial health and well being, is a wise investment of your time and effort. Preparing in advance for any disaster can help to keep you and your loved ones safer, and can also help to limit the degree to which your finances and credit rating are negatively affected.

No comments:

Post a Comment