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About consumer credit

Author: Jakob Jelling
If you do not understand consumer credit, you will be far more likely to misuse credit, and ruin your financial situation. That is why the subject of consumer credit is so important.

A lot of people get their first experience with consumer credit when they get their student credit card. This is where their study of consumer credit begins. Credit card users need to be knowledgeable in credit terms such as APR, rewards, balance transfer and cash back.

You can also get department store cards specific to one brand name store. A department store card has its pros and cons. A lot of offers are advertised if you sign up for a card, such as discounts and free gifts. However the APR on these consumer credit cards is often considerably higher than most regular credit cards.

When you are a consumer of credit you need to know your legal rights so that you can protect yourself. For example if you are being hassled by collectors, you should be aware of the Fair Debt Collection Act, which lays out the rules that limits the actions a collector can use to retrieve his money.

You have a legal right to view your credit report. Your credit report is a history of your financial transactions and if you are turned down for a loan, you can view your report to determine why. You can get your credit report from a credit reporting bureau. You may be eligible for a free credit report to view your consumer credit status. How good your credit score is will determine what loans you can get and on what interest rates.

Consumer credit counseling

Misuse of credit can often lead to a high amount of consumer credit loans which can in turn lead to bankruptcies. If you are facing an overwhelming debt situation, it may be advantageous to seek out consumer credit counseling.

If your credit situation has deteriorated, consumer credit counseling may help. Counseling can help you determine your financial situation and help you find ways to repair your credit. Counseling can help you better manage your finances, so that you can stay out of debt and become a more informed user of consumer credit.

About the Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.cashbazar.com . Visit his website for the latest on personal finance, debt elimination, budgeting, credit cards and real estate.

What Debts Show Up In Your Credit Report?

A recent amendment to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) now requires the credit bureaus to provide consumers a free annual credit report upon request. Access to the free credit reports has been phased in beginning December 2004 in the West and will finally be nationwide by 1 September 2005. This is good news to consumers.

Now each year, you can request a copy of your credit report and check it for inaccuracies and evidence of identity theft. If you discover errors or missing items in your credti report you can petition the credit bureaus to make the necessary corrections (see Credit Reports for additional information.

You are entitled to a free credit report from each of the three natonal consumer credit reporting companies, and many credit counselors recommend requesting all three since the information contained in each of the credit reports may be somewhat different. Also, it is wise to spread out your requests throughout the year so that you can see any sudden changes that might arise (for example case you are a victim of identity theft).

For more detailed information on how to get your free credit report, read Your Access To Free Credit Reports and "Free Credit Reports - Have You Requested Yours?"

What Is Your Current Credit Score?

But while you are now entitled to receive a free credit report from each of the Credit Bureaus, they are NOT required to provide you with your credit score for free and therefore the consumer credit reporting companies do not provide you with a copy of your current credit score when they send you you free credit report. Instead, they charge you to get a copy of your credit score. (For an explanation of the difference between your credit report and your credit score, and what they are used for, see Credit Reports vs Credit Scores

Nevertheless, you can obtain a free copy of your credit score from certain third parties. Click here, if you don't know what your Credit Score is.

As you make corrections to your credit report and begin to pay down your debts, you can watch your credit score rise.

Click Here The Attorney's Guide to Credit Repair"

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