Blogs - Page 1


Next Steps After Receiving a Debt Validation Letter

Published December 2024

A debt validation letter is a formal document sent by a debt collector — a professional licensed to collect debt — presenting where your debt stands.

This letter is required to be sent under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and serves as proof that the debt collector will assume the legal right to collect a debt and that the amount they are claiming is accurate.

Based on this validation letter, you have the right to dispute the debt if it is wrong or look for debt relief solutions. If the debt collector may try to collect the debt without sufficient proof, attempts to collect the debt can be disputed. If you don’t dispute it, the letter then becomes the starting point for you to assess your financial situation and find ways to deal with debt.

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How To Pay Off A Debt In Collections

Published September 2024

Life can easily get out of hand. Unemployment, an unexpected medical problem, a sudden increase in your cost of living, or family issues can seriously affect your finances. When things get tough, you may not be able to afford to pay all your monthly obligations. When loan installments or bills go unpaid, that is when they go to collections.

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Topics: Credit Card Debt

Bankruptcy vs. Debt Relief: Which Option is For You?

Published September 2024

Getting in debt is something that many people face because hardships and unexpected life events can happen to anyone — after all, we’re all humans! The goal for people in debt is to stabilize their personal finance and live a debt-free life. When you feel overwhelmed by debt and simply can’t repay it with your existing income, then you can either seek debt relief or file for bankruptcy.

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Topics: Credit Card Debt

How to Handle Credit Card Debt on a Tight Budget

Published September 2021

Being on a tight budget does not mean that you have to learn to live with debt. Find out what you can do to reduce and eliminate debt on a tight budget.

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Topics: Credit Card Debt

Protect Yourself from Credit Card Fraud: A Guide for Consumers

Published September 2021

The 2020 global pandemic locked up economies and limited the use of cash. As the circumstances forced more people to use plastic, fraudsters found more opportunities to steal identities and commit credit card fraud.

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Topics: Financial Education

What to Do If You Miss a Credit Card Payment

Published August 2021

Missing a credit card payment is not the end of the world if you act fast. Learn how to minimize the damage of a missed payment to protect your credit score.

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Topics: Credit Card Debt

8 Back-to-School Budgeting Tips

Published August 2021

As summer ends, it’s time for back-to-school shopping. Start by defining a budget, and involve your kids in the budgeting and shopping process.

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Topics: Saving Money

How to Budget for Major Life Events

Published August 2021

Regardless of your lifestyle, as you go from childhood to adulthood and then grow older, you encounter several milestones that define your life. You may get married, start a family, buy a home, buy a car, start a business, etc. These major life events have one thing in common: they all cost money.

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Topics: Financial Education

What to Do If You Are a Credit Card Fraud Victim

Published August 2021

Credit card fraud is one of the most frequent types of identity theft in the US. Prior to 2020’s unprecedented rise in fraud related to application for government benefits (likely as the result of COVID-19-related fraud), credit card fraud topped the list of identity theft types by a wide margin for multiple years in a row.

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Topics: Financial Education

What Is Credit Card Fraud?

Published August 2021

Close to half a million people fall victim to credit card fraud in the US every year. Learn what credit card fraud is and how you can guard against it.

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Topics: Financial Education