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Avoiding Layoffs
How to stay employed in a tough economy.

Haggling With Your Credit Card Company
Negotiating terms duting tough economic times.

Protect Yourself From Credit Repair Scams
Can they really take accurate information out of your report?

Dealing With Debt Collectors
Federal law requires fair treatment.

Declaring Bankruptcy
Is it really a "get out of jail free card"?

Debt and Finding Employment
Can bad credit keep you from getting a job?

Poor Credit and Checking Accounts
Where can she open a checking account?



GetHotlineHelp.com

Negotiating down card debt and your credit score
You can ask a card company not to report your debt settlement to the credit bureaus, but there's no guarantee that it will comply.

Is reaffirming card debt during bankruptcy wise?
When filing for bankruptcy, a reader want to reaffirm credit card debt, with the hope of still being able to use the card. Chances are slim the card will still be usable.

Beware of IRS tax bite that may follow canceled debt
Tax attorneys and consumer advocates say many consumers aren't aware that forgiven credit card debt may be taxable income on a 1099-C form.

Survey: Debt collection calls growing more frequent, aggressive
A new survey reveals that debt collection calls have become more aggressive, and collectors are abusing laws that protect debtors.

Your options when paying the minimum isn't possible
When living from paycheck to paycheck, any disruption in income can have immediate effects on your financial situation, including not being able to pay the minimum on your cards.

5 tactics of bad debt collectors and what to do about them
The recession has put debt collectors under added pressure, too. Some are reacting by cutting legal corners.

Bankrate: Fighting Foreclosures

With the home equity bubble popping, consumers could find their homes in peril, especially those with adjustable-rate mortgages.

Fight Foreclosure
A number of factors started the housing mess but it ends with homeowners fighting to keep a roof over their heads.

8 Do's and Don'ts for Fighting Foreclosure
What to do and what to avoid in order to avert a financial disaster.

Mortgages: Mortgage Foreclosure Timeline for Day 1 through Day 415
Homeowners have several chances to stop the foreclosure process once it's started. Here are the details to help you keep your house.

Avoiding Foreclosure-Rescue Scams
The convergence of economic and political forces may soon bring about a home-equity version of the stock market crash of 1929.

Double Whammy: Foreclosure and Taxes
Losing your home in a foreclosure is bad enough. Wait until you get the tax bill.

Facing foreclosure? Try a Workout.
If you're in trouble with your mortgage, here are steps to take to work out a solution with your lender.

Foreclosure Counseling for Homeowners
Community organizations offer a less intimidating alternative to banks for homeowners trying to work through foreclosure.

Know-Your-Mortgage Worksheet
Can't keep the terms and conditions on your adjustable-rate mortgage straight? Use this work sheet to pull the key information together on one simple form.

Mortgage Reset Calculator
Do you know what your new mortgage payment will be when your rate adjusts? Use this calculator to find out what your payment would be if your rate was to adjust today.


Bankrate's guide to understanding your debt and getting it under control.

Debt treadmill
Savings are at an all-time low in America, while the debt load continues to climb. How bad is it?

Debt quiz
Find out just how bad your debt and credit problems are. Take our Debt-o-meter quiz.

How credit works
It's tough to manage debt if you don't know how credit works. Learn about good credit and living with no credit.

All about credit reports
Very few documents affect your life like your credit report. Learn how to read your financial history.

Joys of good credit
Good credit can improve your financial health in a lot more ways than most people realize.

Danger ahead
Debt problems don't just suddenly appear. If you're alert for signs of trouble, you can probably avoid them.

Bad credit
Bad credit can hurt a consumer in many ways. Understand how debt negotiation and bankruptcy work.

Getting help
The bad news is that you are in financial trouble. The good news is that there is plenty of help available.

Tools to use
Having trouble getting your finances in order? Here are some tools that will help you work things out.


Find job, fix resume with adult internship
An adult internship can fill gaps in your resume and even lead directly to your dream job.

Job hunting could help cut your taxes
The bad news is that a lot of Americans are out of work. The good news is that a job search might help cut their tax bill.

Fight fair about money with your honey
Tired of fighting about finances with your spouse? Here are solutions to three sticky situations.

Refinance an uphill fight after job loss
A couple is unlikely to qualify for a refinance, which may not be a good option for them anyway.

10 ways to dodge bankruptcy in 2010
Try one or more of these strategies to lower your debt, live frugally and skirt bankruptcy.

Facing foreclosure? You have options
If the dreaded "f-word" -- foreclosure -- has disrupted your life, here are four choices you should explore.

Video: Credit counseling or debt settlement
Counseling and settlement offer debt relief, but which better suits your circumstances?

The Bankruptcy Adviser

Don't let fiance's debt ruin your credit
You may want to help with your fiance's debt, but follow these tips to protect your credit.

Bankruptcy better than waiting out debt
You can try to outlast the statute of limitations on debt, but bankruptcy might be less of a burden.

Paying off Chapter 13 plan early
It seems smart to pay off your Chapter 13 bankruptcy early, but there's a good reason to wait.


The Debt Adviser

Foreclosure a stain on your credit report
Foreclosure smears your credit report and can kill your chances of snagging a future mortgage.

Don't skip court date with debt collector
You may be broke, but you can get legal help to face a debt collector in court.

Debt settlement: real help or waste?
Paying a debt settlement company can leave your debt unpaid and you facing collectors alone.



Bankrate: Bad Credit

Beat the bad credit blues: Bankrate has selected seven areas where your credit history can have a big impact, explaining how bad credit can affect you and what you can do to make things better.

How Bad Credit Can Impact Your Life
Bad credit can impact many parts of your life. Here's how, and what to do.

Your Credit Cards
Credit cards got you into a mess. But they can also help you get out.

Your Job
A bad credit report could cost you a job or keep you from being promoted.

Your Car Loan
Bad credit can bump that car loan rate way up.

Your Insurance
Believe it or not, a bad credit report can drive up the cost of your insurance.

Your Rent
A bad credit history can make it tough for you to find a place to live.

Your Mortgage
The worse your credit, the more you're likely to pay for a mortgage loan.

Your Student Loan
Even with bad credit, you can still get an education.


Understanding and Protecting Credit

A 14-lesson guide to understanding and protecting your credit.

Lesson 1: Be Credit Smart
Being credit smart can help you save a lot of money, and make life a lot less complicated and stressful.

Lesson 2: Your Credit Report
Your credit report is an important key to your financial future, because it can cost you or save you a lot of money.

Lesson 3: Your Credit Score
Your credit score is one of your most valuable financial assets!

Lesson 4: Is Your Credit Score Accurate?
It is very important to check your credit reports on a regular basis to make sure everything is accurate!

Lesson 5: How to Improve Your Credit Score
Make sure you get the credit you deserve.

Lesson 6: Credit Monitoring
Monitoring your credit can be a wise investment to help protect your credit, and your good name.

Lesson 7: Identity Theft
Get the facts on the fastest growing crime.

Lesson 8: Identity Theft Part II
Know these 7 common warning signs.

Lesson 9: Identity Theft Part III
Steps you can take and habits you can practice to reduce your chances of becoming an identity theft victim.

Lesson 10: Identity Theft Victims
Immediate steps to take if you think you have become victim to identity theft.

Lesson 11: Keys to Credit
It's important to start off on the right foot when establishing and using credit.

Lesson 12: Separating Fact from Myth
Separating credit facts from myths can help you better understand and manage your credit.

Lesson 13: Top Ten List of Worst Credit Card Company Practices
Be careful not to become trapped by these credit card company tricks.

Lesson 14: Fighting Back Against Credit Card Company Practices
Don't fall prey to credit card company tactics that are designed to take advantage of consumers.

Credit Action Center:
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