The vast majority of Americans obtain credit at some point in their lives. Over 75 percent of Americans have at least one credit card. Credit also includes home mortgages, car loans, and student loans.

This book tells you about your basic rights with respect to obtaining and protecting your credit. It describes your rights under federal law and under common types of state laws. Federal law gives you extensive rights with respect to credit transactions, and all states have at least some laws on the subject as well. It also alerts you to common pitfalls in obtaining and using credit. It provides information about credit disclosures; negotiating common types of credit transactions; rights with respect to credit cards, debit cards, and other common transactions; debt-collection rights; rights with respect to credit reports; and identity theft.