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Index
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Table of Contents
Foreword
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Part 1: Getting Started with Credit Repair
Chapter 1: Introducing Credit Repair, Credit Scores, and Your Life on Credit
Repairing Bad Credit
Weathering a Major Crisis
Understanding Diversity in Credit
Filing Bankruptcy
Protecting Your Credit and Your Identity
Maintaining Good Credit Throughout Life
Managing Credit in Today’s Unforgiving Economy
Chapter 2: Turning Your Credit Around
Understanding How Your Actions Impact Your Credit Score
Using a Cosigner to Raise Your Score
Turning Small Purchases into Big Credit
Maximizing Your Credit Score with Major Expenditures
Understanding How Good Debt Builds Good Credit
Selecting the Best Tools for Building Your Credit
Chapter 3: Cleaning Up Your Credit Reports
Understanding the True Value of Good Credit
Reviewing Your Reports for Problems
Using the Law to Get Your Credit Record Clean and Keep It That Way
Identifying and Disputing Inaccurate Information
Adding Positive Information to Your Credit Report
Chapter 4: Getting the Best Help for Bad Credit for Free
Knowing Whether You Need Help
Identifying Help You Can Get for Free
Chapter 5: Coping with Debt Collection
Handling Those Collection Phone Calls
Taking Charge of the Collection Process
Identifying Escalation Options That Help
Communicating with Customer Service Before Being Placed for Collection
Keeping Collectors in Check
Freeing Up Money to Pay a Collector
Avoiding Collectors Altogether
Chapter 6: Working with Collectors, Lawyers, and the Courts to Manage Debt Obligations
Getting a Handle on Charge-Offs
Coming to a Debt Settlement Agreement
Finding Out about Judgments and What They Mean to You
Understanding Wage Garnishments
Stating Your Case in Court
Managing IRS Debts, Student Loans, and Unpaid Child Support
Part 2: Reducing Credit Damage from Major Setbacks
Chapter 7: Reducing Credit Damage in a Crisis
Assessing the Damage from a Mortgage Meltdown
Understanding How Mortgages Differ from Other Loans
Knowing Where to Turn for Help
Alternatives to Going Down with the Ship
Dealing with Deficiencies
Preparing for “Credit Winter”
Curing Medical Debt
Managing Student Loans
Avoiding Car Repossession
Coping with So-Called Acts of God and Other Things That Are Not Your Fault
Chapter 8: Filing for and Recovering from Bankruptcy
Deciding Whether Bankruptcy Makes Sense for You
Understanding Bankruptcy, Chapter and Verse
Qualifying for and Filing for Bankruptcy
Managing Your Credit After a Bankruptcy
Chapter 9: Repairing Credit Damage in the Wake of Identity Theft
Taking Fast Action When Identity Theft Occurs
Getting and Using Credit After Identity Theft
Part 3: Rebuilding Credit, No Matter Where or When You Begin
Chapter 10: Starting or Restarting Your Credit in Real Life
Debunking Misinformation about Banking and Credit
Obtaining Credit: Starting Out on the Right Foot
Overcoming Credit Fears and Mistakes
Qualifying for First-Time Cards and Lending
Considering Credit for Students and Military Members
Chapter 11: Ending Life’s Negative Credit Surprises
Keeping Your Credit from Hurting Your Job Prospects
Dealing with Rental Application Checks
Qualifying for a Mortgage
Preparing to Purchase a Car
Unveiling the Relationship between Your Credit and Your Insurance Premiums
Chapter 12: Protecting Your Credit During Major Life Challenges
Tying the Knot in Life and in Credit: A Couples’ Guide to Building Good Credit
Protecting Your Finances in a Divorce
Keeping Credit Strong While Unemployed
Curing Medical Debt
Resolving Credit Issues After the Death of a Spouse or Partner
Fitting Credit into Retirement
Part 4: Making Sense of Credit Reporting and Scoring
Chapter 13: Discovering How Credit Reporting Works
Grasping the Importance of Your Credit Report
What Is a Credit Report, Exactly?
The Negatives and Positives of Credit Reporting
Your Credit Report’s Numerical Offspring: The Credit Score
Chapter 14: Understanding Credit Reports and Scores
Getting Copies of Your Credit Reports
Tracking Down Specialty Reports: From Apartments to Casinos to Prescriptions
Perusing Your Credit Reports
Correcting Any Errors You Find
Getting and Understanding Your Credit Scores
Chapter 15: Monitoring Your Credit Reports and Scores
How Credit Monitoring Really Works
Understanding the Types of Monitoring Services Available
Making a Case for and against Third-Party Credit Monitoring
Getting Your Money’s Worth from Monitoring Services
Setting Alarms, Alerts, and Freezes
Part 5: Successfully Managing Your Credit for Life
Chapter 16: Putting Yourself in Control of Your Credit
Determining Your Credit Style
Balancing Spending, Savings, and Credit Use
Remembering the Importance of Planning When It Comes to Your Credit
Chapter 17: Taking a Sustainable Approach to Your Credit
Going Green: Treating Credit as a Renewable Resource
Sustaining Your Credit Ecosystem for Life
Steering Clear of Credit Pollution
Surviving and Reviving After a Credit Catastrophe
Chapter 18: Safeguarding Your Credit with a Spending Plan
Appreciating the Benefits of a Solid Spending Plan
Deciding on Goals: Imagining Your Future as You Want It to Be
Building Your Vision of Your Future
Using Cool Tools to Help You Build and Stick to a Spending Plan
Adjusting Your Priorities and Your Plan
Chapter 19: Understanding Equity and Diversity in Credit
Benefitting from Financial Inclusion
Participating in the Financial System
Taking or Retaking Control of Your Credit
Educating Yourself on How the System Works
Tackling Debt
Working Toward the Goal of Homeownership
Chapter 20: Knowing Your Rights to Protect Your Credit
Why You Have the Right to Credit Protections
The CARD Act: Shielding You from Credit Card Abuse
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: The New Cop on the Financial Beat
Safeguarding Your Credit Data through the FACT Act
The FDCPA: Providing Protection Against Debt Collectors
The CROA: Getting What You Pay For
Exploring Other Protections
Chapter 21: Protecting Your Identity
Keeping Thieves at Bay
Catching Identity Thieves in the Act
Part 6: The Part of Tens
Chapter 22: Ten Consumer Protections Everyone Needs to Know
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act
Your Lawyer
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
Statute of Limitations Laws
Your State Attorney General
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act
The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act
The Federal Trade Commission
Chapter 23: Ten Strategies for Dealing with Student Loans
Knowing How Student Loans Are Reported Differently Than Other Loans
Dealing with the Collection Process
Identifying the Best Repayment Option for Your Situation
Taking Your Loans to Bankruptcy
Dealing with the Prospect of Default
Gaining Student Loan Forgiveness
Lowering Your Bill While You’re in School
Keeping Up with Your Loans After You’re Out
Setting Limits During the Planning and Application Process
Getting Help if You’re in the Military
Chapter 24: Ten Ways to Deal with a Mortgage Meltdown
Knowing When You’re in Trouble
Knowing How Your State’s Laws Treat Foreclosures
Deciding Whether to Stay or Go
Tightening Your Spending to Stay in Your Home
Prioritizing Your Spending to Build Cash
Lessening the Damage to Your Credit
Knowing Who to Call
Beware of Scams
Beefing Up Your Credit
Consulting an Attorney
Index
About the Authors
Advertisement Page
Connect with Dummies
End User License Agreement
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