Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Fair Credit Reporting Act and Your Legal Rights

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) entitles you to repair your own credit report. You have a legal right to dispute any information you find on your credit report. Enacted in 1971, the FCRA stipulates that the credit bureaus investigate all consumer disputes if they challenge credit information on their credit reports. As per this Act, the credit bureaus must complete the investigations within a 30-day period. Any information that cannot be verified or is found to be inaccurate must be deleted immediately.

Your Rights Under the FCRA

If your application for credit, employment, or insurance is rejected, you have a right under the FCRA to ask, within 60 days of the refusal, for a free credit report. The company rejecting your application must disclose which credit reporting company they used for getting your credit scores. Normally, the three major nationwide credit companies used are - Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.

It is reported that nearly 79% of all credit reports contain some error or other inaccurate information. It is mandatory, under the FCRA, for the credit reporting companies to correct the incorrect information. Here are some steps to take to go about making the corrections:

Write to the credit reporting company about the incorrect and inaccurate information.

Send copies of documents that will verify your claims.

Clearly, and in detail, itemize each inaccuracy, explaining why it is wrong.

Include a copy of the credit report in question, highlighting the disputed statements.

Ask to have the inaccurate and incorrect information removed from your credit report.

Keep copies of all documents you sent to the credit reporting company.

The credit reporting company is obliged under the FCRA to forward the documents you supplied in support of your case, to whichever company or organization provided the initial disputed information. This organization must investigate and report back to the credit reporting company. If the information is found to be inaccurate, it must be corrected and also reported to the three major credit bureaus.

It is mandatory under the FCRA that the credit report agency must send the results to you, in writing, along with a free copy of your credit report.

You can also ask the credit reporting company to send a copy of your corrected report to all those who had asked for it in the last six months.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) was created to ensure that your individual rights are protected and that everyone has the same opportunity to correct any inaccurate credit information on their report.

When used correctly, this legal right can make a difference in your financial future.

About the Author

Sherry Frewerd publishes several websites for affiliate marketing and direct sales. Learn to build your own money making website at http://websitebuildingmom.com

Monday, July 2, 2007

Bad Credit Business Loans

If you’re someone whose business has been plagued with financial difficulties, and have tried to take out a business loan to tide you over, you may have already run into what seems like a brick wall.

Getting a business loan can be difficult in the best of circumstances, but if your business is already carrying a large amount of debt, has little value as collateral, or is already leveraged, getting a business loan may be next to impossible. But if you are in Chapter 13, restructuring, or appeal to some high risk lenders as a candidate for a business turnaround, you may, oddly enough, have better luck. Bad credit business loans might be available to get your business back on its feet, and eventually to a paying status.

Almost all new businesses will have to fight just to survive for the first two years of their existences; it usually takes at least that long for a product or service to get enough market recognition to become profitable. Even well established businesses, however, can end up in the red with a slumping economy or the introduction of a competing product. There are many external factors which can wreak havoc on the best run businesses, and ruin their credit ratings.
During those times, bad credit business loans can be a true lifesaver. Buy helping the business stay operable, get current its existing debt payments, and put funds into remaining competitive, bad credit business loans will buy business owners the time they need to weather the economic times which have brought them so much trouble.

Many a business owner has seen years, or even decades, of hard work evaporate in the face of unforeseen and uncontrollable outside events, and bad business loans will help them recover from the damage done to their reputations and credit records through no fault of their own.

Limitations On Bad Credit Business Loans

Many bad credit business loans place a minimum on the amount you must borrow; the most common minimum is five thousand dollars, and the maximum loan amount is up to your particular lender.

Another condition regularly applied to bad credit business loans is that your monthly payment will be automatically taken from a credit card; in addition, the term of bad credit business loans is frequently no more than twelve months. You can also expect to pay a significantly higher interest rate on bad credit business loans than on other loans you have taken. Finally, get a clear picture of all the fees associated with the bad credit business loans you are considering.

Do Your Homework

Before contacting any lenders about their bad credit business loans, take the time to research all of them. You may be surprised at the wide range of interest rates, lender’s fees, and other costs they charge. And when you talk to them, try to gauge how well they understand your business and how sincere they are about helping you succeed.

While bad credit business loans are definitely not as borrower-friendly as you might wish, the fact that you are even looking for one is a sign that you may have to give up something for the short term in order to save your business for the long term.

You can also find more info on Bad Credit Business Loan and Bad Credit Car Loan. Personalbadcreditloanshelp.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Bad Credit Loans.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Faulkner