| Introduction | 10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Understanding Credit Report and Credit Bureaus | 11 |
| Credit Report | 11 | |
| What is Included in a Credit Report? | 12 | |
| What is a Credit Bureau? | 13 | |
| Major Credit Bureaus | 13 | |
| The Importance of Reviewing a Copy of Your Credit Report | 13 | |
| How to Obtain a Free Copy of Your Credit Report | 14 | |
| Beware About Deceptive Websites | 15 | |
| Other Situations Where You Might be Eligible for a Free Report | 15 | |
| What to Do If You Find Errors or Incomplete Information in Your Report? | 16 | |
| How Long Can a Credit Reporting Company Report Negative Information? | 17 | |
| Who Else Can Get a Copy of Your Credit Report? | 17 | |
| Chapter 2 | How to Establish or Re-Establish Good Credit History | 18 |
| How to Improve Your Credit Rating | 18 | |
| How to Get Accepted For a Low-Interest Rate Credit Card | 19 | |
| Establishing Credit History | 20 | |
| What to Do When Your Application is Rejected? | 21 | |
| Cosigning | 22 | |
| Chapter 3 | Understanding the Credit Game | 23 |
| Choosing the Right Credit Card | 23 | |
| Department Store Cards | 24 | |
| American Express | 24 | |
| Secured Credit Cards | 24 | |
| Debit Cards | 25 | |
| Credit Card Costs | 25 | |
| Balance Calculation Methods | 28 | |
| Tips For Lowering Credit Costs | 29 | |
| Using Your Credit Card to Get Discounts | 29 | |
| Using Credit Card Abroad | 30 | |
| Currency Conversion | 30 | |
| Credit Line Holds | 30 | |
| Advantages of Using Credit Card Abroad | 31 | |
| Travelers’ checks | 31 | |
| Chapter 4 | How Bank Analyze Your Credit Application | 32 |
| How Creditors Rate You? | 32 | |
| How Banks Analyze Your Creditworthiness | 33 | |
| Point Scoring System | 36 | |
| What You Can do If You are Denied? | 37 | |
| Credit Scores and Credit Reports | 38 | |
| Improving Your Credit Score | 39 | |
| Chapter 5 | How to Improve Your Credit Score | 41 |
| Nine Things That Can Ruin Your Credit | 41 | |
| What Determines Credit Score? | 42 | |
| Learn How Credit Scores Are Determined | 42 | |
| How to Increase Your Credit Score | 43 | |
| Best Ways to Improve Your Credit Score | 44 | |
| Chapter 6 | Building Up a Good Credit Record | 48 |
| How to Build a Good Record and Increase Your Chance for a Loan | 48 | |
| Negative information | 50 | |
| How to Protect Yourself against Identity Theft | 54 | |
| Chapter 7 | Your Legal Right | 57 |
| Credit Histories for Women | 57 | |
| Self-employed | 59 | |
| Age discrimination | 59 | |
| Truth in Lending and Consumer Leasing Acts | 59 | |
| Equal Credit Opportunity Act | 60 | |
| Fair Credit Billing Act | 60 | |
| Fair Credit Reporting Act | 60 | |
| Fair Debt Collection Practices Act | 61 | |
| Chapter 8 | How to Correct Billing Problems | 63 |
| What Laws Apply? | 63 | |
| How to Correct Billing Errors | 65 | |
| Creditor Responsibilities | 67 | |
| What to do if Your Complaint is Not Resolved | 68 | |
| Chapter 9 | Credit Correction | 70 |
| Removing Inquiries from Your File | 71 | |
| How to Remove Negative Information from Your File | 72 | |
| What to do If the Credit Bureau Refuse to Correct the File | 73 | |
| Chapter 10 | Credit and Collection | 74 |
| Contacting Your Creditors | 74 | |
| What Creditors Can do If You Don’t Pay? | 75 | |
| Collection Agencies | 76 | |
| The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act | 77 | |
| Wage Garnishment | 77 | |
| Auto Repossessions | 78 | |
| Preventing Property Foreclosure | 78 | |
| Foreclosure | 79 | |
| Consumer Credit Counseling | 79 | |
| Chapter 11 | Bankruptcy | 81 |
| Chapter 7 | 82 | |
| Chapter 11 | 82 | |
| Chapter 13 | 83 | |
| Judgement Proofing | 83 | |
| Chapter 12 | How to Rebuild a Bad Credit History | 85 |
| How Credit Repair Clinics Operate | 87 | |
| How Long Will a Negative Mark Remain on Your File? | 88 | |
| Chapter 13 | Techniques for Reducing Debt | 89 |
| Consolidate Your Loans | 89 | |
| Life Insurance Policies | 89 | |
| Personal Loans | 90 | |
| Collateral Loans | 91 | |
| Home Equity Loans | 91 | |
| Loans to Avoid | 91 | |
| Chapter 14 | SBA – The ABC’s of Borrowing | 92 |
| Is Your Firm Credit Worthy? | 92 | |
| Adequate Financial Data Is a “Must.” | 92 | |
| What Kind of Money? | 93 | |
| Short-term Bank Loans | 93 | |
| Term Borrowing | 94 | |
| Equity Capital | 94 | |
| How Much Money? | 94 | |
| What Kind of Collateral? | 95 | |
| Endorsers, Co-makers, and Guarantors | 95 | |
| Assignment of Leases | 96 | |
| Warehouse Receipts | 96 | |
| Trust Receipts and Floor Planning | 96 | |
| Chattel Mortgages | 96 | |
| Real Estate | 97 | |
| Accounts Receivable | 97 | |
| Savings Accounts | 97 | |
| Life Insurance | 97 | |
| Stocks and Bonds | 97 | |
| What Are the Lender’s Rules? | 98 | |
| What Kinds of Limitations? | 98 | |
| Covenants—Negative and Positive | 98 | |
| You Can Negotiate | 99 | |
| The Loan Application | 99 | |
| Evaluating the Application | 100 | |
| Chapter 15 | SBA’s Business Loan Program | 101 |
| Types of Business Loans from SBA | 101 | |
| How to Apply for a Loan | 101 | |
| Terms of Loans | 102 | |
| Collateral | 102 | |
| Eligibility Requirements | 103 | |
| General Size Standards | 103 | |
| Credit Requirements | 103 | |
| Conclusion | 105 |