As of 2009, bankruptcy filings that were new increased by over thirty five percent in just one year. Although it may seem like a dismal sign, a good way to look at it is that all of these people are on their own paths to rebuilding their credit scores and ultimately, financial freedom. We have all seen commercials with “people just like you and me” urging us to go to whatever website and check on our credit score. We know that if the number is high, it’s a good thing. It it’s low, it could mean trouble finding a loan, getting a job, or a new place to stay. But just what is a credit score?

Your credit score is packaged up in one (hopefully!!!) three digit number that is based on a statistical analysis of your very own personal credit file. A credit score’s purpose is to give you a major headache, and for the banks to review your capacity to take on debt and repay a credit obligation. That is why credit card companies and banks will look over your score to figure out how much credit they want to decide and offer you and at what interest rate.

So how is your score determined? The Fair Issac Corporation, or as you may know them, FICO, was the first organization to create a scoring system in 1958. The report recently underwent a makeover (FICO 08) but it’s not used by all agencies. In this new, improved FICO 08 version, minor credit delinquencies are not counted against you when you for the most part do a good job repaying your debts.

A credit score asks five questions. What is your payment history like? How much money do you currently owe? Just how long have you had credit? How many times have there been credit inquiries made on your report? And what type of credit do you have? So let’s say, for the sake of example, that you screwed up. Just how long will negative marks have an impact on your credit score? Well, that depends on the type of information. Plain old negative information can stay on your credit report for up to seven years. In the case of bankruptcy filing it can stay up to ten years. Here’s where we get into the creepy big brother aspect of credit reports. Every individual has a personal credit file, and what this means is that the impact from person to person will affect each differently.

If you are worried about your financial situation, would like to know more or are considering bankruptcy, it is in your best interest to seek out the advice of a financial planner. One that works for a fee is preferable, because they will have your best interest at heart and not their commission. Good luck in your financial journey!

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Almost everyone who has been in debt has received the dreaded phone call from a debt collection agency. But sometimes one phone call turns into twenty, and even worse, an agent may be aggressive and borderline threatening on the phone.

Despite the fact that collections agents are trying to collect a legitimate debt, more and more negative attention is being focused on unfair and aggressive policies that some agencies have been using.

Some of the more aggressive policies caught the eyes of James Caldwell, Louisiana attorney general and Washington attorney general Ron McKenna who have both vowed to make accounts receivable management firms and their owners clean up after their acts.

In fact, Caldwell has obtained injunctions on January 8th against two debt collection agencies that were not following the standards that have been set for obtaining debt.

On the same day McKenna stated that his office had just come to an agreement with a collection agency that agreed to comply with new restrictions that have been established.

Some of the new boundaries that these collection agencies must comply with include more effective communication. This means that any harassment, intimidation, threats, profanity, or attempts to embarrass the debtor are now out of the question.

With these new settlements, these collection agencies under close watch will no longer be able to intimidate debtors through threats such as failing to pay a debt will result in a suspension of the debtor’s driver’s license.

Finally, although these collection companies are lawfully able to report debts to credit reporting agencies, they are no longer allowed to threaten debtors with impairment of their credit rating.

Although collections agencies are justifiably trying to collect a legitimate debt, there are two issues to consider. People who owe money are just thatpeople, who deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. More importantly, if a debtor is terrified of an aggressive collections agent who calls them constantly they very well may just stop picking up the calls, leaving themselves in debt, and the collection agencies with nothing.

Mallory Megan works for a debt collection agency. Also she writes articles on business, finance, the credit industry and collection agencies.

Due to the current recession many individuals think that bad credit loans no longer exist.

This lack of complete understanding of the situation regarding bad credit loans does make sense as after all it was to some extent due to the lax lending and slack underwriting criteria connected with bad credit loans includiing the advancing of bad credit self certification secured loans, mortgages nd remortgages which helped precipitate the current economic climate.

All through history it has been impossible for non homeowners to be accepted for a bad credit loan. Even tenants with great credit ratings find it difficult to obtain a loan now. Lenders really want some sort of security when they grant a loan.

However for homeowners the situation is different. Until 2007 it was fairly easy for a homeowner to obtain a bad credit secured loan up to a maximum 75% LTV, even with extremely poor credit. Some homeowners who were on the verge of having their property repossessed were saved at the last moment by receiving a bad credit loan.

Even although these secured bad credit loans are not so readily available now as they were two years or so ago they are still in the market in a more restricted fashion.

If a homeowner has a little bad credit he can be granted a bad credit loan at a LTV of 60% to 70%.

For homeowners with C.C.J’s , defaults and mortgage arrears there are still two bad credit secured loan lenders who will consider looking at advancing a bad credit loan to homeowners with extremely bad credit files, and they accept unlimited adverse points.

The maximum LTV for these bad credit loans is 50% and the maximum loan is also restricted to a maximum loan amount of around 23,000.

Nevertheless these bad credit loans can help homeowners who are really struggling and have fallen into bad debt often at present through no fault of their own. Therefore the bottom line is that there are bad credit loans out there but are not so readily available now.

Looking to find the best deal on bad credit loans then visit www.championfinance.com to find the best advice on bad credit loans for you.