Helpful Articles
- Consumers fall behind on loans at record pace (By Reuters, MSNBC)
More fallout from a still deteriorating housing market - Where a recession is already hitting hard (By Scott Burns, MSN Money)
Florida's big-time housing bust is a disaster for sellers, but it gives retirees and others a great buying opportunity. - Build a killer credit score in 2008 (By Liz Pulliam Weston, MSN Money)
The formula for deciding who is most creditworthy is changing -- just as borrowed money gets harder to come by. Here are seven moves to maximize your score. - Banks, feds offer new mortgage aid (By The Associated Press, MSN Money)
The plan, intended to stem a tide of foreclosures, includes reduced interest rates and extended payment periods for hundreds of thousands of mortgages. - The next meltdown: Credit cards? (By BusinessWeek, MSN Money)
Card issuers are struggling to defuse a consumer-debt bomb that could blow an estimated $41 billion hole in their businesses this year -- and even more in 2009. - Bank of America blindsiding cardholders? (By BusinessWeek, MSN Money)
The nation's biggest bank is doubling interest rates for some of its most responsible credit card customers. - Make a deal with debt collectors (By Bankrate.com, MSN Money)
Sometimes you can settle for less than you owe. Other times you can tidy up your credit report by paying your entire debt. And occasionally, time just runs out on collection agencies. - Credit card companies' evil tricks (By Liz Pulliam Weston, MSN Money)
Some of the worst offenses: Huge fees exceed card issuers' costs and risks. Interest rates aren't disclosed to card applicants. Rates get jacked up even if you pay just hours late. - The credit card party is officially over (By Liz Pulliam Weston, MSN Money)
Don't count on those 0% offers anymore. As banks stick even good customers with higher rates and tighten up on credit lines and balance transfers, you need to think about protecting yourself.