How to Land a Job When Your Credit Stinks

With unemployment and credit card defaults as high as they are, it seems like a terrible time for employers to screen candidates’ credit histories. But more employers are doing just that. If you really need a job but have a problematic credit report, here are some strategies that might mean the difference between gaining employment and spending many more months in job-hunting tedium.

Be the First to Mention It

Don’t go through ninety percent of the hiring process, only to be shut out at the last minute because of dings on your credit report. Potential employers will resent having to go through all the trouble of interviewing and running checks, only to find that you don’t meet their credit standards. To maximize your chance of landing the job, tell the employer that you’re aware of some problems with your credit, but that you’re in the process of repairing them.

Be Open and Honest

The employer will want to know what steps you’re taking to repair your credit. Let them know everything you’ve done so far, including refinancing and paying down your credit cards. Be prepared to provide documentation. The idea is to let the employer know you’re not trying to hide anything. Bring your own copy of your credit report to the interview to show that you’re doing everything you can to comply with the company’s rules.

Choose Smaller Companies

Small companies are more likely to cut you some slack over items on your credit report. If you can, try to develop some rapport with your interviewer. Once you’re both at ease, bring up the topic of credit checks and let them know you want to save them time and trouble by discussing a few items up front. Then produce your report and explain the problems. There’s no need to divulge personal details about an illness that left you in dire straits, but do let the employer know that your negative credit items weren’t due to financial mismanagement. (Unless they were due to financial mismanagement, in which case it’s best to stay vague and move on.)

Bad credit will earn you a bad reputation, whether or not its deserved. This is unfortunate, as the rates of credit card default and unemployment continue to rise. Speak frankly with your potential employers. Let them know that you acknowledge the problems on your credit report, and that you’re willing to fix them. This tactic won’t work with every company, but it might convince a sympathetic hiring manager to bend the rules. Good luck!

The Easy Way to Fast Credit Repair

The Easy Way To Fast Credit Repair
By Lorna Findlay

Finding ways in which you can repair your credit quickly can be extremely tedious. But below we look at a fast credit repair option that you may want to use in order to get it fixed as quickly as possible.

How can someone repair their credit through using a collection agent?

Generally a person’s credit rating is based on their credit report and the information contained on this is provided to credit report agencies by banks, credit card companies and other financial institutes or businesses that are in the business of lending money. They will tell the agency the status of each of your accounts relating to whether payments have been made on time or not.

However if you find yourself in a situation where it is becoming difficult to make payments to your creditors then they will go through various different steps to ensure that these payments are met. But if after an extended period of time and various warning letters being sent to a person then they will usually resort to selling your debt to a collection agency for them to try to get the money owed back. Normally they will sell this debt to the agency at a discounted amount. Unfortunately once this occurs then a mark will appear on your credit report and this will then stay there for the next 7 years.

The best step and most crucial you can take in order to avoid this occurring is by getting the debt written off. As soon as the collection agency contacts you then you need to contact the creditor who the original loan is with and see if you can arrange to clear the debt with them first. In a lot of cases where the creditor agrees that you repay the debt immediately then they will arrange to have the “gone to collection” removed from your credit report. Certainly this is one of the quickest ways for a person to ensure that they get a fast repair to their credit report.

However the creditor is not willing to accept this proposal then you will have to deal with the collection agency instead. Normally in the initial stages the agency will be extremely aggressive and asking you to make payment in full or they will take you to court. What you need to consider is that in most cases the collection agency will have purchased your debt from your credit for about have of what it really is worth and so initially make an offer to pay less than what the full value of the debt is to settle it immediately. In a lot of cases the agency will be able to close their file on you as soon as possible to ensure that the matter does not get prolonged. Often in order to get a quick settlement on the matter they will be willing to accept a quick payment that is lower than what they were originally looking for.

So if looking for fast credit repair always try to pay off your creditor first rather then the collection agency that the debt has gone to.

To improve your credit rating, and to download your free report ‘Eight Myths Blatant Myths About Credit Reporting’, please visit http://repair-your-credit-rating.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lorna_Findlay
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What forms of private investment prospered as a result of the European Union and its lead up?

I ask this strictly from an investment/capitalist standpoint. If you could go back in a time machine to a pre European Union, what what would you have invested in, or withdrawn from? Please no political bloviating, and please speak in terms of a private investor, not large imperial motives.

When You Are Over Charged On Your Credit Card

For the most part, credit cards are just as safe as using cash. In fact, some would argue that credit cards offer additional security and protections that you can’t get when you buy products with cash. Sometimes though, mistakes happen and a merchant may charge you more than they should have for products or services you didn’t receive. Some cardholders have been charged for transactions that didn’t take place at all.

If you find you’ve been charged too much or in error, you’ll want to dispute the charge. There are directions on the back of every credit card statement that tell you what to do if you need to dispute a charge and they include the mailing address. You don’t want to dispute a charge by phone, as you will have no written record of the conversation.

Some examples of reasons that cause people to dispute a credit card charge include:

• An unauthorized charge: if you didn’t buy a product or pay for a service that appears on your statement, and you did not give someone else permission to use your card to make that purchase, it is considered an unauthorized charge.

• Goods not received: if you ordered something online or by phone, or even at a retailer for a later delivery and the product never arrives, this is cause for a dispute. When you don’t receive the items you ordered, you shouldn’t pay for them.

• Returned goods not credited: if you return items to the store or through the mail because they are not what you expected or not the correct items – the money should be refunded to your credit card. If you’ve returned the products but not received a refund in the stated number of days, you should dispute the transaction.

if the merchant sends you the wrong order and refuses to make the   order right, your credit card can help you get what you ordered or get your money back if you dispute the transaction.

• Uncompleted services: when you pay a contractor or service provider for services rendered and they don’t complete the services according to the agreement, you can dispute the charge.</li>

• Incorrect amount: if you are paying for a $10 item but a $100 fee appears on your billing statement, you can dispute the charge to get the difference back as it was a transaction made in error.

How to Dispute the Charge

Write a letter that clearly describes the reason you are disputing a charge, the amount of the charge, the retailer making the charge and the date it occurred. If possible, include any documentation to help support your case. The credit card company is required to investigate your dispute and you do not have to pay the amount in question while it is being disputed. The credit card company must get back to you with a response within 90 days (or two billing cycles). Most of the time, the disputed charge will be canceled, and any interest charged due to that purchase will also be refunded to your credit card.

If the dispute is not settled in your favor, you may have a few other options and it would be in your best interest to contact an attorney to determine what those options may be.

How to find an investment for a new business rather than a loan of finding a investor?

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Things to Consider Before Accepting a New Credit Card

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to get by in our society without a credit card – or at the very least, a debit card with a credit card logo. Travel arrangements, restaurant reservations, online business transactions and placing orders by telephone all require the use of a credit card. Here are some things to consider before signing your name to a new credit card application:

Don’t Get Too Many Cards – there is hardly ever a good reason for a person to have a wallet overflowing with multiple credit cards. Typically, you only need one or two credit cards. Be selected and choose cards that will work best for how you use them and pay them back. Too much credit available can lead to bad financial decisions made on a whim, and then unmanageable debts.

Take a Hard Look at Your Spending Habits if You Get A lot of Credit Card Offers – just because you have four credit card offers in your mailbox every day does not mean you can afford more credit cards. In fact, credit card companies tend to target individuals who are most likely to rack up big balances because they know they’ll make the most interest off you.

Don’t Fall For Teaser or Promotional Rates – many credit cards do their best to entice new customers through teaser or promotional rates. These are typically lower than average interest rates on new purchases or balance transfers that apply for a limited time – but then once that time is up, the interest rate shoots up. These are also cards that often send your interest rate skyward if you make a payment late. The permanent interest rate on a credit card is much more important than the temporary promotional offer you get; unless you are using the card to pay off a higher interest account and will have the balance completely paid in full before the promotion ends.

Examine More Than the Interest Rate – while the interest rate on a credit card is an important consideration before accepting a new card, it’s not the only thing that matters. The interest rate actually only matters for people who carry a balance from one month to the next, because if you pay your balance off in full within the stated grace period (typically 20 days), there is no interest charged. Also, when you make a decision for a credit card based solely on the interest rate, you might be very disappointed when the interest rate changes a few months after you get the card. Even “fixed rate” interest cards can adjust their interest rates.

How Does the Credit Card Billing Cycle work – knowing the cards billing method is a good idea. Will the interest be applied to your purchases from the day you use the card, or is there a grace period? How many days do you have between billing cycles to pay off your balance before interest is applied? Know exactly how long this grace period is because your lender is likely to mail the bill out late in the billing period, giving you just a couple days in which you can get your payment out before it falls outside that grace period.

Understand Late Payment Charges and Penalties – Check the credit card terms carefully to understand how late payment charges and penalties are charged to your account if you should make a payment late. See if a late payment will also result in an interest rate hike. Most credit cards apply the late payments and penalties to the card balance, and therefore you end up paying interest on these if you don’t pay the balance of your card off in full before the end of the billing cycle, as well.

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Alternative Credit Card Types

Believe it or not, there are a variety of credit cards and alternatives to the traditional credit card. Understanding the various options in alternative credit card types is essential to selecting an appropriate card for your particular needs.

If everything else is equal, you should always choose an unsecured card over a secured card. Interest rates on secured cards are almost always as high as the interest rates of unsecured cards, it doesn’t make sense to choose the secured option over an unsecured credit card. Here are a number of secured credit cards to watch out for:

Credit Cards Secured By Your Purchases – some credit cards are issued through retail stores. Sears card, for example, take collateral in the items you purchase using the Sears credit card. That means if you fall behind making your credit card payments, the lenders might decide to repossess the property you buy with the card. If you try to file bankruptcy, a card secured with collateral may cause problems with your rights under bankruptcy laws.

Credit Cards Secured By Your Home – some companies allow you to get a credit card that is attached to your home equity line of credit. When you use the card to make a purchase, the purchase is secured by your home. Even though these are among the easiest credit cards to get approved for as a homeowner, they are very rarely, if ever, a good idea! The potential consequence of not paying your credit card becomes more than a lawsuit or debt collection effort – you can lose your family’s home! You are better off seeking a home equity credit line with a low interest rate than you are using a credit card secured by your home equity loan.

Cashed Checks From Credit Cards – have you ever received a check in the mail from a credit card company? All you have to do is cash or deposit the check. You’ll receive the value of the check, but you’ll be accepted a high interest rate and stuck with the high balance on the account from day one. It’s much better to look at credit card offers and fine one with a reasonable interest rate and then use the card wisely – by making small purchases and paying them off each month.

Credit Cards Secured By Your Bank Account – as far as secured credit cards go, this is likely to be your best option. These cards are secured by a deposit you have at the bank, and your credit limit is equal to that of your deposit. If you can’t make your payments, the company will just keep your deposit. These cards are useful in helping people improve their credit if they’ve experienced a tough financial situation, but if you go this route at least make sure the card does not charge interest on purchases, no annual fee, and that it reports your on time payments to the credit bureaus, otherwise these cards are a waste of time and money.

If you are considering a secured card, at least understand what each of the alternative types of credit cards are and how they work before making your decision.

How One Credit Card Fee Actually Helps Consumers

Credit card merchant fees (also called interchange fees) are the latest target of politicians, consumer groups and some retailers. I for one, though, don’t really mind these “under the radar” fees for several reasons.

Lawmakers have decided to take their campaign against the credit card industry beyond the sweeping new provisions of the new credit card law known as the Credit CARD Act of 2009. Congress has also started investigating restrictions involving credit card merchant fees. These fees are paid by merchants every time you swipe your card and many merchants are crying foul. However, I feel like Washington should exercise caution when it comes to targeting interchange fees, for a few reasons:

1. Interchange fees power our payment grid.

Credit card interchange fees cover the costs of maintaining the invisible network that connects the swipe pad at your favorite stores to the database at your bank. Think of an interchange platform as a series of interstate highways that gets the money from your credit card or checking account into your merchant’s cash register. Those credit card merchant fees amount to about 2-3%, depending on the relationship your vendor has with credit card issuers. If you’ve written a check at a retail store in the last few years, you’ll appreciate the time saving value of a reliable, secure payment platform.

2. For rebate cardholders, credit card interchange fees boomerang back.

If you enjoy cash back rebate credit cards, frequent flyer mile cards, or other credit card rewards like I do, you’re really just getting back a chunk of the interchange fees that you already pay for goods and services when you use plastic at the checkout counter. Personally, I don’t mind if other consumers cover the costs of some of the bigger rewards in the industry, like the 5% rebates I get on gasoline using my rebate credit card! Should I feel bad if consumers that pay by cash or check help subsidize my rewards? I think not. Credit card merchant fees also help to cover the costs of various free credit card benefits, such as extended warranty and insurance programs.

3. Clamping down on interchange fees won’t reduce prices.

Payment processing costs have been absorbed by retailers’ markups for years and I doubt if prices for goods and services will be lowered much, if any, if another law passes. On a related note, many retailers spend far more money on their cash handling systems than they do on merchant fees.

I know a manager of a major retail store who drops thousands of dollars into her safe each night, while processing four times as much revenue through her merchant credit card account. Yet, the amount she pays in interchange fees wouldn’t cover the cost of her daily armored car service or the salary of the cashier that spends two hours each day making change.

Smaller stores that prefer not to accept credit cards may feel like they’re improving their bottom line, but studies indicate that consumers buy more on credit cards than they ever do with cash or checks.

4. Our time and attention should be focused on more important things

Instead of worrying about credit card interchange fees that merchants pay for valuable services, let’s encourage our lawmakers to revisit the watchdog spirit that brought us the CARD Act in the first place. Payday loans, shady debt collectors, and fraudulent credit repair operators damage the financial lives of Americans every day. Rather than squeeze money from legitimate businesses, Washington should clamp down on companies that prey on fear, mistrust, and financial desperation. On a related note, more emphasis should be put on financial education.

Lawmakers struck a chord with consumers when they limited some of the credit card industry’s worst practices. Now it’s time for them to help our economic recovery by supporting the growth of our electronic payments network. I’m all for merchants being able to negotiate fees and a level playing field (which is what proponents of legislation curtailing credit card merchant fees claim they want). And, I think if fees are indeed not negotiable as proponents claim, then the government should step in.

But, at the end of the day, if a merchant is upset about paying fees, then why don’t they just stop taking plastic all together? Call me crazy, but I’m going to go “out on a limb” here and speculate that it just might be because it would hurt their business quite a bit more than help. I would certainly welcome your thoughts!

How stressful is it to work in London in an investment bank or similar environment?

I’ve been thinking of moving from York to central London with the hope of getting a job in a large investment bank. I have some friends who are working in investment banks of which a couple have moved from places like Surrey to be in London. There seems to be a popular theme of stress and long unbearable working hours when working in London, specifically in financial companies. I want to know how much of this is actually true and whether its just caused by bad self management? I feel extremely driven and have always enjoyed being in London and think I could cope, but never actually worked there. Working in York seems too chilled out and quiet but is it worth moving to work in the city for the higher salary? Is working in an investment bank or other financial firms in the city really too stressful to handle?

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