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Flitter Milz represents people with a variety of problems involving consumer credit and collections. If you have a particular question or believe your consumer rights have been violated, Contact Us for a no cost consultation.

Consumer Law

How to Prepare Your Credit Accounts During the Holidays

It’s the season for gift giving, and that means extra spending. Credit cards can be a convenient way to purchase gifts for family and friends, but it’s important to stay organized and make sure you have a plan to pay them off. Take these steps before you do your shopping to ensure that you’re prepared.

Check Your Credit Report

Your credit report provides the best summary of your overall financial standing. Your report will list all of your credit accounts, loans, and credit inquiries and will also list any delinquencies. To get a copy of your credit report, write to the credit bureaus – TransUnion, Experian, or Equifax – and include two forms of identification such as a current driver’s license and utility bill. You can get a free copy of your report from each of the bureaus every 12 months.

You may also want to check your credit score. This information will give you an idea of your overall financial standing and will alert you to any areas that could be improved. If your score is lower due to late payments or a lot of spending on credit accounts, you may choose to adjust your spending to fit your budget.

Keep an Eye on Credit Utilization

Now that you know the credit limits on each of your accounts, try to avoid spending more than 30% of your available credit on each of them. For example, if you have a credit card with a limit of $1,000, you should do your best to avoid spending more than $300. Your credit utilization factors into your credit score, so spending more than 30% of your available credit could lower your score.

Set a budget for each of your cards to avoid overspending. This will also make it easier and more manageable when it comes time to pay them off.

Pay Your Balances in Full and On Time

Set reminders to pay off credit accounts in full and on time. Carrying a balance in to the next month will mean paying more in interest fees. Your budgets will help you stay on track and help ensure that you’re always able to make your bill payments.

Taking the time to prepare your credit accounts for holiday spending will allow you to enjoy the season without extra financial stress and will set you up for success in the new year.

Seek the Help from a Consumer Protection Lawyer

Flitter Milz is a nationally recognized consumer protection law firm that represents consumers who have been contacted by debt collectors, or that have issues with listings that appear on credit reports.  Contact Us for a free evaluation of whether your consumer rights have been violated.

6 Tips for Holiday Shopping

The holidays are a busy time of year. Many people have difficulty staying on track with spending or forget that scammers may take advantage of the busy season. Follow these tips to stay financially responsible and to avoid common shopping scams that occur this time of year.

Create a Budget for Holiday Gifts

It can be easy to overspend when you’re buying gifts for others during the holiday season. Before you make your shopping list, create a budget for how much you can afford to spend this year and do your best to stick to it. If your budget is tight, consider gifts like baked goods or homemade items.

Pay off Credit Cards in Full and on Time

If you plan to use a credit card for your holiday spending, make sure to pay off your balance in full and on time. Carrying a balance over from month to month means that you’ll end up paying more for all of your gifts because of the interest that accrues on your account.

Use Secure Passwords when Shopping Online

If you shop online, use different passwords for each of your accounts and make sure they’re strong and secure. Use a password storing tool so that you don’t have to worry about remembering them all. These accounts include your credit card information and billing information, so it’s important to keep them safe.

Watch for Scams Online

Unfortunately, the holidays are a popular time for new scams to pop up. Scammers take advantage of the busy season and use the opportunity to create fake products or to steal identities. If the price of an online item seems too good to be true, it probably is. You should always verify that you’re purchasing from a valid website and that the payment portal is secure before you buy anything.

Don’t Leave Personal Information in Plain Sight

It’s important to remember not to leave personal documents or identifying information in easily accessible places or in plain sight in your vehicle, especially when parked in a busy shopping lot. Criminals could use this opportunity to steal your information. You also shouldn’t carry personal information, like your social security card, in your wallet or purse.

Keep an Eye on Your Belongings

Always keep your belongings, like shopping bags, purse, or wallet, on your person when you’re holiday shopping. Busy stores or restaurants can provide an opportunity for someone to take your things unnoticed. Keep shopping bags in the trunk of your vehicle so they’re hidden from view.

Seek Legal Help

Identity theft victims may need help from a consumer lawyer when collectors begin to call, or there are listings on credit reports that are a result of the theft.  Flitter Milz is a nationally recognized consumer protection law firm that represents consumers against debt collectors and the credit bureaus.  Contact Us for a free evaluation of whether your consumer rights were violated.

How to Spend Responsibly on Credit Cards

It’s hard to argue with the convenience of a credit card. Credit provides you with flexibility when it comes to spending. Your card is always available to use regardless of when you expect your next paycheck. Owning a credit card and making timely payments also helps your credit because it shows lenders that you’re a trustworthy and responsible borrower.

It’s important to establish responsible spending habits early so that you don’t find yourself with significant amounts of debt later in life. Carrying a balance each month can make it difficult to stay on top of payments. Here are some credit spending tips that you should practice now to keep your finances healthy for your future.

Set a Budget

The perk of using a credit card is having the ability to spend money you may not necessarily have at the moment. But this can be a dangerous. It can lead to spending above your means. Create a reasonable spending budget for your card to ensure that you don’t overspend.

Pay the Balance in Full Each Month

Carrying a balance from month to month like so many consumers do isn’t ideal. Many cards have high interest rates, which make it even more difficult to keep up with payments every month. Set a goal to pay your balance in full and on time each month so that you don’t end up paying exorbitant late fees and interest.

Keep Your Credit Utilization Low

It’s never a good idea to max out a credit card. Your credit utilization plays a major factor in your credit score. Ideally, you don’t want to spend more than 30% of your credit limit. This means if you have a $1,000 credit limit on a card, you shouldn’t spend more than $300. If you have a higher budget and want to use your card more, pay the existing balance before it’s due to bring your available credit back to its full amount.

Find a Card with No Annual Fees

When you shop around for a new credit card, look for ones with lower interest rates, no annual fees, and useful perks. Many cards offer cash back on any amount that you spend with your card. Others offer travel perks like airline miles.

Pay Off Credit Card Debt

Get control over credit card debt as soon as possible. Making minimum payments will mean paying excessive amounts of interest over time and can make you feel as if you’ll never get out of debt. Cut your spending wherever you can so that you can focus on paying off your debt as quickly as possible.

Seek Free Legal Help

Flitter Milz is a nationally recognized consumer protection law firm that represents victims of abusive collection tactics, credit reporting accuracy and privacy issues and wrongful vehicle repossessions.  Contact Us with your consumer credit concerns.  There is no cost for the consultation.

How do I Get a Better Auto Loan?

Shopping for a new vehicle can be overwhelming on its own without even considering the auto loan application process. But if you don’t take the time to research and compare auto loans, you may end up with a bad deal.

Review your Credit Reports

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Before you begin to shop around for the best deal, check your credit report. Your overall credit will give you a general idea of what interest rates to expect. You should also consider your budget and how much you can afford to spend each month on vehicle loan payments. It’s important to make a purchase that you can afford. If you fall behind on loan payments, your vehicle may be at risk for repossession. A vehicle repossession negatively affects your credit for up to seven years. You should also keep in mind that shorter term loans will mean that you pay higher monthly payments, but less over the course of the loan.

Evaluate your credit score

When you apply for an auto loan, your credit score will take a slight hit. The credit bureaus will treat several loan applications made within a short time frame as a single application. If you were to receive credit denials from several potential lenders, your credit report could be impacted negatively and your credit score may drop.

Seek Legal Advice

Flitter Milz is a consumer protection law firm that represents victims of vehicle repossession.  If a borrower defaults on a bad auto loan and the vehicle is repossessed, Flitter Milz will evaluate whether the lender violated the borrower’s consumer rights.  If your vehicle has been repossessed in the past six years, Contact Us for a free evaluation.

What College Students Need to Know about Credit

As a college student, your credit is probably one of the last things on your mind. It can be a challenge to balance your classes and coursework while responsibly managing your finances, especially if this is the first time you have had to manage and budget your money.

Many students don’t realize that they start to build their credit right away once they take out student loans, or have expenses like utilities and rent.

If you continue to regularly monitor your credit report, pay bills on time, and keep your credit utilization low, your overall credit will remain in great standing. Good credit after college will make it easier for you to purchase a car, rent without a cosigner, and may even help you secure a job.

Tips for Building Credit

As a young person, you may not have a very extensive credit history. Unless a parent listed you as an authorized user on a credit card, your history is probably minimal. Sparse information may make it more difficult for you to secure new lines of credit or loans without a cosigner because lenders can’t be certain of your likeliness to make timely payments.

If you have student loans, these accounts will appear on your credit report and reflect positively as long as you make payments on time and in full. If you’re struggling with payments, look into income-based repayment options to avoid going into default.

You may also want to consider opening a credit card if you don’t already have one. Different types of accounts add diversity to your credit portfolio and will reflect positively on your score. Shop around for a card with little to no annual fees. Older accounts are more beneficial to your history, so the account will continue to positively affect your credit over time as long as you make payments in full and on time.

Tips for Monitoring Credit

Request your Credit Report
Every twelve months you are entitled to obtain a free credit report from each Transunion, Experian and Equifax. It’s important to regularly monitor your reports, even as a student, because there could be errors that negatively affect it. Write for a copy of your report and have it mailed to you.

Dispute Errors on your Credit Report
Although the credit bureaus have similar listings, the information that appears on one report may differ from another.  Be sure to obtain copies of all three reports and review them carefully.  If you find an error on your credit report, be sure to send a written dispute to those credit bureaus. You may also want to dispute the error with the creditor. Be sure to include any documents and relevant information that supports your claim.

Keep Your Credit Utilization Low
Your credit utilization also plays an important role in your overall credit health. If you regularly use more than 30% of your available credit, this may have a negative impact on your score. For example, if you have a credit card with a $1000 credit limit, you should avoid spending more than $300. This shows that you’re not only using a small amount of the credit that’s being loaned to you, but that you are using the credit responsibly and paying the amount borrowed.

Seek Legal Help

Flitter Milz is a consumer protection law firm that represents victims with problems involving credit reporting issues, debt collection harassment and vehicle repossessions. Contact Us for a free consultation to discuss your consumer credit issues.  If your rights have been violated, our firm will sue the credit bureau, debt collector or lender at no cost to you.

 

5 Money Mistakes for Students to Avoid

College is stressful enough without having to worry about financial issues. Avoid these five common money mistakes to stay on track with your spending.

1. Not Setting a Budget

There are a lot of expenses when you’re a student. Tuition and textbooks aside, you also need money for things like rent, utilities, and going out with friends. It’s easy to quickly burn through your money without realizing how much you’re spending. This is why it’s so important to set well defined budgets.

Budgets for different spending categories will keep you on track and will help prevent you from spending above your means. Look at your recent transaction history to gauge how much you typically spend on expenses like utilities, groceries, and entertainment. Set a modest and reasonable goal for each category and work on not exceeding your budget.

2. Paying Bills Late

Many students don’t realize that late bill payments can negatively affect their credit. You start to develop credit history right away, so financial irresponsibility during school could have an impact later in life. Credit history is a factor when you’re seeking new lines of credit, applying to rent an apartment, and sometimes even in a potential employment opportunity.

Always pay your bills on time. Include all bill payments in your budget and set reminders so that you don’t lose track during a busy semester.

3. Spending Too Much on Credit Cards

Credit cards are convenient. It’s easy to spend hundreds of dollars without thinking about when you have to pay it back. But overspending on your credit card means you risk spending more than you can afford.

If you only pay the minimum balance each month, you could end up paying excessive interest fees. Spending more than 30% of your available credit can also have a negative effect on your credit overall. For example, your credit score may take a hit if you spend more than $300 on a card that has a credit limit of $1,000.

Keep your credit usage below 30% and always pay off your balance in full and on time every month.

4. Not Paying Off Student Loan Interest During School

If you have student loans, you may be wondering why you should bother making payments while you’re still in school – you aren’t required to, and there’s even a grace period after you graduate for most loans.

Unsubsidized loans start to accrue interest as soon as they’re disbursed. This means that your loan amounts are slowly creeping up even when you’re still in school. Eventually, you’ll have to pay interest on top of this interest.

Depending on your interest rates, it may be entirely manageable to keep up with these payments during school. Small payments each month now could mean thousands of dollars in savings later on.

5. Spending Money on Things You Don’t Need

It’s easy to spend money on items you don’t really need – new clothes for a party, brand new furniture, new cookware. You should have some room in your budget for unexpected expenses and fun purchases, but don’t go overboard.

Before you buy something new, decide if you really need it or if you can find it cheaper elsewhere. Not only will this help you stick to your budget, it will also mean you have fewer things to pack up and move when it comes time to graduate.

Seek Legal Help

Flitter Milz is a nationally recognized consumer protection law firm that represents victims of abusive collection tactics by debt collectors, and those with credit reporting privacy and accuracy issues.  Contact us to discuss your consumer credit concern.

Personal Finance Basics for College Students

The start of a new college semester is a busy and exciting time. As you prepare to begin new classes, it’s important to consider how you’ll manage your finances while you’re in school. Follow these tips to keep your finances in order and avoid any unnecessary additional stress.

Set a Budget

Whether you receive a stipend from financial aid, are working part-time, or get financial help from your parents, it’s important to set a monthly budget to stay on track with your finances. You should budget for mandatory expenses like room and board or rent, utilities, and groceries, but you should also consider how much you can afford to spend on dining out and entertainment. Sticking to a budget will help you stay organized and help ensure that you don’t spend above your means.

Start a Savings Account

If you work during school, make it a goal to save ten percent or more of your income and put it into a savings account. Even if it seems like a small amount, savings will help when it comes time to graduate and find an apartment or begin to pay off student loans. It’s also helpful to have some money saved up in case of an emergency.

Pay Off Loan Interest During School

Many students take out both federal and private loans in order to fund their education. If you have student loans, you likely already know that you’re not required to pay them off until after you graduate, and there is typically a six month grace period following your graduation as well.

However, it’s a good idea to pay off the interest that accrues on your loans while you’re still in school if you have the means to do so. Some of your loans may be subsidized, meaning they won’t accrue interest while you’re still in school, but unsubsidized loans begin to accrue interest from the date that they are issued. Not paying this interest means you’ll eventually have to pay interest on the interest that you didn’t pay previously.

Build Your Credit

It’s important to keep in mind that your credit history will begin to develop right away. Certain bills are included on your credit report, so it’s critical to pay them in full and on time to avoid negative marks on your credit. Student loans will also appear on your credit report and will help you establish positive history as you make payments on time.

In order to secure new lines of credit in the future, a lender will pull your report to determine your creditworthiness. It is possible to get denied for credit if you lack sufficient credit history, so it’s helpful to try to build credit while you’re still in school.

The Credit Card Act of 2009 placed restrictions on individuals under the age of 21 getting a credit card without a cosigner, but secure credit cards are still a good option. A secure credit card requires an initial deposit. This deposit then acts as your available amount of credit. You can also build credit as an authorized user on a parent’s credit card.

Check Your Credit Report Regularly

You can get a free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus – TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax – every twelve months. Checking your own credit report does not reflect negatively on your credit. You may choose to request a copy from one bureau at a time so that you can check your report several times throughout the year.

Always review your report for errors and inaccurate information. Incorrect listings can have a negative impact on your credit if they aren’t addressed. Dispute any incorrect information with the bureau and with the creditor and provide any documentation that supports your claim.

Successfully managing your finances and building healthy credit requires consistency and time. With these tips you’ll be well on your way to good credit.

Seek Legal Help

Flitter Milz is a nationally recognized consumer protection law firm that represents victims of abusive collection tactics by debt collectors, and those with credit reporting accuracy and privacy issues.  Contact us to discuss your consumer credit concern.  There is no cost for the consultation.

6 Credit Definitions You Must Know

Poor credit and unsteady financial standing can make many aspects of your life much more difficult than they need to be. Your credit follows you wherever you go, and it can affect your ability to get a job, rent an apartment, or secure new lines of credit. For this reason, it’s important to prioritize your credit health and always make sure your finances are in the best order that they can be.

As a consumer, it’s important to educate yourself on all of the financial aspects that affect your credit. Make sure that you’re aware of how your open accounts will increase or decrease your credit score and how certain financial mishaps are reflected on your credit report. Certain occurrences like a vehicle repossession, late payments, or a defaulted account will result in negative marks on your credit report. These types of negative marks can remain on your report for many years. Take the following steps:

Learn these 6 Important Credit Definitions.

1. Credit Report:  A credit report is a statement that has information about your credit activity and current credit situation such as loan paying history and the status of your credit accounts.

2: Credit Bureau: The three main credit bureaus are Transunion, Experian and Equifax. Credit bureaus collect data from lenders and creditors and provide reports to the consumer, and to prospective lenders.  The reports show a consumer’s payment history and amounts owed on credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, etc.

3. Credit Score: A credit score is based on credit history – the number of open accounts, total levels of debt, and repayment history, and other factors.  Lenders used credit scores to evaluate the probability that an individual will repay loans in a timely manner.

4. Hard Inquiry: A hard inquiry, or “hard pull”, occurs when you apply for a new line of credit, such as a credit card or loan.  It means that a creditor has requested to look at your credit report to determine how much risk you pose as a borrower. Hard inquiries show up on your credit report and can affect your credit score.

5. Soft Inquiry: A soft inquiry occurs in cases where you check your own credit or when a lender or credit card company checks your credit to pre-approve you for an offer.  Soft inquiries do not impact your credit scores.

6. Debt-to-Income Ratio: A Debt-to-Income Ratio is all your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income.  This number is one way lenders measure your ability to manage the monthly payments to repay the money you plan to borrow.

Check your credit reports regularly.

Ensure that all information on your credit reports is accurate and up to date by checking your reports regularly. All consumers are entitled to one free credit report each year from each three of the credit reporting bureaus.

Set Goals to Improve your Credit.

Determining benchmarks to improve your credit standing over time.

Seek Legal Help

Flitter Milz is a nationally recognized consumer protection law firm that represents victims of abusive collection tactics, wrongful vehicle repossessions and credit reporting privacy and accuracy issues.  Contact Us to discuss your consumer credit concern.

 

How to Secure an Auto Loan

When you’re in the market to purchase a new vehicle and need to secure an auto loan to do so, it’s always best not only to shop around for the car, but also to shop for the best interest rate and loan that works best for you.

Often times, consumers will secure a loan to purchase their dream car, but will then fall behind on payments and become delinquent. This tarnishes your credit score and may even result in vehicle repossession.

Here are some steps to take prior to securing a loan, and how to ensure that you find the best loan agreement that fits your budget.

Check Your Credit

Man questioning credit reportThere are a number of factors that will affect your auto loan agreement, but the most important is your credit history. Before you start shopping for interest rates, check your credit report and credit score. You can get a free credit report from each of the credit reporting bureaus, TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax, every 12 months.

Review each credit report for accuracy. Dispute any credit report errors by writing directly to the reporting agency. Negative listings that are more than seven and a half years old, like prior vehicle repossessions, should no longer appear on your report.

You should also review your credit score. This gives lenders an idea of your creditworthiness and will help determine what kind of interest rates you’ll be eligible for.

Assess Your Finances

Take the time to consider your current financial situation. Create a budget if you don’t already have one. This will help you determine how much you can afford to spend on monthly auto loan payments and will help you avoid signing an agreement that you can’t afford.

Choose a Lender

Once you know your budget, you can begin shopping around for lenders and interest rates. A higher credit score and healthy credit report will make you eligible for loans with lower interest rates. You should also consider whether you want to sign an agreement with a bank, finance company or credit union.

Credit unions may be able to offer lower interest rates than banks and finance companies, but they may only lend to members and may have more stringent credit requirements than a bank. Do your homework!

Review Documents Carefully Before Signing

Always secure your auto loan agreement in writing, and be sure to review all of the details of the agreement very carefully before signing. This agreement should provide details related to default and steps the lender can take if terms of the loan are broken.

Seek Legal Advice

Flitter Milz is a consumer protection law firm that represents borrowers that have defaulted on their auto loan.  Whether payments have been missed or not, the lender must follow the law.   Contact Us for a FREE legal evaluation.

How Increased Interest Rates Will Affect You

What does it mean when the Federal Reserve increases interest rates and how will it affect your overall financial well-being?

Rate increases by the Federal Reserve may impact auto loans, mortgages, savings accounts, credit cards and refinanced loans. Unfortunately, if you carry a balance on that credit, you’ll most likely see your monthly payments increase. Paying off your credit balance with each statement will not only help you avoid an increase in monthly payment amounts, it will also help to improve your overall credit score.

If you can’t afford your monthly payments and your account goes into default, it may be sent to a third party debt collector. Debt collectors must follow specific guidelines when they contact you about your debt. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act  is the federal law that outlines violations to a consumer’s rights by abusive debt collectors. You may request the collector provide validation of the debt and a detailed itemization of the amount claimed.

Negotiate a Payment Plan

You may also be able to negotiate a payment plan with the collector. Charges like interest and late fees could be removed from the balance when negotiated. If the collector is willing to agree to a payment plan, be sure to get the agreement in writing.  This letter should detail payment terms including the monthly payment amount, payment due date, total of payments and total balance owed.  Be sure to make your payments as agreed.

Settled Debt and Tax Implications

If you settle a debt consisting of $600 or more in principal — the actual loan amount, not interest or fees — for less than the full balance owed, there could be income tax consequences.  If you have questions concerning tax on a settled debt, be sure to seek advice of an accountant or tax advisor.

Seek Legal Help

Flitter Milz is a nationally recognized consumer protection law firm that represents victims of abusive debt collection tactics.  Contact Us for a free evaluation of collection letters and phone calls that you have received.  Whether or not you owe the debt, the collector must follow the law.