For 90 years American General has been the name that is associated with consumer finance loans. While American General does more than just simple loans, that has become their specialty. Now with the sale of the unit by AIG to Fortress Investment Group, it is expected that more could change. Continue reading
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Can Blue Tax Really Settle My Tax Debt?
Television commercials for BlueTax.com claim that they can rid you of burdomsome back taxes. They make amazing claims that they can eliminate penalties and reduce your tax debt. There is a problem with their approach: some of their claims cross the line of what is considered fair advertising. Continue reading
Wilmington NC Has Highest Credit Card Debt to Income Ratio in the Nation
According to the Equifax credit reporting agency, Wilmington NC residents owe the highest percentage of their income to credit card issuers than any other major metropolitan area in the country. Households in the port city owe an average of $7,315 on plastic while earning a median income of $42,392. Continue reading
Chase Increases Minimum Payments to $25 or Greater
Chase started a firestorm in 2008 when it increased the minimum payments on some accounts from 2% of the balance to 5%. This time the change should be much less noticeable, since it only substantially affects cardholders with smaller balances. Continue reading
TaxMasters is Hit With Minnesota Lawsuit for Fraud and Deceptive Trade Practices
TaxMasters has been served notice of a lawsuit filed by Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson. Swanson’s suit is for consumer fraud and deceptive trade practices in regards to TaxMasters’ advertising and sales practices. It follows similar actions against TaxMasters by the state of Texas. Continue reading
How to Report Taxable Gains and Losses on Stock
As if tax preparation were not already enough of a headache, it can be especially complicated when trying to figure out how to report taxable gains and losses on stocks. While this can easily be facilitated by your stock advisor or investment firm, this information has been notoriously difficult to obtain. Most financial statements have lacked this key piece of information, causing undue hardship and aggravation from investors seeking to file their own income tax returns. Continue reading
North Carolina Payday Loans are Illegal
Today in North Carolina payday loans are illegal. It is against state statutes to charge interest rates that exceed a 36% APR.
State regulators went to battle with payday lenders from 2005-2006. Attorney General Roy Cooper obtained consent agreements in March 2006 from Check Into Cash, Check ‘n Go and First American Cash Advance, who each agreed to stop issuing loans with interest rates above the 36% annual usury limit. Continue reading
Federal Crimes Investigation Unit and Other Fraudulent Debt Collectors
The Federal government does have entities that pursue financial crimes. They are known as the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other official departments. Scammers are trying to cash in by claiming that the Federal Crimes Investigation Unit or the United Financial Crimes Division are special government agencies that are investigating you for an unpaid payday loan. In reality, this is another payday loan collection scam. Continue reading
Is LifeLock Identity Theft Protection Worth Paying For?
The marketing was impressive. LifeLock’s CEO Todd Davis was so sure that his company’s identity theft prevention services were so effective that he publicly displayed and broadcast his own social security number. It was an effective ad campaign, and LifeLock brought in a lot of business because of it. Recent government action against LifeLock suggests that some of their services were overstated, which warrants a closer look at what LifeLock claims to do and what you get for your money. Continue reading
Quest for the Perfect 850 Score
Some analysts claim that an 850 credit score provides fewer lending options than an 820, since lenders know they will make almost nothing off of someone with perfect credit. Still, most of us would choose the 850 and just take our chances, since great credit can open so many doors for us. So the obvious question is, how can I get a perfect 850 credit score? Continue reading
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