Guides and tips on repairing your credit score and removing negative items from your credit report.
When you settle a debt for less than you owe, the IRS generally treats the forgiven amount as taxable income. If a creditor cancels $600 or more, it will usually send you a Form 1099-C, and you’ll need to report that amount on your tax return — unless an exclusion applies. The most common exclusion …
Tax Implications of Debt Settlement You Should Know About Read More »
The best first credit card is one you can actually get approved for, that reports to all three credit bureaus, and that charges little or no annual fee. For most beginners, that means a secured credit card, a student credit card, or a starter unsecured card designed for people with limited credit. Before applying, compare …
To read your credit report line by line, work through it in order: personal information, the account summary, each account in detail, collections and public records, and finally inquiries. For every account, check six key fields — account type, your responsibility for it, the balance and credit limit, the current status, the month-by-month payment history, …
Understanding Your Credit Report: A Line-by-Line Guide Read More »
Afni Inc. is a collection agency and contact center company based in Bloomington, Illinois, founded in 1936. If Afni is calling you or appears on your credit report, it’s most likely collecting a balance for a phone, cable, internet, or similar service provider — often a final bill, an early termination fee, or a charge …
Credit repair costs vary widely by company and pricing model. Many companies charge a monthly fee for each month of work, while others charge per item removed or a flat package price. Depending on how many months the work takes, the total cost can range from a modest amount for a short engagement to several …
Northland Group is a third-party debt collection agency based in Minnesota and founded in 1982. It typically collects credit card and retail accounts on behalf of banks, card issuers, and debt buyers. If Northland Group is contacting you, it’s usually collecting a charged-off account for another company. As an agency, Northland generally doesn’t sue in …
Northland Group Debt Collector: Who Are They and Can They Sue Me? Read More »
TSI stands for Transworld Systems Inc., a large third-party debt collection agency. If TSI appears on your credit report or is contacting you, it’s collecting a debt on behalf of another company — often a healthcare provider, a telecom or utility company, a school, or the owner of a private student loan. TSI is a …
Who Is TSI on My Credit Report and How Do I Get Rid of It? Read More »
Jefferson Capital Systems is a debt buyer and debt collector headquartered in the St. Cloud, Minnesota area. It buys and collects charged-off consumer accounts — including credit cards, auto loans, telecom and utility accounts, and accounts from consumer bankruptcies — from banks, lenders, and other creditors. If Jefferson Capital is calling you or appears on …
What Is Jefferson Capital Systems and Why Are They Calling Me? Read More »
To dispute a credit report error, pull your free reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, document exactly what’s wrong and what the correct information should be, and file a dispute with each bureau reporting the error — online or by certified mail — with copies of your proof. Then dispute directly with the company that …
Yes — a 753 credit score is very good. On the FICO scale, 753 falls in the Very Good range of 740 to 799, above the national average, which has recently been in the mid-710s. With a 753, most lenders will approve you for mainstream credit cards, auto loans, and mortgages, and you’ll often qualify …
Is a 753 Credit Score Good? Full Guide to Every Score Range (560–753) Read More »