Archive for December, 2007

Credit Counseling Can Lower Holiday Bills

Posted on: December 29th, 2007 by Kenneth Long No Comments

Christmas holiday spending can cause credit card bills in January to rise substantially. A household that struggles to get by from one month to the next will find that next year will be much tougher.

If you find that you are going to have trouble meeting your January credit card bills, you should consult with a credit counselor for help. Taking action before the possibility of missing a payment can prevent disaster and preserve your credit score. (more…)

AMT Taxpayers Delayed Until February 11

Posted on: December 27th, 2007 by Kenneth Long No Comments

Taxpayers that are affected by the recently enacted Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) patch must wait until February 11 in order to file their tax returns. That is the date released by the IRS as a potential starting date for the five AMT-related returns that must be updated due to last minute legislation. (more…)

Credit Card Defaults Finally Increasing

Posted on: December 26th, 2007 by Kenneth Long No Comments

Credit card default rates have stayed low, even as foreclosure rates have more than doubled in many areas. Now, credit cards are also showing signs of trouble. (more…)

AMT May Delay Refunds to Poorest Taxpayers

Posted on: December 21st, 2007 by Kenneth Long No Comments

Congress dragged their feet once again on a proposal to extend the Alternative Minimum Tax patch. The purpose is to prevent middle class taxpayers from having to pay additional taxes originally levied on the wealthy.

Now, it appears that the IRS may need up to 7 weeks to reprogram their systems. This could delay tax refunds by up to a month. (more…)

National Action Financial Services Penalized

Posted on: December 19th, 2007 by Kenneth Long 6 Comments

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo successfully settled with a debt collector accused of abusing debtors. National Action Financial Services (NAFS) of Williamsville, NY has agreed to pay $85,000 in penalties and costs. (more…)

Retailers Charge More In Store Than Their Own Websites

Posted on: December 18th, 2007 by Kenneth Long No Comments

Consumers who check prices online before shopping may find that many items are priced substantially higher in the store than online. Forget about EBay or other online retailers. Big box retailers sell the same merchandise on their own websites for cheaper than in their stores. (more…)

Quickest Way Out of Debt

Posted on: December 17th, 2007 by Kenneth Long 2 Comments

The quickest way out of credit card debt is to dramatically cut your interest rates. There is no other factor that matters as much as the rate in which your finance charges are compounded. So how do you eliminate credit card debt? Here’s how. (more…)

Foreign Transaction Fees Refunded

Posted on: December 14th, 2007 by Kenneth Long No Comments

If you made a credit card purchase overseas, you may be eligible for a refund. As a result of a class action lawsuit filed against MasterCard, Visa and Diners Club, you may receive a refund of the 3% foreign currency conversion fee that was charged on those transactions. (more…)

Greenspan Cites Rising Risk of Recession

Posted on: December 14th, 2007 by Kenneth Long No Comments

In an interview with National Public Radio, former Fed Chief Alan Greenspan stated that “the odds are clearly rising” that the U.S. economy will enter a recession soon. Other economists share his views. There are many signs to back up his stance. (more…)

Credit Union Announces Free Tax Preparation

Posted on: December 12th, 2007 by Kenneth Long 1 Comment

North Carolina’s State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) has announced a new initiative to provide free income tax preparation. This will be available at all 217 branch locations statewide. (more…)

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