Summerville Lawyers: Summerville, South Carolina

Life After Bankruptcy: 5 Steps to Rebuilding Your Credit, Finances and Emotions

Rebuilding your life after bankruptcy – including your credit rating, finances and your emotional well-being – can sometimes seem like an overwhelming task. But if you’ve recently filed for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection, it’s important to realize that there is life after bankruptcy. And it doesn’t have to be a life where [...]

Renting as a Way to Strengthen Your Credit Report

Your dream is to buy a house, but all you can afford to do now is rent. You're wondering if renting can actually help you attain your goal of owning your first home. The answer is a definite yes, if you use the time you rent to build up your credit report and improve your finances so you can qualify for the best mortgage rates.

Refinancing After Bankruptcy

Refinancing after a bankruptcy can seem like an especially difficult challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. Six months after your bankruptcy has been finalized, you can find lenders willing to refinance your mortgage.

Fixing Your Credit After a Bankruptcy to Apply for a Mortgage

When I first started working with Charlie (not his real name) in 2005, his bankruptcy had just been discharged, meaning his remaining debt was cleared. His credit score was 526, and he didn't think he had a chance to even get a credit card.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program for student loan issues

Students and parents can explore the site for information about the Direct Loan Program, including helpful publications and tools to help manage their Direct Loans.

Debt Collectors, Unauthorized Charges, Loan ‘Modifiers’ Top Gripe List

Rude debt collectors brought in the top number of complaints to one Attorney General's office last year. Next on the list? Telemarketing scams, say BBB officials.

Credit-Card Fees: the New Traps

A new federal credit-card law that takes effect Monday could erase billions of dollars a year in fees and interest charges paid by consumers. But card issuers are already deploying new tactics that could prove costly for even the most cautious cardholder. read entire article

Reverse Mortgage: What the AARP Suit Means for You

Seniors who took reverse mortgages are being pushed into foreclosure by HUD, according to a lawsuit filed by the AARP. Are all seniors who took a reverse mortgage at risk? No, only those who decided to put only one spouse on the reverse mortgage.

Government starting to crack down on debt collectors

Last week, a Minnesota-based debt collection firm with a long history of shady practices and consumer complaints was slapped with a whopping $1.75 million fine by the Federal Trade Commission. It was the second-highest fine ever issued in a civil trial against a debt collection company. Among the offenses committed by the company, Allied Interstate, [...]

10 tips for dealing with debt collectors

Debt collection is big business and because of its potential impact, the government has established very strict rules about how it should be done. Clearly, as we wrote in our story about the aggressive tactics collectors sometimes use, not every company plays by the rules. Here are some tips for dealing with debt collection and [...]