As hospitals and other medical providers develop quick trigger fingers when reporting medical debt, there are ways in which you as a patient can prevent medical bills from hurting your overall credit score, according to The New York Times.
More patients are facing the difficulty of paying their medical bills, especially as more Americans are subjected [...]

Total consumer borrowing in the United States grew at a much slower rate than experts anticipated, thanks in part to a surprising dip in credit card debt, according to a report from Bloomberg News.
The figures for consumer debt last month were recently released by the Federal Reserve, and they show that, while credit increased by [...]

Many consumers have been tempted to borrow from their 401(k) savings to gain a quick infusion of cash, especially to start a small business, but this tactic may not be the wisest course of action, according to an article in USA Today.
While it may be enticing to borrow funds from 401(k) plans with relatively low [...]

The Tulsa World, the newspaper of choice in Gary Busey’s Oklahoma hometown, has been following the celebrity’s bankruptcy filing very closely for a few weeks, and his journey through bankruptcy court offers helpful lessons for future filers.
This week, Busey completed an online financial management course that was required by federal bankruptcy laws.
Now, Busey has an [...]

High levels of credit card debt will likely leave many Americans vulnerable to sudden changes of economic fortune in the coming months, according to a recent warning from the New York Post.
Last month, total consumer debt rose by almost 10 percent, as consumers leapt into the arms of creditors who are eager to begin wheeling [...]

In a press release that is almost as hotly anticipated in Chicago as the start of the baseball season, Illinois Attorney General recently announced the top ten consumer complaints of 2011.
And this list of consumer complaints, ranging from debt collector fraud to other debt relief issues, mirrors, in many respects, the types of complaints that [...]

In a disturbing new celebrity trend, famous Americans have begun marketing their own prepaid debit cards, which promise people with low credit access to instant cash.
The prepaid debit cards range from the flashy (the Kardashian sisters developed a famously awful line of prepaid cards) to the more respectable (financial advisor Suze Orman has built her [...]

As the economy continues to limp its way to some sort of recovery, the gross domestic product (GDP) has begun to rise. Economists typically eye the GDP for signs of overall financial growth.
This trend, however, has been met with two equally disturbing trends: high unemployment and high levels of total household debt.
Recent reports indicate that [...]

These days, with pension funds taking record hits and savings lost in stock market shuffles, retirees are having to scramble to find extra funds. And the conventional workforce is often a fruitless place for senior citizens to look for a new job.
In addition, retirees are facing record levels of debt, and many older consumers have [...]

Consumers who have recently applied for a new home mortgage may have noticed something a bit bizarre about their credit report information: it contains a lot more information than it once did.
This trend is a result of a new type of credit file introduced by a company called CoreLogic, which already has comprehensive credit information [...]

According to federal regulators, the total number of consumer complaints against debt collectors has been steadily rising over the past few years. Not coincidentally, the rise in complaints has coincided with an increase in the number of bankruptcy filings.
As the toll of the recent recession continues to wear on beleaguered consumers, collection agencies may be [...]

The amount of debt held by consumers increased last month, which defied experts’ predictions that Americans were refusing to take on more credit.
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the total amount of consumer credit increased by more than $7 billion last month.
The news means that more American may be filing bankruptcy in [...]

Online banking has rapidly gained popularity, as consumers turn to the Internet for a wide range of activities, including shopping, paying bills, and even filing for bankruptcy.
Banking on the Internet, however, does come with some disadvantages, including security concerns and the potential to unknowingly accrue large amounts of debt.
Listed below are some of the pros [...]

College students face unique challenges when obtaining credit cards. On one hand, lenders often offer college students attractive interest rates, despite their lack of credit scores, because college-educated card holders tend to be better customers.
However, the new CARD Act, which recently made it through Congress, makes it very difficult for college students to get credit [...]

In the past, debit cards have provided consumers with a safe, cost-free alternative to credit cards. The use of debit cards has likely saved many consumers from turning to credit cards and racking up debt, which is a major reason for bankruptcy filings.
Alas, the blissful days of free debit cards may soon be behind us, [...]

A recent article in Forbes magazine highlighted a major impact of the reeling economy: business for debt collectors is good.
It seems, though, that debt collectors are seeking pity for the troubles they are having collecting bills. Struggling consumers may have a hard time mustering sympathy for this particular industry.
Still, taking a closer look into the [...]

The U.S. Postal Service’s motto is well-known—the workers in light blue uniforms promise to deliver in the face of all types of nasty weather.
However, despite its willingness to deliver mail in rain and snow, the postal service may soon be felled by a much more mundane reality—its own debt.
According to sources, the postal service may [...]

The death of a loved one can be traumatic enough without the financial concerns that often accompany dying. Nevertheless, those financial realities exist and cause unnecessary stress for many survivors. Here’s a look at what laws govern debts for those who have passed away.
Beyond the Probate Process
A few decades ago, the standard process for collecting [...]

In recent months, bankruptcy filing numbers have shown that individuals and small businesses are filing for bankruptcy less often than they did in 2010 – despite the fact that unemployment is still around nine percent and the economy is barely out of official recession territory.
The numbers and general lack of impressive economic progress nationwide (the [...]

Many people considering bankruptcy protection wonder about whether tax debt can be discharged as part of a bankruptcy filing. The answer is complicated: in some cases, income taxes cannot be discharged and in some cases, they can.
If you owe back-taxes and have questions about your personal situation, you may want to speak with a bankruptcy [...]