Books

The Consumer Credit (Increase of Monetary Limits) (Amendment) Order 1998: Consumer Credit (Statutory Instruments: 1998: Draft)
The Consumer Credit (Further Increase of Monetary Amounts) Order 1998: Consumer Credit (Statutory Instruments: 1998: 997)
The Consumer Credit (Exempt Agreements) (Amendment) Order 1998: Consumer Credit (Statutory Instruments: 1998: 1944)
New Jersey laws and regulations (Consumer credit law service)
The Consumer Credit (Quotations) Regulations 1989: Consumer Credit (Statutory Instrument: 1989: 1126.)
The Credit Power Handbook for American Consumers: How to Improve Your Personal Credit in the Next 90 Days and Get All the Money You Need/Bk and Cssts
Credit Card Scams II
Odometer Law/With 1984 Supplement (The Consumer credit and sales legal practices series)
The Consumer Credit Act 1974 (Commencement No 10) Order 1989
Consumer Credit Act, 1974. Consumer Credit Tables to Calculate the Annual Percentage Rate of Charge: Part 11. Flat Rate
Consumer Credit Business of Retailers (Business Monitors)
Credit Business of Finance Houses and Other Specialist Consumer Credit Grantors (Business Monitors)
Handbook of Consumer Lending
Commercial Law - LLB: Sale of Goods, Consumer Credit and Agency: Casebook
Developing Financial Institutions for the Poor and Reducing Barriers to Access for Women (World Bank Discussion Papers, No 117)
Foreign bank supervision and the Daiwa Bank: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit of the Committee on Banking ... rth Congress, first session, December 5, 1995
Consumer Credit Law
H.R. 1585--Depository Institution Regulatory Streamlining Act of 1999: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit o ... d Sixth Congress, first session, May 12, 1999
Bonitätsbeurteilung durch Credit Rating: Funktionsweise und Einsatzmöglichkeiten eines Instruments zur Optimierung von Investitions- und Finanzierungs ... dlagen und Praxis des Bank- und Börsenwesens)
Deposit insurance reform: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit of the Committee on Financial Services, U.S. H ... Seventh Congress, first session, May 16, 2001
Viewpoints of select regulators on deposit insurance reform: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit of the Comm ... eventh Congress, first session, July 26, 2001
Credit for Women: Why Is It So Important?
Shopping for Consumer Credit: Implications for Market Efficiency (Working Paper No 54)
Inns of Court Bar Manuals: Sale of Goods and Consumer Credit in Practice (Inns of Court School of Law Bar Manuals)
An analysis of the recent surge in consumer debt in rural areas (SuDoc A 93.44:AGES 90-30)

Average customer rating:

Excellent book for beginners
An Excellent Guide for Retail Banking Marketers Entering Lending Business
Good primer for analysts looking for more domain knowledge
Best in its Class
A Comprehensive Guide

Managing a Consumer Lending Business
David Lawrence , and Arlene Solomon
Manufacturer: Solomon Lawrence Partners
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Credit Scoring For Risk Managers: The Handbook For Lenders
Credit Risk Scorecards: Developing and Implementing Intelligent Credit Scoring (Wiley and SAS Business Series)
Subprime Consumer Lending (Frank J. Fabozzi Series)
Credit Scoring & Its Applications (Monographs on Mathematical Modeling and Computation)
The Art of Better Retail Banking: Supportable Predictions on the Future of Retail Banking

ASIN: 0971753709

Book Description

"Managing a Consumer Lending Business" summarizes the lore and the knowledge of the business as the new century begins. It covers many subjects a good manager should know: the importance of how to attract enough good accounts to offset the inevitable bad accounts that every lender will get, controlling line sizes, encouraging use by good customers/discouraging or controlling the bad customers, managing profitability with predictability, if he or she is to effectively run a high-volume consumer business.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book for beginners.......2006-12-10

To people who are entering the profession of consumer lending, this is an excellent primer. It gives a 360 degree view of the business from acquisition and management of accounts to collections, recoveries and profitability analysis. While it doesn't cover any one topic in great depth, it is an ideal book for people starting off in this exciting business. I wish David Lawrence would write many more books. He has the art of explaining concepts in a clear manner. I really enjoyed this book.

An Excellent Guide for Retail Banking Marketers Entering Lending Business.......2006-10-22

In market place, there are few books that are easy to understand but comprehensive to cover all respective area of consumer lending business. I have to say, this is one of the few. In the past, I acquired the personal lending knowledge from some credit scoring books with difficult math and serious multi-variable statistics. This title is not only easy even for marketing or sales persons to understand the basic concept but also good for new credit analysts or college/graduate students who just joined the business to have a whole concept. Strongly recommend this title to those who are in the marketing or business planning roles in retail lending business. It could help bridge the knowledge gap about the lending business and create some common langague with other functions, especially credit and collection. However, for those in credit function, this title is good for overall understanding but not detailed or comprehensive enough for risk management.

Good primer for analysts looking for more domain knowledge.......2006-09-06

Managing a Consumer Lending Business by David Lawrence and Arlene Solomon is a good primer I recommend for the readers of S4SAS.com and analysts working in the areas of consumer lending in general.

This book covers the fundamental principles of lending along with the practices at various product life cycles. While conducting SAS training, I observed that lot analysts do not know why managers look for some information and why they insist on certain format the information to be presented. After reading this book, the reader will have a background to understand the business requirements better and will be familiar with necessary lending related terminologies.

I found the following topics covered in the book useful for an analyst.

1. Overview to the consumer lending process and products.
2. Acquisition and direct mailing - segmentation, prescreen processes and practices.
3. The use of credit scoring, score monitoring and reporting process.
4. Portfolio Management and utilization of behavioral scores, strategy tracking.
5. Collection strategies and tactics
6. Private label credit cards and retail sales (dealer) financing.
8. Importance of Management Information systems.

Best in its Class.......2004-01-20

Managing a Consumer Lending Business is an excellent primer covering both fundamental practices and principles for safe and sound lending. This book covers the basics well and should be required reading for management trainees and those new to consumer lending. This 2002-published book is superior to older, now-obsolete books on consumer lending, and is spiced with anecdotes, quotes and references to mistakes that made headlines. The chapter on recessions is germaine and usually neglected by other books. The only criticisms are minor: a few too many references to the authors' consulting practice, and it would be improved by a chapter or two on securitization and the gain-on-sale practices.

A Comprehensive Guide.......2003-10-25

This book is very well written. It is about managing a healthy consumer lending business by using systematic ways to plan, acquire, and maintain a portfolio and by emphasizing quantitative tools to measure its performance and manage risks. I like this book also because it provides careful accounts about the history of this industry.
This book is an excellent reference for serious practitioners. Portfolio managers and financial analysts can acquire important concepts for managing their businesses. You might even be able to start your own consumer lending business by following the steps introduced in the book. Meanwhile, this is an attractive book for consumers to equip with extensive knowledge to deal with credit card issuers, collection companies and to take care of their mortgages and automobile loans, etc.

Maxed Out: Hard Times, Easy Credit and the Era of Predatory Lenders

Average customer rating:

Inconsistent and anecdotal
Debt as a Product.
Could be more organized and less snarky
Missing a few solutions..
Important Message, Conveyed in a Compulsively Readable Style

Maxed Out: Hard Times, Easy Credit and the Era of Predatory Lenders
James D. Scurlock
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

Maxed Out
Credit Card Nation: The Consequences of America's Addiction to Credit
The Two-Income Trap: Why Middle-Class Parents are Going Broke
In Debt We Trust
Deal with Your Debt: The Right Way to Manage Your Bills and Pay Off What You Owe

ASIN: 141653251X

Book Description

Foreclosures are hitting record highs; Americans are declaring bankruptcy at rates ten times that during the great Depression; more college students drop out because of debts than due to poor grades; reports of debtor suicides proliferate in the media. In other words, it's a great time to be in the banking business.

Maxed Out takes us on a road trip that is sometimes hysterical and often horrifying: from Las Vegas to the Bible Belt, from the backwoods to inner cities, where the world's largest financial giants troll for their next victims. Welcome to a country populated by debt pirates, corporate predators, human credit card billboards, debt evangelists, megamillion-dollar spec homes, and, of course, trillions of dollars of easy credit.

Combining startling facts with even more startling examinations of individuals, institutions, the government, and modern religion, James Scurlock separates the myths (there is "good debt" and "bad debt") from the harsh reality (corporations partner with colleges to target today's youth; credit reports are riddled with errors that will never be fixed; and death, for many of those in trouble, is the only way out).

At a time when the financial industry posts ever-higher profits even as its clients drown in the flood of easy credit, Scurlock exposes very real, potentially disastrous systems and policies that are consuming millions of Americans. Maxed Out takes readers on a wickedly smart and entertaining tour of what one interviewee calls "the last taboo."

Customer Reviews:

Inconsistent and anecdotal.......2007-06-24

To his credit, Mr. Scurlock righly points out that under the current laws, the banking industry targets the poor and uneducated with this country with predatory tactics, with impunity.

On the downside, this book is full of assertions (including statistics)and strongly held opinions, but except for occasionally mentioning an author or book he recommends, the author has NO documentation (formal citations, footnotes, index, etc) for his many assertions. Instead, the book is a rambling litany of anecdotes, which are likely atypical, as he points out that he searches hard to find interviewees to make many of his points.

However, reading this, two important points crystallized in my mind, as far as potential solutions (Scurlock doesn't offer real solutions, he just bemoans reality):

a). Whether it be the litany of books, pieces on television such as PBS, etc. or the frightening statistics such as the massive level of credit card debt in this country(over $9000 per household), or modern economic theory (which believes that credit cards with their long payoff periods cause us to overspend) -- it seems like the LONG TERM debt that credit cards (especially high rate cards) allow is a fundamental problem. Implementing a maximum payoff period of say 12 to 18 months as a law, after some sort of warning period to prepare folks in debt -- could fundamentally alter the landscape (though it would take political courage by congress, so is highly unlikely).

b). Given the dramatic rise in personal debt over the past 25 years, which has largely mirrored the dramatic use of credit cards -- consumer debt might well be THE primary reason for the growing wealth inequality in this country. Bringing back some reasonable level of usary laws, to limit the predatory behavior of banks and short term lending institions, should help curb this massive growth of high interest debt among the poor.

Debt as a Product........2007-05-31

I am 80 years old and yet I have never thought about debt as a product or the way it has been promoted in this country.
I am of the old school and very rarely have ever paid any interest on my credit card accounts or "buying on time". My wife and I have owned our own home ever since we bought our first home in the late 50's with a GI Loan for 4.5%. With a few instances we have never had much debt and then it was for brief periods. We have had home mortgages, but we consider that "good" debt.
We have taught my children about our thoughts on debt and especially credit cards and how insidiously tantalizing they were and are.
We have requested that both our children read our copy of this book as a way of changing the way they also think about debt.

Could be more organized and less snarky.......2007-05-25

Maxed Out is a book accompaniment to the documentary James Scurlock did on the effect credit cards and other easy credit has had on American society. For the most part it's an emotional appeal, organized more by geography than anything else, telling the story of Scurlock's journey across America to speak with anyone destroyed by credit who would speak to him.

There are plenty of sad stories, from suicides to court martials to foreclosures. Scurlock talks to a woman in the South who had nothing but her home. She lives on a government subsidy and takes care of her adult son who is quite mentally impaired. She was targeted by easy credit who arranged a refinance of her house to cover a few thousand dollars in credit card debt. Now, of course, that house is in jeopardy, and the kicker is - they're still being solicited for more credit.

Scurlock interviewed parents of college students who killed themselves, panicking at the balances on the credit cards pushed on them by the industry. One of those parents is still getting threatening calls about those debts from collectors who insist she should "honor [her son's] memory" by paying off the credit cards.

He interviews a wheeler-deeler in the real estate market who is busy building a house of cards on speculation. He talks to a couple of hot shot kids who have built People First Recoveries, a collection agency that prides itself on wringing people dry and yet insists it's doing some good. He talks to Dave Ramsey, the radio personality and author.

Scurlock also discusses the new bankruptcy law Congress just passed, a law that makes it more difficult for the average family to get out from under the staggering pile of credit debt the credit industry waved in front of them like a dream but does nothing to stop the industry from ensnaring any other families in the same debt trap.

Ultimately, Maxed Out's strength lies in its ability to get an emotional reaction out of the reader. It's hard to read the stories of these people's credit enslavement and not get mad. But Scurlock also lets his anger slip into his narrative and becomes sarcastic, snide, or condescending, and this is less appealing. The overall message here is fairly simplistic as well: People, good; Credit industry, bad. It's easy enough to agree to the second half of this equation, so aggressive, immoral, and predatory is this industry we all know too well, but the first half? Well, people aren't black and white, even when they're victims. Scurlock gives his subjects a free pass on any sort of personal responsibility for their problems, and indicts the industry wholesale. That makes for stronger rhetoric, but not an entirely satisfactory explanation. And Scurlock offers few solutions here for this staggering problem, and no in-depth discussion of the ones he does put forth.

This is a good book for the reader who likes to be angry at injustice, but not for the reader who wants an organized argument of America's bad relationship with credit and suggestions for how we individuals can affect change. A flawed effort; let's hope the documentary is better.

Missing a few solutions.........2007-05-24

Scurlock's book, while entertaining, seems to favor Gov. solutions/regulations etc..to help the "victims" of the evil banks, cc lenders. Here's another, and imo better, idea.

DON'T PAY. Run up huge debts & walk away. Guess what folks? Debtors prisions went away along time ago. Only HUGE LOSSES will change lenders' ways. Regulations won't. They are meant to be defeated/worked around, loopholed etc.
One thing works every time. Let 'em bust. When lenders start folding they will quickly adjust their lending practices..history shows us this. Easy lending/credit calamities are NOT NEW. Research what happened in the 20's...or for a more recent example google "Penn Square Bank".

SO, you may ask "If you just walk away what about your credit score?"
The answer? Who cares..Fair Issac is only needed if you're planning on doing what? Yup..taking on DEBT you don't need. Its real simple people..If you cannot AFFORD it then DON'T BUY IT. Save your money until you can ACTUALLY PAY for that bauble you've convinced yourself you need.

Good luck everyone..and for those of you out there losing sleep over debt..quit worrying about it. Change your ph #, throw away the BS collection letters, and just wait. Debt magically ages away..in 7 years its gone..and guess what? Those same stupid banks will give you all the funny money right back. Wash, rinse, repeat :) bye

Important Message, Conveyed in a Compulsively Readable Style.......2007-04-30

This is an important, very readable account of the "debt snowball" now crushing too many. Laden with anecdotes from across the country, "Maxed Out" brings several important messages:

(1) The banks actually dislike responsible customers who pay off their debt in full every month and prefer those who can barely pay any portion of their debt. A "good customer," paradoxically, is one who pays the minimum, incurs late fees, falls behind, and thus allows the bank to jack up the interest rates and fees on the debt.

(2)The easy availability of credit has caused prices to skyrocket for everyone. The two-bedroom condominium is bought not by those with the most savings, but those willing to assume the greatest mortgage (at the most exotic terms.) Because student loans have become ubiquitous, colleges have been able to increase their costs and all but the most fortunate students are now required to incur a debt burden to stay in school.

(3) The Bankruptcy Reform Act has greatly benefitted the financial services industry and disadvantaged other creditors. Given that most bankruptcy filers really lack the ability to pay anything to their creditors, this Act will likely boomerang on the banksters that propounded it.

Along the way, we are treated to compelling, heartbreaking stories of those living on the margin, where a job loss or illness starts the snowball rolling down the hill.

The book is not problem free, however. It is difficult to sympathize with several of these debtors (particularly the Marine who used her military credit card for plastic surgery and a new car.) Additionally, the overbearing political tone is sometimes jarring. This issue is not a Democrat or Republican one (both sides apparently take contributions from the financial services industry) and it should not be presented as such. Otherwise, however, this book is a must-read.

Credit After Bankruptcy: A Step-By-Step Action Plan to Quick and Lasting Recovery after Personal Bankruptcy

Average customer rating:

Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Waste of money
light at the end
Shady Advertising

Credit After Bankruptcy: A Step-By-Step Action Plan to Quick and Lasting Recovery after Personal Bankruptcy
Stephen Snyder
Manufacturer: Bellwether Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Do You Make These 38 Mistakes with Your Credit? How increasing your credit scores will improve your lifestyle
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The New Bankruptcy: Will It Work for You? (2nd edition)

ASIN: 1891945009

Book Description

A step-by-step action plan to quick and lasting recovery after personal bankruptcy. Indexed.

Customer Reviews:

Bankruptcy.......2007-03-22

There is a moderate amount of useful information about life after bankruptcy. Probably half of the information can be found on the internet. However, the author should not have used the bankruptcy information as a cover for preaching his religious beliefs. I felt mislead.

Bankruptcy.......2007-01-12

This is a good book for someone who filed bankruptcy this book has given me a lot of insight on thing

Waste of money.......2006-12-23

You can find all this information on line. There is nothing new here for a post bankruptcy person. Also, he has a RELIGIOUS BENT so be careful.

light at the end.......2006-11-08

I am seeing light at the end of the bankruptcy tunnel

Shady Advertising.......2006-09-05

Had I known about the holy roller content throughout this book (especially in one chapter, but sprinkled throughout), I wouldn't have bought it. I wouldn't have a problem with it at all...except for the fact that such religiously-based content was concealed in the title, description (on the back), & introduction (in the front & back flaps). There was no mention of God, Jesus, Bible, etc. in any of these places. If this author is so keen on using his religious beliefs (inner-mingled with an extremely secular, materialistic topic) to turn a profit...fine. But at least be honest about it. Isn't that one of the tenets of Christianity? If the author is so devoted to his faith, perhaps he shouldn't be shy (shamed?) about shouting from the rooftops that his book is about money and Jesus.

Now...I did give him 2 stars, rather than 1, because there was some valuable information in his book...especially in the first chapter. Heck...had he been up front with the content of his book, I'd probably give him 4-5 stars. I'm not perturbed with the religious stuff being in it. Rather, I feel deceived in not being told the content by the author or publisher.

Pay It Down! : From Debt to Wealth on $10 a Day

Average customer rating:

book full of nothing
Realistic Cut-Backs
Far Too Basic for a Book
Read it again!
Excellent Book.

Pay It Down! : From Debt to Wealth on $10 a Day
Jean Chatzky
Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Make Money, Not Excuses: Wake Up, Take Charge, and Overcome Your Financial Fears Forever
How to Get Out of Debt, Stay Out of Debt, and Live Prosperously
Credit Card Debt:
You Don't Have to Be Rich: Comfort, Happiness, and Financial Security on Your Own Terms
I'm in Debt, Over 40, with No Retirement Savings. HELP!

ASIN: B000FILIM6

Book Description

The national bestseller that can help you create the life of your dreams for only $10 a day, using Jean Chatzky's powerful "debt diet."

Is it really possible to live without credit card debt, bill collectors, whopping interest payments, or anxiety about retirement? Yes it is, and Jean Chatzky, one of America's most beloved money experts, can teach you how to use the debt diet to make that dream a reality.

Millions of Americans watch Chatzky on NBC's Today show, and millions more read her articles in magazines like Money, Time, Life and Travel & Leisure. Unlike some financial gurus, she offers straight talk about the problems real people face in the real world. Chatzky proves that anyone, no matter how debt-ridden or how low on income, can find an extra $10 a day to knock out their debt and build a bright, secure future.

It might be as simple as spending less on your morning coffee or as drastic as trading in your SUV for a more practical car. You'll also learn how to track your spending, consolidate your debts, force credit card companies to give you their best rates, and plan ahead for the inevitable surprise expenses that crop up from time to time.

Customer Reviews:

book full of nothing.......2007-04-10

If I ran a publishing company, my books would be different.

I would give each nonfiction author who has written a first draft of a book a sheet of paper with the following:

1. have more than 10 other famous authors already written widely available books with identical advice? if so you do not have a worthwhile manuscript. try again.

2. if you are saying "my plan works" where is the data to support your conclusion? basic numbers on compliance with your plan over the first month, first 12 months, two years?

3. if you have no data and you are saying the same thing as everyone else, why publish a book that only has a slight twist that differentiates itself from other books?

those 3 questions would stop books like this, leaving more space for the ones with substance.

the bottom line is that the covers of this book are too far apart. often that is said to disparage the book's content. in this case there is no content to criticize.

waste of paper. waste of time. waste of money and this "author" has damaged her reputation by putting this out, judging from reviews here.

Realistic Cut-Backs.......2007-03-31

You can save far more than $10 per day with this book's tips on cutting back that credit card debt and improving your credit store.

Far Too Basic for a Book.......2007-03-29

Get ready, here is the book's "secret": pay your bills and save more money.
Yes, that's it. It is sad that financial journalists can get away with publishing such pithy, obvious advice. If you really are interested in practical ideas to conquer debt and change your life, read Dave Ramsey. This book is far too simple to justify purchasing it. Get it from the library.

Read it again!.......2007-03-03

Anyone who believes that the true nugget of wisdom in this book is the $10/day concept is missing what can truly help your situation: tips for improving your credit score and lowering your APR. Did you know that closing a credit card once you pay it off can hurt your credit score (which has a strong impact on your APR), since it increases your debt/limit ratio? Or that you can negotiate rates with creditors, who hike up your APR hoping that you won't notice and have the discretion of lowering it again? Or that paying late and going over limit are the death knell for debtors? Addressing these three issues, plus agressively moving money from card to card when better balance transfer offers appear (the transfer fees usually pay for themselves in 1-2 months)lowered my credit card payments, while increasing the principal I pay off. That's a ton of interest that I no longer pay...quite a bit more than $10/day.

Excellent Book........2007-01-05

This book was great! It held my attention through the whole thing. She had a lot of good ideas about where to cut back. She was realistic and practical about what needs to be done to get out of debt.

Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt!: Phone Calls to Banks That Saved More Than $43,000 in Interest Charges and Fees

Average customer rating:

Wonderful Book
Real advice that works!
A valuable book from day one
THE CONFIDENCE YOU NEED IS CONTAINED HEREIN...
the best book there is on the topic

Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt!: Phone Calls to Banks That Saved More Than $43,000 in Interest Charges and Fees
Scott Bilker
Manufacturer: Press One Pub.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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How to Settle Your Debts
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How to Be More Credit Card and Debt Smart (Volume 1): Powerful Financial Management Strategies for Saving Money on Your Credit Cards and Debt!

ASIN: 0964840154

Book Description

Learning how to talk your way out of credit card debt is the quickest, easiest, and most efficient way to start saving money!

It's true! You can call your credit card banks to negotiate a better interest rate and have fees waived! However, it may not be as easy as picking up the phone and asking. That's because bank representatives are trained to deter you from pursuing the deals you deserve. Overcoming their tactics can be difficult when you don't know what to expect.

Scott Bilker, author of Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt, and creator of DebtSmart.com, has spent 10+ years making banks compete for his business. Now, he's sharing his personal phone calls to banks that saved more than $43,000 for himself, his family, and friends! These 52 phone calls, out of the hundreds he has made, demonstrate exactly what worked, what didn't, and why. In each call transcript, for anonymity, banks have been renamed as dog breeds and their reps as bugs.:)

In this book you will discover proven negotiation strategies, and build your confidence, while learning how to: (1) get annual fees waived; (2) lower your current interest rates; (3) shop for the best credit card deals; (4) get late-payment, overlimit, and cash-advance fees waived; (5) compare loan options and calculate savings; (6) dispute charges and get all your refunds; (7) negotiate account settlements; and much more!

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Book.......2006-08-31

This book is simply amazing! I had previously used some of the techniques Scott teaches, but other things he tells you to do blew my mind! The things Scott talks about are easy to do AND can save you a TON of money! I would highly recommend the book to anyone with ANY amount of credit card debt, or even if you have NO credit card debt.

Real advice that works!.......2005-08-12

I am in the same field as Scott, and have recommended his book countless times to consumers. With credit card companies raising rates, fees, etc. his advice could not be more timely.

I just interviewed Scott today (8/11/05) on my EverydayWealth Radio program on [...] and he told me how he just got a 10 month old late fee waived! That's practically unheard of.

I can't recommend Scott's book highly enough. You'll easily recoup many times the price of the book if you implement his suggestions.

A valuable book from day one.......2004-05-15

I was shopping for a book that would help me with the credit card debt I have accumulated. I chose this book. It has proven to be very bemeficial to me. It contains a large amount of information your banks don't want you to know. My first night of reading the book, I got up to about page 70 and made my first phone call, with the intent of gaining information about the account and possibly getting a fee reversed. I ended up getting a $50 credit to the account, relatively easily. I cannot praise this book enough! If you need to reduce your credit card debt, this book may very well be your solution.

THE CONFIDENCE YOU NEED IS CONTAINED HEREIN..........2003-12-25

I had the same problem most of you reading this have. But after reading this book from cover to cover, I was awashed with a new vigor and confidence to launch a strategic war of words with the credit card telephone handlers. As you read thru the transcripts of the author's actual calls, picture yourself talking on the phone with the same savvy as he. Then close the book, put up your over charged, over penalized, and over interest rated bill and MAKE CALLS! Show them that you are taking CONTROL of your finances and relish the experience of sticking up for yourself.

the best book there is on the topic.......2003-09-12

I unexpectedly run into high debt. So far, I just got this book 2 days ago. I made three phone calls, saved $85 dollars fee for a credit card and about $3,000 in interest charges on one credit card. And this is just the beginning. Extremely helpful book. I honestly recommend it to people like myself because there is always a solution and this book gives me hope

Your Credit Score: How to Fix, Improve, and Protect the 3-Digit Number that Shapes Your Financial Future (2nd Edition)

Average customer rating:

Your Credit Score: How to Fix, Improve, and Protect ...
Wonderful Book
Informative, but redundant
Should be required reading before filling out your first application...
A bit weak

Your Credit Score: How to Fix, Improve, and Protect the 3-Digit Number that Shapes Your Financial Future (2nd Edition)
Liz Pulliam Weston
Manufacturer: FT Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Deal with Your Debt: The Right Way to Manage Your Bills and Pay Off What You Owe
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From Credit Repair to Credit Millionaire

ASIN: 0132254581

Customer Reviews:

Your Credit Score: How to Fix, Improve, and Protect ..........2007-06-06

This book is written in the straight-forward, easy to read style Liz uses in her weekly columns for MSN Money. It gives a lot of basic information as well as "how to's." I definitely recommend this book for those who want to improve their score by either fixing it or protecting it.

Wonderful Book.......2007-05-21

When I bought this book, I was very skeptical. It was actually a very smooth, easy read and was very insightful. I reccommend this to anyone who is looking to start fresh with their credit.

Informative, but redundant.......2007-05-12

This Book will give you all the information you need to get the best credit score you can, and if you will follow the book's advice, most likely it will work.
However, the information given in the book could be found on any credit monitoring web-site for free with more accuracy to your situation.
It's nice to have the book at home, but not necessary. Take it only if you refuse to read the advice you get at the different credit report websites

Should be required reading before filling out your first application..........2007-02-12

It's become pretty common lately to hear news stories about your "credit score." But it's one of those things that is not well-understood, nor are the factors that feed into it. This book cuts through all the confusion with clear explanations and great advice... Your Credit Score: How to Fix, Improve, and Protect the 3-Digit Number that Shapes Your Financial Future (2nd Edition) by Liz Pulliam Weston. A little knowledge can save you a ton of money and grief...

Contents: Why Your Credit Score Matters; How Credit Scoring Works; VantageScore - A Revolution or Just More of the Same?; Improving Your Score - The Right Way; Credit Scoring Myths; Coping with a Credit Crisis; Rebuilding Your Score After a Credit Disaster; Identity Theft and Your Credit; Emergency! Fixing Your Credit Score Fast; Insurance and Your Credit Score; Keeping Your Score Healthy; Index

Like it or not, credit bureaus have a large influence on what you pay for loans (and increasingly, insurance). Weston starts by explaining how the whole credit rating concept evolved, as well as the significant players in the game. She also explains how that credit score is used by banks and lenders to predict the likelihood of getting paid back. The lower your score, the higher the probability of payment issues, and the higher the interest rate will be. The book becomes *really* valuable when you start understanding the many myths behind credit scoring. For instance, conventional wisdom says it's a good thing to close out credit card accounts you're not using any longer, thereby improving your credit score. In reality, that action will usually hurt your score instead. Or another example... It's a good idea to have your credit company lower your limit to improve your score. Wrong! Part of the calculation of credit scoring is the ratio of used to available credit amounts. If you lower your credit limit, that ratio goes up (provided you didn't pay down your balance), and your score goes down. It's practical information such as this that makes the book so valuable and worthwhile. Oh, and you wonder why your insurance rates are higher than your neighbors, all things appearing equal? More and more insurance companies are following the controversial practice of charging higher premiums to people with lower scores. Yet another reason to be on guard.

Ideally, you don't run up credit charges and you pay cash for everything. Practically, society is geared towards being able to categorize people based on their credit history. You can use this book to position yourself well for credit expectations without having to go against your principles if you don't want to become caught up in the credit craze. This book should be required reading before getting your first credit card or loan...

A bit weak.......2007-01-18

While I do think that Ms. Pulliam Weston knows her stuff, I don't think she covered the things I need to know in enough depth, and some of my most burning questinos were not addressed at all.

She speaks mainly to people who have somewhat stable finances and are capable of following her suggestions. What do you do if you need to REALLY repair a VERY bad score? The scores she considers to be "bad" are in the mid 500s or above. She assumes that you probably want to tweak your credit a little and have a higher credit rating already, for the most part. She only briefly addresses the concerns of those of us who really have credit problems.

I'm giving this book a 3 for those reasons.

Average customer rating:

Buy it and Save $$$
Great book
Excellent! Very Informative
Low on Substance
This is the best resource currenty available ...

How to Settle Your Debts
norman H. Perlmutter
Manufacturer: Southern Mountains Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt!: Phone Calls to Banks That Saved More Than $43,000 in Interest Charges and Fees
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Solve Your Money Troubles: Get Debt Collectors Off Your Back & Regain Financial Freedom (11 th edition)
Credit Repair: What the Credit Industry Doesn't Want You to Know

ASIN: 0972396322

Book Description

HOW TO SETTLE YOUR DEBTS, by Norman H. Perlmutter, CPA, is the book that everyone needs to prevent economic meltdown. It's the essential, up-to-date, comprehensive and gutsy survival guide to meet this ever growing serious problem of financial ruin that faces so many of us.

In a step-by-step format it guides individuals, families and businesses through a process that will end debt and reverse insolvency without filing bankruptcy. Even if you're on the brink of financial ruin, with this book you can regain financial health and get a fresh start without committing "financial suicide".

HOW TO SETTLE YOUR DEBTS provides legitimate workable solutions to repair financial chaos. It's written in a conversational style and organized in an outline format that promotes understanding and ease of reading for the average person. You will learn in no uncertain terms how to climb out of the hole you are in and get your financial life under control without causing irreparable damage to your future in the process.

The author is a practicing CPA and Financial Advisor who formerly owned a Debt Collection Agency. He understands the tactics of the conniving moneylenders and their debt collector enforcers and all the other scam artists who are out there waiting to rip you off. He knows how to deal with these people and how to stop them from harassing you and from ruining your credit and your reputation. Furthermore and most important, with this book he will teach you how to take control of your financial life and get out of the mess you are in.

HOW TO SETTLE YOUR DEBTS is for all those individuals, families and businesses whose debts grow deeper by the day and whose lives are being adversely affected by them. Here's a summary of how the book will help you deal with your problems with debt:

• It will teach you the basics - what you're up against, who the predators are, how to recognize and avoid their debt traps, the fundamentals of debt, the risks you take when you don't pay, and what they can and cannot do to collect from you.

• It will help you understand your problem - by following the steps outlined you will be able to expose, examine and evaluate your dilemma with debt, how it's affecting your life and the options you have to deal with it.

• You will learn to know your enemy - what makes creditors and bill collectors tick, what motivates them, what their weaknesses are, how you can exploit them and how they are vulnerable to attack.

• It will show you how to keep the wolves at bay - by creating doubt as to the validity and the collectability of your debts and by using "Dirty Tricks" and Counter Attack Techniques to frustrate and discourage creditors and bill collectors.

• It will teach you about your rights and how to take advantage of them - federal and state laws enacted to protect you from abuse and to punish bill collectors who violate them.

• You will learn how to negotiate a debt settlement plan - using basic negotiating skills and built in leverage to set up an advantageous arrangement with your creditors to workout and settle your debts.

• How to use the "Golden Rules of Debtsmenship" - to protect your assets and your privacy and to safeguard credit, and where necessary, how to repair credit and rebuild it.

• How to deal with lawyers - to negotiate debt settlements, contest lawsuits and protect your assets from judgment levies.

• How to settle secured debts and tax debts - by recognizing and seizing upon opportunities to settle or otherwise favorably resolve these debts that creditors have more power to collect.

• How to settle business debts - by understanding the differences that must be considered when negotiating workouts and settlements with business creditors.

• Where to get help if you need it - and how to watch out for all the scam artists who are out there waiting to take advantage of you.

• It's a reference manual as well as a guide - with its outline format and comprehensive index the book can be used to easily and quickly obtain information on any of the many subjects covered relating to debt and debt relief.

HOW TO SETTLE YOUR DEBTS ~ Without Committing Financial Suicide ~ shows you how to end debt and reverse insolvency without resorting to the self-defeating and demeaning ordeal of filing bankruptcy. It provides you with all the knowledge, the techniques and insight required to successfully accomplish this.

Customer Reviews:

Buy it and Save $$$.......2006-11-16

Using the information contained in the book, especially to have Patience and Persistence, I have settled 2 credit card debts, and saved $16,000 from what Credit Card #1 and Credit Card #2 were demanding. They gave in before I wore out. Having gone through this, I now feel extremely confident on settling the remaining debt for less then the current balance. Using the advice contained in Norman's book WILL work as long as don't give in until you feel you have reached a fair settlement.

Great book.......2006-04-17

Gives you the law and practicalities. After reading this book I wrote to one lender and one collection agency and (5 months later) haven't heard from them again.

Excellent! Very Informative .......2006-02-10

This book was great! I began reading the book with much debt and minimal knowledge of how to become victorious in the world of debt and credit. This book was written in lay terms, so it was very easy to understand. Included in the book were sample letters and laws that helped me to know my rights as a consumer.

As I was reading this book, I began to apply much of what was written and I immediately began to gain control over my finances. I was no longer going to fall prey to credit or be victim to the collector. I now have a budget, live beneath my means, have devised a plan to remain out of debt and am on my way to rebuilding my credit. I would recommend this book to any and everyone. It was absolutely outstanding!

Low on Substance.......2006-01-01

I got this book because of the outstanding reviews it already had. In hindsight, I suspect not all of them are legitimate reviews. It's difficult to imagine anyone could read the advice in this book, put it to use, and actually gain significant benefit. Though the book's description sounds very promising, I found that it didn't deliver the information it promised. Many of the scenarios in the book are unrealistic and make unhelpful assumptions. Over and over again the author directs the reader to research topics elsewhere without providing even basic information. For example: "Credit reports are difficult to read and even more difficult to understand. There are some excellent books available to help you with this." While this book is not specifically about dealing with your credit report, it seems that a bit more information about credit reports would have been provided.

Most of the advice is common sense (live within your means) or biased against any course of action other than settling with creditors. The author writes from the viewpoint that bankruptcy is the worst thing you could possibly do, but never backs up that claim with any information. I was left with the impression that the author himself isn't really sure what effect bankruptcy has.

In fact, the author's pervasive use of generalities and unrealistic suggestions made me think he doesn't actually know that much about credit (despite his alleged qualifications). For example, he repeatedly suggests bargaining with your creditors that you will pay part of your debt if they remove negative information they have already reported to the credit bureaus. But the author seems oblivious to the fact that the credit bureaus have specific rules against creditors doing this. Numerous such suggestions ruin the author's credibility.

At best, this book might be helpful as motivation to action for someone who lives behind his or her means. But if your debts are the result of unfortunate and unavoidable events in your life, and you are ready to take decisive action to get your debt under control and your credit back on track, you will find this book preachy and unhelpful.

This is the best resource currenty available ..........2005-11-05

... for learning how to settle unsecured debt such as credit card debt. It is comprehesive and yet concise. There is no BS or fluff and it touches on every area of the landscape you need to be aware of when trying to settle unsecured debt on your own. Even though there is one far more powerful solution to settling credit card debt that is not discussed in this or any other book that I have read on this subject, I still gave the book five stars because all of the information contained in it is essential to know and is very well presented. As such, this book is the ideal starting point for learning about how the business of debt and collection works and how to deal with it. I highly recommended it.

Do You Make These 38 Mistakes with Your Credit? How increasing your credit scores will improve your lifestyle

Average customer rating:

Excellent book
Shame on you
Good Reminders - Not Mindblowing!
to the point
Very easy read packed full of useful information

Do You Make These 38 Mistakes with Your Credit? How increasing your credit scores will improve your lifestyle
Stephen Snyder
Manufacturer: Bellwether
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Credit Scores, Credit Cards: How Consumer Finance Works: How to Avoid Mistakes and How to Manage Your Accounts Well
Credit Repair: What the Credit Industry Doesn't Want You to Know

ASIN: 1891945033
Release Date: 2004-04-01

Book Description

Your credit scores are the most vital tools you have to unlock your financial power. Having lower credit scores means that you will pay higher interest rates for your car loan, home mortgage, and credit cards. Low credit scores could cause you to be turned down for credit, be denied insurance, or in some states even be charged more for your utilities.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book.......2006-03-01

This book is well put together and contains much important and mostly unknown information to help increase your credit scores. These mistakes are often made and the book is written in a simple to understand manner. Well worth the money.

Shame on you.......2005-10-08

This book is a scam. Not even a good essay or article, the information provided by Snyder could have been written on one page...

Good Reminders - Not Mindblowing!.......2005-09-26

I went to Stephen Snyder's Credit After Bankruptcy seminar and learned a boatload of stuff I didn't know about credit and FICO scores. This book is an excellent set of reminders of what NOT to do after being discharged from bankruptcy or if you have credit problems in general. Is it epic? No, not really. But I consider it like having my own "38 commandments of credit" and a worthwhile crib sheet of the do's and don't's.

to the point.......2005-07-25

This book is straight forward and to-the-point. I know a lot about credit scoring (from Stephen's first book), and yet I still learned at least a few new things that are very valuable to me regarding my own credit. I gave 4 out of 5 stars only because I would have liked a further, more detailed, explanation of certain things (these things won't be too difficult to find out via the web).

Very easy read packed full of useful information.......2005-05-17

Mr. Snyder takes on the bewildering topic of FICO credit scores and boils it down into a very easy to read, and more importantly, useful book. One can read this book in a lunch hour and come away with a new understanding of credit scoring. I knew that credit scores where important, but I did not know how pervasive they had become in our lives. Did you know that the insurance industry is now checking credit scores to set rates? So, if you have low credit scores your insurance bill is higher than someone with higher scores for the exact same insurance! I learned quite a few things that I've been doing that are killing my credit scores. These are mistakes that are easy to fix or avoid. Thank you Mr. Snyder for this easy to understand and informative guide. This is definitely a 5 star book.

The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness

Average customer rating:

Another great book by Dave
Great advice.
I liked his 1st book better, but this one is still a great book! Another good book is...
Dave Ramsey total money makeover
Total Money Makeover

The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
Dave Ramsey
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Budgeting & Money Management | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0785263268

Book Description

Respected financial expert Dave Ramsey offers a comprehensive plan for getting out of debt and achieving financial health. Against a playful backdrop of fitness terminology, Dave gives solid, hard-hitting advice needed to make your goals a reality. Filled with both the "hope" and the "how-to," The Total Money Makeover includes:

Useful worksheets and forms
Readable and informative charts and graphs
The four factors that keep people from getting in shape financially
Photos and amazing stories from people who have succeeded following The Total Money Makeover plan

The Total Money Makeover is a necessity for everyone in need of a financial makeover. Readers will learn to live by the The Total Money Makeover motto: "If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else."

Customer Reviews:

Another great book by Dave.......2007-06-27

I've always enjoyed reading Dave Ramsey books. I like this one better than his Financial Peace one. I also agree with M. Lahatte about that book at www.financial-planning-book.com is really good! I'd recommend it as well! You can never have too much help when it comes to personal finance or becoming debt free!

Great advice........2007-06-27

Dave Ramsey provides excellent information in a step-by-step guide to clearing up debt and building financial wealth. The book helped me get on the road to financial freedom.

I liked his 1st book better, but this one is still a great book! Another good book is..........2007-06-21

I liked his 1st book better, but this one is still a great book! Another great book that helped me tremendously was the one at www.financial-planning-book.com. I wish amazon sold the book from there. It was called Best Financial Planning Book and was the absolute best book on financial planning that I've ever read. Hope that helps someone.

Dave Ramsey total money makeover.......2007-06-13

The Dave Ramsey book is phenominal however my only disappointment is that i purchased this item on May 3, 2007 and two weeks later my book is falling apart!! I have never purchased a hard cover book and have it come unglued and fall apart like this. So i feel like i wasted my money, but overall it is a very good book.

Total Money Makeover.......2007-06-10

This book is sold with the Financial Peace University (13 week study group) program. But I just bought it because I'm listening to his daily podcasts. I've learned more about money in the last 3 months than in my whole life combined. It's so worth the $$$. The book will change your entire attitude and thoughts about money. He's super funny too!

The Overspent American: Why We Want What We Don't Need

Average customer rating:

Interesting book, with a few flaws.
Good book . . . but it left me hungry
The Overspent American: Why We Want What We Don't Need
Explores the psychology of spending
Good Pop-Econ

The Overspent American: Why We Want What We Don't Need
Juliet B. Schor
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Consumer Behavior | Marketing & Sales | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0060977582

Amazon.com

If getting and spending define our lives, then Juliet Schor now has us covered. Six years ago, her book The Overworked American scrutinized the getting part. It focused public attention on the disappearance of leisure and the harmful effects thereof on families and society. It sparked a debate over whether Americans really work as much as we proudly claim. (If so, how to explain the audience for Monday Night Football?) Nevertheless, Schor can take credit for helping push Congress into passing the Family Leave Act in 1993.

Now she is back with a critique of our spending. Schor notes that, despite rising wealth and incomes, Americans do not feel any better off. In fact, we tell pollsters we do not have enough money to buy everything we need. And we are almost as likely to say so if we make $85,000 a year as we are if we make $35,000. Schor believes that "keeping up with the Joneses" is no longer enough for today's media-savvy office workers. We set our sights on the lifestyles of those higher up the organizational chart. We seek to emulate characters on TV. For teenagers, "enough" is the idle splendor that hardly exists outside of what MTV un-ironically calls The Real World. Schor offers an original and provocative analysis of why many Americans feel driven and unhappy despite our success. As an alternative, she profiles several "downshifters" who've taken up voluntary simplicity in search of a more satisfying way of life. No policy solutions suggest themselves this time, only a change of heart. --Barry Mitzman

Book Description

The Overspent American explores why so many of us feel materially dissatisfied, why we work staggeringly long hours and yet walk around with ever-present mental "wish lists" of things to buy or get, and why Americans save less than virtually anyone in the world. Unlike many experts, Harvard economist Juliet B. Schor does not blame consumers' lack of self-discipline. Nor does she blame advertisers. Instead she analyzes the crisis of the American consumer in a culture where spending has become the ultimate social art.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting book, with a few flaws........2007-05-15

This is a very well researched book and has many interesting ideas on how to spend less and worry less about things we don't really "need" but really "want." My only concerns were in the section about "downshifters" - people who work less and make less, but are happier. The book notes that most people who "downshift" were only making $30,000 a year or so to start with - not a lot of room to maneuver downward. I was interested more in those who made much more but kept spending more, which she also alludes to. Still, a very interesting book, with some intriguing ideas about how to control expenditures.

Good book . . . but it left me hungry.......2006-12-17

I thought this was a very good book, but I guess I was expecting more from the author. Having just read Fast Food Nation and then getting this book right after, the layout and format was similar but what Eric Schlosser did, fell very short in Juliet B. Schor's book.

I wanted so much more but as each chapter came to an end, I felt very let down. I wanted to point my finger at the big corporations and say "see what you did" but I found myself finding fault more with the author than the corporations. I really wanted to read a well researched book on this topic so now I find myself reading the books she cited.

They were a few good parts of the book where the author made reference to the sitcom Friends and how we as americans making $40,000 to $ 60,000 a year are trying to keep up with the Jonese making 1 million per episode. Also that the Jonese are no longer our next door neighbors but with the expanse of the internet and TV our Jones are actors, singers and record producers. I found this to be so true and wanted more, but time and time again her argument ended right there.

It was here that the author's solution would then be picked up, and what is her solution you may ask? (scratching your head) communal living. I found this advantageous because I acutally expected the author to skirt the issue. Juliet B. Schor's example, why have every house buy a lawn mower when one house can and the neighborhood could share it. I found so many arguments to refute this (I live in New York, was one) that I felt the book did not give the topic the right amount of justice. So I'm still searching . . .

The Overspent American: Why We Want What We Don't Need.......2006-11-15

Outstanding, the book is very well written and documented. Juliet B. Schor gives very cogent anecdotes in the book concerning consumerism. As a matter of fact, being in the process of "upgrading" the appliances in the house for no apparent reason, the book totally redirected my excesses.

A must read for every hedonist, capitalistic American.

Explores the psychology of spending.......2006-07-03

To change behavior, it helps to understand behavior. This book does a great job exploring the psychology behind why people spend so much money.

Some of the topics it covers include
-the strange need to keep up with "the Joneses"
-how some material goods force you to spend more to maintain and upkeep them (i.e., auto, large house)
-how kids are influenced by peers and advertisements at an early age and subsequently pressure parents to buy stuff
-how certain professions lead you to spend more on clothes and cars in order to succeed in that profession
-the correlation between increased television watching and increased spending
-the willingness of people to spend significantly more for certain brand name items (purses, lipsticks, shoes) that provide no more quality than generic items

The book also gives solid advice about how to break the overspending habit and provides interesting examples of people who have "downshifted" their lives.

Once you understand the etiologies of your thoughts and desires, you are better able to control and redirect them. For anyone who wants to decrease or have more control over their spending behavior, this is a great book for them. Even if you consider yourself frugal already, this is still a very interesting book.

It is very concise at 170 pages (the rest is references) so it doesn't get boring or repetitive. I think it is more effective than the similar book Affluenza.

Good Pop-Econ.......2006-05-13

Great primer on consumer behavior and its potential causes, however it appears much less solid in terms of quantitative data than its' predecessor, The Overworked American. While most will find data analysis unappealing as this is a popular economics book rather than something fit for the Journal of Political Economy, most of the conclusions drawn in this book seem unfounded and without empirical backing.
To give credit where credit is due, it's thought-provoking and forces one to look closer at one's own spending patterns and their causes, which makes it a great book for the average American consumer. I would highly recommend this as guided reading for young adults as part of their financial education, in the late high school years.
What I would have loved to see in this book is a deeper analysis of socioeconomic phenomena that have to deal with consumer behaviour. Most of the discussion takes more of a descriptive approach to the topic, and although the author does suggest some possible explanations and alternative solutions to "problems", in my opinion she fails to sufficiently prove these phenomena are, in fact, problems that need to be mitigated. The tone of the book suggests that the consumer is hardly to blame for his/her own overspending, as there are other, more powerful forces at work. What's lacking is a chapter adressing the underlying forces of consumer behaviour on an individual's level and how one could take a more assertive, active approach to participating in the market and understanding one's own buying power.

Books:

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