Dealing with lousy credit

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Special report: Making bad credit good again

Dealing with lousy credit
By Bankrate.com

A mailbox littered with late notices and credit card bills is discouraging. Ignoring the situation costs money, not to mention it wrecks your credit. Here's how to tackle the problems now.

..............................................................................

First, tune in ...
Face your credit demons
	Before you can banish your debts, you need to develop a strategy. We've got one -- the "payment push" plan. It works. PLUS: "Payment push" worksheet

Then, dust the cobwebs ...
Sweep away the super-high rates
	It takes discipline and patience to clear out the high interest rates you're being charged.

7 steps to fixing your credit report
	Here's how to order your credit reports and fix any mistakes or inaccuracies.

Finally, polish and buff your credit ...
Blast away at high-interest credit cards
	Strategies for getting back into the good graces of your credit card issuer.

Deal with that debt collector today
	The law restricts how much they can harass you. PLUS: When the collection agency is wrong

	-- Posted: April 5, 2002

See Also

•	8 ways to consolidate debt
•	Credit repair -- can you buy it?
•	5 steps to improve your credit
•	More credit card stories

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BASICS SERIES

Credit Card Basics

Don't get trapped by card debt. Learn to use it wisely.

•	How to find the best card
•	Check your credit report
•	Finance charges explained
•	How to ask for a lower rate

•	Improve credit with a card
•	How to repair your credit


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