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:
Where does personal responsibility fit in?.......2007-10-12
At first I liked this book very much. Scurlock has a wicked sense of humor and has done his research. However, I got bogged down about 2/3rds of the way through, because he went over the top about the predatory credit card companies, banks and whatnot and seemed to give all of his interviewees an "out" for their bad behavior!
I lost faith completely in one of the last chapters (warning: spoiler) when the person who made a living from recycling was wondering why her daughter kept sticking her with cell phone and car payments bills, and her son, who graduated from MIT, still lived at home and charged things to her instead of getting out and paying his own way.
Scurlock soothed the mom by saying this is American and this is the American way and credit is everywhere and it is not your nor your kids' fault. Huh? What about tough love? How about cutting off the financial spigot instead of continuing to be a patsy?
There's another chapter about a triple murderer who blamed easy credit for his whole family being under and how he was a victim too (besides being a murderer). Lack of money was just a symptom IMO - this was all about rage and the poor impulse control, to use psychiatric terms.
I'm glad I got this book for free from the library so I wasn't "taken advantage of" by a credit card company.
Nothing new here........2007-10-06
Yes, the financial industry is ripping people off, sometimes getting away with behavior that is even criminal (the book has a story of a mentally challenged mother and son who are losing their house to CitiFinancial). Yes, people are living irresponsibly and are goaded into it by modern society. The book, however, while presenting a list of complaints and anecdotal stories, meanders and never makes a coherent case beyond the two listed above and says really nothing about what can be done. Scurlock forecasts doom for us, but has no idea how to forestall it.
The advice of one reviewer to "just not pay" is not valid. Your credit score is now used in a number of ways that have nothing to do with needing credit -- including judging fitness for employment and determining cost of insurance, including auto insurance. Modern society today, unfortunately, can penalize you for NOT using credit (and therefore having an unacceptable available credit to debt ratio), as well as punish you for using credit irresponsibly.
A fascinating read flawed by an incomplete analysis of root causes and possible solutions.......2007-09-15
I learned about "Maxed Out" as a regular listener of Dave Ramsey (the famous talk radio anti-debt crusader hailing from Nashville, TN). Scurlock asked Ramsey to participate in both his movie and book. I have a tremendous interest in financial psychology so I was very curious if Scurlock could pinpoint the root causes of the current debt crisis while accurately assessing the efforts of consumer advocates like Dave Ramsey.
The author touches on a number of topics related to the world of predatory lending. He includes an entertaining history of BankAmericard (now Visa), MasterCharge (now MasterCard), CitiBank/CitiFinancial, and several other companies. He presents numerous heartbreaking stories of individuals who, by their own admissions, failed to plan for disaster and made poor financial choices that resulted in devastating outcomes (including jail terms and suicides). He provides an inside look at the sleazy world of collection agencies. He also shares the opinions of academics and provides occasional quotes from our esteemed politicians in Washington (who naturally reveal themselves as power-hungry, financially clueless morons). Scurlock also makes a few suggestions to address the crisis.
Scurlock has a reporter's instinct. He is very observant and articulates his findings in a lively way. In my opinion, he demonstrates more maturity, more humility, and less emotion when discussing this topic when compared to many other authors (Tamara Draut, Anya Kamenetz, and Barbara Ehrenreich come to mind). Occasionally, he injects his quirky humor, adding to the entertainment value.
Scurlock rails against the "obscene profits" made by banks when pushing "debt products." He makes it sound like that's all banks do. Banks have always pushed debt products for profit. This isn't exactly a revelation. But Scurlock failed to mention that banks also provide essential services such as check cashing/clearing and ready access to our cash via numerous ATMs, for example. These taken-for-granted services are very important benefits to customers (and expensive to administer). Banks help facilitate our day-to-day financial lives. I'm sure my own bank is interested in extracting more profit from me, but my personal banker has never tackled me, put a gun to my head, and demanded I sign loan papers at some usurious interest rate. Banks sell "debt products" for the very simple reason that we demand them!
The issue of personal responsibility is mentioned by the author numerous times but it is not fully explored. In his many anecdotal accounts, dysfunctional behavior resulted in outcomes that were preventable. Even when job losses and health issues were blamed for causing bankruptcies, I noticed that victims spent large sums of money on unnecessary material goods for years, but failed to set aside even a small emergency fund. Their woes were not due to a lack of intelligence, income, or even a debilitating health problem but rather a stubborn denial of reality coupled with poor planning.
For whatever reason, some people choose to live on the edge, using credit cards as a substitute for a cash emergency fund. There's no cushion to mitigate a negative life event--no margin for error. Every spare dollar is consumed, and then some. An emergency fund is certainly not a panacea, but it is a proven way to reduce risk. The subject of risk is something Scurlock only skirts around but does not address directly. The reason Dave Ramsey's message rings true with many listeners is that debt is seen for what it is: risk. If you have debt, you have risk (yes, even if it's mortgage debt). If you don't have debt, your risk is dramatically reduced. Less risk results in more choices and more freedom. It's not a difficult concept to understand.
Scurlock gets bogged down with the negative aspects of financial ruin, but he unfortunately does not provide a complete picture of consumer behavior. For example, a large percentage of Americans religiously pay off their credit cards monthly, routinely rip up new credit card offers, and actively avoid unnecessary fees. Why do these Americans act so differently compared to those that "take the bait" on the road to financial ruin? I know many ordinary people who live below their means, have an emergency fund, buy adequate insurance, drive older cars, have significant home equity, and invest in their retirement plans. They do actually exist, and at almost every economic level. They're all around us, and their numbers are growing every day. To my amazement, the author never investigates the traits of such people (though authors Thomas Stanley and William Danko do in their book "The Millionaire Next Door"). The reason this is important is that these are the habits proven to lead to financial success. Even while admitting that bad behavior can sink some people, Scurlock never investigates how the transformation of financial habits can resolve the current crisis and prevent a reoccurrence.
The phrase "something isn't quite right" appears repeatedly in the book, as if to imply the current debt crisis came out of nowhere. It didn't. In the past decade, I've noticed a distinct shift in financial behavior from defensive to reckless. I have seen lower income families live like the middle class through easy credit. I have seen acquaintances willingly secure huge mortgage loans for homes that they knew they couldn't possibly service. I have watched in horror as intelligent friends went bankrupt after repeatedly making poor life and financial choices, destroying their personal relationships and the psyches of their children. I have seen unprepared borrowers victimized by overzealous mortgage bankers who they viewed as their "best buddies." I have seen a mother bail out her unemployed 19-year old son, who obtained a credit card to buy "cool stuff" and then defaulted. After all, she didn't want him to suffer a hit to his "precious" FICO score. After the debt was settled, he started running up charges again. Yes, indeed, something isn't quite right.
So who is to blame for all this carnage? Well, everyone as it turns out. First of all, financial education is nearly non-existent in our public schools, so our children are clueless about money management (but at least they can learn a vital life skill like the French language!). Secondly, many parents refuse to educate themselves about finance, so they are incapable of passing along important lessons to their children. Parents are also notorious for enabling the poor behavior of their children and often turning their children into helpless adults. Then we have the financial services industry, which provides easy credit to every borrower possible (and sometimes their pets), lending standards be damned. Finally, federal and state governments punish the middle class with hidden fees and stealth taxes (e.g. the Alternative Minimum Tax), which further erode a household's ability to save and invest.
Borrowers, of course, shoulder most of the blame because they drive the demand for credit. Despite the enormous amount of financial information available to them from multiple sources--many free--borrowers live in a perpetual state of denial, refusing to educate themselves. They don't take defensive measures to protect themselves (i.e., living below their means, establishing emergency savings, securing healthcare, auto, home, and life insurance, etc.). They refuse to create and follow even a simple budget. They refuse to control their spending. They create the circumstances of their own financial ruin. Scurlock certainly describes these behaviors along with the self-flagellation on the part of the "victims," but leaves it at that. He acknowledges that bad behavior often results in disaster, but then proposes solutions that do not address the behavior itself.
This brings me around to Dave Ramsey again. He is a hero to a large number of people who are determined to resolve their problems and achieve total debt-freedom (including the mortgage). He teaches self-control, personal responsibility, risk management, and an easy-to-implement plan to reach financial independence. He teaches his audience not to ask "how can I borrow my way out of this?" but instead "how can I solve my problems without credit?" He makes an exception for mortgage loans, but even then he teaches his listeners to secure a reasonable loan with conventional terms. He prefers his listeners confront their problems, shed feelings of victimization, and turn the tables on the financial services industry. It's a message that plays very well. I felt Scurlock did not adequately acknowledge the importance of this vital movement in the book.
Although it's clear some fraudulent subprime lending occurred in the past few years, nearly all cases were fully disclosed, legal transactions. Even though Scurlock would like government to step in and clean up the industry, he apparently forgot that government helped create this mess in the first place by actively encouraging banks to loosen standards to lend money to borrowers considered very risky by historical standards. The results were predictable. Some borrowers knowingly took the proverbial rope handed to them and promptly hanged themselves. So, basically, the government created the problem and now many are asking the government to fix it.
What happened to people learning to control their own lives and financial futures without government intervention? We can demand punitive regulation of the financial services industry all day long, but this will not solve the problem (incidentally, banking is among the most regulated of all industries which Scurlock mentions, to his credit). The true root cause of the crisis is bad behavior on the part of consumers. The government cannot legislate good behavior. That is our responsibility. It's time Americans openly admit that we are more the victims of our own lofty sense of entitlement and ignorance rather than the tactics of the financial services industry. It is worth noting that first-generation millionaires never count on the government to dictate their destinies (as documented in "The Millionaire Next Door"). The author missed a golden opportunity to balance his research with this well-established information.
Despite the deficiencies I noted above, this is a book worth reading. Scurlock's style and investigative abilities are unique and much can be learned from reading his analysis. I feel that some reviewers are unfair to Scurlock, accusing him of being overly political. I don't feel this is the case at all. While I resist government intervention to solve problems that we can easily resolve ourselves, the root causes and results of our financial decisions are complex and must be fully explored and understood. "Maxed Out" provides an excellent starting point for such a discussion.
Informative.......2007-09-08
Having seen the dvd, this is one of the few times that I actually liked a dvd more than the book. Both were informative (the book actually goes into more depth of the subject of finance companies, payday loans, predatory lending, pawnshops, and credit cards), but I found it dryer and not as interesting. It's hard to feel as involved without a face being attached to the subject. Scurlock does write with wit on a subject that might otherwise be boring. There is some very important information regarding this subject that anyone applying for credit needs to know.
Interesting but..........2007-07-09
Like Michael Moore and Morgan Spurlock, James Scurlock is a consumer advocate with a populist bent and a tendency for hyperbole. I had no doubt reading this book (and watching the more restrained DVD) that Scurlock knows his stuff -- his research is considerable and he has a background in business. The gap between the rich and poor has been well documented elsewhere, so some of his foundational arguments aren't exactly seminal. It does, however, always merit a mention that business has been deregulated in alarming ways, none of them helpful to anyone but profiteers. Anyone wishing to examine the moral health of a country would need to consider unethical business practices as a corrosive effect. It is difficult to see the value of free markets and the "invisible hand" when examing in the "selling money for profit" industry.
Unfortunately, in illustrating his concerns with real people, Scurlock pulls out every trick in the bleeding heart bag. I lost count of the number of people he writes about who had family members commit suicide due to the stress and shame of financial ruin (and by extension, by the unethical practices of the debt industry.) I have a very hard time believing that money stresses are the sole motivator in suicide -- if that were the case, the global population problem would be over during one lean period. The book works when Scurlock focuses on facts; when he resorts to personal stories it starts to seem manipulative. He glosses over the biggest counterargument -- that even the "poor" in these stories are living far better than people did in the 1920s, an era Scurlock fears we are reproducing.
As much as I despise simplistic "personal responsibility" arguments, I'm afraid Scurlock resorts to similar reductionism. A lot of the debt illustrated in this book is frivolous and rooted in materialism. It is sad that people's lives are ruined over debt... but who in their right mind buys a Lexus or Escalade when they're making a median income? That isn't a business problem, it's a common sense problem.
We are facing many financial problems in this country -- one need only look at the military and Katrina relief effort to see two glaring examples. "Maxed Out" is interesting when it focuses on the bigger picture, but the personal financial stories don't gel well with the dire feeling of those larger issues.
Customer Reviews:
Misleading & Essentially Useless.......2006-03-19
This is a poor book. As soon as you read something like "instant credit repair" you should immediately begin looking elsewhere.
I will be honest with you, credit repair is neither instant (it takes time), nor easy. It is very difficult to do, especially with the bogus information given in this book.
The author gives the popular, _urban legend_ information about how to reapir your credit by disputing with Credit Reporting Agencies, Collection Agencies, and Original Creditors.
But to be honest, after I had severely damaged my credit back in '00, I tried these methods contained in this book ... to little avail. In some instances, it hurt my credit and made things more difficult. The collection agencies and credit reporting agencies know all these tricks ... every novice in the work bought one of these books and tried in on them.
The approach by all these authors is highly ineffective and in many cases, will merely alert the collection agencies and credit reporting agencies what you are up to ... and that you don't know what you are doing.
Like I mentioned in my last review, a way is needed to get leverage (like with a Wrench) over the CRAs, CAs, and OCs to get your credit cleaned up. Once I learned how to get leverage, I then was able to clean my credit ... and it was still difficult. What can that way be?, you ask.
Excellent Resource.......2005-11-28
This book is an excellent resource meant for anyone who is interested in repairing their credit. The form letters are extremely helpful and the step by step guidelines move you through the entire process. My credit has never been better.
Very Helpful Book.......2005-11-28
I read this book and it answered a lot of my questions. It was very clear, and easy to understand. I plan on following the instructions in this book to make sure that there are no mistakes on my credit report, and if so, I now know how to fix them. I chose this book because I saw that it was written by a lawyer. I think it is a great tool for everyone to use.
An utter and complete joke.......2005-04-08
Please don't waste your time. This book is written like a poor college exam paper- HUGE type TRIPLE spaced.
It is written this way because the author has nothing to say- except to sell you on calling him for more help.
An internet search will give you more help fixing your credit. AVOID!!
WORST BOOK EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2005-02-22
If you need to repair your credit, don't look here. The book if 300 pages, but only 25 pages really pertain to fixing your credit. The rest of the book is telling of different court cases and a copy of the Fair Credit Report that spans 125 pages of useless info. Please don't waste your time or money.... This was terrible. This jim shapiro should be ashamed of himself for actually charging for this.
Book Description
Ellie Kay's signature humor and wry looks at life lead readers into solid, down-to-earth advice on how to overcome "financial flabbiness." Using diet and exercise analogies, she helps readers discover the habits and issues that keep them in debt, leads them through proven methods to pay down debt, and provides ways for them to maintain financial fitness. An easy-to-use book that encourages the timid while offering sound advice for families who want to experience financial freedom.
Customer Reviews:
Better Book - Two Years Sooner.......2006-07-12
Having a great deal of interest in debt relief, I compared the knowledge offered in two similar books. This one, and "The Credit Diet" which was released in 2003. In the latter, there are examples and motivation as in this book. However, with "The Credit Diet" you can see progress almost immediately after you put that "REAL" plan into effect.
Both books do a great job of talking about how to balance finances with the rest of your life, but, I liked the information I got two years before this book was even released.
Didn't find any helpful or practical tips for getting out of debt.......2006-06-18
This is a very general overview of finances. So general, in fact, that I didn't actually learn anything new. She goes from quizzes and philosophies about spending money (Wow, so I am in debt because I like to live above my means, and get pleasure from spending money? Thanks for the newsflash!), and moves on to titheing, saving and investing with no actual stop at "how to get out of debt". If I had money to save or invest I wouldn't have bought a book on getting out of debt.
There is a bit of general info about credit scores and improving your credit rating, but like I said, nothing new to me - and I have a lot of questions about subjects so I was disappointed.
I was hoping for some practical tips and tricks that I hadn't thought of for how to shave down my spending and get out of debt faster. But the best info in here was in the introduction, where she essentially says to make more money and spend less. I just wish I hadn't wasted the hours it took to read this book when the best info was in the intro.
Also, this is a Christian book and that isn't mentioned anywhere on the cover. It covers titheing and suggests joining a church and asking God for help.
Thoughtful and Not Religious.......2006-03-13
I am a Jewish, liberal and loved this book. Don't know what the other reviewers balked at a few religious elements, it seems there may be another agenda, they are so minor in comparison the overwhelming information that is found in this book. I enjoyed the FICO score update, learning a few things in the process. I also like the author's style as upbeat, fresh and clear. There's no sense of pretense. The report card for kids was extremely helpful and insightful as guide to what my children should know at various ages. I think the work ethic element among children is well presented and something that could be easily practiced.
Enjoyed this book.
Simplistic, plus be aware this is a Christian money management book.......2006-03-06
A friend thought I might be interested in this book, so I checked it out of the library to see if it would be worth purchasing. I'm glad I had a chance to look it over for free before making a mistake and purchasing it.
First of all, as an earlier reviewer said, the financial advice in this book is incredibly simplistic. The "quizzes" and checklists are more or less pointless. The actual financial advice she gives (which is surprisingly meager in a book on finances) is completely non-unique and more or less parrots advice given by tons of other authors. Basically, the financial portion of the book is an over-simplified and poorly written copy of financial advice you can find just about anywhere.
Second, this book is a Christian money management book but this is NOT in any way disclosed on the front matter or back of the book. I'm not sure why a money management book would advocate believing in God and joining a local church, but if you get to the third chapter or so, the author states this pretty clearly. If you're not interested in a Christian perspective on money management, this is not the book for you. I think if financial management books are about religious approaches, this should be clearly disclosed on the exterior of the book so that those of us who aren't interested can move on quickly.
Did I read a different book from the other reviewers?.......2005-08-24
I really just didn't find it helpful. In the first chapter she has a 10-question quiz to determine your knowledge of basic financial principals (should you re-fi your home to pay off credit card debt?) and based on those answers, determines whether or not you're in debt trouble. According to her, I'm in great shape! Wonderful! Except...it's not true. I KNOW the principals, I just like to spend. And spend. And spend some more. She also seems to operate on the premise that you own a home - great....unless you don't (I don't). Lots of irrelevent information - 2 full pages of checklists of when to inspect certain things around your home - way off focus. Tell people they need to keep their biggest investment in good repair .... but let them go elsewhere for the details. I could go on but I'm sick of typing. I HIGHLY recommend "How to Get Out of Debt, Stay Out of Debt and Live Prosperously" by Jerrold Mundis - first day I picked this up was Day One of a 4 month stretch of not using a credit card once. Very inspiring.
Average customer rating:
- A Fantastic Read !!! I loved it
- Complete Waste of Time
- ... and a dirty business it is
- Great advice on protecting yourself!
- Good, missing some details
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Your Secrets Are My Business: A Security Expert Reveals How Your Trash, Telephone, License Plate, Credit Cards, Computer, and Even Your Mail Make You an Easy Target for Today's Information Thieves
Kevin McKeown , and
Dave Stern
Manufacturer: Longstreet Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
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Civil Rights & Liberties
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ASIN: 1563525771 |
Amazon.com
Privacy is almost obsolete. There's an army of data miners out there digging up as much dirt as possible on you, your loved ones, and practically everyone else in the world, but you can plug up the leaks if you know their tricks. Security experts Kevin McKeown and Dave Stern want to show you who's looking, what he or she is looking for, and how that person is getting access to your most private information, starting with Social Security number, address, and employer, and moving up to your buying habits and your children's play habits. Your Secrets Are My Business is a 250-page self-help manual for the paranoid--and if you're not even a little nervous about who might be looking over your shoulder, by the time you've read the first chapter, you'll be eager for McKeown's suggestions. Even that holiest of holies, your credit-card number, is seen by more people than you probably trust--but if you carefully observe your purchasing habits, you can catch fraud before it wrecks your bank account.
The book alternates, on the one hand, between morbidly entertaining stories of McKeown's days in the trenches following the trail of insurance fraud to the Caribbean and digging through Dumpsters to piece together criminal profiles and, on the other, extremely practical tips for ensuring your privacy (even if you aren't a villainous mastermind). The authors keep the reader interested while making their case for a return to old-fashioned notions of private life. It takes quite a bit of energy to protect your personal information, but the freedom from harassment by junk mailers, telephone solicitors, and other unsavory types is worth it. Whether you want to know how to stay in hiding or just want to learn why people care about what car you drive, Your Secrets Are My Business will make your life seem a thousand times more interesting, because you'll see it through the eyes of a professional investigator. --Rob Lightner
Book Description
Filled with fascinating stories, this is an eye-opening look at the private investigation business and how vulnerable we all are to information and identity thieves.
Customer Reviews:
A Fantastic Read !!! I loved it.......2006-04-05
The man from the Bay area must not have read the same book that I read because I loved it. However, he is entitled to his opinion, albeit a misguided one. (smile)
Yes, some of the information is a bit dated, but we must realize that any information on technology comes with a quick expiration date. Even with a revised edition, the information is dated the moment it goes to print, so let's be fair.
This book is valuable to me for two main reasons: First of all, after reading so many doom and gloom articles on identity theft and fraud, I found this book to be refreshing and timely. It is entertaining yet educational about today's reality of fraud and, gives a look on the newest scourge: Identity Theft, the #1 growing crime in America today, which is quickly becoming the bane of our financial existence.
Secondly, I know a lot of people with their heads still stuck in the sand when it comes to the issue of identity theft, thinking that it would never happen to them. They were like me, scared to death after reading and watching the latest reports.
This book clearly demonstrates how easy it is for us to expose ourselves to the world through our habits and routines. I loved the way Kevin McKeown writes. He weaves entertaining stories and humor on this very serious topic. Although it is a great read, it is not fluff. I felt informed and empowered after reading it, and if that was some of Mr. McKeown's objectives in writing this book, he has clearly met them. I hope Mr. McKeown realizes the great impact this book will have on our society, that is, if we all choose to read and apply it.
I will be purchasing copies for my entire family, because this may be the only book (on this subject) they would actually read.
Complete Waste of Time.......2006-03-10
This book is WAY past its pull date. Full of warnings about not calling back the unrecognized number on your pager (pager?), the ease of using a consumer-grade scanner to evesdrop your cell phone calls (not since the cell network went digital!), and how you should shred paperwork with identifying information on it (duh!).
The over-riding assumption is that anyone with something to hide must be a criminal. The reader is told to vary your hours, commute route, and habits so 'they' can't catch you, because you must be trying to get away with something. For the rest of us law-abiding types, the message is "privacy is obsolete. get over it."
Even worse, the author and the ghost-writer (this is one of those books by someone WITH someone else) must have been paid by the word. It goes on and on and on, just to convey the merest morsel of a factoid.
But worst of all, the author is such a big shot, you're supposed to be really impressed with the names he drops and the James Bond-style exploits he pulled. He walked right into office buildings after-hours and stole bags of trash! He staked out the parking lot of the YMCA residence and guessed that the only non-hoopty in the lot belonged to the embezzeler! He shoulder-surfed the old man in line in front of him at the bank to learn his identity! Shaken-not-stirred stuff, you bet!
I have a lot of books on my shelf, and I don't mind reading a lot of pages to get a little information. But this turkey yielded NO information of use, and so it went right back in the box and back to Amazon.
... and a dirty business it is.......2004-09-27
This book shows you just how simple it is for another person to get information from you and about you, to be used in good or bad ways.
After reading this book, you are sure to change a few of your daily routines and be more concerned about your trash and phone conversations besides other things
A great read - a must have for everyone concerned about privacy
Great advice on protecting yourself!.......2004-09-13
I was unable to put the book down it was so easy to read! Lots of great advice on ways to protect yourself from con artists who want to steal your identity. Who knew that it was so easy to have someone get personal information on anyone? This book is worth reading to protect you and your family!
Good, missing some details.......2004-04-17
Well written book, with great examples. Although, there are some missing details that should have been included. Would have been nice if the author could have included an instance when he was less than perfect. Seems as if some information was left out that could have been easily included. Still a good read.
Average customer rating:
- Everything you need to know about your credit report
- Most helpful and informational for laymen like myself.
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Easy Guide to Good Credit
Pearl B. Polto
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Credit Ratings & Repair
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| Business & Investing
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ASIN: 0425152979 |
Customer Reviews:
Everything you need to know about your credit report.......2003-11-10
This is an excellent little book. It describes how to check your credit report and how to get erroneous information cleared up. It includes sample letters and addresses of credit bureaus.
I have used this book to clean up incorrect information in my credit report.
This book's publication pre-dates the internet boom and so there's some information that would warrant a new edition. However, all the critical information is here clearly and concisely, the primary reason it should be reissued.
Most helpful and informational for laymen like myself........1999-11-17
I had problems in dealing with Collection agencies and did not know that I had the right to tell them to go away allowing me the opportunity to deal strictly with my creditor. I have become very credit conscious and check my credit report meticulously for errors and any unauthorized inquiries. Where I thought that I had to wait 7 years to remedy some of my credit woes, I was able to remedy them within months. The sample letters were most helpful and they even cause me to purchase or send to Pueblo, Colorado for other books on credit and credit rights.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from New York Times Upfront, published by Scholastic, Inc. on April 5, 2004. The length of the article is 680 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Bankrupt by 25: people under age 25 make up the fastest-growing age group filing for bankruptcy. Easy credit, bigger student loans, and financial, illiteracy are fueling the trend.(National)
Author: Dirk Smillie
Publication:
New York Times Upfront (Magazine/Journal)
Date: April 5, 2004
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Volume: 136
Issue: 12
Page: 16(2)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Average customer rating:
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Consumer Loans & Credit Cards: An Easy-To-Use Guide to Credit and Loans
Marsha Ludden
Manufacturer: Jist Works
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Credit Ratings & Repair
| Personal Finance
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Business & Money
| Reference & Nonfiction
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Money
| Issues
| Children's Books
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ASIN: 1563701944 |
Customer Reviews:
average.......2004-03-21
very informative for young adults and others new to credit. activities and exercises in the book are somewhat elementary but reinforce major ideas
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Mississippi Business Journal, published by Thomson Gale on April 30, 2007. The length of the article is 928 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Credit cards look easy, but aren't.
Author: Scott Reed
Publication:
Mississippi Business Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: April 30, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 29
Issue: 18
Page: A5(1)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
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- Parlay Your IRA into a Family Fortune: 3 EASY STEPS for creating a lifetime supply of tax-deferred, even tax-free, wealth for you and your family
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