Specialty Consumer Reporting Agencies: Tenant History Reports

This is the final installment in my series about how to get your free specialty consumer reports. You can read the entire series beginning here.

If you are trying to rent an apartment or house, your prospective landlord is likely to check your credit. Typically, they will go through a tenant screening company to get your report. That company may, in turn, obtain information from one or more of the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian or TransUnion). These firms also usually provide criminal background screening and may offer additional screening to uncover rental issues such as broken leases or evictions. There are literally hundreds of agencies that can provide these reports to landlords.

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Should Credit Checks By Employers Be Banned? Survey Says Yes.

In September 2010, then-California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have significantly restricted the use of credit checks by employers in California. If the same bill were put before the American people, though, more than half of them would have likely signed it into law. According to a recent Credit.com survey, the majority of Americans approve of the idea of banning the use of credit reports for employment screening.

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How to Get Unemployment Benefits

For millions of Americans, unemployment benefits provide a lifeline that lets them keep the wolf from the door. But collecting those benefits isn’t always simple. Unemployment claims are often denied, and sometimes for avoidable reasons.

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Hidden Program Can Help Even 'Greedy Speculators' Refinance Investment Properties and Second Homes

Over the past couple of years I’ve heard from countless real estate investors who are stuck between a rock and a hard place. They bought real estate as an investment a few years ago, but the value of the property has declined, and there just isn’t enough income coming in to keep up with the payments. They don’t want to default, but if they can’t figure out a way to improve their cash flow they will.

There is a program that may help some of them, but it’s so inexplicably well-hidden that most investors won’t even get try to take advantage of it. They should.

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How To Request Your Free Medical Report Disclosures

Specialty Consumer Reporting Agencies: Medical Reports

This is the fifth installment in my series about how to request your free consumer reports from specialty agencies. You can read the series starting here.

There are several nationwide companies that collect and report medical-related information about consumers. Given how important your medical information is, it’s pretty astonishing that medical information reporting is practically in the dark ages when you compare it to credit reporting. In other words, there are no nationwide bureaus that collect and report comprehensive medical records for consumers in the same way that the nationwide CRA’s do for credit. With a number of companies competing to provide electronic medical records, though, we may get to that point eventually.

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Gerri Detweiler's List of Credit Resources

“I’m overwhelmed. I’ve been researching solutions to my credit problems
but I don’t know who to trust.”

That’s one of the comments I hear frequently and that’s why I’ve created this Resources section. Whether you’re looking to consolidate debt, borrow cheaply or solve credit problems, I’ve found the best companies to help you reach your goals!

I chose these companies to recommend because I honestly believe they can help. I am an affiliate of some of them, which means I may get a referral fee for traffic I send their way. You can read my income disclosure here.

Here are my top picks for you:

Credit Reports

Stellar credit is almost like money in the bank. To review your credit reports, start by ordering your free annual credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com.

Then visit Credit.com’s Free Credit Report Card to get a truly free analysis of your credit score with recommendations. Don't worry, we don't ask for a credit card number - or spam you!

Need more help with your credit? Visit Credit.com's Credit Monitoring Guide to find products offering credit monitoring, credit scores, and more.

Credit Repair Books

I could write an entire book just on improving credit scores and reports, but fortunately, I don’t have to! When you’re ready to start rebuilding your credit, here are three excellent books I recommend:

You’re Nothing But A Number: Why Achieving Great Credit Scores Should Be On Your List of Wealth Building Strategies by John Ulzheimer

Credit Scores and Credit Reports 3rd ed: How The System Really Works, What You Can Do by Evan Hendricks (Make sure you get the latest edition)

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

Debt Consolidation

DebtConsolidationCare.com is the Internet's first get-out-of-debt community. Get free help from others who want to help you find solutions for your debt. And see my video blogs while you are there!

Debt Negotiation and Settlement

Debt settlement can be an important alternative to bankruptcy if you can’t repay your current unsecured debt and you can’t, or don’t want to, file bankruptcy.

For a free confidential questionnaire and a confidential evaluation of your situation, I personally recommend three companies:

Consumer Recovery Network

New Era Debt Solutions

Zip Debt

Mortgages

Since 1993, ArcLoan has educated thousands of consumers across the United States on mortgage strategies and programs that help increase savings and reduce debt. Home of the Automatic Rate Cut Loan™ & the ArcLoan Mortgage Management Program™

Visit them at ArcLoan.com and YouCanRefi.com

Good Advice Press is a great resource if you want to learn how to pay off your mortgage faster and save money.

Identity Theft

Use Credit.com's free Identity Risk Score tool to quickly assess your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft.

Already a victim? Visit the FTC Identity Theft Resource Center

Help protect yourself from identity theft with credit monitoring services.

Personal Loans

Find Personal Loans at Credit.com. Loans are available for up to $25,000 with no prepayment penalties or upfront fees.

Saving Money

The Dollar Stretcher has been my go to source for money-saving tips and strategies for more than ten years. You’ll find a wealth of information to help you save money and live better on less.

Stop Debt Collectors

If you are being harassed by debt collectors, you’ll want to check out my ebook Debt Collection Answers: How to Use Debt Collection Laws to Protect Your Rights You can read the first chapter online for free!

Kids and Money

My then-elementary school age daughter changed her tune about spending and saving virtually overnight with the help of Sammy the Rabbit at www.ItsAHabit.com. She and her friends loved the CDs and books.

Financial Planning

I am proud to serve as a credit coach for members of the Garrett Planning Network. These fee-only financial planners can help you with a variety of financial planning services, from creating a retirement saving strategy to getting your budget on track. Their advice is independent and unbiased, and I know from the time I have spent with many of them, they really care!

Additional Helpful Websites

CallforAction.org: an international network of consumer hotlines affiliated with local broadcast partners.

Consumer-action.org offers lists of credit cards and helpful consumer information in many languages.

ConsumerFed.org is the website of Consumer Federation of America. You’ll find consumer brochures on saving money, buying a home and more.

ConsumerWorld.org is one of the most comprehensive consumer websites available. Sign up for their free newsletter.

DebtorsAnonymous.org offers help with chronic debt.

Financial Recovery Institute offers Financial Recover counseling, a structured process that helps clients transforms their relationship with money. It seeks to treat the whole person, including addressing the client’s history, and emotions relating to, money.

Fraud.org is the home of the National Fraud Information Center. If you suspect telemarketing or Internet fraud, contact them immediately.

FTC.gov is the website of the Federal Trade Commission. You’ll find consumer tips, statutes and more.

SmartMoney.com offers extensive information about financial topics including debt and money management.

Steve Rhode answers questions about debt for free at Getoutofdebt.org.

Consumers Union: Credit Card Reform

Consumer Reports

National Consumer Law Center (NCLC)

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse

Truth About Credit

Give Me Back My Rights

Listen to My Radio Interview with Moms Making A Million

You can listen to my radio interview with Gina Robison-Billups and Kathleen Bellucci on Moms Making A Million here.

Moms Making a Million is a free program with the mission to help one million moms have a plan for $1 million in personal net worth. If women were paid the same as men for the same job, we would reduce poverty in America by 50%! Our goal is to reduce poverty for America's families. We believe that when you lift one mom up, you lift an entire community up. This program is part of The International Association of Working Mothers, a 501c3 charitable organization.

Don't you love it?

How to Build Credit if You Are New to the United States

If you are an immigrant, you may find establishing credit in the United States difficult and frustrating. Here we will provide some tips for making the process a little easier.

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Specialty Reports: Employment Reports

This is Part Four in my series on how to request free copies of your specialty consumer reports. You can read the entire series starting here.

If you’ve applied for a job lately, you may have been asked to fill out a form authorizing your prospective employer to conduct a background check on you. Here is an excerpt from an employment screening authorization form:

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