About.com Credit / Debt Management: Most Popular Articles
These articles are the most popular over the last month.

• Stop Collection Calls
  Calls from debt collectors are usually unwanted and can border harrassment. The FDCPA, a federal law, give you rights that protect you from debt collector calls.
• Credit Report Dispute
  Provides steps for disputing inaccurate information appearing on your credit report.
• 10 Things To Improve Credit
  Steps you can take today to improve your credit score.
• Statute of Limitations
  The statute of limitations on a debt keeps debt collectors from collecting on it forever. The limit varies by state and depends on the account's last date of activity.
• Credit Repair
  There is nothing a credit repair company can do to fix your credit that you can't do yourself. Save your money and repair your credit yourself.
• sampledispute
  A sample letter you can use to dispute information from your credit report. The letter should be customized to include your personal information and reasons for the dispute.
• Choosing Credit Cards
  There are certain factors to consider in choosing a credit card. Get these key questions answered before you fill out that credit card application
• Build Good Credit
  Find out what you need to do to build a good credit history starting with your very first credit card.
• Remove Collections From Report
  Can I remove debt collections from my credit report? Find out if you can remove collections from your credit report.
• Good vs. Bad Debt
  Did you know there was a such thing as good debt? There's a big difference between good debt and bad debt. How much of each are you carrying?
• Buy Better Credit?
  An increasingly popular way of repairing your credit involves buying positive credit history from other consumers. How effective is this? Is it a viable way to repair your credit?
• Sample Cease and Desist
  When you want to stop calls from debt collectors it must be communicated to them in writing. Federal law requires that debt collectors stop attempting to contact you as requested by a cease and desist letter.
• FDCPA
  Debt collectors aren't free to take whatever means necessary to collect a debt. In fact, they are governed by federal laws. Being aware of these laws helps protect you from the unscrupulous practices of certain debt collectors.
• Credit Counseling
  Consumer credit counseling is a viable option for managing your debt. Learn more about consumer credit counselong to determine if will work for you.
• Introduction to Credit
  A basic understanding of credit is needed to make the best credit decisions. Find out the definition of credit and learn how lenders decide to give you credit.
• Pay Off Collection
  Before you pay off a collection account, first negotiate with the debt collector to have your credit report updated to something that works in your favor. As you work with debt collectors to negotiate a payment, keep in mind what you and the collector want from the deal.
• Worst CR Entries
  Credit reports are the key to credit decisions made about you. These are some items you never want to have on your credit report.
• Rent With Bad Credit
  Renting with bad credit can be easy or hard depending on where you're looking. Find out how to get around the credit check and rent an apartment even with bad credit.
• Closing Credit Cards
  Helps cardholders understand which credit cards might affect their credit score if closed.
• Negative Info On Credit Report
  How long does negative information stay on my credit report? A minimum of seven years, with exceptions.
• Do's And Don'ts
  Guidelines for using credit cards the right way. Learn the way to use - and not to use - your credit card.
• Too Much Debt?
  How to tell if your debt load is just right or too large.
• Credit Score
  Find out how your credit score is calculated.
• Worst Credit Cards
  There are a lot of bad credit cards out there. Learn to recognize the features of the worst credit cards.
• Debt Plan
  Successful debt reduction starts with a plan. Learn how to put together a plan to get out of debt, decide which debts to focus on, and how to create a budget to get out of debt.
• 2008 Credit Resolutions
  Most New Year's resolutions involve improving health or getting rid of a bad habit. Don't forget about improving your financial health and your bad credit habits in the new year.
• Charge-Off Explained
  A charge-off is a debt that has been determined uncollectible by the original creditor.
• Free Credit Report
  Step by step instructions for ordering a copy of your credit report for free
• Debt To Income Ratio
  Your debt to income ratio indicates your level of debt. Learn how to calculate and analyze your ratio.
• Lower Interest Rate
  How to talk your creditors into lowering your interest rate on some or all of your credit cards.
• Credit Card Types
  Learn about the different types of credit cards to choose the right one for you.
• Credit Essentials
  A list of 10 important things every consumer should know about credit
• Bad Spending
  Avoid the spending habits that can cause you to be overloaded with debt.
• Late Payments
  Missing a credit card payment may not seem like a big deal, but it definitely can be. Find out what your creditor does when you miss a credit card payment. Hint: the answer isn't "nothing."
• Pay Old Collection
  When a debt collector contacts you to pay an old collection, you might wonder if it's worth paying, especially if the statute of limitations has run out.
• SoL & Credit Reporting
  Understand the difference between statute of limitations and credit reporting time limits
• How Many Credit Cards
  The truth is, there's no single number of credit cards to prescribe to consumers. Instead, you have to think about your ability to pay your debts and manage your credit card payments.
• Debt Settlement
  Even though debt settlement may promise to reduce your debt, they can't promise to keep your credit in tact at the same time. Find out how debt settlement works and why it may not be the best solution.