Prestige Professional Management
Your Consumer Resource Specialist
What Is Credit?

Credit is an arrangement to receive cash, goods or services now and pay for them later. Credit is usually referred to as a loan that is paid back with interest which is the cost charged to you for borrowing the money. This means that you will pay back more than you borrow. This credit is classified as either Secured Credit meaning it is backed by some type of collateral that is submitted in order to obtain the credit, or it is classified as Unsecured Credit meaning it is not backed by some type of collateral and is obtained as a result of the credit score rating.



Types of Credit

  • Revolving Credit (Unsecured Loans)
  • Credit Cards
  • Lines of Credit
  • Installment or Term Loans (Secured and Unsecured Loans)
  • Education Loans (unsecured)
  • Automobile Loans (secured)
  • Home Equity Loans (secured)
  • Mortgages (Secured)

Importance of Credit

Having credit and establishing a good credithistory are important in order for a person toget approved for certain business or financially relatedactivities, including:

  • Obtaining other types of credit
  • Car loan, mortgage, student loan
  • Telephone service
  • Insurance benefits
  • Apartment Rental
  • Employment


The Five ‘C’s of Credit

When a person is applying for credit, the lender reviews five main factors to decide whether he or
she is a good credit risk:

  • Credit
  • Capacity
  • Capital
  • Collateral
  • Character



How to Establish Credit

  • Open a credit card account.
  • Apply for a student loan.
  • Have another person co-sign or guarantee your loan.
  • Ask your local department store, bank or credit union for credit.
  • Apply for a secured credit card.
  • Pay your bills on time.



What is a Credit Score?

• A credit score is a numerical representation of a borrower’s credit worthiness. It measures the relative degree of risk of delinquency or default that a borrower represents to a creditor or lender.

• The score, also called a “risk score,” is based on information in the borrower’s credit report and also on information about how other borrowers with similar information have repaid their bills.

• Credit scores are widely used by lenders in evaluating loan applications.



Determination of Credit Scores

Credit scores generally rely on the following factors:

  • Past payment performance.
  • Credit utilization.
  • Credit history.
  • Inquiries into and applications for credit.
  • Types of credit in use.



Credit Score Ratings

Credit scores generally range between 300 and 850. Higher credit scores are considered better scores. That is,
the higher your score, the more favorably lenders look upon you as a credit risk. The credit scores are guidelines. Different credit bureau agencies have different score ranges and different lenders have different policies on how scores are utilized in the credit rating process.



Tips for maintaining a good credit score:

  • Do not open new revolving accounts needlessly.
  • Do not fill out credit applications needlessly.
  • Do not keep your credit cards at or near the maximum limit.
  • Make sure you do use your credit occasionally.
  • Pay your bills on time.



Debt Management

How Debt Accumulates

  • Not paying your bills on time.
  • Paying only the minimum amount due each month.
  • Late fees and interest rates that accrue over time.
  • Spending more than your income.
  • Taking on too many loans or having too many credit cards.
  • Not having enough money in savings.
  • Unforeseen circumstances such as unemployment, illness, etc.



Danger Signs of Accumulating Debt

  • You are using credit more often.
  • You are frequently reaching the maximum credit limit on your credit availability.
  • You are borrowing to pay current bills.
  • You are regularly late paying bills.
  • You have to choose which bills to pay and which to put off until later.
  • You often pay only the minimum amount due.
  • Your standard of living has remained the same while your check book and savings balances have gone down and credit balances have gone up.
  • You are contacted by creditors.
  • You gave up on paying some bills.



Too Much Debt?

  • Re-assess your financial situation (income and expenses).
  • Reduce your expenses by paying off the balance on your highest rate loans (but make sure any mortgage payments are covered first).
  • Discuss your options with your creditors before you miss a payment.
  • Pay for future purchases using cash or a check.
  • Seek expert help.



How to Avoid Too Much Credit Card Debt

  • Pay cash instead of using your credit card.
  • If you must use your credit card, set a monthly limit on charging that is based upon your budget, and keep
  • a written record.
  • Limit the number of credit cards you have.
  • Choose the card with the lowest interest rate and no (or very low) annual fee.
  • Beware of blank checks for cash advances, because they might carry very high interest rates.
  • Don’t apply for credit cards just to get a free gift or a discount on a purchase.
  • Pay bills on time to avoid late fees or charges.



Debt Management Plans

Reputable credit counseling organizations employ counselors who are certified and trained in consumer credit, money and debt management, and budgeting. Those organizations that are nonprofit have a legal obligation to provide education and counseling. 


But not all credit counseling organizations provide these services. Some charge high fees, not all of which are disclosed, or urge you to make “voluntary” contributions that can cause you to fall deeper into debt. Many claim that a debt management plan is your only option before they spend time reviewing your financial situation, and offer little or no consumer education and counseling. Others misrepresent their nonprofit status or fraudulently obtained nonprofit status by misrepresenting their business practices to regulators. 


The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, and some state Attorneys General have sued several companies that called themselves credit counseling organizations. The FTC and the states said these companies deceived consumers about the cost, nature, and benefits of the services they offered; some companies even lied about their nonprofit status. Several of these companies are now going out of business. Similar companies also may be shutting their doors, even though they haven’t been sued by the FTC or the states. That could be of special concern if you have a debt management plan with one of these companies. 


The things that you must-do when on a Debt Management Program

Organizations that advertise credit counseling often arrange for consumers to pay debts through a debt management plan (DMP). In a DMP, you deposit money each month with a credit counseling organization. The organization uses these deposits to pay your credit card bills, student loans, medical bills, or other unsecured debts according to a payment schedule they’ve worked out with you and your creditors. Creditors may agree to lower interest rates or waive certain fees if you are repaying through a DMP. 


The FTC has found that some organizations that offer DMPs have deceived and defrauded consumers, and recommends that consumers check their bills to make sure that the organization fulfills its promises. If you are paying through a DMP, contact your creditors and confirm that they have accepted the proposed plan before you send any payments to the organization handling your DMP. Once the creditors have accepted the DMP, it is important to:


  • Make regular, timely payments.
  • Always read your monthly statements promptly to make sure your creditors are getting paid according to your plan.
  • Contact the organization responsible for your DMP if you will be unable to make a scheduled payment, or if you discover that creditors are not being paid. 


You need to be aware that if payments to your DMP and creditors are not made on time, you could lose the progress you’ve made on paying down your debt, or the benefits of being in a DMP, including lower interest rates and fee waivers. Although creditors may have forgiven late payments that you made before you began the DMP, the creditors may be unwilling or unable to do so if payments are late after you have enrolled in a DMP.


If you fall behind on your payments, you may not be able to have your accounts “re-aged” again (reported as current), even if you start a new DMP with a new counselor. That means your credit report will have “late” marks and you will rack up late fees, which, in turn, will lead to more debt that could take longer to pay off.




If Your Credit Counselor Has Gone Out of Business

What happens to your DMP if the credit counseling company that managed your debts shuts down? A counseling agency that is going out of business may send you a notice telling you that your DMP is being transferred to another company. Or it may tell you that you need to take some action to keep your financial recovery on track. If a government agency has filed an action against your credit counseling company, you may get a notice from a third party. If you discover that the organization handling your DMP is going out of business you need to: 

  • Contact your bank to stop payment if you are making your DMP payments through automatic withdrawal.
  • Start paying your bills directly to your creditors.
  • Notify your creditors that the organization handling your DMP is going out of business. Consider working out a payment plan with your creditors yourself. Ask if they will give you a reduction on your interest rate without a DMP. 
  • Order a copy of your credit report. Check for late payments — or missed DMP payments — that may result from the company going out of business. If you see “late” notations you don’t expect, call the creditor immediately and ask that the notation be removed. Understand that they have no obligation to do it. 


If payments are late because the organization handling your DMP has failed to make scheduled payments, the consequences can be just as devastating as if you failed to make payments to the DMP. If you do not act quickly to make arrangements with your creditors, you could incur late charges that increase your debt, lose the lower interest rates associated with the DMP, and have “late” marks on your credit report.



Important Questions to Ask When Choosing a Credit Counselor

If the organization you were working with shuts down, you may be able to work a payment plan on your own directly with your creditors. But if you decide that you need additional credit advice and assistance, or if you are considering working with a credit counselor for the first time, asking questions like these can help you find the best counselor for you. 


What services do you offer?

Look for an organization that offers a range of services, including budget counseling, savings and debt management classes, and counselors who are trained and certified in consumer credit, money and debt management, and budgeting. Counselors should discuss your entire financial situation with you, and help you develop a personalized plan to solve your money problems now and avoid others in the future. 

An initial counseling session typically lasts an hour, with an offer of follow-up sessions. Avoid organizations that push a debt management plan as your only option before they spend a significant amount of time analyzing your financial situation. DMPs are not for everyone. You should sign up for a DMP only after a certified credit counselor has spent time thoroughly reviewing your financial situation, and has offered you customized advice on managing your money. 

If you were on a DMP with an organization that closed down, ask any credit counselor that you are considering what they can do to help you retain the benefits of your DMP. 


Are you licensed to offer your services in my state?

Many states require that an organization register or obtain a license before offering credit counseling, debt management plans, and similar services. Do not hire an organization that has not fulfilled the requirements for your state. 


Do you offer free information? 

Avoid organizations that charge for information about the nature of their services. 



Will I have a formal written agreement or contract with you? 

Don’t commit to participate in a DMP over the telephone. Get all verbal promises in writing. Read all documents carefully before you sign them. If you are told you need to act immediately, consider finding another organization. 


What are the qualifications of your counselors? Are they accredited or certified by an outside organization? If so, which one? If not, how are they trained?

Try to use an organization whose counselors are trained by an outside organization that is not affiliated with creditors.


Have other consumers been satisfied with the service that they received?

Once you’ve identified credit counseling organizations that suit your needs, check them out with your state Attorney General, local consumer protection agency, and Better Business Bureau. These organizations can tell you if consumers have filed complaints about them. The absence of complaints doesn’t guarantee legitimacy, but complaints from other consumers may alert you to problems. 


What are your fees? Are there set-up and/or monthly fees?

Get a detailed price quote in writing, and specifically ask whether all the fees are covered in the quote. If you’re concerned that you cannot afford to pay your fees, ask if the organization waives or reduces fees when providing counseling to consumers in your circumstances. If an organization won’t help you because you can’t afford to pay, look elsewhere for help. 



How are your employees paid? Are the employees or the organization paid more if I sign up for certain services, pay a fee, or make a contribution to your organization?

Employees who are counseling you to purchase certain services may receive a commission if you choose to sign up for those services. Many credit counseling organizations receive additional compensation from creditors if you enroll in a DMP. If the organization will not disclose what compensation it receives from creditors, or how employees are compensated, go elsewhere for help. 



What do you do to keep personal information about your clients (for example, name, address, phone number, and financial information) confidential and secure?

Credit counseling organizations handle your most sensitive financial information. The organization should have safeguards in place to protect the privacy of this information and prevent misuse. 


For More Information

The FTC publishes a series of free publications on credit and financial issues, including Fiscal Fitness: Choosing a Credit Counselor and Knee Deep in Debt. They are available at ftc.gov/credit, or by calling toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.


Managing Credit Debt