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Consumer credit card debt down

Linda Young – AHN News Writer

Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – Consumers decreased their credit card debt by 11 percent last year, with the average debt load declining in every state.

That information came from a report released Tuesday by credit tracking and financial education website CreditKarma.com. It analyzed data from more than 300,000 of its users.

“The new year typically inspires consumers to get in control of their finances, especially after the bout of holiday spending that occurred in December. Starting in January, you’ll see consumers start focusing on decreasing debt,” said Ken Lin, CEO of CreditKarma.com.

CreditKarma.com found that the average credit card balance was $6,576 in 2011, down from $7,404 the previous year.

However, that decline came in a climate of weak consumer confidence, which kept spending down as banks continued to tighten lending while slashing credit limits for many existing customers.

While credit card debt was down, so were credit scores.

Nationally, credit scores fell eight points to 660 in 2011 from the previous year.

States with the highest average credit scores are:

  • California, Massachusetts and New Jersey — 679
  • Washington — 675
  • New York — 674

States with the lowest average credit scores are:

  • Mississippi — 622
  • Louisiana — 635
  • Arkansas — 635
  • South Carolina — 635
  • West Virginia — 637
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Kris Alingod – AHN News Contributor

Chicago, IL, United States (AHN) – Michaels Stores is working with federal authorities to resolve what it believes to be PIN pad tampering in its Chicago-area stores.

The Texas-based company says credit and debit card information may have been stolen, a suspicion confirmed by reports from customers on the retailer’s Facebook page about unauthorized activity with their cards.

Michaels said it was alerted by authorities this week after customers who shopped at its stores reported illegal activity with their debit card accounts. The retailer is urging customers to check their accounts for any illegal transactions, and to change their PIN numbers. Consumers who believe they were victims of fraud should inform their bank immediately.

Authorities are still investigating the data breach. Michaels is the largest arts and crafts retailer in North America, with more than 1,000 stores.

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Linda Young – AHN News Writer

New York, NY, United States (AHN) – A New York City limo driver has admitted illegally scamming a multi-millionaire Hong Kong feng-shui master by running up unauthorized credit card purchases.

Flushing resident Peter Rahhaoui pleaded guilty to credit-card fraud in a Brooklyn federal court.

In 2008, Rahhaoui drove businessman Tony Chan 13 miles from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey to Manhattan. However, after Chan used his credit card to pay for the ride, the cabby retained the number and used it for several months to buy things for himself.

All told, Rahhaoui racked up $800,000 in charges using Chan’s American Express credit card number.

Chan reportedly did not notice the fraudulent activity on his credit card until his bank’s security department contacted him about the charges.

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So you are stuck in credit card debt and you are up to your eyeballs in credit history card credit debt. Well you are not alone. There are millions of individuals in this country in the same situation as you. The difference is you are going to do something about it instead of burying your head in the sand and hoping it will all go away. eliminating credit card debt

Banks and card organizations are too happy to give you cards and improve your limits, until you run into complications. Then at the drop of a hat they will suddenly cut your card limit or demand repayment. Does this sound familiar? It really should, it happens to millions of folks each and every day and it might have happened to you currently. eliminating credit card debt

The result of this is devastating if you are currently in personal debt and it can leave you with nowhere to turn and unable to pay any bills at all. So what can you do to legally remove credit rating card credit card debt? eliminating credit card debt

The very first thing you have to realise is that if you fall behind with your payments your credit rating score takes a hammering. This can affect your ability to get a job, since employers carry out credit score checks. It can also prevent you buying or moving house and even stop you renting as no landlord will want to know. eliminating credit card debt

The solution to legally get rid of credit history card credit debt is to either get a federal government grant or to use third party organizations that will assist you. Government grants are accessible to everyone and all you have to have to do is to fill out an online application and apply for assistance. It only takes a few minutes and can literally save you from losing everything. All you will need to do is to get on the internet and search for financial debt elimination grants and you will find plenty of federal government, non-profit and other sites that will assist you. eliminating credit card debt

You can also approach non-profit and specialised organizations that can negotiate directly with your lenders to cut and reduce payments and your financial debt so you can pay back your bills. A lot of folks use them as well and can guide you to regain control of your credit card debt and your life. eliminating credit card debt

If you are trying to legally remove credit score card credit card debt and stop a constant struggle with personal debt apply for government grants or approach one of these organizations to put your life back on track and get out of personal debt now. eliminating credit card debt

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Here is the best resource for Eliminating Debt Grants just click here to get out of debt now.
Vittorio Hernandez – AHN News

London, England, United Kingdom (AHN) – Over 200,000 Lloyds Bank credit card users were double-charged for transactions made on New Year’s Eve.

Cardholders will notice two identical charges when they receive their January statements.

Lloyds attributed the double charge to a system error with their payment processing service provider. The technical glitch affected certain payments to some merchants.

The bank apologized for the error and said it has reversed the duplicate transactions and reimbursed cardholders.

There is a possibility that other credit card companies which use the same service provider as Lloyds would encounter the same problem.

Meanwhile, Lloyds is set to join other banks and card companies in issuing contactless payment cards which allow consumers to pay for less costly items worth $22.50 (GBP 15) or less because they do not need to key in a pin number.

Lloyds is set to issue those kinds of cards in March and targets to have 1.1 million out by end of 2011. There are 10 million contactless cards in circulation in Britain in 2010 and the number is expected to rise to 14 million by the end of 2011 and 25 million in 2012.

The main advantage of using the contactless cards is convenience because a payment using such cards takes an average of 12.5 seconds versus 34 seconds for cash payment and 27 seconds for a PIN transaction.

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Debt Consolidation Programs For Debt Relief

Credit card debt is one of the weakening of the debt, the millions of people across the country affected. Once in the clutches of the contribution of the huge debts taken, then it can happen out an impossible task. But since it is not impossible, the extra pounds again it is impossible to eliminate credit card debt. An important thing in the elimination of debt is set the right kind of services the debt negotiation at the right time.

Credit card debt consolidation service is a way of working with a counselor and your creditors see a way out of the suffocating debt. The services of debt negotiation, things usually work in the diversity of species, so you are clear with your subscription.
We were experiencing genuine economic difficulties. Because of the economic slowdown, many Americans who face the problem of loss of business, job losses, lower wages, huge medical expenses and those of households caught in an endless loop debt. In addition, interest rates are also peaked in the sky; the monthly amount has also increased to a level where it is very difficult to cope up. The modification may contribute to some extent, but if there are fewer sources that can generate income that you get really inert. People do not realize while spending which puts them in a big problem in the long term. Because credit card has become a luxury. People do not understand that they are supposed to be used when absolutely necessary. While people are still spending money through credit cards, then pay the amount within one month or with heavy interest earned on credit. Credit card industry is a multibillion dollar industry that has reached this position because people are unaware innocent and I think they expect to stay afloat with just paying the minimum monthly payment. They therefore have no choice but to enter a debt settlement service provider with a debt negotiation good.

Apply now to reduce your debt…!!

Debt settlement credit card is a legal and safe option for settling the debt. If your creditors found that there was no other way left for the loan, they will also appreciate the support and service debt settlement negotiation debt to recover their money. Well, there are reasons for their support, because in any case if you file bankruptcy, they have nothing. Here at least there is hope to recover their money. Apart from that, the debt settlement is a quick and easy way to deal with your credit card debt consolidation points. Once you have entered a debt, with the passage of time, you will be able to reset everything and help a good note as well.

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Credit card industry is a multibillion dollar industry, Credit card debt consolidation service is a way of working with a counselor and your creditors see a way out of the suffocating debt. You must ensure a good unsecured debt consolidation company that can meet your debt settlement on favorable cost to rent.

Credit Card Debt Relief Tips

You have run up huge debt on your credit cards and you desperately need credit card debt relief. So, where do you go and what can you do to get yourself out of that situation? The rising costs of living is not helping much and if you have no other way of increasing your income, it possibly means you are stuck with your debt problems until you take a firm step to do something about it.

Here are some tips on what you may do and the options you may consider to get yourself out of debt and achieve financial freedom.

  • Debt settlement and consolidation companies or agencies – these agencies exist to offer you help with your debt. They can offer you various options for you to choose from. No single debt resolution is suitable for everyone. In fact, you may even need a program custom made to suit your needs. To find out how these companies or agencies can give you credit and debt help, you may try to seek out a reputable company and set an appointment with it. Consulting such a company with your debt problems may be the best way to go as you will be able to check out the agency while at the same time get some free debt relief advice from them. Be very careful of agencies that charge you a fee for mere consultation. You should not have to pay to get more information about the services they offer.
  • Debt consolidation – you may either take up a secured debt consolidation loan by taking up a home equity loan, refinance your primary mortgage or you may use a debt consolidation service. With the first option, a mortgage loan means you are probably getting a lower interest rate than your high interest rate credit card debt. It is also tax deductible. However, the downside to this is that you may risk losing your home if you are unable to service the second mortgage. Furthermore, mortgages are long-term loans so it may mean the monthly payment could be lower but it will take a longer time and a cumulatively higher cost for you to achieve financial freedom. In the second option, you get a debt consolidation agency to help you consolidate your debts into one single payment. The agency will negotiate with your creditors and arrange a payment schedule so that you only pay the agency while they will settle with your creditors.
  • Roll-up to pay off your debt – instead of only paying the monthly minimums, it is possible for you to pay off your debt through a planned repayment, known as a ‘roll-up’ strategy. Using this method, you may need to cut down on your expenses. You will continue paying all your monthly debts but the extra cash saved from cutting down your expenses will go towards paying your highest interest account so that you may be able to pay it up as soon as possible. You continue doing this for each of your accounts and pretty soon, you may possibly become debt free.
  • Consumer credit counseling – you may go to your local consumer credit counseling company for financial counseling and budget planning. These companies also offer debt management plans if that is what you want.
  • Debt settlement – again, you may search for a reputable debt settlement firm to help you negotiate credit card debt and perhaps come up with a lump sum settlement. These firms will negotiate with your creditors to reduce your debts sometimes, by as much as half of your principal balances, and since it takes 2 to 3 years to complete, you may possibly find yourself debt free pretty fast using this option. The drawback to this option is that it may damage your credit rating while under this program and for a year or two afterwards.

With these tips, you can see that it may possible for you to get rid of your debt and be financially free.

How To Get Out Of Debt

With mortgages, car loans, house expenditures, as well as credit cards, being free of debt in the present times is next to impossible. The economic burden that has been presented by the harsh realities of life have made people sink deeper into debt while new people join the debt world, day in day out. The statistics more so on debt showcases a culture that is being crippled by the use of the credit card. In the United States, research has established that on average, each and every household is faced with an over nine thousand dollar credit card debt.

With this is mind, the need to establish how to get out of debt cannot be over emphasized. Some of the debt that people incur in is available as well as controllable. Individuals moreover do not know of the various mechanisms that they can explore towards debt relief. Options such as credit card consolidation debt settlement are known to a few and the wide read. Other options such as debt consolidation though well known have been carried out poorly hence leading to even more debt. The first step in the process of debt consolidation is to calculate the debt that one is in now. This calls for an account off all the excess expenditures as well as the unplanned for. You then need to establish a mode of payment that will pay up the cumulative debt but still leave you with a silver lining to hold onto as you pay. To consolidate debt ensures that you have taken up a key step in the process of debt relief. For individuals with credit debt, credit card consolidation can also be taken up. This takes up the process of credit card consolidation debt settlement through developing strategies to manage the debt. For avid users of the credit card, credit counseling is often prescribed. As the name suggests, credit counseling entails educating an individual facing credit debt on the various methods through which he or she can reduce the debt.

Ones that is done, serious methods on hot to manage debt should be taken up. This calls for an establishment of the where the expenditures fall. This makes leads you to find out the various alternatives that you can take up to free excess or wasted money. After you have established this, you need to ensure that you prevent yourself from bankruptcy through tracking your expenditures as well as tabulating them. Keep any withdrawal slips as well as receipts so that you can have a clear record. Ensure that you cater for the fixed expenditures first before indulging into leisure and impulse buying. Having a budget is seen as the greatest method that you can take up towards debt relief as well as avoiding bankruptcy. Establish new avenues through which you can settle pre-existing debt. Renegotiate the credit card consolidation debt settlement agreements after you have reduced the debt level over a given time span. Remember, the process of getting out of debt can take years hence be patient and follow up the agreements.

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Debt Relief NW, Inc. has trained Debt and Bankruptcy Consultants that will discuss the best possible debt strategy to fit your financial needs. To be debt-free, call now at 877-492-4109 or visit www.debtreliefnw.com

A large percentage of the population owe a lot in credit card debt and, with the recent downturn in the economy, these people may make their financial situation far worse. If you are one of these individuals, you do not need to stress yourself out too much. There are ways to negotiate credit card debt. Debt settlements are a good way to reduce the total amount of debt you owe and may be done with or without the help of a professional. If you have the time, energy and know how, you can negotiate credit card debt by yourself. There are times, however, when you will need the help of a professional.

How do you know when to use a professional to negotiate credit card debt? Here are some indicators that you need the help of a professional:
* You owe money to several creditors. If you are having difficulty in keeping up with multiple payments, then you may need to avail of the services of a professional.
* You owe a large amount in debt. If you owe a hefty amount in credit card debt, you may need to ask help from a professional as they may be able to negotiate the reduction of a larger percentage off of your original debt owed.
* Your debt has an effect on your taxes. If the debt you owe somehow affects your taxes in any way, then it may be safer to ask for professional advice. You do not want to make matters worse by getting into trouble with the government.

In consulting a professional for debt settlements, you will also need to find a credible individual who will serve as your representation. A good indicator of legitimacy is the professional’s membership in the IAPDA or International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators. The following are the available options for locating a legitimate professional to negotiate credit card debt:
* Lawyers who specialize in debt arbitration and negotiation. You can ask the state bar association for recommendations on lawyers who can negotiate a reduction in your credit card debt. You can also ask your personal lawyer for recommendations.
* Look online. The internet holds a vast store of knowledge; all you need to do is access it. Statewide and national programs are available; you will be sure to find an expert in your locale.
* Credit Counseling. Providers of credit counseling are trained to provide debt solutions for consumers. Their solutions will be suited specifically for your financial situation.

If you want to get out of debt and hire a debt settlement company for debt negotiation then I have an important piece of advice. Do Not go directly to a particular debt settlement company but rather first go to a debt relief network who is affiliated with several legitimate debt companies. In order to be in the debt relief network, the debt settlement companies must prove a track record of successfully negotiating and eliminating debt. They must also pass an ethical standards test. Going through a debt relief network will ensure that the debt company you are provided with is a legitimate and respected company. This is the most efficient way in finding the best debt settlement companies and increasing your chances of eliminating your debt.

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freedebtsettlementadvice.com is a matchmaker in the debt settlement industry. They have paired up thousands of consumers up with debt settlement companies who are most likely to get consumers the best deal. http://www.freedebtsettlementadvice.com
AHN News Staff

Toronto, Ontario, Canada (AHN) – Canadians improved their credit card and auto loan payment records for the third quarter of 2010. According to credit analysis company TransUnion, credit card delinquency rates in the country went down to 0.34 percent in Q3 from 0.38 percent for the same quarter last year.

Auto loan payment delinquencies also decreased to 0.11 percent from 0.15 percent.

TransUnion Vice President of Analytics Thomas Higgins said the improvement indicates that many Canadians are slowly moving out of the recession.

While delinquencies were down, the number of credit-active Canadians also decreased, by 0.15 percent to 24.8 million people. However, average debt grew by 4.3 percent to $25,163. The figure excludes mortgages.

By province, Quebec had the largest rise in overall debt at 6.6 percent, while Manitoba registered the lowest at 2.8 percent.

Higgins pointed out credit card debt goes up with the approach of the yearend holiday shopping season. He said in a statement, “It will be interesting to see if consumers continue to amass more debt during this holiday season and if delinquencies rise in the first quarter of 2011 when holiday bills are due. In any event, credit card delinquency for the quarter remained well within historical norms and is not a cause for significant concern at this time.”

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