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	<title>Marc Chase</title>
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		<title>My Credit Group and Personal Credit Coaching</title>
		<link>http://marc-chase.com/my-credit-group-and-personal-credit-coaching/</link>
		<comments>http://marc-chase.com/my-credit-group-and-personal-credit-coaching/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:42:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Marc Chase</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Credit Repair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit repair company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[my credit group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://marc-chase.com/?p=190</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When most people begin the credit repair process, they have only a vague understanding of how it really works.  This could make fixing their credit harder than it has to be, and it can even result in further complications. 


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/credit-repair-in-3-steps/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The 3-step Credit Repair Process'>The 3-step Credit Repair Process</a> <small>If you have bad credit you may be wondering what...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/credit-repair-scams-and-how-you-can-avoid-them/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Credit Repair Scams and How You Can Avoid Them'>Credit Repair Scams and How You Can Avoid Them</a> <small>Due to the growing problem of credit repair scams, deciding...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/our-blog-about-fixing-credit/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Our Blog About Fixing Credit&#8230;'>Our Blog About Fixing Credit&#8230;</a> <small>If you're serious about improving your credit, it can be...</small></li>
</ol>

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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When most people begin the credit repair process, they have only a vague understanding of how it really works.  This could make fixing their credit harder than it has to be, and it can even result in further complications.  That’s why My Credit Group assigns personal credit coaches to each and every client so that they can get help in making the best possible decisions throughout the repair process.<span id="more-190"></span></p>
<p><strong>How does personal credit coaching help?</strong></p>
<p>Having a personal credit coach carries many benefits.  First of all, you’ll have a chance to address and discuss your questions and concerns.  You’ll also have help in assessing your current credit situation, determining your challenges, and developing a game plan to resolve your issues.</p>
<p>If you enter the repair process without personal coaching, you may feel overwhelmed, unsure of what to do, and you may even do something to make your credit situation worse.</p>
<p>Most credit repair companies don’t offer personal coaching.  They’ll simply address your credit problems in the same way they address everyone else’s:  by sending out a bunch generic dispute letters.  This, unfortunately, tends to be a hit-and-miss situation in many cases, because disputing isn’t a universal solution to credit problems like many assume it to be.</p>
<p>If you want to effectively resolve your credit issues, you’ll have to do more than dispute.  You’ll need a  well-rounded, realistic and personal approach.  And this is why it helps to have a credit coach.</p>
<p><strong>The role of your credit coach</strong></p>
<p>1.   Your coach will review your credit report with you carefully<br />
2.   Together you’ll identify the challenges you’re facing<br />
3.   Your options will be discussed, and a plan will be developed<br />
4.   Your coach will then begin implementing the agreed upon strategies<br />
5.   You’ll receive regular progress reports and notices</p>
<p>Credit coaches do more than work on your credit report.  They’ll help you with answers to your questions, help you create a budget, and even help you manage your existing credit.  It’s easy to see how personal credit coaching gives you the upper hand with credit repair—which is why My Credit Group considers it vital.</p>
<p>So before you go and hire a <a title="creidt repair" href="http://www.mycreditgroup.com/" target="_blank">credit repair</a> company, find out if they’re willing to help you with anything other than <a title="dispute letters" href="http://www.mycreditgroup.com/dispute-letter/" target="_blank">dispute letters</a>.  If not, call My Credit Group.  We’ll get you set up with a personal credit coach immediately and start working to get your credit back on track.</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/credit-repair-in-3-steps/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The 3-step Credit Repair Process'>The 3-step Credit Repair Process</a> <small>If you have bad credit you may be wondering what...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/credit-repair-scams-and-how-you-can-avoid-them/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Credit Repair Scams and How You Can Avoid Them'>Credit Repair Scams and How You Can Avoid Them</a> <small>Due to the growing problem of credit repair scams, deciding...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/our-blog-about-fixing-credit/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Our Blog About Fixing Credit&#8230;'>Our Blog About Fixing Credit&#8230;</a> <small>If you're serious about improving your credit, it can be...</small></li>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The 3-step Credit Repair Process</title>
		<link>http://marc-chase.com/credit-repair-in-3-steps/</link>
		<comments>http://marc-chase.com/credit-repair-in-3-steps/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:31:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Marc Chase</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Credit Repair]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://marc-chase.com/?p=188</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you have bad credit you may be wondering what you can really do to improve the situation and get yourself back on track.  Many people think that credit repair is not possible or that it’s dishonest.  But when it comes to real credit repair, nothing could be further from the truth.


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/credit-repair-scams-and-how-you-can-avoid-them/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Credit Repair Scams and How You Can Avoid Them'>Credit Repair Scams and How You Can Avoid Them</a> <small>Due to the growing problem of credit repair scams, deciding...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/my-credit-group-and-personal-credit-coaching/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: My Credit Group and Personal Credit Coaching'>My Credit Group and Personal Credit Coaching</a> <small>When most people begin the credit repair process, they have...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/our-blog-about-fixing-credit/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Our Blog About Fixing Credit&#8230;'>Our Blog About Fixing Credit&#8230;</a> <small>If you're serious about improving your credit, it can be...</small></li>
</ol>

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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you have bad credit you may be wondering what you can really do to improve the situation and get yourself back on track.  Many people think that credit repair is not possible or that it’s dishonest.  But when it comes to real credit repair, nothing could be further from the truth.<span id="more-188"></span></p>
<p>For every credit problem you have, there is a possible solution.  Many credit problems stem from mistakes, misleading or outdated information on your credit report.  Some may be a result of unpaid debt, and other problems might be due to a simple mismanagement of credit accounts.  But whatever the problems may be, there’s a way to fix them.</p>
<p>There are, basically, 3steps to fixing your credit:</p>
<p>1. Remove mistakes from your credit report.  You can do this by reviewing your report carefully, noting any possible mistakes you find, and sending a dispute letter to the credit bureau or collection agency.  They normally have about 30 days to respond to your dispute, and if they can’t verify or validate the item(s) in question, they must remove it.</p>
<p>2. Get out of debt. This, course, may be easier said than done, but it is possible.  You can actually have your debts reduced by as much as 60% by negotiating a debt settlement.  A debt settlement is a process that gets your creditors to agree to reduce your debt down to an amount you can pay.  This is probably the best way to reduce and eliminate your unpaid debt for good.</p>
<p>3. Establish new, positive lines of credit.  Regardless of your credit history, you can get approved for new lines of credit.  Having new credit cards is a great way to show lenders that you’re capable of staying on top of your bills, despite your past.  You can see you score move up by as much as 50 points in just over a couple of months or even less.  Keep this new credit open and current for as long as possible to get the most out of it.</p>
<p>Don’t make the mistake of ignoring your credit problems and hoping that they’ll go away eventually.  It really is simple to get things turned around.</p>
<p>If you need to know more about <a title="credit repair" href="http://www.mycreditgroup.com" target="_blank">credit repair</a>, contact a certified expert at My Credit Group.</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/credit-repair-scams-and-how-you-can-avoid-them/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Credit Repair Scams and How You Can Avoid Them'>Credit Repair Scams and How You Can Avoid Them</a> <small>Due to the growing problem of credit repair scams, deciding...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/my-credit-group-and-personal-credit-coaching/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: My Credit Group and Personal Credit Coaching'>My Credit Group and Personal Credit Coaching</a> <small>When most people begin the credit repair process, they have...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/our-blog-about-fixing-credit/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Our Blog About Fixing Credit&#8230;'>Our Blog About Fixing Credit&#8230;</a> <small>If you're serious about improving your credit, it can be...</small></li>
</ol></p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Credit Card Debt: a Lawsuit Waiting to Happen</title>
		<link>http://marc-chase.com/credit-card-debt-a-lawsuit-waiting-to-happen/</link>
		<comments>http://marc-chase.com/credit-card-debt-a-lawsuit-waiting-to-happen/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 02 Apr 2010 19:00:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Marc Chase</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://marc-chase.com/?p=182</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Okay, it’s a given.  In these difficult times, most of us can relate to an inability to keep up with bills.  And of course, the first guys that are going to get stiffed are the credit card companies... 


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/repay-your-defaulted-student-loans/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Finally, a Chance Repay Your Defaulted Student Loans!'>Finally, a Chance Repay Your Defaulted Student Loans!</a> <small>Financial Disclosure Statement Offers Relief From Wage Garnishment Many people...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/credit-repair-in-3-steps/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The 3-step Credit Repair Process'>The 3-step Credit Repair Process</a> <small>If you have bad credit you may be wondering what...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/our-blog-about-fixing-credit/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Our Blog About Fixing Credit&#8230;'>Our Blog About Fixing Credit&#8230;</a> <small>If you're serious about improving your credit, it can be...</small></li>
</ol>

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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Why is it that we tend to think that some of our debts are “safe” to ignore? </p>
<p><strong>2009 generated more than $770 billion dollars in unpaid credit card debts.</strong></p>
<p>Okay, it’s a given.  In these difficult times, most of us can relate to an inability to keep up with bills.  And of course, the first guys that are going to get stiffed are the credit card companies. <span id="more-182"></span></p>
<p>Why?  Because they’re already stinking rich, they’ve been overcharging you for years, and hey—you don’t really need your credit cards anyway (at least not now).</p>
<p>And while this attitude seems to be somewhat “acceptable” nowadays, let’s not forget one very important fact: </p>
<p><strong>The credit card companies can wreak havoc on your credit, your financial business and even your personal life—and most likely, <em>they will</em>.</strong></p>
<p><strong>In order to avoid some serious complications to your financial health, it’s important to start considering how you’re going to resolve this debt.  Putting it off will not make it go away—at least not anytime soon.</strong></p>
<p>So if you’re under the impression that your creditors will simply “forget” about you and your credit card debt, you may end up learning the hard way that there’s no easy way out of defaulted loans.</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>You will have a seriously hard time getting approved for other loans or credit services<br />
</strong></li>
<li><strong><strong>You will probably receive the full-blown creditor harassment treatment for months or even years to come<br />
</strong></strong></li>
<li><strong><strong>Your relatives may be contacted by creditors about you and your debt, and…</strong></strong></li>
</ol>
<div><strong><strong>It’s quite possible that your unpaid debt can result in a lawsuit:</strong></strong></div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Your creditors may have up to 15 years to sue you in court for your unpaid debt<br />
</strong></li>
<li><strong>Disputing an unpaid credit card debt can result in a lawsuit filed by your creditors<br />
</strong></li>
<li><strong>A lawsuit could result in the garnishment of your wages<br />
</strong></li>
<li><strong>A  lawsuit could result in a lien against your property<br />
</strong></li>
<li><strong>A lawsuit could result in a levy on your checking account</strong></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Calibri;">Yes, it may seem okay to forget about your credit card debt when you just can’t afford it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>And you’re probably right—your meager debt couldn’t <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">possibly</em> hurt the credit card company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>But have you stopped to think about how much it can hurt you and your credit?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stop avoiding the bill, and start planning a better future for you and your family:</span></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Calibri;">Unpaid debts, creditor harassment, lawsuits and garnished wages are by no means the kind of future you want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>So find out what you can do to get out of debt and say goodbye to creditor harassment for good.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></p>


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<li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/credit-repair-in-3-steps/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The 3-step Credit Repair Process'>The 3-step Credit Repair Process</a> <small>If you have bad credit you may be wondering what...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/our-blog-about-fixing-credit/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Our Blog About Fixing Credit&#8230;'>Our Blog About Fixing Credit&#8230;</a> <small>If you're serious about improving your credit, it can be...</small></li>
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		<item>
		<title>Salvaging Your Credit: Short Sale as an Alternative?</title>
		<link>http://marc-chase.com/avoid-forecloseure-with-short-sale/</link>
		<comments>http://marc-chase.com/avoid-forecloseure-with-short-sale/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:34:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Marc Chase</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[debt]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://marc-chase.com/?p=174</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I’m not much for real estate, to be honest, but I was quite interested in learning about short sales—because they can help you avoid foreclosures and even mitigate the damage to your credit if you should find yourself in such an unfortunate position.  And that, my friends, is useful information.



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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Ok, here’s a topic that’s even somewhat new to me: <em>defaulted mortgage loans</em>.  Recently I was asked about <strong>alternatives to foreclosure</strong> and I found myself at a loss for words.  <em>That’s a great question, </em>I realized, and wasted no time digging for an answer. <span id="more-174"></span></p>
<p>I found myself coming across the term <em>short sale </em>over and over.  This, obviously, was where I focused my research.  I’m not much for real estate, to be honest, but I was quite interested in learning about short sales—because they can help you avoid foreclosures and even mitigate the damage to your credit if you should find yourself in such an unfortunate position.  And that, my friends, is useful information.</p>
<p><strong>Why Short Sale?</strong></p>
<p>Bluntly speaking, if your mortgage loan is in default, you’ve got a hell of a problem on your hands.  Not only are you in jeopardy of losing your home, but you’re credit’s going to take a major hit—one that may take years to recover from.</p>
<p>A short sale is when your mortgage lender agrees to let you sell your home for less than what you owe them for the loan.  The money generated from the sale is turned over to the lender to satisfy the loan balance.  Technically, a short sale is a loss for both parties, but there are two primary reasons for taking this approach:</p>
<p><strong>1. </strong><strong>Mortgage lenders typically collect more on a short sale than they do on a foreclosure, minimizing  their overall loss</strong></p>
<p><strong>2. </strong><strong>The borrower is spared the credit damage caused by a foreclosure </strong></p>
<p>Thus, the short sale is an effective way to avoid the headache of a foreclosure.  Additionally, in some cases, the lender can eliminate the remaining balance of your loan after the sale of the home—there’s no guarantee of this, of course, but it’s possible (in most cases, you’re still going to be responsible for a portion of the loan balance if the home is sold for less).</p>
<p><strong>Something to Be Aware of…</strong></p>
<p>While short sales can be viewed as an advantageous alternative to foreclosure, there are many different opinions on the matter when it comes to true real estate and mortgage loan professionals.  Each loan situation is different and may be best suited by a different approach.</p>
<p>Something else to be aware of, apparently, is what Jillayne Schlicke refers to as <a href="http://ceforward.com/?p=123" target="_blank">Predatory Short Sale Negotiators</a>.  Schlicke, CEO of CE Forward, Inc., Executive Director of the National Association of Mortgage Fiduciaries and acclaimed expert on mortgage loans, warns homeowners and buyers to be cautious of hidden “negotiation” fees that can potentially complicate and/or prolong the sale.</p>
<p>Again, I’m no mortgage expert, but I enjoy passing on useful information to those that are in need.  If you’re having trouble keeping up with your mortgage payments, there are a number of options to explore—a short sale is just one of them.</p>
<p>If you want to know more about the many ways you can get out of debt and protect your credit, contact a credit repair expert.  If you want to know more about mortgage loans, short sales and other foreclosure alternatives, contact a knowledgeable expert like Jillayne Schlicke or her cool continuing education program, CE Forward, Inc.</p>


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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Finally, a Chance Repay Your Defaulted Student Loans!</title>
		<link>http://marc-chase.com/repay-your-defaulted-student-loans/</link>
		<comments>http://marc-chase.com/repay-your-defaulted-student-loans/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:00:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Marc Chase</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://marc-chase.com/?p=167</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Financial Disclosure Statement Offers Relief From Wage Garnishment
Many people assume that there are ways to resolve defaulted student loans without actually paying them off.  Some fall under the impression that there&#8217;s a statute of limitations that will somehow &#8220;cancel-out&#8221; the unpaid debt, and others simply believe the debt will remain &#8220;unnoticed&#8221; for all time.  Unfortunately, [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Financial Disclosure Statement Offers Relief From Wage Garnishment</strong></p>
<p>Many people assume that there are ways to resolve defaulted student loans without actually paying them off.  Some fall under the impression that there&#8217;s a statute of limitations that will somehow &#8220;cancel-out&#8221; the unpaid debt, and others simply believe the debt will remain &#8220;unnoticed&#8221; for all time.  Unfortunately, people that believe these kinds of things ususally end up having their wages garnished by the federal government. <span id="more-167"></span></p>
<p><strong>But It May Not Be Too Late For You&#8230;</strong></p>
<p>If you&#8217;ve been under the impression that the U.S. Department of Education is generally pretty lax in handling defaulted student loans, go ahead and kick yourself in  the ass.  You&#8217;ve done it again.  Nothing, to be honest, could be further from the truth.  Even if years have gone by and you think you&#8217;re high and clear, the Departmentof Education may come back to haunt you&#8211;and they&#8217;ve been known to garnish wages and collect tax refunds when you&#8217;re located.</p>
<p>So you&#8217;ve got to avoid this.  And avoiding it shouldn&#8217;t be too hard&#8211;claiming a financial hardship could eliminate the worry of ever having your defaulted loans ruin your credit and result in wage-garnishment. </p>
<p><strong>The Department of Education Financial Disclosure Statement</strong></p>
<p>If you&#8217;re claiming a financial hardship to the Department of Education, you&#8217;re asking one of two things:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>You are asking the Department of Education to reduce the amount of your wage garnishment or repayment, or</strong></li>
<li><strong>You are asking them to suspend the garnishment or repayment altogether because it is causing hardship to you and your family.</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>Either way, facing up to the loans is a far better policy then avoiding them&#8211;you may just find that settling the defaulted loans in a way that&#8217;s favorable to you, you wages, tax refunds and, of course, your credit&#8211;is much easier than you thought. </p>
<p>To start the process you&#8217;ll need to download the U.S. Department of Education Finanical Disclosure Statement, fill it out completely, and provide documentation of each and every one of your hardship claims. </p>
<p>You&#8217;ll be expected to provide some kind of proof of income and all monthly expenses, and you&#8217;ll have to be somewhat persuasive in explaining why the imposed garnishment or repayment amount is simply too much for you.  If you&#8217;re successful, you may be able to refinance your loans to avoid garnishement and credit damage altogether, or you can at least work out an affordable payment plan so as to prevent the damage from going any further.further damage.</p>
<p><strong>More About Defaulted Student Loans</strong></p>
<p>The Department of Education also promotes a publication called <em>Options for Financially Challenged Borrowers in Default.  </em>You&#8217;re going to want to check this out if you&#8217;re dealing with defaulted student loans.  The publication contains a wealth of information about repayment terms and refiancing options.</p>
<p><strong>Naturally, Waiting Only Makes it Worse</strong></p>
<p>Student loans can be easy to forget about or ignore.  And if you allow them to ruin your credit, there&#8217;s not much you can do to reverse the damage.  That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s a great idea to take the initiative, contact the Department of Education and see if there&#8217;s a way you can resolve the problem before it&#8217;s too late. </p>
<p><strong>You can contact them by phone or mail:</strong></p>
<p><strong>U.S. Department of Education   PO Box 617763 Chicago, IL 60661-7763,  1-800-621-3115</strong></p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/credit-card-debt-a-lawsuit-waiting-to-happen/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Credit Card Debt: a Lawsuit Waiting to Happen'>Credit Card Debt: a Lawsuit Waiting to Happen</a> <small>Okay, it’s a given. In these difficult times, most of...</small></li>
</ol></p>
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		<title>Why Drive when you can FLY?</title>
		<link>http://marc-chase.com/why-drive-when-you-can-fly/</link>
		<comments>http://marc-chase.com/why-drive-when-you-can-fly/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:33:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Marc Chase</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[budgeting]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://marc-chase.com/?p=141</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[How Online Banking Can Help You Get Your Act Together
If you&#8217;re in the habit of running to the bank each and every time you need to make a deposit, a transfer, a withdrawal, or any other transaction—save your time and gas.  You can handle all of that business—and more—from home on your computer.  More and [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>How Online Banking Can Help You Get Your Act Together</strong></p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-148" title="OnlineBanking" src="http://marc-chase.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/OnlineBanking1-224x300.jpg" alt="" width="224" height="300" />If you&#8217;re in the habit of running to the bank each and every time you need to make a deposit, a transfer, a withdrawal, or any other transaction—save your time and gas.  You can handle all of that business—and more—from home on your computer.  More and more people are using their online banking services because they are fast, easy, and 100% adaptable to your needs.</p>
<p>Almost all major banks have online services avaialable.  And if you&#8217;re not taking advantage of this saavy trend, then what are you waiting for?  You&#8217;ve got to know where to save time and money if you&#8217;re gonna succeed in these hard times!  So fire up a new browser window, get comfortable and prepare to check out all the cool stuff you can do with your money over the internet.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong><span id="more-141"></span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Is Online Banking Secure?  </strong></p>
<p><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-158" title="security_-_unlock_encryption" src="http://marc-chase.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/security_-_unlock_encryption1.jpg" alt="" width="140" height="140" /></p>
<p>In a word, <em>yes—a</em>s long as you do your part to keep your account information private.  Banks use state-of-the-art encryption to make sure hackers can’t gain access to your account, and if you’re banking with an institution insured by the FDIC, the federal government insures your money.</p>
<p>But while online banking may already be 100%  secure, here&#8217;s  some measures you may want to take to be on the safe side:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Only bank  at institutions that are FDIC insured</strong></li>
<li><strong>Make sure your bank uses state-of-the-art encryption to ensure to protect information sent over the internet</strong><strong>                                                                                                </strong></li>
<li><strong>Create secure passwords for all of your online accounts</strong></li>
<li><strong>Keep your computer up-to-date with antivirus and adware software</strong></li>
<li><strong>Keep your computer password secure</strong></li>
</ol>
<p><strong>What&#8217;s So Great About Online Banking?</strong></p>
<p>Not only does online banking save you the inevitable time, energy and gas of driving to the bank every time you need something done, but it also helps you stay on top of your bills, manage your money more effectively, and enables you to receive useful reminders and security alerts that are just not possible otherwise.</p>
<p><strong>Here are some Other Features Your Online Banking Service Might Offer</strong></p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-160" title="22-pay-bills-online-sa_136a" src="http://marc-chase.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/22-pay-bills-online-sa_136a-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></p>
<p><strong><em>Bill Pay:</em>  Anytime you have a regularly-occuring bill you need paid, you can set up your checking account to automatically make the payment and send you receipt.</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Acount Activity:</em>  monitor exactly what&#8217;s going on with your money and account by viewing your entire account history.  This used to be something you could only do in person.  </strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Spending Report:</em>  Many banks are integrating budgeting software into their online banking services.  You can use these kinds of tools to totally analyze your spending; see what kinds of things your money goes to: gas, fast food, ATM fees, etc.  It&#8217;s never been easier to see where you can button down on frivolous spending.</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Fraud and Suspicious Activity Alerts: </em> You can customize your account to notify you if any unauthorized purchases, withdrawals or transfers have been made.  You will also receive notice if any noticeably suspicious activities have taken place, such as unusually high ATM withdrawals.</strong></p>
<p><strong> Online Banking Can Improve Your Financial Health</strong></p>
<p>It&#8217;s true.  Since so many people are spending so much time on  the interenet anyway, it&#8217;s never been easier to keep track of where your money is going and to get your bills paid effortlessly and on time every month.  These two features alone are highly valuable to your economic success. </p>
<p><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-162" title="stuck-in-traffic" src="http://marc-chase.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/stuck-in-traffic-300x195.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="195" /></p>
<p>But if that&#8217;s not enough to c onvince you, perhaps the fact that banking online is lightning fast compared to  the car ride,the gas, the traffic and the long bank lines&#8230;</p>
<p>Really.  Why would  you want it any other way?</p>


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		<title>How Expensive ARE You?</title>
		<link>http://marc-chase.com/how-expensive-are-you/</link>
		<comments>http://marc-chase.com/how-expensive-are-you/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:47:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Marc Chase</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[budgeting]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://marc-chase.com/?p=118</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Do the Math.  You Might be Surprised.
Of all the things you’re spending money on, which are costing you the most?  You may try to save a buck here and there by buying the cheaper gas, the clearance items and the “bargain” products.  But what’s the point in being so thrifty when all your hard-earned money’s [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-137" title="heavy-woman-watching-tv-while-eating-junk-food-thumb5939970-242x3002" src="http://marc-chase.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/heavy-woman-watching-tv-while-eating-junk-food-thumb5939970-242x30021.jpg" alt="" width="242" height="300" />Do the Math.  You Might be Surprised.</strong></p>
<p>Of all the things you’re spending money on, which are costing you the most?  You may try to save a buck here and there by buying the cheaper gas, the clearance items and the “bargain” products.  But what’s the point in being so thrifty when all your hard-earned money’s going out the back end?</p>
<p>If you stop and calculate how much you’re spending each month on unnecessary products or habits, you’d be surprised to find out what you’re costing yourself.</p>
<p>Here’s a list of ten common products and services (along with estimated costs) that the average consumer pays for on a daily or weekly basis.  Notice that each individual cost is reasonably cheap—but if you start doing the math, you’ll see just how quickly these things can add up.</p>
<p><strong>10 Common Products and Services Paid for by Consumers Daily, Weekly, or Monthly:</strong></p>
<p><strong>1. </strong><strong>Starbucks Coffee:  $4.00</strong><br />
<strong>2. </strong><strong>Fast Food Meal:  $6.00 </strong><br />
<strong>3. </strong><strong>Energy Drink:  $3.00</strong><br />
<strong>4. </strong><strong>Snacks </strong>(such as chips &amp; soda)<strong>:  $3.00</strong><br />
<strong>5. </strong><strong>Video Rental:  $1.00-$5.00</strong><br />
<strong>6. </strong><strong>Chewing Gum:  $1.00-$2.00</strong><br />
<strong>7. </strong><strong>Ringtones/downloads:  $2.00</strong><br />
<strong>8. </strong><strong>Dinner Out:  $20.00</strong><br />
<strong>9. </strong><strong>Movie Out:  20.00</strong><br />
<strong>10. </strong><strong>Carwash:  $5.00</strong></p>
<p><strong><span id="more-118"></span><br />
</strong></p>
<p>Any of these items look familiar?  How much do YOU spend on products like this each day? Each Week?  Each month?  Let’s find out.</p>
<p>As an example, let’s say you work Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  And you like to spend the weekend, like most people, doing something fun or relaxing, or just treating yourself to dinner or a movie.  Nothing wrong with that.  But at the end of the month, here’s what that may cost you:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Breakfast.</strong> If you have to be at work by 8 a.m., what are the chances that you have time to cook breakfast?  Hopefully you have something at home you can eat on your way out.  But if not, be prepared to have at least 4 bucks on you—that’s about the average cost of breakfast at any fast food joint, and you know what they say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day—and you can’t afford to miss it.  Let’s just say you eat breakfast away from home 3 times a week.  <strong>That’s about 12 bucks a week in fast food breakfast.</strong></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Coffee. </strong>You can easily make your own coffee at home, but <a title="starbucks expenses" href="http://blog.mycreditgroup.com/how-to-get-better-credit/">Starbucks</a> is so much better!  Besides, you’re in a hurry, remember?  So shell out another 4 bucks.  It’s worth it—and everyone else at work is  going to have theirs.  Don’t miss out.  Get your Starbucks at least 3 mornings per week. <strong>That’s another 12 bucks a week in coffee.</strong></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Gum? </strong>Yeah, the gum will help with that disgusting coffee breath, so don’t forget it.  In fact, have you noticed how many people keep gum or breath mints in the car or the office or toolbox?  If you’re gonna be talking to other humans, you’re not going to want to offend them with bad breath, so keep some gum on hand at all times.  You might need up to 3 packs a week.  <strong>Another 6 bucks a week.</strong></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Lunch. </strong>Ok, your morning was a big rush.  You had to stop for an Egg McMuffin, you had to get your coffee and your gum, and all in time to clock in at 8.  So you obviously didn’t have time to pack a lunch.  A fast food meal will only run you about 6 bucks, so it should be no problem.  Do this about 3 times a week as well.  <strong>18 bucks.</strong></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Snack.</strong> Finally, the workday is over.  But it’s been hours since you last ate, you’re feeling hungry, but you’ve got things to do. So get yourself a snack.  It should only cost you about 3 bucks for a bag of chips and a soda, some cookies and milk or a Snickers and Redbull.  3 good snacks a week should be plenty.  <strong>9 more bucks in snacks.</strong></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Carwash. </strong>You were able to save some time today by going through the drive through twice and eating a quick snack after work.  You have time to spare for a carwash, and it’s only about 5 dollars.  Some people do  this as often as once a week.  Why should you be any different?  <strong>Weekly carwash: 5 bucks.</strong></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Weekend Fun. </strong>You made it through another week! And what have you been so anxious to do with your free time?  Besides the usual cleaning, laundry and errands, weekends are for fun, and family, and friends.  Why not go out to dinner?  See a movie.  Download a new ringtone for 2 bucks.  Have a good time.  A movie these days will cost you close to 20 bucks per person (I know, unbelievable) and count out another 20 or so for dinner.  It’s worth it.  The weekend is supposed to be enjoyable.  And you can afford to have fun at least twice a month, right?  <strong>2 movies, 2 dinners and a new ringtone each month will cost you about 80 dollars.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>How Much Did All of This Cost?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Well, you made it through another month.  You stuck to your budget, you earned more money, and you even managed to have a good time.  But if you add up everything you spent in unnecessary items and habits, what’s the actual damage?</strong></p>
<p><strong>$328.00.</strong></p>
<p>That’s just a month’s worth of average spending.  And this figure is based on buying many these items only part of the week.  If you buy the fast food, coffee and snacks everyday—which many people do—this would, alone, cost you about<strong> $475.00. </strong>And just for fun, let’s add in the average cost of cigarettes: at 5 dollars a pack , one pack a day, the grand total is<strong> $625.00.</strong></p>
<p>These, of course, are just estimated calculations.  But if you’re spending habits are anything similar to these, you can see how much it’s costing you.  Do the math.  Add everything up.  Find out exactly how much you’re spending and what you’re spending it on.  You might just decide it’s time to re-write your budget!</p>


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		<title>How to Save Money on Easter</title>
		<link>http://marc-chase.com/how-to-save-money-on-easter/</link>
		<comments>http://marc-chase.com/how-to-save-money-on-easter/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Mar 2010 22:04:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Marc Chase</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[budgeting]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://marc-chase.com/how-to-save-money-on-easter/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Think it's a lame idea to try to save money on Easter? Think again.  If you just take the realistic approach, you'll see that saving money this year is much easier than you thought.


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Right around now you’re probably hearing a lot of tips on how to make Easter cheap.  And while many of these tips may come in handy and might even save you money, some of them are just plain stupid, and some of them are forgetting to cover some key strategies.</p>
<p>So here are a handful of tips that are not only realistic, but <em>guaranteed</em> to save you money.</p>
<p><strong>3 Great Ways to Make Easter Cheap</strong></p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-61" href="http://marc-chase.com/?attachment_id=61"></a></p>
<p><strong><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-111" title="giant-egg" src="http://marc-chase.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/giant-egg1.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="177" />Tip #1:</strong> <strong>Instead of paying for tons of expensive, colored eggs, just get one big egg, forget about painting it and hide it really, really well. </strong>Why put your family through the unneeded hassle of collecting multiple eggs when one big, well-hidden egg will save money for all, prolong the excitement of the hunt (or shorten the sadness of it), and maybe even add a little competition to the holiday?  NOTE: If you can’t find a really big egg, your family will understand.</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-94" href="http://marc-chase.com/how-to-save-money-on-easter/yuck-2/"></a></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-112" title="yuck" src="http://marc-chase.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/yuck.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="176" />Tip #2:</strong> <strong>Replace Ordinary Chocolate with Baking Chocolate.</strong> Baking chocolate has a really bitter, disgusting taste and it’s only about 2 bucks for a big box.  If you fill this year’s Easter baskets with this out-of-the-ordinary treat, it‘ll not only inspire curiosity from all, but chances are, your kids won’t touch it.  So don’t worry about buying much—you can save this money for something more important.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-115" title="eat-alone" src="http://marc-chase.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/eat-alone.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="176" />Tip#3: </strong><strong>Don’t Invite Anyone Else to Your Cheap Easter Celebration. </strong>You know what they’re gonna do.  They’re gonna eat all your food, drink all your beer and offend someone before the day is through.  And you know one of them is bound to eat your baking chocolate. So keep in mind how your friends, family and loved ones can really ruin your Easter and cost you much more in the long run.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>Easter Doesn’t Have to Be About Money….</strong></p>
<p>When it comes down to it, Easter is all about family, love, and a lot of religious stuff that few people care to understand.  So don’t feel pressure to spend your hard-earned cash this year.  Take it easy.  Cut corners wherever possible, and remember that canceling Easter altogether is always an option.  Your kids will hate you for it now, but they’ll definitely understand later.</p>


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		<title>Saving your Business and Your Credit with the Internet</title>
		<link>http://marc-chase.com/saving-your-business-and-your-credit-with-the-internet/</link>
		<comments>http://marc-chase.com/saving-your-business-and-your-credit-with-the-internet/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:44:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Marc Chase</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Starting a business is tough.  Keeping it going can seem impossible.  And as much as I hate griping about a bad economy—because believe me, it does get boring—it must be, at least, mentioned.  That’s because with everything so completely in the gutter, keeping your business alive might end up killing you in the process (not [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Starting a business is tough.  Keeping it going can seem impossible.  And as much as I hate griping about a bad economy—because believe me, it does get boring—it must be, at least, mentioned.  That’s because with everything so completely in the gutter, keeping your business alive might end up killing you in the process (not literally, but your credit and economic stability could be ruined). </p>
<p>However—in spite of the other “not-so-stable” markets, the internet is <em>thriving</em>; crawling with business opportunities and prospective customers.  So if you suspect you’re sinking in the competition, take your operation to the web—you might just find the relief you need to keep your personal business afloat. </p>
<p>And one more thing—if you don’t yet have a website to promote your business, GET ONE.  IT’S 2010.</p>
<p><strong>So these are Just the Basics, but they’re Definitely the Most<em> </em>Important.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Optimize your Website for Search engines</strong></p>
<p>For those of you that don’t know, Google, in a sense, is in total domination of internet marketing.  And by “total domination” I mean like communism, or Microsoft. </p>
<p>Basically, if you intend to post something to the internet and expect it to be seen by human eyes, you’ll have to do it Google’s way (see more about<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> Google’s Way to Publishing Effective Web-pages</span>).  If you don’t, your valuable work will be utterly tossed aside like internet garbage.  You know your message isn’t garbage, so don’t let this happen. </p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Network your website in such a way that Google favors.  It will encourage Google to find quality and relevancy in your content and will be happy to display it to others.  </strong></li>
<li><strong>This is how search engines can help your business.  By sending web-users to your website when they’re looking for something that you have, you’re going to get sales.  </strong></li>
<li><strong>If you haven’t put any effort into optimizing your website for search engines, start doing it now.  It’s only a matter of time before your web-pages get noticed by others.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBAJgksyhxo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBAJgksyhxo</a></p>
<p><strong>Research Your Competition, Do What They’re doing, and More</strong></p>
<p>If you’ve already started your business, this is something you should know.  Differentiating is important—in fact, it’s key.  But so is keeping up with the latest marketing trends.  Whatever your competitors are doing, you should be doing, too—especially when it comes to the leaders of your industry.</p>
<p>Of course, it’s not always possible to keep up with <em>huge </em>competitors, for instance, if you want to sell cheeseburgers and you intend to go up against Burger King.  But even in such cases, you can still find a niche that’s effective in helping you reach <em>your</em> goals.</p>
<p>The point is, do whatever you can to mimic the most effective sales approaches used by your top competitors (use common sense and reason with this, of course).  And where others are falling short, step it up a notch and do more.  That’s what having the upper hand is all about.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Research your competitors’ websites, blogs, marketing strategy and internet ranking results.  Look for common associations like similar article platforms and sales promotions.  Take note of them and prepare to test these strategies for yourself. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Post articles that direct traffic in some way to your website in the same places that the competition’s using.  There are countless directories that are easy to use and will accept your submissions for free.  </strong></li>
<li><strong>Do some research and determine which article directories will best suit you and your business directives.  If you find some useful directories and blog-posts that nobodies using, give them a try.  They might just add that extra juice to your popularity.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Direct your web visitors in the same way that others are doing successfully.  This may include the design of your website pages and navigational features, articles published outside of your web-domain that have links to your landing pages, and covering the same topics and site processes that are provided by others in your industry.  </strong></li>
<li><strong>If you can think of some other ways to better serve your customers, don’t hesitate to try them.  Remember, differentiation is critical to outshine your competitors.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Many of your competitors have expensive SEO and marketing professionals do their market research and implement marketing strategies for them.  If you can’t afford to do this, you can learn a lot by observing what they’re doing and how they’re driving sales.</p>
<p><strong>Get Involved with Social Media Networks</strong></p>
<p>Earlier I mentioned how Google is virtually dominating the internet.  It’s been speculated, however, that social media networks such as Twitter and Facebook are outdoing the monster search engine in search queries and overall traffic.  It’s even being said that Twitter will be the next Google, as it’s very basic but powerful features are becoming more and more useful to growing businesses.</p>
<p>So what does this mean?  Who cares!  Whatever it means, get yourself a Twitter account and start tweeting!  It may not seem to make much sense at first, but the more you use it the easier it is to accept. </p>
<p>And don’t forget Facebook.  These are just two powerful social platforms that can help you stay in touch with your market audience, your competitors and even professional allies that can help keep you up to speed.</p>
<p>You’ll also want to start a blog where you can discuss anything from your personal views, company objectives, sales promotions, or just to direct your audience to their areas of interest.  Blogs, in fact, are one of the greatest vehicles for online communication these days—and people are literally making fortunes because of them.  They are cheap, simple to set up, and easy to maintain.  They can even be a lot of fun.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Join the most popular and (potentially valuable) social media networks like Twitter and Facebook.  Get connected to the important people in your industry.  Follow what they say, “retweet” your favorite posts and articles, and generally just share the love.  </strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Doing this will inspire others to do the same for you.  Like the Beatles said, “in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.” Just apply that theory to Twitter and you should be alright.</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Stay active within your social communities, and always provide important updates or other information that you want people to know.  You can use these networks to link your followers to your web articles, blogs, or website landing page.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Set up a blog and use it regularly.  It may seem like no one’s reading a word you’ve uttered, but again  this is just another way to network and relate all of your important internet locales.  </strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>With time, if you’re thorough, consistent and remotely interesting, your blog should start to attract a regular following.  This is the kind of small traffic streams that can make a great big difference to your overall number of visitors and conversions.</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong><strong>Before You Throw In the Towel, Try These Strategies First!</strong></p>
<p>Even in these hardest of times (sorry to bring it up again) it’s possible to have a successful business—and the internet is one of the best ways to make it happen.  Don’t let minor shortages, downfalls or setbacks ruin your business, your credit and your financial health.  Get smart.  Get savvy.  And get going on your new internet marketing campaign.  It’s just the way it’s being done these days.</p>


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		<title>Our Blog About Fixing Credit&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://marc-chase.com/our-blog-about-fixing-credit/</link>
		<comments>http://marc-chase.com/our-blog-about-fixing-credit/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:49:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Marc Chase</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Credit Repair]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://marc-chase.com/our-blog-about-fixing-credit/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you're serious about improving your credit, it can be done.  But putting it off another day will accomplish nothing.  If you're going to do it, now's the time to get started.



Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/credit-repair-in-3-steps/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The 3-step Credit Repair Process'>The 3-step Credit Repair Process</a> <small>If you have bad credit you may be wondering what...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/credit-repair-scams-and-how-you-can-avoid-them/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Credit Repair Scams and How You Can Avoid Them'>Credit Repair Scams and How You Can Avoid Them</a> <small>Due to the growing problem of credit repair scams, deciding...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/my-credit-group-and-personal-credit-coaching/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: My Credit Group and Personal Credit Coaching'>My Credit Group and Personal Credit Coaching</a> <small>When most people begin the credit repair process, they have...</small></li>
</ol>

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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In dealing with such such a wide range of credit problems over the years, we&#8217;ve gottten all too familiar with the consequences of having bad credit.  More and more consumers are being roped into loans, services and contracts than ever before, and the result is often unfavorable to their finacial health. </p>
<p>The good news is that it&#8217;s never too late to turn things around.  If you&#8217;re serious about improving your credit, it can be done.  But putting it off another day will accomplish nothing.  If you&#8217;re going to do it, now&#8217;s the time to get started.</p>
<p>If you think you&#8217;re ready to take the first step, read <a title="the blog we posted about fixing credit" href="http://blog.mycreditgroup.com/stop-dreaming-and-start-fixing-your-credit/">the blog we posted about fixing credit</a> and what you can do to make it happen.  We think you&#8217;ll find it helpful. </p>
<p>As always, to learn more about <a title="credit repair" href="http://www.mycreditgroup.com">credit repair</a> you can contact a certified credit spcialist at My Credit Group.</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/credit-repair-in-3-steps/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The 3-step Credit Repair Process'>The 3-step Credit Repair Process</a> <small>If you have bad credit you may be wondering what...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/credit-repair-scams-and-how-you-can-avoid-them/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Credit Repair Scams and How You Can Avoid Them'>Credit Repair Scams and How You Can Avoid Them</a> <small>Due to the growing problem of credit repair scams, deciding...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://marc-chase.com/my-credit-group-and-personal-credit-coaching/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: My Credit Group and Personal Credit Coaching'>My Credit Group and Personal Credit Coaching</a> <small>When most people begin the credit repair process, they have...</small></li>
</ol></p>
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