Debt settlements are where the debt collection agency or creditor agrees to take a lesser amount than what is actually owed in order to eliminate the debt. It is very useful for paying off old debts for less money than what is owed and can save hundreds of dollars when it comes to paying off the debt.

NSF checks (Non Sufficient Funds), also referred as a bounced check are considered bad and will end up on your credit report — lowering your FICO Score and preventing you from obtaining credit.

In this day and age, just about every facet of life is connected to your creditworthiness. It’s not just about buying a home or car anymore. Employers check credit reports to see if you are trustworthy. Insurance companies tie premiums to your credit rating. Even landlords check credit ratings to see if you pay your bills on time. Establishing credit helps you get the best deals of life’s big purchases.

In the past several years, medical debt has become more burdensome for many families. So much so that medical bills have become a major cause of personal bankruptcy. It’s not that people have no health insurance. Many individuals who cite medical debt as the cause of their bankruptcy were actually covered under a health insurance plan at the time the medical expenses were incurred. The problem is that certain medical expenses are often uncovered. Debt settlement may be an alternative to bankruptcy for dealing with your medical expenses.

Everyone, it seems through mass media coverage, knows how to dispute negative credit listings on your credit report. This is a good thing. However, many people are foiled in their disputes because of the way the credit bureaus “investigate” the disputes.