Loan mods are unintended "score mods"

A 12/28/09 article in Money.Cnn.com showed that even if you are current on your house payment, a loan modification will sometimes be calamitous to your credit score. How does this happen? First off, most loan modifications have a trial period that you are expected to perform in. If you fail to make timely payments for the first 3 to 6 months, then the modification attempt is terminated and the bank will again pursue foreclosure.

During that trial period your Note has not been officially modified, so you are, by definition, on a partial payment plan. Whether it is a partial payment plan on a credit card or a mortgage, it makes no difference. When the lender enters that data to the credit bureaus it will show negatively on your credit. Next, let's suppose you complete the trial period successfully. Once your loan modification plan is accepted, you may still have a delinquent balance carrying forward. This delinquent balance will also serve as a negative mark against your credit even though you are "paying as agreed" based on the loan modification terms.

I don't think the banks are ignorant of the affect these policies have on consumers. Lower credit scores are the pathway to charging higher rates and fees and a loan modification is just one avenue that provides a bank with that opportunity. There is a lot of give and take throughout the loan mod process along with expressed and implied terms. If you think your score has been damaged by a loan modification - remember this, the burden of proof for reporting correctly is squarely on the shoulders of the credit bureaus. To find out how to "audit" the information on your credit reports please visit my affiliate link site.

George Andersen is a member of the Financial Empowerment Network Team and Prime Financial Credit Services
you can also visit Credit Educationfor more information on George Andersen.

Is Credit Repair Ethical?

Most Americans know that it is possible to have information changed on your credit report, but many are concerned about whether or not it is ethical.

This begs the question: If you were to start up a credit reporting agency, how would you go about it? After all, isn't that what Experian, Trans Union and Equifax have done?

Well what would you do? The process requires that you contact a variety of financial institutions, taxing authorities, collection agencies, etc. and then propose to pool that information into one record source that could be mutually accessed by all participating members. The credit agencies love to say, "don't shoot the messenger", but in fact, they have solicited, finagled, begged, pleaded and bought their way into the "messenger" position. This is the very reason why there are 3 main reporting agencies and not just one – competition for business!

Once you understand that, the Fair Credit Reporting Act makes a lot of sense. You see, since 1971, and with numerous amendments and subsequent Acts passed by Congress, the issue at stake is not their capacity to report, but rather, the privacy of US citizens.

Trust me; these agencies would report your age, sex, religion, bank account balances, health records, blood pressure, driving record, and your grades from elementary school if they thought they could get away with it. The core purpose of the FCRA and other Acts like the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act is to place the burden of proof upon the credit agencies, and NOT the consumer.

It is as if the credit agencies are writing a book on every financial relationship you've had since age 18, and they offer, on the cheap, to sell that book to anyone who wants to join the book club. When a consumer attempts to challenge the information contained on their report, they are merely calling for a "fact check" with the publisher. The FCRA requires that information contained on a consumer report be 100% accurate, complete, and verifiable.

Back to the ethics question. Let's say I own a million-dollar home with a million-dollar mortgage balance. I've never been late. Is it really EVERYBODY'S business to know how much I owe, when the debt was taken out, whom is obligated on the debt, the current balance, which bank, the payment amount – and ALL of that in addition to the payment history? Wouldn't it be sufficient to state "George pays his mortgage on time?" A person inclined to privacy might want to have that information deleted, even IF they pay on time. The fact that someone chooses to challenge the negative information is merely an expression of their right to privacy. Let's hope we never get too cavalier about that.

I am a member of the Financial Empowerment Network Team and Prime Financial Credit Services

Your Credit Score Is Yours to Control

Are you confused by credit, and how to create a better credit score? Don't feel bad, many consumers and business people find it hard to understand why their credit score is low. They pay their bills. And when they are a little late on a payment, they pay extra fees to the Lenders to make up for that. The Lenders enjoy great profits, and yet, the Borrower gets penalized more. Is it fair? I say NO! Enough! It's time for us to take control of our credit scores, and get them to reflect accurately, what kind of people we really are. In fact, the United States government agrees. Toady, there are laws to protect us, and allow us to take back control of our credit histories and credit scores.

Use these laws to make sure you aren't forced to pay more for auto loans, credit cards, mortgages, insurance and utilities. Besides costing you more money in monthly bills, we've been hearing more about people who get job offers that are later taken back, because of a "bad" credit score, a result of having been out of work for a year or longer. They didn't use credit to support a luxurious lifestyle. Ironically, they are penalized by taking away the very thing that they need to get back on their feet and to get back to paying their bills. Is it just me, or does it seem ridiculous to you as well? Credit reporting agencies, and Lenders, seem to believe that it's their right to penalize consumers to any level that they choose. The US government says it isn't their right. It is their right to report late payments and defaults on payment agreements, to the extent that they report it accurately. Is the information on your credit report accurate?

Frits Tessers is a member of the Financial Empowerment Network Team and Prime Financial Credit Services
you can also visit Personal Coaching for more information on Frits Tessers.