Everyone's Money Book on Credit Book

	List of Figures	v
	Preface	vii
1.	Types of Credit	1
	Open-End versus Closed-End Credit	1
	Secured versus Unsecured Credit	4
	Truth-in-Lending Rules	5
	Types of Loans	6
	Resources	16
2.	Qualify for and Establish Good Credit	18
	The Three Cs of Good Credit	18
	Getting Credit for the First Time	19
	Who Qualifies for Credit?	22
	Reasons You May Be Denied Credit	24
	Reasons You May Not Be Denied Credit	26
	Resources	35
3.	Applying for Credit	37
	Establish Your Debt Limits	37
	Choosing and Paying for Your Credit	38
	Additional Fees	40
	Surf for Less Expensive Credit	45
	When Is Credit Better than Cash?	51
	Resources	55
4.	How Does Your Credit Rate?	58
	Your Credit Report	58
	Know the Score	73
	Resources	89
5.	Protect Your Credit--and Yourself!	92
	Credit Card Fraud	93
	Identity Theft	95
	Resources	117
6.	Solving Credit and Debt Problems	138
	When You've Assumed Too Much Debt	138
	First, Check for Mistakes	139
	Three Ways to Figure Out Where You Stand	140
	Using Your Computer to Improve Your Credit Management	157
	Resources	159
7.	When Bills Go to Collections	163
	The Collections Process	165
	How Do Collections Agencies Find You?	165
	Your Rights	166
	What If the Collection Agency Breaks the Law?	170
	Dealing with Collection Agencies	172
	When Agencies Take Legal Action	175
	Resources	179
8.	Bail Yourself Out	181
	Bankruptcy	186
	Chapter 13 Bankruptcy	187
	Chapter 7 Bankruptcy	190
	Financial Life after Bankruptcy	191
	Resources	192
	Index	195