Lifestyle and Budget

Credit card debt has generally declined across the U.S., but Alaskans continue to carry much higher credit card balances than cardholders elsewhere.

Paying the minimum amount could leave you in debt forever. Here's the way to pay it off feasibly.

It'll take a while for unpaid collections accounts to stop affecting your credit score.

Have credit issues in your past? You still might qualify for a home loan.

When you suffer a serious illness or injury, the bills can start stacking up fast.

When a customer disputes a charge directly with the card issuer, the merchant gets hit with a charge-back fee. Technically, you may be able to pass that on to the customer but it's probably not good business practice.

Rising home values and low interest rates are a powerful combination for homeowners looking for more financial breathing room.

Credit checks for mortgages go deep and collection efforts may restart, so even on a debt 13 years old, potential damage can linger.

With a computer or a smartphone, you can review a claim, set up a monthly repayment plan or even cut a debt settlement deal with an algorithm.

It's a new myth that closing a credit card account always hurts your score.

Paying the minimum amount could leave you in debt forever. Here's the way to pay it off feasibly.

Financial missteps can linger on your credit report for years. Here's how to fix them.

Saddled with expensive debt? Instead of looking for new creditors, figure out why you're in debt in the first place and what you can do to lower it.

For a price, lenders are willing to forget your old credit sins, as long as you have enough income to prevent any new ones.

Unless you signed a contract to pay for your parent's debt, it's not your problem.

You'll have to go to court, but the statute of limitations determines if you must pay the debt.

Balance transfer offers aren't lifelines offered to people with bad credit, they're a deal for those who maintain good credit.

Making minimum payments on your cards may not be enough to keep your credit score high.

Your debt was forgiven. So why is the debt collector contacting your family and friends?

So you’re looking to negotiate a settlement or a payment plan with a debt collector? Here are the critical things you need in order to do that.