Consumer Debt

Inequality's Rising, But It's Not The Kind You Think

The Huffington Post | Alexander Eichler | Posted 05.02.2012

There's a gap between America's richest citizens and everybody else. And that gap has been growing larger for years. No, it's not income inequality...

Debt Collectors Want To Be Your Friend On Facebook

The Huffington Post | Alexander Eichler | Posted 04.24.2012

Your Facebook profile can and will be used against you. A recent segment on KDVR, the Fox affiliate for Denver, reminds us that collection agencie...

Debt Collectors Increasingly Using Abusive Threats, Insults, Lies: Report

The Huffington Post | Alexander Eichler | Posted 04.13.2012

It's a debt collector's job to be nasty. And lately, they've performing that task quite well. Debt collectors have been adopting increasingly unpl...

In America, A Rising Tide Lifts Only Some Boats

The Huffington Post | Alexander Eichler | Posted 04.10.2012

It doesn't just seem like America is dividing into two nations -- one where luxury spending is going strong, the other where more and more people can'...

We're Paying Off Our Bills On Time Again!

Reuters | Posted 04.06.2012

* ABA: loan delinquencies fell in 11 categories it tracks * Group says overall delinquency levels still high * Increased...

Burdened By Debt? Tell Us Your Story

Posted 03.28.2012

Burdened by debt? You're far from alone. The financial crisis left millions of American families struggling with their own personal debt crises. T...

Report: 38% of Us Can't Afford a Financial Emergency

Justine Rivero | Posted 05.20.2012

Justine Rivero

Nearly 4 out of 10 consumers admit to having just enough money to pay their monthly bills with no cushion leftover for financial emergencies, reveals a new study.

Make My Phone Stop Ringing and You Just Might End Up in the White House!

Bill Bartmann | Posted 05.07.2012

Bill Bartmann

The targets for debt collectors have doubled in the last decade, with 14 percent of U.S. consumers today subject to debt collection. This 14 percent represents tens of millions of voters.

Loren Berlin

Trapped in $120,000 of Student Debt

HuffingtonPost.com | Loren Berlin | Posted 03.15.2012

In what is truly a sign that America's system of higher education is morphing into a strange and dangerous beast, Ben Bernanke -- the nation's top ban...

Alabama's Largest City Looks For Alternatives To Payday Lenders

The Huffington Post | Alexander Eichler | Posted 02.10.2012

The biggest city in Alabama is putting its payday lenders on notice. Bankers and community leaders in Birmingham, Alabama met Thursday to discuss d...

Consumer Debt Buyer To Pay Millions To Settle Deception Allegations

AP | By JENNIFER C. KERR | Posted 01.30.2012

WASHINGTON -- One of the nation's largest consumer debt buyers will pay a $2.5 million civil fine to settle deception allegations. The Federal Trade ...

Fewer Women Means Men More Likely To Spend More, Save Less

The Huffington Post | Jillian Berman | Posted 01.23.2012

Men looking to save money should probably head some place where there are a lot of women. Men are more likely to spend money quickly and go into h...

Consumer Delinquencies Fell To Pre-Recession Levels Last Quarter

Reuters | Posted 03.05.2012

WASHINGTON, Jan 4 (Reuters) - More consumers made their home equity loan payments on time in the third quarter of 2011 and a broad measure of consum...

Card Hub's 6 Credit Predictions for 2012 Offer Glimpse of Future for Consumers' Wallets

Odysseas Papadimitriou | Posted 02.25.2012

Odysseas Papadimitriou

The credit industry affects all facets of personal finance and being ahead of the curve when it comes to credit issues could certainly help you save money and thereby lower stress. At the very least, you might learn something new!

Consumers Upped Borrowing In October, Signaling A Boost In Confidence

AP | DEREK KRAVITZ | Posted 02.06.2012

WASHINGTON — Americans stepped up their borrowing in October to buy cars and attend college, and they also charged a little more to their credit...

Households Continue To Dig Out From Recession Losses

Posted 11.28.2011

WASHINGTON - Consumer debt fell during July through September, pushed down by declines in mortgage balances, the New York Federal Reserve said on...

In Many States, Borrowers In Debt Could End Up In Jail

The Huffington Post | Jillian Berman | Posted 11.22.2011

Not paying off debts can eventually land you in jail -- at least in a sizable minority of U.S. states. Borrowers who can't or don't pay their debts...

Janell Ross

Occupy Wall Street: Zuccotti Park Protesters Give Banks A Haircut

HuffingtonPost.com | Janell Ross | Posted 12.24.2011

The barbers positioned themselves on Monday near the front of Zuccotti Park, just behind the police barricades on Broadway. A motley collection of ...

Restore Detroit, Revive the Economy: My Letter to President Obama

Rep. Hansen Clarke | Posted 11.07.2011

Rep. Hansen Clarke

I write today to thank you for your advocacy on behalf of unemployed Americans and to urge you to consider innovative new ways to create jobs and spur economic growth.

Consumer Debt Stops Declining After Nine Consecutive Quarters [CHARTS]

The Huffington Post | Maxwell Strachan | Posted 07.10.2011

This post has been updated. By at least a few measures, U.S. consumers are doing slightly better these days. That's according to a new report by...

Consumer Bankruptcies Hit 5-Year High In 2010

Posted 05.25.2011

NEW YORK (By Jonathan Stempel) - The number of U.S. consumers who filed for bankruptcy protection in 2010 was the highest in five years, and the figu...

The Great American Credit Catastrophe Is Our Generation's 9/11

Michelle Kraus | Posted 05.25.2011

Michelle Kraus

The housing crisis is just one piece of the big, ugly mess of the consumer credit debacle. It seems to me that our president must call for immediate reform and take action through executive order.

Denver 's Debt: City

Denver Business Journal | Atlanta Business Chronicle | Posted 05.25.2011

Information services firm Experian considers Denver one of the most debt-burdened cities in America....

Why U.S. GDP Growth Is Unsustainable And The Recovery Will Fade: Edward Harrison

Credit Writedowns | Edward Harrison | Posted 05.25.2011

The US turned in a fairly robust quarter in Q1 2010, with real GDP growth meeting expectations at 3.2% annualized. This comes on the back of a very ro...

Giving Credit Where Credit Will Do: How the Banks Have Changed the Rules Halfway Through the Game

Nelson Montana | Posted 05.25.2011

Nelson Montana

The way it stands with credit card companies these days, you might be better off dealing with loan sharks. At least they'll warn you before breaking your legs. The banks sneak up behind you and do it.