Individual

This article provides information on obtaining a free copy of your credit report from each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – once every 12 months. It also provides guidance on disputing incorrect information on your reports.

You've probably been receiving privacy notices from banks and other financial companies. This article explains the federal law that require the notices and that protect your financial privacy. These laws give you the right to stop (opt out of) some sharing of your personal financial information. The laws also require that you will receive privacy notices from your financial institutions.

If you don’t make timely payments on the vehicle, your creditor may have the right to “repossess” — or take back your car without going to court or warning you in advance. Your creditor also may be able to sell your contract to a third party who may have the same right to seize the car as the original creditor. This website discusses the requirements for seizing and reselling your car for nonpayment. It explains deficiency - the difference between what you owe on your loan and what your creditor gets for reselling your car.

This special edition of FDIC Consumer News puts special focus on staying focused and avoiding costly decisions during major life events.

Your liability for fraudulent credit card charges is $50, but that doesn’t stop scam artists from peddling “loss protection” services.

This website, with downloadable brochure provides information on common foreclosure prevention scams, tips for detecting fraudulent deals, and resources for reporting criminal activity.

If you have old debts, collectors may not be able to sue you to collect on them. That's because debt collectors have a limited number of years — known as the statute of limitations — to sue you to collect. After that, your unpaid debts are considered "time-barred." According to the law, a debt collector cannot sue you for not paying a debt that's time-barred. This article provides information on debt collection for debts that are past the statute of limitations.

This website explains how payday loans loans work, and cautions that they come at a very high price. The site provides suggestions and alternatives.

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits credit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or because you get public assistance.

If you apply for a mortgage or a personal loan, you may hear the term credit insurance. What is it and do you need it?