Loans

No a car loan is not bad for your credit scores, but not know your current situation makes answering this question fully. Information about your credit score. 1. Payment History (35% of score).The first thing any lender wants to know is whether you have paid your past credit accounts on time. The payment history factor of credit scoring takes into account: Payment information on many types of accounts. These include credit cards (such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover), retail accounts (credit from stores where you do business, such as department store or gas station credit cards), installment loans (loans where you make regular payments, such as car loans), finance company accounts and mortgage loans. Public record and collection items. These include reports of events such as bankruptcies, judgments, suits, liens, wage attachments and collection items. These are considered quite serious, although older items count less than more recent ones. Details on late or missed payments and public record and collection items. A 30-day late payment is not as risky as a 90-day late payment, in and of itself. But recently and frequency count too. A 30-day late payment made just a month ago will count more than a 90-day late payment from five years ago. Note that closing an account on which you had previously missed a payment does not make the late payment disappear from your credit report. How many accounts show no late payments? A good track record on most of your credit accounts will increase your credit score.

2. Amounts Owed (30% of score).Owing money on different credit accounts does not mean you're a high-risk borrower with a low score. However, owing a great deal of money on many accounts can indicate that a person is overextended, and is more likely to make some payments late or not at all. Part of the science of scoring is determining how much is too much for a given credit profile. This factor takes into account: The amount owed on all accounts. Even if you pay your credit cards in full every month, your credit report may show a balance on those cards. The total balance on your last statement is generally the amount that will show in your credit report. The amount owed on all accounts, and on different types of accounts. In addition to the overall amount you owe, the score considers the amount you owe on specific types of accounts, such as credit cards and installment loans. Whether you are showing a balance on certain types of accounts. In some cases, having a very small balance without missing a payment shows that you have managed credit responsibly, and may be slightly better than no balance at all. On the other hand, closing unused credit accounts that show zero balances and that are in good standing will not generally raise your score. How many accounts have balances? A large number can indicate higher risk of over-extension. How much of the total credit line is being used on credit cards and other "revolving credit" accounts. Someone closer to "maxing out" on many credit cards may have trouble making payments in the future. How much of installment loan accounts are still owed, compared with the original loan amounts. For example, if you borrowed 3,000 to buy a car and you have paid back 3,000, you owe (with interest) more than 80% of the original loan. Paying down installment loans is a good sign that you are able and willing to manage and repay debt.

3. Length of Credit History (15% of score). In general, a longer credit history will increase your score. However, even people with short credit histories may get high scores, depending on how the rest of the credit report looks. This factor takes into account: * How long your credit accounts have been established, in general. The score considers both the age of your oldest account and an average age of all your accounts. * How long specific credit accounts have been established. * How long it has been since you used certain accounts.

4. New Credit (10% of score). Research shows that opening several credit accounts in a short period of time represents greater risk, especially for people who do not have a long-established credit history. This also extends to requests for credit, as indicated by "inquiries" to the credit reporting agencies (an inquiry is a request by a lender to get a copy of your credit report). This factor takes into account: How long it has been since you opened a new account. How many new accounts you have. How many recent requests for credit you have made, as indicated by inquiries to the credit reporting agencies. Be assured, however, that if you request a copy of your credit report to check it for accuracy - which is always a good idea - it will not affect your score. This is considered a "consumer-initiated inquiry," not an indication that you are seeking new credit. Also, your score is unaffected by lender inquiries into your credit report for purposes of making you a "pre-approved" credit offer, or for reviewing your account with them, even though these inquiries may show up on your credit report. Length of time since credit report inquiries were made by lenders. Record of recent credit history following past payment problems. Re-establishing credit and making payments on time after a period of late payment behavior will help to raise a score over time.

5. Types of Credit in Use (10% of score). This factor considers your mix of credit types: credit cards, retail accounts, installment loans, finance company accounts and mortgage loans. It also looks at the total number of accounts you have; for different credit profiles, how many is too many will vary. This means it is not necessary to have one of each type, nor is it a good idea to open credit accounts you don't intend to use. The credit mix is generally not a key factor in determining your score - unless your credit report does not have a lot of other information upon which to base a score.

Why Do Credit Scores Vary? The major credit reporting agencies - Experian, Equifax and Trans Union - consider only the data in your credit report at that particular agency. Since different lenders report to different agencies, one firm may generate a different score than another one. Below is a way of interpreting your credit score. Given the current credit score stats, how does this relate to your own personal score? Generally, if your score is higher than 660, you will be considered a good credit risk. If your score is below 620, then you might have a tougher time getting a loan. The following ratings explain the impact of the different score ranges: * 720-850 - Excellent- This represents the best score range and best financing terms. * 700-719 - Very Good - Qualifies a person for favorable financing. * 675-699 - Average - A score in this range will usually qualify for most loans. * 620-674 - Sub-prime - May still qualify, but will pay higher interest. * 560-619 - Risky - Will have trouble obtaining a loan. * 500-559 - Very Risky - Need to work on improving your rating. If you want to learn more about credit scores and how to improve yours: Take a look at Phil Turner's Credit Bible. You should find valuable information on fixing and improving your credit. No, but there are many factors you must consider. You have have a good mixture of credit for a great score. If you want to learn more about credit scores and how to improve yours: Take a look at Phil Turner's Credit Bible. You should find valuable information on fixing and improving your credit. Here are some excerpts about your credit score: 1. Payment History (35% of score).The first thing any lender wants to know is whether you have paid your past credit accounts on time. The payment history factor of credit scoring takes into account: Payment information on many types of accounts. These include credit cards (such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover), retail accounts (credit from stores where you do business, such as department store or gas station credit cards), installment loans (loans where you make regular payments, such as car loans), finance company accounts and mortgage loans. Public record and collection items. These include reports of events such as bankruptcies, judgments, suits, liens, wage attachments and collection items. These are considered quite serious, although older items count less than more recent ones. Details on late or missed payments and public record and collection items. A 30-day late payment is not as risky as a 90-day late payment, in and of itself. But recently and frequency count too. A 30-day late payment made just a month ago will count more than a 90-day late payment from five years ago. Note that closing an account on which you had previously missed a payment does not make the late payment disappear from your credit report. How many accounts show no late payments? A good track record on most of your credit accounts will increase your credit score.

2. Amounts Owed (30% of score).Owing money on different credit accounts does not mean you're a high-risk borrower with a low score. However, owing a great deal of money on many accounts can indicate that a person is overextended, and is more likely to make some payments late or not at all. Part of the science of scoring is determining how much is too much for a given credit profile. This factor takes into account: The amount owed on all accounts. Even if you pay your credit cards in full every month, your credit report may show a balance on those cards. The total balance on your last statement is generally the amount that will show in your credit report. The amount owed on all accounts, and on different types of accounts. In addition to the overall amount you owe, the score considers the amount you owe on specific types of accounts, such as credit cards and installment loans. Whether you are showing a balance on certain types of accounts. In some cases, having a very small balance without missing a payment shows that you have managed credit responsibly, and may be slightly better than no balance at all. On the other hand, closing unused credit accounts that show zero balances and that are in good standing will not generally raise your score. How many accounts have balances? A large number can indicate higher risk of over-extension. How much of the total credit line is being used on credit cards and other "revolving credit" accounts. Someone closer to "maxing out" on many credit cards may have trouble making payments in the future. How much of installment loan accounts are still owed, compared with the original loan amounts. For example, if you borrowed 3,000 to buy a car and you have paid back 3,000, you owe (with interest) more than 80% of the original loan. Paying down installment loans is a good sign that you are able and willing to manage and repay debt.

3. Length of Credit History (15% of score). In general, a longer credit history will increase your score. However, even people with short credit histories may get high scores, depending on how the rest of the credit report looks. This factor takes into account: * How long your credit accounts have been established, in general. The score considers both the age of your oldest account and an average age of all your accounts. * How long specific credit accounts have been established. * How long it has been since you used certain accounts.

4. New Credit (10% of score). Research shows that opening several credit accounts in a short period of time represents greater risk, especially for people who do not have a long-established credit history. This also extends to requests for credit, as indicated by "inquiries" to the credit reporting agencies (an inquiry is a request by a lender to get a copy of your credit report). This factor takes into account: How long it has been since you opened a new account. How many new accounts you have. How many recent requests for credit you have made, as indicated by inquiries to the credit reporting agencies. Be assured, however, that if you request a copy of your credit report to check it for accuracy - which is always a good idea - it will not affect your score. This is considered a "consumer-initiated inquiry," not an indication that you are seeking new credit. Also, your score is unaffected by lender inquiries into your credit report for purposes of making you a "pre-approved" credit offer, or for reviewing your account with them, even though these inquiries may show up on your credit report. Length of time since credit report inquiries were made by lenders. Record of recent credit history following past payment problems. Re-establishing credit and making payments on time after a period of late payment behavior will help to raise a score over time.

5. Types of Credit in Use (10% of score). This factor considers your mix of credit types: credit cards, retail accounts, installment loans, finance company accounts and mortgage loans. It also looks at the total number of accounts you have; for different credit profiles, how many is too many will vary. This means it is not necessary to have one of each type, nor is it a good idea to open credit accounts you don't intend to use. The credit mix is generally not a key factor in determining your score - unless your credit report does not have a lot of other information upon which to base a score.

Why Do Credit Scores Vary? The major credit reporting agencies - Experian, Equifax and Trans Union - consider only the data in your credit report at that particular agency. Since different lenders report to different agencies, one firm may generate a different score than another one. Below is a way of interpreting your credit score. Given the current credit score stats, how does this relate to your own personal score? Generally, if your score is higher than 660, you will be considered a good credit risk. If your score is below 620, then you might have a tougher time getting a loan. The following ratings explain the impact of the different score ranges: * 720-850 - Excellent- This represents the best score range and best financing terms. * 700-719 - Very Good - Qualifies a person for favorable financing. * 675-699 - Average - A score in this range will usually qualify for most loans. * 620-674 - Sub-prime - May still qualify, but will pay higher interest. * 560-619 - Risky - Will have trouble obtaining a loan. * 500-559 - Very Risky - Need to work on improving your rating. If you want to learn more about credit scores and how to improve yours: Take a look at Phil Turner's Credit Bible. You should find valuable information on fixing and improving your credit. No, but there are many factors you must consider. You have have a good mixture of credit for a great score. If you want to learn more about credit scores and how to improve yours: Take a look at Phil Turner's Credit Bible. You should find valuable information on fixing and improving your credit. Here are some excerpts about your credit score: 1. Payment History (35% of score).The first thing any lender wants to know is whether you have paid your past credit accounts on time. The payment history factor of credit scoring takes into account: Payment information on many types of accounts. These include credit cards (such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover), retail accounts (credit from stores where you do business, such as department store or gas station credit cards), installment loans (loans where you make regular payments, such as car loans), finance company accounts and mortgage loans. Public record and collection items. These include reports of events such as bankruptcies, judgments, suits, liens, wage attachments and collection items. These are considered quite serious, although older items count less than more recent ones. Details on late or missed payments and public record and collection items. A 30-day late payment is not as risky as a 90-day late payment, in and of itself. But recently and frequency count too. A 30-day late payment made just a month ago will count more than a 90-day late payment from five years ago. Note that closing an account on which you had previously missed a payment does not make the late payment disappear from your credit report. How many accounts show no late payments? A good track record on most of your credit accounts will increase your credit score.

2. Amounts Owed (30% of score).Owing money on different credit accounts does not mean you're a high-risk borrower with a low score. However, owing a great deal of money on many accounts can indicate that a person is overextended, and is more likely to make some payments late or not at all. Part of the science of scoring is determining how much is too much for a given credit profile. This factor takes into account: The amount owed on all accounts. Even if you pay your credit cards in full every month, your credit report may show a balance on those cards. The total balance on your last statement is generally the amount that will show in your credit report. The amount owed on all accounts, and on different types of accounts. In addition to the overall amount you owe, the score considers the amount you owe on specific types of accounts, such as credit cards and installment loans. Whether you are showing a balance on certain types of accounts. In some cases, having a very small balance without missing a payment shows that you have managed credit responsibly, and may be slightly better than no balance at all. On the other hand, closing unused credit accounts that show zero balances and that are in good standing will not generally raise your score. How many accounts have balances? A large number can indicate higher risk of over-extension. How much of the total credit line is being used on credit cards and other "revolving credit" accounts. Someone closer to "maxing out" on many credit cards may have trouble making payments in the future. How much of installment loan accounts are still owed, compared with the original loan amounts. For example, if you borrowed 3,000 to buy a car and you have paid back 3,000, you owe (with interest) more than 80% of the original loan. Paying down installment loans is a good sign that you are able and willing to manage and repay debt.

3. Length of Credit History (15% of score). In general, a longer credit history will increase your score. However, even people with short credit histories may get high scores, depending on how the rest of the credit report looks. This factor takes into account: * How long your credit accounts have been established, in general. The score considers both the age of your oldest account and an average age of all your accounts. * How long specific credit accounts have been established. * How long it has been since you used certain accounts.

4. New Credit (10% of score). Research shows that opening several credit accounts in a short period of time represents greater risk, especially for people who do not have a long-established credit history. This also extends to requests for credit, as indicated by "inquiries" to the credit reporting agencies (an inquiry is a request by a lender to get a copy of your credit report). This factor takes into account: How long it has been since you opened a new account. How many new accounts you have. How many recent requests for credit you have made, as indicated by inquiries to the credit reporting agencies. Be assured, however, that if you request a copy of your credit report to check it for accuracy - which is always a good idea - it will not affect your score. This is considered a "consumer-initiated inquiry," not an indication that you are seeking new credit. Also, your score is unaffected by lender inquiries into your credit report for purposes of making you a "pre-approved" credit offer, or for reviewing your account with them, even though these inquiries may show up on your credit report. Length of time since credit report inquiries were made by lenders. Record of recent credit history following past payment problems. Re-establishing credit and making payments on time after a period of late payment behavior will help to raise a score over time.

5. Types of Credit in Use (10% of score). This factor considers your mix of credit types: credit cards, retail accounts, installment loans, finance company accounts and mortgage loans. It also looks at the total number of accounts you have; for different credit profiles, how many is too many will vary. This means it is not necessary to have one of each type, nor is it a good idea to open credit accounts you don't intend to use. The credit mix is generally not a key factor in determining your score - unless your credit report does not have a lot of other information upon which to base a score.

Why Do Credit Scores Vary? The major credit reporting agencies - Experian, Equifax and Trans Union - consider only the data in your credit report at that particular agency. Since different lenders report to different agencies, one firm may generate a different score than another one. Below is a way of interpreting your credit score. Given the current credit score stats, how does this relate to your own personal score? Generally, if your score is higher than 660, you will be considered a good credit risk. If your score is below 620, then you might have a tougher time getting a loan. The following ratings explain the impact of the different score ranges: * 720-850 - Excellent- This represents the best score range and best financing terms. * 700-719 - Very Good - Qualifies a person for favorable financing. * 675-699 - Average - A score in this range will usually qualify for most loans. * 620-674 - Sub-prime - May still qualify, but will pay higher interest. * 560-619 - Risky - Will have trouble obtaining a loan. * 500-559 - Very Risky - Need to work on improving your rating.

Preferred Ships Mortgages

Anyone who has ever stood on the shore's edge to feed ducks knows that the competition for your offerings can become fierce. Aside from the squabbling ducks, seagulls may be competing from above. Various fish may be competing from below. In the end, only the most viable competitors will leave with a full stomach. When the creditor of a vessel wishes to foreclose on its debt, a similar scene ensues. There may be various liens on a vessel and each lien holder hopes to collect its claim in full. However, maritime law assigns preference to the various liens, which means that some claimants in the distribution process will not be paid. Historically, under the laws of maritime, a mortgage was not considered a maritime contract. Thus, it could not be foreclosed under maritime law and it was given low preference among creditors that sought to reclaim debts owed by a vessel. Congress saw that this loophole in the common law gave little incentive to finance a vessel. For that reason, among others, it enacted the Ship Mortgage Act, which created the Preferred Ship Mortgage. The Preferred Ship Mortgage provides the financer of a vessel competitive status among competing claims that might arise against a vessel. The lender of an ocean vessel, if eligible, should always secure its loan with a Preferred Ship Mortgage. Otherwise, in that unfortunate event where the lender must foreclose, it will rank almost last among the various maritime creditors that may be competing to collect on a vessel's proceeds. Historically, the only other viable option for the lender was to secure its loan with a bottomry bond. However, under maritime law, a debt that is secured by a bottomry bond will be discharged if the ship itself is lost. Thus, the bottomry bond today remains an option for only the daredevil or thrill seeking lender. A lender, under the Ship Mortgage Act, may also take advantage of the statute's provision that bars any limit on interest rate which may be charged. A high interest rate may still be attacked under state usury laws. Recent cases, however, tend to uphold mortgage interest rates that are attacked on this basis. While ship mortgages, under the Ship Mortgage Act, are termed "preferred", it is important to note that other liens on a vessel will still be given higher priority. Those include certain claims by employees of the vessel, salvage claims, tort liens, and general average liens. Because the Preferred Ship Mortgage is a statutory creation, it is vital to a ship mortgagee that it strictly adheres to the statutory requirements. Otherwise, it will lose its distribution priority and its attempts to foreclose on debts owed will be futile. A mortgage holder's failure to adhere to federal procedures for mortgage creation and enforcement could even result in its total inability to collect on a debt. The creation of a Preferred Ship Mortgage requires both eligibility requirements and documentation requirements. Among the eligibility requirements, the vessel owner must be a United States citizen and the vessel must be constructed in the United States. Proper and effective documentation requires close adherence to time, place, and manner procedures. Foremost, the financer must be sure that it is securing the "whole" vessel, including its appurtenances to be given "preferred" status. A mortgage can cover more than one vessel. What are the consequences if a borrower defaults? The Ship Mortgage Act provides two primary enforcement remedies against a deficient borrower. The lender may enforce its lien against the vessel itself in a federal court. The lender may also bring an action against the vessel's owner in either federal or state court. The Preferred Ship Mortgage itself will often contain a provision that empowers the mortgage holder to utilize self help methods for repossessing the vessel upon default. The typical bank is probably not going to foreclose on a vessel after a single missed payment or contractual infraction. The vessel owner will probably receive a letter from its lender that identifies the default and how that default should be cured. It may also inform the borrower of its intent to foreclose on the vessel if the borrower is unable to cure its default. Then, if the borrower remains in default, he or she should expect that the vessel will be arrested and repossessed. The repossessed vessel will then be sold in either a private or public auction/sale. The Ship Mortgage Act and Federal Judicial Sales Act provide procedures for the judicial sale of a foreclosed vessel. If the lender followed proper federal procedures, the borrower should also expect that further action will be taken against her personally to collect any deficiency between the debt owed and amount received from the vessel's sale. If federal procedures were not properly followed, courts are inconsistent in whether they will apply state law to allow for a deficiency judgment. A Federal Circuit Court summarized the Ship Mortgage Act as fulfilling three important purposes: "it set forth the requirements for recording preferred mortgages, established that only maritime liens would have priority over ship mortgages, and provided for a means of enforcing preferred mortgage liens in admiralty." Dietrich v. Key Bank, 72 F.3d 1509 (11th Cir. 1996). The peculiar nature of Admiralty law requires that both lender and borrower consider applicability of the Act when analyzing their lending/borrowing options. We recommend that out banking clients always use Preferred Ships Mortgages where the requirements can be met. If you are a borrower under a Preferred Ships Mortgage, it is important to read the agreement so you know your rights and responsibilities. In the event of a dispute, it is imperative that one obtain representation that is familiar with this interesting, but complex, area of the law.

implications of extending more liberalcredit terms to customersspecially consider the actual cost of retaining customers when all that many

... and compare this with the huge costs of acquiring a new customer. ....

Management; Employees; Existing customers; Potential customers ... Dealing with

emotional people, and solving problems with significant emotional implications,