Getting Personal
Business columnist Sheryl Harris of the Cleveland Plain Dealer helps Tess Vigeland tackle your money questions -- from what should be done with old financial documents to how a college student should handle a billing mix up.
Getting Personal (Marketplace)
Links
- Audio: Getting Personal: Part 2
Tess Vigeland is back with Sheryl Harris of the Cleveland Plain Dealer to answer your questions about personal finance. This time they take on what to do when you've been passed over for a job because of your credit and how to time an extended trip abroad.
Comments
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From CA, 11/11/2009
Re the woman with a desk full of old financial records, I was surprised that Cheryl and Tess did not suggest that she take them to a shredding company or to her town's annual free shredding day. Both the city of Mountain View and my neighborhood association hire shredding trucks to come to a convenient parking lot once a year. E-waste is collected at the same time, which pays for the shredding cost.
From Durham, NC, 11/11/2009
I don't see how loss of a job is reported on a credit report, unless the report is updated to indicate "no current employment." But that should be no surprise a potential employer, evaluating the individual as an applicant.
As for correcting your record, I recently had accounts closed by Citigroup due to "negative" incidents on my Equifax credit record. I reviewed my Equifax record online (for free), and found 3 discrepancies. I was able to file a dispute/correction for them immediately, and only had to fax them my photo id and a power bill as confirmation. No lawyer was required. Of course, the caller's experience might've been different and required more in-depth documentation.
By the way, Cheryl did parents a disservice claiming that "once you have children you can never travel." I'm confident that she was joking, but hey -- you CAN travel with kids, and it can be an adventure they'll remember all their lives.
11/09/2009
Your expert said losing a job would negatively affect one's credit score.
Is this because you tend to not pay off your debt on time?
Does losing a job directly affect a credit score, even if the bill is paid off every month?
From Winchester, VA, 11/07/2009
I did not understand your comment to the couple who was planning an extende trip around the world about being unable to travel with children. We just took our 9 year old son on a trip to Japan, Thailand and Germany and we really enjoyed our trip. Traveling with children is wonderful and educational.We have been to Europe numerous times and always enjoyed our son's company.
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