Susie Skog knows Lake Norman Real Estate Inside Out

A late payment on a credit bill or other debt such as a mortgage can have a significant impact on your credit score. And the higher your credit score is to begin with, the more it can fall after a late payment.

Paying your bills on time is the best way to avoid this. If you dont make your payments and your account is turned over to a collections agency, you wont be able to get that account current again. Late payments can stay on a credit report for seven years.

Before it gets to that point, there are four ways to remove late payments from your credit report so that your score isnt affected:

Ask for a Goodwill Adjustment
Creditors can remove a late payment as a goodwill adjustment if you write a forgiveness letter explaining why you were late and asking that they forgive it and adjust your credit report.

Youll likely be successful if you have a good payment history with the creditor and havent asked for an adjustment previously.

Sign Up for Automatic Payments
Signing up for automatic payments with a creditor can be a way of negotiating the removal of a late payment entry. Automatic payments will help you and the creditor because your future payments will be made on time and you wont have to worry about missing another payment. Just make sure theres enough money in the account youre pulling from each month.

Dispute Inaccuracies
If a late payment is inaccurate, then you have the right to dispute it. The entry date or amount could be wrong, or it may not be your debt. Check your credit report regularly for inaccuracies"having proof for your dispute will help your case.

Hire a Pro
If these steps are not effective in your situation, you may want to consider hiring a professional credit repair service. These services can be faster than trying to fix your credit report on your own"though it can be an expensive option. Look at the companys costs and make sure youre not being charged a subscription plan for regular credit checks.

Federal law allows consumers to check their credit reports for free every 12 months from each credit reporting agency. Start at AnnualCreditReport.com and immediately correct any inaccuracies you see in your credit reports.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Should you prioritize paying off debt or saving for retirement?

If youre younger and have high-interest debt, tackle that first and pay beyond the minimum monthly rate.

Youll be able to stop wasting money on interest and then focus on long-term goals.

If you have low-interest debt but little retirement money, contribute to a 401(k) or IRA first, especially if youre older.

If you have debt with moderate interest rates, some retirement funds and decades left to save, strike a balance.

Consider your circumstances, and figure out what makes sense for you.

When it comes to financial priorities, the answer isnt one-size-fits-all.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Reacting quickly is essential after youve been the victim of identity theft. It can lessen the damage by thieves and lower the stress of having your credit card lost or stolen.

You may notice when you get home that your credit card is missing. Or you may get an email from your credit card company that there is some suspicious activity on your account.

Whatever alerts you to identity theft, here are some steps to take immediately after realizing it:

Get on the phone

Depending on the circumstances, you may want to first call the police to report a crime. If someone just grabbed your purse and ran away, the police are obviously the first agency to contact.

Next, call your credit card company and ask that it cancel your credit card and send you a new one immediately. If any charges were made by the thieves, the credit card company should remove them.

With anyone you contact about this theft, be sure to take notes of the names, dates, times, phone numbers and badge numbers of people youve talked to. You may need the information later to track down a police report.

Ask for a fraud alert

Calling one of the three major credit bureaus and reporting an identity theft will allow the credit bureau to put a fraud alert on all three your credit reports within 24 hours. The credit reporting agency must alert the other agencies when a fraud alert is requested, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

A fraud alert requires creditors who check your credit report to verify your identity before opening a new account, issuing an additional card or approving a credit limit increase request.

An initial fraud alert lasts for 90 days. It requires creditors to confirm you are who you say you are, such as by calling you to verify a credit request. An extended fraud alert can be placed on your credit report for seven years, requiring the same alerts to verify who you are.

Consider a credit freeze

You can also request a freeze on your credit reports to stop identity thieves from opening new accounts in your name.

A security freeze prevents new creditors from accessing your credit report, which most businesses require to open credit accounts. A freeze wont stop thieves from taking over existing accounts.

Check credit reports

After youve taken the immediate steps needed to deal with identity theft, be sure to periodically check your credit reports, especially in the first year after you discovered the identity theft.

Youre entitled to three free credit reports per year, so take advantage of them and be on the lookout for erroneous information.

Hope you found these tips helpful! Contact me for more insights and info.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Everything old is new again, and that goes for decorating with color. While the last decade in home dcor has largely been defined by white and varying shades of beige and gray, todays designers are harking back to yesteryear with paint colors, furniture and even kitchen appliances.

Part art deco, part 50s suburban and part 60s mod, these awesome retro colors are fresh and refreshed to fit todays tastes, say the color mavens at Sherwin Williams, whose wall color faves this year include shades of pink, aqua and pale or mustard yellows with accents of slate or peppery coral"great ways to set off the stark white of baseboards, crown moldings and door frames.

Big Chill, a retro appliance company launched in 2001, is finding huge success with its growing line of refrigerators, stoves and dishwashers in pink, aqua, yellow and more that bring a spirit of nostalgia to todays kitchens, along with their high-tech efficiency.

Small kitchen appliances from crockpots to mixers and toasters are now available in a wide range of bold and retro colors, and look for pink velvet, pale blue and teal sofas from a variety of furniture design companies as vintage furnishings make a huge comeback.

You might also find bright orange and sage green shantung side chairs, shabby-chic and pastel-colored buffets and bookshelves and other accessories, and dont miss the lighting display in most home stores, where Tiffany lamps and vintage shades are gaining ground in sales.

A roomful of these vintage colors can make you feel a little nostalgic, a little happier and a little more optimistic. What more could anyone ask for?

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Adults aged 65 and older are at higher risk for dangerous falls.

Fall-related injuries can make it difficult for people to get around or live on their own.

If youre at risk, talk openly with your doctor and review all the medicines you take, especially if you feel woozy.

Have your eyes checked annually, and update your eyeglasses if necessary.

Stay active! Consider exercises to improve balance and strength, such as Tai Chi.

Wear well-fitting shoes with good support.

Many falls happen at home, so remove items you can trip over.

Have grab bars installed and put non-slip mats in the bathroom.

To stay safe, use caution at all times.

Published with permission from RISMedia.