ABA Family Legal Guide

Consumer Credit

Credit can work well for consumers, but there is a potential downside. Many people have overextended themselves by using credit to buy products now and pay for them later. They consume rather than save, and become mired in staggering credit card debt with high interest rates. They struggle to make minimum payments and find themselves with limited options.

This chapter will explain credit and its costs, break down the credit application process, discuss the major consumer credit protection statutes, explain the credit reporting process, and delve into fair debt collection practices.

1. Credit Basics
2. Credit Cards
1. Choosing a Credit Card
2. Protections for the Consumer
3. Protections for Consumers Who Lease Products
3. Applying for Credit
1. The Credit Score
2. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act
3. Denial of a Credit Application
4. Credit Insurance
4. Credit Records
1. Establishing a Credit Record
2. Credit and Divorce
3. Checking Your Credit Record
4. Maintaining a Good Credit Record
5. Correcting Credit Mistakes
6. Defective Goods and Services
7. Lost or Stolen Credit Cards
5. Debt, Debt Collection, and Credit Repair
1. How Much Debt Can You Handle?
2. Debt Collection and the Law
3. Credit Counseling