Staff writer

Dana Whitcomb

13 articles · mostly Personal Finance Tips

Articles

Personal Finance Tips
Where Medical Debt on Credit Reports Stands After the 2025 Changes
Federal and state rules have shifted since 2025, but the sources leave the current picture unsettled, so checking the latest position yourself matters.
Dana WhitcombNov 3, 2026
Personal Finance Tips
How to Fix a Mistake on Your Credit Report, Step by Step
Find the error, dispute it in writing with both the credit bureau and the company that reported it, and track the clock while you wait for an answer.
Dana WhitcombNov 1, 2026
Personal Finance Tips
How to Get Your Free Credit Reports Without Falling for the Detours
Request your reports from the official source, choose the method that suits you, and walk away from any site that asks you to pay first.
Dana WhitcombOct 25, 2026
Personal Finance Tips
How a Credit Freeze Works, and What It Can't Do
A free freeze can block new accounts from being opened in your name, but only if you place it with all three bureaus and know its limits.
Dana WhitcombOct 17, 2026
Personal Finance Tips
Credit Freeze or Fraud Alert: Which One Protects You?
Both tools guard your credit file, but a freeze is the more direct block, and the federal sources say far less about fraud alerts than their names suggest.
Dana WhitcombOct 10, 2026
Personal Finance Tips
What to Do in the First Day After a Stolen Debit Card
Calling your bank quickly, noting the unauthorized charges, and knowing the federal deadlines can limit what you owe.
Dana WhitcombOct 3, 2026
Personal Finance Tips
What to Do When Someone Charges Your Credit Card Without Permission
Federal rules cap what you may owe for unauthorized credit card charges, but how much protection you get depends on how quickly you act.
Dana WhitcombSep 26, 2026
Personal Finance Tips
How Fast You Report a Stolen Debit Card Changes What You Owe
Federal rules cap your losses on unauthorized debit card transfers, but the caps depend on deadlines you can track yourself.
Dana WhitcombSep 18, 2026
Personal Finance Tips
How to Respond to a Debt Collector Without Panicking
A calm, written reply gives you time to verify the debt, protect your rights, and build a record if the situation escalates.
Dana WhitcombSep 11, 2026
Personal Finance Tips
How to Use a Debt Validation Notice, Step by Step
A debt validation notice lets you check what a collector says you owe, and a timely written dispute can pause collection on the amount in question.
Dana WhitcombSep 4, 2026
Personal Finance Tips
What Federal Law Lets Debt Collectors Say, When They Can Call, and Who They Can Tell
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act sets clear limits on statements, timing, and third-party contact, though public sources leave out much of what comes next.
Dana WhitcombAug 27, 2026
Personal Finance Tips
When an Old Debt Can No Longer Be Enforced in Court
A debt can stay on the books long after a creditor loses the right to sue, and the answer depends on the debt type, your state, and the wording of your agreement.
Dana WhitcombAug 20, 2026

Where Medical Debt on Credit Reports Stands After the 2025 Changes

How to Fix a Mistake on Your Credit Report, Step by Step

How to Get Your Free Credit Reports Without Falling for the Detours

How a Credit Freeze Works, and What It Can't Do

Credit Freeze or Fraud Alert: Which One Protects You?

What to Do in the First Day After a Stolen Debit Card

What to Do When Someone Charges Your Credit Card Without Permission

How Fast You Report a Stolen Debit Card Changes What You Owe

How to Respond to a Debt Collector Without Panicking

How to Use a Debt Validation Notice, Step by Step

What Federal Law Lets Debt Collectors Say, When They Can Call, and Who They Can Tell

When an Old Debt Can No Longer Be Enforced in Court