Not really, but reports indicate more Americans are being threatened with jail -- or jailed -- for failing to pay their bills.
It's good news for the auto industry, but can mean bad things for credit-poor buyers.
She cannot get a bank account, and her application for a secured credit card was turned down.
A debt collector is dinging customers' credit over unpaid late fees, which many say they don't owe. Montana has sued, and Kansas calls the effort a 'possible scam.'
Big changes are in the works for credit cards this year, as issuers try to make them more profitable.
Agency suggests states enact reforms to give consumers more protection in court proceedings brought by debt buyers.
Failing to fully repay a loan is bad. Why that happened -- carelessness, greed, or naive foolishness -- is relatively unimportant.
Oregon joins Washington and Hawaii in limiting employer credit checks. Opponents say employers need the information.
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TOP STOCKS
The Dow jumps 109 points after rising as many as 191. Oil-price jitters and rising rates trim gains. Those factors and the Fed may weigh on markets Tuesday.
MARKET DISPATCHES
The Market Dispatches column has been discontinued. Here's where to find the latest stock and business news on MSN Money, and the latest from market writer Charley Blaine.
FRUGAL COOL
Starting Monday, this site is joining forces with MSN Money Smart Spending. Here's why.
MONEY & POLITICS
Breaking up big banks is an untested solution to the too big to fail problem that attempts to isolate and dismantle large, troubled institutions while protecting the rest of the economy.
SMART SPENDING
Children from lower income families are at greater risk of suffering accidental injuries and being sickened by food, according to a Consumer Federation of America study.
SMART TAXES
The IRS is struggling to combat identify thieves who file fraudulent tax returns in the names of older residents who don't need to file.
