We think you will be very happy with the new and improved Internet Search Provider section. It is very easy to use: Simply choose your state in the drop down menu and you’ll see a list of ISP’s that provide Internet access in your state.

The new setup and layout makes it easy to compare Internet access options, including dial-up Internet access, DSL internet access, cable internet access and more.

So, the next time you have a free 10 seconds, compare ISP’s and check out the latest deals in your area. You can also visit our ISP FAQs to learn about all kinds of ISP-related topics.

Posted in Site Updates, Internet Service | Permalink

A credit score is a number that is calculated based on an individual’s credit history, and it gives lenders a quick snapshot of consumers who are applying for credit or loans. This number helps companies estimate the level of risk associated with lending a specific consumer money or extending that consumer a line of credit. Generally speaking, consumers with higher FICO scores should be able to be approved for lower interest rates, which usually translates into lower payments.

A credit score can range from 300 to 900. The formula for exactly how the score is calculated is proprietary information and owned by Fair Isaac. Although there are several scoring methods, the score most commonly used by lenders in the United States is known as a FICO because of its origins with Fair Isaac and Company, traded publicly under the symbol FIC.

Fair Isaac is an independent company in the United States that came up with the scoring method and software used by banks and lenders, insurers and other businesses. Each of the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) worked with Fair Isaac in the early 1980’s to come up with their own scoring method.

The same end result can come through reviewing the actual credit report, which lenders may also do, the credit score is quicker and less subjective. The system awards points based on information in the credit report, and the resulting score is compared to that of other consumers with similar profiles.

Here is a breakdown of how your credit score is most likely determined:

35% of the score is based on your payment history and how timely you pay your bills. The score is affected by how many bills have been paid late, how many were sent out for collection, any bankruptcies, etc.

30% of the score is based on outstanding debt. How much do you owe on car or home loans? How many credit cards do you have that are at their credit limits? Generally speaking, the more cards you have near their limits, the lower your score will be. A good rule of thumb is to keep your card balances at 25% or less of their limits.

15% of the score is based on the length of time you have had credit. Generally speaking, the longer you’ve had established credit, the better it is for your overall credit score.

10% of the score is based on the number of inquiries on your report. If you’ve applied for a lot of credit cards or loans, you will have a lot of inquiries on your credit report. Generally speaking, these are bad for your score because they indicate that you may be in some kind of financial trouble or may be taking on a lot of debt (even if you haven’t used the cards or gotten the loans). Generally speaking, the more recent these inquiries are, the more they will affect your credit score (negatively). FICO scores only count inquiries from the past year.

10% of the score is based on the types of credit you currently have. The number of loans and available credit from credit cards you have can make a difference.

Each individual has his/her own unique credit history, so the above breakdowns may or may not relate exactly to his/her credit score. But the breakdowns do provide a good starting point for understanding your credit score, as well as steps that you can take to increase your credit score.

As a consumer, you can also get information on your own credit score by using myFICO, which is the consumer division of Fair Isaac. myFICO offers informative credit information products that help people understand actions they can take to improve and protect their overall financial health.

Posted in Credit Cards, Loans, Miscellaneous, Personal Finance | Permalink

Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI, is a type of insurance that insures the lender in case the buyer defaults on a specific loan. If the buyer defaults, the Insurance company will pay the lender for the portion of the loan that is insured. PMI is usually required by the lender or bank when buyer purchases a house with less than a 20% down payment.

This insurance protection is provided by private mortgage-insurance companies and enables lenders to accept lower down payments than they would normally accept. This allows a buyer to purchase a more expensive house without having to save up the required 20% down payment. However, the cost of PMI increases as a buyer’s down payment decreases, so, in a lot of cases, buyers want to try to put down as much as possible.

PMI premium is collected monthly along with the monthly payment. As the home’s equity increases, the buyer may qualify to have PMI removed. PMI does not give additional homeowners insurance coverage, but it does give the bank insurance just in case a buyer does not fulfill obligations (i.e. failure to make all mortgage payments).

If a buyer would like to cancel the PMI insurance at any point, he/she must get approval from the lender and any investor who may have purchased an interest in the mortgage. However, in most cases, the lender will allow cancellation of mortgage insurance when the loan is paid down to 80% of the original property value. It is also noteworthy that some lenders may require buyers to pay PMI for one or two years before they may apply to remove it.

You can find additional information on PMI, such as how to avoid paying a PMI, here.

You can also compare loan providers to find a lender that fits your needs. And be sure to utilize our loan glossary and loan FAQ for explanations of any loan-related terms and answers to commonly-asked questions about loans.

Posted in Loans, Personal Finance | Permalink

As of yesterday, you can now get answers to commonly asked questions about loans in our new Loan FAQ section.

This Loan FAQ section is the latest installment in our continous efforts to provide you the most information possible, and ultimately to help you make the most knowledgeable decisions possible.

The FAQ is broken down into three categories: Questions about home loans, questions about student loans and questions about debt consolidation. If you don’t see the question you were looking for, please contact us.

Also, in case you didn’t already know, this Loan FAQ joins our FAQ group that already includes:

· Cell Phone FAQ
· Credit Card FAQ
· Internet Service FAQ
· Long Distance FAQ
· Web Hosting FAQ

Read up!

Posted in Site Updates, Loans, Personal Finance | Permalink

We found an informational article written by the FCC (federal communications commission) that will answer many questions you have had about your cell phone. It is a quick read and one that will surely help answer some common questions you may have regarding what is fact and what is fiction when it comes to cell phone information.

For example, did you know that to receive emergency assistance from your cell phone, 911 is the number to call in most areas of the United States? Or that in order to be able to place a call while you are outside the United States, you must have a digital cell phone that is designed for use on the network in the country where you will be traveling?

Also, did you know that it is possible to change your cell phone plan during your contract? It sometimes is as simple as calling your cell phone provider and asking them to make a switch. But be sure to always check and see if there are any penalties associated with making a change. Most of the time, there is no penalty.

You can find more answers to questions like these when you read Cell Phones: Fact, Fiction and Frequency.

The last section of the article focuses on reviewing your needs to determine the best plan for you before going shopping. There are great questions you should ask yourself before purchasing a cell phone online or in a store.

And, in case you are not aware, e-wisdom.com allows you to compare cell phones, rate plans and carriers quickly and easily. And you can purchase a new phone and/or plan online. Our clear comparisons can save you a lot of money and time. In fact, you may be a bit surprised by the deals that are now available to you regarding online cell phone purchases. Just enter your zip code to get started and see what is available in your area.

Posted in Cell Phones | Permalink

There are always many options when it comes to choosing a long distance service but when it comes to International calls, the affordable options are far fewer.

Below are two International calling companies that won’t break the bank even if you are using your cellphone to make those calls. The first one is with Gorilla Mobile, and the second is using Skype.

With Gorilla Mobile you can make cheap international phone calls from your cellphone by dialing either a toll free number before you dial the international number for a .15 cent fee, or by dialing the New York Gorilla Mobile Access Number, making your international call next after you hear a tone. Gorilla Mobile connects your international calls for you - your cell phone carrier has nothing to do with it.

Gorilla Mobile charges a low annual fee of $5.95 per account (as of 12/14/06). You can register up to 10 mobile and 10 home lines per account. They offer simple online billing statements and charge your calls directly to your credit card each month. Right now (as of 12/14/06) they are offering a free trial to new customers. It really is an easy and affordable way to keep in touch with friends and relatives all around the world.

Skype is a software program that is available in 27 languages and is used in almost every country around the world. Once you download it onto your computer, you can talk over the Internet to anyone around the world for free if they also use Skype. If they do not use Skype, the cost of the call is minimal. You can use Skype to call a landline or a mobile phone and rates are as low as $0.02 per minute! You can also log into Skype anywhere in the world.

To get started you need to follow these steps:

1. Go to Skype.com.
2. Download the free software.
3. Choose a Skype Name. This is the name people will use to call you on Skype.
4. Sound check - Check that your microphone and speakers are on and working. You will need your own headset, or you can purchase a cheap headset through Skype. No special headset is needed.
4. Buy Skype credit so you can make phone calls. There are multiple ways you can buy credit - from PayPal, to using your credit card.
5. Finally, make your first call by following the directions and entering country code for the country you are calling.

Skype is a really affordable way - even can be a free way - to stay in touch with friends and relatives. Make sure to check out the “What’s free, what’s not” page on the site. It clearly explains what you pay for and what you do not have to pay for. For example, calls to other skype members are absolutely free as well as video calls.

Posted in Cell Phones, Long Distance, Miscellaneous | Permalink

Cable or DSL? Which broadband, high-speed Internet access is the better option? The answer to that question varies, depending on a couple of specific factors.

The Federal Communications Commission has an article titled Broadband Access for Consumers that explains DSL and cable Internet access in detail and also includes comparisons of these two types of Internet access.

The article offers an in-depth, non-biased review of broadband internet access options, and can be extremely helpful if you are seeking a detailed explanation of this topic.

Once you decide which type of Internet service is right for your situation, you can compare broadband ISPs.

You can also get answers to more ISP-related questions in our ISP FAQ section.

Posted in Internet Service | Permalink

8 important things a credit card user should know

Right now, millions of Americans are reaching into their wallets and using credit cards to buy billions in holiday gifts. Yes, it is true. So, what should you know about these little pieces of plastic and how you can protect yourself from debt?

PBS.org has a great article that explains the history of the credit card in detail and offers you 8 important things a credit card user should know. The piece also examines the details of credit cards and what it means to you as a consumer (such as what you should know about your own credit report).

If you own and use a credit card, it could be useful to review this article. It is a quick read and will provide you with some of the best information you can get in just a few minutes.

Also, if you have a little bit more time, you can watch the 60 minute video that Frontline and The New York Times put together regarding important things you should know about the credit card (Windows Media and RealPlayer format).

In addition, you can get more answers to common questions about credit cards in our credit card FAQ section.

Posted in Credit Cards, Personal Finance | Permalink

Recycle your ink cartridges and enter contest to win

These days, going through an ink cartridge is a fairly commonplace practice. That said, we have found a perfect solution for the environment-friendly consumer who would like to do something with his/her collection of ink cartridges piling up at home or at work.

Right now, 123inkjets is having a contest to win a year of free ink, eligible to anyone in the United States that would like to send in undamaged ink cartridges (with the exception of toners). It’s simple: Request a free shipping label to be sent to you, mail in your empty cartridge (must be a Dell, HP, or Lexmark), and you will be sent an entry into the contest for each cartridge mailed in.

Go to 123Inkjets.com for more information about recycling ink cartridges or to learn more about the contest mentioned above. Be sure to click green recycle tab on the far right.

In addition, 123inkjets.com carries premium laser & inkjet printer cartridges, photo paper, and other printer supplies at reduced prices. They have compatible and remanufactured ink cartridges and they also offer a one-year money back guarantee.

Posted in Miscellaneous | Permalink

There are many different ways to connect to the Internet, so here are brief explanations of the most common types of Internet access. Note: The terms “Internet access” and “Internet service” are interchangeable. The acronym ISP refers to Internet Service Providers. Please visit the ISP Glossary for definitions of any unknown terms.

Dial-Up Internet Access: This type of Internet service utilizes your telephone line and a modem to connect to the Internet. In order to connect, you must dial-in with a modem over your telephone line. Thus, this type of Internet access is not “always on” - you must connect when you want to be online. The main downfall of dial-up Internet service is slow overall speed. Also, while you are online, the modem can tie up your phone line. In many cases, you won’t be able to use the telephone and be online at the same time.

DSL Internet Access: DSl stands for Digital Subscriber Line. DSL Internet access is a type of internet connection that utilizes telephone (copper) wires to transmit data at high speeds. DSL is a broadband, or high-speed, type of internet connection, and is an “always on” connection. This means that you don’t have to dial in and connect like dial-up plans. Also, unlike dial-up Internet service, DSL does not usually “tie up” your phone line. You can normally be online and using the telephone at the same time.

Cable Internet Access: This is a type of broadband (high-speed) Internet access that utilizes cable TV lines and cable modems and has a much higher maximum speed than traditional dial-up access. Cable Internet runs through your cable line and is not associated with your telephone service. Also, cable Internet service is an “always on” connection, meaning that you don’t have to dial in and connect anywhere like dial-up plans.

Overall, dial-up Internet service is generally cheaper than both DSL and cable. However, dial-up access generally has slower connection speeds and can also tie up your telephone line. For information about DSL vs. Cable, see our ISP FAQs.

Once you have decided which type of Internet service is right for you, compare Internet service providers and check out the latest deals. You can also visit our ISP FAQs to learn about other ISP-related topics.

Posted in Internet Service | Permalink