DEL.ICIO.USPublished on: 01/27/05
If you are buying a house or are having trouble paying your mortgage, here are some resources:
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MOST POPULARThe U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers advice for home buyers, including sections on home buyers' rights, borrowers' rights and how to avoid predatory lending and loan fraud.
This Web site provides prevailing rates for various kinds of loans, based on surveys of lenders nationwide.
Consumer Credit Counseling Service
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta, 100 Edgewood Ave., Atlanta, offers counseling by phone, online at www.cccsatl.org, or in person. For appointments in Atlanta, Decatur, Douglasville, Marietta or Norcross, call 404-527-7630.
Atlanta Legal Aid Society
Atlanta Legal Aid Society, 151 Spring St., Atlanta, 404-524-5811, offers legal help to low-income and elderly residents of Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties. It helps victims of predatory mortgage lending and home equity scams through its Home Defense Program, 404-377-0705, Ext. 236. www.atlantalegalaid.org.
If you need to borrow a small amount of money, or already have a title loan, here are some resources:
The National Consumer Law Center offers guidance for low-income borrowers on how to get legal assistance.
The consumer help site of the National Association of Consumer Advocates provides links, literature and references on consumer issues.
Atlanta Legal Aid Society
Atlanta Legal Aid Society, 151 Spring St., 404-524-5811, helps low-income or senior consumers in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties with legal problems resulting from loan transactions. www.atlantalegalaid.org.
Before you borrow money to pay bills, check with civic groups, charities and churches that help low-income consumers with bills. Your utility or phone company can refer you.
Energy assistance program
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program offers help in Fulton and DeKalb counties. Inside Atlanta, call 404-320-0166. For DeKalb outside Atlanta, Gwinnett and Rockdale counties, call 404-929-2500.
Other agencies
The United Way, at 211 or 404-614-1000 provides referrals for people who need assistance.
Consumer Credit Counseling Services offers easy-to-use advice on how to manage your finances, as well as confidential counseling online. There's a Know Your Rights section and a calculator to help you determine whether you can afford loan payments.
If a lender offers you credit insurance, here's how to assess what you're buying:
www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/credinsalrt.htm
The Federal Trade Commission offers a list of questions to ask before you buy credit insurance, called "Credit Insurance: Is It for You?"
www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnsum03/cvrstry.html
This Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. site offers pros and cons and tips on how to protect yourself in a section on credit insurance.
To find out who your legislators are and how to contact them, log on and click on "Find your legislator."
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