Compare Services - In addition to the sub-directories listed below, the Debt Consolidation Loan Directory offers a wide variety of consumer finance program listings to assist you with controlling your bills and the management of your finances. Consolidate credit card debt with unsecured personal loans or use a credit counseling company for help with your getting your monthly finances under control.

• Debt Consolidation Company - Learn more on how consolidating your credit card debt can work for you and potential pitfalls that you need to avoid. Also, review a list services that offer to help people lower their bills into fewer payments or even one payment.
• Personal Loan Company - Shopping for a small or personal loan online? Need to consolidate debts, but do not want to put up collateral (such as your house or car) as security? These loans are typically referred to as unsecured or signature loans, because only your signature may be required.
• Debt Consolidation Programs - Learn about the debt consolidation process and review detailed listings for lenders and services offering to help consolidate your outstanding bills.

A Special Guide for Seniors and Families

Fake Documents Used to "Steal" Homes

Criminals are filing fake deeds to gain control of homes, often those belonging to the elderly, according to recent reports. A con artist can attempt to "steal" a house by falsely claiming to be the owner of a property or the owner's adult child who has the authority to conduct business for the family.

The perpetrator typically targets nice homes that are vacant for a long time, perhaps because the owner is away for the winter or is receiving extended medical treatment. The thief then goes to the courthouse and files a fraudulent deed that, in legitimate circumstances, can be a simple way to transfer the ownership of property from one person to another. After the courthouse records show the criminal as having the deed to the property, he will attempt to sell it and take off with the cash.

"Because the house is not being lived in, this fraud can go undetected for quite a while," said David Nelson, a fraud specialist in the FDIC's Financial Crimes Section. To protect yourself, he suggested "making sure the house looks lived-in while you are away," such as by arranging for mail and newspapers to be picked up or forwarded.

FDIC Consumer News is published by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

FDIC Consumer News is produced quarterly by the FDIC Office of Public Affairs in cooperation with other Divisions and Offices. It is intended to present information in a nontechnical way and is not intended to be a legal interpretation of FDIC or other government regulations and policies. Mention of a product, service or company does not constitute an endorsement.

Find current and past issues of FDIC Consumer News at http://www.fdic.gov/consumernews. Refer to this same index to locate the issues that are specially formatted for being reprinted in any quantity.

To receive an e-mail notice about each new issue of FDIC Consumer News posted on the FDIC Web site, with links to stories, follow instructions posted at www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

Last updated on 11/14/2005

Make the correct decisions when shopping for banking, debt consolidation and related financial services. Educate yourself!

The Debt Consolidation Loan Directory has a growing library of free informative / educational financial resources for consumers shopping for many types of services related to the management of your money, such as consolidating credit card debts, fraud alerts and car insurance. There is no better way to make decisions regarding the management of your personal finances than to read and understand how they work. Please feel free to visit our consumer resource library for more information.

• Cell Phone Banking - New cell phones are constantly evolving and becoming more sophisticated. This includes adding the capability of handling online banking through your phone. This FDIC article discusses some of the possibilities and precautions you should take when using your phone for banking purposes.
• How to Protect Yourself with FDIC Insurance - Read up on what qualifications are necessary and how to determine if your deposits are covered by FDIC insurance.
• Direct Deposit Safer than Checks? - The US Treasury Department reports that a majority of surveyed consumers mistakenly believe that paper checks are safer than direct deposit.
• Consider the Fees! - Learn what to look for and examine the details of each banking account offer for possible fees, such as: inactivity, minimum balance and ATM withdrawal fees.

The Debt Consolidation Loan Directory is a service of Infinamic, Inc. All information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. Infinamic, Inc. is not responsible for the content and services, that may be provided to you, by following the links from this web site. Use this service at your own discretion.