The Unofficial Guide to Beating Debt [Paperback]

Greg Pahl (Author), Unofficial Guides Group (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0028633377 | ISBN-13: 978-0028633374 | Publication Date: February 18, 2000 | Edition: 1

The Unofficial Guide to Beating Debt is designed to give savvy consumers like you foolproof strategies for everything from undoing years of debt to putting your credit reputation back together. In this book you'll get unbiased recommendations that are not influenced by any company, product, or organization. The Unofficial Guide to Beating Debt is intensively inspected by The Unofficial Panel of Experts -- specialists who ensure that you are armed with the most up-to-date insider information on the subject of beating debt. They tell you exactly what the "official establishment" doesn't want you to know.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The inside scoop… for when you want more than the official line! All over America there are people who can't pay down their credit cards, are delinquent on college loans, and cringe every time they hear the phone ring in fear of creditors or collection agencies. How do you know if you're on your way to bankruptcy, or if you're just falling a little behind? How can you keep bankruptcy from happening when the bills just won't stop coming? And how do you climb out of the debt hole without causing irreparable damage to your credit report—not to mention your quality of life? You want the inside scoop. The Unofficial Guide^™ to Beating Debt is designed to give savvy consumers like you foolproof strategies for everything from undoing years of debt to putting your credit reputation back together. In this book you'll get unbiased recommendations that are not influenced by any company, product, or organization. The Unofficial Guide^™ to Beating Debt is intensively inspected by The Unofficial Panel of Experts: Nancy Dunnan, New York City financial analyst and columnist; Warren Ladenheim, director at Peak Search, Inc., an executive recruitment firm; and Steve Rhode, president and co-founder of Debt Counselors of America^®. These specialists ensure that you are armed with the most up-to-date insider information on the subject of beating debt. They tell you exactly what the "official establishment" doesn't want you to know. Vital Information on the smart way to borrow money and apply for credit Insider Secrets on managing mortgages, loans, and credit cards Money-Saving Techniques for protecting yourself and your credit, resolving billing errors, and exercising your debtor's rights Time-Saving Tips on accessing, understanding, and repairing your credit report The Latest Trends in overcoming frequent borrowing mistakes and pulling yourself out of debt Handy Checklists and Charts to help you keep track of your debt payments visit us online at www.idgbooks.com

About the Author

About the Author Greg Pahl, a former Military Intelligence officer in the U.S. Army, has been involved in a variety of small-business ventures since the 1970s, including a 150-acre purebred sheep farm in Vermont. Now a full-time freelance journalist and feature writer, he has written extensively about business, finance, and consumer issues for a number of publications, including the Vermont Times, The Champlain Business Journal, and others. Following his own best financial advice, Greg has managed to stay out of the hands of bill collectors.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (February 18, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028633377
• ISBN-13: 978-0028633374
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,743,868 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Greg Pahl is a 1967 graduate of the University of Vermont and a former Military Intelligence officer in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. A full-time freelance journalist for many years, he has written feature articles for numerous publications, including Vermont Magazine, the Vermont Times, Mother Earth News, The Champlain Business Journal, and many others.

In addition, Greg is the author of Biodiesel: Growing a New Energy Economy (2005, Chelsea Green), Natural Home Heating: The Complete Guild to Renewable Energy Options (2003, Chelsea Green), The Complete Idiot's Guide to Saving the Environment (2001, Macmillan/Alpha Books), and The Unofficial Guide to Beating Debt (2000, IDG Books).

Greg has been involved in environmental issues for more than 25 years. In the 1970s he lived "off the grid" in a home in Vermont with a wind turbine atop an 80-foot tower that provided for his electrical needs. He is a founding member of the Vermont Biofuels Association as well as the Addison County Relocalization Network (ACORN). He has written about biodiesel, wind power, wood heat, solar energy, heat pumps, electric cars, and a wide range of other topics related to living in a post-carbon world.


Visit Greg's website, www.gregpahl.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars eye opener, November 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Unofficial Guide to Beating Debt (Paperback)

This book covers everything from how to make a credit card to how to destroy a credit card and everything in between. Answers to questions like: What is credit? What is credit history? Who has the record and how I can see what others are saying about me? What are the pros and cons of credit cards? Credit card scams and how to protect yourself from them or fight back. Your legal rights and much more. A must read. I wish they thought this in my college.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the one guide to get for conquering debt!, May 8, 2001

By 

Edward Crawford "Beatles Fan" (Randolph, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Unofficial Guide to Beating Debt (Paperback)

I can't add much more to the first review. It has all aspects of credit cards, debt, and also a great index of resources available for internet sites, books, phone numbers, and addresses. All of the pages are easy to read and a great resource. You can buy this book, or if you are in debt (like me) get if from the library. You can email me at: [e-mail] for more recommendations. Enjoy and conquer your debt!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money!, August 15, 2006

By 

M. Quaid "Resourceful" (Plainfield, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Unofficial Guide to Beating Debt (Paperback)

Do not waste your money on this book. There is plenty of information with useful, downloadable information from the following two sites: Oprah.com...Oprah's debt diet contains vital information provided by three widely known and esteemed financial experts, on how to reduce your debt. You should also (if you haven't already) go to Truecredit.com and purchase all three credit scores. This site also has excellent tools for you to download such as financial spreadsheats/worksheets, and all of the information about how your credit effects you, as well as ways to improve your score. Between truecredit.com, and quicken, and the experts on Oprah's debt diet, I found the superb ways to organize and reduce my debt!