In the first three parts of this series I wrote about collections accounts, described how sending unpaid accounts out to an agency helps out a creditor, and described the practice of selling an old debt to a third party collection agency. I spoke about the type of information that a collection company will obtain to utilize in their efforts, and the type of laws that third party collection agencies must follow. I described illegal and legal tactics that debt collection agencies use to collect.

I reminded you that most debt collectors realize that it is imperative to collect on your accounts as soon as possible. Many will ask you why you can’t pay today, and many will attempt to manipulate your emotions or insinuate that you are fiscally irresponsible to upset you into agreeing on a payment.

Another strong arm method utilized by collection agents is to upset a consumer by manipulating their emotions, and then transfer them to an agency supervisor. By this time the debtor might be angry or frustrated and it will be more probable that they would agree to something easier simply to get off the phone. If you find yourself in this situation, try to remain calm throughout the conversation.

Keep in mind that you aren’t talking about a mortgage payment; the debt collector can’t take your house away if you can’t make the payments that they are specifically requesting. Don’t let the collection agency manipulate you into agreeing to something that you cannot afford at the moment or intimidate you into doing what you don’t want to do.

Do your best to remain firm and stick to the terms that both parties agreed on. After working out a payment plan, as with ANY financial decision, confirm your agreement in writing by sending a written plan by certified mail, return receipt requested to ensure delivery and proof that the agency received it.

Rapid Recovery Solution does commercial debt collections and writes articles on medical collection companies. Free reprint avaialable from: Collection Agency Basics Part Four: Tactics A Debt Collector Uses And What To Do After You Have Paid.

In the last article in this series I wrote about how long different marks remain on your credit report. I mentioned that mistakes will be removed immediately, soft inquiries will have no effect, and hard inquiries can hang around on your credit report for two years. Late payments have the capacity to do way more damage.

Despite the fact that some creditors may choose to show you mercy and remove past credit problems if you pay your account immediately, late payments can have an effect on your credit score for seven years. Luckily, these negative marks are common and do less damage to your score than the rest of the marks I will go on to discuss.

With a tax lien comes seven years of bad credit. When you do not pay your income or property taxes when they were due, and the government comes in and takes ownership of your property, you are dealing with a tax lien. Unlike creditors, no matter how fast you settle your tax lien, big brother is annoyed that you made him go out of his way to take your property, and it will stay on your record for seven years.

Foreclosures are equally as damaging and they will be on your credit report for seven years. Foreclosures are looked at as one of the worst negative accounts that can appear on your credit report. In fact, if you do have a foreclosure on your credit history, good luck buying another home unless you are planning to pay for it all in cash.

It’s not the good old days anymore, so never default on those student loans either. Before the administration of President W., student loans generally were forgiven if they were declared when someone filed for bankruptcy. Now times have changed, so it’s crucial to pay your student loan debts. After 270 days of nonpayment, defaulting occurs, and before the loan defaults, you can bet your life that you will be the unlucky recipient of a whole slew of late payment fees.

The last, and most serious negative mark that can go on your credit report is bankruptcy. Bankruptcy will stay on your record for ten years, and instead of having a creditor pull your report, you might as well get in contact with them and say “I am fiscally irresponsible and will be that way for the next ten years.” Filing for bankruptcy can put a damper on your ability to get a new car, any type of new credit or a new place to live. So watch your credit report, or you might end up living with that rude mother in law I wrote about in article one.

Mallory Megan works for Rapid Recovery Solution and writes articles on commercial collection agencies. Unique version for reprint here: How Long Will A Negative Mark Stay On Your Credit Report Part Two.

In parts one through three of my beginner’s course on stocks, I wrote that the stock of the company was the original amount of capital that went into founding it. I said that businesses divide stocks into shares, which can be bought or sold to shareholders, who are people who own one or more shares of stock and therefore “share ownership” of the company. I wrote about stock brokers who are people that will charge you to arrange the purchasing or selling of stock. Now a bit buying and selling stock.

If you are looking to buy some stock, there are two ways to do it: purchase stock with money that is currently in your ownership, or by buying stock on margin. When you purchase stock on margin you are buying stock with money that is borrowed against the stocks in the same account. In other words, you use the stock you already own as collateral to guarantee that you can repay your loan. Otherwise, the stockbroker can sell the collateral to repay the money.

Selling stock is pretty much the same idea as buying stock. Typically, the investor is going to want to buy low and sell high. After a broker takes out his fee for arranging the transfer of stock from a seller to a buyer, the seller is entitled to all of the money.

The price of a stock will fluctuate with the theory of supply and demand, supply being the number of shares that are offered for sale at any one moment, demand being the number of shares investors want to buy at that exact same time. When people who want to buy stock outnumber people who want to sell stock, the price will increase. Eventually, sellers will see how high the stock is being sold for and start to sell their stock, or buyers will leave and equilibrium will be achieved between buyers and sellers. When sellers outnumber buyers, the price falls. Eventually buyers come back in or sellers leave, and equilibrium is again achieved. Therefore, the value of a share of a business at any given moment is determined by all investors voting with their money.

Of course, all of this does not offer any explanation as to how people decide the maximum price at which they are willing to buy or the minimum price at which they are willing to sell, people’s buying and selling habits, or what stock will be more valuable when. People spend lifetimes trying to figure that out, it is still up for debate, and if I knew, I would not be here typing about stock, I’d be on my luxurious yacht! But I hope that my primer course on stock was at least a little enlightening.

Mallory Megan works for Rapid Recovery Solution and writes articles on nationwide collection agencies. Check here for free reprint licence: Stocks For Beginners Part Four.