Ricart Financial Services

Find out more about Ricart Financial Services:

BBB Accreditation BBB Rating Business Contact and Profile Products and Services Business Management Additional Locations and Phone Numbers Licensing Customer Complaint History

BBB Program Participation Government Actions Advertising Review Industry Tips BBB Copyright and Reporting Policy

BBB Accreditation

Ricart Financial Services has been a BBB Accredited business since February 1994. This means it supports BBB's services to the public and meets our BBB Accreditation standards.

BBB Rating for Ricart Financial Services

Based on BBB files, Ricart Financial Services has a BBB Rating of A- on a scale from A+ to F.

• 16 complaints filed against business

Click here for an explanation of BBB Ratings

Regarding one complaint closed unresolved in that the company failed to resolve the complaint issues through the BBB voluntary and self-regulatory process, the adjustment being sought by the consumer did not fall within the scope of the company's obligation to further pursue a resolution through BBB arbitration.

Products and Services of Ricart Financial Services

This company offers Auto credit, collection, reporting.

Business Management

Additional company management personnel include:

Ms. Lynne DeWitt - Customer Service / Complaint Contact

Additional Locations and Phone Numbers

Licensing for Ricart Financial Services

This company is in an industry that may require licensing, bonding or registration in order to lawfully do business. BBB encourages you to check with the appropriate agency to be certain any requirements are currently being met.

These agencies may include:

Ohio Department of Commerce
77 South High St., 23rd Floor
Columbus, OH 43266-0001
(614) 466-3636
www.com.ohio.gov

Customer Complaint History for Ricart Financial Services

When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.

BBB processed a total of 16 complaints about Ricart Financial Services in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period. Of the total of 16 complaints closed in 36 months, 6 were closed in the last year.

BBB Program Participation

Government Actions

BBB has no information regarding government actions at this time.

Advertising Review

BBB has no information regarding advertising review at this time.

Industry Tips

Credit - BBB General Statement For All Debt, Credit TOBs

BBB industry tips are general in nature and are not based on our BBB file experience with this company.

Our BBB serving Central Ohio has general reference material on consumer credit and debt issues. This information is available upon request.

Credit - Understanding Your Credit Report - BBBTips

BBB industry tips are general in nature and are not based on our BBB file experience with this company.

BBB Tips on Understanding your Credit Report 

What is a Credit Report?

A credit report is a record of your financial behavior. It contains identifying information about you and indicates how responsibly you have used credit and met your financial obligations. Credit reports are prepared by credit reporting agencies, or credit bureaus, based on information voluntarily supplied by financial institutions, mortgage companies, credit card issuers and other lenders. Credit bureaus also gather information from local courthouses and public records concerning tax liens, foreclosures, bankruptcies and other credit-related matters.

Establishing and maintaining a good credit record is very important. Your credit report is purchased by lenders, employers, insurers, public utilities and others who, as determined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, have a legitimate need for the information.

A low credit score could deny you access to a credit card, mortgage or car loan, insurance, electric and telephone service, an apartment rental unit or a job. And, it could result in your paying thousands of dollars a year in additional finance charges.

What's more, a poor credit record can follow you for several years. Late payments, defaults and other derogatory information can generally remain on your credit report for up to seven years; a bankruptcy can remain on your report for 10 years; and, unpaid tax liens can remain for up to 15 years.

Those with excellent credit files receive the best interest rates and payment terms from lenders. If you practice good credit behavior, you should have no problem securing credit when the need arises.

What does a Credit Report look like?

It's important to understand what is in a credit report. First is a personal profile section, which includes your name, other names you were formerly known by, Social Security number, date of birth, current and former addresses, telephone number and the name of your employer(s).

Another section offers information that is a matter of public record. Previous defaults, foreclosures, garnishments, bankruptcies, tax liens or other legal judgments against you will appear in this section.

A third component is credit history information, which includes a listing of your specific mortgage, installment credit and revolving credit accounts; the date the account was open, the credit limit or loan amount, balance and monthly payment; and whether your payments have been on time, and if not, how many days late. The report typically includes closed accounts, as well as accounts that are currently open.

Finally, there will be an "Inquiries" section that lists any creditors, insurance companies and lenders who have asked for your credit report. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, credit grantors with a permissible purpose may inquire about your credit information without your prior consent.

There is some information that does not generally appear on a credit report. Credit reports typically do not include information about race, gender, religion or national origin; personal lifestyle or political preference; driving records or any other information unrelated to credit. By law, a credit bureau cannot disclose certain medical information. In addition, your credit report will not contain information about your checking and savings accounts or brokerage accounts.

Credit Reports are used to calculate your Credit Score

Information in your credit report or credit file is used to formulate your credit score. This number, which can range between 300 and 850, depending on the credit reporting agency, summarizes your creditworthiness. It helps potential lenders, landlords, employers to quickly gauge your credit history and predict how likely you are to make your credit payments on time. They look at your credit score to decide what kind of risk they assume if they approve your application.

Each credit reporting agency uses a different scoring model so your credit score may vary from agency to agency. Nonetheless, the scoring models are mostly influenced by the following: how you pay your debts and how much debt you owe. When formulating your score, each agency pays close attention to:

Your payment history. Do you pay your credit accounts on time? Are there bankruptcies or other negative items on your record?

How much you owe. What is the total owed on all of your account? What percent of your available credit are you using? Is your debt load manageable?

The length of your credit history. For how many years have you demonstrated responsible credit management?

Have you recently applied for or opened new credit accounts?
Most people have a credit score in the 600s and 700s. Scores above 700 are a sign of financial health and can earn you relatively low "prime" interest rates and favorable lending terms. People with scores about 760 are charged the lowest rates.

If your credit score is below 600, lenders will view you as high risk. They could turn down your credit application. You may have to use a "sub prime" lender who will offer you less favorable payment terms. You will be charged much higher interest rates and will probably have to make a larger down payment.

If you are married, be aware that you and your spouse do not share a credit score. In fact, each spouse has a separate score that reflects his or her own past credit history.

How can I obtain a copy of my Credit Report or Credit Score?

It is recommended that you review your credit report regularly to stay on top of changes to your credit profile, to confirm the accuracy and completeness of information that is being reported, and to be certain that no one has stolen your identity and opened credit accounts or taken out loans in your name. It is particularly important to review your credit report if you plan to make a major purchase so that you can correct any errors that may prevent you from getting the best possible loan terms.

Be aware that there is not just one credit report on you. Most likely, each of the three major consumer credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) has a report on you. You are entitled to obtain a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months from each of these three bureaus. However, you must request it; this is not a service that is provided to you automatically.

The easiest way to accomplish this is to use a "one-stop" outlet established by Congress to make it easier for consumers to get their credit reports from the three bureaus. You may also use this contact point to acquire your credit score, which will entail payment of a modest fee. You will be asked to prove your identity (by providing your name, address, Social Security number, date of birth and/or other personal data) to the agency so that it can be sure you are who you say you are.

Web site: www.annualcreditreport.com
Toll-free telephone number: 1.877.322.8228

Please be advised that www.annualcreditreport.com is the only authorized online site for your free annual report from the three major consumer reporting agencies. The credit bureaus are not proactively calling consumers to ask for personal information or to offer these free reports, so hang up on telemarketers that claim to be offering that service. Also, do not use other Web sites, and do not respond to pop-up ads or e-mails with embedded hyperlinks, supposedly directing you to the annualcreditreport.com site. These are no doubt scams! Forward them to spam@uce.gov, the Federal Trade Commission's database of deceptive spam.

What if my Credit Report contains inaccurate information?

Once you have a copy of your credit report, review it carefully. Your credit report is the basis for your credit score, so you want it to be as accurate and complete as possible. Review the information to check that it accurately reflects how you have paid your bills; verify that all accounts listed are indeed yours; look for signs of identity theft, like new accounts that were opened in your name, without your knowledge or permission; and identify accounts that you no longer use and do not need and make a note to close them.

If you do find an error in your credit report, you have the legal right to dispute it. You should immediately contact the credit reporting agency, in writing, to advise them of inaccurate or incomplete information that appears in your credit report. Refer to your credit report for specific instructions on how to dispute information that is in your file. Remember to keep copies of your dispute letter and enclosures (receipts, sales slips, billing statements and the like), and to send your letter by certified mail "return receipt requested."

The credit bureau is required by law to investigate your complaint, usually within 30 days, to send you a prompt response in writing, to correct or delete any inaccurate information, and to send you a copy of your report if the investigation results in any change.

Because creditors generally automatically update credit bureau information once each month, it is possible that incorrect information removed from a credit bureau file could reappear because of a pending creditor update. Therefore, you should re-check your credit report within 60 days to confirm that it is accurate and up-to-date.

If the credit bureau's investigation does not resolve your concerns, you are entitled to submit a brief statement (100 words or less) about the matter, which the credit bureau must attach to your credit report. This enables you to provide your side of the story to lenders, potential employers or anyone else who sees your credit report.

If you are denied a loan, insurance, employment or other benefit based on your credit report, the law requires the company to tell you the reason for the denial and the name of the credit bureau. You are advised to then determine if any credit report information is wrong. If it is, begin the process of correcting it immediately.

You can impact your Credit Score

Your credit score is not static. This is good news! The score changes when your information changes at that credit reporting agency. You can improve a poor score over time by improving how you handle credit.

Pay all of your bills on time.

Contact your creditor immediately if you are unable to pay your bills on time to work out a manageable payment plan. Then stick to it!

Maintain a small number of credit cards and close unused accounts.

Keep your debts reasonable and your credit balances low.

Apply for and open new accounts only when you need them. If you haven't been able to qualify for a bank credit card, apply for a department store card or gasoline credit card.
Beware of "Easy Fixes!"

Each of the steps detailed above will help you to improve your credit profile on your own, over time, for little or no expense. Unfortunately, too many consumers want an "easy fix." Beware of credit repair companies that "guarantee" they can remove late payments, bankruptcies and other negative information from your credit report. Another red flag is the suggestion to create a "new" credit report or identity by applying for an Employer Identification Number (EIN). An EIN is used primarily by businesses; obtaining an EIN under false pretenses is a crime!

Bottom line - Don't succumb to shady offers If you want to improve your credit the right way, contact a reputable source for credit-related information, education or counseling. In addition to the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org), the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov) and Federal Deposition Insurance Corporation (www.fdic.gov) offer helpful facts for consumers on credit reports and credit scores.

If you decide that you need credit report counseling, check the agency's record with the Better Business Bureau, and find out if it is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (www.nfcc.org) or the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (www.aicca.org). Agencies that are members of these organizations must adhere to strict standards of professionalism and accreditation and use only certified credit counselors.

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About ClearPoint Financial Solutions, Inc.

ClearPoint Financial Solutions, Inc.
(formerly Consumer Credit Counseling Services of America, Inc.) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to helping consumers achieve financial wellness through counseling and education. Established in 1980. ClearPoint is the only non-profit System-wide member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and one of the largest members of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, ClearPoint manages branches across the country. Personalized and confidential consultations are available in person, by phone or online. Visit ClearPoint Financial Solutions at www.ClearPointFinancialSolutions.org or call 877-877-1995. Credit Counselors, CDC Consumer Debt Counseling, and Solutions, Inc. are all trade names of ClearPoint.



9/26/2005

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If you choose to do business with Ricart Financial Services, please let them know that you contacted BBB for a BBB Reliability Report.

ID: 8005034
Report as of November 8, 2009 03:24
Copyright^© 2009 Better Business Bureau