Tag: interest rates


Jul
2017

The Most Important Credit Card Information Around

categories: Personal Finance

Consumers need to be informed about how to take care of their financial future and understand the positives and negatives of having credit. Charge cards are a good way to build a good credit rating, but they can potentially overburden you with high-interest debt. Keep reading for great advice on the best way to use your charge cards.

It’s good credit practice to consistently maintain two or three open bank cards. Having two or three cards will help you to improve your credit rating. But, if you have over three cards open, creditors may look upon that fact unfavorably.

Never get rid of an account for a credit card prior to going over what it entails. There’s times when you close a card that can have negative affects on your next credit report. Also, try to keep the cards open that make up the majority of your credit history.

Speak with the credit card company right after you see a charge on your statement that you did not make. Taking immediate action gives you the highest probability of stopping the charges and catching the culprit. Also, by notifying the credit card company immediately, you can ensure that you aren’t in any way responsible for the charges. You can usually report fraudulent activity through a quick telephone call to your credit company.

Annual Fees

A way to make sure you are not paying too much for certain types of cards, be sure that they do not come with high annual fees. If you are the owner of a platinum card, or a black card, the annual fees can be up to $1000. Unless you have some specific need for exclusive credit cards, remember this tip and save yourself some money.

Tell the credit card company if you are facing a difficult financial situation. If you are going to miss an upcoming payment, work with your creditor to come up with a solution. This will also help prevent negative reporting to credit bureaus.

The reason a credit card company will ask you to make a minimum payment is because they want you to pay this amount over time to make the most money off of you. Therefore, you should aim to pay more than this. Don’t get stuck paying high interest.

Don’t use an easy pin for card, or you are setting yourself up for trouble. Information like birth dates or middle names make terrible passwords because they can be easily figured out.

Watch out for changes to the terms and conditions on your cards. Credit card companies have recently been making big changes to their terms, which can actually have a huge impact on your personal credit. Often, these changes are buried in a lot of legal language. Read everything to learn if there are any new fees or rate adjustments that will affect you.

Do not lend out bank cards under any circumstance. Even if the friend is a very good one and they are really in need of the card, it just isn’t a smart idea to lend yours out. If they were to charge more to your card than you agreed to, for instance, the friendship could be damaged forever.

It is not a good idea to get a credit card right when you turn of age. While many people can’t wait to own their first credit card, it is better to fully understand how the credit card industry operates before applying for every card that is available to you. Try to experience a few other things in life before jumping into the lending and borrowing arena.

Keep an eye on your credit rating. Most creditors think of 700 as the lowest number you can have while still being considered to have good credit. Make smart credit decisions so that you can get to that level, and maintain it once you get there. Keeping your score at 700 or better gives you the chance to take advantage of offers for the lowest interest rates.

As previously said, consumers tend to be alone with their finances and generally fall into very high interest rates because of the card companies! This article has covered the best methods for utilizing credit cards. It would be great if you apply what you have read to your everyday life.

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Jul
2017

Tips And Tricks Regarding Debt Consolidation You’ll Love

categories: Personal Finance

Many people are aware of debt consolidation programs; however, not many really understand what they are about. If you’re thinking of using this service, then you need to think over what the companies can and cannot do for you so you’re able to make a more educated decision. Keep reading to learn more about what debt consolidation is and how it can help you.

When looking to consolidate your debt, do not assume that non-profit companies are trustworthy or that you won’t be charged much by them. These types of companies can be predatory, and your loan terms can be very unfavorable. Go with a group that was personally recommended to you or look at the BBB.

You should only sign up with a qualified debt counselor. Many counselors are certified through a specific organization. Are they backed by institutions that have a good reputation for reliability? When you know this, you will know whether or not you should choose the company in question.

Do you currently hold a life insurance policy? Cashing out your policy can help you eliminate some of your debt. Talk to your agent about what they can offer you. In some cases, you get to borrow some of your policy investment in order to pay current debt.

Consider the long term effects of your debt consolidation decision. Of course you want your immediate debts to be satisfied, but in the end. you want a company that can manage the entire process until you’re completely out of debt. Some offer services and classes to help you avoid needing such a loan again.

Don’t choose a consolidation firm because they are not-for-profit. Being non-profit doesn’t mean that they are the best agency to help you with your needs. The best way to find out if any company is worth your business is by checking them out with the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org.

Most people are able to lower their payments just by contacting the creditor. Creditors often want to work with most debtors to alleviate debt. If you can’t afford monthly credit card payments, try calling the company and explaining the reason. They may wish to lower the minimum amounts, but they may not allow you to charge the card.

Look for the lowest fixed rate possible when considering debt consolidation loans. Otherwise, you will constantly be worried about expensive adjustments. Look for a one-stop loan that provides favorable terms over the life of the loan and puts you in a much better financial position once the loan has been paid off.

Debt Consolidation

See how debt consolidation interest rates are formulated. An interest rate that is fixed is the best option. This way you know the amount you will be paying for the duration of the loan. Debt consolidation loans with adjustable interest rates need to be avoided. A lot of the time this will make it to where you have to pay them more interest than the money you owed.

Though many people discuss debt consolidation, few know how it works, what it offers and what to avoid. After reading the above article, you should feel comfortable with your understanding of debt consolidation. Thanks to the great advice provided above, you can make the best possible decisions in resolving your debt. If you spend time to find the best option, you’ll soon be on your way out of debt.

You need to do your homework on a potential debt consolidation company before working with them. Look at reviews on a company. When you do that, you can make a smarter decision, because you are more sure your finances are being taken care of by a reputable company.

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Jun
2017

Excellent Credit Card Advice For Both The Expert And Novice

categories: Personal Finance

Some people fear having charge cards because of potential problems that can occur. However, when used properly, they are a great financial tool. Charge cards have the potential to be very useful when you want to make a purchase, but are reluctant to do it with cash. In the following guide, you will be able to read great credit card advice.

If a fraudulent charge appears on the credit card, let the company know straightaway. This allows the credit card issuer the best opportunity to find the offender. That is also the smartest way to ensure that you aren’t responsible for those charges. It usually just takes a brief email or phone call to report fraudulent charges.

Credit Card

Avoid purchasing items out of your budget with a credit card. It’s fine to use credit cards to stretch out the payments for an item you can afford, but refrain from making a major purchase that you couldn’t afford otherwise.

Lots of credit card companies give bonuses for when you sign up for new bank cards. It is important to totally understand the specific terms laid out by the credit card company since you must follow their guidelines to qualify for a bonus. One of the typical conditions placed on a credit card bonus is a requirement that you use the card to make a fixed amount of purchases within a given time frame. A bonus offer that you do not want to claim is not a very tempting one!

If your financial circumstances become more difficult, speak with your card issuer. If there is a possibility that you may have to miss one payment, by contacting the company that issued your credit card, you might be able to work out some sort of adjusted payment plan. This will also help prevent negative reporting to credit bureaus.

Keep a close eye on your balance. You should also remain aware of your credit limit. Exceeding the limit will result in significant fees. It will take forever to pay down your balance if you continue to go over your card’s limit.

Check whether there is an annual fee attached to your credit card, to make sure you aren’t overpaying for a premium card. Annual fees for black or platinum cards can range from $100 to $1000 depending on the card’s exclusivity. If you do not need the perks associated with these cards, don’t pay the annual fee.

Set a budget that you can stick to. Just because you were given a limit by the company issuing your credit card doesn’t mean you need to go that far. Know how much you will be able to afford to pay for that month so you can pay it off each month to avoid interest payments.

You should limit your search for new cards to those that don’t have annual fees and that offer low interest rates. It doesn’t make sense to pay an annual fee when there are many charge cards that charge no fee.

Credit Card

Set a budget that you can stick to. Remember, your credit card’s credit limit is not a target to aim for. Understand the amount you can realistically afford each month so that you will not incur interest charges.

Do not use your credit card to purchase things you simply cannot afford. Wanting a new TV or game console is not a good reason to put it on a credit card. The interest charges will be exorbitant, and you may not be able to make necessary payments. Just leave this store, think about it for a couple of days, and then make a decision. If you still want to purchase it, the store usually has in-house financing that will have lower interest rates.

The advice that you find in this guide will help you get over any fear associated to using your credit cards. Charge cards can be very useful when used wisely and there is no good reason to fear using them. Just remember this article’s suggestions and you’ll be alright.

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Jun
2017

Credit Score Repair Questions Answered In This Article

categories: Personal Finance

Is worry about your credit report preventing you from getting a good nights sleep? By following the tips in this article you can get things back on track, and finally have a credit score that makes you proud.

If you have a poor credit rating, it can be extremely difficult to obtain a mortgage loan for a home. If you are in this situation you should look into FHA loans before speaking with a bank. Even if the applicant does not have money for closing costs or a down payment, an FHA loan is workable.

If your credit does not allow you to obtain new credit, getting a secured one is much easier and will help fix your credit. These accounts are much easier to get as you will have to fund the new account ahead of time with a deposit to cover any purchases. A new credit card, used responsibly, will help repair your credit rating.

Financing a home is not always an easy task, especially when you have less than perfect credit. Try to secure an FHA loan; these are federal government guaranteed. Even when the resources for making down payments or paying closing costs are lacking, FHA loans can help.

Credit Score

Having a lower credit score can lower your interest rate. This can help lower your monthly payments, and help you pay them off quicker. Getting better interest rates leads to an easily maintainable good credit score.

If you find that you have a credit card and the interest rate has gotten to high, you do have the option to not pay the debt, though there will be consequences. When a creditor hits you with incredibly high interest rates, you may have a case for negotiating to a lower amount. However, the contract you signed ensured that you agreed to pay off your interest. You may wish to make a legal claim that the interest rate charged exceeded your state’s statutory limits.

When attempting to make your credit right once more, it is imperative that you present a solution to all those that you owe money to, and don’t deviate from anything you commit to once it is in place. You must make a commitment to making changes on how you spend money. Only the necessities can be purchased from here on in. Consider if a purchase is both essential and affordable, and only purchase it if you can answer “yes” on both counts.

Start Paying

In order to start repairing your credit, you need to start paying your bills. More importantly, you need to start paying your bills in full and on time. You will immediately see changes in your credit score when you begin to pay off your debts, especially those that are active.

Your credit report doesn’t need to be the stuff that nightmares are made of. You don’t have to be afraid of your credit score; you can improve it. By the time you finish applying these tips, your credit score will be on its way up.

If you are unable to get an unsecured credit card due to your low credit rating, consider a secured card to help reestablish your rating. Most likely, a secured credit card will be easy for you to get, but you have to fund the credit account before you purchase so the bank knows that you won’t miss any payments. A new credit card, used responsibly, will help repair your credit rating.

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May
2017

The Most Important Debt Consolidation Information Around

categories: Personal Finance

Consolidating debt is the direction most people turn when the bills and creditors are too much to handle. Does this sound like your situation? Or perhaps it is someone you may know? If this is your situation then you’ll probably want to go over this article so you can learn more about debt consolidation.

Debt Consolidation

Make sure you examine your credit report very carefully before proceeding with a debt consolidation plan. It is important to figure out what happened to get you in the position you are in now. This can help you to avoid making yourself go further into debt once debt consolidation has helped you.

If you’re checking out debt consolidation, don’t think that a non profit company is going to be cheaper or better than other companies. Even scammers will use this term to try to suck you into their web with loan commitments and interest rates that are way too high. Always do your research on any company you are thinking of working with.

Review your credit report before you decide on debt consolidation. First, you need to figure out how you got into debt. Make a list of all your creditors and find out how much you still owe them. Without this information, you cannot get out of debt.

Just because a company calls itself nonprofit doesn’t mean they are completely trustworthy and will be fair in their service charges for debt consolidation. Many companies will use this term to attract people to their loans that have bad interest rates and terms. Check the BBB.org website to find a highly reputable firm.

You should look into consolidating your debts the next time you receive a low-interest credit card offer in the mail. The interest rates they offer tend to go up once the initial period of low interest ends. After consolidating debt, the next step you must take is to pay all that debt off before your introductory rate happens to expire.

Do you own a life insurance policy? If so, consider cashing in your policy and using the funds to pay down your debt. Your insurance agent should let you know how much money you’d be able to have against your policy. You can borrow back a portion of your investment to pay off your debt.

Certified Counselors

You need to look for certified counselors when you are selecting a debt consolidation agency. You can find certified counselors and companies at the NFCC. Then you will know you are choosing the right firm.

If you have a 401-K, you can use it to reduce your debts. In essence, you’re borrowing from yourself. Get all the details first though; it can be risky because it can deplete your retirement funds.

Most people are able to lower their payments just by contacting the creditor. Many creditors are happy to help debtors who are trying to pay off their debt. If you have a credit card and cannot afford the monthly payment, call the credit card company and explain your situation. The credit card company may be willing to lower your minimum payment; however, they will not let you charge using the card.

Be careful with the paperwork the debt consolidation agency sends you. You have to pay close attention. If you make errors yourself, this can delay or mess up the process, so make sure you are filling things out correctly.

Now you should know that debts aren’t that hard to deal with once you’ve gotten into debt consolidation. It will be great to pay all of your bills with just one payment each month. By eliminating your debt, your stress can be significantly reduced. Ensure you follow the great advice outlined here, and this can be achieved.

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May
2017

Credit Repair Advice For Any Type Of Problem

categories: Personal Finance

If you have errors on your credit report, it can lower your credit score and make it hard for you to get new credit. There are a few ways to fix inaccuracies and/or blemishes on your credit report. Check out this article for some expert credit repair advice.

Credit Card

If you want to repair your credit but do not qualify for a regular credit card, consider a secured credit card. These types of credit cards often require a good faith deposit to open a new account. By using a new card responsibly, your credit rating will start to increase.

It is easy to get a mortgage for a house if your credit score is good. Fulfilling your mortgage obligation in a timely fashion does a great deal of good for your credit rating. Owning a home gives you secure financial assets. This will be beneficial when you apply for loans.

You may be able to reduce interest rates by maintaining a favorable credit rating. This will make your payments easier and it will enable you to repay your debt a lot quicker. Quickly paying off your debts is a good way to improve your credit score. This will give you access to more competitive rates in the future.

Any company or credit counselor that claims they can erase all negative reports from your credit history should be viewed with some skepticism. Unfortunately, negative marks will stay on your record for seven years. Know, however, that it is possible to delete information that is actually wrong.

Paying your bills is a straightforward, but truly vital prerequisite for credit score repair. More precisely, you must begin paying your bills fully and on time. Your credit rating can improve almost immediately when you pay off past due bills.

Opening an installment account is one way to improve your credit score. Open an installment account that you can pay for and make sure to keep an affordable monthly minimum on it. If you can manage one of these accounts, your credit score should improve quickly.

When you are trying to clear up your credit contact your credit companies. By keeping the lines of communication open, you will avoid getting into more debt, making your credit score even worse. Don’t be afraid to ask for alterations in interest rates or dates of payment.

Make sure you do your research before deciding to go with a particular credit counselor. Many companies are legitimate and hold your best interests as a priority, but some are outright scams. Some will try to cheat you. To help protect yourself from fraud, investigate any credit counselors. One way to check an agency out is to check with the Better Business Bureau.

Credit Score

Work with the companies to whom you owe money to get your debt back under control. Talking to them will help keep you from drowning further in debt and making your credit worse. One way to tackle this problem is to call them and ask if you can have the due date or monthly charge amount changed.

Before going into debt settlement, find out how it will affect your credit score. Some agreements won’t hurt you as much as others. This is why you should research all of the available ones for you before signing an agreement. Some creditors have no concern over how your credit score can be affected by entering into certain agreements. These people just want your money.

Bankruptcy should be filed only if absolutely necessary. The fact that you filed for bankruptcy is noted in your credit report and will stay there for 10 years. It can be tempting to just go ahead and file bankruptcy to get out from under the debt, but the detrimental effects can be long lasting. It could be near impossible to receive a credit card or loan if you have filed for bankruptcy.

As this article shows, there are a number of steps you can take to improve your credit. Try implementing just a few of these tips, and see how your credit score rises as a result. DIY credit repair takes some discipline, but it can work wonders for your score.

Don’t risk prison. As we speak, people are trying to take advantage of illegal practices to have people create credit files that can get them into trouble. Creating a new credit file is very illegal and you can be easily caught. You could go to jail if you have a lot of legal issues.

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May
2017

Expert Tips To Help You Get Your Credit Back In Shape

categories: Personal Finance

There are many downfalls to having bad credit, including preventing you from getting a loan approval, or leasing a car. If you don’t pay your bills on time, your credit score will suffer. If you are looking for ways to improve your credit score, the advice in this article can help you.

If your credit history has put you in the position where you are not able to obtain a regular credit card, you should try to get a secured credit card to begin rebuilding your credit. Secured credit card applications have a high rate of approval because you must fund a security deposit against your credit limit. Using this new credit card in a responsible manner will help to build back up your good credit rating.

If you have credit cards with a utilization level over 50%, then pay them down until they are below 50% utilization. If you owe more than half of your credit limit on any credit card, this will have a negative impact on your rating. Plan to pay down that card as soon as possible, or see about transferring some of that debt.

If your credit is not perfect, getting a mortgage can be tricky. An FHA loan can be helpful in such a case since the federal government backs these loans. FHA loans can even work when someone lacks the funds for down payment or closing costs.

Interest Rates

Your interest rate will be lower if you have a good credit score. Lower interest rates make it much easier and quicker to pay off balances. Take advantage of special offers and favorable interest rates to secure manageable credit payments and a good credit rating.

When you have a good credit rating, you will be able to easily get a mortgage loan. When your mortgage is paid in full, you will be rewarded with increased scores on your credit file. Owning a home gives you secure financial assets. This will also be useful in the event that you end up needing to borrow funds.

If you want to avoid giving too much to your creditor, simply refuse to pay towards unfairly huge interest rates. It is important to know the terms of your original agreement for the debt you incurred. Usually if you agreed to the terms the terms will be upheld as legal. If you believe the charges are excessive and your debtor will not negotiate down the interest and other additional charges, state laws might provide you with additional avenues to pursue a reduction in these charges. Federal law provides that when you are billed by a collection company the fees and interest cannot exceed the amount of the original debt. Keep in mind that you did sign a contract agreeing that interest rates were acceptable. You can consider suing your creditors if the interest rates are outrageously high.

When you are trying to fix your credit record, call your creditors and make payment arrangements that will benefit both of you. By doing this, you will keep your credit from getting worse by making sure that your debt does not increase. Credit card agents may have the authority to eliminate monthly charges, extend your due date or change your billing cycle.

Before consulting a credit counseling agency, be sure to check out their background and history. Many may have ulterior motives, so make sure you are not being duped. There are many scams out there. Smart consumers will always check to see that credit counseling agencies are, in fact, legitimate before working with them.

Credit scores affect anyone who wants to get a loan or even co-sign for a child’s student loans. Your low credit score can be rectified with the use of the simple tips described in this article.

If credit repair is something you are investigating and a company has told you they can strike true, but negative, information off of your credit report, they are lying. You have to wait for seven years before negative data can come off your record. If there is incorrect, negative information, you can get it removed.

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May
2017

You Can Take Control Of Debt Consolidation

categories: Personal Finance

No one wants to deal with excessive amounts of personal debt. That said, many people do, and they have no idea what options they have. Keep reading to find out how debt consolidation might be able to help you.

You should only sign up with a qualified debt counselor. Is there an organization that they are licensed and certified with? Are they backed by a reputable company that will be there if something goes wrong? This is the best way to determine whether or not you should deal with a company.

You can get rid of debt by borrowing money. Talk to the loan provider about interest rates you’re able to qualify for. Use your automobile as collateral to help pay off creditors. Never repay a loan late.

Avoid choosing a debt consolidation company simply because of their non-profit status. Do not assume that a non-profit automatically means reliable. Check the company out with the BBB first.

Look for a debt consolidation loan with low fixed rates. If you try to get anything besides this you’re going to struggle with making monthly payments because they’ll all be different. Try to find a one-stop solution where you can get good terms for the loan’s lifespan, thus getting you on solid financial ground once repayment is complete.

If you get a low interest rate credit card offer, think about using it to consolidate other obligations. Putting your debt onto a low-interest card will not only reduce interest costs, but also simplify your situation by giving you a single monthly payment to make. Keep in mind that the interest offer that comes with the card may expire at some point, and you should consider paying off the debt before that deadline.

Take out a loan to pay off your outstanding debts; then, call your creditors to negotiate a settlement. Many creditors will accept as little as 70 percent of the balance in a lump sum. Your credit score won’t go down when you use this method either.

Are you on life insurance? Cash this policy if you want to reduce your expenses. Talk to your insurance agent for more information. Sometimes you can pay your debt by borrowing a portion of your investment.

Retirement Fund

Find out whether you can use a small amount of money from your retirement fund to get a grip on your credit cards that have high interest rates. This shouldn’t be done unless you’re sure that this money can be paid back into your account. If you cannot pay the money back, you will have to cover taxes, penalties and will not have a retirement fund.

While struggling with debt is not a favorable situation, so many people are plagued with this dilemna. If you carefully consider the ups and downs of consolidating your debt, you may soon find that you can see a way out. Use this advice to help your family get out of the debt downward spiral.

When shopping for a good debt consolidation loan, look for one with a low interest rate that is fixed. With a variable rate, your payments will change from month to month. Therefore, search for one-stop loans who offer great terms over the entire term, allowing you to be in a better financial place whenever you pay off the loan.

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May
2017

Debt Consolidation And You: The Top Tips And Techniques

categories: Personal Finance

Is your debt overwhelming you? Are you trying to get things back under your control? If so, debt consolidation may be for you. The information in this article will help you understand more about debt consolidation. This information can help to solve all of your financial woes.

Before getting into debt consolidation, look at your credit report. This is the first step to fixing your debt issues. You need to know your debtor and the amount you owe. In order to get your financial picture back on track, you will need to know how to distribute the money.

Make sure a prospective counseling firm has qualified employees. They should be properly certified. Do they have the backing of reputable institutions to help prove their strength and legitimacy? This will allow you to know whether or not a company is worth the trouble.

Before starting any debt consolidation program study your credit report. It is important to determine how you ended up in the hole that you are in. Learn why you got in debt to help keep you from getting in debt again.

If you have been paying into life insurance, it may help you out. Cashing out your policy can help you eliminate some of your debt. Talk to the insurance agent to see what you could obtain against the policy. Sometimes you can pay off your debt with an amount borrowed from your policy investment.

Borrowing money can be a good way to pay your debt off. A loan provider can inform you of what interest rates you’re eligible for. Your vehicle can be used sometimes as collateral as well, and of course the money you can can pay off your creditors as a whole. Take pains to repay the loan in a timely manner.

When shopping for a loan, work to get the lowest fixed interest rate. Otherwise, you will constantly be worried about expensive adjustments. Choose a loan which has favorable terms, a great rate and the ability to pay off your debts in full.

Before considering debt consolidation, check your credit report first and foremost. You must know what got you into debt in order to fix your situation. Who do you owe? How much? In order to get your financial picture back on track, you will need to know how to distribute the money.

Find out how they arrive at the interest rate for your debt consolidation loan. Fixed interest rates are ideal. That means you will understand how much you will pay in total. Be aware of any sliding interest scales. Eventually, you will be paying more interest than you did in the beginning.

Refinancing your home can sometimes help you when trying to eliminate and consolidate your debt. With mortgage rates at their lowest, this is a good time to refinance and take care of your other loans. Your mortgage payment could also be much lower than it was originally.

Persons looking to consolidate debt might be able to do so with a personal loan from a friend or family member. This is risky and may ruin relationships, however, if you don’t pay the person back. This is a last resort to pay back debts, and you should pay them on time.

Just because a company calls itself nonprofit doesn’t mean they are completely trustworthy and will be fair in their service charges for debt consolidation. This term is often used as a disguise for predatory lenders and you could end up with very unfavorable loan terms. Go with a group that was personally recommended to you or look at the BBB.

All of these tips can help you decide if consolidation is for you. The tips this article has given you are just enough to get you started when you wish to learn about this subject. Put this information to use to become happy with your finances.

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