Credit Red Flags

Kansas City area financial planners say you’re in trouble when you can’t pay your minimum credit card balances each month. The Consumer Credit Counseling Service says you may be facing a credit emergency if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Have you:

• Argued with your spouse over bills?
• Increased the percentage of your income being used to pay off debts?
• Approached or reached your credit limits?
• Paid only the minimum on revolving charge accounts?
• Been chronically late in paying bills?
• Borrowed to pay for items you used to pay for in cash?
• Put off medical or dental visits for financial reasons?
• Reached a point where losing your job would place you in immediate financial difficulty?
• Been threatened with repossession of your car, credit cards or other legal action?
• Avoided calculating your total debt and are afraid to add it up?