Credit When Credit Is Due is a 12-lesson text, (also available in Spanish) written by Paul Strassels, one of America's premiere analysts on the subject of credit and debt, and the author of 14 books on personal finances.

The course is designed to help individuals gain a better knowledge of money issues and responsibilities revolving around the world of credit. The course is a self-study curriculum, with pass/fail tests following each lesson.

When students complete the course successfully, they will be registered in a national database and sent a registration card identifying them to lenders as graduates of a national standardized credit education program. This could entitle them to special consideration from participating utilities, mortgage companies and discounts, depending on the lenders’ discretion. They will also receive three cards addressed to the three major credit bureaus allowing them to add a positive statement to their credit reports.

The 12 lessons included in the Credit When Credit Is Due course are:

• Lesson One: The Facts Of Life
  What you need to know to get along as a financially responsible adult.
   

• Lesson Two: Living On The Edge
  How to budget and save your money, and plug your spending leaks.
   

• Lesson Three: To Borrow Or Not To Borrow
  How to decide if you should pay cash or borrow the money you need.
   

• Lesson Four: So You Have Decided To Borrow Some Money
  How to get through the credit-granting process once you decide to borrow.
   

• Lesson Five: The Terms Of The Deal
  How to determine if you are getting the deal you have bargained for.
   

• Lesson Six: Auto Loans And Leases
  One of the toughest deals to negotiate.
   

• Lesson Seven: Home Sweet Home
  The largest debt you are likely to ever have.
   

• Lesson Eight: Credit Cards And Other Loans
  What you need to know about credit cards, personal signature loans, etc.
   

• Lesson Nine: You've Got Trouble When
  How to tell you when you may have a problem.
   

• Lesson Ten: When You Fall Behind
  Dealing with delinquency and bill collectors.
   

• Lesson Eleven: Bankruptcy
  The ultimate credit overload
   

• Lesson Twelve: Building And Rebuilding Your Credit
  How to establish good credit when you have no credit history or even a bad credit past.

The cost of the 12-week self-study program and textbook is $50.00 + shipping and handling
You can purchase the program by clicking on the following link: Credit When Credit Is Due

San Diego, CA. (September 2005) The Institute of Consumer Financial Education (ICFE), a San Diego based group is proud to celebrate the achievement of 50,000 consumers and professionals nationwide who have successfully completed the financial and credit education program, Credit When Credit is Due.  Credit When Credit is Due is a twelve lesson program targeted towards first time credit seekers and those individuals who may have abused their credit and now find themselves facing credit counseling, or worse yet, bankruptcy. In addition to consumers, Credit When Credit is Due is also recognized as a valuable training tool for credit, debt and other financial counselors and has been accepted for continuing education credits by a variety of national professional organizations.

Nationwide, over 50,000 people have completed the program. Those graduates are entitled to a number of benefits as their reward for investing in such comprehensive credit education, because each graduate had to pass an examination at the end of each of the twelve lessons. Among the benefits are notifications prepared for the consumer to send to the three major credit reporting agencies of their recent accomplishment for inclusion in their credit files, a variety of discounts and reduced rates from mortgage companies, real estate brokers, offers of deposit waivers from participating telephone and utility companies and special opportunities for members of participating credit unions.