tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-146482422024-02-08T01:06:56.961-05:00Credit CardsTips, news, reviews, caveats, trends, updates and analysis related to consumer and business credit cards, and prepaid debit cards. From the interest rate specialists @ FedPrimeRate.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger192125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-55518222155014449662022-04-24T17:11:00.003-04:002022-04-24T17:11:23.766-04:00Installed the Bank of America App; Got A New Source for A Free TransUnion® FICO® Credit Score.<div style="text-align: left;"></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DKWqRlVSFCueRS_coUDfL1w4T7PcurBq8qVpMNgTEinAVkEGz3vZO1wltM7hLTog_Enj5jZPSdhpDSJgFZ8n-pdZdiPj9pJL-FA5Tsay0vTtc7jNpKT1IjZq0MR6hXIa_TaM7yVslQyEXmKtdS8YlwaF5_8gblr8H-g_mz2b6u15z4Lu3A/s735/BofA-FICO-Credit-Score-1.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 4em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Free TransUnion® FICO® Credit Score." border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="735" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DKWqRlVSFCueRS_coUDfL1w4T7PcurBq8qVpMNgTEinAVkEGz3vZO1wltM7hLTog_Enj5jZPSdhpDSJgFZ8n-pdZdiPj9pJL-FA5Tsay0vTtc7jNpKT1IjZq0MR6hXIa_TaM7yVslQyEXmKtdS8YlwaF5_8gblr8H-g_mz2b6u15z4Lu3A/w200-h122/BofA-FICO-Credit-Score-1.jpg" title="Free TransUnion® FICO® Credit Score." width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Free TransUnion® FICO®<br /> Credit Score.</td></tr></tbody></table>I just installed the Bank of America (BofA) App on my "goto" mobile devices, and was very pleased to discover that BofA offers free access to my TransUnion® FICO® credit score.<p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">The free score that I used to check @ Citi® no longer works -- and I have no idea why -- so this is a good thing.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Installation was easy on my iPad 4 Mini and my iPhone 7 Plus. I didn't bother installing the app on my old Samsung phones because I only use them as backups and for some gaming; they are both way too slow anyway. And I can't stand slow machines.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">So my FICO score is 721, as of March 23, 2022. I thought my score would be lower, since I've been going through some very major life changes lately... And big changes tend to be expensive.<br /><br />I still use <a href="http://money.fedprimerate.com/search/label/credit_karma" target="_blank">Credit Karma</a> too; in my life, in general, I like to use as many free resources as possible. One reason for this is to monitor things for consistency.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0United States37.09024 -95.7128918.780006163821156 -130.869141 65.400473836178847 -60.556641tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-89329780745767249842021-10-25T23:05:00.000-04:002021-10-25T23:05:31.580-04:00From Bank of America®: The U.S. Postal Service Is Changing First-Class Mail Delivery Time Frames<p> A heads-up from the good folks at <b><a href="http://www.bankofamerica.com/" target="_blank">Bank of America®</a></b>:</p><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_2819248799307332295main-table" role="presentation" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; max-width: 400px; min-width: 400px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; width: 400px; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" class="m_2819248799307332295left" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 20px 0px;" valign="top"><h1 class="m_2819248799307332295left m_2819248799307332295fsz24" style="color: black; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: normal; line-height: 33.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The United States Postal Service Began Changing First-Class Mail Delivery Time Frames In October</h1></td></tr><tr><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 20px 0px;" valign="top"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fedprimerate.com/prime-rate-website-sitemap.htm#creditcards" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 20pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: 10pt;" target="_blank"><img alt="Bank of America" border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="2040" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbNG37jwVQWF5UEI3uvxzymw9TIi-U-fVGjO9DhAGJMl7E6Z74IK2nUpwAIS6Rlnktlgr6fbJlj6Ovx2Zi4Pu5QGYPU4zvLZpTCcKXch87p0LaGyCFKA33eCx7qGQKm8WlSsn/w200-h111/Bank-of-America-Logo-1.png" title="Bank of America" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fedprimerate.com/prime-rate-website-sitemap.htm#creditcards" target="_blank">Bank of America</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="color: black; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">This change may result in mailed statements, new or replacement cards and payments you mail taking longer to arrive.</p><p style="color: black; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">For fast and easy access to your account information and to schedule payments 24/7 for your Bank of America credit card and loan accounts, use our<span> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://click.servicing.bankofamerica.com/u/?qs%3D4ae510fa0237076d103593edf5eadc03058126c33e506f3eb12a570c419aa5640f3e9438e9a748ea1f777eca05686e561540b67b9587991fcd136be6ab6008c0&source=gmail&ust=1635294591206000&usg=AFQjCNFCdIFO3PUGEAZ5wEAZAtjP88xDug" href="https://click.servicing.bankofamerica.com/u/?qs=4ae510fa0237076d103593edf5eadc03058126c33e506f3eb12a570c419aa5640f3e9438e9a748ea1f777eca05686e561540b67b9587991fcd136be6ab6008c0" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; color: #0053c2; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><b style="color: #0053c2; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Mobile Banking app</b></a><a aria-label="footnote 1" href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&view=btop&ver=ops2cvpehp6&search=inbox&th=%23thread-f%3A1714639979514976486&cvid=1#m_2819248799307332295_footnote_num1" name="m_2819248799307332295_footnote_num1b" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; color: #0053c2; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 0; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: 4px;"><sup style="color: #0053c2; font-size: 11px; line-height: 0; vertical-align: 4px;"><b style="color: #0053c2; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">1</b></sup></a><span> </span>and<span> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://click.servicing.bankofamerica.com/u/?qs%3D4ae510fa0237076dc333267dc1a453dc94615800f224f3b359c869a558ce0dd3f680c74ad856eeb093fa50a3d7395ec075bb578d3f0d4a244b3b7539f07cff67&source=gmail&ust=1635294591206000&usg=AFQjCNH4bGgHO9EXsO6aVA0xm1FsAMVUxw" href="https://click.servicing.bankofamerica.com/u/?qs=4ae510fa0237076dc333267dc1a453dc94615800f224f3b359c869a558ce0dd3f680c74ad856eeb093fa50a3d7395ec075bb578d3f0d4a244b3b7539f07cff67" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; color: #0053c2; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><b style="color: #0053c2; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Online Banking</b></a><span> </span>digital solutions.</p><ul><li style="color: black; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22.4px; margin-left: 15px; margin-top: 8px;">Make payments quickly and easily using Mobile and Online Banking. You'll get immediate confirmation that your payment has been scheduled.</li><li style="color: black; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22.4px; margin-left: 15px; margin-top: 8px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://click.servicing.bankofamerica.com/u/?qs%3D4ae510fa0237076deb06f5b227a3fb1e86f2d5f9180afd7fe819d78b99fe922b9e983a0f59d38899dc7ad4d5d5b6a36f24b4dea751b86c41242195bb0a5dfbf3&source=gmail&ust=1635294591206000&usg=AFQjCNHxUtlmGG3HnjEEdbiKkS9N8t0vNg" href="https://click.servicing.bankofamerica.com/u/?qs=4ae510fa0237076deb06f5b227a3fb1e86f2d5f9180afd7fe819d78b99fe922b9e983a0f59d38899dc7ad4d5d5b6a36f24b4dea751b86c41242195bb0a5dfbf3" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; color: #0053c2; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><b style="color: #0053c2; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Go paperless</b></a><span> </span>to securely view your statements online or from our mobile app.<ul><li style="color: black; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22.4px; margin-left: 15px; margin-top: 8px;">Get Payment Reminders when you set up payment due alerts</li><li style="color: black; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22.4px; margin-left: 15px; margin-top: 8px;">Help reduce the risk of lost, stolen or delayed mail</li><li style="color: black; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22.4px; margin-left: 15px; margin-top: 8px;">Receive email notifications when new statements are ready</li></ul></li><li style="color: black; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22.4px; margin-left: 15px; margin-top: 8px;">Request a<span> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://click.servicing.bankofamerica.com/u/?qs%3D4ae510fa0237076d2f87cfb5baffbe22d127e3a11f611b73ef64c847abd0fb80678b2b9040e8f332923f20c01479d26c0f7d14a2ef512bbb48d45824f0206d6c&source=gmail&ust=1635294591206000&usg=AFQjCNFNwjnMwwznaS9xf7V42HEiKAOt2A" href="https://click.servicing.bankofamerica.com/u/?qs=4ae510fa0237076d2f87cfb5baffbe22d127e3a11f611b73ef64c847abd0fb80678b2b9040e8f332923f20c01479d26c0f7d14a2ef512bbb48d45824f0206d6c" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; color: #0053c2; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><b style="color: #0053c2; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">digital card for debit</b></a><span> </span>through our Mobile Banking app to use with your digital wallet, if waiting for a new or replacement card.</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 20px 20px 0px;" valign="top"><h2 style="color: black; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b>If you haven't already, enroll today to get started.</b></h2></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 20px 0px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_2819248799307332295hide" role="presentation" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#F5F5F5" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: center; width: 205px;" valign="top" width="205"><img align="middle" alt="" aria-hidden="true" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="50" role="presentation" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjl7SQypv53UZUeIROnghAD40C2U3TH8CMWpcs71fkftLZBphLnUqJNF4xSeclDNleW0FQFgvk3B2vT-mR-mVIbVNYHe2IF77PCh4co1vtHZV94SpvZQj2XTvlaZgelKEVSaI2D-6Ju3yJOTOuNe4AnfmoY9_KDtezPhpV3B9XH9L77mQbSebLAvwAZ-itkAtl7G7FkMDd8UqYNn5Ha=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px none; display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto; outline: currentcolor none medium; text-decoration: none; width: 50px;" width="50" /><p style="color: black; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://click.servicing.bankofamerica.com/u/?qs%3D4ae510fa0237076d41a992140c60d04491e9b29c43306bdb4da2a10b06dfb38ce4777e6bd87e41c0e36a1f4dbec3ce91e9cc49c2f9480b4b49eb2a5d767152d7&source=gmail&ust=1635294591206000&usg=AFQjCNEDhaKkJ0fbNN5S1gmJ713QdiPOkA" href="https://click.servicing.bankofamerica.com/u/?qs=4ae510fa0237076d41a992140c60d04491e9b29c43306bdb4da2a10b06dfb38ce4777e6bd87e41c0e36a1f4dbec3ce91e9cc49c2f9480b4b49eb2a5d767152d7" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; color: #0053c2; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><b style="color: #0053c2; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Download the Bank of America Mobile Banking app</b></a></p></td><td class="m_2819248799307332295hide" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; max-width: 20px; min-width: 20px; width: 20px;" width="20"><div style="max-width: 20px; min-width: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div></td><td align="center" bgcolor="#F5F5F5" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: center; width: 205px;" valign="top" width="205"><img align="middle" alt="" aria-hidden="true" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="50" role="presentation" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEggxXDu18j9T6iMYgIJbc4_q1zzQ9zdsRnaje4w0ed4-tsC_zG91NnAc6WDeibJqbqA51ZuvOC3IKNESKOzc4Gpbmw59wxOY3__1tzY4VLIf9yn8iEnD_FinZEQ3lKA_ktzjCoOIod87fi4L256tlC32V8yVQO4XOMSdjsuzWKU8r_7OAdf9oFoiKnrWrkQMMstDV1Y8VsS9oUXuko=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px none; display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto; outline: currentcolor none medium; text-decoration: none; width: 50px;" width="50" /><p style="color: black; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://click.servicing.bankofamerica.com/u/?qs%3D4ae510fa0237076d0d8323da7659ce528e043da5aa6ef1d47630f229063fe9120d04dd6d0f0686873827acfccef79017be0320651d7a639b987258d8f6bb8262&source=gmail&ust=1635294591207000&usg=AFQjCNGA7Ry5GaWpvbNRVplTUQjT-LhuiQ" href="https://click.servicing.bankofamerica.com/u/?qs=4ae510fa0237076d0d8323da7659ce528e043da5aa6ef1d47630f229063fe9120d04dd6d0f0686873827acfccef79017be0320651d7a639b987258d8f6bb8262" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; color: #0053c2; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><b style="color: #0053c2; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Enroll or sign in to Online Banking</b></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" class="m_2819248799307332295pl20 m_2819248799307332295pr20" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 60px 0px;" valign="top"><h2 style="color: black; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b>Watch our<span> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://click.servicing.bankofamerica.com/u/?qs%3D4ae510fa0237076dffaa961164a4ccc4b7460cb41535ce8f42fe61e37cf28cd1cb4c931f772456105d9b799a09a5c4baa9c958414875c41400bb0766d833acaa&source=gmail&ust=1635294591207000&usg=AFQjCNEZNamQnlHNR3CByZSCQbdhjoz-yA" href="https://click.servicing.bankofamerica.com/u/?qs=4ae510fa0237076dffaa961164a4ccc4b7460cb41535ce8f42fe61e37cf28cd1cb4c931f772456105d9b799a09a5c4baa9c958414875c41400bb0766d833acaa" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; color: #0053c2; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><b style="color: #0053c2; text-decoration: none;">guided demos</b></a><span> </span>if you need help getting started.</b></h2></td></tr><tr><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 20px 20px;" valign="top"><h2 style="color: white; font-size: 1px; line-height: 1px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;">Legal disclosures and information</h2><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_2819248799307332295fullwidth" role="presentation" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; width: 15px;" valign="top" width="15"><p style="color: black; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="footnote 1" name="m_2819248799307332295_footnote_num1" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><b style="color: black; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">1</b></a></p></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px;" valign="top"><p style="color: black; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Mobile Banking requires that you download the Mobile Banking app and is only available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply.<b style="color: white; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"> </b></p><p style="color: black; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="color: white; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"> </b></p><p style="color: black; font-family: Connections, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="back to content" href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&view=btop&ver=ops2cvpehp6&search=inbox&th=%23thread-f%3A1714639979514976486&cvid=1#m_2819248799307332295_footnote_num1b" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><b style="color: white; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"> </b></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0United States37.09024 -95.7128918.780006163821156 -130.869141 65.400473836178847 -60.556641tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-36265292482118344082021-07-16T19:04:00.003-04:002021-07-17T11:15:44.356-04:00The Apple® Credit Card: Beware<p>If you're thinking of applying for the Apple® credit card (Apple Card), you should check out the comments section of this Twitter ad before you apply:<br /><br /></p><p> >>>> <a href="https://bit.ly/Apple-Credit-Card">https://bit.ly/Apple-Credit-Card</a> <<<<<br /></p><p>Many of the comments are total garbage, but some are both insightful and actionable...<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">===============</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://bit.ly/Apple-Credit-Card" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Apple® Credit Card: Beware" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="676" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAZD_ALG9ZPhuaSKF5mlzQOXYO4gFxUbLWN-OO5FOs1IEt0KCGZlbLQHbCkiRAIIzPegeKJn46FNPdb9V4rbz1QnJljUwhIJZh5T0y8-TeXTPmmuhAhFt-jz8uU4cwiWO_opR/w400-h291/Apple-Credit-Card-2-POST.jpg" title="The Apple® Credit Card: Beware" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />The Apple® Credit Card: Beware</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">===============<br /></p><p><br /></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">See if you are approved with no impact to your credit score. Apply in minutes and use Apple Card right away on your iPhone.</p>— Apple Card (@AppleCard) <a href="https://twitter.com/AppleCard/status/1347604381345206272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0United States37.09024 -95.7128918.780006163821156 -130.869141 65.400473836178847 -60.556641tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-9077906812427727712019-07-11T03:27:00.000-04:002019-07-11T03:27:01.165-04:00How To Freeze Your American Express CardHere's a short but useful clip on how to freeze your American Express card, by the good folks at <b>AmericanExpress.com</b>:
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<center>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lwc8eFXTYP4" width="400"></iframe>
</center>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0United States37.09024 -95.712891000000013-36.4162205 99.052733999999987 90 69.521483999999987tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-83625046687920576402018-06-19T17:36:00.009-04:002018-06-19T17:36:43.559-04:00How To Negotiate Credit Card Fees<i>How To Negotiate Credit Card Fees</i>; a segment produced by <b>Nightly Business Report (CNBC)</b>:
<br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ICqZj1CDMg0" width="400"></iframe>
</center>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
=============</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0United States37.09024 -95.712891000000013-36.4162205 99.052733999999987 90 69.521483999999987tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-33427911023638923692016-10-07T11:40:00.003-04:002016-10-07T11:44:12.069-04:00Credit-Card Promotions Improving, And Here's The Proof...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fedprimerate.com/creditcards/credit-card-search-engine-browse.htm" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Citi® Credit Cards" border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqYP2lUWZIxOPp06QXSyQ_9M12GclaUoArxHxTomPv4l-vCa5VSvkRlhyphenhyphenUDKjPznPauVHQwleF0NCq3b3TRQuNXapxhyphenhyphenON_uTU0LHyEnYOTac1jamEjFUbKbkV-BSpUryd3VA/s200/Fed-Prime-Rate-Citi-Logo-1-Beige-MAIN-BG.jpg" title="Citi® Credit Cards" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Citi® Credit Cards</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Fed lifted the U.S. Prime Rate from <a href="http://primerate.fedprimerate.com/2015/12/us-prime-rate-rises-to-35.html" target="_blank">3.25% to 3.5%</a> at the end of last year.<br />
<br />
While the U.S. economy is still not as healthy as it should be this far into the post-Great-Recession recovery, the Federal Reserve may still opt to <a href="http://primerate.fedprimerate.com/2016/09/prime-rate-forecast-prediction-september-22-2016.html" target="_blank">raise short-term rates</a> again as soon as the December 14, 2106 FOMC monetary policy meeting.<br />
<br />
And when <a href="http://www.fomc.tv/" target="_blank">the Fed</a> demonstrates confidence in the U.S. economy, big banks tend to respond by making their loan products more attractive. American banks are more profitable when the short-term interest rates controlled by the Federal Reserve rise.<br />
<br />
In the credit-card zone, I'm seeing the return of some very consumer-friendly promotions, including extended zero percent introductory APR offers, on both balance transfers and new purchases, and <a href="http://www.fedprimerate.com/creditcards/credit-card-search-engine-browse.htm" target="_blank">balance transfer offers</a> that don't charge balance transfer fee.<br />
<br />
I'm old, and I'm a very responsible borrower, so I always expect the banks and credit unions with which I have an established relationship to offer me nothing but the best. <br />
<br />
According to Equifax®, my FICO® <a href="http://money.fedprimerate.com/search/label/credit_score" target="_blank">credit score</a> is 814 out of a possible 900. A brief, FICO credit-score history is a new feature I noticed when I logged into my Citi® credit card account today.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="My FICO® Credit Score - Brief History" border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXrUjvlMngTGFM7v3kRDna0s06ehGbvFK553Rp-RDz3eHpUIkOwDhHLNHLYnathyphenhyphenzM-LBnlSyzw6hnTWRX5H3ZyQgybBN1F8yzz1JQDuq2cK7INnJqVp40VbWv1_JwpPl8sRI/s400/Fed-Prime-Rate-FICO-Equifax-Credit-Score-October-4-2016-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="My FICO® Credit Score - Brief History" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My FICO® Credit Score - Brief History</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIyAtCvrujkC5CWS32VdRDYI-UTgLJntu8VLIOXgnnO_x12-Lx5RAmqXFwhEZhlkbv3ygdMOf9q3qDT4LAlxqBAgLPL4lCueYdCJMK7TDcAHxUJQuXyNY1k3LFLiBZnR0UhlP/s1600/Fed-Prime-Rate-FICO-Score-And-Lenders-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="What My 814 FICO® Score Means To Lenders" border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIyAtCvrujkC5CWS32VdRDYI-UTgLJntu8VLIOXgnnO_x12-Lx5RAmqXFwhEZhlkbv3ygdMOf9q3qDT4LAlxqBAgLPL4lCueYdCJMK7TDcAHxUJQuXyNY1k3LFLiBZnR0UhlP/s400/Fed-Prime-Rate-FICO-Score-And-Lenders-1.jpg" title="What My 814 FICO® Score Means To Lenders" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What My 814 FICO® Score Means To Lenders</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtH4DLshLDK2bhsN1evLzNRf2GUT5UwhElH_VwculasUr_ISfRU-O4-z-Ij4jA9qn3qW-d8y513Xs-zEq3o9t4Ga3NJKURSYyfYHC66zcYzWcDfUpB_eqRxuhxcYN-HMUlVmAm/s1600/Fed-Prime-Rate-Citi-Equifax-FICO-Scores-At-A-Glance-October-4-2016-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="FICO® Scores At A Glance" border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtH4DLshLDK2bhsN1evLzNRf2GUT5UwhElH_VwculasUr_ISfRU-O4-z-Ij4jA9qn3qW-d8y513Xs-zEq3o9t4Ga3NJKURSYyfYHC66zcYzWcDfUpB_eqRxuhxcYN-HMUlVmAm/s400/Fed-Prime-Rate-Citi-Equifax-FICO-Scores-At-A-Glance-October-4-2016-1.jpg" title="FICO® Scores At A Glance" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FICO® Scores At A Glance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Right now I'm taking advantage of <i>three</i> <b>concurrent</b> Citi promotions with my <b>Citi® Dividend World MasterCard®</b>:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpzjqBcrqVIDGmtwIDb5KzAn3WRz0Qi4No8xMte8Cdt9j2SnL4YNc60p4YmpEvJdXzSJrJwo7QRH-8W6EF7POMq3-Rgd-LcafhXmxsf_JTtWqpLO8GZqgYKdIkmzUAw9K1_lI/s1600/Fed-Prime-Rate-Citi-Zero-Percent-Purchase-Offer-September-28-2016-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Citi® Credit Card Promotion" border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpzjqBcrqVIDGmtwIDb5KzAn3WRz0Qi4No8xMte8Cdt9j2SnL4YNc60p4YmpEvJdXzSJrJwo7QRH-8W6EF7POMq3-Rgd-LcafhXmxsf_JTtWqpLO8GZqgYKdIkmzUAw9K1_lI/s200/Fed-Prime-Rate-Citi-Zero-Percent-Purchase-Offer-September-28-2016-1.jpg" title="Citi® Credit Card Promotion" width="200" /></a>
<li>0% APR on all new purchases until June 1, 2017.</li>
<li>5% cash back on purchases I make at department stores (Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Dillard’s, Kohl’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, etc.) and includes the electronics retailer <i><b>Best Buy</b></i>, which suits my geeky lifestyle just fine. This particular promo lasts from October 1 through December 31, 2016.</li>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<li>And last, but certainly not least, I am currently getting 5% cash back on all online purchases I make with my card, until November 30, 2016.</li>
</ul>
<br />
I understand the timing with the above incentives, with the holiday shopping season in the offing, but I won't be doing much spending. I'm not rich, and I never spend for the sake of spending. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnZBDmgQsnMJ-0WDRSbSaYwE40vkv2tn_y5gQzWIM7Z6o_MMsGSmQEv4hiRPfGsrx_Yov753iNbR4RFZSiiWWDLnq-R7n0kHZ4z1Q16s4fy2Qm5T0kqrbavIEfh5Vtr0m59g3/s1600/Fed-Prime-Rate-Move-Free-Ultra-Supplement-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Move Free® ULTRA" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnZBDmgQsnMJ-0WDRSbSaYwE40vkv2tn_y5gQzWIM7Z6o_MMsGSmQEv4hiRPfGsrx_Yov753iNbR4RFZSiiWWDLnq-R7n0kHZ4z1Q16s4fy2Qm5T0kqrbavIEfh5Vtr0m59g3/s200/Fed-Prime-Rate-Move-Free-Ultra-Supplement-2.jpg" title="Move Free® ULTRA" width="100" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Move Free®</b> <b>ULTRA</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But I did use my Citi card to purchase some <b>Move Free®</b> <b>ULTRA</b> Triple Action<i> Joint / Cartilage / Bone</i> supplements, which the <b>CVS.com</b> website had discounted at <i>buy one, get one free</i>. I'm an avid quad skater, and my knees have been complaining so much lately that I had to find a solution. Move Free ULTRA has <b>lots</b> of very positive reviews online.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I like to use my Citi card every once in a while, just to let the folks and computers at Citi know that I'm interested in keeping the card alive. The card offers the kind of value I appreciate, so I don't want some algorithm and/or employee to close my card due to inactivity. Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-20717001847240875812016-10-05T21:59:00.000-04:002016-10-07T18:57:12.972-04:00One-Year Anniversary for EMV (Chip) CardsA segment from the folks at <i><b>Nightly Business Report</b></i> on the status of EMV cards (also known as <i>chip cards</i>) in the United States:<br />
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<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7o9O9wQwXHw" width="400"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-49671923985468556422016-09-03T00:19:00.005-04:002018-01-01T20:35:31.834-05:00Citi® Quick Lock<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCo16dV8D4-3Q09elROX1UwCE4dKk7G3C10YeftzupphyHDKc9mj4tweiKvkHfsYAvRhqAGHUnEO6Q0Tv1T4E5bXOImjSH6Qsu8JA3mist2Zh104Bdby0fLpg6YyW52hzoolZ/s1600/Citi-Quick-Lock-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Citi Quick Lock" border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCo16dV8D4-3Q09elROX1UwCE4dKk7G3C10YeftzupphyHDKc9mj4tweiKvkHfsYAvRhqAGHUnEO6Q0Tv1T4E5bXOImjSH6Qsu8JA3mist2Zh104Bdby0fLpg6YyW52hzoolZ/s400/Citi-Quick-Lock-1.jpg" title="Citi Quick Lock" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Citi Quick Lock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>Citi® Quick Lock</b>: A new and very welcome feature for my <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/102146224223744446001" target="_blank">+Citi</a> MasterCard®.<br />
<br />
And because it is my habit to test everything, I tested it, and it worked perfectly.<br />
<br />
I received a very rapid email from Citi when I locked and unlocked my card.<br />
<br />
======<br />
<br />
I have a business debit card with Chase®, and it would be great if the powers at Chase added this feature to it. The card is connected with my business checking account so security is of the utmost importance.<br />
<br />
And ditto for my Bank of America® business credit card.<br />
<br />
======<br />
<br />
Somewhat unrelated, but I just want to add a strong kudos to <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/100541505102751056210" target="_blank">+Bank of America</a>, because during the worst of the 2008 banking crisis and the subsequent Great Recession, my favorite of America's big banks exercised decent and responsible banking with my credit-card accounts. They did not:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Lower my credit limit(s)</li>
<li>Cancel my <b>active</b> account(s)</li>
<li>Force an interest-rate increase</li>
</ul>
<br />
During the worst of everything, my FICO® credit score either continued sideways or moved up, so I did not appreciate being treated like a subprime borrower by other credit-card banks, some of which no longer exist (go figure.)<br />
<br />
Here's what my <a href="http://www.fedprimerate.com/credit-score-watch-free-credit-report.htm" target="_blank">credit scores</a> look like right now, provided by <a href="http://www.fedprimerate.com/credit-score-watch-free-credit-report.htm" target="_blank"><b>CreditKarma</b></a>: TransUnion (808) and Equifax (811.)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_hjGSOC7edZEl9huCW7MEZS30Fggo18XbfokRKiF28AxRV_ixLfVhMlNBCvJWJK8ddjY6b4iwLuMFGb-zRXtWhMKTUi5cgPmzM35Y51pibUVX72d32aHlZ6xAFhMKTN0n266/s1600/Fed-Prime-Rate-Current-FICO-Credit-Score-September-2-2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Credit Scores" border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_hjGSOC7edZEl9huCW7MEZS30Fggo18XbfokRKiF28AxRV_ixLfVhMlNBCvJWJK8ddjY6b4iwLuMFGb-zRXtWhMKTUi5cgPmzM35Y51pibUVX72d32aHlZ6xAFhMKTN0n266/s320/Fed-Prime-Rate-Current-FICO-Credit-Score-September-2-2016.jpg" title="Credit Scores" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Credit Scores</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b> Responsible banking.</b><br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-3285326277793604742015-12-14T15:15:00.000-05:002015-12-28T04:40:18.874-05:00Where's My Smart Card?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fedprimerate.com/prime-rate-website-sitemap.htm" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Citi MasterCard with PayPass Sticker" border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKh9rFPzMohZ8cFt6fua8PfFgaRTkySsLfrNvQeO9HdoeOYwqAFR3RRuwFUkpK4i-bUj61D0t-HjlNEN6SGNKbGsl4aXtBBBmBEL_hYyDoJnXeQDh6akF9f-Bd-QjYIWh2CDUB/s320/citi-paypass-sticker-2-blooger-bg.gif" title="Citi MasterCard with PayPass Sticker" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Citi® MasterCar®d with PayPass® Sticker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was so envious reading about people getting their new smart credit and debit cards from card issuers, and I was starting to wonder why the banks I deal with hadn't sent me new smart cards automatically (smart card, also known as <i>smart chip cards</i>, <i>EMV cards</i> and <i>chip-enabled cards</i>.)<br />
<br />
The tiny chips in smart cards work together with smart-card terminals to create a unique and secure transaction at the point of sale, which makes shopping with these cards much safer than cards that only have a swipeable magnetic strip. <br />
<br />
I'm not interested in having a <b><i>radio-frequency identification</i></b> (RFID)-enabled chip in my credit and debit cards, because of <a href="http://creditcards.fedprimerate.com/2011/07/rfid-and-smart-credit-cards-making-it.html" target="_blank">this</a>, but I am interested in upgrading to smart credit and debit cards <b>without</b> the RFID.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.fedprimerate.com/prime-rate-website-sitemap.htm" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1A8Zg4ftiH4bB-pnIO6FFkZhIoYyhzyPq6IarS-gjH_E-9T4nA90jIgyssqE3bQ93n9MrjASk-oQmhf69hxU8RHPR-2ghRQuWmns7XWuOBM9-iFjz0TmdfhZr634nEV-w1A4L/s320/citi-account-management-2-animated-gif.gif" width="317" /></a>OK, so it seems that banks like <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/102146224223744446001" target="_blank">+Citi</a>® have figured how to keep wary cardholders like yours truly happy by separating the RFID from the EMV, via a sticker (pictured, top left.) You can attach the sticker to your smart phone, or to your credit or debit card, or to anything you'd like to use for contactless payments (like your car's key fob.) This system lets cardholders use contactless payment technology (either RFID or <i><b>near-field communication</b></i> [NFC]) if they want to, and opt out very easily if they don't. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>I Just Ordered My Citi EMV Card</b></div>
<br />
With my <b>Citi Dividend World MasterCard®</b>, I clicked the <i>Account Management</i> link in the top left navigation bar, which took me to a page where I found a link for <b>Replacement Card/Chip Upgrade. </b> Alternatively, I could have waited for my current card to expire, at which point Citi would have sent me a new smart card automatically.<br />
<br />
I'm looking forward to the arrival of this smart credit card, as it means no more handing over my card to strangers who may <a href="http://creditcards.fedprimerate.com/2008/08/twice-victim-of-fraud-in-as-many-weeks.html" target="_blank">do bad things</a> with it while it's away from my eyes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
=======</div>
<br />
<b>Note that:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Even with smart cards that have no RFID technology in them, the system can still be <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2014/08/08/technology/security/hack-credit-card-terminal/index.html" target="_blank">hacked</a>, but it's still much safer than the fading standard of magnetic-strip swiping.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>I've read of people complaining that they can't execute a convenient cash withdrawal on top of a purchase when using their smart debit card.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Also heard that some merchants are rejecting the old magnetic-strip cards now, because if the transaction turns out to be fraudulent, it's likely that the merchant will have to eat 100% of the cost, whereas before the cost would often be shared between the card issuer and the merchant.</li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-54416651701413616192015-11-04T15:04:00.000-05:002015-12-09T15:05:07.952-05:00How To Disable An RFID Chip In A Debit / Credit CardHaving an RFID chip in your credit or debit card can be a security risk, as posted <a href="http://creditcards.fedprimerate.com/2011/07/rfid-and-smart-credit-cards-making-it.html" target="_blank">here</a>, so here's a YouTube clip explaining how to disable these chips permanently...<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E_f5oRwaQew" width="420"></iframe>
</div>
<br />
Cards that use RFID chips include <b>Visa®<i> PayWave</i>®</b>, <b>MasterCard® <i>PayPass</i>®</b>, <b>American Express® <i>ExpressPay</i>®</b> and <b>Discover® <i>Zip</i></b>. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-14982925235466756312014-01-12T17:24:00.000-05:002015-12-16T00:29:43.175-05:00Credit-Card Fraud, Xmas Shopping Seasons 2013<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fedprimerate.com/prime-rate-website-sitemap.htm" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Target card swipe machine" border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLDC-zaTVjY5WQn8puDRYifiifm8mr4n0CQg3zajVl5qmuksi-8Bgf5nHfoUA18uolZS4R9mZEHj2cgx6nTPrNMgCJY4YNig7Cv9_VPTQ6M3MA6ifti3FS2PJCnp8A87ciddQ/s1600/target-cc-swipe-machine-1.jpg" title="Target card swipe machine" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Target card swipe machine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span id="goog_31141281"></span><span id="goog_31141282"></span>40 million was the initial estimate of Target customer card accounts accessed by scammers.<br />
<br />
Now the estimate has been raised to <b>110 million</b>!<br />
<br />
Yikes!<br />
<br />
I used to shop at Target many years ago. It's been at least 4 years since I've been in a Target store.<br />
<br />
But this news still makes me a bit nervous, because I have no idea how long Target keeps credit card info in their databases.<br />
<br />
Most of my cards have new numbers now, but who knows. These scam artists are scum, but they are not stupid. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
--</div>
<br />
Back in 2008, I treated a new friend to lunch at Red Lobster.<br />
<br />
I paid the bill with my Chase debit card, a card that's linked to my business checking account.<br />
<br />
As is the custom in the USA, the waitress took my card, disappeared with it, then returned to my table for a signature. She was acting a bit strange; shifting eyes and somewhat hurried, but I thought nothing of it.<br />
<br />
And that was the first time I've ever been a victim of a credit-card scam.<br />
<br />
That waitress used one of the widely available, and very portable, card readers, to get my digits.<br />
<br />
I got my money back, after faxing a reasonably simple, but still annoying, form.<br />
<br />
But the incident was a real wake up call for me. Using the debit card attached to my business checking account for such transaction was something I would never do again, I pledged to myself. Way too risky!<br />
<br />
Now here's a very interesting difference between Europe and America: when you're ready to pay your restaurant bill with a credit or debit card, the server will bring the credit card terminal to your table! Your card never leaves your line of sight.<br />
<br />
<b>And that's the way it should be.</b><br />
<br />
Europeans are also ahead of the game with their adoption of smart cards. Comparing magnetic strip payment cards to smart chip cards is like comparing audio cassette tapes to a digital music player full of MP3's.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fedprimerate.com/prime-rate-website-sitemap.htm" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Neiman Marcus" border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZc3yQDe7K5l2scK9L1NclDocYS5h4KVRvW_Gv7RPutJC6dZYvMONHaPQPGhNFPMRS-Qt2Q45fUHrND1VPIaDb_MzjEcxj5nCyzK4nOXsCN7Vqn4PpIX6SHoQlcKdx_q_DIh9/s1600/neiman-marcus-1.jpg" title="Neiman Marcus" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neiman Marcus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
American credit-card banks have been resisting the smart card thing, which really doesn't make sense to me. Surely the cost of upgrading is less than the cost of dealing with payment-card fraud!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
--</div>
Fast forward to today: luxury retailer Neiman Marcus <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2014/01/11/following-attack-on-target-neiman-marcus-confirms-its-own-breach-and-could-be-just-the-tip-of-the-iceberg/" target="_blank">reports</a> a serious payment-card related breach. All this card fraud seems to be focused on the 2013 Xmas shopping season.<br />
<br />
Credit-card rewards be damned! I think paying with cash will be king for many months to come...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-60186839531946348752013-11-16T18:15:00.002-05:002015-12-16T00:30:05.280-05:00A Very Nice Thank You from Bank of America<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fedprimerate.com/prime-rate-website-sitemap.htm" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bank of America Reward Debit Card" border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZiE3syiujApJ5FbvxKAXoefJLR_aJR9YGwNG9t77eNf-HjSava6UEE_qNO9uXoN9Ib1_IMFRCZpz5_BrxdwiJ-irEBnjguwLMuofJ6rHvsrYQ5eG5buB2jR6LgTBunzXdKtI/s320/disco-pope-bofa-reward-debit-card-1.jpg" title="Bank of America Reward Debit Card" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bank of America Reward Debit Card</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Apparently, Bank of America is very happy with the interest income they are making from me with my business credit card. They sent me a generic, $25 debit card (Reward Card.) Domestic use only!<br />
<br />
How did I use it? Some sushi for my daughter and yours truly. It was nice.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-90036548360872449702013-02-14T18:28:00.001-05:002015-12-16T00:30:43.860-05:00How to Keep Your Credit Card Numbers and Other Private Information Safe When Shopping Online<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fedprimerate.com/prime-rate-website-sitemap.htm" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="credit cards" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4nPj087WR6KrHpn-Zc4YTZRBnT3Bj2G9bPEDvMi_QjDeN1yz7URMQCov_sQIXCiLXJdn9lm0ihGUXrhe4RHPkY61JupLGsNcbOqFcHYtkIzlC8UQy-_hV5maxUQGysNEoy894/s200/creditcardbalancetransfer.jpg" title="credit cards" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">credit cards</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Submitting credit card numbers and other sensitive information online shouldn't be cause for cold sweats and sleepless nights. Despite the efforts of identity thieves and other Internet criminals, shopping online is still safe, as long as you stay informed about the tools and tricks Internet crooks use to scam the unaware.<br />
<br />
Shopping online using <a href="http://www.fedprimerate.com/creditcards/balance-transfer-credit-cards.htm" target="_blank">credit cards</a> has become so mainstream that it's hard to remember a time when Internet shopping didn't exist. Shopping online makes perfect sense: it's efficient and convenient, and it makes comparison shopping much easier. Though most online retailers utilize sophisticated systems to keep their servers safe from hackers and other Internet fraudsters, there are still a numbers of best practices consumers should heed to ensure that each and every online shopping experience is as safe as possible. <br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>If your credit card company offers virtual credit card account numbers, then use them. A virtual credit card number is a temporary, randomly-generated number that's attached to your credit card account. You can use virtual numbers to pay for goods or services online, instead of your real credit card account number. If you generate a virtual account number for use on a particular website, the virtual number will be valid for that website and only that website. If you want to buy 3 items at 3 unique sites, you would generate 3 unique virtual numbers.<br /><br />Having read the above, you might be thinking that it would be a hassle to generate a virtual number every time you arrive at the checkout page of an online retailer. But considering the peace of mind that using virtual numbers affords you, it's worth it. Credit card companies don't charge a fee for generating virtual numbers, and the process of generating a number is quick and painless.</li>
<li>When shopping online, never submit your social security number, your mother's maiden name or any other secret question/secret answer-related information that credit card companies use to verify your identity. A legitimate online retailer will never ask you for your social security number, your mother's maiden name, the name of your first grade teacher or the name of your favorite pet. </li>
<li>Purchase an anti-virus software package if you don't have one already, and consider installing an anti-spyware package as well. If you have anti-virus software running on your computer, get into the habit of downloading the latest virus definition files at least 3 times per week, and run a full scan of all your hard drives at least once every week.<br /><br />Computer viruses, trojan horses, worms and other types of malware can cause all kinds of headaches, but when it comes to serious security threats, it doesn't get much worse than a keystroke logger (also known as a keylogger.) If your PC isn't protected by anti-virus software, you computer could get infected with a particular type of trojan horse called a malicious keylogger, a program that will record all your keystrokes, save them to a file and send the information to a criminal. If you get infected with a malicious keylogger, a huge chunk of your sensitive information, like credit card numbers, your social security number, the usernames and passwords you use around the Internet, etc. could end up in the hands of the crook who orchestrated the attack. Your private information could then be used to steal you identity, or worse.</li>
<li> Never initiate any online shopping by responding to a spam email message. Bottom line: legitimate online retailers don't send out unsolicited mail. Besides, if you respond to a spam email message, you are supporting the spammers, and you don't want to do that! </li>
<li>If you want to purchase an item from a website, but you're not 100% confident about the site's trustworthiness, then search <a href="http://www.yahoo.com/" target="_blank">Yahoo!</a>, <a href="http://www.bing.com/" target="_blank">BING</a> and <a href="http://www.google.com/" target="_blank">Google</a> to see if you can find any reports of security issues, bad conduct or poor customer support. </li>
</ul>
<br />
Should you be nervous about submitting your credit card information over the Internet? No, you shouldn't. Just remember to use common sense and observe best practices before whipping out that credit card.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-53508980810991842502012-10-31T11:11:00.003-04:002012-10-31T11:14:11.218-04:00Capital One Bank Behaving Like The Defunct Advanta<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://fedprimerate.com/creditcards/balance-transfer-credit-cards.htm" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBAiiaWP_PXLkZUE_lAc11kqyyM7Xo4fSlTYU7snGhWHLz2_0rv9TYXy8Y0NXzC9Deqo83lbHJgC39o92L5TdZ5haZZonGVZOGC-3o9aozKzoIu6JFHv10jFyEA7cDeDRf1lQ/s200/capital-one-generic-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Capital One Credit Card</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Four years back, I had an Advanta small business credit card. Interest rate and other terms were reasonable, and it quickly became my #1 business credit card. In fact, I was so fond of it that I decided to transfer my Bank of America (BofA) business card balance to it, via a 0% balance transfer offer.<br />
<br />
Months later, I regretted that transfer. That's because Advanta decided to breach our agreement, and started charging me interest on the transferred balances many, many months before they were supposed to.<br />
<br />
Advanta eventually --more than a year later! -- fixed that breach, but my faith in the company was wiped out. By the time I was ready to cancel my account, the company was <a href="http://creditcards.fedprimerate.com/2009/07/advanta-settles-with-fdic-over-fair.html">out of business</a>.<br />
<br />
Now it seems that Capital One may be trying to emulate Advanta's nonsense.<br />
<br />
Many Capital One customers have been complaining that the company has been breaching attractive 0% balance transfer agreements. According to a current class action in federal court, Capital One would offer 0% intro APR on both transferred balances and new purchases, but would start charging interest on new purchases almost right away.<br />
<br />
Here's a clip from the <a href="http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/10/23/51556.htm" target="_blank">Courthouse News Service</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"...Unbeknownst to plaintiff and classes, however, once a cardholder accepts Cap One's '0% interest' balance transfer offer, Cap One unilaterally, and in breach of the cardholder agreement, eliminates the grace period and begins charging interest on all new purchases from the date of the balance transfer forward.<br />
<br />
'Cap One did not disclose that it would eliminate the grace period for cardholders who accepted Cap One's 0% balance transfer offers and subject them to high interest charges. Cap One did not disclose that the only way for these cardholders to avoid interest charges on new purchases once they accepted the 0% balance transfer offer was to pay the full amount of these purchases plus the full amount of the balance transfer - in the same month that the cardholder accepted the balance transfer, even though the promotional period on the 0% percent offer was for 6 or 12 months...Contrary to the simple 'chance to save' that Cap One represented the balance transfer would provide, and that cardholders paid for, many cardholders who accepted these offers found themselves worse off than they were beforehand.'..." </blockquote>
<br />
We at <b>www.FedPrimeRate.com</b> stopped recommending Capital One cards years ago because new accounts would invaribly have very low credit limits associated with them. The typcial new account would have no more than $500 available for both purchases and tranferred balances. Not good if, by our records, the typical balance transfer request is around $3,000.<br />
<br />
My advice to Capital One: don't do the Advanta thing. Stick with what you promise!<br />
<br />
We'll keep posting on this story as the case develops. Stay tuned.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-24266941506635395242012-08-02T00:05:00.017-04:002012-08-02T01:24:33.503-04:00American Express® Prepaid Card: $25 Gift Card; Limited-Time Offer<a href="http://www.fedprimerate.com/creditcards/prepaid-credit-cards.htm"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 125px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uplalRL3dsJW45XTnWWA1YTb8goQfw29PerUkLktvaWONHvH_zya1AOLXLH1LikaJpc9ZhyhZhHTNMGYDwJ7vh7rItd-n9P96gfBpNm19wPjVEqg_86hObLB-6V5PEvA8EtZ/s200/american-express-prepaid-debit-card-blog.jpg" alt="American Express® Prepaid Card" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5771938260325524002" border="0" /></a>For a limited time, American Express will send you a complimentary $25 gift card after you load $200 or more onto a new <a href="http://www.fedprimerate.com/creditcards/prepaid-credit-cards.htm">American Express® Prepaid Card</a>.<br /><br />If you plan on taking advantage of this deal, please don't procrastinate. This free gift card offer ends on August 31, 2012.<br /><br />You can find this prepaid debit card at the top of <a href="http://www.fedprimerate.com/creditcards/prepaid-credit-cards.htm">this page</a>.<br /><br />The American Express Prepaid Card also offers these excellent benefits:<br /><br /><ul><li>No fee for direct deposit<br /><br /></li><li>No overdraft, inactivity, foreign exchange, annual, monthly or purchase fees<br /><br /></li><li>No fee fraud protection<br /><br /></li><li>No credit check</li></ul><p><br />We @ www.FedPrimeRate.com are big fans American Express financial products. The company is very well known for providing exceptional value and <a href="http://www.jdpower.com/content/press-release/aIr7L1E/credit-card-satisfaction-study.htm" target="_blank">first-class customer service</a>. <a href="http://www.jdpower.com/content/press-release/aIr7L1E/credit-card-satisfaction-study.htm" target="_blank">Yup</a>.</p><p>Enjoy!<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-19371922750815009922012-08-01T12:43:00.014-04:002012-08-01T23:01:51.545-04:00Chase Makes The Best No Fee Balance Transfer Card Even Better<a href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/free-no-fee-balance-transfer-credit-cards.html"><img style="float:left; margin:10px 10px 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 126px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatQOjuQaXfi9QbZ1651ql7C9oXxY7oLXJyxn27QTA-owqCmWJ715amNHXtH8puODdlrBDM8pDJwH2UJfsAqkvz23N8KuWrav3rOpy7on_VLafRF137jeLtsx5BLMSN0oQrp0X/s200/chase-slate-credit-card-balance-transfer-1.jpg" alt="Slate credit card from Chase bank, featuring a 0% Intro rate, and no balance transfer fee" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685893200259123554" border="0" /></a>The <a href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/free-no-fee-balance-transfer-credit-cards.html">Slate from Chase credit card</a> has been tweaked. The card still offers a zero percent introductory rate on new purchases and transferred balances for 15 months, with no balance transfer fee. What's new is that you now have up to 60 days to transfer your balance(s) to the card, and pay no transfer fee. In other words, the fee-free transfer window has been extended.<br /><br />You can the Slate from Chase credit card <a href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/free-no-fee-balance-transfer-credit-cards.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Enjoy!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-50801200076084190062012-07-23T07:27:00.002-04:002012-07-23T09:22:12.398-04:000% Intro APR Scaled Back on The Chase Ink Classic and Ink Cash Business Credit Cards<a href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/business-0-apr-balance-transfer-credit-cards.htm"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 153px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcecn6EyfVO0corEozYrFLNadVcCZiESt03B3d_umKMiOVSLr-SpZ4xK0wk0II8LbHJ1-xKlbr0GtUarHiJjY1DDs3A4lalWsc_dClydop8NYB61ydBO4VLxEjxNv-NZsAusUX/s320/chase-ink-classic-business-credit-card.jpg" alt="The Chase Ink Classic Business Credit Card" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5767776125726917650" border="0" /></a>Chase has scaled back the zero percent introductory period for the <a href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/business-0-apr-balance-transfer-credit-cards.htm" target="_blank">Ink Classic</a> and <a href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/business-0-apr-balance-transfer-credit-cards.htm" target="_blank">Ink Cash</a> business credit cards. For both cards, the intro period was 0% on both new purchases and transferred balances for 12 months. It's now 6 months on purchases and balance transfers for both cards.<br /><br />A bit of a buzzkill, but both cards still offer a lot of value.<br /><br />For example, Ink Classic offers:<br /><br /><ul><li>As a sweet welcoming gift, 10,000 bonus points after your first purchase<br /><br /></li><li> Spend $5,000 in your first 3 months with Ink Classic and you'll receive an additional 15,000 bonus points<br /><br /></li><li>No cap on the amount of points you can earn, and your points never expire<br /></li></ul><p>And Ink Cash offers an extremely competitive cash back rewards program.</p><p>Both Ink Cash and Ink Classic have no annual membership fee.<br /></p><p>If you have zero interest in carrying a balance, you can always opt for the <a href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/chase-business-charge-cards.htm" target="_blank">Ink Bold</a> charge card, a card with which you'd pay your entire balance in full at the end of each statement month. Ink Bold offers:</p><ul><li>Welcoming gift: 20,000 bonus points after your first purchase<br /><br /></li><li>Spend $10,000 or more in the first 3 months and get an additional 25,000 bonus points<br /><br /></li><li>No foreign transaction or overlimit fees (flexible spending limit)<br /><br /></li><li>No annual fee for the first year.<br /></li></ul>We all know that the go-go days of easy credit are long gone. With this in mind, be sure that both your personal and business credit profiles are in tiptop shape before applying for any Chase business credit card or business charge card.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-35110966947071555732012-06-23T16:05:00.005-04:002012-07-16T23:44:09.705-04:00Three New RushCards Will Soon Be On The Market<a href="http://www.fedprimerate.com/creditcards/prepaid-credit-cards.htm"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGv4qk0w8ZH_IMe_-FmcL1YlTuoBMcH0cw231Y-yYM67H__UCzLmOfS9EKYiuVO8rdl6YHXgWxpHe4HM3X1PhoBsrODJJ4jKCFgGS6TuX1-3dY0CdJNbAa08YWzcC_jverOHuB/s320/black-diamond-prepaid-debit-rushcard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5765924593273375874" border="0" /></a>RushCards are some of the most popular prepaid debit cards in the United States. Today's news: 3 new RushCards are about to hit the market. They are:<br /><br /><br /><br /><li>Prepaid Visa® Original RushCard </li><li>Prepaid Visa® DYNASTY RushCard </li><li>Prepaid Visa® Baby Phat RushCard </li><br />RushCards are very competitive in two important ways:<br /><br /><ol><li>Every RushCard comes with a free prescription drug discount card</li><li>With every RushCard, you can modify your fee plan at any time.</li></ol>You can review a complete list of the best prepaid cards <a href="http://www.fedprimerate.com/creditcards/prepaid-credit-cards.htm">here</a>. Enjoy!<br /><br />NB: Always review the fee schedule for any prepaid you're interested in. The annual cost for the unnumbered prepaid cards on the market vary greatly.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-89555083650564790902012-06-13T15:38:00.000-04:002012-07-16T17:32:06.688-04:00Funniest Credit Card YouTube Video Clip EverHere it is folks: the funniest, credit-card related YouTube video clip ever: <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/IMucG8WCwrY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />Thanks much to Eddie Lawshea for posting this one.<br /><br />Reading the comments attached to this clip is a must. Way too many people actually thought Mr. Lawshea was stupid enough to post a real number for all to use. Ha!<br /><br />I hope those Nigerian email scammer don't start posting video clips on YouTube. They'd make a killing.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-78849390755767765222012-05-28T17:20:00.000-04:002012-07-16T17:32:06.715-04:00What's The Point of Credit-Card Activation?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkL8MQgs9w0UjRkMquSD_EG8wjAFBNMvkgAcku8V0ylwEVmBopNiAGs4xQsiJDMmZAVge_UhaAqndpZnxucdgvvQ-PgGhD3QkIm6sAOQBgzWqF9raqtp0cbWySuuwGNu41wqh/s1600/credit-cards-home-business1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Credit Card Activation" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkL8MQgs9w0UjRkMquSD_EG8wjAFBNMvkgAcku8V0ylwEVmBopNiAGs4xQsiJDMmZAVge_UhaAqndpZnxucdgvvQ-PgGhD3QkIm6sAOQBgzWqF9raqtp0cbWySuuwGNu41wqh/s200/credit-cards-home-business1.jpg" title="Credit Card Activation" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Credit Card Activation</td></tr></tbody></table>Very recently, I had my mail routed to my cousin's house (we'll call her Sally.) Why? Because I was dealing with a number of moves within a short period of time, and needed a solid and stable place to park my mail.<br /><br />My favorite rewards card expired, so a new one was mailed to Sally's place.<br /><br />Sally discovered my new card and used it to buy some emergency drugs from her local pharmacy. She simply ripped open the envelope and used it, without activating the card.<br /><br />I check all my active accounts everyday (online of course.) When I discovered the 3 charges totaling $235 @ a NYC pharmacy, I confronted my cousin immediately. She did not deny anything, but, I was very disappointed when she suggested that I call my bank and claim that the charges were fraudulent. Her logic was, "well, they should not have allowed me to use the card without activating it. They deserve to take a loss."<br /><br />No way. Too dishonest.<br /><br />I paid the $235 online the same day.<br /><br />Sally wasn't trying to scam me. I actually owe her money from years ago when I needed help with a large child support payment. However, I was shocked that she didn't call me to let me know about the charges. She knew that my credit score would have suffered a severe blow had I missed a payment on those charges. What if I was on vacation and not checking my accounts as diligently as usual? What if I was in the hospital? <br /><br />So, my question is: What's the point of credit-card activation?<br /><br /><br />I won't communicate the name of my credit-card bank, but it's a very large, financial institution with offices all over the world.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/sticker-activate-new-credit-card-1282.php" target="_blank">CreditCards.com</a> website has an interesting article <a href="http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/sticker-activate-new-credit-card-1282.php" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />As always, your comments are welcome and appreciated.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-34175967814262680512012-03-01T18:08:00.097-05:002012-03-19T17:31:18.053-04:00Discover's Most Popular 0% Card Leaves The Market<a href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/free-no-fee-balance-transfer-credit-cards.html"><img style="float: left; margin: 0px 14px 14px 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 114px; height: 70px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44J3dU32r0aiErv3Di4MEzUbvSodfy8CU_-Oc1_7x1x13-_KHLvJXnRycVyLbfxjoSj-F3dll-oHuArWcTN_JBBkqiYgiKV0MkrBsMdAyp76FJaBM-WYZIBpI2c1-slks9nFF/s320/discover-more-no-balance-transfer-fee-credit-card.jpg" alt="*No balance transfer fee* zero percent introductory APR credit card from Discover" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559593756381572978" border="0" /></a>Discover's $0 Balance Transfer Fee credit card, which was the most popular 0% credit card on this site last month, is no more. This particular offer ended @ the end of February, 2012. It was an extremely popular offer, garnering lots of interest from credit consumers all over the country.<br /><br />As a company, Discover totally "gets it." Essentially, Discover does business in accordance with the following guiding premise:<br /><br /><blockquote>Provide top notch customer service, and include as much value as possible, like the best cashback rewards program in the American market and generous 0% intro APR periods, and consumers will beat a path to our door.</blockquote><br />Yep.<br /><br />The demise of Discover's no fee balance transfer card is a lamentable event, no doubt. It's always sad when a great deal goes away.<br /><br />But don't fret. There are still some great credit-card offers out there from some of America's most reputable banks.<a href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/free-no-fee-balance-transfer-credit-cards.html"><img style="float:right; margin:10px 10px 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 126px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatQOjuQaXfi9QbZ1651ql7C9oXxY7oLXJyxn27QTA-owqCmWJ715amNHXtH8puODdlrBDM8pDJwH2UJfsAqkvz23N8KuWrav3rOpy7on_VLafRF137jeLtsx5BLMSN0oQrp0X/s200/chase-slate-credit-card-balance-transfer-1.jpg" alt="Slate credit card from Chase bank, featuring a zero percent introductory interest rate, and no balance transfer fee" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685893200259123554" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div>Chase's new no transfer fee, 0% intro APR card is still available. This latest evolution of the Slate® card offers a zero percent introductory interest rate on both new purchases and balance transfer for 15 months, with <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/free-no-fee-balance-transfer-credit-cards.html">no balance transfer fee</a>.<br /><br />The above Chase Slate card was the third most popular card on the www.BalanceTransfer.cc site during February 2012. The #2 card was Discover's <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/free-no-fee-balance-transfer-credit-cards.html">18 Month Promotional Balance Transfer</a> credit card, which offers a zero percent introductory rate on transferred balances for a very attractive 18 months. Despite the 3% transfer fee, this card is still an excellent value. It includes a zero percent introductory rate on new purchases for 6 months.<br /><br /><div>Citi® still has serious contenders in the 0% credit card game. There are 4 Citi credit cards that offer a zero percent rate on both introductory transfers <span style="font-weight: bold;">and</span> new purchases for 18 months, with a 3% transfer fee. You can review these Citi cards, and all the best 0% credit cards in the current market <a href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/free-no-fee-balance-transfer-credit-cards.html">right here</a>.<br /><br /></div><br />I see Discover introducing a new $0 Balance Transfer Fee card in the near future.<br /><br /><br />We're always on the lookout for the best credit-card deals in the USA. Enjoy...and stay tuned.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-34158214952854877912012-02-08T18:23:00.039-05:002012-03-05T15:25:58.988-05:00New Card from Chase: 15 Month Zero Percent Intro APR, with No Balance Transfer Fee<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/free-no-fee-balance-transfer-credit-cards.html"><img style="float:left; margin:10px 10px 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 126px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatQOjuQaXfi9QbZ1651ql7C9oXxY7oLXJyxn27QTA-owqCmWJ715amNHXtH8puODdlrBDM8pDJwH2UJfsAqkvz23N8KuWrav3rOpy7on_VLafRF137jeLtsx5BLMSN0oQrp0X/s200/chase-slate-credit-card-balance-transfer-1.jpg" alt="Slate credit card from Chase, featuring a zero percent introductory interest rate, and no balance transfer fee" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685893200259123554" border="0" /></a>Chase has a new version on their Slate card that offers a zero percent introductory interest rate on both new purchases and transferred balances for 15 months, with <span style="font-weight: bold;">no balance transfer fee</span>. This new card is the second card listed on our <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/free-no-fee-balance-transfer-credit-cards.html">No Fee Balance Transfer</a> page.<br /><br />Great news, especially for those still loaded with Christmas shopping-related credit-card debt.<br /><br />Actually, it's great news for just about anyone who's currently paying interest on any credit-card balance.<br /><br />Even better: no "limited-time" attached to this new Chase offer, so this one is probably going to be around for a while.<br /><br /><br />To review other attractive <a href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/chase-credit-card-balance-transfer.htm">credit-card offers from Chase</a>, check out <a href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/chase-credit-card-balance-transfer.htm">this page</a>.<br /><br />As always: enjoy! And stay tuned.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-1534446720289682752012-02-05T18:53:00.049-05:002012-02-08T18:18:49.620-05:00Citi's Best 0% Cards Bumped Down to 18 Month Zero Percent Intro APR Period On Transferred Balances and New Purchases<a href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/free-no-fee-balance-transfer-credit-cards.html"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 289px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKefXIYEG5LTZFmqxNIL8QFRz3IPDWJjXGgUpbWxPK-VT0mvorA5s_9CUpHtcNg3N4G0-3lvLiB4RaPi_Ff9ihNmSo2klbbdWIrPnWyX7zYSN_42lXEYwcrqfGMrscdF_tdogS/s320/citibank-citi-platinum-select-mastercard-0-balance-transfer.jpg" alt="Citi Balance Transfer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705804640613485922" border="0" /></a>Citi® bounced back into the 0% credit card game with some great offers recently. The following cards were offering a zero percent introductory interest rate on balance transfers <span style="font-weight: bold;">and</span> new purchases for a extremely attractive 21 months. These cards offered so much value that we felt that, despite a 3% transfer fee, they deserved to be list on our <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/free-no-fee-balance-transfer-credit-cards.html">no fee balance transfer</a> page.<br /><br />Today's news: Citi has decided to scale back these offers. All 4 cards now offer zero percent intro APR on new purchases and balance transfers for 18 months, with the same 3% balance transfer fee.<br /><br />Still a great value? Yes.<br /><br />These cards are:<br /><br /><ul><li><b><a href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/free-no-fee-balance-transfer-credit-cards.html#citibalancetransfers" title="Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card">Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card</a></b></li><li><b><a href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/free-no-fee-balance-transfer-credit-cards.html#citibalancetransfers" title="Citi® Platinum Select® Visa®">Citi® Platinum Select® Visa®</a></b></li><li><b><a href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/free-no-fee-balance-transfer-credit-cards.html#citibalancetransfers" title="Citi® Platinum Select® MasterCard®">Citi® Platinum Select® MasterCard®</a></b></li><li><b><a href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/free-no-fee-balance-transfer-credit-cards.html#citibalancetransfers" title="Citi Simplicity® Card">Citi Simplicity® Card</a></b></li></ul><br />Enjoy...and stay tuned.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-22001855092486355742012-01-26T22:46:00.019-05:002012-01-26T23:54:48.096-05:00Discover Most Popular 0% Card Gets Another MonthRight now, and by a wide margin, <a href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/free-no-fee-balance-transfer-credit-cards.html"><img style="float: left; margin: 0px 14px 14px 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 114px; height: 70px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44J3dU32r0aiErv3Di4MEzUbvSodfy8CU_-Oc1_7x1x13-_KHLvJXnRycVyLbfxjoSj-F3dll-oHuArWcTN_JBBkqiYgiKV0MkrBsMdAyp76FJaBM-WYZIBpI2c1-slks9nFF/s320/discover-more-no-balance-transfer-fee-credit-card.jpg" alt="Discover's most popular no balance transfer fee zero APR credit card" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559593756381572978" border="0" /></a>the most popular 0% card we recommend is Discover's No Balance Transfer Fee 0% credit card, that offers a zero percent introductory interest rate on both new purchases and transferred balances for 12 months, with <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/free-no-fee-balance-transfer-credit-cards.html">no balance transfer fee</a>.<br /><br />This hot offer was originally slated to last until the end of January 2012. But Discover has opted to extend the offer. You can now apply for <a href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/free-no-fee-balance-transfer-credit-cards.html">this card</a> until the end of February (February ends on the 29th this year.) <br /><br />Enjoy....and stay tuned.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648242.post-23681210095346442792012-01-04T18:57:00.012-05:002012-12-07T12:39:23.249-05:00Discover's New No Fee Balance Transfer 0% Credit Card<a href="http://www.balancetransfer.cc/free-no-fee-balance-transfer-credit-cards.html"><img alt="no fee balance transfer credit card" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559593756381572978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44J3dU32r0aiErv3Di4MEzUbvSodfy8CU_-Oc1_7x1x13-_KHLvJXnRycVyLbfxjoSj-F3dll-oHuArWcTN_JBBkqiYgiKV0MkrBsMdAyp76FJaBM-WYZIBpI2c1-slks9nFF/s320/discover-more-no-balance-transfer-fee-credit-card.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 70px; margin: 0px 14px 14px 0px; width: 114px;" /></a>Great news: Discover has just released a new 0% credit card that features 0% intro APR on both new purchases and transferred balances for 12 months, with no balance transfer fee. <br />
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One caveat: if you want to take advantage of this offer, don't delay. It's set to expire at the end of this month (January 31, 2012.) Hopefully, Discover will choose to extend this hot offer beyond January, but there's no way to know for sure.<br />
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As we <a href="http://creditcards.fedprimerate.com/2011/12/discover-lowers-balance-transfer-fee.html">predicted</a>, 0% credit card deals keep getting better as the economy slowly improves. Enjoy....and stay tuned.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0