All About Credit Cards

Fee Harvesting Credit Cards 5 Tips You Should Know About

2008-08-12T23:38:00.000-07:00

Is a fee harvesting credit card ever a good idea for people with bad credit?

It depends, say consumer credit counselors and advocates, who generally advise against getting such credit cards. Fee harvesting or subprime credit cards are marketed to people with bad credit who are trying to improve their credit scores by showing good repayment habits. The credit limits are typically low, ranging from perhaps $300 to $500 and interest rates are higher to reflect the greater risk of these cardholders.
The trick is that the cards often have numerous upfront fees that significantly reduce the amount of available credit -- and thus limits the consumer's purchasing power on the card. Solicitation letters and marketing materials for fee harvesting credit cards often do not clearly disclose all of the potential fees. Consumers who get the cards are often blindsided by the fees, advocates say.

"It looks like it might be a good deal for them and ends up with all these hidden fees. It just puts them right over the edge," says David Jones, president of the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA), a nationwide group that represents 36 nonprofit consumer credit counseling agencies that operate 178 counseling offices in 38 states.

Adds Jones: "A consumer should be very careful to look at all of the fine print and card agreements and understand what they're getting into."

Federal regulators have targeted the cards for greater disclosure requirements, but some consumer advocates say fee harvesting cards should be banned outright as deceptive and unfair. Banks that issue the cards say they are providing a service for the unbanked and for those who could not qualify for credit elsewhere.

Consumers should set a goal of finding "a card with a single-digit interest rate and no annual fee," says Gail Cunningham, spokeswoman for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. "Anything higher than that could indicate the card is a subprime product."

The National Consumer Law Center, a Boston-based consumer rights agency, and credit counselors offer the following advice for anyone considering fee harvesting cards:

1. Read the fine print. Be aware of the upfront fees. Asks Cunningham: "What is the interest rate and is it fixed or variable? What is the grace period for payments? What is the late fee if a payment arrives late or is missed? Will the interest rate increase in the event either of those things happen? Can the card be used anywhere (or just through a catalog they offer)?"

2. Shop around. There may be better offers from other issuers.

3. Find alternatives. Prepaid or secured credit cards may help you rebuild your credit without a bunch of fees. Secured cards require that you put your own money into an account. You then use the funds on a credit card and repay the amounts due each month. Debit cards may be another alternative to consider.

4. Don't believe the hype. Many of the marketing materials for fee harvesting credit cards come in the mail or through Internet, television or telemarketer ads and pitches. People desperate for a credit card may fall for slick advertising that may fail to reveal information needed to assess whether the offers are good deals for you. "If a credit card offer seems too good to be true, it may turn out to be a very bad deal," warns a National Consumer Law Center study.

5. Ask yourself why you need the card. If you need to repair a bad credit history, consider other options first.

Beware Of Credit Card Skimming

2008-06-02T16:54:00.000-07:00

Credit card skimming is an international problem accounting for losses of over one-billion dollars a year. This type of credit card scam is common in Europe, Asia and Latin America and is starting to show up more in the United States.

This scam is easy to run - it can happen when you give your credit card to a store employee to make a purchase. That employee may not only swipe your card for payment, but also swipe the card with a small machine they hold in their hand known as a skimmer. This small device will store the information from your card into its system. The skimmer is equipped to hold information on hundreds of credit cards and from this information, the crooks are able to produce counterfeit cards.

There are skimming rings working all over the world and once your information is put into the skimmer, it is then downloaded into a computer, ready to be emailed to anyone worldwide.

A decade ago, this fraud was not as easy to accomplish as it is today, due to the fact skimmers were very large and had to be hidden under counters. However, with the advance of technology in the past ten years, they have been able to streamline the skimmer, making it small enough to be hand-held and out of sight of the unwary customer making a purchase. These skimmers are easy to buy; in fact, they can be purchased over the internet at around $300. The machine needed to make counterfeit credit cards is a much larger investment - costing $5,000 to $10,000.

Another form of this scam is done by actually pulling information directly from the credit card terminals. A skimmer bug is placed into the terminal and later retrieved with credit card information on it. Only the older terminals can be violated in this way and with the onset of new credit card terminals, this has alleviated much of this bugging.

As soon as the crooks have their needed information on you, they will start their shopping sprees using your credit card number. They purchase all types of merchandise and charge it to your credit card. Over half of credit card fraud is done over the internet with online purchases. With shopping on the internet becoming more and more popular, card fraud on the internet has also increased.

The crooks will also use the internet to verify the card information is valid. They will purchase many low-ticket items through various websites, checking to see if the card is active. Internet processing of card purchases is done by real-time processing and not handled by a person; thus, no chance of them being caught trying to use a stolen card number.

The cardholder is a victim of this crime and is responsible for up to $50 of the total amount charged on his card, while the real victim in all of this is the merchant whose employee did the skimming. The merchant is held 100% responsible and risks losing the merchandise, and is responsible for paying the fees of the investigation. Investigation fees paid by consumers and businesses in 2003 amounted to an estimated half-billion dollars in annual revenue for credit card companies. This money is used by the card companies to offset costs to investigate charge back claims by their customers.

The crook who perpetrates this card fraud, for the most part, goes unpunished. There is a limit of $2,000 before a criminal investigation can be started; the crooks know this and will not exceed $2,000 on their purchases from any one business. Thus, they are pretty much free to continue to victimize consumers and businesses.

Who Get's My Money After Gift Card Expiration?

2008-03-10T12:21:00.000-07:00

Did you get a gift card for Christmas? Since it was given to you, you probably think the money should be spent by you. However, if you wait too long to spend that gift card, it could end up in the state's unclaimed-property account.

Why? Well, even though you might not think you've abandoned your gift card, if you don't use it after a certain amount of years it might be subject to laws that allow the money left on that card to revert, or escheat, to your state's piggy bank.

So, when does the gift card money become the state's money? That depends on your state's escheat laws.

There are basically three models of escheat laws.

1. No expiration or escheat model.

This is a very consumer-friendly model used in several states including California, Washington and Massachusetts. This model never gives up the money to the state. The gift card is good from now until eternity. In this model, there is a reserve fund specifically for redemptions set up by the retailer. By setting up this reserve fund, the retailer recognizes that the consumer can eventually redeem the gift card for merchandise. Retailers in these states are not required to have the money escheat to the state.

2. 60/40 model.

This is a more traditional model stating that gift certificates can come with expiration dates and when they do expire (usually between three and five years) retailers are responsible for having 60 percent of the value of the card escheat to the state. The retailers are allowed to keep the other 40 percent. The state acknowledges that retailers have costs that come with gift cards and allows them to keep a portion of the leftover money. Indiana and Iowa use this law.

3. No gift-card expiration dates, escheat laws apply.

This model is somewhat confusing since the states involved, such as Connecticut, have eliminated expiration dates on gift card and certificates. However, even though consumers will not find expiration dates on their gift cards, they are expected to use their gift cards within three years. Otherwise the state views the gift card as abandoned and the money escheats to the state. However, if a customer comes in after three years and obtains merchandise from the store using their unexpired gift card, the retailers can apply to get the money back from the state.

According to George Delta, counsel to the Incentive Marketing Association, a trade organization of businesses in the incentive industry, "States require businesses to give them some type of periodic report of the amount of unclaimed property they are holding. This allows the state to monitor this potential source of income."

Dan Horne, professor of marketing at Providence College, says consumers ultimately benefit from state escheat laws because the unused money that is not claimed goes into the state Treasury.

With 50 states, there is no easy, uniform answer to questions of escheat. If you are wondering about how your state handles gift cards, the Incentive Gift Card Council offers a link to check your state's escheat laws.

By Kristin Arnold

Tips For Responsible Credit Card Use

2008-03-03T16:05:00.000-08:00

These days it seems the use of credit is running rampant. So many people are purchasing things they don't have the money for. This is quickly ensuring a generation of people who will spend a majority of what they earn just to may down their debt, instead of using their hard-earned money for other things.

Credit is an important part of buying the necessities in life, such as a home, or a vehicle. The more credit you're able the build, the better, so a credit card is an easy avenue to get there. Credit used irresponsibly, however, can do serious harm to your credit status. Therefore, a serious look at responsible credit card use is important.

The first thing to remember when using your new credit card is to go by a budget. Decide just how much you can comfortably afford to absorb and try not to go over this total. Just because you have a limit of $5000, doesn't mean you should max this number out each month. It is ultimately your money that you are spending, so keep this in mind when developing a budget.

Pay the full balance on your card as often as possible. If you are sticking to your monthly budget, this shouldn't be a problem. Keeping your balance paid in full will ultimately boost your credit rating much quicker, as creditors will see you as a much lower credit risk. Paying in full will also help you to avoid costly interest charges. Paying just a minimum monthly payment will ultimately cost you many times over in interest charges, so it is important to pay your balance in full to avoid those extra charges.

Pay close attention to your statements. Credit companies can normally change interest rates with advance notice. Read your statements thoroughly to ensure you're well aware of any changes in your account and act accordingly.

Keep track of the due date for payment and be sure never to be late in making your payment. This is where credit companies earn a majority of their profits. They will charge a late fee, even for being one day late with your payment. Always try to get your payment in well in advance to avoid a late fee.

Save all of your transaction receipts. Hold onto your receipts and check them against your monthly statement to ensure there are no mistakes. This will ensure you have physical proof in case the listing in your statement does not match up with your receipt. The last thing you want is to pay extra for something because you misplaced your receipt.

Never give your PIN number to anyone. There is no valid reason for a bank, credit card company, or any merchant to request your PIN number. Disclosure of your PIN number can lead to credit card fraud and the possibility of you being stuck with charges you never made.

When paying with your card, keep a keen eye on the merchant accepting it. Be on the look out for any suspicious activity. Card skimming is becoming a highly lucrative form of fraud and could potentially cost you a lot of money if you are hit. If you suspect you have been the victim of skimming, or any other form of credit card fraud, contact your credit card company immediately to have it deactivated.

Following the tips outlined above should help you make responsible choices when using your credit card and will hopefully help you avoid pitfalls many do not. A credit card is a very convenient tool when used responsibly.

What Is Bank Secured Credit Cards

2008-03-01T14:11:00.000-08:00

Even though there are many types of credit cards out there for consumers, there are few for those with bad credit. Those who are looking to repair their credit have a few options available, one of which is the bank secured credit card. This credit card can help you to repair your credit, as it works in conjunction with your savings or checking account.

Bank secured credit cards look and work just like traditional credit cards, although they use your bank account as collateral. Anytime you arent able to pay your credit card bill at the due date, the bank will take the money out of your account. This way, there is always money there for the bank, in the event that you are unable to make your payment.

Bank secured credit cards are also ideal for those who have a bankruptcy or simply dont qualify for a line of credit due to bad credit or no credit history. These credit cards show your bank that you are able to pay your monthly dues, and that you are taking the necessary steps in rebuilding or building your credit. Over time, if you remain responsible and pay your bill on time, your bank may give you an unsecured line of credit - known as a standard credit card with no collateral.

Due to the fact that bank secured credit cards only allow you to spend what have in your account, you dont need to worry about debt. When you cant make a payment, the bank simply takes the money out of your account. Although this is a great back up plan, you should always pay your bill and never let this happen.

Just like other credit cards, bank secured credit cards do have disadvantages that can hit you like a ton of bricks should you use the card irresponsibly. Anytime you dont pay your bill on time, the bank can hit you with high interest charges and late charges. These charges and fees can get higher and higher if you dont start paying your bill, which can eventually cause you to drain your account that you set aside. If you pay your bill on time though, you wont have to worry about being hit with these types of charges.

For those who have bad credit or need to start building credit, a bank secured credit card is a great place to start. These cards can lead you to an unsecured credit card, providing you pay your bill on time. Almost all banks offer these credit cards, all you have to do is ask. Once you have kept your credit card in good standing for a period of time - youll have the satisfaction in knowing that you are taking the right steps in rebuilding your credit.

Credit Cards And Credit Reports

2008-02-27T14:41:00.000-08:00

Over the years, credit cards have become very popular. When they were first introduced, they were popular, although these days millions of people use them. There are many types of credit cards available, including those that help people who have bad credit. You should always keep in mind that even though credit cards are great to have, they will also have quite an impact on your credit report.

The credit report is extremely important, especially when it comes to credit cards. Banks and lenders use your credit report to determine if you meet their criteria for a credit card or a loan. Your credit report is the determining factor for your credit, which is why you should never let your credit cards do any type of damage to your report. To avoid this, simply pay your bill on time.

Most people will use their credit cards responsibly and wont damage their credit report. Doing this will show lenders that you are responsible, and that they can trust you with loans and credit - which in turn will raise your credit score. Keep in mind however; if you have a lot of open accounts, it may tell lenders that you have a lot open and that you wont be able to pay them back. Although this may count as good credit, lenders look at several open accounts as being potentially damaging to your credit report.

Although you may be tempted to have more than one credit card, it can actually be a downfall in the eyes of the lender. Most lenders will see this as you having a way to spend all of your limit, and will fear that you may do so. Even though you may not have this intention, credit card lenders will almost always fear the worst case scenario, and it eventually lead to you damaging your credit score - simply because a lender will turn you down for a future offer you apply for.

Something else you need to keep in mind is the fact that it can be really easy to miss a payment on your credit cards. Although this doesnt sound bad, it can have a very negative look on your credit report. If you start missing payments or paying them late, the lender will eventually enter it in your credit report. This can have a negative impact, lowering your beacon score and eventually bringing down your overall credit rating.

If you play it safe and only get one or two credit cards and keep a track of how you use them, you wont need to worry. Your credit report should always be a primary concern, and you should always do your best to ensure that it stays free of negative ratings. If you keep up things up to date - youll enjoy the benefit of a positive credit report.

Options For Your Credit Cards

2008-02-26T13:30:00.000-08:00

Those of you who are looking to get the best options with your credit card, should first look into the terms associated with that card. There are a lot of different features that you can get with credit cards these days, including low APR, rewards, no annual fees, and several other perks designed to keep you using your credit card.

There are several credit cards that you can choose from as well, giving you a slew of different options. There are credit cards with instant approval, credit cards with low interest rates, cash back credit cards, reward credit cards, and even prepaid credit cards. If you have good credit, you wont have a problem getting any type of credit card you desire.

Most people think of the best options with credit cards being the rewards. Reward credit cards are great to have, as they give you extra incentives for the money you spend. Whether its cash back or points to redeem towards hundreds of items, cash back cards make it worth your time and interest to use your credit card. These cards are becoming very popular, as they offer you features that other types of credit cards generally dont offer.

Another great option for credit cards is low APR rates. Your APR, or annual percentage rate, is the amount of money that you pay at the end of the year for your credit card. If you can get a credit card with low APR and low fees, you should hang on to that card. Credit card companies and banks are always competing for your business, and you can normally find credit cards these days with some truly impressive features.

To get the best possible options for your credit card, you should always shop around and compare what each company or bank has to offer. Most options found on credit cards will vary from company to company and bank to bank. If you have access to the Internet, you should use it to find yourself the best possible credit card. There are literally hundreds of credit card offers found on the Internet, many of which offer you some truly great options with their credit cards.

Before deciding on your credit card, you need to determine which options are the best for you. This way, youll know exactly what to look for. The better credit cards will include several different options, such as low APR, low fees, and certain rewards as well. These types of credit cards are easily the best investment, as they give you a lot of bang for your buck. If you play your cards right and look for the right credit card - youll get the options you desire with a credit card that youll be proud to use.

How To Raise Your Credit Card Limit

2008-02-25T08:08:00.000-08:00

Nearly everyone who has a credit card always has the goal of a higher line of credit. A higher credit card limit will enable you to make much higher purchases, normally purchases that you are unable to get with your current line of credit. There are ways that you can get a higher credit limit. Below, are some tips that will help you raise the limit of your credit.

The most important thing to do when improving your credit limit is to improve your overall level of credit worthiness. This tells banks and lenders that you can be trusted with credit, and that you are little to no risk for them. When lenders and banks look at your credit report, this is the first thing that they look for.

You can attract a lot of positive attention with a credit card company or bank with your finance purchases. You should pay them every once in a while, although you shouldnt go out of your way to make a habit of it. Normally, this should be done as a last resort when all else fails to increase your overall chances of raising your line of credit.

Once you prove to a bank or credit card company that you can be trusted to borrow money, they may raise your line of credit. You should be careful with this strategy however, as this could only apply to your bank or current credit card company. Having a higher credit line may allow you to have more purchasing power, although it can also leave you with more fees and even an increase in your current interest and APR charges.

Another great way to increase your credit limit is to use your credit card every chance you get. When you have a credit card, dont use it just for emergency purposes. If you save your credit card for emergency purposes only, youll rarely use it. When this happens, your company will begin to wonder about your spending behavior and ability to pay it back, therefore they will start to think twice about giving you a higher line of credit.

When you send in your payment, always try to pay more than just the minimum amount. If you can afford to, you should try to pay the whole outstanding amount. Doing so shows credit card companies and banks that you are striving for better credit. This way, youll show them that you deserve to have a higher line of credit.

If you follow the above tips, youll get your credit limit higher in no time at all. Once you get your limit raised, you should protect it at all costs. If you continue to strive for perfection - youll get a higher line of credit than you ever thought possible.

3 Easy Steps To Lower Your Credit Card Debt

2008-02-24T14:41:00.000-08:00

Are you like millions of other people who are being suffocated by immense credit card debts? If you have any common sense you will realize that it is time to stop creating more problems for yourself and that it is time to change your financial situation for good.

Let’s face it - when you are burdened with huge credit card debts it becomes an all out fight between you and the credit card companies to get what you want. It’s time for you to find the right information and figure out exactly how you can settle up with all of your credit card debts. First off, it’s important that you do not close any accounts right away. You will be losing a lot of leverage that you will eventually need. What you should do instead is pay off the card that has the highest interest rate first. Read on and use this valuable advice to help you gradually reduce your credit card debt.

First, it’s time to figure out what you owe. You can do this by calling the banks you have credit cards with and asking them what the balance outstanding is today. Make sure you write everything down and keep track of what you owe to each company on a sheet of paper. Also, make a note of what interest rate each company is charging you. Keep track of all this information in a file folder for future reference.

Now that you have a good idea of what you owe, it’s time to figure out your monthly payments. If you are simply making the minimum monthly payment chances are you will never be out of debt. You should never pay less than the previous months’ interest charge. Never forget that interest is always accumulating, therefore you should never skip a payment. This can land you in a lot of trouble with fees. Gather up all of your statements for the last year, sit down and add them all up to come to a reasonable conclusion in regards to what you are paying monthly on average. It will definitely take a lot of time and effort to figure out what monthly payments you will need to make in order to reduce your credit card debt. However, if you can find a reasonable amount that you can pay each month to gradually chip away at your credit card debt you will be well on your way.

Next, you should contact a credit counseling service. There are a variety of credit counseling companies that can help you through your battle with the credit card companies. It can be tricky to get everything working properly on your own. Credit counseling can help you in many ways because it takes a lot of guesswork out of the situation. They lay everything out for you in plain English and help you get on the right track to reducing your debt. They also have a lot of connections within the industry, which can give you some extra leverage. Credit counseling is usually very inexpensive if not free in some instances. Therefore, it would be a waste not to take advantage of this service because it can help you out.

In short, if you have found yourself, like so many others, with a high amount of credit card debt and are unable to pay it off before the next millennium then hopefully you have found the information you needed. It is important, however, that you continue researching and discovering your rights as a customer of the credit card companies. You can even get started today by calling up the credit card companies and getting some information about your account. Make sure that you ask them all the questions you have and get the answers you are after. Good luck.

How To Choose Credit Card, I Mean The Right One

2008-02-23T17:16:00.000-08:00

If you are like most people, you are subjected to numerous credit card offers each and every day. Credit card companies target people not only via email and the post but also on television and the Internet. When you see these credit card offers, you may be thinking about getting another credit card, or maybe even your first credit card ever. However, always be careful when applying for a credit card. True, a credit card can make life easier financially, however, it is very easy to fall into debt when they are not used responsibly.

Before applying for a credit card, it is essential that you decide which type of card you need or want. Always be sure to look at your greatest monthly expenditure, which will help you make this decision. You may need an air miles card, a gas card, or a simple rewards card (for almost any other type of purchase). When you choose a credit card based on what you spend the most money on, you can increase the likelihood of rewards, rebates, or credits that can end up saving you money in the long run.

Another factor you should look at when considering a particular credit card is the interest rate associated with purchases and cash advances. Many credit cards have an introductory interest offer of 0% for a limited time however, that percentage rate will end after a certain amount of time. Obtaining a credit card with a 0% introductory offer is great when you can transfer balances over and pay them off, thus saving money on the interest on the other card. Or, if you need to make a large purchase, you can do so affordably while paying the balance off before the interest rate incurs.

If you are looking at a rewards card, you should review what kind of rewards you can get from using the card. Many rewards cards talk the offers up, but in the long run do not offer you much at all. Others are incredibly generous. Always read the fine print and details of the rewards program to see what exactly is involved. Some cards will offer one to three percent rewards on what you spend for groceries, gas, medicine, and other purchases. The rewards may come in the form of cash back, discounts, or rebates. The type of reward that you may get usually will depend on the type of credit rating you have.

Another important feature of the credit card you are considering is the possibility of any hidden or extra fees. Every credit card is different. While some credit cards will have an annual fee, others will not. Furthermore, many credit cards do have an application or processing fee; and even hidden membership fees later on. Always be sure to read the fine print.

Once you have read through the entire credit card offer and examined the different introductory offer details, go ahead and apply for the card. Once you do get your credit card, be sure to always make your payments on time and pay as much of the balance as you possibly can.

Is there a new rules for credit card minimum payments?

2008-01-16T19:24:00.000-08:00

The proposed Regulation Z revisions cover two different kinds of disclosures designed to warn consumers who make the minimum payments on their accounts. Paying only the minimum amount each month lengthens the amount of time credit cardholders can take to pay off their debts -- and increases the amount of interest creditors earn from accountholders.
The Fed proposes alerting consumers on monthly (periodic) statements about the consequences of minimum payments. The proposal requires credit card issuers to: "provide (1) a 'warning' statement indicating that making only the minimum payment will increase the interest the consumer pays and the time it takes to repay the consumer's balance; (2) a hypothetical example of how long it would take to pay a specified balance in full if only minimum payments are made; and (3) a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to obtain an estimate of the time it would take to repay their actual account balance using minimum payments."

The National Retail Federation, a trade association that represents more than 1.6 million retailers (discount and department stores, catalog distributors and Internet sites), says the Fed should clarify this requirement. Retailers may grant several different lines of credit (called sub-accounts) to a single customer based on general purchase items or big-ticket merchandise. These accounts each often carry different interest rates and terms.

"It is not clear whether the proposal contemplates a separate minimum payment disclosure for each of these sub-accounts," the retail federation writes. "Some credit grantors may want to disclose only the longest applicable period, while others may wish to specify the maximum time."
Revolving lines of credit
Regulators also want to make revolving credit plans -- those credit accounts opened at furniture or appliance stores or other retail outlets selling "big-ticket" items -- more consumer-friendly. These types of accounts may not issue credit cards but make lines of credit available to customers. "The monthly minimum payments associated with the purchase are often advertised as part of the offer," according to the board.

You've probably seen or heard ads that promote "zero down" or $50 a month" and it's yours to take home. "Some consumers agree to the financing on the basis of a certain advertised minimum payment but are later surprised to learn how long the debt will take to pay, and how much the credit will cost them over that time period," according to regulators.

There are currently no rules requiring creditors to disclose repayment terms in the ads. The Fed wants to change that. Regulation Z revisions would require all advertisements for these credit plans to give equal prominence to the minimum payment as well as the amount of time required to pay off the balance and the total amount of the payments if consumers pay only the minimum monthly installments.

Retailers object to this provision as well, citing concerns that the minimum payment disclosures do "not provide consumers with a realistic assessment of the time required to complete minimum payments."
However, Chase bank has asked the Fed to reconsider this rule change because banks and credit card issuers are the wrong targets for such regulation. "We believe these changes should be limited to sellers of goods and services, or those under common control with those sellers."
The National Consumer Law Center points out potential loopholes in both disclosure proposals, and notes: " ... [T]here may well be a sales pitch without an 'advertisement' ... "

How to flee from holiday credit card debt

2008-01-16T18:39:00.000-08:00

Climbing out of holiday debt isn't easy, but it has to be done. The holidays bring a flurry of emotions and obligations, and people find it easy to get lost in holiday spirit. You may feel guilty if you can't afford to buy your loved ones what they want, so you put presents on the credit card.

Come January, the holiday joy turns into debt regret. It's important to shed this debt quickly, and to learn how to prevent the same troubles next year.

Drowning in debt after the holidays is all too common. "It's important to first take a deep breath and realize you're not the only one struggling with looming holiday debt," says Michael Gold, a certified financial planner who works in investments at Wachovia Securities. The average American household is already saddled with debt before holiday spending, so "digging an even bigger hole of debt during the holidays is a major concern for most."

First step: Tally the damage
To sort through your post-holiday debt, write down your total outstanding balance, interest rate and minimum payment for each credit card. Gold suggests paying off the balance on your credit card with the highest interest rate first, and continuing to do so with all your cards until you end up with the lowest interest card. This is the only card that should not have a date with the scissors -- or at least temporarily retired.

You also have the option of consolidating your balances onto one or two cards with low or 0 percent interest rate. Many balance transfer cards carry their low rate for up to a year. As you pay the other balances off on the higher-rate cards, consider closing the accounts -- although that is a step to take slowly and carefully because closing credit accounts can hurt your credit score. See the story "Do's and don'ts for closing old credit card accounts" for details.

Some people have an alternative to credit cards. "If you're a homeowner, set up a home equity line and use that cash to pay off your credit cards. This can save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in interest charges," Gold says. Be aware, however, that switching a debt from credit card to a home equity loan or line of credit is trading unsecured debt for secured debt. In other words, you could lose your home if you default.

If you feel like you can't go it alone, contact your creditors, or find an accredited credit counselor. Many creditors are willing to work out a repayment plan with you -- either directly or through the credit counselor -- if that will help them get their money without the help of debt collectors. Be mindful that changing your credit terms or paying anything less than you originally agreed can have a substantial negative effect on your credit score.

Whack unnecessary frivolity
Reducing discretionary expenses and cutting back on unnecessary spending and frivolous activity is a wise idea until your finances are back on track, Gold says. He suggests bringing lunch to work and eating out one less night a week. "You'll be surprised how quickly you can save up cash to get rid of that looming debt and begin a truly happy new year," he says.

In order to determine where unnecessary purchases are happening, you should track your spending. Manisha Thakor, co-author of "On My Own Two Feet," a personal finance guide for young women, has many years of experience in the financial services industry. She says it's time for a "financial reality check," which is like a diet diary. This is done by keeping a piece of paper in your wallet for one or two months and writing down everything you spend. "At the end of each month, tally it all up," Thakor says.

"If you find that you are spending as much or more than you make -- and many people do -- whip out two different colored highlighters. With one, highlight the true essentials. In another color highlight all the fun expenses."

Rough budget benchmarks
Thakor says that for most people, balanced spending of your total gross income should be as follows: roughly 25 percent goes to taxes, 15 percent to savings, 45 percent to foundation expenses and 15 percent to fun expenses. "If your budget pie slices are out of whack, slow down and look item by item to see what you can cut back on," Thakor says. Some of her suggestions are getting rid of magazine subscriptions you don't read and no longer going out for drinks with people you don't like.

Once your post-holiday finances have shifted from red to black, learn how to prevent yourself from ending up with the same debt next year. While it may sound early, Gold says you should prepare a budget for next holiday season now. List every possible person you will give gifts to. Look at what you spent this year, inflate it by 2 or 3 percent and use that as your budget. "Divide that number by 12, for 12 months, set up a separate account and have that number automatically deposited into that account. Come December 2008, you have your holiday money," Gold says.

Plan now for '08 holidays
You should also purchase all of your gift-wrapping, cards and decorations in all the post-holiday sales, when everything is heavily discounted, and save them for next year.

Gold also suggests comparing prices on the Internet before going to the store, as you can find some of the best deals this way. Avoiding frequent dining with friends and family during the holidays is another way to cut back. "Instead of going out with every couple in the neighborhood at fine restaurants, consider having a neighborhood potluck dinner," Gold says. "Each couple brings over a dish they prepared and you'll be surprised at how much fun you can have while saving a tremendous amount of money."

A final suggestion is to do a "Secret Santa" or "Secret Hanukkah Harry" gift-giving method. Instead of every single relative buying each other gifts, each person picks a family member's name from a hat (which stays secret) and buys that person a gift. You can place a price cap on how much everyone can spend. This can save you and your family hundreds if not thousands of dollars, depending on how big your family is. "You might be surprised by how many family members feel the same way you do when it comes to spending for the holidays. Trust me, your loved ones will be relieved that they won't have the daunting task of shopping and spending for so many relatives this year," Gold says.

Crawling out of debt isn't easy, so don't keep doing this to yourself every holiday season. Tackle the debt wisely now, and plan way ahead of time for the holidays next year. There's nothing like starting off a new year fresh.

How to claim expired gift card funds

2008-01-06T09:54:00.000-08:00

My gift card survey showed that most gift cards issued by major retail chains do not expire. But some do. What happens to that unclaimed money is increasingly the subject of a tug of war between retailers and states, many of which have passed laws forcing retailers to turn the money over.

"There is an increasing chess game between issuers of these cards trying to find ways to reduce abandoned property exposure and states trying to increase ways to get their hands on what they view as legitimate abandoned property," says attorney Duncan Douglass of Alston & Bird, LLP in Atlanta, who specializes in gift cards and the state laws that apply to them. Catherine Fox-Simpson, a partner in the retail and consumer product practice at consulting firm BDO Seidman, LLP, is more blunt. "I expect a showdown," she says. "It is a matter of time."

As of November 2007, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures Web site, more than 30 states have unclaimed property laws that apply to unused gift card balances. In Michigan and New York, unused balances go to the state (escheat). In Texas and Illinois gift card balances are reverted to the state with certain conditions, while in Florida open-loop, network-branded gift card balances go to the state when unused. People who bought cards in those states may try to initiate unclaimed property claims, usually through the state’s treasurer or similar post. The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators’ Web site can link you to the appropriate office in every state.

A minority of states, including the largest, California, do not presently make any effort to reclaim gift card money into state coffers.

There is a third party in this competition over unspent gift card money: The consumer who paid for it in the first place.

How can these consumers make sure that neither the retailer nor the state gets to keep their money? Experts and states recommend the following steps:

When buying or receiving a gift card, read it carefully. In some cases, the retailer may not make it entirely clear if or how the gift card expires. "We encourage people to read the fine print regardless of what the merchandiser tells them," says Elizabeth Kupchinsky, spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Treasury Department.

Hold onto the physical card itself and any receipts. Very often, it is unclear to whom the expired gift cards funds belong. "The difficulty in gift cards is that there is no name attached at the point of sale unlike, say, having a deposit for your utility service," says Rochelle Stewart, bureau chief for Citizen Services at the Montana Department of Revenue. Having the card and receipt in your possession can help.

Learn how gift card expirations are treated in your state, because the issuer may be prohibited from imposing an expiration date. In states with such laws, funds on expired gift cards no longer have to be turned over as unclaimed property.

If the state permits expiration and the date is past, talk to the retailer first. "We encourage people to go to the business and say 'Will you honor this?'" says Kupchinsky. Even if they won't, some card issuers may allow the gift card funds to be transferred to a new card.

If the retailer has already turned over the money, look to the state for help. Every state maintains an online database of unclaimed property. Additionally, a call to the Department of Revenue, state Treasury Department or other government branch in charge of unclaimed property could help.

Protecting Your Credit Card Personal Information

2007-10-09T12:30:00.000-07:00

We all know that criminals are out there, waiting to steal our credit card information. These very criminals want credit card information so they can run up the charges then leave you holding the bags - with nothing to show for it. Even though some are local, most credit card criminals are in far away lands. Worse than that, they like to hide or go by other names so its virtually impossible to track them down.

The most common way for criminals to get credit card information is through phishing, which involves a fake email that appears to be sent from your credit card company. Normally, this fake email states that there was an error with your account, or that it was accessed by unauthorized personnel and needs your attention.

Spotting fake emails isnt hard to do - as long as you know what to look for. The most obvious hint for most, is the fact that they dont even have a credit card from the company that has sent the email. For others, the link is what gives the fake email away. Anytime you get an email from a credit card that you believe to be fake, you should always hover your mouse over the link, then right click the link with the mouse and select view source. If the link is indeed fake, the website address that comes up will be something other than that of a credit card company.

The criminals dont want you to look at the source for their website, as they simply want you to click on the link before you look at anything else. Once you have clicked on the link, youll arrive at a website that is usually an exact copy of a credit card website. Fake sites normally include everything that the actual site does, including the logos and banners. Even for the most amateur of credit card criminals, web pages like this are very easy to create.

Those of you who have fell victim to this scam, probably realized what you have done little too late. Once you have entered in your credit card information, you have done exactly what the criminals wanted and put yourself in violation of credit card fraud and identity theft. Once the criminal has your social security number and credit card information, he is more than likely to use that information to go on a shopping spree - stealing your money and running up your account.

If you receive an email such as this, you should always delete it. Even if you just click on the fake website to investigate, you may do more harm than good. Even though you may not enter any information at all, your computer may get infected with viruses or spyware simply because you clicked on the link. To avoid this altogether, you should never click on a link that you believe to be a fake credit card company website.

If you do your part and protect your credit card information, you wont have anything at all to worry about. Your personal information is very important, as you never want it to fall in the wrong hands. As long as you protect it, you wont have anything to worry about. There are always criminals out there, which is why you should always be on guard. Criminals want your personal information and your credit card numbers - its up to you to ensure that they dont get it. A criminal will do anything to get what they want, which is why protecting yourself is so very important these days.

How To Avoid Credit Card Late Feed

2007-09-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

Many people ruin their credit card score by not paying their credit card bills on time, or by missing payments. Late fees can be very expensive. Before you know it, the fee has piled up and the interest rate can grow and, after a while, you will not even be able to pay the minimum payment. This could be a disaster for you. But with a bit of careful management, you can avoid late payments and expensive late fees altogether. There are seven golden ways to avoid late fees on your credit card. Let’s look at them.

1. Follow the payment rules

This is one of the most important things you can do, and start doing right now. Sometimes we are sloppy about getting our payments sorted out. But remember that carelessness can cost you. If you mail payments, make sure you fill out the paperwork correctly, make sure your checks are legible, and make sure there is enough postage on the envelope. You will be kicking yourself later if you don’t. And be sure there is enough in the account your transferring from to cover the payment.

2. Make minimum payments immediately

We often procrastinate about paying, even when we have enough to cover the minimum. But a safe strategy is to pay the minimum as soon as your credit card statement arrives. You can always pay more later, and you won’t be tempted to spend what you should be paying off.

3. Change your due date

Bank statements always seemed to arrive at the worst possible time - at the end of the month when we are “skinned”. Most of the time, we are surprised that payment time has come around again and can never keep enough aside to make a payment. The solution is changing the date of your credit card bill to be issued right after payday. A lot of credit card companies will do this, if you ask them.

4. Direct Debit Payment

Setting up your accounts so that your bills are paid automatically is a great way to avoid late fees – no human error! It’s a big plus for you, so that you won’t forget about the payment and kick yourselves the day after it is due.

5. Pay by Telephone

This is a great one for last minute payments, if you know you’re not going to get it done any other way – but be careful. Some banks charge for this service, anywhere from $7 to $20. Still, if it’s lower than the late fee it’s definitely a good option to get your payment made fast.

6. Get your fee waived

If you mailed your payment on time, but you still get hit with a fee? Make sure you challenge it. Do you usually pay on time, but were late just this once? Ask your credit card company to waive the fees. They are sometimes lenient with customers that have a consistent payment record.

7. Change your credit card company

You’ll be shocked when you realise how much you could save by changing to a smaller credit card issuer; the local community bank for example, or a credit union. You’ll also be happy to note that they are more forgiving when you are late with payments.

7 Tips On How To Get Benefit From Using Credit Cards

2007-09-15T10:19:00.000-07:00

It is simple really, as far as taking care of plastic cards is concerned, yet so many of us abuse the flexibility of the credit card. Usually, this is due to paying off debts or extraneous spendthrift activity. If this applies to anyone then it should be a firm decision to simply stop using the card, or find ways to make the card work better. That is to say, other than being a financial sinker for the wallet after a few years of constant spending.

Most of us are aware of how hard it can be to avoid using the plastic credit pals like Visa or MasterCard when its time to pay the fiddler. It is right there in wallets upon entering shops. ‘Hey, I’ll take one of those, no cash in my wallet, but I have my trusty plastic buddy.’ This is probably a very familiar thought, and not one secluded to the husband’s spouse on a weekend shopping spree. Let us face it, all people will spend more than they can afford at some point in their lives. These helpful hints on the use of credit cards will help avoid unpleasant debtors:

Hint 1: Do not let the balance build. Ensure that the outstanding amount is paid off quickly, or the card will suffer interest penalties. Not to mention the insurance, if the option for insuring the payments against unexpected unemployment, as this can really add up. This accrued interest will be noticed once the card is used often, and a hefty debt rears its ugly head.

Hint 2: Many credit cards offer rewards to the consumer that can be spent on travel, discounts, and other ‘rewards through points’ programs. Many of the leading brands will support this point system. Examples are MBNA and American Express.

Hint 3: If the credit card currently owned has a high interest rate – get rid of it. Transfer to a card offering 0% for 6 months, or even some others that give a year. Heavy credit card users will notice the benefits of this simple manoeuvre over an annual period.

Hint 4: Find a card that is useful when needed. Don’t just take a card because it has a $10,000 limit; question that - ‘Do I need that much’ and ‘what will I specifically need the card for??’ These are important questions. If discipline is a problem, the card will become a problem. Take care and use it for needful things and not as a daily spender. That is the path to debt doom…

Hint 5: Recognise and stay within personal limits. Use the amount of household income as a frame of reference to establish this. How much can be spent on the card before monthly bills exceed monthly expenditure? That magic word, or bane of family life, called Christmas soon comes. This is when most people tend to go ballistic and attack the trusty credit card. Care should be taken to ensure that limits are withheld. Spendthrifts do not understand limits, and should avoid credit cards at all costs until cured of the spending bug.

Hint 6: Avoid applying for too many cards, as payments can become difficult. Measure the monthly income against the card limits. If they almost match, or the household income monthly falls below the card limit, a good general rule is to only possess one - or at the most - two cards. This may sound generic and too simple. Work it out. If the card is maxed, and the income falls below that amount, the card will be demanding a hefty minimum payment which may mean that there is no further flexibility on the card as it is maxed, plus there is a staggering minimum amount to pay now.

Hint 7: Avoid late payments. Pay the minimum amount plus more. If you cannot manage more, just pay the minimum, but this means that card usage should cease until available income has increased. Always try to pay the debt off completely or as much of it as possible rather than just paying the minimum amount monthly.

Use credit cards wisely, and they will be a versatile friend. Do this not, and they will become apostates of hell. Be wise, and be sensible, and credit cards will always be a useful aid for every financial need.

7 Vital Tips To Increase Your Credit Card Limit

2007-09-13T14:48:00.000-07:00

Having a credit card gives you flexibility and purchasing power that you have grown used to. But what about when it comes to making those big purchases, or consolidating your debts? There are times when everyone wants to charge more on their card, but banks are not always quick to offer a credit card limit increase. What can you do to sway the banks decision in your favour and take that dream holiday in the sun a bit quicker? Here are some tips that should make you a shoo-in.

The banks want to know that you are a good risk; you have to prove to them you deserve it. The easiest and most obvious first step is to abide by terms and conditions set by your bank.

A less obvious, but equally important strategy, is to prove your overall credit rating. Banks immediately look to your credit score to determine whether you might be a bad credit risk. Keep up on your loan (mortgage, student, car) repayments to avoid damaging your credit rating.

Maxing out the card to the limit is bad news, so use your card sparingly. Keep your outstanding balance to less than thirty percent of the limit, even if you pay off the outstanding amount in full every month. When your credit score is calculated, it will also help to have a low balance on your card relative to your available credit. Remember the thirty percent limit.

The older your active credit history is, the better, in the eyes of the bank. Got any old cards lying around that you haven’t used for a while? Pull them out and put them to work. If you use your old card once in a while for a small purchase, and pay off the full amount before the due date, the information will be updated at the credit bureau and your rating will be positively affected. Don’t use your credit card for emergency purposes only. Use it every chance you get. This is another way to increase your credit limit.

Of course you should always make payments on time – nothing damages your credit rating the way consistently overdue payments can. But if you’ve been a good customer and can’t avoid one late payment – you can request a ‘goodwill adjustment’ to prevent the incident from damaging your record. And it’s never too late to start paying on time – if you make 12 consecutive prompt payments, your lender may re-adjust your account to erase a poor track record.

When you do make your payments, try making more than the minimum. The whole lot if possible. The bank will see that you are comfortable making repayments above your current minimum, proving you will be able to cope with the increased minimums that come with a higher limit.

Ironically, having a higher limit can itself improve your credit rating, which makes it something worth striving for. Once you get your increase – spend wisely and protect it by budgeting carefully. Soon enough, you’ll have the credit you need - and more - for a comfortable, stress free lifestyle.

You Should Know Your Thieving Credit Card Companies

2007-09-11T12:01:00.000-07:00

For a number of credit card consumers, lending options are widely available. However for individuals with bad credit, the options are few and far between. With this in mind, lenders may take advantage of individuals who have problems repaying debt. These organizations typically target people with tarnished credit, elderly, or low-income individuals. Predatory lending for credit cards companies are becoming rampant thanks to the ease of targeting certain demographics and markets.

Predatory lending is a practice that provides unreasonable rates and fees for bad credit consumers. They offer high interest rates and, often, high fees for each credit that they sell to the borrower. By doing so, the repayment amount becomes too steep - or fees become unusually high for the average cardholder.

For people with tarnished credit scores, careful consideration should be taken for “bargain loans.” Bargain loans are programs that promise that an individual’s tarnished credit isn’t a problem. The offers are often labeled as a “limited time” offer and consumers are enticed to quickly apply. In many instances, the lenders offer instant approval or even guaranteed approval for their card application.

Interestingly, it’s illegal for lenders to require payment of fees before a loan is actualized. If this happens, the borrower should immediately report this to the proper agencies. There are plenty of scam operations that charge a huge fee and then not offer the loan to the applicant.

Before applying for such a loan, the applicant should check to see the terms of the credit card before signing the dotting line. One should verify that the terms of agreement is the same as what was discussed with a sale representative.

Individuals with bad credit should try to determine if the lender is a trustworthy company. One can simply ask for references from the lender, or contact the Better Business Bureau for any complaints. Sometimes information about the lender can be found by a simple search in a search engine like Google. News or complaints by customers on popular websites such as ripoff.com can raise red flags. There are even forums for credit cards that have opinions and complaints from cardholders.

Card applicants should shop around as well. The consumer should look at the rates and fees for each credit card and assess which one is right. Sometimes customer service is an important factor. Ask for the customer service hours and service quality.

Credit cards can also come in the form of a secured card. In other words, you would need to provide collateral such as cash to get the credit card. For example, a $300 credit card limit will require you to upfront $300. However, if the credit card company requires that the collateral amount should be over the card limit, then it may be best to walk away from the program.

Predatory lenders also take advantage of the grace period. In fact, the lending company could issue the bill with a payment due date of the mail issue date. This means that by the time the recipient receives the bill, the bill will be already past due. The lender now has means to raise the rates and fees.

Consumers need to be aware of Credit Card companies that are involved in predatory practices, especially consumers with bad credit. As more of these practices become apparent, consumers now have the means to arm themselves from such lenders.

How Credit Cards Lowering Your Interest Rates

2007-09-10T11:25:00.000-07:00

Is your credit card interest too high? Do you carry large balances on your credit cards? Do you want to apply for a new credit card? Many people struggle with these issues everyday. However, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. Interest rates can be lowered, or eliminated, and a higher percentage of each monthly payment can go to the principal amount on your credit card. This can be accomplished by adhering to the following process.

First, gather all of your credit card bills together. List them in order of the highest percentage rate to the lowest percentage rate you are paying. Once you have this list compiled, you can see how much money is wasted on interest every month. You might now be asking, “What can I do about this?” You are now going to call the customer service number from the card that was first on your list (the highest percentage rate you are paying). Ask to be connected to a customer account representative. When connected, ask the representative if your interest rate could be lowered. Tell the representative how long you have been a customer, you always pay your bills on time, and you never are late with your payments. (If you have been late or missed a payment in the past, your bargaining power is reduced somewhat, but still ask for the interest rate reduction anyway – The answer is always “No” unless you ask.) The representative will most likely put you on hold and come back in a few minutes with an answer. If that answer is “Yes,” then congratulations! You have just saved money. If the answer is “No,” thank the representative for their time and end the telephone call.

After you have called all of your credit cards and had your interest rates lowered, we now want to call them back and ask for a balance transfer. (This is assuming you have more than one credit card. You should wait at least two weeks from the time you made your first call.) A balance transfer will transfer the balance from one credit card to another. The advantage of this is that a balance transfer normally receives a lower interest rate. You may be able to get as low as 2.9%. When you speak to the account representative, ask if you qualify for a balance transfer, what the interest rate would be and the length of time the balance transfer rate will last. It is also important to ask what the balance transfer fee will be.

It can be as much as $75 if you don’t ask for it to be waived. Negotiate with the representative to lower or eliminate the transfer fee. (It still might be worth transferring your balance if you have to pay the fee.) If you qualify, you can transfer the balance from your higher interest card over the phone. If you don’t want to transfer the balance over the phone, ask the representative for balance transfer checks to be sent to you in the mail. You may then use the balance transfer checks to transfer the balance to the lower interest rate card.

The last phase of lowering your credit card interest rates might be to apply for new credit cards. We all get numerous credit card applications in the mail everyday. Don’t just blindly throw these away. Many new cards offer 0% interest on balance transfers. What this means is that you will be paying zero interest. Each payment you make will go directly to pay off the principal amount on your card. You should be aware of the following before you apply for a new card. Do not apply for a card with an annual fee. The credit card company makes too much money as it is and they don’t need an extra annual fee payment from you. As mentioned earlier, try to avoid paying balance transfer fees. Sometimes this is unavoidable, but if you negotiate, you may eliminate the fee altogether.

Credit card debt can be a huge burden. You can, however lighten your debt and pay less interest (or none at all) if you follow the steps in this article. Good luck on your interest-lowering journey.

Let's See What Secrets Credit Card Companies Hides

2007-09-09T12:07:00.000-07:00

Nowadays, almost everyone can get a credit card. Most people get offerings in the mail to apply for them all of the time! Many of these credit cards have very low introductory rates, but then shoot up later, often without you even realizing it! After all, who is going to read all of the fine print on the back of the application? Not many people! In a way, it almost seems deceiving.

The most favorable credit card rates can be found in mid-size regional banks. If a person has a decent credit card history, he or she can apply for a "better rate" card - even if the bank is out of state. They won't come to you though; you have to go to them to apply.

Start by looking at the mid-size banks in your area. If their rates are all too high, you can explore other banks in other low interest states. To find these states you can go to your bank and check out the "American Financial Services Association's Annual Summary of State Consumer Credit Laws and Rates". Or you can go online to explore. One thing to keep in mind when doing your research for low interest states; don't assume that every bank in these states will give you a low credit card rate. Sometimes banks will move their credit card operations to higher rate states that have less restrictive interest regulations. Make sure you find out the credit card rates after you've located a lower rate bank!
Another "secret" that the credit card people don't want you to know is that many of the high-fee, high interest banks try to entice and sign up potential credit card holders by offering special credit card enhancements. These extra services can be almost anything; ranging from insurance and catalog shopping discounts to travel services and rental car discounts. They will also offer "deals" on anything that you can think of, from new cars to pest control!

The reality of these offerings is that you can find just as good or better prices in the city where you live. People living in rural areas might like the idea. But these folks generally can drive to the nearest large city, or shop online for the same savings. These credit card enhancements are usually not worthwhile, and you're still paying those high interest rates!

Remember when using your credit card, that the costliest cash is when you use your card for a cash advance. You will get no "float" or grace period (during which your cash advance or loan is effectively interest-free), and an extra fee will be tacked on to your usual interest charge! If you really need the money it would be cheaper in the long run to take out a collateralized bank loan, even if it will probably be more trouble to arrange.

Use these tips to look around for a lower interest rate credit card from a low interest bank. Don't just sign up for any credit card, especially from the offers you receive in the mail, without first learning what the interest rates will be. If you are careful, and shop around, you should be able to secure a credit card with a rate that you can live with.

Why You Must Shred Credit Card Applications?

2007-08-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

It is common for people to have one or two credit cards. They are convenient to use and can help establish good credit if the cardholder is responsible with their debt amounts and monthly payments. Because credit cards have become so ubiquitous in our world, many of us forget that they need to be protected just as avidly as cash. If your credit card offer has a high credit limit, then you might even want to protect more avidly than cash… unless you routinely carry $10,000 with you.

Identity theft is a big issue these days. You hear a lot about how you should protect yourself. You should shred, rather than just throw away, any documents that have your account numbers on them. This includes bank statements, receipts, loan statements, and credit card offer statements that you want to discard. This is the first form of protection that you should be taking. Often, identity theft begins when someone pulls important numbers out of your trash. You should even shred all of those credit card applications that you get in the mail. Your trash says a lot more about you than you might think. Let’s say that in your trash you have a credit card application that you didn’t want, a doctor’s bill from last month, and a note that you mother wrote you. These are three things that you normally wouldn’t connect to each other. While they don’t have anything to do with each other, the information in these documents could be enough for a savvy thief to steal your identity.

Consider the possibility that the thief already knows your name and address. It’s printed on everything. And even if somehow neither your name nor address is printed on something you throw away, he pulled the credit card application (you can found many applications for MasterCard customers) and other documents out of the trash right in front of your house. Now, also consider that the bill from doctor might use your social security number so that the office will know exactly who the bill is going to and from whom the payment is coming.

What’s your name, your address, and your social security number? These are three questions that are commonly asked by credit card processing companies when they are taking your application over the phone.But could the note from your mother possibly have something in it that would help a thief steal your identity? Credit card companies, in an attempt to offer some protection to current and potential customers, will often ask callers a personal question so that the caller’s identity can be verified.

These questions could be something as simple as “What city were you born in?” or “What’s you father’s middle name?” Stealing someone’s identity sometimes requires the thief to be good at solving puzzles. And a lot of them are. If your mother has signed the note with her first name, then the thief probably has her first and last name. There might be ten people in your city who have your name, but how many also have a mother with the same name as you. By consulting a phone book the thief can then learn your mother’s address. See how the holes start to fill in?

Protecting your identity is necessary, so you should always be certain to shred credit card applications. Throwing them away isn’t good enough. Unfortunately for you, a lot of crooks are very smart.

By: Michael Russell

Which Credit Card Should You Opt To Use?

2007-08-22T08:12:00.000-07:00

Chances are you obtained your credit card because a salesman hailed you in a shopping mall and tossed an attractive prize your way. But is the card right for your needs, as well as for your spending and borrowing patterns? There are two reasons to take a second look at our credit cards now. First, the card market has become more competitive in recent years and you can now take advantage of the latest offers and variations. Second, the ubiquitous credit card is becoming a bigger part of our daily lives. At such high usage levels, the right card could give you hundreds of dollar in savings a year. While there is no one best credit card, there are cards that stand out from the crowd in terms of rewarding you and giving you better savings and there are cards that are right for you based on how you use your plastic. With most cards offering a 20-day, interest-free grace period and late-payment fees, individuals who like to settle their credit card debts in full should opt for cards that provide savings in other forms. For instance, look for a card that has no annual fee and rewards you for spending money. Always read the fine print - several cards are offering 'free for life' deals that come with conditions. For instance, you might have to use the card for a specified number of times or spend a certain amount per annum. If you are in the habit of carrying a substantial balance on your card, forget about 'free for life' cards or bountiful reward programs. Just being in the habit of owing $1,000 on your credit card alone can cost you twice as much a year as the standard annual fees out there. You need to look for a card that minimizes the interest you pay.
That means looking for cards that charge less than the annual 18% industry rate on your outstanding balance and/or cards that give you a rebate on the interest you are charged. What if you pay high value purchases in installments? There are two options available with credit cards. One is offered by associated merchants and is interest-free if you complete payment within the specified tenure. There are also 'flexi-payment' plans provided by the card issuer, and these either have a one-time processing fee or an interest charge. You should find a card that is associated with many merchants since this provides you with the most opportunities to utilize the interest-free installment plan.

In some cases, you may have to pay a processing fee to use this scheme. The best card should then incur lower processing fees if any, to use this plan, while offering long payment tenure. On the other hand, if you prefer flexi-payment, look for a card that charges the lowest interest rate or processing fee and has a good choice of installment time frames.

Remember to compare apples with apples and annualize flat processing fees if you are comparing them with interest rates. To encourage consumers to spend on their particular card, banks give incentives in the form of cash-backs and gifts. Which should you go for? Here's a tip - most gift reward programs give you around 0.5% of every dollar spent. So, it's suitable for the big spenders. If you don't charge a lot to your credit cards, it's wiser to just go for a card with no annual fees.

Shopping Online With Credit Cards? Here Is 10 Easy Steps To Be Safe

2007-08-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Do you shop online? Do you pay bills online with your credit card? Do you think a credit card is safe to use online?

If your answer is "YES" to at least one of the questions, please read below before using your credit card online again. There are some simple tips that can help you to safeguard yourselves against online credit card theft.

1. Check for fraud protection

Check with your credit card issuer if they provide fraud protection for online purchases. No fraud protection means less safety.

2. Check for temporary credit card number

Some credit card companies offer a temporary credit card number linking to your original credit card. Check with your credit card company if they offer such a thing. If yours doesn't offer such a card then it's always safer to use a credit card with a lower credit limit.

3. Check your computer

Having the latest antivirus software will protect you from trespassers who try to steal your information. Use a browser with 128-bit encryption, which provides maximum security.

4. Check the website

Before entering your personal information check for the lock sign in the bottom status bar of the Internet browser.

5. Check the online merchant

Only buy things from a well-known, trusted merchant. If the merchant is new always check with the local business bureau for any complaints before you buy things from them. Always read the privacy policies, terms and conditions, delivery and return polices.

6. Avoid out of country merchants

Though there are lots of good legal shopping merchants in other countries, it's always difficult to find reliable and trustworthy sellers among them. If you are doubtful, avoid doing business with them since most of the credit card companies will not give much support for international frauds.

7. Keep records.

Maintain all the receipts of your credit card purchases and compare them with your credit card statement. If there are any discrepancies contact your credit card company immediately. If you are a frequent online shopper, don't forget to check your credit card statements often.

8. Know the procedure

You should know what to do and whom to contact when your credit card information is stolen. Keep the phone numbers/contact person name handy so that you can act immediately without wasting time and losing more money.

9. Maintain a diary

If you are a frequent shopper keep records of all your purchases like order number, confirmation number and date of purchase in a diary. If you use more than one credit card, keeping a diary is a must. Even if you lose some of the purchase receipts, your diary will come handy when you check your credit card statement. You know it's easier to lose receipts than a diary.

10. Few more "optional" tips

When you are online shopping don't move from your seat till you are finished and logged out. Make this a habit even when you are using a home computer. Don't do multi tasks.

Online shopping is more fun and easy. Make it safer with these simple steps. "Better Safe than Sorry".

People With Bad Credit CAN Get Credit Cards Too

2007-08-21T13:36:00.000-07:00

Do you have less than stellar credit? If so, you probably know just how difficult it is to get a credit card. If you've looked, no doubt you have found plenty of companies out there, like you can see on the right of blog, that will offer to help you rebuild your credit rating by issuing a credit card. For some people, it is worth it to get one of these cards - even with interest rates around 20%. Just be very careful, because there are extremely high fees involved. Here is what you should know.

Most credit card companies who issue cards to people with bad credit leverage their risk by charging outlandish fees. If you are truly trying to repair your credit, these may be a good option for you. If you are looking for a credit card that you can use immediately, take a closer look. Most of these credit card companies start you off with a low credit limit of around $250. That could be enough to get you out of a bind if you have an unexpected expense. However, these credit card companies charge some pretty hefty fees just to issue you a card.

The first fee that most credit card companies charge is an application, processing or program fee. This can be anywhere from $100 to $150 or more. Most charge a monthly fee of around $10. Then there is the annual fee of around $50. All of this is charged up front, upon approval, and before you even make a purchase. For our calculations, we'll use the best-case scenario. With a $250 initial credit limit, subtract $100 for the program fee, $10 for the monthly fee, and $50 for the annual fee. That's $160 in charges before you make a purchase on your credit card. In our best-case scenario, that leaves you with an available balance of $90 on your new credit card. If the program fee is $150, that only leaves an available balance of $40.

There are other fees you can expect to see each month. Most of these credit card companies require that you have your payments debited directly from your checking account each month. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It will help you pay on time and avoid late payment fees. However, there is a charge for this “service”. It's usually around $10 a month. That's in addition to your monthly fee. If you make a late payment, or if there are insufficient funds in your checking account, you will have to pay a fee of around $35. In addition to the late payment fee, your interest rate will be increased by an average of 5%, and if this causes you to go over your credit limit, another $35 will usually be tacked on.

The whole idea of these credit cards is to rebuild your credit, right? Most of these credit card companies will increase your credit limit when you pay on time. In the fine print though, you'll find that this will cost you around $25 every time you have an increase. You may or may not be able to control whether or not the credit card company raises your limit. Most will increase your limit every six months. This brings the annual cost for your credit card to around $440 for your first year, and that's if you don't have any penalties; and before interest is charged.

If you are trying to get some quick money, and you have bad credit, opening a credit card account for people with bad credit is probably not a great idea. If you are truly trying to rebuild your credit, just understand that it will cost you to do so. You will have to endure high fees that eat up your available credit. You will have high interest rates. And you will have high penalty and monthly fees to contend with. With time and persistence, you will be able to rebuild your credit and get a credit card that does not charge you so much.

Why I Still In Love With Credit Cards

2007-08-19T07:37:00.000-07:00

A conversation from five years ago:

“Today,” said a college freshmen friend, “I’m going to cut up all my credit cards, and never use any of them again.”

“Huh? Why?” I asked.

“Because I can’t stop using them! It’s getting me into a big pile of debt!”

“Oh please. That’s just silly,” I said as I dismissed her opinion, “it can’t be that bad.”

Two years and $10,000+ of my own debt later, I thought to myself: Hmm, maybe Deanna was onto something after all.

Most people know this fact: credit cards, when used irresponsibly, can land your booty in a pit of messy debt. Without credit cards, I probably would have been less in debt, perhaps in the ranges of a few thousand instead of ten thousand — but let’s face the fact, I would have been in debt regardless. It was 99% me and 1% credit card; the credit card didn’t magically swipe itself.

But despite everything, I still love credit cards. I rarely carry cash and I swipe my card on almost everything. Yes, even when purchasing $0.49 chewing gum. In fact, I buy pajamas with pockets just so I can have the credit cards with me while I sleep!

You might ask: what are you, a moron?

Although the answer is a convincing yes, that isn’t the reason why I still love credit cards.

I’ve been paying my purchases in full since I dragged my behind out of debt, and it has been years since I had a finance charge on my credit cards due to purchases.

I’ve racked up enough reward points on my American Express card to keep my subscription to the WSJ going for the next six years; I’ve also gotten enough cash back via my Citi Dividend Card to pay for months of broadband service, and I’ve earned hundreds in interest through various 0% balance transfer offers.

All these rewards and benefits of credit cards came about at the simple and “easy” price of responsible credit card usage. Pretty sweet, in my opinion.

On the Other Hand…

The average undergrad student has about $2,200 in credit card debt, and about one in twenty American households owes $8,000 (or more) on their credit cards. Statistically speaking, if you’re a college student — you probably have (or had) credit card debt.

Credit cards aren’t exactly a consumer friendly financial product. From high interest rates , two-cycle balance calculation method, to fees upon fees — it can be very easy for people to fall into the credit card trap. It’s little wonder why many people advocate avoiding credit cards.

You Don’t Have to Love Them Too

Just because some online nut job loves his credit cards enough to blog about them — doesn’t mean you have to get on the bandwagon too.

There are plenty of people that have stopped using credit cards due to the potential financial trouble credit cards may cause them — and that is perfectly okay. If you have serious doubts about your ability to use a credit card wisely and decided to forgo using them regularly — chances are, you’ll be fine.

Credit cards are not the only way to build credit (although they may be one of the simpler way). Even so, you do not need to actively use your credit card to build credit. You especially don’t need to carry a balance to build credit.

And let’s face it — earning points, rewards, or cash back is entirely pointless if you’re paying hundreds or thousands in finance charges.

However You Want to Swing It

If you manage your budget wisely and spend responsibly but are put off from using a credit due to the numerous horror stories, you may be doing yourself a disservice. Of course, if you use credit cards daily without understanding the cost associated with them, you may be putting yourself in financial risk.

At the end, regardless of how you feel about credit cards, having a full understanding of their pros and cons can benefit you immensely. After all, it’s entirely silly to love or hate something without really knowing it.

Love them, hate them, or don’t really care? You can vote on the top right of the blog.