Credit
Complain and Win: 4 Tips for Calling Credit Card Customer Service
By Karen Haywood Queen A sense of dread fills many of us when we think about calling to report a credit card problem. The countless minutes spent listening to soul-destroying hold music — only to wind up with an unhelpful customer service agent who drops your call — are enough to make even the most […]
Credit is getting easier to find, Fed says
By Tim Mullaney (USA Today) The nation’s banks are slowly loosening the reins on credit, a survey of bank lending executives by the Federal Reserve said Monday. The clearest changes in the last three months came in commercial lending and in personal loans other than mortgages, the central bank said in a quarterly report released […]
Scam Alert: Watch Out for $9.84 Charges on Your Credit Card Statement
Do you check your credit card statements regularly? If not, you are the type of victim that these credit card scammers are looking for. Scammers are banking on the fact that most consumers don’t check their credit card statements regularly or that carefully. This new con places unexplainable charges of $9.84 on your monthly credit […]
How Bad Moves on Social Media Could Damage Your Credit Score
By Erin Lowry Dramatically quitting your job via viral video might seem appealing after your boss starts screaming at you — again– but for the sake of your credit score, it’s probably not a good idea. According to a recent report from the Wall Street Journal, lending companies and Fair Isaac (FICO) might soon start […]
How Bad Are Credit Card Cash Advances
Did you know that when you withdraw money from an ATM using your credit card or use one of those checks that come in your monthly credit card statement, you can add an average of 24 percent to your annual interest? Unlike using a credit card to make multiple purchases with an interest-free payback grace […]
Hidden Credit Card Perks That Consumers May Be Unaware of
When it comes to credit cards, we as consumers have been told time and time again to read the fine print. Of course this was created to insure that the credit card lender is protected at all times, however credit card terms and agreements are not always out to get you. A lot of the […]
Steps to Creating a Personal Budget
It takes 21 days to build and keep a habit. This is a great thing to remember when starting and maintaining a good financial personal budget. How and what you choose to spend your money on will dictate the outcome of how minor or major your budgeting process will have to be. One thing for […]
Helpful Hints For Completing A Balance Transfer on Your Credit Card
Four Myths About Credit Scores
Credit scores are essential for financial success, as lenders will use this figure to determine what terms and rate to offer on all loans – mortgages, personal lines of credit, auto loans. That being said, it is important to have a vast knowledge about this number, so people don’t do anything to damage their rating. […]
What You Need To Do When Canceling A Credit Card
After paying down credit card debt that has been a nuisance for quite some time, it may be tempting to cancel the card, so you don’t find yourself in trouble again. However, completing this process the wrong way can lead to your credit score falling, so be sure you know what you are doing. Only […]
Building A Credit Score Without Using Plastic
Many consumers find themselves with a damaged credit score after accumulating a pile of debt on their plastic, which leads them to shy away from these credit cards after they have been paid off. Fortunately, there are numerous ways people can build their credit rating without using their credit cards, such as: No. 1 – […]
Students Have Alternatives To Credit Cards
Nine Steps Towards Cleaning Up Your Credit Score
Before you can proactively begin repairing your credit, you need to know where you stand. Pull your credit report from one of the many free online sites, like CreditKarma.com, that offer this service. If you find that your scores are 760 or higher, then you are in good credit standing. If you are below 760, […]
Simple Ways to Build Good Credit
Having good credit is one of the cornerstones of maintaining a solid financial profile. Your credit standing will be used in part to determine your eligibility for loans and credit lines, tenancy, employment prospects and depending on the state you live in, auto insurance rates. So whether you’re trying to establish credit for the first […]
Research before applying for that new credit card
Credit counseling services can teach borrowers a lot about credit cards and their intricacies. However, many of these details should be learned well before adding plastic to your arsenal of financial options. According to ABC News, one main area of credit cards many borrowers fail to understand before it’s too late is just how much […]
Things to Consider Before Transferring a Credit Card Balance
If your credit card bills are getting out of control and you struggle every month to make your payments, you might be considering transferring your balances to a credit card with a promotional zero percent interest rate. If you are you’re not alone. Balance transfers are a popular option when you want to get […]
4 Things Parents Should Know Before Paying for College
By John McDonough Financial Specialist Shares Ways to Help Your Child While Protecting Your Retirement From $20,000 to $65,000 a year – that’s the tuition cost for one year of college, says John McDonough, a money expert who helps retirees and parents plan for their families’ futures. “For the 2012–2013 academic year, the average cost […]