The holidays are quickly approaching, and online virtual credit card ads are already cropping up – but what is a virtual credit card? Also called single use credit cards, these cards are temporary credit card numbers typically tied to a credit card that you already own. The reason for using a temporary number is to thwart identity thieves; if a thief attempts to use that … [Read more...]
Credit Card Privacy Laws – How They Affect You
Credit card privacy laws are meant to protect consumers, but thanks to corporate lobbying these laws do not always go as far as they should. There are also many loopholes in credit card laws that allow credit card companies to use your information in ways that you might not expect. This is why it is important to read the credit card privacy policy for every credit card that … [Read more...]
Paying Off Credit Cards with Credit Cards –The Worst Financial Mistake
Those who are new to credit or have used credit cards traditionally for a long time might wonder, “Can I pay my credit card with another credit card?” Actually, you can; regulations force creditors to accept virtually any reasonable method of payment by consumers. However, my question to you is: Why would you want to? Paying off credit cards with credit cards only moves … [Read more...]
Credit Card Fraud – 6 Ways to Potentially Avoid It
With millions upon millions of Americans carrying around a credit card, many often don’t think twice when they swipe that piece of plastic. Sure, while most credit card companies won’t hold you liable for purchases you didn’t make, that doesn’t mean the scam artists can’t take advantage of you. What you have to understand is that when a bad charge shows up on your … [Read more...]
Credit Card Fees: What Are They And How Can You Avoid Them
I was reading Robin Askwith’s autobiography recently. Apart from laughing out loud at the many exploits which he got up to when shooting the Confessions… films, Robin made a point about an American Express card which he was given that was soon spent on buying a ticket to a far-flung country. Robin said that he expected to be given a bill one day which, undoubtedly, might incur … [Read more...]
Credit Card Mistakes People Make – And How To Avoid Them
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2009 156 million Americans held one or more credit cards, and that number is projected to hit 160 million by the end of this year. These cards represented $886 billion in debt in 2009, a huge increase since 2000 when credit card debt was estimated at $680 billion. Carrying debt on a credit card is only one of the credit card mistakes we … [Read more...]
How to Check A Credit Card Statement in 6 Easy Steps
You might think that with today’s technology, credit card statement errors would be a thing of the past, but in many ways technology makes it easier for errors to slip by unnoticed. Most of these errors are unintentional, such as being overcharged at a merchant or a mathematical mistake on your last payment, but an unintentional error can still cost you money. That’s why it’s … [Read more...]
How To Avoid Balance Transfer Fees
Annual fees… late fees… foreign transaction fees… obviously all credit card fees are annoying, but one of the most despised is the balance transfer fee. Banks reel us in with enticing 0% offers, only to slap us with a big fat fee for using them. What’s up with that?! So how can you avoid them? Of course the obvious solution would be to have no credit card debt in the first … [Read more...]
The Walmart Prepaid Debit Credit Card – How Does It Stack Up
Lately, I've been talking about prepaid debit cards since a lot of people have been in a huge uproar about the recent increase in fees from the Bank of American. So in this article I'm going to present a different solution, the almart MoneyCard(SM) Visa® Prepaid Card, also known as the Walmart MoneyCard, and in this article we are going to see just how this card stacks … [Read more...]
Marathon Gas Credit Cards – A Simple Way To Save On Gas
Earlier last week I was filling up my truck with gas and as I went to pay for it I was informed by the clerk that my Marathon Gas Card was no longer valid. In fact he informed me that MasterCard was dropping the card and that Visa was picking it up. So in this article I'm going to be covering the new program versus the old program and show you why Marathon Gas Credit Card is … [Read more...]