Credit card news archive

Pros and cons of various sources of home down payments -- Down payments are once again a must to qualify for a mortgage. There are many sources, each with its own advantages and drawbacks. ... (more)

Credit card cash advances for a home down payment? Not smart -- With no-money-down mortgages gone, lenders say they sometimes see buyers draw credit card cash advances to make their home down payments. ... (more)

Filipino credit cards -- Our ongoing series moves to The Philippines, where debit use nearly quadruples credit card use. ... (more)

How to add a written statement to your credit report -- Your credit report is usually the final word when it comes to lending, but the rules let you make 100 of those words your own. ... (more)

Consumer credit report statement sample letters -- Our collection of sample letters -- tailored to satisfy each of the Big Three credit bureaus and fit several situations -- can help you plead your case on your credit report. ... (more)

8 steps to reducing credit card debt -- This structured, disciplined plan will help you bat down credit card debt and regain financial control. ... (more)

Credit card cash advances for a home down payment? Not smart -- With no-money-down mortgages gone, lenders say they sometimes see buyers draw credit card cash advances to make their home down payments. ... (more)

CreditCards.com's credit crunch survival guide -- Credit's getting tougher to come by these days, and this credit crunch impacts virtually every American. So what is a consumer to do? It depends on how you use your card. With that in mind, we've created this guide to help you make your way. ... (more)

Disabled vet seeks relief from credit card debt -- A disabled veteran living on a fixed government income is overcome by credit card debt and seeks a way out. ... (more)

Pros and cons of various sources of home down payments -- Down payments are once again a must to qualify for a mortgage. There are many sources, each with its own advantages and drawbacks. ... (more)

Credit card cash advances for a home down payment? Not smart -- With no-money-down mortgages gone, lenders say they sometimes see buyers draw credit card cash advances to make their home down payments. ... (more)

How to add a written statement to your credit report -- Your credit report is usually the final word when it comes to lending, but the rules let you make 100 of those words your own. ... (more)

Store credit cards still offered, but approvals become stricter -- While it may sound enticing to save 15 percent off your purchase at the checkout counter by applying for that retail credit card, your chances of getting approved for a store credit card are getting slimmer. ... (more)

As credit lines dry up, small businesses turn to plastic to keep afloat -- More entrepreneurs are priming their companies' financial pumps with that old consumer temptress -- the credit card. ... (more)

FTC delays 'Red Flags Rules' to May 1, 2009 -- Creditors and financial institutions granted a six-month extension to comply with FTC anti-theft "Red Flags Rules." ... (more)

5 ways small biz owners can prevent employee credit card abuse -- Here are 5 steps small business owners can take to prevent unauthorized credit card purchases by employees. ... (more)

Pros and cons of various sources of home down payments -- Down payments are once again a must to qualify for a mortgage. There are many sources, each with its own advantages and drawbacks. ... (more)

Credit card cash advances for a home down payment? Not smart -- With no-money-down mortgages gone, lenders say they sometimes see buyers draw credit card cash advances to make their home down payments. ... (more)

How to add a written statement to your credit report -- Your credit report is usually the final word when it comes to lending, but the rules let you make 100 of those words your own. ... (more)

Ruling: Prepaid stored-value cards qualify for $250,000 FDIC deposit insurance -- The FDIC has ruled that money held on prepaid or stored value cards can qualify for deposit insurance if banks set up the accounts. ... (more)

Debit card rewards programs gaining acceptance -- Major banks are pushing debit card rewards programs at consumers. Which are worth it? We compare. ... (more)

Eight ways to get gift cards for less -- Use these techniques to pay less than face value or boost buying power of a gift card. ... (more)

Higher limit or second card will impact your credit score -- If you think your credit limit's too low, you may consider either asking your current issuer for a higher limit or getting a second card. Either way, don't forget to consider the impact the move will have on your credit. ... (more)

Building a credit history without credit cards -- Living without credit cards can lead to a "thin" credit file where lenders don't have enough evidence that you are a good credit risk. ... (more)

Behind on car lease payments: What to do? -- When facing repossession of your car for falling behind on lease payments, it's best to try to ask for more time rather than steal the car. ... (more)

How to buy a car with a credit card -- and when not to -- Not all car dealers let you, but for those with rewards cards and faith in their ability to repay, buying a car with a credit card can make sense. ... (more)

Free credit report -- how to get the actual free ones -- The federal government has mandated the three major credit bureaus give free credit reports to consumers at least once per bureau per year. Here's how to get yours. ... (more)

Fees, the economy and gas prices are threatening frequent flier programs -- Fees, the economy and gas prices are threatening frequent flier credit card programs. ... (more)

Compare credit card rental car insurance coverage: Policies vary widely -- Credit card companies' policies vary sharply, so don't always be quick to turn down rental car agencies' optional coverage. ... (more)

U.S. retail store credit card comparison table -- Here are the top issuers of retail store credit cards, both those offered by the retailers themselves and those offered by banks. ... (more)

Issuers launch 'environmentally friendly' payment cards -- Responding to what they see as customer demand for environmentally friendly products, American Express and U.S. Bank this week announced the introduction of payment cards that aim to help -- or at least not hurt -- the planet. ... (more)

Store credit cards still offered, but approvals become stricter -- While it may sound enticing to save 15 percent off your purchase at the checkout counter by applying for that retail credit card, your chances of getting approved for a store credit card are getting slimmer. ... (more)

Free credit report -- how to get the actual free ones -- The federal government has mandated the three major credit bureaus give free credit reports to consumers at least once per bureau per year. Here's how to get yours. ... (more)

Fed leaves rates unchanged; card rates to stay put -- The Federal Reserve, as expected, left a key interest rate unchanged. ... (more)

Pros and cons of various sources of home down payments -- Down payments are once again a must to qualify for a mortgage. There are many sources, each with its own advantages and drawbacks. ... (more)

Fed: Delinquency rates edged downward in Q3 -- Credit card delinquencies were down and charge-offs up slightly during the third quarter of 2008, according to the latest banking industry figures released Tuesday by the Federal Reserve Board. ... (more)

Ruling: Prepaid stored-value cards qualify for $250,000 FDIC deposit insurance -- The FDIC has ruled that money held on prepaid or stored value cards can qualify for deposit insurance if banks set up the accounts. ... (more)

Store credit cards still offered, but approvals become stricter -- While it may sound enticing to save 15 percent off your purchase at the checkout counter by applying for that retail credit card, your chances of getting approved for a store credit card are getting slimmer. ... (more)

The pros and cons of charging a luxury car on your credit card -- While charging a luxury car on your credit card may yield a lower interest rate, the risks are higher than a traditional fixed rate loan. ... (more)

How credit card balance transfers affect your credit score -- When a consumer is faced with a high-rate card, switching to a lower-rate card is smart, if you do it right. ... (more)

When family members use 'secret' credit cards -- Just who is responsible for the debt racked up by a spouse's secret credit card cache? 'Maturing Loans' columnist Klayman says it depends on several factors. ... (more)

Sold the house, have some cash, now what? -- Seniors who are downsizing need to pay off debt, create fixed-income investment income and have an emergency fund to cover financial surprises. ... (more)

Pay down debt or invest? Which is more important? -- With the financial markets so uncertain, is it wiser to pay down debt or keep investing for the future? ... (more)

FTC delays 'Red Flags Rules' to May 1, 2009 -- Creditors and financial institutions granted a six-month extension to comply with FTC anti-theft "Red Flags Rules." ... (more)

6 keys to finding the right merchant account for you -- Shopping around for a merchant account can really pay off. We'll take a look at what small business should know so they can find the best account for their needs. ... (more)

Government workers sometimes abuse credit cards, p-cards -- A host of examples of credit card abuse by public employees shows that proper policies and regular scrutiny are needed to avoid draining public coffers and ruining public confidence. ... (more)

Higher limit or second card will impact your credit score -- If you think your credit limit's too low, you may consider either asking your current issuer for a higher limit or getting a second card. Either way, don't forget to consider the impact the move will have on your credit. ... (more)

7 tips for handling your first credit card -- When college students and credit cards mix, the results can be troubling. Here are seven helpful hints to keep yourself or your kids from falling quickly into the debt trap. ... (more)

Opening Credits: Better credit can improve your job prospects -- Going for a first job? Great. Buff your credit report as well as your resume, because employers these days look at both. ... (more)

Filipino credit cards -- Our ongoing series moves to The Philippines, where debit use nearly quadruples credit card use. ... (more)

Fed: Delinquency rates edged downward in Q3 -- Credit card delinquencies were down and charge-offs up slightly during the third quarter of 2008, according to the latest banking industry figures released Tuesday by the Federal Reserve Board. ... (more)

Switzerland credit cards -- Our ongoing series moves to Switzerland, the country that is synonymous with banking but less enthusiastic about credit cards. ... (more)

Debit card rewards programs gaining acceptance -- Major banks are pushing debit card rewards programs at consumers. Which are worth it? We compare. ... (more)

Store credit cards still offered, but approvals become stricter -- While it may sound enticing to save 15 percent off your purchase at the checkout counter by applying for that retail credit card, your chances of getting approved for a store credit card are getting slimmer. ... (more)

Issuers launch 'environmentally friendly' payment cards -- Responding to what they see as customer demand for environmentally friendly products, American Express and U.S. Bank this week announced the introduction of payment cards that aim to help -- or at least not hurt -- the planet. ... (more)

Store credit cards still offered, but approvals become stricter -- While it may sound enticing to save 15 percent off your purchase at the checkout counter by applying for that retail credit card, your chances of getting approved for a store credit card are getting slimmer. ... (more)

U.S. retail store credit card comparison table -- Here are the top issuers of retail store credit cards, both those offered by the retailers themselves and those offered by banks. ... (more)

Credit card addiction: How to break the spending cycle -- For compulsive buyers, the overwhelming need to buy is an obsession that can ruin finances, marriages, careers and even lives, say compulsive shopping addicts and researchers. ... (more)

How the Amish deal with credit cards -- The Amish are famous for being credit-averse and widely believed not to have credit cards, though the truth is many of them do. ... (more)

Could you live without credit cards? Here's how some people do -- Forgoing credit cards and leading a cash-only lifestyle today seems as foreign as mailing a handwritten letter: We know some people do it, but it's hard to understand why. ... (more)

The real dirt on celebrity credit cards -- We'll buy their branded clothes, their branded perfumes, their branded sheets -- but we won't use their branded cards to buy them. Why celebrity cards haven't found a place in our wallets. ... (more)

7 tips for handling your first credit card -- When college students and credit cards mix, the results can be troubling. Here are seven helpful hints to keep yourself or your kids from falling quickly into the debt trap. ... (more)

Authorized user piggybacking: When should the credit ride end? -- Young people who ride their parents' credit scoring coattails through 'piggybacking' eventually need to go out on their own credit paths -- but carefully, experts say. ... (more)

Don't hide credit woes from children, family -- How much should you tell your children about your financial difficulties? Experts say parents should let children know when the family is facing hard times, and maybe get the kids to help out. ... (more)

Building a credit history without credit cards -- Living without credit cards can lead to a "thin" credit file where lenders don't have enough evidence that you are a good credit risk. ... (more)

Disabled vet seeks relief from credit card debt -- A disabled veteran living on a fixed government income is overcome by credit card debt and seeks a way out. ... (more)

Steps to avoid wage garnishment -- Leaving the country to escape credit card debt doesn't guarantee that it will be gone if and when you come back. ... (more)

Behind on car lease payments: What to do? -- When facing repossession of your car for falling behind on lease payments, it's best to try to ask for more time rather than steal the car. ... (more)

Take control of debt, avoid bankruptcy -- Bankruptcy is not the easy solution to debt reduction -- it's expensive, takes time and paperwork and destroys your credit rating for almost a decade. ... (more)

Don't use 401(k) to pay back taxes -- Consider the tax and penalty implications when thinking about tapping 401(k) funds to pay back taxes. ... (more)