Opening Credits

Minors seeking a credit card will need a helping hand from mom and dad -- A 16-year-old reader wants to know how she can get her own credit card. The answer: with a little help from mom or dad. ... (more)

Living off credit cards alone for a year is a terrible idea -- Credit cards were never meant to be used to replace income over a long period of time, and using them that way can bring big trouble. ... (more)

Avoid headaches with this 5-step plan for traveling with credit cards -- Most people don't consider their credit cards when they're traveling overseas. That's a mistake. These 5 steps will get you and your cards abroad and back safely. ... (more)

Don't let delinquent debt keep you from getting a mortgage -- Getting serious about buying a house someday? Those delinquent debts have got to go or your dreams of home ownership may remain just that -- a dream. ... (more)

Act fast to remove authorized users when your credit goes south -- Authorized users on your credit card account suffer when your credit hits the skids. Our expert shows how to remove those users to minimize the damage. ... (more)

How to make sure your credit score is a FICO score -- Credit score seem just a bit too high? You may not have bought the ever-popular FICO score. But don't feel bad, our expert says. It's an easy mistake to make. ... (more)

Trade credit card for debit? Remember your credit score -- A reader asks: If I use my debit card all the time instead of my credit card, what impact will that have on my credit score? ... (more)

Cure your defaulted student loan in six steps -- If you default on a student loan, the law gives you a second chance if you make regular, 'reasonable and affordable' payments. ... (more)

Getting money back from a collection agency? Good luck with that! -- In all her years of credit advising, our expert's never heard of someone paying a collection account and then attempting get the money back after changing his mind -- until now. ... (more)

Patience, persistence are keys to raising your credit score -- An impatient reader may not like the answer, but the the keys to raising your credit score from the depths are consistency, persistence and -- yes -- time. ... (more)

Spouse's passing doesn't absolve widower of joint card debts -- Grief over a spouse's death and the need for money to get a new place to live after her passing doesn't absolve a widower of the obligation to pay down joint debts.. ... (more)

Authorized users don't have to pay for cardholder's missteps -- If you're an authorized user on someone's credit card and the account holder makes a few wrong moves, you don't have to suffer. Our expert shows how you can protect yourself if this happens to you. ... (more)

When hit with extra fees on auto lease, pay them on time or else -- Our expert warns that whether you're talking about a credit card, a car lease or any other type of debt, the best thing you can do for your credit is to pay what you owe -- in full and on time. ... (more)

Don't fall for these 7 common credit card myths -- There are so many common credit card myths that when our expert is asked for the biggest myth, she responds with seven really big ones. ... (more)

Stash your plastic when closing on a home -- Going on a credit card spending spree right before closing on a home is unwise. It can even jeopardize your mortgage. ... (more)

To avoid debt, give your credit your respect and attention -- Don't fear credit cards, our expert tells a reader. Handle them responsibly by giving them your respect and your attention, and they can be more useful than scary. ... (more)

Don't blame 'credit card game,' blame irresponsible player -- A reader who is $49,000 in debt and frustrated with the "credit card game" asks what would happen if she went cold turkey on plastic once she's paid off her current debts. ... (more)

Don't worry if resold student loan clutters up credit report -- A student loan that's been resold multiple times appears multiple times on a reader's credit report -- once for each time it was sold -- and he wants to know if some of them can be removed. ... (more)

6 times when it's OK to cut up your cards -- A reader asks Opening Credits a simple question -- "When do credit cards get up?" -- that doesn't have a quick, easy answer. ... (more)

Is it possible to pay off debt TOO quickly? -- A reader asks whether paying off his huge debts in one fell swoop, thanks to an inheritance, can raise red flags and damage his credit. ... (more)

Can mom do time for daughter's possible credit card crime? -- A mother nervously asks if she can be charged because she knows that her 16-year-old daughter has 10 credit cards. She might not like the answer. ... (more)

When money woes hit home, take stock and make a plan -- Our expert offers a plan for a family with two young children, a $4,800 monthly mortgage payment, $14,000 in credit card debt and suddenly has been hit with a job loss. ... (more)

Adult daughter with thin credit needs to learn independence -- A concerned mother asks for advice on helping her 28-year-old daughter jump-start her credit, but our expert says mom should think twice before getting too involved. ... (more)

Are you responsible for your late parent's debts? -- One nervous reader asks whether a credit card company can come after her to pay for her father's debts after he passes away. ... (more)

Priortize payments wisely to knock down debts -- A reader with about $35,000 in debt to various creditors asks our expert which of her many debts she should pay off first. ... (more)

When negotiating debt, original creditors and third-party collectors differ -- If negotiating to reduce past due credit card debt, the rules and negotiating strategies differ between original creditor, third party collector. ... (more)

Thinking of buying an $8,000 motorcycle on a credit card? Weigh all options before your purchase -- A reader wants to use a new credit card to buy his dream motorcycle, but our columnist suggests waiting and weighing all his options before making the purchase. ... (more)

Should you bother paying off really old debts? -- A reader whose wife has decade-old credit card debts wonders what will happen to her credit report and score if she does -- or doesn't -- pay them off. ... (more)

Good credit history doesn't go away when card canceled -- If your only credit card gets closed, don't worry. That good credit history that you built will live on, even as the card becomes just a memory. ... (more)

6 ways to help rebuild son's or daughter's credit rating -- You'd love to cure all your child's credit ailments, but unfortunately, you can't. As a parent, there is only so much you can do. Your real power lies in providing guidance, information, and encouragement. ... (more)

Keep that first credit card after you've paid off your debts -- A taste for free food or gifts has lured many a college student into credit card debt. But when that debt is paid off, should you cancel that card or keep it around? ... (more)

Encourage, teens, other children to learn good savings habits -- An early interest in saving money is to be commended! It gives children a head start on a lifetime of good financial habits. ... (more)

Minimum payments mean maximum trouble with debt -- One reader learns that just making the minimum payments on her credit cards each month can lead to a never-ending debt spiral of negative amortization, where your debt keeps rising even if make payments and stop charging. ... (more)

Credit card authorized users, joint account holders: Know the difference -- The differences are significant between authorized users and joint account holders -- especially in payment responsibilities. ... (more)

Canceling an old card with a bad history isn't always smart -- Canceling unneeded credit card accounts might seem to be a good idea, but it can be a mistake for your credit score. ... (more)

Giving your kids a jump start on their credit -- By adding your child as an authorized user on your credit account, you'll be giving your kid a leg up -- provided your credit is good. ... (more)

Options when facing a credit card interest rate increase -- Credit card issuers can jack up your interest rate at any time, for any reason, and increases are tougher to duck than before. ... (more)

How different are Visa, AmEx, MasterCard and Discover? -- A reader looking for their first credit card wants to know the differences among Visa, American Express, MasterCard and Discover. ... (more)

Minor's credit card contract raises legal, ethical questions -- A credit card contract with 17-year-old is likely not enforceable -- with some exceptions. However, continuing to run up debt on that card raises some tricky moral and ethical questions. ... (more)

Consider these factors when deciding to cancel credit cards -- A reader with 11 credit cards wants to know how cancelling several of her cards will impact her credit score. ... (more)

5 tips for protecting your credit during marriage breakup -- Marriage breakups are messy, messy things. However, taking these five steps can help you protect your credit during this trying time. ... (more)

Don't take the bait when you receive a 'phishing' e-mail -- Legitimate companies don't ask for your private, personal information via e-mail. Don't let a logo lure you into a 'phishing' scam or in can cost you. ... (more)

Too much fast food can be hazardous to your credit -- No, where you eat doesn't have an impact on your credit score, but that's not the full story. While paying plastic for that Big Mac won't hurt your credit score, it might just make issuers think that you're a credit risk. ... (more)

When hit by ID theft, take these 4 steps to make things right -- It's awful to have to start your credit life by cleaning up a mess that you didn't make. The good news, though, is that you definitely can clean it up. ... (more)

Take these 3 steps when bank account seized by collectors -- You can't stop or reverse the seizure of your bank account to repay outstanding debts, but you can take steps to protect your other assets and rebuild your credit. We'll lay out what you should do. ... (more)

Are three cards too many? Not if you use them wisely -- There's no one answer to how many cards are too many. Lots of variables come into play, including how you use the cards and how you make your payments. ... (more)

Do your homework when shopping for your first credit card -- No credit history definitely doesn't mean that you can't get a credit card. It does, however, mean that you'll have fewer options, making it crucially important that you do your homework. ... (more)

Disabled daughter needs advocate in dealing with debt -- A worried mom asks how she can help her disabled daughter who is unable to make minimum credit card payments. ... (more)

Give the gift of credit card know-how this holiday -- Thinking of giving your kids credit cards this holiday? The best gift you can give them is an education in credit, and CreditCards.com is a terrific place to start. ... (more)

Negotiate debt payment plans before disaster strikes -- When financial disaster is looming in your household, be proactive. Contact your creditors and explain your situation before times get darkest, and issuers might be willing to work with you. ... (more)

If dear old dad steals your identity, turn him in -- When a parent commits identity fraud against a child, emotions can run high. But given the choice between protecting your parent or your good name, choose the latter. ... (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)

CreditCards.com editorial corrections policy -- CreditCards.com strives to publish accurate information. If you believe we have published something in error or wish to comment on an article, please e-mail us at editors@CreditCards.com. ... (more)