Credit Card Whiz Kid

Reloadable Credit Cards for Teens

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:12:18 -0500

As much bad press as they've gotten recently, let's face it: pre-paid, reloadable credit cards fill a certain niche in the marketplace. Some folks think of them as ways for ne'er-do-wells who've never learned to handle money to control their finances and rebuild their credit, but that's just one aspect of their usefulness.

There are other uses, and in this article, we'll take a look at one.

Don't Be Fooled By Introductory Rates

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:16:04 -0500

In recent years, credit card issuers have hit upon an amazingly profitable sales tactic: incredible introductory rates. In some cases, they can be as low as zero percent -- which, on the face of it, seems like a great reason for you to transfer your balance immediately.

After all, with such a low (or no) interest rate, you can manage your money better... so it makes sense to switch, right?

Not necessarily.

Beware Debit Card Holds, Especially at the Gas Pump

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:04:53 -0500

Debit card holds, also known as pre-authorizations or "blocking off", represent an aspect of commercial purchasing that many consumers are completely unaware of. But placing holds on debit purchases is a common practice, one you've probably been subject to more than once.

Usually this sort of pre-authorization isn't a big deal, but it can be costly and annoying if your bank account balance is low to begin with.

An Honest To Goodness Credit Card Alarm

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:57:47 -0500

In the world of credit card security features, the credit card alarm has to take the cake. That's not to say that it's a bad idea, because it's not; but it's definitely unique. Unlike most security features, it's neither embedded nor passive. It lets you know immediately if something's wrong.

Let's take a closer look at what it's all about.

Beware Gift Card Scams

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:01:55 -0500

When it comes to overall sneakiness, gift card scams have got to take the cake.

Now that people are becoming more aware of identity theft, it's getting harder for those oh-so-clever high-tech criminals to snatch information from debit and credit cards that they can use to buy free goodies and otherwise line their pockets.

But gift cards, those limited-use credit cards we love to give each other for Christmas and birthdays -- they're still fair game, because most consumers and, worse, the retailers, haven't caught onto their tricks yet.

Keep an Eye Out for Unusual Credit Card Fees

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:19:58 -0500

Have you noticed any unusual credit card fees on your statements lately? I'm not talking about charges for cases of caviar or plane tickets to Aruba that you don't remember buying, although you should certainly pay attention to those. But it's easy to miss a finance charge miscalculation or a payment protection fee.

Let's take a look at the little ways that the issuers can pad your card fees.

New Credit Card Perks for Good Customers

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 12:51:16 -0500

While recent regulations have placed tight strictures on the way that credit card companies do business, new technological advances and a willingness to start lending again have paved the way for some very nice credit card perks.

Let's take a quick look at what's available.

Trip Cancellation Insurance and Your Credit Card

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:51:23 -0500

If you're about to spend thousands for a business trip or vacation, then you might want to invest in some trip cancellation insurance -- just in case.

We've all heard of flight insurance. Well, this is similar, but it's a more general category of protection. It's a good idea, given life's uncertainty; and interestingly enough, your credit card may automatically cover you.

Needless to say, there are a few caveats to that statement, so let's take a closer look.

The Latest Dirty Credit Card Tricks, Part II

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:40:41 -0500

Dirty credit card tricks should be thing of the past, given the reforms recently passed under the Credit CARD Act of 2009... and perhaps in an ideal world elsewhere in the spacetime continuum, they are. But this is the real world, and while the old abuses have been curbed, we now have new ones to deal with.

The Latest Dirty Credit Card Tricks, Part I

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 18:34:37 -0500

It was naïve to think that the much ballyhooed Credit CARD Act of 2009 would put an end to the dirty credit card tricks that issuers try to gouge us with on a daily basis. Sometimes, I think the only winning move with credit cards is what the computer decided at the end of the movie WarGames: not to play at all.

Find the Very Best Gas Credit Cards

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:46:35 -0500

Finding the best gas credit cards is no easy task. You have to be a very savvy consumer to get by in our world, and when you're dealing with credit cards, that's doubly true. Everyone's well aware that we're in a recession, so credit card companies are competing for your business -- while trying to cut corners of their own.

If you follow this blog you've heard me say it before: read the fine print. That is the best, the only way to make sure you're not going to have any unpleasant surprises when your bill arrives, and with gas credit cards, that's doubly true. Here are a couple of the things you want to watch out for when you're choosing the best gas credit cards.

Bad Credit Unsecured Credit Cards and How to Find Them

Thu, 12 May 2011 13:41:35 -0500

I've met dozens of people looking for bad credit unsecured credit cards. I've even been one of them myself. The logic is simple and can range from 'I don't have the money to put in a secured account right now' to 'I want to rebuild my credit with a real card, not some glorified debit card.' I understand the objections, believe me.

But if you're traveling that road, you're probably finding -- as I did -- that bad credit unsecured credit cards aren't all that common. If your credit's bad, people don't want to take a chance on you. So here are my tips and advice based on personal experience.

Best Credit Card Practices for Quickly Building Your Score

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:02:22 -0500

It's a simple fact that to get the best credit card, you need a high credit rating. Generally, you build your credit rating over years and years of responsible bill payments, credit use, and financial management. But what if you just need to give your score a little boost? Can you do it quickly?

Tips for Finding the Best Balance Transfer Credit Card

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:25:39 -0500

Finding the best balance transfer credit card can be about as much fun as a broken leg. Oh, you can find them easily enough, and everyone wants you to believe theirs is the best. If there were as many as best balance transfer credit cards as the ads claim, you'd never have a problem.

Unfortunately, that's not the case, and if you want a really good card, you have to be willing to read some fine print and do some homework. On the up side, it's not as much work as you might think -- there are just a few things to watch out for.

Credit Card Debt Relief For the Holiday Season

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:31:57 -0500

At any time of year, credit card debt relief is a popular topic. But around the holidays, it suddenly spirals out of control. We've all been there: we want to give our families and friends a great Christmas season, so we let our spending get a little out of hand. And since most of us don't have tons of spare cash lying around, all of that money goes on our credit cards.

But that spending catches up fast, and come January, you find yourself facing a pile of credit card debt. If that describes you, don't panic: just follow these simple steps.