Using Credit Cards
Wise credit card usage is about more than swiping your card for purchases. Move beyond the basics of credit cards to learn about using your credit card responsibly. From interest to rewards, all you need to know about using credit cards is here.
Sample Credit Letters for Creditors and Debt Collectors
In the credit industry, it's best to communicate in writing. That way, you have proof of what you sent. Here are some sample credit letters you can customize and send to credit card companies, credit bureaus, and debt collectors.
In the credit industry, it's best to communicate in writing. That way, you have proof of what you sent. Here are some sample credit letters you can customize and send to credit card companies, credit bureaus, and debt collectors.
Negotiate Lower Interest Rate - How Did You Get Your Interest…
Sometimes credit card issuers play hardball when it comes to lowering an interest rate. Have you talked your way into a lower rate? Tell us how.
Sometimes credit card issuers play hardball when it comes to lowering an interest rate. Have you talked your way into a lower rate? Tell us how.
Your Credit Card Account Could Be Closed Due to Inactivity
If you haven't used your credit card in awhile, here's why your credit card issuer might close your account and what you can do about it.
If you haven't used your credit card in awhile, here's why your credit card issuer might close your account and what you can do about it.
Ways to Respond to a Credit Limit Cut
When your credit card issuer cuts your credit limit, it puts your credit score in jeopardy. Find out how you can respond to a credit limit cut.
When your credit card issuer cuts your credit limit, it puts your credit score in jeopardy. Find out how you can respond to a credit limit cut.
What's the Cost of a Balance Transfer?
You can use a balance transfer to pay off credit card balances at a lower interest rate. Watch out. With balance transfer fees, you might not save as much interest as you think.
You can use a balance transfer to pay off credit card balances at a lower interest rate. Watch out. With balance transfer fees, you might not save as much interest as you think.
3 Reasons You Shouldn't Opt-Out of a Higher Interest Rate
Opting-out lets you decline the new rate and pay off your balance at the lower interest rate. There’s a catch though, many credit card issuers will close your credit card if you don’t accept the new rate. Think twice about opting-out in these situations.
Opting-out lets you decline the new rate and pay off your balance at the lower interest rate. There’s a catch though, many credit card issuers will close your credit card if you don’t accept the new rate. Think twice about opting-out in these situations.
Managing a Joint Credit Card Account
You might get a joint credit card account with a spouse, partner, or even a child to simply bill paying, to merge your lives, or to help that person get a better credit score. Managing a joint credit card account isn’t always easy. You have to discuss everything you’d automatically decide when you have your own credit account.
You might get a joint credit card account with a spouse, partner, or even a child to simply bill paying, to merge your lives, or to help that person get a better credit score. Managing a joint credit card account isn’t always easy. You have to discuss everything you’d automatically decide when you have your own credit account.
10 Scary Credit Moments
Some surprises are good - a surprise birthday party, a surprise proposal, a surprise gift. Other surprises are not so good - bank closures, gas price hikes. Beware, your credit score may have some scary surprises of its own.
Some surprises are good - a surprise birthday party, a surprise proposal, a surprise gift. Other surprises are not so good - bank closures, gas price hikes. Beware, your credit score may have some scary surprises of its own.
Do credit card issuers have to notify you before increasing your interest rate?
Credit card companies have the right to increate your interest rate, even if it's a "fixed" rate. But they don't always have to notify you before increasing your interest rate.
Credit card companies have the right to increate your interest rate, even if it's a "fixed" rate. But they don't always have to notify you before increasing your interest rate.
How to Opt-Out of an Interest Rate Increase
The Truth in Lending Act requires credit cards, in most cases, to give you 15 days advance notice of any interest rate increase. When your interest rate increases, youÂ’re given an opt-out period during which you can reject the new, higher interest rate.
The Truth in Lending Act requires credit cards, in most cases, to give you 15 days advance notice of any interest rate increase. When your interest rate increases, youÂ’re given an opt-out period during which you can reject the new, higher interest rate.
5 Ways to Respond to a Credit Card Interest Rate Increase
When your interest rate increases, youÂ’ll typically have an opt-out period allowing you to reject the interest rate change. There are some cases you might not want to close your credit card account because it will hurt your credit score. Here's what else you can do.
When your interest rate increases, youÂ’ll typically have an opt-out period allowing you to reject the interest rate change. There are some cases you might not want to close your credit card account because it will hurt your credit score. Here's what else you can do.
16 Explanations for a Sudden Interest Rate Hike
Creditors have a slew of reasons for increasing your interest rate. You can usually call to find out why your rate got increased. Based on a 2008 survey by Consumer Action, your credit card might have been closed for one of these reasons (note that not all of the reasons are in your control).
Creditors have a slew of reasons for increasing your interest rate. You can usually call to find out why your rate got increased. Based on a 2008 survey by Consumer Action, your credit card might have been closed for one of these reasons (note that not all of the reasons are in your control).
How to Get out of the Over the Limit Fee Trap
Are you wondering why you keep getting over the credit limit fees even though you pay your balance below the limit each month? I'll tell you why plus how you can get out of the trap.
Are you wondering why you keep getting over the credit limit fees even though you pay your balance below the limit each month? I'll tell you why plus how you can get out of the trap.
With Credit Cards, Being a Deadbeat is a Good Thing
The credit card industry labels people who pay their credit card balances in full each month - deadbeats. This is one case where being a deadbeat is a good thing.
The credit card industry labels people who pay their credit card balances in full each month - deadbeats. This is one case where being a deadbeat is a good thing.
Take Out a Cash Advance Without Plummeting Into Debt
Taking out a cash advance on your credit card is risky, expensive, and carries the potential for debt. Find out the right way to take out and repay a credit card cash advance.
Taking out a cash advance on your credit card is risky, expensive, and carries the potential for debt. Find out the right way to take out and repay a credit card cash advance.
The One Dollar Credit Card Payment Myth
Ever been given this advice "Send at least one dollar to your credit card company. They can't sue you as long as you send something - anything"? Unless your credit card minimum payment is one dollar, this advice is wrong!
Ever been given this advice "Send at least one dollar to your credit card company. They can't sue you as long as you send something - anything"? Unless your credit card minimum payment is one dollar, this advice is wrong!
Apply For a Student Credit Card
Your first credit card will probably be a student credit card. Make sure you choose the right student credit card for you.
Your first credit card will probably be a student credit card. Make sure you choose the right student credit card for you.
5 Reasons to Pay More Than the Minimum
Credit cards give you the convenience of paying just a small percentage of your balance each month. This minimum payment is easier to make each month, but can come at a high cost. Here are a few reasons you should pay more than the minimum on your credit card each month.
Credit cards give you the convenience of paying just a small percentage of your balance each month. This minimum payment is easier to make each month, but can come at a high cost. Here are a few reasons you should pay more than the minimum on your credit card each month.
How Long to Pay Off Balance With Minimum Payments
If you only make the minimum payment on your credit card, it could take years to pay off the balance. Not even that, you could end up spending hundreds, possibly even thousands, in interest by the time the balance is repaid.
If you only make the minimum payment on your credit card, it could take years to pay off the balance. Not even that, you could end up spending hundreds, possibly even thousands, in interest by the time the balance is repaid.
4 Tricks Credit Cards Play So You Pay More
Anyone who's been using credit cards for a period of time has likely noticed the creditor doesn't have the customer's best interests in mind. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Credit card companies look for sneaky ways to charge you more money, while you're stuck wondering what happened.
Anyone who's been using credit cards for a period of time has likely noticed the creditor doesn't have the customer's best interests in mind. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Credit card companies look for sneaky ways to charge you more money, while you're stuck wondering what happened.
How to Avoid Credit Limit Charges
Extra fees and interest rate hikes make going over your credit limit costly. Not to mention the damage that's done to your credit score. Find out how to avoid the penalties of exceeding your credit limit.
Extra fees and interest rate hikes make going over your credit limit costly. Not to mention the damage that's done to your credit score. Find out how to avoid the penalties of exceeding your credit limit.
Sample Credit Card Billing Error Dispute Letter
A sample letter to send to creditors to dispute billing errors
A sample letter to send to creditors to dispute billing errors
How to Respond to Credit Card Billing Errors
The Fair Credit Billing Act, FCBA, gives you the right to have credit card billing errors corrected. Find out how to properly respond to incorrect credit card charges.
The Fair Credit Billing Act, FCBA, gives you the right to have credit card billing errors corrected. Find out how to properly respond to incorrect credit card charges.
7 Things That Make a Rewards Credit Card Unrewarding
Frankly, the purpose of having a rewards credit card is to get something out of using your card. However, when your rewards card is costing you more than it's benefitting you, what's the point in keeping it around. Here are some things that make a rewards credit card unrewarding.
Frankly, the purpose of having a rewards credit card is to get something out of using your card. However, when your rewards card is costing you more than it's benefitting you, what's the point in keeping it around. Here are some things that make a rewards credit card unrewarding.
Sample Letter For Closing Your Credit Card
You can use this letter to close your credit card.
You can use this letter to close your credit card.
The Right Way To Close a Credit Card
How to cancel a credit card account the right way
How to cancel a credit card account the right way
Should You Close a Paid Credit Card?
Paying off a credit card is a great accomplishment, especially if you worked long and hard to do it. What now? Do you leave the card open or should you close it?
Paying off a credit card is a great accomplishment, especially if you worked long and hard to do it. What now? Do you leave the card open or should you close it?
Build a Good Credit Score By Charging Only What You Can Afford
Thinking about making a credit card purchase? Before you swipe your card, consider how much you can afford to charge.
Thinking about making a credit card purchase? Before you swipe your card, consider how much you can afford to charge.
Don't Let a Rewards Credit Card Lead You To Debt
It's nice getting free stuff just by using your credit card. If you're not careful a rewards credit card can lead you to debt. Find out how to avoid it.
It's nice getting free stuff just by using your credit card. If you're not careful a rewards credit card can lead you to debt. Find out how to avoid it.
The Effects of Late Credit Card Payments
Missing a credit card payment may not seem like a big deal, but it definitely can be. Find out what your creditor does when you miss a credit card payment. Hint: the answer isn't "nothing."
Missing a credit card payment may not seem like a big deal, but it definitely can be. Find out what your creditor does when you miss a credit card payment. Hint: the answer isn't "nothing."
How Many Credit Cards Is Too Many
The truth is, there's no single number of credit cards to prescribe to consumers. Instead, you have to think about your ability to pay your debts and manage your credit card payments.
The truth is, there's no single number of credit cards to prescribe to consumers. Instead, you have to think about your ability to pay your debts and manage your credit card payments.
When You Can't Make Your Minimum Payment
There may come a month when you don't have enough money to make your credit card minimum payment. Find out what you can do to maintain your credit score, interest rate, and relationship with your creditor.
There may come a month when you don't have enough money to make your credit card minimum payment. Find out what you can do to maintain your credit score, interest rate, and relationship with your creditor.
Apply For A Secured Credit Card
Secured credit cards are good for establishing or re-establishing credit. Before you apply for a secured card, make sure to get the important facts about the card.
Secured credit cards are good for establishing or re-establishing credit. Before you apply for a secured card, make sure to get the important facts about the card.
Do’s and Don’ts Of Using Credit Cards Responsibly
Guidelines for using credit cards the right way. Learn the way to use - and not to use - your credit card.
Guidelines for using credit cards the right way. Learn the way to use - and not to use - your credit card.
Double Billing Cycle Finance Charges Revealed
Explains the double billing cycle method of computing finance charges and demonstrates how it can be more costly for cardholders who want to pay their balance off quickly.
Explains the double billing cycle method of computing finance charges and demonstrates how it can be more costly for cardholders who want to pay their balance off quickly.
Are You Addicted to Credit?
Find out how to stop or avoid excessive use of credit cards that could lead to debt.
Find out how to stop or avoid excessive use of credit cards that could lead to debt.
Student Credit Cards - Three Things To Know
Many students use credit cards to finance their way through college. Before you put next semester's tuition on your credit card, there are some key things you should know.
Many students use credit cards to finance their way through college. Before you put next semester's tuition on your credit card, there are some key things you should know.
Smart Ways To Use Credit Cards
It's never too late to learn a good habit. Avoid credit card mistakes by learning the smart ways to use them.
It's never too late to learn a good habit. Avoid credit card mistakes by learning the smart ways to use them.
6 Steps To Credit Card Serenity
Don't let credit cards stress you out. Follow these steps to rest easy at night.
Don't let credit cards stress you out. Follow these steps to rest easy at night.
Credit or Debit?
It's a question frequently asked by cashiers, but which is the right choice? The answer's not so black and white.
It's a question frequently asked by cashiers, but which is the right choice? The answer's not so black and white.