How to Build Credit from Scratch

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

It really is a classic Catch-22. You've got to have credit to get credit. So if you have no credit history at all, how should you go about building a good credit score from scratch? The tactics will vary depending upon your personal circumstances, but several proven methods...

Online Holiday Shopping: 5 Tips for Bargain Hunters

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Black Friday ignites a sense of unbridled excitement in many holiday shopaholics. For the rest of us, it's cause for nothing more than another good reason to stay close to home, sit by the fire and enjoy an extra cup of hot chocolate while the masses fight it out...

How to Deal with New Annual Fees

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

You're a responsible credit card user. You live within your means and pay your balances in full each month. It's likely you even have several credit cards in your wallet, although the majority of your monthly expenses are charged to the one that helps you bank the most rewards....

Five Credit Card Tips for College-Bound Millennials

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700

It's that time of year again. A summer full of partying, baking in the sun, and maybe even a job (heaven forbid) is coming to a close for hundreds of thousands of college-bound Millennials. Retail companies love them because Millennials are prepping for the big move by spending, or convincing...

5 Credit Tips for Teens

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Who do you think is more likely to get into trouble using credit cards? A college freshman who was never exposed to credit his entire life, or a teenager who was added as an authorized user on his parent's card at 15 and taught how to responsibly use credit. Let's...

Common Credit Card Fees

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700

All credit cards have fees. In fact, the key to becoming a savvy credit card user lies in understanding what they are and how to avoid them. To help get you started on the right path, here are the most common credit card fees every cardholder should know...

Top 5 Credit Tips for Recent College Grads

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0700

You took your last exam, donned the cap and gown and have finally embarked on a new and exciting phase in your adult life. What will you need to know that you probably weren't taught in college? There's a good chance you missed out on an important class that's rarely...

Don't Become a Foreclosure Statistic

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0800

There were more than 1 million foreclosures in 2010, according to , a leading online real estate marketplace and publisher of the country's largest and most comprehensive foreclosure database. In fact, banks seized a total of 1.05 million properties, topping the previous record of 918,000 in...

How to Pay Off Debt: Determining Your Best Course of Action

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Personal finance gurus love to argue about which debt you should pay off first. Browse the Internet for just a few minutes, and you'll find volumes of painfully long articles rehashing the same old approaches to paying down debt. If you haven't found the time to...

How to Choose and Use a Balance Transfer Credit Card

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0800

Advertisements promoting zero-percent balance transfer offers can look quite appealing when high-interest credit card debt is keeping you up at night. What could be better than transferring your debt to a credit card that won't charge any interest for a year or more? Apart from stumbling upon a...

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Will it Help?

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0800

The recent economic crisis highlighted serious problems within financial sectors of nations across the globe. In the US, these problems have hit home particularly hard, leaving American families with lost wages, mounting debt, and higher unemployment. And while some responsibility for what’s happened certainly lies with those who borrowed money they...

How to Cancel Credit Cards the Right Way

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0700

If your goal is to improve your credit score, closing all your credit cards isn't going to help. However, there are various legitimate reasons for closing credit lines. For instance, if you already have credit problems and you know that an open credit card will only...

Top 10 Things You Can Do Today to Improve Your Credit

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0700

The most difficult part about beginning a new exercise routine is getting your butt off the couch to go to the gym. Yes, those endless reruns of "America's Next Top Model" can be quite hypnotizing, but think about how great you'll feel once you see the results of...

Credit Scores That Matter

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Credit scores can be confusing enough without having to worry about whether the score you just purchased is a "real" credit score. Major Credit Reporting Agencies (CRAs) unfortunately add to the confusion by not making it very clear that most of the credit scores sold through their...

5 Ways to Protect Your Credit Score in 2010

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0800

The financial crisis of 2007-2009 changed the world of consumer credit forever. So what will 2010 bring to the credit industry? To sum it up it one word—reform. In fact, the CARD...

Under 21? 3 Reasons to Get a Credit Card Today

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

I got my first credit card when I was a 19-year-old student, but I wasn't new to credit. In fact, I had already established a solid credit score and a clear understanding of how to responsibly manage credit cards. I took this for granted at the...

Credit CARD Act of 2009: 5 Must-Know Nuggets

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Signed into law by President Obama on May 22nd, the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 marks a significant turning point for America's credit card industry. Consumer activists claim the new law will finally afford Americans the reliable protections they deserve, while major credit issuers...

Credit for Paying the Bills

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

I find it hard to believe there are still millions of Americans that don't exist within our nation's credit-scoring system. Since credit has played an integral role in my personal financial life ever since High School, it seems practically impossible that one could live in our society without either...

Online Savings Accounts: Top 3 Questions to Ask When Weighing Your Options

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

A soaring personal savings rate among American consumers confirms that the era of conspicuous consumption is out and frugality is in. So, where's the best place to stash your newfound cash as you strive to spend less and save more? If you're looking for a safe and highly-liquid...

Why Credit Still Counts

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

It's easy to despise the credit issuers. Who else should we blame for the ugly state in which our credit card industry exists today? Should we blame consumers for making poor financial decisions and living beyond their means? Perhaps Congress for taking so long to get its act...

How Does Identity Theft Protection Work?

Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700

As identity theft numbers reach record levels, more people are turning to identity protection services to help safeguard their financial reputation. You've heard the commercials on the airways, seen the ads on TV, and likely know at least a handful of friends who are looking into (or already...

ABCs of Credit: What is Credit?

Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Nothing down, 24 monthly payments! Low, low 2.9% APR! We may not hear those words as much as we did in the past; however, we still live in world where we are constantly urged to buy things using credit. But what is credit, and how does it really work?...

Top 5 Ways to Spring Clean Your Credit

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Spring is meant to be a time of renewal and rejuvenation. For many people, this might include cleaning out the old attic or scrubbing the entire house from floor to ceiling. There's just something about a warm Spring day that should make us want to declutter life and...

Identity Thieves Prey on Job Seekers

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Are you out of work and looking for a job? Unfortunately, there may be some people out there who wish to prey on your bad fortune. Identity thieves in particular have recently ramped up activity as they seek to take advantage of our country's bad economic situation and turn it...

Top 5 Ways to Manage Student Loans

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

College graduation should be one of the most exciting times in your life. You've worked hard to get your degree and prepare yourself for a successful and fulfilling career. Now it's time to get out of the classroom and take that next big step into the unknown. ...

Freeze Your Credit Reports to Prevent Identity Theft

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

While millions of consumers continue to fall victim to identity theft each year, many are starting to fight back with new tools— credit alerts and credit freezes. Sounds effective, right? Though they are a great way to prevent thieves from opening new credit in your name, credit alerts and freezes...

What Makes Up Your FICO Score?

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Perhaps the most common question about credit is, "What makes up my FICO Score?" That may not surprise you since you're reading this article to answer that very question. But what may surprise you is that the question should really be changed to read, "What makes up my...

2009 - The Year to Get Rid of Debt

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Consumers have truly witnessed an ironic turn of events in the credit card world. For decades credit issuers have ferociously competed to be the first card in your wallet, and now they are just competing to be the first paid back. As the economy continues to sink...

Credit Card Fraud: How It Happens and What to Do About It

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800

It may start off practically unnoticeable, with a few charges here and there. Over time, though, your credit card statements begin to reflect purchases in places you're quite sure you've never visited. Items show up that you know you didn't buy. You start to notice charges from distant gas stations,...

Checking Your Credit Report for Signs of Identity Theft

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Most of us have seen the clever commercials that portray identity theft victims boasting about illegal purchases with dubbed voices that are clearly not their own. While entertaining and just plain funny, these ads have also helped raise consumer awareness of the real dangers associated with...

Your Credit GPA: 3 Must-Know Credit Concepts for Students

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Isn't it about time you gained some Credit¢ents? Perhaps you've never had to worry about credit before, but now you're off on your own and it seems like you're bombarded with credit card offers everywhere you go. What should you do? You opened a checking account at...

What To Do When Someone Steals Your Identity

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Think you're having a bad day? Stuck in traffic, late for work, your kid is flunking math, the kitchen is a mess after dropping an egg? Well, you can relax and count your blessings. Because as horrible as those days might be, they pale in comparison to the ulcer-inducing rush...

Beware of High-Tech Identity Theft Tactics

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

For the eighth year in a row, identity theft led the way in 2007 as "the number one consumer complaint category". The list of Top Consumer Fraud Complaints also reported that the most common form of identity theft was credit card fraud, which...

The Payment Allocation Provision - A Credit Card Company's Best Friend

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

It makes logical sense that consumers should have the power to choose how their payments apply to credit card debt. Of course, some must go towards paying interest charges if a balance is carried, but the rest of the payment should be applied to the debt with the highest...

Reduced Credit Card Limits Hurt Consumer Credit Scores

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

We spend a great deal of time in the credit industry educating consumers about credit utilization and explaining why it's important to understand the term. As banks and other card lenders are currently reducing credit limits for tens of thousands of consumers across the country, we are once...

Experian Implements New Credit Scoring Model: Authorized User Accounts Dropped

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

The announced a major change in 2007 to their credit scoring formula, which ignited quite a bit of controversy and anticipation throughout the industry over the past year. The lending world does not see these types of changes often, so one can imagine the amount...

Beware of Credit Card Currency Conversion Fees!

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

As credit card issuers continue to look for additional ways to boost fee revenue in the midst of the credit crisis, consumers traveling overseas should pay special attention to foreign currency-conversion fees. Virtually every credit card charges a transaction fee for processing a purchase made outside the United States....

The Fed Cracks Down on Credit Card Companies - Too Little Too Late?

Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

In early May the Fed issued several new proposals designed to protect consumers by restricting various credit card billing practices and requiring more clarity in disclosure of costs. The Chairman, Ben Bernanke, stated the proposals are "intended to establish a new baseline for...

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