Borrower Beware

As the economy continues to lag, credit card banks are suffering as more and more cardholders pay late—or simply don’t pay at all. How do credit card companies compensate for money its customers don’t pay back? By raising fees and interest rates. One of the most profitable income sources for credit card companies is the “default APR”, or the higher interest rate the bank charges you when you make a late payment. Continued

Credit card companies can reduce, or drop, your credit limit at any time for a number of reasons. Continued

With proposed legislation dubbed the Credit Cardholders’ “Bill of Rights”, New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney is hoping to reign in a number of credit card industry practices hurting U.S. consumers. Continued

Your credit score, or FICO score, doesn’t just determine whether or not you will get approved for a new credit card. Most importantly, your credit score determines what interest rates you will pay for every penny you borrow, whether it’s a car loan, credit card, or mortgage. Think your credit score doesn’t matter? Think again. Continued

Sick of receiving credit card junk mail? You can easily elect not to receive any further unsolicited credit offers by visiting Opt Out Prescreen.

Opt Out Screen wills stop most incoming credit card offers, although a few may still get through. That’s because Opt Out Prescreen only stops credit solicitations that are based upon your credit report. Signing up on the website will opt you out of credit card offers for five years. You can also opt out forever in writing.

The New Hampshire Attorney General warned consumers Monday to scrutinize credit card offers that arrive with an unsolicited, ready-to-use credit card. Complaints have surfaced that a major credit card company aquired a department store credit card business and mailed customers of the department store credit card a new credit card without their knowledge. (Original article from Seacost Online). Many consumers mistook the new credit card for junk mail and discarded the live credit card, making them susceptible to identity theft. Continued

Many credit cards advertise “no pre-set spending” limits. But if you think you can just sign up for the card and go out and charge a Ferrari, watch out. No pre-set spending limit does not meet no credit limit. It means there is no pre-set spending limit.

The Fine Print

In fact, most no pre-set spending limit credit cards come with a credit limit. The card then gives the card holder the ability to exceed that credit limit in some instances if the amount of the balance over the credit limit is paid in full before the due date. Continued