Credit Cards Blog

Ever paid a fee to make a payment on one of your credit cards? In years past, card issuers could charge a fee for the payment method used by the consumer. The Credit CARD Act, short for the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, seemingly banned most pay-to-pay fees, whether the consumer

Getting a credit card may get tougher for stay-at-home moms. A proposed rule from the Federal Reserve Board could prevent a stay-at-home mom without independent income from being approved for a credit card in her own name. According to the proposed rule, credit card issuers must consider a person’s independent income rather than household income

When it comes to consumer credit card debt, some cities and states have been hit much harder than others. A study from Equifax, a national credit reporting agency, reveals that the top 50 metropolitan statistical areas with the heaviest credit card debt burdens are clustered in six states: California, Texas, Florida, Ohio, North Carolina and

Are you being honest with your spouse about your spending and your credit cards? A nationwide survey conducted by CESI Debt Solutions, a nonprofit organization dedicated to debt-free living, found that 80 percent of married couples spent secret money and more than 18 percent had a secret credit card. Does your significant other know about

Carry a balance on your credit card? Some issuers are marketing new credit cards that offer rewards for paying down debt, Smartmoney.com reports. The article “Can Credit Cards Help You Manage Money?” highlights several cards that reward good payment behavior. Bonus for paying some, not all of the debt: TD Bank’s TD Payment Plus Credit Card

Many Americans rang in the holidays by charging away on their credit cards. In December, credit card balances increased for the first time in more than two years, according to the Federal Reserve Consumer Credit Report. The report, released on Feb. 7, shows that revolving credit, which is mostly credit cards, increased $2.3 billion to

Do you earn rewards each time you pay with a debit card? Better brace yourself for some changes. Cuts may be on the way to your bank’s debit card rewards program. A proposed cap on debit card interchange fees would seriously slash fee income for banks.  And card industry analysts expect banks to curb or

Interest rates on credit cards increased and card fees were mixed in 2010, according to a new credit card survey from Consumer Action, a consumer advocacy group based in San Francisco. The average variable interest rate on credit cards increased from 13.2 percent in 2009 to 15.06 percent in 2010, according to the survey. “Issuers

Feeling weighted down by credit card debt?  These debt relief options can help. Transfer card balances. Having trouble making headway with your credit card debt because of high interest rates and hefty monthly finance charges?  Consider transferring your card balances to a new card with a rock-bottom rate for balance transfers. Balance transfer card offers

Until very recently, paying your rent on time didn’t help you build or establish credit. The reason: positive rental payment data didn’t show up on your credit reports. This month, however, Experian, one of the three major credit-reporting agencies, announced that it is has begun incorporating positive rental payment history into its consumer credit files. Experian