What should you know about the business practices of credit card companies? How do credit card companies change credit card limits? What reasons do credit card companies give for changing credit card limits? How can you protect yourself when using a credit card? Learn more here about credit cards and your personal finance.
Credit Card Rates May Change
If you're thinking about getting a new credit card make sure to read all the terms you can prior to applying. You don't want to get blindsided after you have the card. It's easier to read the terms in advance than close the card and get dinged on your credit history. Credit card interest rates can zoom up at a moment's notice, but you can take steps to keep your rate low.
Repair Credit Before Applying For Mortgage
Sometimes when you go through a divorce one partner lashes out at the other by running up credit card debt. If the credit cards are in both spouses' names it can be a real problem. What can you do post-divorce if you want to buy a home? If you're low on cash and your credit is bad, you should pay down down and raise your credit score in order to qualify for a mortgage.
Ilyce Glink on WSB Radio – September 9, 2007
This week on the Ilyce Glink Show, we spent a lot of time talking about credit and credit scores. A number of callers were unaware that if they canceled their older cards, they could be tanking their credit score. We also recapped all the big financial news of the week, including the record number of foreclosures and delinquencies, and the news that Countrywide is laying off up to 12,000, or 20 percent of its workforce.
Ilyce Glink on WSB Radio – August 19, 2007
Wow. It's nearly the end of August. Can you believe it? In this week's radio show, Ilyce Glink discusses personal finance, real estate and trends in the economy. She also takes calls from her listeners on a variety of topics.
Ilyce Glink on WSB Radio – August 12, 2007
Today on the Ilyce Glink show, Ilyce recapped the week's stunning upset in the jumbo mortgage market. And, she talked about how a Portland, Oregon, woman won the $1 million lottery -- but a judge wants her to turn over the winning ticket because she used her ex-boyfriend's dead mother's credit card and is an ID thief. Should she have to forfeit her winnings? Tune in to hear what your fellow listeners had to say. All this and your questions on today's Ilyce Glink show.
Spyware and Identity Theft and Sam’s Stolen Credit Card Number
A couple of weeks ago, Sam had his American Express number stolen. Someone spent $285 with 1-800 Flowers, and bought other small items here and there....
Real Estate Minute: Credit Card Receipts Reveal Personal Information
Real Estate Minute with Ilyce Glink
Consumers suing retailers who show too much on credit card slips
Updating from March 8, 2007 Clark Howard Show
Want to save money on gas? Check out www.cheapskateshopping.com. The website bills itself as being "professional cheapskates" and they have great info...
Credit Card Balance Hurts Mortgage Applicants
Should you pay off credit card bills before applying for a mortgage? Lenders are used to seeing credit card balances, and they can adjust for them. What happens is that the lender adds up how much you can afford to spend each month on your mortgage, interest and taxes. Having a zero balance on credit cards will help your chances for getting a good rate on a mortgage.
Use Cash Savings To Pay Off Credit Card Debt
If you've found yourself in a situation with a large amount of credit card debt and cash on hand, take the cash to pay off the credit card debt. While it might be nice to think you have a cushion of cash for an emergency, there's no point in paying high credit card interest rates when you have the cash to pay it off. If you simply pay off the debt, and then start to "repay" yourself with the savings, you'll quickly replenish your cash savings.