Credit Articles

Let's face it - currency isn't green anymore. Currency is a slab of rectangular plastic decorated in goldfish, landscapes, paintings or whatever - sporting a magical black strip on the rear side. Plastic is convenient, but dangerous. However, ther...

Monday through Saturday your mailbox is flooded with ads and sales pitches that are simply overwhelming. And where do they end up? Ripped in half and in the trash. Why leave the choice of your new credit card to some random mailing list with some ...

Americans know all too well how much it costs to use credit cards. The average household in the U.S. now has nearly $10,000 in credit card debt. Carrying such debt is fine, as long as you realize that there are costs associated with it. The intere...

What is a good credit score? When you request a free copy of your credit report, you will find a score assigned to your credit history. This score will determine whether or not creditors will grant you the loan or credit that you want because it give...

Between the Internet, well-meaning family and friends, and know-it-all articles in the print media, it's hard to know where the facts end and the nonsense begins. Facts are everywhere, but so are urban legends, hidden agendas, and opinions posing as ...

Many merchants and large department stores offer their customers credit cards with a "cash back" option, hoping that the credit cards will entice their customers to do more of their shopping in their particular store, and charge their purchases with ...

Many people are out there today that want to get a credit card. This can be for several different reasons. Some people need a credit card to catch up on bills. Other people need a credit card so they don't have to carry a lot of cash on them. Som...

The Credit card industry comes with a lot of jargon. You can't be expected to recognise all the technical phrases employed and some of them could be very important. Listed below you will find a quick description of the most common credit card industr...

Because of the way credit scores are calculated, some actions you take will affect your credit score better than others. In general, paying your bills on time and meeting your financial responsibilities will boost your score the most. Owing a reaso...

If you're planning on buying a home after bankruptcy you'll want to read this article carefully. Buying a home is probably the biggest purchase you will ever make. Having a bankruptcy on your credit report adds an extra challenge. If you've read my ...

You need to manage your credit cards wisely. Otherwise, you may end up in financial trouble. Unfortunately, there are many who don't realise that they may be making huge mistakes with the use of their credit cards. Here are top 7 credit card mistak...

Credit cards are very convenient. There's no need to carry any cash; you can just take a credit card with you to the shop and charge for your shopping. When you shop on the Internet or over the phone, it's the only good way to make purchases online. ...

Should you get Visa or MasterCard? Is one of them better than the other? Will one of them help your credit rating more than the other? Many people ask themselves these types of questions when they think about getting their first credit card or addi...

Many people who have filed bankruptcy in the past apply for credit the wrong way. They fill out a credit application and hope for the best. Best case, they probably end up paying a lot more in interest and finance charges - hundreds or even thousa...

Credit card balance transfer is a great way of consolidating your credit card debt, and also finding a way of avoiding the terrible burden that debt can bring. Transfer offers are in high demand and many credit card issuers highlight their balance tr...

Imposing surcharges on credit card transactions is illegal, and it will only lead to problems. The secret to beating the credit card processing system is not charging more for credit card sales, but instead is charging less for cash sales. It may sou...

Identity theft is a growing concern among Americans, and rates among the top five complaints received by states' Attorney General's offices. A stolen identity can lead to tens of thousands of dollars worth of debt in the victim's name and it can tak...

With so many low interest credit cards on offer, how do you know which one to choose? Here is a brief guide for choosing your low interest credit card. The Chase Manhattan MasterCard is a great choice, for those with an excellent credit rating. It ...

In 2003, Congress passed the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions act (FACT), which made it possible for consumers to obtain a copy of their credit report for free. In fact, the legislation makes it possible for consumers to obtain one free report ...

There are millions of consumer credit reports on file from mainly three major reporting bureaus which include Trans Union, Experian, and Equifax. These credit gathering agencies store huge amounts of data about every person that takes out a loan, cre...

Most consumers are aware that they have something known as a credit report that is used to determine whether or not they would qualify for a loan. Fewer are familiar with the FICO score, a creation of the Fair, Isaac, and Co. which distills their en...

Before you take out a home loan or make any major purchase, you should be aware that any prospective lender will want to take a look at your credit report. Your credit report is a record of all of your past financial dealings, and any loans, credit ...

Getting your first credit card is a big deal and all young people look forward to it with bated breath. We wait for years to be able to apply successfully for out own credit card. This is one of the first things that make us feel like real grown ups....

When you apply for a loan or a mortgage, the first thing the lender does is to check your credit score. Based on your credit score, the lender decides the amount of finance you are eligible for and the interest rate at which you will be charged. So w...

A recent amendment to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies to provide consumers with a free copy of their credit report, upon request, once every 12 months. Access to the fre...

If you've ever applied for a credit card or loan, you've probably had your credit report reviewed by the lender. Your credit report has a huge impact on your financial future, so it's well worth your time to be sure that you understand what your cred...

The recent security breach at credit card processor CardSystems Solutions has many consumers worried. Thanks to a well-placed computer virus, nearly forty million credit card numbers were stolen, and cardholders nationwide are justifiably concerned ...

Thinking of applying for a credit card with a reward program to help you and your business? Here is a brief guide to some of the best programs on the internet. The Platinum Business Credit Card with rewards from American Express is a great offer. I...

Ah, the sweet rewards of using credit! Not only do you get immediate gratification with the buy now-pay later plastic, but now, many credit cards offer rewards and incentives for using their card to make purchases. You can get cash back, or gift card...

Congratulations college freshman! You're about to embark on one of the most exciting times of your life. By now your parents, siblings, and friends have offered you all kinds of advice on how to make your transition to college smoother - how to get...