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Which Credit Cards Are Better for your Credit Report?
Do certain credit cards look better on your credit report and
thus improve your credit score? Scott Bilker, the author of the best-selling book
"Credit Card and Debt Management", discusses this engaging topic. Includes tips on
paying off credit cards.
The Best Ways to Consolidate Credit Card Debt
Read this article before you fill out another credit card application.
Includes information about balance transfer offers, low rate credit card offers,
and fixed rate credit card offers.
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Dealing with Christmas Credit Card Debt
America's Love Affair with Card Rewards/ Rebates
Don't Let "Spring Break" Expenditures "Break" You!
Is it Wise to Make Your Tax Payment with a Credit Card?
Fixed Rate vs. Variable Rate Cards
Demystifying the Credit Scoring/ Rating Process
Credit Card Cash Advance Pitfalls
Teens and Credit - A Recipe for Disaster?
Credit Lessons for Retirees
Debit or Credit? Which do you Vote for?
Card Registration Services
Credit Insurance
Disposable Credit Card Numbers
California Legislation Helps Curb Card Fraud
Credit Cards can Help Reduce your Rental Car Bill
Credit Cards for the Rich and Famous
The New Travelocity Credit Card
Hot Topics...Trying to reestablish credit
"After many personal issues I have finally recovered financially and look to
become an active player in the credit game. However, I find that credit criteria
has changed dramatically, and I find myself with bad credit. My current bills are
paid on time, I do have a new car loan, a checking and a Visa card, but can't seem
to get approved for anything else. Do any of you have any suggestions where I
should turn next to build up a better credit history? I opened an account with
Schewels Furniture (great if you need to establish credit!) already, but
unfortunately, most lenders says that is not enough. Any help would be
appreciated! Thanks."
CLICK TO READ REPLIES!
More topics...
Guest, qwerty, asks "I've had a Fleet Mastercard with a
9.9% fixed APR for about 4 years. On my last statement for some reason they hiked
it to 17.99% without explanation. I've read they have done this frequently to
other people. How is this legal? What recourse do I have aside from transferring
my balance? I'm going to file a complaint with the BBB at least. Any suggestions
for which card to transfer the balance to?"
Reply from guest, Rick "Please DO NOT use MBNA. Their record of questionable
business ethics is well documented. You would be better off with a loan shark!"
Reply from Senior Member, Ira "Did you do the basis, such as call customer
service and politely ask them why? Knowledge is strength and unless you know the
reason you haven't a leg to stand on when fighting something like this."
Guest, Annieoakley, asks "I paid my credit card (Chase)
off in July. I made no new chages. I forgot I had paid it off & sent them another
check for the balance ($6,300.) I have repeatedly asked them to refund the money &
they refuse to do it. They keep asking me who to make the check out to & where to
send it. They also told me it had been approved & the next time I called they said
the check was in the mail I called again a few days ago & they said they wanted to
know where to send it & what name to put on the check. I told them again that
either my husbands name or mine was fine & to send it to the same address where
they used to send the bill. I also got very angry & told them off. I really need
the money to pay my property taxes. What can I do to make them give it back?"
Senior Member, Verne, replies "What happened to the overpayment? Does it
show up on the Chase statement as a credit? You should be able to work this out
with them but it may take a few weeks. The law probably allows them to drag their
feet and do their "who me?" Alfred E. Neuman imitation. What continues to baffle
me is why Chase and other credit card companies are so anti-consumer, and so dense.
You sound like a good customer and they treat, even you, like crap. I've mixed it
up with Chase and found them to be the most profoundly, deeply stupid, sadly
retentive, slightly amusing, sitting-on-the-potty, worst excuse for a bank. After
three weeks you need to notify the bank regulator, FTC, state attorney general
and anyone who will listen. If Chase cashed the check what did they do with it?
The problem is that state or federal law may actually allow them to take their
time in getting this errant over-payment back to you. Having been through some
small claims disputes, getting back an overpayment may take months. But I want to
believe Chase isn't that stupid, like I want to believe the wizard will finally
give me a brain - or maybe, a brain stem - or anything that will enable me to
crawl out of this drainpipe and evolve into a higher form of credit life, to crawl,
and evolve, take huge risks like breathing without gills, and finally circle the
Chase Headquarters on my knees in complete submission and, yes, even gratitude."
Guest, Smart Investor, advises "Being of good credit and sound
mind, I most often allow the credit card issuers to pay ME to use their money.
Am I in a league of my own? First, I am considered a "convenience" customer by the
banks. This means I pay off balances monthly while taking advantage of whatever
offers come my way. The YOU PAY ME offer is as follows: Use your entire credit
limit in a no transaction fee, full grace period (treated as a purchase) balance
transfer check. The offer is not written this way, but it actually works this way.
Always read the fine print and call if you are not sure. If you have a $30,000
credit limit then you have up to 60 days (depending on cycle and date of the
balance transfer check cashing) to use the banks $30,000.00 for free. Putting it
into a guaranteed interest-bearing account allows you to earn money on their money.
When money market and no-penalty CDs were paying interest rates in the teens,
this was quite an offer from the credit card bank! It's hardly worth the effort
today, but the principle is valuable!"
Senior Member, Eugene, replies "What world do you live in, Smart Investor?
Can you let me in? Short term CDs did not pay interests "in the teens" since, like,
when? 80s? (Mostly because of high inflation, which is not pretty). I don't think
money market accounts even existed then. Grace perod balance transfer checks have
been gone for years as well, as far as I know. And grace period themselves are
mostly in 20 to 25 days territory, so good luck getting 60 day float. It's more
like 50 days maximum now even on purchases."
Senior Member, Ira, answers"Eugene, he DID say that it's hardly worth the
effort today. You have to read the whole thing (g)! Smart Investor, I've been
singing this song on this board for a few years now. I go one further, though. I
dote on zero interest, no transfer fee, intro balance transfer offers. In one case
I took a balance transfer of $9,500.00 against a $10,000 limit and immediately put
it in an account offering 2.2% (it's since gone 'way down!) for 9 months. I made
about $200.00 in interest. I have another offer which allowed me to put6 $17,000
in an interest bearing account for a year. Of course I never use these cards for
anything else, and since we're talking 0% finance charges, all I pay is the required
monthly minimum until the offer expires, at which time I will withdraw the
principal fro the interest bearing account and pay off the credit card.
Not too bad!"
Visit our active
MESSAGE BOARD!
Ask a question, give your opinions. Select questions answered by our board monitor.
Our board currently has over 11,500 posts (since May 2000) and new posts are added
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community.
Cardholder Reviews
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Recent Credit Card Reviews by Consumers
Like You!
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Following is a very small sample of the newest
cardholder reviews that can be found by clicking the "Consumer
Reviews" link above. We take pride in the quantity (our site
offers 11,500 + reviews of 700 different credit cards) and
quality of the consumer reviews that can be find on our site.
The cards are rated on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the
highest recommended.
Credit Card: Diners Club® Card
Provided by: Citibank
Total Posts: 22
Average Rating: 3.95
Category: Charge
Review: I started with
diners years ago and now of course have CarteBlanche -- there more exclusive
card and compariable to American Express Platinum. I have visas
and mastercharges -- all platinum and an amex platinum and nothing shines
more that dinersclub. The rewards program is a winner
(Freddie Awards for years in a row), their customer service is so professional
and personal that you would almost believe it is not a credit card customer
service department. Disputes? I had a large monetary dispute and they settled
it in no time and with apologies for my inconvenence. Yes you cant use this
card at Walmart as someone posted, but if diners keeps up the good work,
you are going to find this in more and more establishments in the future. Thank
you dinersclub. We are all proud of holding your card, and even prouder when
it is CarteBlanche. Cheers.
Best Feature: Two month cycle and great customer service
Worst Feature: Absolutely none
Overall Rating: 5
Benefit Rating: 5
Service Rating: 5
Recommend: Yes
Review: Diners Club is
perfect for the business traveler. Club Rewards is a great program, and the
60 day grace period is unbeatable from an expense reimbursement perspective.
They will even extend this grace period if you are not a frequent offender
and explain to them that you have not been reimbursed for a particular
expense
Best Feature: Club rewards; 60 day grace period; insurance coverages
Worst Feature: Acceptance
Overall Rating: 4.5
Benefit Rating: 4.5
Service Rating: 5
Recommend: Yes
Credit Card: WorldPerks® Visa® Classic Card
Provided by: U.S. Bank
Total Posts: 29
Average Rating: 2.66
Category: Reward - Airline
Review: I have been very pleased with my Northwest
WorldPerks Visa credit card. Of ALL the other credit cards I've had over the
years,(I have had them ALL!) my Northwest WorldPerks Visa has, by far, been
the most valuable! I use it to pay monthly bills, buy gas, pay for doctor's
visits, and at the grocery store, to accumulate as many air miles as
possible. I then use the air miles for free airline tickets with Northwest.
At no cost to me, I have flown family and friends, as well as myself, home
for the holidays, or for a weekend visit. My experience with customer service
has been excellent. They actually addressed me by my name and spoke to me as
if I was a valued customer instead of a burden to them. I love my Northwest
WorldPerks Visa credit card!
Best Feature: Free airline tickets and commendable customer service
Worst Feature: Nothing negative to report here
Overall Rating: 5
Benefit Rating: 5
Service Rating: 5
Recommend: Yes
Review: I recently tried to redeem my miles for a
airline ticket for Hawaii. Well forget it. I called one year out, and they
told me that I can not book the flight until 352 days out from the return
flight. So mid-way through the week, one year from the trip I called back to
see if I could book the flight, all of the outbound flights are booked even
though the return flights are not available. So long story short, my trip
dates are August 12-21 2004. I have a trip booked with the outbound flight
may 20, 2004, and the return flight is okay. Now I have to call back at 331
days out and try to book the outbound flight with their partner Delta and
pay a $50 change fee for each ticket. Royal pain the the butt. I am cancelling
this card and getting a different card. $55 annual fee, high interest.
Customer service is bad, I used to work for USBank.
Best Feature: NONE
Worst Feature: WORLD PERKS MILES REWARD FEATURE
Overall Rating: 1
Benefit Rating: 1
Service Rating: 1
Recommend: No
Credit Card: Discover® Gold Card
Provided by: Morgan Stanley
Total Posts: 22
Average Rating: 2.70
Category: Reward - Cash
Review: My husband and I try to use our Discover
Card exclusively. We put just about everything on it. We really like that we
can double our rewards at places like Borders Books, The Olive Garden
(via their Red Lobster reward card), and Blockbuster. Say, if we have a $20
check due to us, we can choose to double it for $40 gift cards instead. We
consider this our "fun" money and love going out to dinner and buying books,
while not paying a single dime! We do pay our balances off every month.
Their customer service is good, and their web site is great. I would highly
recommend this card to anyone who pays their balances in full every month
and likes places such as Borders, etc.
Best Feature: Rewards can be doubled at certain retailers
Worst Feature: Not accepted by all merchants
Overall Rating: 5
Benefit Rating: 5
Service Rating: 4
Recommend: Yes
Review: If you missed even a day late, it will
deactivate your charging privilages. Even spoke to the manager about the 13
dollar balance and my situation that I rarely use the card except just
recently because of a special deal which resulted in that small balance.
She would not even consider anything. Just tells you that doing business
with Discover, THEY TREAT YOU BY THE NUMBER AND THERE IS NO RELATIONSHIP NOR
LOOKING AT YOUR PROFILE TO STRAIGHTEN THE MATTER. After being 10 year using
the card, I glad cancelled my account.
Best Feature: Cash rebates
Worst Feature: Poor service
Overall Rating: 2
Benefit Rating: 3
Service Rating: 1.5
Recommend: No
The Cardholder Review section is a unique feature of our
site and, to the best of our knowledge, there is no other
organization or company that offers more consumer reviews of
credit cards. It's all about consumers helping other
consumers. As your might expect, this section of our site has
been one of the most popular sections of our site since it was
introduced in the summer of 2000. New reviews are posted on a
daily basis! We hope that you will find this section of our
site useful and that you will visit it on a regular basis.
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