Ask The Expert Categories

Authors

Curtis Arnold
Curtis Arnold, Editor-in-Chief
Joe Taylor
Joe Taylor Jr., Reporter
Amber Stubbs
Amber Stubbs, Managing Editor

Ask the Experts Q&A

Add Captcha
Enter the text shown above:
Highest Rated | Most Recent

  • Q: Can my son get a student card since he's going back to school?
    Average Rating
    Answer By Joe Taylor Jr. : Question: My son needs a credit card as he is going back to school after working for a couple of years. He currently carries one of my cards and is very careful to pay me in full each month for any purchases he makes. I don't think he's eligible for a student card, so how [...]  Read More
    Comments | 
    This question is about:  Student Credit / Debt 
       

  • Q: Can you explain the difference between chip-and-pin and chip-and-signature?
    Average Rating
    Answer By Joe Taylor Jr. : If you've traveled to Europe anytime in the past few years, you've probably encountered a challenge when trying to use your plain, old, American credit card. For decades, we've relied on simple magnetic strips to carry secure account information. However, criminals have figured out easy ways to steal that data, just by swiping your card [...]  Read More
    Comments | 
    This question is about:  Miscellaneous 
       

  • Q: Are there any credit cards available with a fixed rate?
    Average Rating
    Answer By Joe Taylor Jr. : Strict disclosure rules and a fear of rising interest rates have radically reduced the number of fixed rate credit cards on the market. A scan of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's credit card agreement database shows that only about 17 percent of active offers include the phrase "fixed rate." Many of those agreements refer to [...]  Read More
    Comments | 
    This question is about:  Credit Card Rates / Fees 
       

  • Q: Can I apply for a credit card if I only make minimum wage?
    Average Rating
    Answer By Joe Taylor Jr. : Yes. The fact that you've got a job as a reliable source of income will help your credit card application, even if you're only making minimum wage. However, you're not likely to get an account with a huge line of credit until you can show you're capable of paying down your balance in an emergency. As [...]  Read More
    Comments | 
    This question is about:  Build / Rebuild Credit 
       

  • Q: Can you explain what the prime interest rate is and how it affects my credit cards?
    Average Rating
    Answer By Joe Taylor Jr. : When you hear journalists or credit card companies talk about the "prime rate," they're talking about the annual percentage rate that banks charge their very best customers when they need to borrow money. Those banks' very best customers aren't consumers like you or me, though. They're other banks. Don't worry, though. Your bank's not trying to [...]  Read More
    Comments | 
    This question is about:  Credit Card Rates / Fees 
       

  • Q: I'm 17. Can I get a credit card?
    Average Rating
    Answer By Joe Taylor Jr. : Yes, but you'll need a little help. When lawmakers wrote the Credit CARD Act in response to the 2008 financial crisis, they pushed through changes designed to protect young Americans from making mistakes with money. Under federal banking regulations, banks can only accept credit card applications from Americans below the age of 21 in a [...]  Read More
    Comments | 
    This question is about:  Student Credit / Debt 
       

  • Q: Can you tell me what the best card on the market is right now?
    Average Rating
    Answer By Joe Taylor : Our CardRatings.com research team keeps a list of the very best credit card deals on the market at any given moment. However, even if you look at that list, you might just bounce back here and ask, "No, really, which one's the best?" The answer's different for everyone, based on your financial history, your personal [...]  Read More
    Comments | 
    This question is about:  Best Credit Card Offers 
       

  • Q: What's the best reward card for a Disney fan?
    Average Rating
    Answer By Joe Taylor Jr. : You've got a few good options if you enjoy frequent trips to the Magic Kingdom and other Disney destinations. Chase offers a pair of travel rewards cards tailored for Disney fans: Disney Rewards Visa Card. This no annual fee rewards card earns a 1 percent rebate on your everyday transactions, redeemable toward purchases at Disney Resorts, [...]  Read More
    Comments | 
    This question is about:  Chase Credit Cards