Post subject: Finding A Good VISA Card Guest: CreditCardGuru Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 10:22 pm
I'm looking for another VISA card that is fairly decent. One from a decent bank.....if you know if a good place other than Chase, Bank One, Capital One, or Bank of America, please post it.....I already have cards through those banks and do NOT want another account there.....I really wish Citi had a VISA that wasn't student. I just had a really bad experience with a MasterCard fraud claim in the past, so I try to stick with VISA now. I'm the Credit Card Guru, YOU BET
Guest: Board Monitor Post subject: Finding A Good VISA Card Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 8:29 am
Hmmm...have you checked our "Card Reports" section:
http://www.cardratings.com/formfr.html
Let us what you find! Best Regards, Curtis Arnold Board Monitor http://www.cardratings.com (501) 663-0314
Guest: CreditCardGuru Post subject: Finding A Good VISA Card Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 7:55 pm
Yes, but I've noticed when it comes to consumer reports people are more likely to complain than to praise something, that is why I am asking for personal recommendations from people on the board. I'm the Credit Card Guru, YOU BET
Guest: Board Monitor Post subject: Finding A Good VISA Card Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 9:39 am
The link I gave you is actually to our staff reviews...not our consumer reviews. Best Regards, Curtis Arnold Board Monitor http://www.cardratings.com (501) 663-0314
Guest: CreditCardGuru Post subject: Finding A Good VISA Card Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 2:23 pm
Oh, okay. That would probably be much better coming from people who know credit instead of those people who assume things and end up finding out they screwed up. But it would be nice to have people just list some cards.....I wish I could get the Compass card but that is out of the question as they don't market in North Carolina.
Also I want straight-up offers.....not those cards that go through MBNA...Indivualized Card Services.....seems MBNA wants to deny me anyways, but I would really like their card. I'm newer to credit as I'm young and having the couple cards I have makes it hard somewhat versus just having the one I used to because they see "new accounts", but I would like to balance transfer if I get a huge limit. I'm good with my credit too, six months after my first card I was getting offers...LOL. Acutally me and a friend are in a credit score competition and I hate to be the loser! I'm the Credit Card Guru, YOU BET
Guest: Daniel Post subject: Finding A Good VISA Card Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 5:57 pm
Well I have about 25 of them… lol
Citis Drivers edge card is offering 0% for 12 months with a plethora of others. I have several Citi accounts and they have been nothing but professional.
If you have a young credit file without other high limits accounts then perhaps a credit union might be a better choice for a larger limit.
Didn’t you mention that you research credit cards for your customers at Bank of America? Perhaps that in branch reward card you brought up in another post might give a larger limit because you’re an employee and offer rewards as well.
All depends on your goals
Good Luck
Guest: CreditCardGuru Post subject: Finding A Good VISA Card Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 7:13 pm
B of A won't give to me for "too many recent accounts" as I just started building my credit recently after the ID theft problem and in that crap I lost my old co-signed card I had on report which was GOOD and that would've helped sicne I had that at 16 and now I am almost 20. I don't want any MasterCards...I had trouble with a MC fraud claim before so I stick with VISA. I have a BofA card anyways, a student card since I was going part-time to a technical school....alongside that I have a Capital One GO Miles card, Chase Platinum, and Bank One Amazon Platinum card. The highest limit I have it 4,000, but I really went to get one with a decent limit, more than 1,000 and ALSO have a good APR....the Chase has a crappy APR as I got it on the verge of new credit.....if there was a way to get that account closed or whatever and apply again for another one and get it I would like that......but I am having trouble for the new accounts thing and also credit history not established for a long enough time frame. MBNA would be nice, but they are hard to get with, so alongside the companies I already deal with and MBNA minus Citi I would like opinions on other cards besides those....and as for Citi I think they don't want to give me a card since the person who did ID Theft on me had a Sears MasterCard in my name issued through them or if they did they would want too much information, which I don't like just handing all my personal information
Post subject: Balance Transfer Credit Card Rates Guest: credithelp Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 7:26 am
They gave me a good balance transfer rate so i took advantage of it. Then they raised the rate from the fixed balance transfer rate to the regular variable rate. The only changes in my reports were positive ones and two of my scores are in the 700's.
Do they normally do that? I'm calling them today to see what is going on but was wondering about it.
Guest: Polonius Credit Expert (100+ Posts) Post subject: Bank Of America Credit Card Rates Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 9:05 am
Most banks have temporary promotional rates; when they expire, the rates go to the regular rate. For example, I'm looking at a balance transfer offer from GM Card for 1.9% for 9 billing cycles and then the regular rate; and an offer for 4.99% until the transfer is paid off in full.
Rates on new transactions can change at any time. But if you're paying as agreed, you should NOT see a change in the rate for your existing balance transfer...unless it's a promotional offer with a time limit and that time is up.
Guest: Board Monitor Post subject: Bank Of America Credit Card Rates Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 10:20 am
Are you sure the promotional period didn't end? Let us know what you find out...
Guest: credithelp Post subject: Bank Of America Credit Card Rates Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 1:02 pm
I called them and asked about it. It wasnt supposed to change and was a mistake. Its supposed to be fixed now so i will find out when the next statement comes out to make sure.
Guest: credithelp Post subject: Bank Of America Credit Card Rates Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 1:15 pm
It's the usair card. Usair is having money problems so they may have to switch me to another card eventually.
I should add, even with the interest rate slip up boa has been great to deal with. I made a payment at a boa branch location around 4pm and it posted to my account that night around 9:30 which was faster than i expected.
Guest: credithelp Post subject: Bank Of America Credit Card Rates Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 8:32 am
I checked my online account this morning. They credited the interest charges back that i lost due to the interest rate hike. I still have the low rate for a few more months. They even gave me a 500 credit limit increase.
Post subject: How Hotels Use Your Credit Card Guest: rain Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 12:53 am
I know there're lots of experts here =)
My question is this. You know how hotels or similar businesses require you to guarantee your reservations with a cc? Or for those "2 weeks free" trial offer, where you can sign up for 2 weeks and be charged nothing? All require a valid cc number.
I'm just trying to figure out if there's a free software or method to do this. Does anyone know?
Guest: Ira SENIOR MEMBER (Member for 2 yrs.+) Post subject: How Hotels Use Your Credit Card Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 6:53 am
To do what? I'm not sure I understand what you're asking.
For instance, do you want to keep track of the offers you responded to? Are you looking for something that will automatically unsubscribe you before the end of the offer? Plenty of packages that will do the first, but I don't know of any that will do the second.
Guest: rain Post subject: How Hotels Use Your Credit Card Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 2:35 pm
Sorry I wasn't specific enough. What I'm trying to do is this:
Look at it from a business perspective, not as a consumer. As a business, I want to track users by their CC, since that seems to be boiling down to a worldwide ID of some sort now. Hotels seem to do it--they require users to have a CC to reserve a room, even if paying by other methods. So, can I do this too?
If I knew how hotels do it (ie, require users to have a valid cc), or how sites that offer those free 2 week trial, but enter valid CC number first do it, it may be possible to work out how to use the same system for the online biz I'm in. (internet games)
We need to track users when they register for IDs, and the interesting thing really is that cc are becoming more and more like a global ID.....(that's my theory)
Guest: Polonius Credit Expert (100+ Posts) Post subject: How Hotels Use Your Credit Card Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 6:37 pm
When you make a hotel reservation, the hotel enters a transaction to withhold $X from your credit card--so if you don't show up the hotel gets paid anyway. The hotel simply withholds the money (it's deducted from your credit availability); it isn't actually transferred to the hotel's bank until you sign-out at the end of your stay.
The online places that offer "free" trials want the credit card number at the outset so they can bill your account automatically when the free period expires. Most people forget to cancel.
Any merchant can ask anyone for a credit card number at any time. But I don't believe doing that will serve your purpose. If the online gaming is free, people are going to be very reluctant to provide you with credit info. Wny not just ask for a street address and/or phone number--and send a confirmation of some sort by regular mail to make sure the info is legitimate, a confirmation containing a code that has to be put in online to activate the account?
Guest: rain Post subject: How Hotels Use Your Credit Card Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 7:45 pm
Hmm thanks, I didn't know hotels withhold the money first. I need a method to verify ID in a relatively fast and very cheap manner. By the way if anyone here plays bridge come to our site, the best site in the world =) But I digress.
We have users all over the world. Mail would be expensive and slow. Also, because its international, there is no standardised identity in all the world. Even in USA, people use drivers license or state ID, and both are not required! You don't have a standardised ID like most of us foreigners ;--)
CC on the other hand, is becoming truly global. All visa/mc/amex are standardised and unique. We can easily track people by CC number then. Even if someone likes having a lot of IDs for variety, we won't stop him, but he's limited by his number of CC. This just sounds like a great solution to me, if only there is a way we can legally track CC number in a safe manner.
Ideas welcome!
Guest: Polonius Credit Expert (100+ Posts) Post subject: How Hotels Use Your Credit Card Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 8:59 am
I agree that verifying by regular mail is slow and cumbersome. I agree that verifying by credit card is easy. But, once again, I don't think people are going to be putting out their credit card numbers as identification for a free service. People are very suspicious of firms asking for credit card information when there's no purchase involved.
I've sold hundreds of things on eBay and I found people were just about paranoid about emailing me credit card info or entering it on a Web form.
Most BBs send email verifications--you sign up, state your email address, and have to respond to an email sent to that address before you're allowed in. Sometimes free addresses (like hotmail.com) aren't allowed. That's one approach. I think that anything really secure would be very slow or intrusive--people like to be anonymous on the Internet. Of course, I really AM named Polonius, so I'm an exception.
Post subject: Credit Card FeesGuest: CreditCardGuru Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 7:02 pm
My brother has a Capital One card, and so far we both like them, but he went into the hospital and was obviously unable to pay his account so he was charged late and over the limit fees as well as it is now reporting deliquent....what would be the best thing for him to do and would they need a copy of his discharge papers or not?! I'm the Credit Card Guru, YOU BET
Guest: Polonius Credit Expert (100+ Posts) Post subject: Unable to Pay Credit Card Fees Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 8:42 pm
Best thing is for him to call Cap1 and explain, sweetly, that he was hospitalized and regrettably unable to handle his financial responsibilities for a while. Ask for removal of the late and return of the card to the prior interest rate.
BTW, what did being hospitalized have to do with him go over limit on the card?
Guest: rain Post subject: Unable to Pay Credit Card Fees Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 9:19 pm
Didn't you say your cousin works for cap1? Maybe with insider help its easier? He'll know the right departments to contact...
Guest: CreditCardGuru Post subject: Unable to Pay Credit Card Fees Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 2:47 am
My cousin couldn't help he works in marketing and only thing he told us to do was write a letter because some of the customer reps are morons.....because he did in fact try to call them. He went over the limit because of the two late fees. He was in the hospital for a while his epilepsy was the problem I believe. He wrote a prevous letter but they wrote back saying there was no credit reporting problem, so apparently he wrote the letter like a moron, typical for him, LOL. I just don't know what I should urge him to put in the letter to make them have a guilt trip or something! I'm the Credit Card Guru, YOU BET
Guest: George Wright Post subject: Unable to Pay Credit Card Fees Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 10:27 am
If you are having problems with the credit card debt then please go to creditvictimsrelief.com. This website gives anyone all the information they will need to help with their credit card problems. If you are wanting links to other programs of financial concern then go to wwassociates.ws
[Edited by Board Monitor 5/23/05] _________________ This website gives links to topics of finanancial concern, from credit card information, stopping home foreclosures, and financial opportunities.
Guest: Board Monitor Post subject: Unable to Pay Credit Card Fees Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 12:27 pm
What I recommend is for your brother to get the account caught back up current, and pay on time say 6 months, then ask Capital One to forgive the lates, or re-age the account removing any late listings resulting from this. And also periodically call every 6 months for interest rate reduction, and since he went over the credit limit, ask later down the line for a credit limit increase to cover up the over the limit reporting. Best Regards, Pammila Phillis Board Monitor http://www.cardratings.com 501-663-0314 PH
Post subject: Credit Card Interest Rate Calculation Guest: Fehercica Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 9:03 pm
Just received a Notice of Change in Terms from AT&T Universal card about they use of the London Interbank Offered Rate.Is this leagal to use a rate in the USA which is known as Eurodollars trade between banks in London? At the present rate this would increase my 13.99 to 15.99% They do give a chance to opt out from this new deal. Any suggestion?
It's legal to peg the rate to just about anything. You have the right to keep the current terms--and stop using the card for new purchases from now on.
Try for a better rate elsewhere. I don't know anything about your debt, income, or past credit history--but even without the increase that card was pretty high-priced already.
Guest: mouse SENIOR MEMBER (Member for 2 yrs.+) Post subject: Credit Card Interest Rate Calculation Change Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 10:29 pm
I refuse to pay anything over 9.99%
In the past few years I have lowered that maximum to 5.90%
So I wouldn't care if it is 13.99% or 15.99% cause I wouldn't pay either!!!
I'm working real hard on my 4.90% (almost gone)
Next in line is 2.90%
...AND LIBOR IS LEGAL
Guest: Daniel Post subject: Credit Card Interest Rate Calculation Change Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 6:19 pm
Yeah seems there is a trend for credit cards to switch to LIBOR. Historically it moves quicker than the prime rate which is good when rates are falling but of course they are rising at this time making it attractive for the banks to use it.
I do believe that targeted offers will continue at lower than market rates.
The savvy consumer will make sure their credit card portfolio contains enough accounts from the prime banks to take advantage of these offers.
I also believe one should call every once in awhile to see what offers are available.
Guest: rain Post subject: Credit Card Interest Rate Calculation Change Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 7:12 pm
There is an increasing trend to use libor. It is perfectly legal because its just a rate. The name starts with "london" but it doesn't mean its a london rate, heh.
Libor tends to be slightly higher than prime. Banks borrow money from each other at this rate, that's why they're trying to justify using it. Obviously its just a method to increase profits.
Guest: hdporter Post subject: Credit Card Interest Rate Calculation Change Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 2:32 pm
Daniel's on target in noting that the appeal of a LIBOR based index to banks is that the rate is more sensitive to changes in credit markets. When it's anticipated that rates will increase, LIBOR is one of the first rates to do so.
This is because it fluctuates more freely according to market expectations that the Prime Rate does. The Prime Rate (the predominant market rate charged by banks to their strongest customers), generally responds only to actions by the Federal Reserve (i.e. banks adjust their Prime Rate only after the Fed adjusts the rate charged on transactions with the Fed. Rsv. Bank - "tightens"/"loosens" credit policy)
Consequently, a credit card rate indexed on LIBOR will increase sooner during periods of credit tightening than those indexed on Prime. That's clearly in a bank's favor. The converse isn't true though. While LIBOR will also adjust downward sooner than the Prime, credit card agreements typically stipulate that LIBOR based rates use the highest LIBOR rate in the past 90 days. Thus, the effect of a decline in the LIBOR rate is delayed by 3 months. In most cases, a rate based on Prime will decline sooner than one based on LIBOR.
By the way, LIBOR rates (charged on loans between banks) are generally lower than Prime (charged on unsecured loans between banks and their most credit worthy customers). But this has no impact on which is more favorable as a credit card index. Banks will apply a margin in either case that brings the effective rate to that which the bank deems appropriate for their product. In absence of rate fluctuations, a bank can be expected to target the same rate under either index.
Post subject: How to Raise Credit Card Limit Guest: creditbuilder Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 5:09 pm
I want to do a bt to my capital one credit card to raise my credit limit, but I need to charge up about $800 quick. I don't want to buy anything. I'm looking for a way to charge it up get cash, and then pay it off after I do the bt. Any ideas?
Guest: daveberk Post subject: Running Up A Credit Card Balance Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 5:32 pm
Buy a big ticket item in time to post to your next statement and then return it after the statement closes.
Better yet, get rid of your capital one card so you don't have to do this just to maintain a decent credit rating.
Guest: CreditCardGuru Post subject: Running Up A Credit Card Balance Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 7:19 pm
If you really want to get cash, it's this easy, get 2 PayPal accounts, with the first one just send the money to the other one, with the second put your bank account on it so you can transfer the money to your bank, an easy way to get a cash advance without being charged those fees. Also if you have a PayPal account with a debit card that helps as you can get the money from the ATM in 2 days (400 limit per day) or you can just use the card at stores.
Secondly, you don't have to run up a credit card bill with ANY credit card company to maintain good ratings, but credit scoring works much like a matrix, you have to meet certain criteria to get a certain score. I have no problem with my Capital One Go Miles account, the problem is that they market towards people with a history of bad credit, which isn't a good idea because those people don't understand how credit works and at most giving them another chance won't change most of them. If you have developed bad spending skills at a young age it will haunt you for the rest of your life. Such as in Asian countries they teach their children at school about financial planning and budgeting, a good concept we should take on instead of having all these bullcrap classes in high school. A required class on financial skills would be great. Telling a charge-a-holic not to run up their credit card bill is like telling an alcoholic not to pick up a bottle of liquor. I grew up around relatives with bad credit habits and made the decision that I would be wise with mine as I know how credit basically effects your everyday life. I'm not saying that you can't develop good spending habits once you have developed bad ones, it is just a lot harder. I think if we taught kids in school financial skills it would not only help them out later in their life but help out our country and perhaps make it so companies didn't have to use outsourcing due to budgeting problems. I'm the Credit Card Guru, YOU BET
Guest: creditbuilder Post subject: Running Up A Credit Card Balance Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 8:15 pm
Closing my cap. one account is the idea. I got an offer from them to increase my credit limit with a bt. Right now my limit is only 200 so it shows on my credit report as highest balance 100 and something. I figured it would be better to get that figure up closer to 2000 before I close it so it will look better on my report.
Guest: legitimate user Post subject: Running Up A Credit Card Balance Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 10:51 pm
CreditCardGuru wrote: If you really want to get cash, it's this easy, get 2 PayPal accounts, with the first one just send the money to the other one, with the second put your bank account on it so you can transfer the money to your bank, an easy way to get a cash advance without being charged those fees. Also if you have a PayPal account with a debit card that helps as you can get the money from the ATM in 2 days (400 limit per day) or you can just use the card at stores.
Damn, I can't believe I hadn't thought of a nice little trick like that. Good call.
Guest: rain Post subject: Running Up A Credit Card Balance Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 11:10 pm
I haven't even checked yet, but I'm sure there are fees for using paypal, else everyone will be arbitraging! Check before you try...
Guest: Polonius Credit Expert (100+ Posts) Post subject: Running Up A Credit Card Balance Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 11:28 pm
You can't receive credit card payments on a PayPal personal account. On its premier/business accounts, there's a fee of 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction unless your volume exceeds $3,000 per month.
This method doesn't work. Period.
Guest: Shawnee Post subject: Running Up A Credit Card Balance Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 8:17 am
Polonius is absolutely correct. In addition, using PayPal as a method to skirt credit card cash advance fees and rates is specifically prohibited in their terms of service.
Guest: Ira SENIOR MEMBER (Member for 2 yrs.+) Post subject: Running Up A Credit Card Balance Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:43 am
Quote: people don't understand how credit works and at most giving them another chance won't change most of them. If you have developed bad spending skills at a young age it will haunt you for the rest of your life. Such as in Asian countries they teach their children at school about financial planning and budgeting, a good concept we should take on instead of having all these bullcrap classes in high school. A required class on financial skills would be great. Telling a charge-a-holic not to run up their credit card bill is like telling an alcoholic not to pick up a bottle of liquor. I grew up around relatives with bad credit habits and made the decision that I would be wise with mine as I know how credit basically effects your everyday life. I'm not saying that you can't develop good spending habits once you have developed bad ones, it is just a lot harder. I think if we taught kids in school financial skills it would not only help them out later in their life but help out our country and perhaps make it so companies didn't have to use outsourcing due to budgeting problems.
Kudos! CCG, other than your final comment about outsourcing which I believe to be an unjustified conclusion, that might be the best advice you've ever posted here. It's what I've been saying for years. Educate people on how to manage their money almost before you do anything else. Even grade school kids should be given a minimum amount money for school expenses, such as books, pencils and lunch. If they spend too much on ice cream and games and run out of money and can't afford lunch by Thursday, tough. It's how you learn to budget.
Ok, I know that's not going to happen, it's just an example of what money management at an early age could do. I know that Curtis is also a huge advocate of money matters education. He has spoken many times at local schools. We should all get involved in this sort of thing and try in our own small way to make the world a better place.
Emerge Mastercard Cardholders and Consumer inquiries E-Mail:cardholderservices@emergecard.com or call toll free: 1-866-705-3603
They also say they are Aspirecard
CompuCredit Corporation
Web Address: http://www.compucredit.com
Aspire Visa Cardholders and Consumer inquiries E-Mail:customerservice@aspirecard.com or call toll free: 1-800-348-8783
The holding/issuing bank is: Columbus Bank and Trust in Columbus Georgia.
Web address: http://www.columbusbankandtrust.com
Want to join the Class action suit.....anyone know where?
Guest: marlboro Post subject: Problems With Emerge Credit Cards Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 11:57
they don't have to reduce your rates.
Guest: brittany Post subject: Problems With Emerge Credit Cards Posted: Fri May 14, 2004 1:06 pm
anyone with this card, a word of warning, check and double check all information and make sure you get a confirmation number and possibly talk to a supervisor any time you do a transaction with them, they are shady!! stay away from this company!!!
Guest: marlboro Post subject: Problems With Emerge Credit Cards Posted: Sat May 15, 2004 1:53 am
here's the deal, emerge doesn't issue cards, that is the brand name used for acquired accounts. so there is no need to stay away from them, because you can't get an emerge card.
brittany: i would suggest that you always get a confirmation number anytime you do a transaction with a credit card company as far as payments go, that would be common knowledge just like you keep track of al the checks you write to all your other bills. speaking to a supervisor would be a waste of time for you and them, and to come the point of irrationality. could you explain how they are shady so that the rest of the group could understand what you mean?
Guest: mtibab2 Post subject: Problems With Emerge Credit Cards Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2005 2:18 pm
As one who pays off their credit card each month and hasn't had any problems with either of the two previous companies that have owned my account I have to tell you that if you post in support of Emergecard you apparently haven't dealt with Emergecard from a consumer's perspective. To assume that anyone having difficulty with Emergecard is a credit deadbeat is more that a little arrogant. I truly hope you never have to deal with incredibly intentionally poor customer service that I experienced with this company.
