Category: Credit Economy

Imagine for a second that your credit card is gone from your wallet. Without any indication of where it could be, you immediately become terrified – is someone right now… READ FULL ARTICLE

There are dozens of tax deductions you might be eligible for, even if you don’t qualify for business-related deductions.  So it’s easy to overlook some that could save you hundreds… READ FULL ARTICLE

Part two of our extensive look at the positive and negative effects of the Credit Card Act of 2009.  You can find part one of this piece HERE.
Protecting the… READ FULL ARTICLE

The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 represents what is arguably the biggest attempt in history to overhaul credit card industry regulations.
President Obama signed the… READ FULL ARTICLE

Do you buy online? Have you taken to making more purchases online than you used to? According to some surveys, Americans are back to buying and many of them are… READ FULL ARTICLE

What did theCARDAct do for you? This legislation was put into place with the goal of protecting consumers and slicing into the fees and abuses the government believes some credit… READ FULL ARTICLE

Who do you hand your credit card number to each day? If you are one of the many that use your credit card to buy airline tickets, you may feel… READ FULL ARTICLE

Do you use apps on your iPhone or your Android phone? Smartphones really have changed the way that contacting and staying in touch with others happens, but they are also… READ FULL ARTICLE

Do you have high credit card debt? Many Americans are struggling with this as a result of a job loss or poor financial management skills. In 2009, Forbes.com ranked some… READ FULL ARTICLE

Have you ever found yourself in a disagreement with your credit card company? Perhaps the charges were not accurate or you felt that the terms were not clear. When this… READ FULL ARTICLE

How did you learn to balance a checkbook or to make wise personal finance decisions? If you are like many middle aged Americans today, it was all about trial and… READ FULL ARTICLE

What would you do to boost your credit score or to actually get out of debt? For some of us, getting out of debt would be a saving grace. According… READ FULL ARTICLE

Are you ready for the next technological breakthrough in the credit card industry? New technology could help you to use your credit card safer and faster without actually having to… READ FULL ARTICLE

Authorities and high-tech communications experts warn that because the smart phone revolution is so fresh and new it also represents a completely green pasture for those who are in the… READ FULL ARTICLE

Elizabeth Warren, special White House adviser heading up the establishment of the new Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, said recently that statistics regarding American debt and credit validate that recent… READ FULL ARTICLE

New tracking technologies have taken the concept of “cookies that record and maintain a history of your Internet browsing activity to a whole new level of targeted commerce. Some would… READ FULL ARTICLE

PayPal, the world's biggest online payment processing system, recently bought the high-tech mobile credit card payment company Fig Card. The Boston-based Fig Card start-up firm specializes in replacing traditional credit… READ FULL ARTICLE

A study conducted by a trio of leading economists found out an interesting fact about cash back rewards credit cards. According to a Wall Street Journal article about the research,… READ FULL ARTICLE

In an ongoing effort to increase controls on credit card companies who use tricky gimmicks to trap consumers with debt, the government wants to tighten rules regarding introductory interest rate… READ FULL ARTICLE

According to Fitch’s Credit Card Index, delinquency rates by those who have credit cards have improved substantially, and they are now at the lowest level since the credit crisis hit… READ FULL ARTICLE

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is the professional trade association for the majority of real estate agents and brokers, and as such the organization has tremendous influence. Now the… READ FULL ARTICLE

Based on analysis done by the Pageonce financial services company, people who use an iPhone also use their credit cards significantly more than consumers who instead use an Android, Blackberry,… READ FULL ARTICLE

According to analysis conducted by the financial research firm, DataMonitor, consumers have gradually shifted their borrowing styles and depend less on traditional personal loans like those from banks or credit… READ FULL ARTICLE

If you’re not making enough money to pay your bills, eliminate your debt, and live comfortably, perhaps you have the wrong kind of job (assuming you have a job).
Many… READ FULL ARTICLE

When a person dies, or becomes incompetent or incapacitated, a trusted relative, friend or attorney should be prepared to step in and take over their financial affairs, if authorized to… READ FULL ARTICLE

While our website focuses on providing consumers and business owners with their credit card options, we are often asked how someone can begin accepting credit cards online for their business.… READ FULL ARTICLE

Recently a huge arrangement involving selling of names and addresses of students and former students to credit card companies – in exchange for big financial kickbacks – came to light.… READ FULL ARTICLE

In this day and age of sophisticated telecommunications, online media, and almost constant video surveillance, most consumers are concerned about infringements upon their right to privacy. But now there is… READ FULL ARTICLE

Although it is does not have the population centers and metropolitan cities of other more prominent states, the rather rural and down-to-earth state of Vermont often leads the way when… READ FULL ARTICLE

Nations that are ahead of the technological curve in terms of credit card security systems are rapidly adopting an innovative type of card-reading device known as “chip and pin technology.… READ FULL ARTICLE

If you are like most credit card owners who frequently reach for your plastic when paying for purchases, you have probably been asked – at least from time to time… READ FULL ARTICLE

As credit from banks and other lenders begins to loosen up a little bit compared to the credit drought of recent years, credit card companies are busy rolling out new… READ FULL ARTICLE

As the real estate market gets back into full swing this spring, many homeowners – both those trying to sell a home and those buying and wanting to improve the… READ FULL ARTICLE

Every responsible consumer wants to contribute to efforts to conserve energy and natural resources and help make the planet a greener place to live for all of us. But knowing… READ FULL ARTICLE

More homeowners want to live in green homes, and there are many government financial incentives to help them “go green with affordable home improvement loans. These loans promote energy efficiency… READ FULL ARTICLE

College tuition continues to rise sharply even as students and their parents have less money to spend on tuition payments because of the recession and lackluster job market. Meanwhile scholarships… READ FULL ARTICLE

Mortgage loan modification is the process of intentionally reworking the original terms of a mortgage loan to make it easier for the homeowner to manage it, make payments on time,… READ FULL ARTICLE

Banks and other lenders have been doing lots of foot dragging since the beginning of the foreclosure crisis. But now they are being more aggressively urged by government regulators to… READ FULL ARTICLE

Although end of the year shopping and last minute sales usually inspires most Americans to rely on their credit cards and put their purchases on plastic, the end of 2009… READ FULL ARTICLE

The Federal Reserve recently imposed a new rule that prohibits banks from automatically enrolling customers in overdraft protection programs, because those programs typically charge high fees when consumers spend more… READ FULL ARTICLE

Home equity is a great asset, and gaining access to it through a home equity loan can be also be a wonderful financial resource. But when using home equity always… READ FULL ARTICLE

Perhaps you know someone who is really expert at staying out of debt and who avoids using credit in any way, shape or form. Maybe you're even one of those… READ FULL ARTICLE

Plenty of financial wizards and real estate gurus offer systems to help homeowners pay off their mortgages early – but you should be skeptical of any strategies that involve paying… READ FULL ARTICLE

While it is always a good idea to shop around for the best possible interest rates and terms when you're in the market for a loan, it can also be… READ FULL ARTICLE

If your home or other real estate property is about to be foreclosed, but you haven't done anything about it, you can't just sit there, do nothing, and wait for… READ FULL ARTICLE

According to Spencer Sherman, wealth advisor and author of the new book, The Cure for Money Madness, many of the messages or slogans about money we received long ago (or… READ FULL ARTICLE

Throughout recorded history, words of wisdom from successful people (and others) have helped improve the livesand financesof those who were inspired and then took appropriate action. Here are a few… READ FULL ARTICLE

The lead article in the Money section of USA Today this week announced the results of a survey by Sallie Mae, a college-financing company with no relation to the U.S.… READ FULL ARTICLE

As more and more people fall behind on paying their billsdue to job loss or other problemsbill collectors (a/k/a debt collectors) are busier than ever.
If any of them are… READ FULL ARTICLE

Millions of peopleincluding many who recently lost their job and can't get anotheroperate a home-based business, part time, full time, or just some of the time. And, assuming they declare… READ FULL ARTICLE

If You Had a Million Dollars… is a slim, recently-published book by Evelyn McFarlane and James Saywell that poses 342 questions pertaining to how you think about money.
It does… READ FULL ARTICLE

One of the most famous headlines in the history of mail order advertising is:
Are you too busy earning a living to make any money?
It was the headline of… READ FULL ARTICLE

1. Chances are, you're not rich enough to have “invested any money directly with Bernie Madoff in 2008. (However, if you had money in a mutual fund or pension fund,… READ FULL ARTICLE

The other day, a Los Angeles woman was proclaimed, by Guinness World Records, “the oldest person in the world on her 115th birthday. She attributed her longevity to not smoking,… READ FULL ARTICLE

Here's a potential tax credit you may have overlooked for 2008 or 2009: the lifetime learning credit. If you qualify, it's better than a tax deduction for business-related education expenses,… READ FULL ARTICLE

Look up Hobson's choice in the dictionary, and you'll find something like this: “The choice of taking either that which is offered or nothing; the absence of a real alternative.… READ FULL ARTICLE

Car manufacturers (and others offering large-ticket items) are now offering deals so attractive, how can you resist them? However, before you sign up for anything, do look the gift horse… READ FULL ARTICLE

If you work for somebody else, you're living dangerously. As millions now know from personal experience, you could be fired, let go, layed off or otherwise stripped of your employment… READ FULL ARTICLE

Are you a veteran? Would you like to buy a home?
If so, don't overlook or ignore the VA Home Loan Program, which can help you get a home loan… READ FULL ARTICLE

The odds of your winning a state lottery or a multi-state lottery are astronomical. Take the Mega Millions lottery, for example. Tickets for the twice-a-week drawings are sold in California,… READ FULL ARTICLE

If you recently declared bankruptcy, you might think that you won't be able to buy a decent car on credit for about 10 yearsthe amount of time a bankruptcy shows… READ FULL ARTICLE

Years ago, the interest paid on credit cards was tax-deductible, so most cardholders didn't really care how much the card issuers were gouging them. Then Congress and the IRS took… READ FULL ARTICLE

If you're credit score is rated “poor or even “fair, it canand willcost you serious money, among other things.
As noted in the recently-published book, Living Well in a Down… READ FULL ARTICLE

If you're short of cash to pay your federal income taxes for 2008, you can choose from a number of options to help you reduce your taxes or delay payment:… READ FULL ARTICLE

Until recently, if a debt you owed (e.g., part of your mortgage balance) was forgiven (written off) by the lender, it was considered taxable income by Congress and the IRS,… READ FULL ARTICLE

Do you frequently attend professional sporting events?
Do you constantly have credit card debt?
If so, the former may help account for the latter.
As the price of admission continues… READ FULL ARTICLE

In Jean Chatzky's book, Pay It Down!, she asks:
“Do you have a shopping problem? Do you hide purchasesor receipts for purchases? Do you get a craving if you haven't… READ FULL ARTICLE

If you're like many (or most) credit cardholders, each month you wait until a few days before the due date to mail your paymenteven if you've had the money sitting… READ FULL ARTICLE

When you prepare your federal income tax return for 2008, you're supposed to report all the taxable income you received during the year. Often overlooked are the following (as noted… READ FULL ARTICLE

Most TV shows are harmless, except for wasting your time.
But there are certain shows that can increase credit card debt and make it difficult or impossible for you (or… READ FULL ARTICLE

In our efforts to become a cashless society, American’s have increasingly relied on the use of credit to pay for even basic living expenses. What was once a practice reserved… READ FULL ARTICLE

Let’s say you’re interested in buying that awesome new state of the art home theater system. The system costs $2,000.00 and you can either save for it over the next… READ FULL ARTICLE

The past few decades have ushered Americans into a credit-based society. And, although there is certainly nothing wrong with having credit, especially good credit, basing one’s financial life solely on… READ FULL ARTICLE

While the Federal Reserve announced new regulations cracking down on credit card abuseslast December, the Central Bank gave the credit card companies until July 2010 to effect the changes. Meanwhile,… READ FULL ARTICLE

Most consumers probably wouldn't admit it to their closest friends, but they tend to inflate or overstate their financial information on credit card applications.
From an inside source, we have… READ FULL ARTICLE

According to a recent National Retail Federation survey, consumers will be using more cash from their checking accounts to pay for holiday purchases this year versus their credit cards. While… READ FULL ARTICLE

A recent article in the New York Times highlights that small business owners are lobbying for credit card transaction companies such as American Express, Mastercard and Visa to lower fees… READ FULL ARTICLE

Russian businesses have recently been reported to be refusing to accept credit cards as payment due to the global financial crisis. Among the types of merchants denying credit cards as… READ FULL ARTICLE

In an interview with Forbes.com, Dan Clements of CardCops stated that “Credit card numbers fetch only $2 or $3 each on today’s market…by contrast, a decade ago, credit card information… READ FULL ARTICLE

The Wisconsin Journal Sentinel reported this week that the number of lawsuits against consumers in Wisconsin for non payment of credit card balances has taken a sharp jump since 2007.… READ FULL ARTICLE

Current estimates show that roughly 100 Million credit cards have been issued within Mainland China. Unlike automated systems in the United States, which rely on personal credit scores from credit… READ FULL ARTICLE

At the end of 2008, bank charge-offs for credit card receivables is likely to increase substantially compared to prior years, forcing some financial institutions to consider alternative payment options to… READ FULL ARTICLE

Cab drivers already have it tough with rising gas prices. Now, places like Chicago require that they accept credit cards. While this is a convenient alternative for consumers, some taxi… READ FULL ARTICLE

Similar to the recent fall of Washington Mutual, Wachovia announced today that it’s banking operations have been purchased by Citigroup. Wachovia had invested heavliy in “adjustable rate mortgages” which allowed… READ FULL ARTICLE

With so much change going on in the financial markets, bank customers are bound to have a lot of questions. This may turn into quite a challenge for customer service… READ FULL ARTICLE

With the $700 Billion financial bailout plan in the works this week, lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives are also trying to pass legislation that would restrict credit card… READ FULL ARTICLE

A client of mine recently faxed me a letter from a well known bank/credit card company explaining that a recent review of his credit history and score has resulted in… READ FULL ARTICLE

One June 1st, 2008, many of the mortgage lenders in the US began using Fannie Mae’s new Desktop Underwriter Version 7.0. Doesn’t sound very interesting or exciting, right?
Well, it… READ FULL ARTICLE

Many consumers are aware that they have the right to one free credit report each year. They’ve been told that there are sometimes issues with the data in their credit… READ FULL ARTICLE

It’s unfortunate, but it’s not entirely uncommon for someone to be harassed by a collection agency or junk debt buyer on a collection that doesn’t belong to them. Most people… READ FULL ARTICLE

Watch the nightly news and you're almost certain to see something related to credit cards and debt. Americans lead the world in credit card usage with the average credit card… READ FULL ARTICLE

Whether you're shopping for clothes, going to a movie, or stopping by the gas station, it's hard to imagine getting through a day without credit cards. Ours is a credit… READ FULL ARTICLE