Bad Credit Loan and Bad Credit Loans
A bad credit loan will usually carry with it an extremely high interest rate and may require some types of collateral to be pledged as security for the loan. Bad credit loans may also require a co-signer to limit the risk involved with lending...
Credit Cards Bring Festive Cheer
Christmas is almost upon us once again and the worry of meeting
the demands that it has on our finances comes to the fore. Many
will get themselves into a level of debt that they cannot
sustain and if it's paid for with your current credit card...
How many Credit Cards do I need?
Using a credit card has become a very common way for a family to
pay for the items it needs and wants. According to CardWeb.com,
a firm that tracks the credit industry, the typical American
family of four carries about $8,100 in installment...
Make Money With A Cash Back Credit Card
Cash back credit cards are a fantastic way for you to make some cash while spending on your credit card, although it does only suit the customers who pay their bill in full at the end of each month.
A cash back credit card will give you the...
Rate tarts no longer welcomed by mortgage and credit card providers.
Following on from recent moves in the credit card industry (see Cashzilla, “Rate tarts losing ability to cherry pick” ) to reduce the number of people switching from one financial provider to another, mortgage lenders are now looking to follow...
Five Credit Card Billing Problems and How to Fix Them
It goes without saying that your first and best defense against paying fraudulent or unfair charges on your credit card is knowing what your bill says! When you receive your credit card statement each month, sit down with it and check each item to make sure that you actually DID purchase it. If you do run into inaccuracies or problems, there are procedures to follow to report and deal with the charges. If you don't follow the procedure and the card company decides to notify a credit reporting agency, it could affect far more than just your balance on that one credit card.
What are the most common billing problems and how should you deal with them?
1.Hey, I didn't buy that!
If you notice a charge on your credit card statement that you didn't make, take steps to deal with it IMMEDIATELY. It could be a store error - but it could be the first sign that someone else is using your identity. Heading off problems before they start is vital. Call your credit card company and report the charge that's in error - but don't leave it at that. Follow up with a written letter stating that you dispute the charge, and requesting that they investigate the situation. The credit card company has 45-60 days to complete their investigation and notify you of the result. During that time, they can not make any attempts to collect that amount from you, nor report you to a credit reporting agency because of it.
2.Wait - I canceled that subscription!
If you cancel a subscription for which you pay via credit card - to a magazine, a club or internet service provider for instance - it may take a month or two for the cancellation and 'chargeback' to show up on your credit card statement. Again, notify the credit card
company that that account has been canceled and request that the charge be removed from the bill.
3.My bill just doesn't add up right!
They're rare, but mathematical and reporting mistakes do happen. If you notice a discrepancy on your bill between their reports and your receipts, write a letter to the credit card company - being sure to use the address for reporting credit card disputes. Include copies of both the bill and your receipts for the disputed charges.
4.I returned that dress!
Like a canceled subscription, it sometimes takes a billing cycle or two for charge-backs on returned items to appear on your credit card bill. Write to the credit card company and enclose copies of your return receipt, asking that the charge be removed from your bill.
5.What do you mean, there's a late fee??
Your best defense against late fees is to make sure you send your payment in plenty of time to reach the credit card company by posting date. Keep in mind that credit card companies date payments by date received and/or posted, not by date mailed. Because of the effect a late payment can have on your credit card billing and your credit history, though, it's sometimes worth a try to get them to 'take it back'. If you have evidence along the lines of a check cleared to your bank account before the payment was posted to your account - and it's before the late payment date, you can write to the credit card company and ask for a review of the charges.