Citi Price Rewind: Is It Worth the Extra Effort?

September 26th, 2012 by Joshua Heckathorn

If you're already a Citi cardholder, you may have heard of a free service Citibank provides called Citi Price Rewind. I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I've used Citi credit cards for a long time, yet I had never heard of this card benefit until a few months ago when I saw it advertised on Citi's website. If you aren't familiar with the service, here's how it works:

Credit cards and debt still a major worry for many

by admin on September 25, 2012

Having the ability to save money both for the short term and for retirement, as well as being able to reduce their various outstanding debts, are some of the primary concerns for consumers, even as many feel they're on better financial ground than they were in the past, according to the latest Chase Pulse of the Consumer Survey.

Beware of Double Negatives on Your Credit Report

The only thing that's worse than a negative account on your credit reports is a negative account that shows up twice. Unfortunately, double entries can happen quite easily in the credit reporting system, and it takes a real eagle eye to scour over the details of your credit reports to make sure your credit score isn't taking any unnecessary hits.

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Tue, 2012-09-25 17:00

Ask Creditnet: Settling vs. Paying in Full

September 24th, 2012 by Joshua Heckathorn

Dear Creditnet: I have cleaned up my credit for the most part, but I still have a few old credit cards with balances that are reporting as collections on my credit reports. I could pay these off in full now, but the creditors are offering me settlements for about 30% of the actual balance. Will it help my credit scores more if I pay these off in full, or should I just accept the settlements and save the extra money? - Angela M. from AZ

Discover Offers 5% Cash Back for Online Shopping until 2013

September 21st, 2012 by Joshua Heckathorn

It's not even October yet, but the competition for your holiday credit card spending has already begun. First up—Discover. Effective last Friday, September 14th, Discover More credit cards are now offering 5 percent cash back on up to $1,500 in purchases at department stores and on all online shopping through the end of December. That's up to $75 of cash back in your pocket to help offset the cost of your ever-growing holiday shopping list.

Annual Fees: Pay Up or Move On?

September 19th, 2012 by Joshua Heckathorn

I love credit cards that don't have an annual fee. Why? Because there isn't much that makes this credit card junkie happier than racking up rewards for nothing. Don't get me wrong. I carry plenty of cards with annual fees too, but the no annual fee credit cards are the ones that generally stick around in my wallet for the long run. Unfortunately, as credit card companies continue to face stricter government regulation and lost revenues, there's one thing they can always fall back on to increase their bottom lines—the mighty annual fee. That's why millions of cardholders across the country have been receiving notices of new annual fees for cards that have always been considered "free" to use. Personally, I not only received notices of new annual fees, but I also watched several of the annual fees on my favorite rewards cards get jacked up by as much as $50 per year!

Ask Creditnet: Should I Dispute Open Accounts That are Really Closed?

September 17th, 2012 by Joshua Heckathorn

Dear Creditnet: I pulled all 3 of my credit reports for the first time in 5 years because I plan to apply for a mortgage within the next few months. On two of my credit reports, I was surprised to find several credit card accounts and an installment loan that are still reporting as open and active. The other credit report shows them as closed. I know for a fact that these accounts are all closed. They have been for years. Could this be hurting my FICO scores in any way? And if so, should I contact the credit bureaus to let them know that these accounts have already been paid off and closed? - Randy D. from CO

Lending more clear now than a year ago, CFPB says

by admin on September 16, 2012

Richard Cordray, the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, recently spoke before the U.S. Senate's Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and said that the agency has made significant progress in adding protections for consumers and bringing greater clarity to various types of lending, according to prepared testimony.

Poor Credit Scores Influence More Than Lenders

People with good credit are finding it difficult to get many types of loans these days, especially mortgages. For those with poor or damaged credit, the task is even more daunting.

But what about home and auto insurance? Will a poor credit score affect your ability to get the type of protection you need at the right price too?

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Thu, 2012-09-13 17:00

Amex Starwood Preferred Guest Card: Why Many Travel Junkies Still Like It

September 13th, 2012 by Joshua Heckathorn

Update: This credit card offer may have changed since this article was published. Check out the credit card details page here for up-to-date information: Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express.

Let's be honest, the 25,000 point sign-up bonus for the Starwood Preferred Guest card from American Express (SPG) isn't anything to write home about. You can earn a quick 10,000 points by making your first purchase, and then an additional 15,000 points after spending $5,000 on the card within six months. It's OK, but nothing spectacular. So, if you've got your mind set on landing the biggest sign-up bonus on the market for a new travel rewards credit card, check out the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card instead. It's a much better deal. Having said that, there are a lot of travel junkies out there who still love keeping the SPG card handy in their wallets. Here's why: