Ask Creditnet Questions

Ask Creditnet Questions

Ask Creditnet: How Many Credit Cards Should I Have?

August 6th, 2017 by Joshua Heckathorn
Colorful credit cards Dear Creditnet: What is a good number of credit cards to have in order to optimize my FICO credit scores? Is it possible to have too few or too many credit cards? - Jenny from UT

Ask Creditnet: Can I Rebuild Credit with Prepaid Debit Cards?

August 29th, 2016 by Joshua Heckathorn

Dear Creditnet: I need to start rebuilding my credit so I can purchase a home, but I can't seem to get approved for a credit card. I've applied for 3 different cards this year and I've been denied every time. I feel like giving up. Should I just get a prepaid debit card since they don't do credit checks? There's no way I can get denied, right?

Ask Creditnet: Will My Credit Card Get Closed?

August 16th, 2016 by Elisabeth Chan
Dear Creditnet: My husband and I have one credit card each and the balances total about $1,200. Due to financial difficulties we have not been able to make any payments on these credit cards for almost a year. At one time we were getting letters from a collection agency, but we are now getting letters to pay our balance from the original creditor.

Ask Creditnet: This Credit Card Isn't Mine - What Should I Do?

July 27th, 2016 by Joshua Heckathorn
Dear Creditnet: I just pulled my credit report and found out I have a credit card for $1,000, but I never applied for this card. What should I do?

Ask Creditnet: Will Paying a Cell Phone Bill Improve Credit Scores?

June 14th, 2016 by Joshua Heckathorn

Dear Creditnet: I just got a new cell phone and the salesperson mentioned that paying my bill on time each month will help improve my credit. Is this true? If so, will the new cell phone bill have the same type of positive effect on my credit scores as my student credit cards and student loans? - Sandra L. from CA

Ask Creditnet: Help! My Corporate Credit Card is in Collections

June 9th, 2016 by Joshua Heckathorn

Dear Creditnet: I'm currently receiving collection notices from American Express for an unpaid balance on an old corporate credit card. I left the company where I had this card in late 2011. I have combed through all my Amex bills, corporate expense reports and reimbursements, but I've been unable to find any unpaid charges on the card. In addition, because the card was in my name and I incurred all the charges, my former employer takes no responsibility for the unpaid balance even though the charges were made solely for work purposes. Will this affect my personal credit? What should I do now?

Ask Creditnet: Should I Ever Use a Credit Card Cash Advance?

April 22nd, 2016 by Joshua Heckathorn

Dear Creditnet: I've been tempted to use the cash advance option on my credit card more than once, but have always found the necessary cash to scrape by when it came down to it.

Can you explain how cash advances work, and should I ever apply for one if my cash situation gets especially tight? Thanks in advance. - Chris from Austin, TX

How Can I Get a Lower Interest Rate on My Credit Card?

February 25th, 2014 by Alice Bryant
Are you paying more in credit card interest than seems fair?
 
If so, you may want to consider calling your credit card company. Although it may seem too good to be true, simply calling your credit card provider and telling them that you are unhappy with your current interest rate can get them to lower it. Credit card issuers want to keep their customers happy, so as long as you have a good payment history and your balance is low, most card issuers will be eager to please you to keep your business.
 

Ask Creditnet: What's the best student credit card?

April 8th, 2013 by Jason Bushey

Dear Creditnet: I just turned 18 and I'm finishing up my freshman year of college in May. My parents are already stressing to me that I need to start thinking about building credit in my name. They're willing to co-sign on a student credit card for me, but I'm pretty much clueless on what to look for in a card. Do you have any suggestions? And what's the most important thing I should consider in a card? Thanks! - Jenna from San Francisco, CA

Ask Creditnet: Are prepaid debit cards a good holiday gift for kids?

December 6th, 2012 by Jason Bushey

Dear Creditnet: Is there any difference between giving someone a prepaid debit card or a gift card this holiday? I've given gift cards before, but I'm curious if there's any benefit to giving my kids a prepaid debit. Thanks! - Tim L. from VT

Answer: The short answer is yes - a prepaid debit card is a good gift idea for your son or daughter this holiday. The long answer, however, is a little more complicated. Let's start with your first question...

How are gift cards and prepaid debit cards different?

Pages

Home / Blog / Category / Taxonomy term