Many people assume that "no credit" and "bad credit" are the same thing, but that is not the case. This is not like taking a test in school, where 0 and 50 both lead to an "F". Having no credit … Continue reading
Is No Credit Worse Than Bad Credit?
Author Archives: John Oldshue
Citi App to Go Global
The Citibank app for the iPad has been around for quite some time in the states, allowing users to manage their accounts directly from their tablet devices. Now, Citi has decided to expand their efforts, launching their app on a worldwide … Continue reading
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report for May 17, 2013
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report is based on our Complete Credit Card Index which tracks the advertised rates of 1,060 credit cards in the United States. Our editorial team constantly tracks the cards in order to identify trends in credit cards … Continue reading
PayPal Hints at Plans to End Passwords
Don't you miss the days when you could trust using your birthday as a password? Now every website wants you to register a password with what seems like a minimum of three letters (at least one capital), six non-sequential numbers, … Continue reading
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report for May 9, 2013
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report is based on our Complete Credit Card Index which tracks the advertised rates of 1,060 credit cards in the United States. Our editorial team constantly track the cards in order to identify trends in credit cards … Continue reading
CFPB Says Student Loan Restructuring Will Benefit Economy
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau fears that the rising debt from student loans could begin to significantly affect the economy, and is calling for more flexible repayment plans for the millions of Americans struggling with private student loans. After studying … Continue reading
CFPB Issues Criminal Referrals Against Two Debt Relief Companies
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has filed a complaint in a federal district court in New York against two debt-relief service providers. The companies allegedly charged consumers illegal advance fees for debt-settlement services. The CFPB is trying to stop their … Continue reading
PayPal Goes Live in Two Million Retail Stores
PayPal may be the most trusted name in online payment processing, but it can now be used in "the real world." The internet mogul is going live in two million retail locations across the country where Discover cards are accepted. … Continue reading
CFPB Revises International Money Transfer Rules
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is adjusting its rule that creates certain protections for consumers that send money overseas via international money transfers. The rule was first proposed on December 31, 2012 and will take effect on October 28, 2013. Under the … Continue reading
CFPB Says Payday Loans Can Be Debt Traps
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has turned its attention to payday and deposit advance loans. It issued a new report that finds these products lead to a cycle of indebtedness. Not surprising, it found that loose lending standards, high costs … Continue reading
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report for April 26, 2013
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report is based on our Complete Credit Card Index which tracks the advertised rates of 1,060 credit cards in the United States. Our editorial team constantly track the cards in order to identify trends in credit cards … Continue reading
Credit Card Delinquency Rates Fall Again
Credit card delinquency rates fell again in March as consumers continue to pay down credit card debt in a timely manner. Five of the top six credit card issuers reported lower delinquency rates in March than in February. Discover was the only exception … Continue reading
Your Credit Card Data Is Up for Auction
Did you know that your credit card data is constantly being sold to online advertisers who want to target you with specific ads? Companies like American Express and MasterCard have been doing this for years. Credit card companies are not … Continue reading
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report for April 19, 2013
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report is based on our Complete Credit Card Index which tracks the advertised rates of 1,060 credit cards in the United States. Our editorial team constantly track the cards in order to identify trends in credit cards … Continue reading
What Is the Best Airline Credit Card?
Airline credit cards allow frequent flyers to save money on their travels. These cards are designed to provide discounts on airfare or completely free tickets, and many of them provide rewards for other travel accommodations. If you fly on a … Continue reading
The Best Credit Cards For Retirees
Many credit card websites compare hundreds of cards in different categories such as low interest and balance transfers, but a category you rarely find on any credit card website is "credit cards for retirees". The reality is as more and … Continue reading
Hartford Councilman Plans to Stop Unnecessary Spending
Ever feel like government employees frivolously spend your tax dollars on personal items? You're not the only one. In an effort to put a limit on the money Hartford city employees spend on dining and travel, Councilman Kenneth Kennedy is … Continue reading
MasterCard Forms E-Commerce Agreement in China
MasterCard recently announced the creation of a Memorandum of Understanding with Alibaba, an eCommerce giant in China. This mutual agreement will allow both MasterCard and Alibaba to tap further into the eCommerce market and expand their efforts in China. MasterCard … Continue reading
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report for April 12, 2013
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report is based on our Complete Credit Card Index which tracks the advertised rates of 1,060 credit cards in the United States. Our editorial team constantly track the cards in order to identify trends in credit cards … Continue reading
Amex Website Victim of Islamic Hackers
Cyber attacks have become an alarming problem in recent months. Threats from China have been the main concern in America, but now a new type of hacker has surfaced. A group of Islamic internet hackers launched a distributed denial of … Continue reading
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report for April 5, 2013
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report is based on our Complete Credit Card Index which tracks the advertised rates of 1,060 credit cards in the United States. Our editorial team constantly track the cards in order to identify trends in credit cards … Continue reading
Debit Cards Transform Unemployment Payments
For the longest time, the U.S. government has issued unemployment and workers compensation payments through checks in the mail. They eventually opened the option of receiving direct deposits into a bank account, but that does not help the thousands of … Continue reading
The LowCards.com Weekly Rate Report for March 29, 2013
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report is based on our Complete Credit Card Index which tracks the advertised rates of 1,060 credit cards in the United States. Our editorial team constantly track the cards in order to identify trends in credit cards … Continue reading
New Smartphone App Helps Consumers Cut Debt
Millions of Americans fight with credit card debt every day, and many of them carry that debt to the grave. The non-profit organization National Debt Relief has now launched a smartphone app to help those consumers get back on their … Continue reading
CFPB Warns Lenders About Discriminatory Auto Loans
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is turning its attention to auto lenders. The CFPB says some lenders may be giving auto loans through auto dealerships that charge minorities above-market interest rates. It says the potentially discriminatory markups in auto lending … Continue reading
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report for March 22, 2013
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report is based on our Complete Credit Card Index which tracks the advertised rates of 1,060 credit cards in the United States. Our editorial team constantly track the cards in order to identify trends in credit cards … Continue reading
Chase Makes Changes to Protect Customers from Payday Lenders
JPMorgan Chase announced that it will take action to protect its customers from payday lenders. Account holders will now have more power to stop withdrawals and close their accounts. Chase will limit fees that it charges customers for withdrawals from payday lenders due … Continue reading
Student Loan Servicers May Be Regulated by CFPB
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has proposed a new rule that would allow it to supervise some nonbank student loan servicers and bring new regulation to a quickly expanding market. The new rule would let the CFPB access the whole process … Continue reading
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report for March 15, 2013
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report is based on our Complete Credit Card Index which tracks the advertised rates of 1,060 credit cards in the United States. Our editorial team constantly track the cards in order to identify trends in credit cards … Continue reading
Visa Credit Card Payment Volume Up 11 Percent YTD
The good news continues for the credit card industry. Yesterday, Visa reported that its credit card payment volume in the United States for the first two months of the year was up 11 percent compared to 2012 levels. Debit card … Continue reading
Changes Made in VantageScore Credit Scoring Model
The VantageScore credit scoring model has undergone some improvements, giving lenders a reported 25 percent improvement on the ability to make predictions on consumers. The new VantageScore 3.0 model also has the ability to formulate a score for the estimated … Continue reading
The LowCards.com Weekly Rate Report for March 8, 2013
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report is based on our Complete Credit Card Index which tracks the advertised rates of 1,060 credit cards in the United States. Our editorial team constantly track the cards in order to identify trends in credit cards … Continue reading
Household Debt Increases in Fourth Quarter of 2012
Americans are slowly borrowing more to finance purchases like homes and cars. Household debt, which includes mortgages, credit cards, auto loans and student loans, rose 0.3 percent or $31 billion to $11.34 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2012, the … Continue reading
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report for March 1, 2013
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report is based on our Complete Credit Card Index which tracks the advertised rates of 1,060 credit cards in the United States. Our editorial team constantly track the cards in order to identify trends in credit cards … Continue reading
Selecting The Right Credit Card For Your Credit Profile
Finding the right credit card for your credit profile is perhaps one of the most important things to do during your search for a new card. If you have poor credit, it does not make sense to apply for a … Continue reading
Chamber of Commerce Again Calls for Improvements in CFPB
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has received a second letter from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, calling on the agency to make some significant changes in its operation. David Hirschmann, the senior vice president of the Chamber, sent a letter … Continue reading
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report for February 22, 2013
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report is based on our Complete Credit Card Index which tracks the advertised rates of 1,060 credit cards in the United States. Our editorial team constantly track the cards in order to identify trends in credit cards … Continue reading
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report for Feb. 15, 2013
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report is based on our Complete Credit Card Index which tracks the advertised rates of 1,060 credit cards in the United States. Our editorial team constantly track the cards in order to identify trends in credit cards … Continue reading
Areas with Worst Credit Scores All Found in the South
TransUnion has released its ranking of metropolitan areas with the highest and lowest consumer credit score in the country. Two areas in northern California--San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (700) and San Francisco-Oakland-Freemont (696)--have the highest scores. Memphis is the area with the lowest … Continue reading
Ultimate Guide To Finding The Best Balance Transfer Card
Balance transfer cards can be an invaluable tool for those looking to avoid paying high interest rates on existing balances, but when used improperly they can be just as dangerous as the initial high rate card. In this interview with … Continue reading
The LowCards Weekly Rate Report for February 8, 2013
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report is based on our Complete Credit Card Index which tracks the advertised rates of 1,060 credit cards in the United States. Our editorial team constantly track the cards in order to identify trends in credit cards … Continue reading
Global E-Commerce Sales Top $1 Trillion for First Time
E-commerce sales surpassed the $1 trillion mark last year for the very first time, according to a report from eMarketer. Sales in 2012 increased 21.1 percent versus year-ago levels. Business-to-consumer e-commerce sales are expected to grow 18.3 percent in 2013, … Continue reading
Most Retailers Shy Away from Credit Card Surcharge
A number of major retail chains and associations are assuring consumers that they will not implement a surcharge on consumers making a purchase by credit card. When customers use a credit card, the retailer is charged an interchange or swipe … Continue reading
Alarming Number of Student Loans Are Delinquent
For the second time this week, a study by a credit agency shows delinquency rates on student loans are climbing. According to a TransUnion study, more than half of student loans are in deferred status where the loan payment has been … Continue reading
Delinquent Student Loans Climbing Fast
A new FICO study reveals that student loan debt has increased dramatically and the default rates on these loans are now much higher than previous years. These loans pose a greater risk now due to the higher debt loans and a … Continue reading
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report January 25, 2013
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report is based on our Complete Credit Card Index which tracks the advertised rates of 1060 credit cards in the United States. We constantly track the cards in order to identify trends in credit … Continue reading
Superman Debit Card Introduced in Malaysia
The prepaid debit card market has exploded in the United States and issuers are now using celebrities to help promote these products. In the past few years, the Kardashians, Magic Johnson, Justin Bieber and even cartoon characters have been trying to … Continue reading
Monitoring Your Credit In The New Year
Having good credit is extremely important for any loan you may obtain, whether it be a short-term one like a credit card, or a long-term loan like those for a home or car. As we start a new year, it … Continue reading
More Cardholders in UK Surviving with Credit Cards
A new survey in the United Kingdom shows more consumers there are struggling with their finances, resulting in a further reliance on credit cards to pay for daily essentials. The sixth annual Post Office Consumer Credit Report shows that 42 … Continue reading
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report Jan. 17, 2013
The LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report is based on our Complete Credit Card Index which tracks the advertised rates of 1060 credit cards in the United States. We constantly track the cards in order to identify trends in credit … Continue reading
