NBC Today Show Recommends LowCards.com

WSJ mentions LowCards.com

Bank Launch New Check, Card Fees

Issuers also are likely to water down rewards programs and introduce fees for inactive accounts." There are so many things that issuers can do that the Card Act doesn't touch," said Bill Hardekopf, chief executive officer of LowCards.com, a Web site that tracks the industry.

USA Today mentions LowCards.com

Got A Gift Card ? Now's a great time to start spending them

If a general-purpose card is lost or stolen, you can cancel the card and request a replacement, although you'll probably have to pay a fee, according to LowCards.com, a consumer website.

The New York Times quotes LowCards.com CEO

A Squeeze on Customers Ahead of New Rules

...That means fewer applicants will be approved for new credit cards, and those who are accepted will increasingly be charged annual fees or variable interest rates, rather than fixed rates. Currently, about 20 percent of credit cards charge annual fees, a percentage that is rising, said Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of LowCards.com. Current cardholders, too, will be affected...

WSJ Quotes CEO of LowCards.com

Report Looks at Practices of Credit Card Issuers

..."Actions like these are rarely singular events," said Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of LowCards.com, an online credit-card information resource. "One issuer takes a new step and the others likely follow."...

Bloomberg quotes LowCards.com CEO

JPMorgan Raises Stakes in Card Wars With 100,000-Mile Offer

...“That’s probably the best introductory offer that I’m aware of,” Bill Hardekopf, chief executive officer of LowCards.com, said about the Chase promotion. Hardekopf’s Birmingham, Alabama-based firm evaluates about 1,000 credit cards. He hasn’t seen complete terms from JPMorgan, which may dilute the value of the offer, Hardekopf said. ....

The Wall Street Journal mentions LowCards.com

Credit Cards: Break Up, or Make Up?

.... The turmoil makes it a good time to take a look at which credit cards are worth keeping. "A credit-card partnership is not like a marriage. It doesn't have to last a lifetime," says Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of Lowcards.com, a credit-card information Web site based in Birmingham, Ala. ...

U.S. News and World Report mentions LowCards.com

3 Myths About Credit Card Fees for Businesses

..But credit card experts argue that this account does not reflect reality. "I don't think there's necessarily a correlation between the interchange fee and the number of mailings you get," says Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com. Since the recession began, "the number of mailings has been down significantly, and the interchange fee hasn't been down at all," he says.

Kiplinger asks LowCards.com for Advice

ASK KIM : Kiss 0% Goodbye

For example, 0% balance-transfer offers are harder to come by -- especially if you don't have an excellent credit score -- and the introductory-rate period is generally shrinking from 12 months to six, says Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of LowCards.com. And expect to pay higher transfer fees for the privilege of shifting your balance to a card with a low- or no-interest rate. Some card companies have raised their transfer fees to 3% or 4% of the amount transferred and eliminated the caps on those fees. Previously, issuers often set a maximum transfer fee of $75, for example. Card companies have also been increasing their annual fees, reducing credit limits, raising rates and dropping customers who carry high balances.

SmartMoney quotes LowCards.com CEO

How to Make Peace With Your Credit Cards

...Consumers struggling to manage debt aren’t the only ones who’ve been hurt by the recent downturn. Credit-card companies have been hurt, too, triggering some of those higher fees and shorter credit lines.

“When the economy turned, not only did it impact [banks’] stock prices -- their financial situation -- but also their customers all started to suffer, so there were defaults, and there were late payments,” says Bill Hardekopf, the CEO of LowCards.com, a credit-card comparison site. “What credit-card issuers started to do was cut their financial risk,” Hardekopf says.

USA Today mentions LowCards.com

Consumers getting more information about credit cards

...Advocates say the new rules are a good first step but don't go far enough in protecting consumers. For instance, even though issuers now must give 45 days notice of "any significant change," account closures and credit line reductions don't count as major changes.

That means consumers may not know their credit has been cut, even though that could be hurting their credit score or their ability to finance purchases, says Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com, a card comparison site. One important factor in the credit score is a ratio that measures borrowers' debt to available credit. If available credit drops, this ratio rises, possibly making the consumer appear riskier....

Bloomberg mentions LowCards.com

AmEx Will Cancel Rewards Points on Some Late Accounts

..."This opens a door to adding new fees to the reward program and holding reward points hostage,” Bill Hardekopf, chief executive officer of industry newsletter LowCards.com, said in an e-mail. “If this works, others could follow and find additional ways to introduce new fees for rewards.”...

LowCards.com CEO quoted in USA Today

Earlier notice on rate hikes gives credit card users options

...Before deciding whether to opt out or stay in, get out a calculator and figure out how much the new interest rate will affect your monthly payments. If you're trying to make ends meet and face a big increase in your monthly payments, you should seriously consider opting out, says Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of LowCards.com.

Once you've paid off your balance, you can focus on rebuilding your credit score, Watts says. If you're having trouble making your monthly payments, "deal with that situation first," he says. "You can always improve your credit score over time after you take care of current priorities."

USA TODAY interviews LowCards.com CEO

Consumers hit again as some banks raise credit rates, fees

....Yet some critics say that issuers are taking advantage of a loophole in the law to bolster their financial conditions. Increases in credit card rates have been "widespread" as issuers try to make up for falling revenue because of higher loan losses and pending restrictions, says Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of LowCards.com, an information site....

Washington Post quotes LowCards.com CEO

Fewer Credit Card Offers in the Mail, But More Fees

"Consumers must pay attention to the offers they receive to see if the card has an annual fee," said Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of LowCards.com and co-author of The Credit Card Guidebook. "In addition, consumers need to look at the notices you receive in the mail or in your bill to see if your issuer has added, or even increased, an annual fee."

US News and World Report quotes LowCards.com CEO Bill Hardekopf

Your Bank Is a TARP Bank: Do You Need to Worry?

....Many banks, most noticeably through their credit cards, are raising interest rates and fees. Some consumer advocates have questioned if institutions that received taxpayer funds are treating customers unfairly. But most experts say that most banks are raising rates and fees. "You are just as likely to have your interest rate affected whether that bank received bailout money or not. Banks are looking for one thing: Are you a great credit risk? If you are, you are going to receive an increase in your annual percentage rate and decrease in your credit limit
almost immediately," says Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of LowCards.com, a consumer resource for credit card information. In some cases, he adds, it doesn't even matter if the customer has become a greater credit risk—the bank may still decide to increase interest rates or cut credit limits.....

USA TODAY quotes Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com

Credit card reform swipes easy plastic from college students

... Parents who co-sign for a child's credit card will be on the hook for any charges the child can't pay. But in the past, many parents have ended up paying their child's credit card bills anyway, "because they don't want Junior to have a terrible credit score," says Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of LowCards.com.

"If Junior has to come to Mom and Dad and say, 'Will you co-sign?' then Mom and Dad can have a talk with Junior about credit cards," Hardekopf says.

Hardekopf says he co-signed a credit card with a very low limit for each of his three children while they were still in high school. Every month, he sat down with them and reviewed the bills. Two of his children have since graduated from college, he says, "And they have a much higher credit score than their friends."

CNNMoney uses example from LowCards.com for article

Don't jump at that credit card offer

......Your "effective APR" is unique, different from everybody else's. Here's an example of how to calculate your "effective APR" from Bill Hardekopf at lowcards.com.
Our hypothetical guy -- let's call him Tony -- applied for a credit card with 0% APR for one year.
He spent $1,000 on the card and decided to make only the minimum payments for that first year.

Later, he took out a $2,000 cash advance -- not realizing there was a cash advance fee -- and that cash advances are at a much higher rate than purchases.

Then Tony missed a couple payments, which triggered two late fee charges.

It also triggered a default rate -- and his card rate was raised to 29.9%.

He eventually paid off the entire card and closed the account.

So Tony was tempted by the 0% introductory offer, but it cost him dearly.

Let's add up the total costs to the card:

$75 interest on purchases
$379 interest on cash advances
$60 cash advance fee
$78 late charge fee

So he spends $592 on all these extra costs, which makes his "effective APR" 19.7% on a card that was supposed to be 0% APR.

Be aware of:

Introductory rates
Payment schedules
Cash advance fees
Late fees
Default rates

You really have to sit down and crunch the numbers to determine what is the best card for you. Remember, some of these expenses are easily managed. Make your payments on time, keep an eye on your rate schedule and avoid cash advances whenever possible.

NBC TODAY Show reccomends LowCards.com

Money 911: Can credit card debt be inherited?

....To find a card that's right for you, log on to Web sites like ..... lowcards.com and start comparing.....

LowCards.com mentioned in Wall Street Journal

Credit-Card Shocks Anger More Borrowers

...Capital One also increased rates to new customers on 15 different cards in February. The Platinum Prestige card jumped to 11.9% from 7.15%. Its No-Hassle card leapt to 13.9% from 8.15% to new customers, according to Lowcards.com.....

"These are not charitable organizations," said Bill Hardekopf of Lowcards.com. "If they're hurting on one end they're going to make up for it on the other."

But, he added, customers don't have to put up with it. They can opt out, which mostly means they lose charging privileges and have to pay off outstanding debt.......

LowCards.com CEO Bill Hardekopf Interviewed in Chicago Tribune

Facing a credit card rate hike? Here's how to talk it down

If your credit card company has hiked your rate and you can't pay it off immediately, one option is to call the issuer and ask for a lower rate, particularly if you've been a longtime customer."Say, 'I've been a customer for X amount of time, and I'm looking at competitive offers,' " said Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of LowCards.com, a credit card Web site. " 'I'd like you to roll it back to X rate.' "Credit card companies don't want to lose customers because "the acquisition cost is too high," he said......

LowCards CEO quoted on Bloomberg

Bank of America to Raise Fee on Credit-Card Transfers

....Balance transfers, once free, have carried a 3 percent charge for years, with some lenders periodically waiving the fee to attract customers, said Bill Hardekopf, chief executive officer of LowCards.com, a Birmingham, Alabama research firm.
Consumer Protection

Lenders typically charge a minimum fee of $10 with no maximum, he said. Most banks don’t disclose revenue from balance transfers. Card issuers on average earn 39 percent of revenue from fees, with the rest coming from interest payments, Hardekopf said....

LowCards CEO Bill Hardekopf guest author in US News & World Report

The Reason Behind Capital One's Rate Increase

by Bill Hardkopf, CEO of LowCards.com

Last month, Capital One raised some eyebrows by significantly increasing their rates on new customers on the majority of their credit cards. The advertised annual percentage rate on these 15 cards increased from an average of 12.45 percent to 17.24 percent. One could ask, "What's left in your wallet?"

But Capital One is not alone. Many issuers are increasing the rates to new customers on selected cards.......

LA Times calls LowCards.com "A one-stop source for credit card comparisons"

A one-stop source for credit card comparisons

"If you're shopping for a credit card, it's nice to have some choices. Lowcards.com has more than 1,000 of them...."

USA Today quotes CEO of LowCards.com

Credit card reform gets another look

...In December, the Federal Reserve and other regulators released a rule reforming some of the most controversial practices, such as raising rates on existing debt. But that doesn't take effect until mid-2010. Advocates say that's too late for struggling consumers. "We're all going through an economic crisis right now, and we need reforms that will help consumers now," says Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com. ....

LowCards mentioned by Kiplinger / Washington Post

Clean Up Your Credit

...Today, a score of 740 or 750 will get you an account but might not qualify you for the lowest interest rates, says Bill Hardekopf, of LowCards.com .....

LowCards.com CEO quoted in The Wall Street Journal

If Your Card Takes a Hit

...First, call up your lender and request a higher limit, says Bill Hardekopf of LowCards.com, a site that helps consumers compare credit cards. A good customer has some leverage and can say, "If you are not able to increase my credit limit, then I may have to go take my business elsewhere," he notes. ....

The Wall Street Journal Quotes LowCards.com CEO

Credit-Card Issuers Get Stingy



...Another change: Though some credit-card issuers still offer 0% balance-transfer rates for 12 months or more, others are hiking the introductory interest rate and shortening the length of time it's offered. "They used to be almost always 12 months. Now they can be as short as three months," says Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of LowCards.com in Birmingham, Ala.



And those interest rates? "Some of the introductory rates are no longer 0%, but are anywhere from 2.99%, 3.99%, 4.99%," Mr. Hardekopf says. Some issuers also are limiting how much debt can be transferred, he says. "As the economy gets tighter and tighter, issuers will be looking for more and more ways to increase their profits, and some of the attractive perks we've seen may be in line to fall by the wayside."....

U.S. News & World Report Asks LowCards.com For Advice

Credit Card Rewards in Your Retirement Account

...I asked Bill Hardekopf, the CEO of LowCards.com, to look into the fine print on this card and compare it to other rewards credit cards. “The APR is extremely high on this card. It’s 16.99 percent,” he said. “The cash reward that can be used for your retirement account is a very nice perk. But if you are a credit card consumer who carries a balance a good amount of the time, then what you are going to make on this card on the reward is going to be eaten up by the very high interest rate that you are going to be paying.” The balance transfer rate is also higher than many other cards, Hardekopf found....

Forbes Mentions LowCards.com

Beware Of Gift Card 'Gotchas'

...When Sharper Image filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, $20 million worth of gift cards were rendered temporarily useless, according to Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of LowCards.com and author of The Credit Card Guidebook....

Motley Fool Reccomends LowCards.com

Pay Peter, Paul, or Visa?

....You should probably take up Visa (NYSE: V - News) on its 9% offer. Nine percent is always better than 19% when it comes to paying interest. Still, there may be a better deal out there if you care to shop around. (Check out lowcards.com ..... to review current offers.)

Forbes interviews Bill Hardekopf, LowCards.com CEO

Best Credit Cards For The Buck

..."Credit issuers are all banks, and banks themselves are seeing their credit tighten more than ever before," says Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of Lowcards.com, a Birmingham, Ala.-based financial information Web site. "They need to cut their risk factor by either cutting the credit limit on certain people, raising the annual percentage rate (APR) on some cards or not approving risky clients at all."...

Business Week quotes LowCards.com CEO

Credit Card, College Deals for the Creditworthy

...Lenders are more willing to listen to credit card customers like Rosner, thanks to the current market environment. After all, it costs them about $200 per in marketing fees to replace you if they lose your business. “In this tight credit market, if you are a good customer, you have some room to negotiate,” says Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com. “If your rate is too high, call up your issuer, and say you have offers from competitors.” It also pays to persevere. If your request for a lower rate doesn’t work the first time, wait a month and do it again, and then try again the following month, Hardekopf says....

CNN Interviews LowCards.com CEO

10 solutions to a personal credit crisis

Many Americans are struggling to pay their bills and keep up with rising prices, and the debt is mounting. Consumer debt is now at $2.58 trillion, according to the Federal Reserve's consumer credit report released Tuesday.

But how bad is it for you?

The first step is admitting you have a problem, says Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com and author of "The Credit Card Guidebook."

"It's important to make sure that you recognize and admit that you have a debt problem. Then you can face it head on," Hardekopf said.

CEO of LowCards.com on CBS MarketWatch

Another shoe to drop

...."Banks already are starting to minimize their risk and drop their credit limits that they extend to people and especially those at a higher risk," said Bill Hardekopf, a partner at LowCards.com.

LA Times quotes LowCards.com CEO

Banks love bailout, hate credit card curbs

....."The timing of all this couldn't be more glaring," said Bill Hardekopf, chief exec of LowCards.com, a website that tracks credit card rates and trends. "While banks say they would be tanking without taxpayer money, here comes a bill that would help taxpayers, and the banks say it isn't right."I'm amazed that there's not more humility at a time like this."....

LowCards.com CEO talks about credit limits on CNNMoney

Consumer credit limit crackdown

....Credit card issuers have been reining in credit limits lately "to minimize their risk because the economic climate has changed so dramatically," explained Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of the card rating site LowCards.com.....

CBS News Recommends LowCards.com

Congress Takes Aim At Pricey Colleges

...Shop Around for the Best Cards: Many of the credit cards offered on college campuses are not always the best deals for students. The best credit cards to get have three key features: no annual fees, a reasonable interest rate (18 percent or lower), and online account management. If the credit card offered through the college's affinity program does not have these features, college students should check out ..... Lowcards.com ...... for lists of the credit cards available to students.....

Washington Post / Kiplinger quote LowCards.com CEO

Getting Some Bank Charges Waived Is as Easy as Asking

....The success rate for challenging credit card fees is higher than with bank account fees. Even supposedly nonnegotiable charges, such as late-payment fees, aren't set in stone. "If you're a good customer, you can probably get late fees removed once a year," says Bill Hardekopf of Lowcards.com. The tardy payment might still tarnish your credit score, but you'll be as much as $39 richer....

MSNBC quotes LowCards.com CEO

GAS DISCOUNTS FULL OF BOOBY TRAPS

..Despite all those restrictions (and we've omitted plenty of others), Bill Hardekopf of LowCards.com says consumers can get a worthwhile deal with gas rebate cards if they carefully dissect the terms and conditions before signing up.

"You can make some pretty good money on a rebate card but you have to really know what you are doing," he said. For example, the BP Visa Rewards Card offers sizable rebates of 5 percent -- but only for gas purchased at BP, of course. The card might make sense if you frequent a BP station around the corner, but it certainly wouldn't make sense for consumers to go out of their way to buy BP gas.

"We recommend making yourself a grid. Include the introductory offer, the ongoing offer, if there's a cap, and so on, to make it easy to compare," he said.

U.S. News and World Reports quotes LowCards.com CEO

Social Security Debit Cards: 7 Things You Need to Know

"...There's also the issue of where to cash them. "They have to use check-cashing services," says Bill Hardekopf, CEO of the credit card comparison website LowCards.com, about people without bank accounts..."

USA Today mentions LowCards.com

Rewards credit card can pay off if you follow basic guidelines

"...If you carry a balance, even occasionally, forget about rewards programs and look for a card with a low interest rate. Otherwise, you'll end up paying more in interest than you'll earn in rewards, says Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of LowCards.com."

CNNMoney.com quotes LowCards.com CEO

How credit cards boost gas prices

...Not only do cards charge a variety of rates, but some retailers get charged different rates than others.

"The rate credit card companies charge depends on the gas station's volume of sales," said Lowcards.com chief executive Bill Hardekopf. "Joe's gas station won't get the same rate deal that a national retailer does."

Yahoo / US News and World Report recommends LowCards.com

3 Ways to Make the Fed's Moves Work for You

1. Credit Card Companies Are More Willing to Offer Lower Rates

Card providers often say yes to consumers who ask for lower rates, especially when those consumers have a record of paying off their bills each month. But now is a particularly opportune time to shop around or call providers and ask for lower rates, says Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of LowCards.com. ....

USA TODAY quotes LowCards.com CEO

Credit card rates hustle higher

Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com, says the card comparison site is "seeing more aggressive fees come out, and issuers are quicker to change interest rates."
He notes that as banks lose money on mortgage loans, it's logical they would try to boost credit card profits. "If one end of your business is suffering, you look to the other end to pick up the slack."

USA TODAY recommends LowCards.com

10 myths about investing and finances that trip up people.

If you do carry a balance, look for a low-rate card on ... LowCards.com. Just be sure to look beyond the teaser rate, which will likely jump after three to six months. And don't even think about a rewards card.

US News and World Reports interviews LowCards CEO

Investing Guide for 20-Somethings

...To decide which card to pay off first, check the credit limits, says Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of LowCards.com. .....

BusinessWeek interviews LowCards CEO

Running Late to Meet Uncle Sam?

...Should you slap your tax bill on a credit card? "Absolutely not," says Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of LowCards.com. .....

MSNBC mentions LowCards

NEW WAY TO HIKE CREDIT CARD RATES

"This is a significant increase," said Bill Hardekopf of LowCards.com, adding that using a credit limit transgression as an excuse to raise interest rates is new to the industry. "Consumers should know of the pitfalls that come with exceeding your credit limit. It's no longer just a charge that might hit you on a one-time basis. It might have far reaching effects on your interest rate."

CNN Money mentions LowCards.com

Fed rate cuts and your wallet

...Despite a cut of 2.25 points in the federal funds rate since September, some credit cards have gone down, but some cards have barely budged according to Bill Hardekopf of lowcards.com.
For example, Chase Freedom actually increased its rate from 14.24% in September to 15.99% and Discover's Open Road credit card is at 10.99% today, just as it was before the rate cuts in September according to Hardekopf. ...

LowCards.com mentioned in Yahoo / BankRate article

Credit card APRs rise despite rate cuts

"In general, variable rates are falling because of the federal rate cuts," says Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com. Other than Bank of America's and Capital One's recent moves to raise interest rates on some accounts, he cautions that there probably are a "whole bunch of individual cases where rates are increasing based on their credit risk."

LowCards.com on MSNBC

WANT A BETTER CREDIT CARD RATE? JUST ASK

Bill Hardekopf, who runs the credit card information Web site LowCards.com, said it's important for consumers to check their bills carefully to look for surprise interest rate hikes.
"Don't assume your rate is decreasing," because the Federal Reserve lowers interest rates, as many cardholder agreements give the banks broad license to raise rates "at any time for any reason," he said.

LA Times interviews LowCards.com CEO

What rate cuts? Use of plastic gets pricier




..."Issuers are trying to use a new phrase that looks like there's some economic formula being used to raise rates," said Bill Hardekopf, chief exec of LowCards.com credit card comparison website. "But they still have the freedom to do whatever they want."...

USA Today interviews LowCards.com CEO

Facing losses on bad loans, banks boost credit card rates

... Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com, a card-comparison site, says he fears that "amid Congress' preoccupation with fears about the economy, the ramp-up in fees and punishing practices by consumer lenders will go unchecked."...

CNN Money interviews LowCards.com CEO

The Fed is on your side


...According to Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of LowCards.com, credit card issuers may choose to lower their annual interest rates by three quarters of a point. However, for a balance of $5,000, that amounts to only $3.13 a month.

"That's not enough to make a consumer rich," Hardekopf said.
Hardekopf said he expects most credit card companies to lower their rates, though it's not guaranteed. ....

U.S. News & World Report interviews CEO of LowCards.com

4 Ways Consumers Will Feel the Fed Cut

...Consumers with cards that have variable interest rates could see their rate go down in about a month, says Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of LowCards.com. He recommends that consumers not wait for their card provider to offer a reduced rate but call and ask for one. Card providers are often responsive to such requests....

MSNBC interviews LowCards.com CEO

Holidays are over; it’s time to pay for it all

You can probably find a card that has a lower interest rate, but don’t jump at the first offer you get in the mail. You need to comparison shop and find the card that is right for you. Try ... lowcards.com.

“Credit card issuers are fantastic marketers and they can make any card look appealing,” advises Bill Hardekopf of lowcards.com. “Go to the terms and conditions section because that’s where the issuer has to lay out everything that applies to that card.”

U.S. News and World Reports interviews LowCards.com CEO

How To Teach Your Kids About Credit Cards

... "It would be good for a high school student to have some type of credit card or a debit card to get exposure to the credit card experience while they are still living under the same roof" with their parents, says Bill Hardekopf, CEO of the credit card comparison website LowCards.com. "There is an aura or a freedom that a credit card gives a student, and that can very quickly turn into something financially dangerous. It's better to have that happen when the student is under the same roof than when they are in the dorms with their friends."...

Motley Fool mentions LowCards.com

Tougher Credit Days Ahead

...I gained a new perspective after reading a somewhat scary viewpoint on the recent subprime-lending crisis the other day, from Bill Hardekopf of lowcards.com. ....

The Washington Post interviews LowCards.com CEO

Winning at Cards

...."There's just about a reward for everything you might want there to be a reward for," said Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of LowCards.com.

The New York Times interviews LowCards.com CEO

Pushing Colleges to Limit Credit Offers to Students

...Credit-card companies like students “because they have parents who will probably pay off their debt if there is a problem,” even though parents generally have no legal obligation to do so, said Bill Hardekopf, the chief executive of LowCards.com, which tracks credit-card rates.

LowCards.com quoted by CNNMoney

The Fed and credit cards

"...But for the vast majority of people, this won't mean substantial savings. This cut will only save about $2 per month on a $5,000 credit card balance," says Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com."

U.S. News & World Report Interviews LowCards.com CEO

Asking for a Lower Credit Card Rate

....U.S. News spoke with Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of LowCards.com, a website that lets consumers compare credit card rates, about how to gain from the Fed's move.....

MSNBC interviews CEO of LowCards.com

Why are credit card rates still out of control?

“Credit card issuers continue to make subtle changes to squeeze a little bit more out of their customers,” says Bill Hardekopf of lowcards.com. “We’re seeing it in late fees, cash advance fees, and default fees.” ......

Credit Union National Association recommends LowCards.com

Tell college students now how to use credit cards properly

Shop around. The cards offered on campus may not be the best deal in town. Compare features and look for a card with no annual fee, a reasonable interest rate below 18%, a grace period (the time in which you have to pay the bill before you incur interest), and online account management. Check out cards issued by the local credit union, or go to ... LowCards.com... for lists of cards available to students.

LowCards.com recommended by CBS News

Credit Cards Could Trap College Kids

"...students should check out ... lowcards.com ... for lists of the credit cards available to students."

LowCards.com recommended by BusinessWeek

Credit Cards 101: Finding the Right Plastic

"To find the best credit cards for students, start your search online. ....LowCards.com.... all feature sections on student credit cards with information on the best deals."

CNNMoney interviews LowCards.com CEO

Credit card tips for the college graduate

...Grads should first and foremost pay their card in full every month and on time, says Bill Hardekopf, CEO of the card rating site LowCards.com....."Make sure you do not get behind," says Hardekopf. "As a recent college grad you are being scrutinized a lot more than an adult who might be 40 or 50 (years old) with a 20 to 30 year credit history."

The Wall Street Journal mentions LowCards.com

Choosing a Rewards Card

....and Bill Hardekopf, chief executive officer of LowCards.com, another comparison Web site, say they prefer cash-rebate cards, in part because they're easy to use. Instead of you having to figure what your points are worth and how to redeem them, cash-back cards automatically add a rebate to your credit-card bill, usually once a year....

SmartMoney recommends LowCards.com

Credit Cards for College Kids

...Remind your student that he really only needs one to build a credit history, says Bill Hardekopf, founder of LowCards.com, a consumer information web site focusing on credit cards....

USA Today interviews LowCards.com CEO

Smile! You're on Dad's credit card"

...Consumers need to pay attention to interest rates and the fine print, not just images on credit cards, says Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com, a credit card shopping comparison website.

"You can get so caught up in the marketing hype that you think, 'Isn't this neat?' and you're paying a couple percentage points higher than you should be."

CNNMoney mentions LowCards.com

Credit card tips for college kids

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- It's no secret that credit card companies love college students. And they'll shower them with everything from free T-shirts to beach towels just to get their business.

That's because these kids are potentially lifelong customers who will spend, spend, spend says Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com, a consumer credit card information Web site.