credit cards
Fix
How To Clean Your Debit And Credit Cards
9:00AM sarahrae | There’s a certain list of things we routinely clean, but your debit and credit cards probably aren’t on that list — but they should be! It’s easy and can greatly extend the life of your card. More »
Money
Successfully Reverse A Debit Card Overcharge
4:00AM Azadeh Ensha | After a night out on the town and an $800 charge on her debit card for one drink, the Examiner’s Mary Schwager discovered that reversing charges on your debit card can be a challenge. Here’s what she learned about undoing the damage. More »
Money
1:30PM Angus Kidman | Australians are pretty good at using credit cards intelligently, but sorting through terms and conditions to find the best deal for you is still a tedious task. Credit Card Finder offers a pretty comprehensive listing of Australian credit card providers. More »
Credit Card Finder Outlines Australian Credit Card Deals
1:30PM Angus Kidman | Australians are pretty good at using credit cards intelligently, but sorting through terms and conditions to find the best deal for you is still a tedious task. Credit Card Finder offers a pretty comprehensive listing of Australian credit card providers. More »
Fix
Securely Destroy Your Credit Card In Fifteen Slices
4:30AM Azadeh Ensha | Identity theft happens, which is why knowing how to safely cut and discard your expired credit cards is worth knowing. Money weblog Wallet Pop offers their take on how to do so properly. More »
Money
1:23PM Angus Kidman | A new study shows that Australians are surprisingly good at using credit cards intelligently — but if you’ve had problems with credit card debt in the past, the chances are good that it’s going to happen again. More »
Credit Cards: The More You Fail, The Worse It Gets
1:23PM Angus Kidman | A new study shows that Australians are surprisingly good at using credit cards intelligently — but if you’ve had problems with credit card debt in the past, the chances are good that it’s going to happen again. More »
Money
3:00PM Angus Kidman | For anyone trying to get their finances under control, identifying and then eliminating debts is a vital task. But are we always rigorous enough when we make that assessment?
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Make Sure You’re Counting All Your Debts
3:00PM Angus Kidman | For anyone trying to get their finances under control, identifying and then eliminating debts is a vital task. But are we always rigorous enough when we make that assessment?
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Money
3:00PM Angus Kidman | New figures show credit card fraud is getting worse for Australians — but also provide some handy reminders on how to reduce the chances of your card details getting ripped off. More »
Minimising The Risk Of Credit Card Fraud
3:00PM Angus Kidman | New figures show credit card fraud is getting worse for Australians — but also provide some handy reminders on how to reduce the chances of your card details getting ripped off. More »
Organise
9:37AM Angus Kidman | If you get the feeling that the annual fee for your credit card has been rising in recent years, you’re not wrong. An analysis by MWE Consulting reported by Lisa Macnamara in the Australian notes that fees have gone up by 170% in the past five years.Of course, annual fees are only part of the story. If you’re paying extra in order to have a longer interest-free period, then the savings might be worth it, and the report notes that the biggest shift has been to low-rate cards with fewer features and a higher up-front fee. Those cards have an annual average fee of $48; if you’re paying more than that, it could well be time to migrate to a new provider.Consumers hit by credit card fees [The Australian]
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Watch out for rising credit card fees
9:37AM Angus Kidman | If you get the feeling that the annual fee for your credit card has been rising in recent years, you’re not wrong. An analysis by MWE Consulting reported by Lisa Macnamara in the Australian notes that fees have gone up by 170% in the past five years.Of course, annual fees are only part of the story. If you’re paying extra in order to have a longer interest-free period, then the savings might be worth it, and the report notes that the biggest shift has been to low-rate cards with fewer features and a higher up-front fee. Those cards have an annual average fee of $48; if you’re paying more than that, it could well be time to migrate to a new provider.Consumers hit by credit card fees [The Australian]
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Use a Separate Debit Card to Control Spending
12:08AM Kevin Purdy | Ramit at I Will Teach You To Be Rich shares a system his friend uses to set a firm amount of discretionary spending each month and then not spend more. It’s a take on the “cash in envelopes” system (represented digitally in programs like Budget, and it’s just as grok-able—when the money’s gone for the month, it’s gone. Obviously, you’d want to ensure you don’t draw serious overdraft fees, and you’d have to have a handle on your monthly budget to begin with, but it’s at least as effective as deducting credit charges as you go, and possibly moreso, with the thought of having a card turned down a nice social conditioner. For those with a fuzzy grip on spending, this technique could make the numbers seem pretty firm. How to use a separate debit card for discretionary spending [I Will Teach You To Be Rich] More »Get your credit card interest rate lowered
7:15PM Sarah Stokely | Most columnists writing about how to get out of credit card debt advocate asking your credit card company to reduce the interest rate you’re paying. Ever wondered how you’d go about actually making that request? CBCNews in the US approached 10 shoppers and asked them to ask for a reduction by following a simple script – and six of the 10 got a yes from their credit card company.The script was pretty simple: “I think I’ve been a good customer. I’d like to stay with you, but I
really want you to lower the rate on my card. Can you help me?” If the operator said they couldn’t help, the callers were advised to ask for a supervisor, and repeat their request.Sounds like if you have the moxey, it might work. If you try it, let us know how you get on. Worst that can happen is you get a no, right?
Skeptics surprised after negotiating lower credit card rate [CBCNews via Consumerist] More » 
