• Zombies or the economy: Which scares you more?

    Updated: 2011-04-30 20:00:30
    Over the past several years, as the economy has been cooling off, zombies have been heating up.It seems like the red-hot undead have been cropping up everywhere recently, including starring roles in feature films, popular books and hit TV shows. But zombies have come a long way from their days in the "Thriller" music video. No longer content to just entertain us, zombies now want to teach us something, too.

  • Two blogs in two carnivals in one week: An Internet record?

    Updated: 2011-04-30 20:00:30
    They said it couldn't be done, but it has: Two blog posts in two blog carnivals -- in one week.This week, two of my recent blog posts made it into two separate carnivals, establishing what surely must be some sort of Internet record. Yeah, that's right Rebecca Black: You're not the only online phenomenon.

  • Emily's list: I'm an Epsilon victim edition

    Updated: 2011-04-30 20:00:30
    : Living with credit 368 New , interesting products 89 Research , regulation , industry reports 212 Rewards 34 Protecting yourself 139 The fine print 60 Credit card miscellany 346 Add category 1 Celebrity Money Watch 2 Print Email Emily's list : I'm an Epsilon victim edition Emily Starbuck Gerson April 8, 2011 Living with credit What do the companies Chase , Victoria's Secret , Viking River Cruises , TiVo , BestBuy.com and Beachbody have in common I am on all of their email mailing lists , and I received an email from each of them this week telling them that my email address on file with them has been compromised . As my colleague Jeremy Simon wrote earlier this week , all of these companies , in addition to many other large corporations , use an email vendor named Epsilon The company's

  • Consumers, bank customers on alert following major email theft

    Updated: 2011-04-30 20:00:30
    The next email bearing my bank's logo could very well be from a hacker.Earlier today, Chase sent an email warning of a major theft that could affect me and other bank customers. "Chase is letting our customers know that we have been informed by Epsilon, a vendor we use to send emails, that an unauthorized person outside Epsilon accessed files that included email addresses of some Chase customers," the email said.Chase explained that although some customer email addresses were compromised in the breach, the stolen information "did not include any customer account or financial information. Based on everything we know, your accounts and confidential information remain secure."Based on news reports, Chase customers aren't the only ones who have been victimized.

  • April Fool's Day blunder temporarily damages borrowers' credit

    Updated: 2011-04-30 20:00:30
    An undisclosed number of HSBC bank customers apparently saw their credit scores briefly tumble because of a credit reporting error that occurred April 1.This was no April Fool's Day prank: Credit bureau Experian says an "isolated administrative error" altered the information on some HSBC customers' credit reports. According to an MSNBC report, that "glitch" in Experian's credit reporting "temporarily torpedoed an undisclosed number of consumers' credit scores." MSNBC added that HSBC customers who pay for credit monitoring services became aware of the error after they received alerts about a sudden fall in their credit scores.Borrowers weren't laughing.

  • Emily's list: Financial literacy month edition

    Updated: 2011-04-30 20:00:30
    April is National Financial Literacy Month. It's time to step up and make sure you know your personal finance basics. If you have kids, whether first graders or teenagers, it's also a great time to help educate them about healthy money habits. You can further your personal finance know-how by reading on for my roundup of my favorite blog posts from the past week!

  • What PlayStation gamers should do to protect their real world finances

    Updated: 2011-04-30 20:00:30
    When you signed up to play KillStation or another game online on your PlayStation, I bet you didn't think there would be any real life danger. Now you know differently. Sony, which runs the PlayStation network, announced Tuesday that between April 17 and April 19, data from its 77 million account holders was "compromised in connection with an illegal and unauthorized intrusion into our network." Here's what consumers should know about the situation -- and do to protect their real-world finances:

  • Emily's list: Royal wedding edition

    Updated: 2011-04-30 20:00:30
    : Living with credit 370 New , interesting products 89 Research , regulation , industry reports 212 Rewards 34 Protecting yourself 141 The fine print 60 Credit card miscellany 347 Add category 1 Celebrity Money Watch 2 Print Email Emily's list : Royal wedding edition Emily Starbuck Gerson April 29, 2011 Living with credit My wedding was just over a month ago , and on that day , I truly felt like a princess . People waited on me hand and foot . Everyone constantly asked me if I needed or wanted anything . When I said I was going to grab some water , people stopped me and got it for me . Everyone wanted to hug and kiss me . I was in a fancy dress , and professionals did my hair , nails and makeup . Guests threw rose petals at us as we left in a horse-drawn carriage no lie It was kind of a

  • Emily's list: Fair taxes edition

    Updated: 2011-04-30 20:00:30
    : Living with credit 369 New , interesting products 89 Research , regulation , industry reports 212 Rewards 34 Protecting yourself 140 The fine print 60 Credit card miscellany 347 Add category 1 Celebrity Money Watch 2 Print Email Emily's list : Fair taxes edition Emily Starbuck Gerson April 15, 2011 Living with credit I'm going to guess that I'm not alone when I feel that taxes are unfair . I'm young and need the money . I stimulate the economy with my spending I'll never get the Social Security I'm paying , so let me keep some tax money . Then I stop and think about it . My taxes provide me with my local libraries , from which I borrow audiobooks for free . They pay for the police force and firefighters who keep our society orderly and safe . They keep the postal system running , as

  • Sony PlayStation data breach: Hackers claim they have 2.2 million credit card numbers

    Updated: 2011-04-30 20:00:30
    News organizations that have sniffed around hacker chatrooms say that some of their denizens are offering 2.2 million credit card numbers they say they hacked from Sony PlayStation's database of online users. Sony, meanwhile, is trying to reassure its customers, saying there's still no evidence that the card numbers were hacked, and besides, they were stored in an encrypted fashion.

  • 4 Reasons Credit Cards Won’t Become Extinct Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-30 02:41:13
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com 4 Reasons Credit Cards Won’t Become Extinct by Beverly Blair Harzog on 04 29 2011 No doubt you’ve read the numerous articles over the past several months about the pending demise of credit cards . Not the concept of paying with credit , but the little slivers of plastic in your wallet . I think this proclamation is a little . hasty Yes , I do think that smartphones will be an alternative to whipping out your credit card . AT T , T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless have formed Isis , which is a mobile payments network that will let subscribers pay with smartphones . It’s launching sometime this year . And Google has teamed up with Citigroup and MasterCard to embed technology in Android phones so they can be used as mobile

  • New York Yankees Accidentally Leak 20,000 Season Ticket Holders’ Data Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-30 02:40:51
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com New York Yankees Accidentally Leak 20,000 Season Ticket Holders’ Data by Credit.com on 04 29 2011 The New York Yankees accidentally released a file containing the personal account information on more than 20,000 season ticket holders after an employee mistakenly emailed an internal file to a list of about 2,000 of the Yankees executive . clients According to a report from the sports news site Deadspin the names , addresses , email information and phone numbers were included in the file , along with seat numbers , account numbers and ticket package . codes The data leak was caused by a single Yankees employee , who inadvertently attached the file to a regularly scheduled newsletter sent to roughly 2,000 of the club’s

  • Credit Line Radio Jean Chatzky’s Debt Diet The Playstation Hack and Your Credit Score Credit.com New

    Updated: 2011-04-30 02:40:49
    : , , Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Line Radio : Jean Chatzky’s Debt Diet , The Playstation Hack , and Your Credit Score by Credit.com on 04 29 2011 Tune in to this week’s installment of Credit Line Radio , hosted by Credit.com’s chairman and co-founder Adam Levin on Los Angeles’ KFWB 980 AM this Saturday , April 30, at 9 a.m . PST Noon . EST The show is co-hosted by L.A . radio personality Jeff Levy and focuses on issues relating to credit , debt and identity . protection This week , Levin and Levy are joined by personal finance author and expert Jean Chatzky to talk about her Debt Diet , and how to get your finances on . track Brian McGinley senior vice president of data risk management of Identity Theft 911 stops by talk about the Sony

  • Americans Still Nervous About Economy Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-30 02:40:48
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Americans Still Nervous About Economy by Christopher Maag on 04 29 2011 Despite some recent good news about the economy , including improved savings rates and some stabilization of the housing markets , Americans are still pessimistic about their futures , according to a new study by Country Financial Security . Index Though people are still uncertain about the economy , they are still able to put aside some savings for short-term debt and long-term planning , says Keith Brennan , vice president of financial planning for Country , an investment planning . company Consumer Resource : Take the Debt Diet Challenge with Jean Chatzky and Credit.com According to the survey , the number of people who said they felt excellent”

  • Visa Accord May Increase Ubiquity for Mobile Payment Startup Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-30 02:40:46
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Visa Accord May Increase Ubiquity for Mobile Payment Startup by Credit.com on 04 29 2011 Square , the tech startup founded by a former Twitter executive , recently received a small investment from Visa worth just a few million dollars that will likely lend it significant cachet as it looks to expand its presence in the mobile payment market , according to a report from the Los Angeles Times . The deal will also place a Visa executive on Square’s board of directors , and could lead the world’s largest payment network to push the company’s products to more businesses that currently do not accept credit cards Featured products : Monitor your credit reports and scores Though 90 percent of all consumers carry them , at

  • Visa Accord May Increase Ubiquity for Mobile Payment Startup Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-30 02:40:45
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Visa Accord May Increase Ubiquity for Mobile Payment Startup by Credit.com on 04 29 2011 Square , the tech startup founded by a former Twitter executive , recently received a small investment from Visa worth just a few million dollars that will likely lend it significant cachet as it looks to expand its presence in the mobile payment market , according to a report from the Los Angeles Times . The deal will also place a Visa executive on Square’s board of directors , and could lead the world’s largest payment network to push the company’s products to more businesses that currently do not accept credit cards Featured products : Monitor your credit reports and scores Though 90 percent of all consumers carry them , at

  • Financial News Roundup Court Ruling Affects Disputes Initial Unemployment Filings Increase Credit.co

    Updated: 2011-04-30 02:40:44
    : , Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Financial News Roundup : Court Ruling Affects Disputes , Initial Unemployment Filings Increase by Credit.com on 04 29 2011 Today’s headlines feature statistics on first-time unemployment claims , as well as new data showing the effects of the economic downturn on retirement funds . Also , find out four reasons why credit cards may avoid . extinction First-time Unemployment Claims Rise CNN Money Initial unemployment claims increased last week , climbing 25,000 to 429,000, compared with totals from the previous 7-day period , according to the U.S . Department of Labor . Many economists did not expect a rise in claims , CNN Money reports , with a number of experts actually forecasting filings to fall to around 390,000.

  • Financial News Roundup Court Ruling Affects Disputes Initial Unemployment Filings Increase Credit.co

    Updated: 2011-04-30 02:40:42
    : , Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Financial News Roundup : Court Ruling Affects Disputes , Initial Unemployment Filings Increase by Credit.com on 04 29 2011 Today’s headlines feature statistics on first-time unemployment claims , as well as new data showing the effects of the economic downturn on retirement funds . Also , find out four reasons why credit cards may avoid . extinction First-time Unemployment Claims Rise CNN Money Initial unemployment claims increased last week , climbing 25,000 to 429,000, compared with totals from the previous 7-day period , according to the U.S . Department of Labor . Many economists did not expect a rise in claims , CNN Money reports , with a number of experts actually forecasting filings to fall to around 390,000.

  • Follow Friday Weekly Web Roundup 4 28 11 Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-30 02:40:40
    : Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Follow Friday : Weekly Web Roundup 4 28 11 by Tim Langevin on 04 29 2011 It’s our most sensational roundup yet This week we bring you stories with shocking statistics , crazy crimes and magical purchases . As always , if you enjoy any of our favorites , we encourage you to follow them on Twitter for regular updates . And don’t forget to follow Credit.com at CreditExperts Belief in Magical Change Fuels Credit Card Abuse A new study shows that people who have credit card debt are more likely to believe that buying products will improve or transform their lives . When these transformations do not occur , the consumer will often buy more things in search of different change and can lead to overextension . LiveScience A

  • Follow Friday Weekly Web Roundup 4 28 11 Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-30 02:40:38
    : Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Follow Friday : Weekly Web Roundup 4 28 11 by Tim Langevin on 04 29 2011 It’s our most sensational roundup yet This week we bring you stories with shocking statistics , crazy crimes and magical purchases . As always , if you enjoy any of our favorites , we encourage you to follow them on Twitter for regular updates . And don’t forget to follow Credit.com at CreditExperts Belief in Magical Change Fuels Credit Card Abuse A new study shows that people who have credit card debt are more likely to believe that buying products will improve or transform their lives . When these transformations do not occur , the consumer will often buy more things in search of different change and can lead to overextension . LiveScience A

  • Celebrity ID Theft Financial Planning for All on Talk Credit Radio Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-30 02:40:37
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Celebrity ID Theft Financial Planning for All on Talk Credit Radio by Credit.com on 04 29 2011 2-3 PM Eastern Time 11-12 PM Pacific Time Tune in to Talk Credit Radio today , Friday , April 29, 2011 as host Gerri Detweiler tackles celebrity identity theft and financial planning for the rest of : us What Can You Learn From a High Profile Identity Theft Case He’s not even a real person , but he’s been a victim of identity theft . Gaylord Focker , the lead character from the Fockers” movies , along with actor Tommy Lee Jones and producer Tim Burton , were victims of an identity theft scam . An ex-convict and his partner were arrested on suspicion of identity theft and forgery in Glendale . California Read : This Little

  • Celebrity ID Theft Financial Planning for All on Talk Credit Radio Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-30 02:40:36
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Celebrity ID Theft Financial Planning for All on Talk Credit Radio by Credit.com on 04 29 2011 2-3 PM Eastern Time 11-12 PM Pacific Time Tune in to Talk Credit Radio today , Friday , April 29, 2011 as host Gerri Detweiler tackles celebrity identity theft and financial planning for the rest of : us What Can You Learn From a High Profile Identity Theft Case He’s not even a real person , but he’s been a victim of identity theft . Gaylord Focker , the lead character from the Fockers” movies , along with actor Tommy Lee Jones and producer Tim Burton , were victims of an identity theft scam . An ex-convict and his partner were arrested on suspicion of identity theft and forgery in Glendale . California Read : This Little

  • Fannie Mae Employees to Work with Minnesota Foreclosure Assistance Nonprofit Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-30 02:40:34
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Fannie Mae Employees to Work with Minnesota Foreclosure Assistance Nonprofit by Credit.com on 04 28 2011 The Minnesota Home Ownership Center recently announced a new partnership with Fannie Mae to assign two of the government-controlled mortgage backer’s employees to work with the nonprofit , according to a report from Minnesota Public Radio Currently , MHOC has 63 counselors working at 20 different nonprofit agencies all around the North Star . State Featured products : Monitor your credit reports and scores The Fannie Mae employees will work specifically to help significantly troubled homeowners avoid the threat of foreclosure by reducing the delays they may run into while attempting to modify their existing mortgage ,

  • Supreme Court Ruling in A.T. & T. v. Concepcion Approves Class Action Bans in Consumer Contracts

    Updated: 2011-04-29 22:10:07
    What a depressing day in the law of consumer protection. We’ll get to that in a minute, but in the meantime, I heard a humorous radio program this morning in which Europeans were complaining about how you never know the...

  • Imagaining a Lehman Resolution

    Updated: 2011-04-29 15:22:17
    My review of the FDIC's report, up now on Dealbook. The punchline: So, you see, if you assume very stable asset values during a financial crisis and a buyer that is quite generous, it is quite easy to get to...

  • Skin in the Game-True Sale Implications

    Updated: 2011-04-29 14:04:22
    There's a proposed joint federal rulemaking on the Dodd-Frank Act asset securitization risk retention requirements that would mandate some form of "skin-in-the-game" in most asset securitizations. The proposed rule making provides a number of options for acceptable risk retention, and...

  • Top 3 Things To Consider Before Canceling Your Credit Card

    Updated: 2011-04-29 14:00:48
    Top 3 Things To Consider Before Canceling Your Credit Card by Mary Hiers on April 29, 2011 Breaking up with a credit card isn’t easy , but sometimes it’s necessary , particularly if you want to limit spending , or curb your exposure to identity thieves or vengeful ex-spouses . But before you get the scissors out , there are the top 3 things to consider before canceling a credit . card First , be careful about which card or cards you . cancel You may think that canceling that ancient card that you’ve had in the back of your wallet since college would be the best move , particularly if you haven’t used it in a long time and there’s no . balance But wait Part of your creditworthiness is tied to how long you have held your various credit accounts . Cancel an account you’ve had for 10 or 15

  • Fannie Mae Employees to Work for Minnesota Foreclosure Assistance Nonprofit Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-29 05:10:31
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Fannie Mae Employees to Work for Minnesota Foreclosure Assistance Nonprofit by Credit.com on 04 28 2011 The Minnesota Home Ownership Center recently announced its new partnership with Fannie Mae to add two of the government-controlled mortgage backer’s employees to its staff , according to a report from Minnesota Public Radio . Currently , MHOC has 63 counselors working at 20 nonprofit centers all around the North Star . State Featured products : Monitor your credit reports and scores The Fannie Mae employees will work specifically to help significantly troubled homeowners avoid the threat of foreclosure by reducing the delays they may run into while attempting to modify their existing mortgage , the report said . MHOC

  • The Politics of Swipe Fees

    Updated: 2011-04-29 02:42:30
    The HuffPo has a major piece on the debit card swipe fee legislative fight, which seems to be a stand-alone K-Street Full Employment Act. It's well worth the read. I'm proud to say that Credit Slips has probably had longer,...

  • Dora the Explorer on Debit Interchange: Swiper No Swiping!

    Updated: 2011-04-29 01:31:55
    Nancy Reagan taught us to "Just Say No!" Now Dora the Explorer tells us some words of wisdom about uncompetitive debit card swipe fees: "Swiper No Swiping!" Swiper is the incorrigibly rapacious fox who is always trying to steal stuff...

  • Study Student Loan Default Delinquency Rates Worrisome” Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-28 20:30:43
    : Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Study : Student Loan Default Delinquency Rates Worrisome” by Christopher Maag on 04 28 2011 College graduates are having a much harder time repaying their college loans than previously understood , according to a recent study Only 37 of 2005 graduates have been able to pay their student loan bills on time every . month The rest either have defaulted , been delinquent , or requested a forbearance of . deferral The full scope of the problem is worrisome , according to the report published by the Institute for Higher Education Policy . It is important to recognize that for every borrower who defaults , at least two others have been delinquent on their student loans . : Article The Dos and Don’ts of Financing a College

  • 5 Questions To Ask Before Using Retirement Funds To Pay Bills Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-28 20:30:36
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com 5 Questions To Ask Before Using Retirement Funds To Pay Bills by Gerri Detweiler on 04 28 2011 You may be tempted to turn to your retirement funds for emergency cash . In fact , a new Bankrate survey found that 19 percent of Americans—including 17 percent of full-time workers—have taken money from their retirement savings in the last year to cover urgent financial needs . The survey was part of Bankrate’s Financial Security . Index Options include withdrawing funds from an IRA , 401(k or 403(b for example , or borrowing against a qualified retirement account . You cannot borrow against an IRA or pledge the assets for collateral as a loan . According to the Bankrate survey , roughly one in four of the unemployed and those

  • 5 Questions To Ask Before Using Retirement Funds To Pay Bills Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-28 20:30:34
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com 5 Questions To Ask Before Using Retirement Funds To Pay Bills by Gerri Detweiler on 04 28 2011 You may be tempted to turn to your retirement funds for emergency cash . In fact , a new Bankrate survey found that 19 percent of Americans—including 17 percent of full-time workers—have taken money from their retirement savings in the last year to cover urgent financial needs . The survey was part of Bankrate’s Financial Security . Index Options include withdrawing funds from an IRA , 401(k or 403(b for example , or borrowing against a qualified retirement account . You cannot borrow against an IRA or pledge the assets for collateral as a loan . According to the Bankrate survey , roughly one in four of the unemployed and those

  • FDIC Doubles Down on the Safe Harbors

    Updated: 2011-04-28 15:55:40
    In a little noticed footnote in the FDIC's recent report on a hypothetical liquidtion of Lehman under Dodd-Frank resolution authority, the FDIC states The exemption from the automatic stay under the Bankruptcy Code in the case of qualified financial contracts...

  • 3 Real-Life Success Stories of People Who Are Now Debt-Free

    Updated: 2011-04-28 14:00:25
    3 Real-Life Success Stories of People Who Are Now Debt-Free by Mary Hiers on April 28, 2011 Leo Babauta : Free from Debt The best thing about paying down your credit card debt is that you don’t have to wait : you can start tackling it right here , right now . Here are three stories of people who made the difficult but rewarding journey from being saddled with debt to being debt . free Leo Babauta , founder of the blog zenhabits.net , got himself and his family with six children out of debt by canceling his credit cards striking shopping” from his list of recreational activities , and bringing in extra income . These three tactics are tops among people who have successfully banished their . debt No , I don’t want a shovel . And don’t tase me , bro While some people can manage credit cards ,

  • Keeping Up with the Joneses: Credit Score Edition

    Updated: 2011-04-28 09:24:00
    Do you have good credit? Compared to whom? While your credit price may depend largely on how your credit fares against objective criteria (above 680 to avoid being "subprime," for example), do you ever wonder how you are doing compared...

  • FeedBurner & E-mail Subscriptions

    Updated: 2011-04-27 19:06:40
    By popular demand, I have made some changes to the news feed for Credit Slips. The first change is that the Credit Slips feed is now available through FeedBurner. I am told this change should not affect anyone who already...

  • Card Showdown: American Express Platinum vs. Continental Presidential Plus

    Updated: 2011-04-27 14:00:10
    : . Card Showdown : American Express Platinum vs . Continental Presidential Plus by Clinton Jackson on April 27, 2011 Road warriors rejoice : two of the top travel cards have just expanded their benefits to offer even more value for frequent . travelers If your travel schedule rivals George Clooney’s in the movie Up in the Air you might as well benefit from it but which card is the best Here’s our showdown comparison of the Platinum Card from American Express vs . the Continental Presidential Plus Card from Chase May the best card win Annual Fees The Continental card jumps to a quick lead with its lower annual fee , 395 versus American Express’ 450. Neither card charges interest as long as you pay your bill in full each month . Your annual percentage rate APR is of course subject to your

  • The Costs of Regulating Derivatives

    Updated: 2011-04-26 14:50:25
    So the outgoing chair of ISDA complains that banks will have to pass on the costs of Dodd-Frank to end users of derivatives. Undoubtedly the usual crowd -- primarily the WSJ op-ed page -- will run with this evidence of...

  • Top 0% Balance Transfer Cards – What You Can Save

    Updated: 2011-04-26 14:00:09
    Top 0 Balance Transfer Cards What You Can Save by Mary Hiers on April 26, 2011 The good old days of 0 balance transfer credit cards with no fees for transferring balances pretty much went away years ago . Most major credit card companies stopped offering them as a reaction to the Great Credit Crunch of 2008-2009. While one or two players have offered cards without transfer fees , they’re currently the unicorns of the credit card . world Discover offered such a card earlier in 2011, but that offer expired March 1. The Russell Simmons Platinum Visa doesn’t charge a transfer fee , but does charge 9.25 APR on balance transfers and is only offered to folks with excellent . credit But 0 balance transfer cards are still a terrific way to get a handle on credit card debt . If you have a thousand

  • Financial News Roundup Few Employers Hire Idle’ Americans Struggling Cities May Merge Credit.com New

    Updated: 2011-04-25 16:58:21
    : , Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Financial News Roundup : Few Employers Hire Idle’ Americans , Struggling Cities May Merge by Credit.com on 04 25 2011 Today’s top news headlines feature a new strategy many cities are considering to overcome budget problems and creative ways unemployed Americans are advertising themselves to employers . Plus , find out why more individuals are taking on part-time . jobs Americans Work Part-Time to Avoid Gaps in Resume The Wall Street Journal Many employers look unfavorably on applicants who have large employment gaps in their resumes , prompting many long-term unemployed Americans to seek out part-time minimum-wage positions . Employment gaps of one year or longer tend to be the most problematic for unemployed

  • Government Employee Charges $71K Worth of Junk on Taxpayer-Funded Credit Card

    Updated: 2011-04-25 14:00:51
    Government Employee Charges 71K Worth of Junk on Taxpayer-Funded Credit Card by Clinton Jackson on April 25, 2011 Tax season is officially over If you have a refund coming , don’t be surprised if it’s smaller than you anticipated . In fact , it may come with a letter that reads , Dear Taxpayer : We had to keep a little more to cover our new PlayStation system and Gucci bag . Hope you don’t mind Especially if you live in . Maryland A Maryland Department of Natural Resources DNR employee recently charged more than 71,000 of personal items to a taxpayer-funded credit card The charges were uncovered by a recently released legislative audit The employee we’ll call him Mr . X , 8221 although he may have been female used the state-issued credit card to buy computer games , clothes , gift cards

  • Powerful Investor: Citigroup Inc (NYSE:C) Back on Track...

    Updated: 2011-04-25 04:31:15
    MARKET BRIEF: At least one high-profile investor is publicly bullish on Citigroup Inc (NYSE:C) -- from TheStreet.com earlier today: "Citigroup's (C) individual shareholder, Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, believes Citigroup is 'back on track' and says the bank will buy back stock and raise the dividend in 2012." Outlaw has stated many times that we believe Citigroup shares will hit $6.00 to $6.25 within 12 months. What do you think, though? Share your predictions in the comments box below. For entertainment purposes only; information provided may be inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date. No warranties or guarantees provided. Stocks,...

  • He Robbed a Bank With A Pencil Now He’s Going to Prison Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-22 22:10:43
    . . Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com He Robbed a Bank With A Pencil . Now He’s Going to . Prison by Christopher Maag on 04 22 2011 The man who founded what was once among the nation’s largest mortgage lending companies was found guilty this week of numerous counts of fraud by a federal jury in Virginia , having cheated investors and the federal government out of 2.9 . billion Lee B . Farkas , former chairman of Taylor , Bean Whitaker , masterminded one of the largest bank fraud schemes in history , Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer said in a press release from the Department of Justice His shockingly brazen scheme poured fuel on the fire of the financial crisis . Related : Foreclosure Scammers Forced to Repay Victims 2.3 million Farkas received 20

  • Tim Langevin Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-22 22:10:38
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Tim Langevin Follow Friday : Weekly Web Roundup 4 21 11 by Tim Langevin on 04 22 2011 We’re happy to bring you this week’s roundup of our favorite blogs We included stories on the triumphs of practical 0 comments by Tim Langevin on 04 22 2011 Follow Friday : Weekly Web Roundup 4 15 11 by Tim Langevin on 04 15 2011 As always , we’ve found you the best whistle-blowers , tip-givers and truth-tellers in the blogosphere . This weeks topics include dark practices 0 comments by Tim Langevin on 04 15 2011 Follow Friday : Weekly Web Roundup 4 8 11 by Tim Langevin on 04 08 2011 This week our favorite blogs include stories about problem resolution and new realities . Take a look at these posts for 0 comments by Tim Langevin on 04

  • There’s a New Alternative to PayPal, and It’s From (Gasp) American Express

    Updated: 2011-04-22 14:00:37
    , There’s a New Alternative to PayPal , and It’s From Gasp American Express by Clinton Jackson on April 22, 2011 It's a blanket with sleeves Maybe a backwards bathrobe Like three Eskimos trying to share one Snuggie , financial companies are vying for a larger share of your wallet . The credit card giant American Express recently launched a digital payment system called Serve . The service is similar to PayPal , aimed at capturing more of the online transaction . market Let’s take a look at this new service to see if it is worth your . money What is Serve Serve is an online debit account , similar to PayPal , which lets you send or receive money to anyone who has a Serve account . You can use Serve via their website , or iPhone or Android apps . The big innovation is that Serve also gives

  • Gerri Detweiler Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-22 13:37:34
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Gerri Detweiler How a 3-Year Debt Payoff Plan Takes Twelve Years by Gerri Detweiler on 04 21 2011 The Credit CARD Act requires credit card issuers to disclose on your monthly statement how much it will cost , and 0 comments by Gerri Detweiler on 04 21 2011 How to Get Even More Free Credit Reports by Gerri Detweiler on 04 18 2011 You may be able to get free copies of your credit reports in addition to those made available annually on 0 comments by Gerri Detweiler on 04 18 2011 Getting Collection Calls For Someone Else Here’s What To Do by Gerri Detweiler on 04 14 2011 My daughter is only 12, but she already knows a lot about dealing with debt collectors . Several times a week 2 comments by Gerri Detweiler on 04 14 2011 11

  • Is FreeCreditReport.com Intentionally Giving Consumers the Wrong Credit Score?

    Updated: 2011-04-21 14:00:55
    Is FreeCreditReport.com Intentionally Giving Consumers the Wrong Credit Score by Mary Hiers on April 21, 2011 The folks at FreeCreditReport.com want you to know that if you don’t know your credit score , you’ll end up as a pirate-waiter with a girlfriend who lives in her parents’ basement while you drive your crappy subcompact car until you can no longer afford the gas and trade it in for an even crappier bicycle while you moonlight as a cater-waiter for awesome parties you’ll never be invited . to But as a consolation , you’ll get to experience the thrills of a Renaissance fair for some reason , as well as the hurl-inducing glee of riding the credit roller coaster” where you hope that your pathetic ski-boot sized cell phone won’t fall out and crush someone’s skull before you move into a

  • YouTube CreditExperts's Channel

    Updated: 2011-04-21 11:01:34
    Browse TV Shows Upload Create Account Sign In Search Close Welcome to YouTube Suggested Language we have set your preference to this English UK Suggested Location Filter we have set your preference to this United Kingdom The location filter shows you popular videos from the selected country or region on lists like Most Viewed and in search results.If you would like to change either of these preferences , please use the links in the footer at the bottom of the . page Click OK to accept these settings or click Cancel to set your language preference to English UK and your location filter to Worldwide OK Cancel Welcome to YouTube Suggested Language we have set your preference to this English Suggested Location Filter we have set your preference to this United Kingdom The location filter shows

  • Topics Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-21 11:01:32
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Topics Credit Cards Roundup : Credit Cards for Retired Consumers 04 19 2011 Many Consumers Admit a Lack of Financial Literacy 04 18 2011 March Charge Offs Slip Slightly for Capital One 04 16 2011 View All Identity Theft Digital Footprints : The Do Not Track proposal 04 20 2011 The FTC and the Future of Privacy Enforcement in America 04 17 2011 What Do Data Breaches , Globalization and Unprotected Sex Have in Common 04 14 2011 View All Loans Congress , Stop Squabbling and Let Credit Unions Make More Small Business Loans 04 01 2011 The End of the Road for Tax Prep Loans 03 02 2011 Did Washington’s Predatory Loan Law Backfire 02 11 2011 View All Debt Get Out of Minimum Payment Hell 04 14 2011 Does High Income High Credit

  • Contributors Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-21 11:01:31
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Contributors Adam Levin Chairman and cofounder of Credit.com and Identity Theft 911 His experience as former director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs gives him unique insight into consumer privacy , legislation and financial advocacy . He is a nationally recognized expert on identity theft and . credit S P Downgrades U.S . Debt Will Repo Men Come for Air Force One 04 20 2011 What Do Data Breaches , Globalization and Unprotected Sex Have in Common 04 14 2011 The End of Digital Innocence : What Does the Epsilon Breach Mean 04 08 2011 View All Posts Michael Schreiber Editor in Chief Director of Communications Michael manages the development of our editorial content and coordinates our relationships with a

  • Archives Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-21 11:01:28
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com SEARCH Select a Month April 2011 106 March 2011 169 February 2011 164 January 2011 154 December 2010 145 November 2010 146 October 2010 24 September 2010 29 August 2010 33 July 2010 21 June 2010 18 May 2010 17 April 2010 15 March 2010 22 February 2010 25 January 2010 19 December 2009 27 November 2009 19 October 2009 29 September 2009 27 August 2009 30 July 2009 30 June 2009 32 May 2009 37 April 2009 20 March 2009 20 February 2009 25 January 2009 17 December 2008 19 November 2008 19 October 2008 34 September 2008 32 August 2008 27 July 2008 25 June 2008 22 May 2008 25 April 2008 28 March 2008 25 February 2008 22 January 2008 27 December 2007 20 November 2007 19 October 2007 24 September 2007 21 August 2007 23 July 2007 24

  • Credit Cards Free Credit Report Card Online Loans Credit.com

    Updated: 2011-04-21 11:01:26
    About us Blog Login Free Credit Tools Credit Report Card Get your free credit grade and detailed credit . profile Sign Up Now Log in Identity Risk Score Quickly assess your risk of identity theft for . free Sign Up Now Log in Compare Credit Cards Cards for Bad Credit PrePaid Debit Cards Secured Cards Student Cards Rewards Cards No Annual Fee Cards Balance Transfer Low Interest Cards Business Cards Cards by Credit Score Excellent Credit 750+ Good Credit 700-749 Fair Credit 650-699 Poor Credit 600-649 Bad Credit Below 599 No Credit Limited Credit Credit Reports Scores Free Trial Credit Score Credit Reports Monitoring Identity Theft Protection FICO Scores Find a Loan Personal Loan Student Loan News Advice Credit News Topics Most Popular Our Experts Credit.com on the TODAY Show Farnoosh Torabi

  • 8 Tips to Make Your Mortgage Process Easier Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-21 11:01:14
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com 8 Tips to Make Your Mortgage Process Easier by Credit.com on 04 20 2011 By David Ning of MoneyNing.com Next : Slide 2 of 9 Image by Marc Samsom Slide 1 of 9 Gone are the days when you can just call up any loan officer in your area , tell them how much you make and get a mortgage started and approved in a timely , relatively painless manner . These days , getting a mortgage can quickly become a part time job , as you scramble to get documentation for just about anything about your financial health . I know there are plenty of other items you’d rather be thinking about during the escrow period , so here are eight tips to help you make the loan process go a bit . smoother Next : Slide 2 of 9 : Pages 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Tagged

  • Credit.com Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-21 11:01:13
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit.com 8 Tips to Make Your Mortgage Process Easier by Credit.com on 04 20 2011 By David Ning Here are eight tips to help you make the mortgage application process go a bit . smoother 0 comments by Credit.com on 04 20 2011 Financial News Roundup : Eligible Americans Denied Mortgage , Companies Increase Hiring Abroad by Credit.com on 04 20 2011 Today’s top news headlines show how much money laid-off workers are earning in new positions and explains reasons Americans who 0 comments by Credit.com on 04 20 2011 Government to Release New Mortgage Agreement Forms by Credit.com on 04 19 2011 Elizabeth Warren , the Harvard professor who President Barack Obama asked to oversee the creation of the new Consumer Financial

  • Christopher Maag Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-21 11:01:03
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Christopher Maag Beginning of the End for Online Passwords by Christopher Maag on 04 19 2011 How many websites do you currently visit that require you to log in with a username and password Five Dozens 2 comments by Christopher Maag on 04 19 2011 Large Loan Servicer Found Guilty of Fraud , Lying in Court by Christopher Maag on 04 19 2011 A judge in New Orleans recently found one of the nation’s largest mortgage loan servicers guilty of pervasive fraud . In 2 comments by Christopher Maag on 04 19 2011 A Bill of Rights for Internet Advertising by Christopher Maag on 04 18 2011 Two former presidential candidates came together last week to propose a new bill of rights for online consumers . The bill , 1 comment by

  • Beverly Blair Harzog Credit.com News Advice

    Updated: 2011-04-21 11:00:38
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Beverly Blair Harzog Roundup : Credit Cards for Retired Consumers by Beverly Blair Harzog on 04 19 2011 These days , retirement isn’t easy to generalize . Some retired folks are doing well financially and even traveling . But others are 1 comment by Beverly Blair Harzog on 04 19 2011 Credit Card Q A : Does the CARD Act protect me from fees if I go over my credit card limit by Beverly Blair Harzog on 04 15 2011 Does the CARD Act protect me from fees if I go over my credit card limit 0 comments by Beverly Blair Harzog on 04 15 2011 The Best Credit Cards in America : Cash Back and Travel Rewards by Beverly Blair Harzog on 04 13 2011 Welcome to the first installment of Credit.com’s Best Credit Cards in . America Every three

  • Credit.com News Advice page 2

    Updated: 2011-04-21 11:00:15
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Posts Large Loan Servicer Found Guilty of Fraud , Lying in Court by Christopher Maag on 04 19 2011 A judge in New Orleans recently found one of the nation’s largest mortgage loan servicers guilty of pervasive fraud . In 2 comments by Christopher Maag on 04 19 2011 Many Consumers Admit a Lack of Financial Literacy by Credit.com on 04 18 2011 About 40 percent of consumers recently said they would rate their financial literacy as being a C , a D or 0 comments by Credit.com on 04 18 2011 Want a Student Loan Take the Test . First by Farnoosh Torabi on 04 18 2011 Colleges , universities , banks and the government should all take cue from Tidewater Community College , in Virginia . Beginning next fall , the 2 comments by

  • Credit.com News Advice page 3

    Updated: 2011-04-21 11:00:12
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Posts March Charge Offs Slip Slightly for Capital One by Credit.com on 04 16 2011 The latest regulatory filing from Capital One Financial revealed that the company saw instances of accounts it had to strike 0 comments by Credit.com on 04 16 2011 Nationwide Foreclosure Declines in First Quarter of 2011 by Credit.com on 04 15 2011 There were 681,153 separate foreclosure filings in the U.S . during the first quarter of 2011, a 15 percent drop from 0 comments by Credit.com on 04 15 2011 Tune In : Credit.com Radio Hits . L.A by Credit.com on 04 15 2011 Credit.com’s chairman and co-founder Adam Levin has launched Credit.com Radio , debuting on Los Angeles’ KFWB 980 AM this Saturday , April 0 comments by Credit.com on 04 15

  • Credit.com News Advice page 4

    Updated: 2011-04-21 11:00:10
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Posts Target Discount Credit Card Finds Success with Consumers by Credit.com on 04 14 2011 Consumers have flocked to Target’s new Redcard offer , which was rolled out nationwide in October , according to a report from 0 comments by Credit.com on 04 14 2011 Senator Durbin Blasts Chase CEO on Debit Swipe Fees by Christopher Maag on 04 14 2011 The fight over debit card swipe fees got a few notches hotter this week when Senator Dick Durbin sent an 0 comments by Christopher Maag on 04 14 2011 Get Out of Minimum Payment Hell by Farnoosh Torabi on 04 14 2011 We’ve all heard by now that paying the minimum on your credit card is one of the biggest financial traps . 0 comments by Farnoosh Torabi on 04 14 2011 Getting Collection

  • Credit.com News Advice page 5

    Updated: 2011-04-21 11:00:08
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Posts The Epsilon Breach : Don’t Take the Bait With Phishing Scams by Ondrej Krehel on 04 13 2011 Some consumers are getting inundated with email warnings that their personal information may have been compromised in the Epsilon data . breach 0 comments by Ondrej Krehel on 04 13 2011 What’s a Good Credit Score in Today’s Economy by Tom Quinn on 04 13 2011 While your credit score provides insight into where you stand relative to others within a score range , it does not 0 comments by Tom Quinn on 04 13 2011 Financial News Roundup : Student Loans Exceed Credit Debt , Military Spouses Face Unemployment by Credit.com on 04 13 2011 Today’s top news headlines highlight growing budget shortfalls in Detroit that may force the

  • Credit.com News Advice page 6

    Updated: 2011-04-21 11:00:05
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Posts Chase Hopes to Restart Debit Card Rewards Program by Credit.com on 04 11 2011 A chief executive officer for JPMorgan Chase recently announced that the financial institution would restart its debit card rewards programs , 0 comments by Credit.com on 04 11 2011 Report : Recession Pushed Consumers Back to Basics by Christopher Maag on 04 11 2011 The Federal Reserve has confirmed what many consumers already knew : During the recession , many of us used more cash and 0 comments by Christopher Maag on 04 11 2011 11 Ways A Debt Collector May Be Breaking the Law by Gerri Detweiler on 04 11 2011 Every year , the Federal Trade Commission makes a report to Congress describing the debt collection complaints they received . 6

  • Credit.com News Advice page 7

    Updated: 2011-04-21 11:00:03
    Follow Us Frontpage Topics Contributors Archives Subscribe Credit.com Posts Painted Ads Can Help Consumers Cut Mortgage Obligations by Credit.com on 04 09 2011 Adzookie , a mobile advertising company based in California , recently launched a new campaign that will allow consumers to pay their 0 comments by Credit.com on 04 09 2011 Consumers Reduce Credit Card Borrowing Again by Credit.com on 04 08 2011 Revolving credit , the type typically associated with credit card debt , fell 4.1 percent in February , marking the second straight month 0 comments by Credit.com on 04 08 2011 Cleveland Versus Wall Street by Christopher Maag on 04 08 2011 How do you make a documentary movie about a trial that never happened Run your own . trial That’s the gamble made in 0 comments by Christopher Maag on 04

  • Did Citigroup Inc (NYSE:C) Have Good Results, Or Really Bad?

    Updated: 2011-04-21 05:32:40
    It depends on who you ask. Although investors reacted positively to the Citigroup Inc (NYSE:C) quarterly results that came out earlier this week, revenues have actually declined significantly since the last reporting period. What do you think? Are you bullish or bearish on Citigroup, or are you neutral? Sound off in the comments section directly below.

  • Cisco Systems Inc's (CSCO) Charitable Deed

    Updated: 2011-04-20 22:12:45
    MARKET BRIEF: Sounds like Cisco Systems Inc (NASDAQ:CSCO) knows a good PR opportunity when it sees one. From Bloomberg earlier today: "Google is contributing $100 million for startup companies to use the company's advertising services. American Express will offer $125 million in purchasing discounts and business services and Cisco will provide training for 6,000 entrepreneurs." Personally, I think Google offered by far the most generous assistance -- $100 million of highly targeted search advertising will help burgeoning entrepreneurs arguably much more than "training" (kinda vague, right?) from Cisco.

  • Citigroup Inc (NYSE:C) Revenues 'Continue To Plunge'?

    Updated: 2011-04-20 21:03:14
    LOOKING CLOSER: From FierceFinance: "Citigroup (NYSE:C) beat analysts' estimates by a thin margin for the first quarter of 2011, reporting 10 cents a share. But there's plenty of reason for concern. The profit mainly reflected the release of funds previously set aside to cover bad debts; the bank released $3.37 billion in the quarter. The top line is certainly a cause for worry. Revenues came in at $19.7 billion, down 22 percent from a year ago and well below analysts' expectations of around $20.8 billion." This certainly flies in the face of the initial very positive reaction to Citigroup's quarterly...

  • Want the Absolute Lowest APRs? Join a Credit Union

    Updated: 2011-04-20 14:00:24
    Want the Absolute Lowest APRs Join a Credit Union by Clinton Jackson on April 20, 2011 According to BankRate.com , credit card rates offered by credit unions are almost 2 lower than the industry average . Late fees , balance transfer fees , and annual fees are often lower for credit union credit cards as . well On the surface , switching to a credit union credit card could save you thousands of dollars each year but do these numbers tell the entire story Why Are Credit Union Rates Lower Credit unions are able to offer lower rates because of their ownership structure . Banks are owned by shareholders , and shareholders require the bank to maximize profit . Credit unions , on the other hand , typically operate as nonprofit entities owned by members of the credit union . This means the

  • Which Card Issuer Has the Unhappiest Customers?

    Updated: 2011-04-19 14:00:57
    Which Card Issuer Has the Unhappiest Customers by jimkozyra on April 19, 2011 Most credit card customers particularly those carrying a balance are unhappy . This is because people hate hemorrhaging money faster than they can make it . Perhaps to alleviate this feeling , some credit card companies still do a good job of making their customers feel special , loved and appreciated , no matter . what Here is a list of those card issuers , the ones currently drawing the ire of many consumers , who seem to have the most unhappy : customers 3. American Express Despite the fact that it seems to be noticeably absent from everywhere you want to be , American Express has also been the subject of criticism from such websites as The Consumerist and Pissed Consumer These websites are made by the people

  • Attention Citigroup & Capital One Customers: You’ve Been Hacked!

    Updated: 2011-04-18 14:00:43
    : Attention Citigroup Capital One Customers : You’ve Been Hacked by jimkozyra on April 18, 2011 Albert Gonzalez’s mug shot profile pic A professor is late to his class . A mother drops the F-bomb in front of her teenage children . A mime is murdered with no witnesses around to hear his scream . Though all of these occurrences are dripping with delicious irony , there is nothing more rewarding than discovering that the same financial institutions who relentlessly preach password security to their customers have been HACKED Until of course you remember that you have three credit cards with each of . them Fear not , 80 of America , it would appear as though your world is safe for now Although Epsilon the Internet marketers behind Walgreens , Target , Tivo , Capital One , Citigroup and about

  • Australia Lowers Visa Assessment Levels

    Updated: 2011-04-12 15:49:26
    As of April 2nd 2011, the visa assessment levels for 38 countries have officially been lowered for those wanting to study in Australia. What this means is that students will have less documents to submit to apply for a visa, hopefully making it easier for students to gain entry to study in Australia. With the [...]

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