Credit Card Debt Tips
September 24, 2006
Getting into debt is always very easy to do especially with a credit card handy. Here’s an article that talks about that debt and how to get out of it.
Communist Credit Cards
September 20, 2006
Wal-Mart is launching a new credit card in China. This is especially interesting because China seems to really be a cash economy. According to the Wall Street Journal’s article, less than 5% of Chinese consumers have credit cards. Most people I know here are paid with envelopes of cash.
The Wall Street Journal says that Wal-mart’s new card is a joint venture with China’s Bank of Communications. The card is a regular credit card that can be used both in China and abroad, but users will also receive Wal-Mart discounts. If this goes well, it could facilitate currency exchange for expats and travelers by offering a dual-currency credit that works easily in both countries. If not, then Bank of Communications and Wal-Mart will soon be yet another place to hear the foriegner mei you.
Wal-Mart, credit cards… soon China will have all the comforts of home!
In case you missed it: Chinese Wal-mart forms a union.
Credit Card Clauses Can Create Rate Hikes, For You!
September 20, 2006
If you have a credit card you will want to hear this scary story. Most people are unaware of a clause that can let credit card companies raise your interest rates and it is legal as one adult teen found out.
Vicky Gillespie pays her bills on time and was shocked to one day find that her credit card company had risen her rates from 13.3 percent to well over 21 percent. While she was still reeling from that shocker, her next statement gave her another hit. The rates went from over 21 percent to 31.5 percent after she cancelled the card.
It turns out that she had forgotten to pay her car payment and it was now 30 days later. It didn’t help that the check she sent in was bounced back because she accidentally filled it out wrong.
The problem arose due to the fact that her credit score went down because of the late payment. Even though the car payment was not paid with her credit card, the company was still allowed to raise her fees even though she had never sent them a late fee.
So simply put, they can make extra money off of you if you are late with rent, car payments, utility bills, etc. I don’t think businesses think about the long run. Sure they can legally raise her fees because of this even though she has shown them she is a good customer. But by doing that they have lost her as a customer probably forever and more than likely any other person this is done too.
Best of Niner Niner September 06
September 18, 2006
In Blogging Naked, Britain holds their first masturbate-a-thon and in China they put an end to funeral stripteases
And in Bookadoodle Nancy Callahan continues her Getting Published series, while Starbucks sells childrens books and publishers contine to make billions
Next up in Boomer 2.0 scientists try to map our neanderthal genes
The unemployed get credit cards in Credit Cardenza
Dealsneak continues to show the latest deal around the web with cheap wine, free products, and discounts.
Jewel thieves, Kiwi casino, and another poker pub strategy article all sweep into Games For Money.
High Heels Blog: Nancy gives us a look at ballet inspired heels and Victoria Secrets peeptoe wedges.
In Hipaa Blog VA data is lost once again.
Over at HyperGadget we see that Ditty is no more, a real universal remote control can really control the universe, and microchipped passports.
In the Medcare Forum Doctor Medicare payments are cut and low income families should apply for medicaid.
On Healthy Living: Learn 5 good and bad cholesterols, answer the question: Which Has More Germs, Cell Phone or Toilet Seat? and try these Delicious Seafood and Fish Recipes
Head over to On Movies and read Leafworks reviews on movies such as Snakes on A Plane, RV, Final Destination 3, The Descent, and John Tucker Must Die
Powersellers Blog shows that Ebayers are still mad at the rate increases, Ebay Pays Attention to Shipping abuse and Nancy tells about selling in Squidoo.
SEO Updates: Google finally updated Blogger, Yahoo gets hit by a worm and Subtle copy changes can make a difference
In The Diet Logs, Nancy shows us how the 10 Slim-Down Strategies and The Antidote for a High-Fat Meal
Look for the dysfunction in The Single Life, perfect your pickup lines and then head over to Fallout
Wander Worlds: Honesty isn’t always best, leafworks reviews The Siren Project, Lipgloss, and Faith and the Muse.
Citi Professional Card
September 10, 2006
Citibank has a Citi Professional Card.
It has no late fees and no annual fee, and 10,000 bonus points after your first purchase (which you can redeem on a $100 gift card). After that, you’ll receive 1 point per dollar spent, but 3 points if you spend that dollar for auto rentals, at restaurants or at gas stations.
No Reward
September 6, 2006
If you love getting those rewards from your credit card company such as cash back on gas purchases or airline miles, you will disappointed to know that two major credit card companies are dropping their reward packages.
Citigroup (Mastercard) and American Express are both cutting back if not cancelling some of the freebies and cash backs that they have been giving customers for years. The 5 percent cashback you received from Citigroup will now drop back to 2 percent.
“We knew they wouldn’t be around forever,” said Curtis Arnold, the founder of CardRatings.com, a Web site where consumers rate credit card deals.
Hardekopf said credit card issuers are not losing money on the rewards programs, “but it wasn’t as profitable as other areas so they’ve started to cut back.”
Gasoline sellers, meanwhile, haven’t announced major rewards program cuts on their cards. But Arnold said the major credit card companies have pretty much achieved their goal of getting consumers to use their credit cards very often, for purchases big and small. Merchants pay the card companies a fee for each transaction.
“If the merchants are paying 2 or 3 percent, Citibank can’t afford to give you 5 percent, unless Citi gets the money by some other means such as fees or off your revolving balance,” he said.
Indian Call Centre Employee Caught On Theft Charges
September 4, 2006
Many American companies use call centres aka customer service reps in India because they can pay them pennies on the dollar. Many have complained about this for various reasons and stories like this will only add fuel to the fire.
Sulagna Ray, 23 stole credit card information from US customers and then proceeded to go on an internet shopping spree that included an air-conditioner, microwave, cosmetics, saris, jewellery and chocolate.
After a company in California complained, police tracked Ray through the online stores and recieved her address. She is now on her way to court.
