Did Your Credit Card Issuer Close Your Account?
Did Your Credit Card Issuer Close Your Account? Credit Cards by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email “We are writing to advise you about a change being made to your account.” This prologue is a part of letters being sent to millions of U.S consumers and sets an ominous tone for the remainder of the communication. […]
Should I Take Advantage of A Credit Card Payment Holiday?
Should I Take Advantage of A Credit Card Payment Holiday? Credit Cards by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email Simply put, a payment holiday lets you skip a payment. It is usually offered by your credit card company in December and is a marketing gimic to gain loyalty and income for the financial institution. One way […]
Do I have to carry a balance on my credit card in order to build credit faster?
Do I have to carry a balance on my credit card in order to build credit faster? Auto Loans by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email “John, I’ve read that you can build credit faster if you carry a balance on your credit cards. Is that true? That seems like an expensive way to establish credit […]
According to the CFPB, the CARD Act helped to reduce fees and make credit card terms easier to understand
According to the CFPB, the CARD Act helped to reduce fees and make credit card terms easier to understand Credit Cards by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email I’m no fan of the CARD Act, and I think I’ve made that clear. It treats adults like children and assumes that we need to be protected from […]
Why Did I Get IRS Form 1099-C From My Credit Card Issuer?
Why Did I Get IRS Form 1099-C From My Credit Card Issuer? Credit Cards by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email I received my first 1099 for tax year 2012 last week. And while the weather suggests “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” it’s also a reminder that we’re only 3 months away from […]
How Do I Calculate My Credit Card Usage Percentage?
How Do I Calculate My Credit Card Usage Percentage? Credit Cards by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email It’s one of the most important components in your credit score, and one of the most misunderstood. It’s “revolving utilization”, also commonly referred to as the credit card usage percentage or the balance to limit percentage. They’re all […]
How Much Of Your Credit Card Limit Should You Use?
How Much Of Your Credit Card Limit Should You Use? Credit Cards by David B. Coulter Share Share Email It can be exciting when, signing up for a new credit card, you discover that the bank is offering you a higher borrowing limit than you first anticipated. Recognizing that, with your three credit cards, you […]
Does the FCRA Require Credit Card Issuers To Report To The Credit Bureaus?
Does the FCRA Require Credit Card Issuers To Report To The Credit Bureaus? Credit Cards by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email I received the following question from a twitter follower and fellow CrossFitter today. If you have a credit question for me please feel free to add them as a comment to any of my […]
When Using a Store Credit Card is Beneficial
When Using a Store Credit Card is Beneficial Credit Cards by David B. Coulter Share Share Email I have a friend who recently got married. After visiting the traditional suit rental shops in the mall, he was leaving through Macy’s. Provincially, it happened to be one of Macy’s biggest sales days of the year. After […]
Why Isn’t My Prepaid Debit Card On My Credit Report?
Why Isn’t My Prepaid Debit Card On My Credit Report? Credit Cards by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email Prepaid debit cards have been all over the consumer finance news for the past year. They are becoming a more popular choice for consumers who don’t want or can’t get credit cards or traditional bank accounts. The […]