Category: Credit Cards & Scoring
The analysis published under this category are as follows.
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
The Beginner's Guide to Credit Repair / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Steve_Barker
If you're like most people, you probably don't think about your credit score until there's a problem. And by then, it can be too late. Your credit score is one of the most important numbers in your life, and it's important to understand how it works and how to improve it. In this blog post, we will discuss the basics of credit repair and give you some tips on how to get started.
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Sunday, January 24, 2021
How Does Credit Repair Work? / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Sumeet_Manhas
Anyone who has had bad credit in the past will know how difficult it is to apply for a credit card, get a loan, or purchase a home. However, there are several things we can do to improve our credit rating. One of the most talked about ways of improving your credit rating is to hire a credit repair company. These companies claim that they can improve your credit rating in return for a fee. But is this even possible? Keep reading below to find out all you need to know about how credit repair works and whether a credit repair company can help you:
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Sunday, December 20, 2020
5 Things To Consider Before Hiring A Credit Repair Company / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Steve_Barker
Are you planning to secure a loan or to buy your first home? When you are planning to do these things, your credit score is an important factor. Even when you are investing or saving up, your credit score is directly affected.
A good credit standing is your ticket to getting that big plan into a reality. Poor credit standing won’t allow you to qualify for a credit card application or a mortgage application. Your credit score directly affects your financial security. So, if you are having a hard time making your credit standing look good, you may opt to hire a credit repair company. Rebuilding your credit score takes time and a lot of theoretical knowledge, which can drain you out or gets you burnt out. You would not want to go through all the stress in trying to level up your financial standing.
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Sunday, April 05, 2020
Visa Denials: How to avoid it and what to do if your Visa is denied? / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Submissions
When it comes to visa stories, there are as many success stories out there as there are sob stories. It is even safe to say that the sob stories exceed the success stories these days. And they continue to grow by the day.
In fact, according to a recent survey conducted on U.S. immigration history, it has been established that the United States alone denies nearly 4 million visa applications every year for a variety of reasons. And like that wasn’t enough; under the administration of Donald Trump, the denial rate has jumped from 8.3% to 11.3 percent in the last few years, a 37% jump in rejection rate.
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Friday, March 08, 2019
How High Cost Credit Affects Financially Unstable Families / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Submissions
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Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Credit Card 0% Deals Cut Down to Combat Debt Crisis / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Customers looking to switch their debts from one interest-free balance transfer deal to another will now have less time to repay their debt before interest applies compared to a year ago. In February 2018, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) introduced new rules to tackle the issues surrounding persistent debt and gave providers until September to adhere.
Since then, research from Moneyfacts.co.uk can reveal that the longest deal available today on 0% introductory balance transfers is 32 months, down by five months since this time a year ago, when the longest was 37 months. This is a steady decline in lengthy deals and seems set to continue.
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Saturday, January 12, 2019
Things to do Before Choosing the Right Credit Card / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Submissions
So, you have been getting these emails from your banks, subject - “You are eligible for our credit card”. After prolonged brainstorming and numerous consulting sessions you have decide to apply for your first credit card. However, have you done your research well enough? Here are 5 things you need to do before selecting the right credit card.
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Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Cashback Credit Cards in Countdown to Christmas Shopping / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Now that there are only five weeks to go until Christmas Day, consumers may be wondering how they will cover the cost and how they can make the most of every purchase, be it gifts or groceries.
The latest research from Moneyfacts.co.uk compares some of the best cashback credit cards around, as well as looking at other ways to make the festive season more rewarding.
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Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Credit Card Debt and the Costs of Borrowing Are on the Rise / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
The quarterly Moneyfacts UK Credit Card Trends Treasury Report, which studies the UK personal finance market (Unsecured Personal Loans, Credit Cards and Overdrafts), reveals that the average purchase and cash rates on credit cards have risen during Q2 2018, as has the average cash withdrawal fee. This comes at a time when credit card borrowing is on the rise, up by around £3 billion year-on-year, while £318 million of credit card debt was written off in the first quarter of 2018*.
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Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Credit Card's Loyalty Stretched as Cash Back Rewards Culled / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Shoppers looking to get a little back when they spend often turn to reward or cashback credit cards. Unfortunately, if customers look closely at the rewards they get when they spend, they might feel they are getting get back very little back on their spending, particularly in comparison to a few years ago.
One reason for this decline stems from a shake-up in the credit card market in 2015, when the EU interchange fee cap ruling was implemented. Its purpose was to save consumers money at the tills by capping the transaction fee for using their card. Yet, as a result, consumers are now facing a cull in the number of rewards and cashback credit card offers, as providers pull back their generosity.
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Tuesday, March 06, 2018
Credit Card Customers Prepare for Debt Crackdown / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Consumers who frequently use their credit cards to cope with everyday costs and large purchases may be concerned by the latest scrutiny in the market. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has, as of this month, given credit card providers six months to adhere to the new rules that tackle the issues surrounding persistent debt*.
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Sunday, February 18, 2018
Get on Top Of Debt Before It Gets on Top of You / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Boris_Dzhingarov
The financial markets are in a constant state of flux. Judging from the current volatility in equities markets, one would be remiss not to pay attention to economic indicators when making trading or investment decisions. For example, one of the most important components of investment-related decision-making is interest rates. On Wednesday, 21 March 2018, the Fed FOMC will be meeting to discuss another possible rate hike. The federal funds rate (FFR) is expected to rise 25-basis points in the region of 1.50% – 1.75%. The current probability of such a rate hike taking place is 83.1%. This has far-reaching ramifications on a typical US household’s ability to manage debt repayments.
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Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Cold Start to the Year as Interest-free Credit Card Competition Stalls / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Entering a new year could open new opportunities to pay back debts, so we typically start to see competition heat up in the 0% balance transfer credit card market. However, so far this year these much-anticipated deals have been put on a bit of a back-burner, as there have been very few launches or improvements in the sector. Since the start of January, only two card providers (AA and Barclaycard) have improved or launched interest-free balance transfer offers.
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Monday, December 18, 2017
Balance Transfer Fees Fall to Lowest Level in Over a Decade / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
The quarterly Moneyfacts UK Credit Card Trends Treasury Report (recently published), which studies the UK personal finance market, highlights that the average balance transfer fee has fallen to reach the lowest level seen in over a decade.
At a time when the length of interest-free balance transfers faces scrutiny, it appears that providers are finding alternative ways to entice borrowers. As a result, the average balance transfer fee has hit 2.03%, down from 2.11% in September and 2.29% a year ago. The current average is the lowest seen since it hit 1.82% in October 2006.
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Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Christmas Cashback Credit Cards Analysis / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
The cost of Christmas is officially on the rise, as inflation sits at a five-year high of 3%, and food and energy prices are rising, which means running the boiler and buying those all-important Christmas groceries will cost more. With around five weeks left to go until the big day, consumers are likely to be concerned about how much the festive season will dent their bank balance.
Unfortunately, shoppers will find that interest-free deals on credit cards have been shrinking over the past six months, giving consumers fewer months to spread the cost of Christmas. At the same time, the cost of withdrawing cash using a credit card is on the rise and cashback cards are becoming far less rewarding. The latest research from moneyfacts.co.uk compares some of the best deals around, which could help shoppers make the most of rewarding credit cards and current accounts throughout the festive season.
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Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Why Having Good Credit Is Important If You Want to Invest / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Boris_Dzhingarov
There are a million and one ways to acquire wealth but the best way to become financially stable involves making long-term investments. And while you only need initial capital to actually make an investment, most people who think about having a better future also know that credit is important. So, how exactly can having a good credit score be beneficial when it comes to investing? Generally speaking, most people who choose to invest their money in stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds have a solid plan for their futures. Not only do they engage credit repair services to eliminate negative trade lines and improve their credit scores, they’re also interested in building investments for retirement, becoming homeowners, and balancing their debt to income ratios. If you are looking to build a healthy portfolio and have investments that you can be proud of these are the reasons that credit absolutely counts.
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Lingering Debt Warning as Credit Card Interest Rates Hit Record High / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
There has been a worrying rise in the number of consumers reliant on credit cards to keep their heads above water, as they stand a higher chance of being unable to repay their debt every month*.
Those who are only able to repay a very small portion of their card debts will find they have many years of debt ahead of them. To make matters worse, the cost of credit is rising, with moneyfacts.co.uk data showing that the average credit card APR has hit 23.0% APR, the highest recorded rate in over ten years**.
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Tuesday, June 06, 2017
Tips for Choosing the Best Credit Card / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Boris_Dzhingarov
When the time comes to get a credit card, you’ll have to take a moment to research your available options. Having a card certainly has its privileges. You’ll never need to worry about walking around with lots of cash in your pocket again. Plus, you get to experience an added sense of security by having access to cash and credit at a moment’s notice.
Tuesday, June 06, 2017
Fee-free 0% Balance Transfer Credit Cards For Shifting Debt / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Consumers with unsecured personal debt may opt for a balance transfer credit card to spread their repayments. However, the longest interest-free deal might not be the most cost-effective, as these interest-free cards usually charge a fee each time you switch. Luckily, not all cards apply such a fee.
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Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Credit Cards 0% Purchase Market Competition Heats Up / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
The credit card market has seen competition ramp up of late, with lenders fighting to sit at the top of the Best Buys. In the past, the lenders’ attention was focused mainly on the balance transfer market, however, research from moneyfacts.co.uk shows that introductory purchase cards are now benefitting from this fierce competition as well, with the average number of days available interest-free for purchases having increased by 37% in just one year.
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Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Record-breaking 0% Credit Card for Spending Deals / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
It’s impossible to plan for unexpected expenses, so those caught by surprise with breakdowns of white goods or even the necessity to replace a car will likely be hard-pressed to cover the cost at short notice. Fortunately for consumers who may not have a large enough nest-egg to dip into, there are an abundance of interest-free purchase credit cards to choose from that can help spread the cost.
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Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Best Cashback Credit and Debit Cards for Christmas / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Savvy shoppers will no doubt be looking to make the most of their hard-earned cash at this time of year, and they could attempt to earn some much-needed cashback each time they spend. However, with just five weeks to go until Christmas, there isn’t much time left to work out which are the good deals and which are the bad.
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Monday, October 31, 2016
Spooky Reality of Credit Cards High Balance Transfer Fees / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Having debt sitting on a card can be a scary thought, particularly if the debt is racking up interest. Borrowers would naturally assume that opting for the longest deal on offer would save them money, however, research from Moneyfacts.co.uk shows that some of longest deals can work out to be the most expensive.
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Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Points Reward Credit Cards that Become ‘Pointless’ / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Shoppers that frequently pay by card might decide to open a reward credit card to use as an alternative to their debit card, so that they can earn points every time they spend. However, not all cards are as rewarding as they may seem.
A points scheme is useful for those who want to gain a little extra by turning the points into vouchers or other rewards, but sometimes these rewards can take a long time and a significant spend to add up to anything worthwhile. In addition, some cards will charge higher rates of interest on purchases than could be achieved elsewhere, so if shoppers are not careful, the interest could outweigh any benefits.
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Tuesday, September 06, 2016
UK Credit Card Interest Rates on the Rise Despite Base Rate Cut / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Credit cards are a frequently used method of payment, but despite a record-low bank base rate, credit card interest rates are not on a downward trajectory. Credit card competition has been concentrated on interest-free credit deals, but the contest is less intense than previous years, with little change to the longest interest-free terms.
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Monday, July 18, 2016
With less cash to Spend Abroad, avoid unwanted Credit and Debit Card Fees / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
As holidaymakers prepare for their trip abroad, they may begin to realise that their travel cash will not be going as far as before. Thanks to fluctuating exchange rates, buying £200 worth of Euros today means €49 less spending money than a year ago, and a similar picture can be seen when buying £200 worth of dollars, with almost $48 less back compared with 2015. With this in mind it is vital for consumers to save cash where they can, and one way to do this is to be wary of using cards abroad.
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Tuesday, July 05, 2016
Use Credit Cards Sparingly to Avoid a Debt Hangover / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Credit cards have long been established as a popular payment method and are currently celebrating their 50th birthday in the UK. However, increasingly tempting credit card limits (Barclaycard estimates that the average limit is now a staggering £4,000) mean that borrowers could find themselves falling into a spiral of long-term debt.
However, credit cards can be helpful if used sparingly, and if borrowers ensure that they grab a good deal and pay more than the minimum repayment each month.
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Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Here’s a Trillion-Dollar Investment Opportunity for Those Few with No Debt / Companies / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: John_Mauldin
BY TONY SAGAMI
Politicians and central bankers throw the word “trillion” around as if it were chump change, but a trillion dollars is a huge mountain of money.
A trillion is equal to a thousand billions (1,000 x 1,000,000,000).
1,000 = one thousand
1,000,000 = one million
1,000,000,000 = one billion
1,000,000,000,000 = one trillion
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Monday, May 16, 2016
Watch Out For Fees When Using Your Credit Card Abroad / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Holidaymakers who are preparing to take a trip abroad may be busily sorting out their travel money and packing their last-minute essential items, which probably includes their debit or credit card.
Despite being a convenient payment method when at home, the latest research by Moneyfacts.co.uk reveals that debit cards and most credit cards charge for use abroad, which is why holiday-goers should consider taking out a more cost-effective card if they expect to use their plastic during a trip.
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Monday, February 29, 2016
Average Credit Card Interest Rates Hit All-time High / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
The credit card market continues to be inundated with introductory interest-free deals, but behind the scenes the latest research from Moneyfacts.co.uk can reveal that the average purchase rate on all credit cards has hit an all-time high of 21.6% APR*.
Cardholders with a high interest credit card may not be fully aware of how much they pay over the long term or how much they could save by switching to a better deal. For instance, sticking with a high interest card could mean that it will take almost four years to clear a debt of as little as £1,000.
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Friday, February 26, 2016
UK Credit Card Expenditure Statistics / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Rachel Springall, Finance Expert at Moneyfacts.co.uk, comments:
“The latest statistics from the UK Cards Association reveal the increasing popularity of contactless payments over cash. With 140 million contactless transactions made in December 2015, the equivalent of 52 payments every second, it’s fair to say that this method of payment has become a firm favourite among spenders.
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Tuesday, February 09, 2016
How to Save Money by Using a Money Transfer Credit card / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
The credit card market continues to thrive, which is great news for borrowers looking for low or interest-free deals on purchases and balance transfers. Credit cards designed for money transfers shouldn’t be overlooked either, as they can often be an innovative way of tackling expensive debts, such as bank overdrafts.
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Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Credit Cards Providers Fresh Battle for Balance Transfer Customers / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
The start of 2016 has initiated a fresh rate war between credit card providers, who have become embroiled in an intense battle to attract new customers.
Research from Moneyfacts.co.uk reveals that Bank of Scotland, Halifax, Lloyds Bank, TSB, Barclaycard and Tesco Bank have all scrambled to make changes to their balance transfer credit cards since the turn of the year by extending the interest-free terms or reducing the introductory balance transfer fee. Virgin Money also launched a 38-month 0% interest balance transfer deal (with a 2.79% fee) last week.
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Monday, November 09, 2015
As Credit Cards Interchange Cap Looms, Keep a Close Eye on Fees / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
The latest research by Moneyfacts.co.uk can reveal that credit card providers are anticipating the effects of the upcoming EU cap on interchange fees by taking a long, hard look at their credit card fees, rewards and interest rates.
On 9 December, credit and debit card processing fees, which are paid by a retailer’s bank to the cardholder’s bank for each purchase, will be capped at 0.30% and 0.20% respectively. The idea behind the change is that businesses will no longer have to pass excessive fees onto their customers.
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Monday, November 02, 2015
Customers Be Cunning With Cashback Cards When You Switch or Spend / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
In the run-up to the festive spending season, Moneyfacts.co.uk can reveal that customers could earn hundreds of pounds in cashback thanks to the enticing deals on offer today.
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Monday, October 12, 2015
Rise in Low Interest Rate Credit Card Deals, But Beware of Cash Charges / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
The latest research from Moneyfacts.co.uk shows that the number of low rate credit cards (cards charging less than 12%) has grown by a third in the past two years, rising from just 12 cards in 2013 to 16 today. The lowest purchase card now on offer charges just 6.4% APR for standard purchases and is the lowest rate card on the market since 2006, when a 5.9% APR card was available*.
These cards can be a cost-effective choice for those borrowers who are unsure about being able to clear their balance within the timeframe set by a card with an interest-free introductory purchase or balance transfer offer.
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Thursday, September 10, 2015
Virgin Money’s Record Beating 37-month 0% balance Transfer Credit Card / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Virgin Money has improved the terms of its Balance Transfer Credit Card MasterCard, increasing the 0% balance transfer term from 36 months to 37, the longest currently available. The card has therefore been awarded the highest Moneyfacts product rating of ‘outstanding’.
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Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Current Best CashBack Credit Card Pays 5% for first 3 months then upto 1.25% / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Nadeem_Walayat
The credit card issuers such as Capital One have been busy pulling the rug from under their most loyal customers where even a 10+ year relationship means nothing for the banks when it comes to continuing to offer cashback rewards, as customers will have been receiving a whole host of excuses as to why their cashback rewards are ending such as blaming the European Union proposed ruling on capping interchange fees on credit cards to 0.3% from a typical range of 0.6% to 0.8% currently charged on each transaction.
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Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Credit Card Interest Rates Rise to Record High While Rewards Dwindle / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Rachel Springall, Finance Expert at Moneyfacts.co.uk, comments: “Behind the spotlight on trendy introductory credit card offers, the cost of debt has risen to a record high of 20.6% APR*. At the same time, fears for the future of reward cards have increased, as their demise in the wake of the new ruling by the EU on interchange fees becomes a distinct possibility.
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Friday, April 10, 2015
Don’t Get Sandbagged: Here’s Where the “New Credit Scorers” Are Watching You / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Money_Morning
Shah Gilani writes: In our talks here over the last week or so, we’ve been focusing our attention on so-called “Disruptors” – the catalysts of change that are impacting everything we do.
And one particular point that I made underscores just how wide-ranging these Disruptor-driven changes really are.
As I told you all last week, Disruptors are already changing how we communicate (smartphones), how we date (Match.com, eHarmony), how we mate (Tinder… or so I’ve heard), what we eat (genetically modified and so-called “super foods”), how we work (Monster.com, Jobr), how we get heat, cooling and light (fracking), how we get around (Uber and Tesla), how we get where we’re going (GPS) – and where we stay once we get there (Airbnb).
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Thursday, September 25, 2014
5 Factors That Impact Your Credit Score / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Submissions
Boris Dzhingarov writes: Your ability to obtain credit is crucial to securing many of the biggest purchases in life, and this ability is largely dependent on your credit score. In many cases, the higher your score, the cheaper your credit will be. The key to maintaining a healthy score involves knowing exactly what factors contribute - and here are five of the most common.
Monday, August 11, 2014
They’re Lying To Us - Fake Credit Scores / Politics / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: John_Rubino
Like any other weak-willed entity, an over-indebted country eventually finds that formerly-easy things get harder to do. Today, for instance, banks are having trouble attracting customers with the kinds of credit scores that meet previously-set criteria for mortgages and car loans. As a result they’re writing fewer loans and the economy is seeing less debt-fueled growth than policy makers think is ideal for the run-up to the next election.
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Monday, February 17, 2014
Usurious Returns on Phantom Money: The Credit Card Gravy Train / Politics / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Ellen_Brown
The credit card business is now the banking industry’s biggest cash cow, and it’s largely due to lucrative hidden fees.
You pay off your credit card balance every month, thinking you are taking advantage of the “interest-free grace period” and getting free credit. You may even use your credit card when you could have used cash, just to get the free frequent flier or cash-back rewards. But those popular features are misleading. Even when the balance is paid on time every month, credit card use imposes a huge hidden cost on users—hidden because the cost is deducted from what the merchant receives, then passed on to you in the form of higher prices.
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Monday, November 12, 2012
Credit Card Interest Rates Hit 18-month High / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
While there is an abundance of interest-free purchase and balance transfer deals hitting the market, consumers need to be aware that the average purchase rate on credit cards has hit an 18-month high.
With customers generally taking advantage of interest-free deals, lenders need to sustain the offers, so rates are rising.
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Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Don’t Let Credit Debtit and Pre-Paid Card Charges Ruin Your Summer Holiday / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
After weeks of rain many people will be looking forward to their summer holiday and travel to warmer climes.
While arranging your spending money may not be the highlight of any holiday, a small amount of time and effort could see you making significant cost savings.
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Thursday, July 12, 2012
The Pitfalls Prepaid Credit Cards / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Prepaid cards are a useful cash management tool which is growing in popularity.
However, it would be easy to pick the wrong card if you have not first been honest about your spending habits.
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Monday, March 12, 2012
Desirable Credit Card Benefits, Far and Few Between / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Worldwide travel insurance is often considered a desirable credit card benefit; however, Moneyfacts research has shown that it’s offered on just 6 credit cards out of approximately 220 in the market.
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Wednesday, January 11, 2012
New Year, New Credit Card, But Watch Out for the Fees / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Balance transfer cards now offer the longest debt free deals on record, however, the fees charged to move to a balance transfer card are now at their highest level in four years, research by Moneyfacts.co.uk has revealed.
On average, balance transfer cards offer 356 days of interest free debt transfer compared to 295 days three years ago.
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Friday, November 18, 2011
Barclaycard’s 11% Cashback Incentive Credit Card / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Louise Holmes, spokesperson for Moneyfacts.co.uk, commented: “The news that Barclaycard has added an 11% cashback incentive to its Platinum Balance Transfer card until 31st December 2011, should please consumers.
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Friday, November 04, 2011
Best Cash Back Credit Cards for this Christmas / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
The festive season is nearly upon us and many people will be contemplating the task of Christmas shopping over the next few weeks.
Cashback credit cards are a good option for consumers who may be facing an expensive Christmas, as they offer rewards in return for spending. A range of cashback cards are available, offering varying rewards subject to how much and whereabouts consumers spend.
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Friday, October 28, 2011
In Praise of Credit Checks / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Jeffrey_A_Tucker
It was maybe third grade when the schoolyard was abuzz with a terrible thing. It was called the "permanent record." If you did something bad enough, it would go on the permanent record. And then a one-day slip up would turn into a deep scar, a mortal sin that would last forever and permanently reduce your chances to make it in life.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Your Paying a Bankers Bonus 3% Tax / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Rudy_Avizius
Are you WILLINGLY paying a 3% tax? Are you then paying this money so that it can leave your community, so it can be shipped to tax havens abroad and to pay for the bonuses of bankers and the Wall Street types?
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
UK Average Credit Card Interest Rates Hit 13 Year High / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Increased competition in the credit card market at the end of the 1990s meant rates started to fall, dropping to their lowest level in 2006.
Since 2006, as the economic downturn took hold, credit card rates have steadily increased, with the average rate for new customers today hitting a 13 year high of 18.9%.
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Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Top Three Ways to Boost Your Credit Rating / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Credit_Choices
Your credit rating is calculated by a credit reference agency. The agency will carry out a credit rating check by compiling information based on a variety of sources, such as the electoral role, financial data and court records. This information is sold onto lenders who will use it to decide whether to lend money or what deals to make available to the customer.
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Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Save on Credit Card Interest Rate Payments by Utilising Interest Free Credit Cards / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Credit_Choices
Paying interest on a credit card can take a big chunk out of your monthly earnings, so if you can avoid paying interest by using an interest free credit card, you should do so. There are now a variety of different credit card deals which can help you last longer without paying interest, you just need to know how to navigate the interest free credit card marketplace.
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Tuesday, September 14, 2010
What Are ‘Adverse Credit Cards'? / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Credit_Choices
David P Walker writes: Adverse credit cards are available for people who may not have access to the most competitive credit cards. This is usually because they have a bad credit rating, and are therefore considered by lenders to be in the ‘high risk’ category of borrowers. Adverse credit cards usually have higher interest rates and less features than other credit cards, making them an unattractive option for those who can take out other types of credit card. However, they can help to rebuild a good credit rating, if used sensibly.
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Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Top 5 Tips for Using a Credit Card Abroad / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Credit_Choices
Using a credit card abroad can be an expensive business. If you are planning to make use of your credit card abroad, there are some simple steps you can take to ensure you get the best deals and pay as few fees and charges as possible.
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Saturday, August 21, 2010
Poll Shows 7 in 10 Demand Lending Interest Rate Cap To Cover All Forms of Credit / ConsumerWatch / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Submissions
A new poll has found overwhelming public support for stricter limits on the cost of consumer credit.The poll, commissioned by Compass and Trident Reach from YouGov, found that 68% of respondents thought the government should introduce a lending rate cap to cover all forms of consumer credit, including unsecured credit.
Monday, June 07, 2010
UK Credit Card Market Back Open for Business / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
The credit card market has seen a resurgence in recent months as card providers once again put the ‘open for business’ sign in the window.
In the last year the number of cards charging no interest on new purchases for at least 10 months has increased by 450%.
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Thursday, March 18, 2010
Credit Risk Hits the 0% Balance Transfer Market / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Virgin Money’s decision to reduce its 0% balance transfer period from 16 to 14 months has highlighted another tactic by credit card providers who, over the course of the credit crunch, have adopted a risk based approach to lending.
The number of cards offering balance transfers has fallen by 10% since the credit crunch began in 2007. As of today, 152 out of 219 cards offer balance transfers deals, 140 of them at 0%.
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Monday, February 22, 2010
Two Cheers for Credit Cards / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Robert_Murphy
Ever since someone in grad school deviously introduced me to the concept of "irrational" debt aversion, I have been carrying credit-card balances that are far too high. Believe me, I understand the tricks these companies pull, like the clause in fine print where you unwittingly pledged away your firstborn.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Credit Card Interest Rates Hit 12 Year High Despite 0.5% Base Rate / Interest-Rates / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Increased competition in the credit card market at the end of the 1990s meant rates started to fall, dropping to their lowest level in 2006.
Since 2006 as the economic downturn took hold, credit card rates have steadily increased, with the average rate today hitting a 12 year high of 18.8%.
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Friday, January 22, 2010
Major Credit Card Changes Looming for 2010 / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Amber_Dakar
Do you remember the days of easy credit? It doesn’t seem that long ago when we “benefited” from loose lending standards in the credit card industry. It seemed like every day there were multiple credit card offers in the mailbox with no annual fees, extremely low and prolonged introductory interest rates, and very generous credit lines.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Greater Transparency and Control of Credit and Store Cards Needed / ConsumerWatch / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Moneyfacts.co.uk has delivered its response to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ consultation paper on ‘A better deal for consumers’ on credit and store cards.
Samantha Owens, Principal Consultant – Banking and Economic Insight at Moneyfacts.co.uk, commented: “Credit cards form an integral part of the financial services industry and allow customers to transact with convenience, reassurance of safety and added consumer protection.
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Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Beware of Credit and Debit Card Foreign Usage Charges this Winter / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
As winter draws nearer, many people will be considering booking a holiday to sunnier climates.
While using your credit or debit card may be the easiest way to pay for things while your away, costs can soon mount up.
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Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Credit Card Companies Forced to Reform Bad Practice / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Michelle Slade, spokesperson for Moneyfacts.co.uk comments: “For far too long the card companies have been able to get away with practices that are not in the best interests of the consumer.
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Thursday, October 01, 2009
Dormant Credit Cards Warning, Immediate Action Required as Good Customers to be Penalised / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Nadeem_Walayat
UK Credit card providers are implementing a whole host of charges and fees to penalise their 'good' customers for the losses suffered on their 'bad' customers that has resulted in bad debt writedown losses of £3.2 billion for the past 12 months.
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Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Stay in Control of Your Credit Card and Reap Cash Back Benefits / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Mentioning the word ‘cashback’ in the title of a financial product is a sure way to catch the eye of a potential customer. The prospect of receiving a payment from your lender or provider can be both refreshing and appealing to many customers, particularly those looking for credit cards.
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Wednesday, August 19, 2009
U.S. Hacker Steals 130m Credit Card Numbers / ConsumerWatch / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Pravda
The man who prosecutors said had masterminded some of the most brazen thefts of credit and debit card numbers in history was charged on Monday with an even larger set of digital break-ins.
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Friday, August 14, 2009
U.S. Credit Card Trap / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Jennifer_Barry
With U.S. household net worth down US$14 trillion since the peak in 2007, Congress has belatedly started to act concerned about the financial condition of the American consumer. In May, legislators passed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act to great fanfare. The law does end some of the worst abuses, prohibiting an increase in interest rates if a customer is late paying a different company, disallowing most retroactive rate hikes, and banning fees if the bank neglects to credit a payment.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Banks Squeeze Credit Card Account Holders / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Mike_Shedlock
In the course of this recession, consumer attitudes towards spending have changed. So have banks' attitudes towards lending.
In regards to consumer spending and credit cards, some consumers have had a voluntary attitude adjustment. Others have had an attitude adjustment thrust upon them. Several articles will show what I mean.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
How to Improve Your FICO Credit Rating Score / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Money_and_Markets
Nilus Mattive writes: In the Dividend Superstars issue that just went to press, I talked about FICO credit scores — the three-digit numbers that greatly determine how much money we can borrow, what interest rates we pay, and even how employers and landlords view us.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Credit Card Application Success, Increase Your Odds by Checking Your Eligibility / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneySupermarket
Getting a credit card on good terms has become a harder task over the last couple of years, with providers scrutinizing credit records like never before.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Credit Card Interest Rates Continue to Increase Despite Base Rate Cuts / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
The average credit card purchase rate continues to increase, today standing at 18.1%, up from 16.3% two years ago.
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Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Debt Is Financial Cancer! Minimize It, Pay It Off Early and Stay Away From Credit Cards / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Jack_Spirko
On the surface debt elimination may sound far and away from what people think of when they think of survivalism. The reality is the modern survival philosophy actually hinges on this tenet. Before we delve deeply into the topic though let’s just put it up against even the typical view of survivalism and ask if there is any place for debt-based living in the survival community.
Friday, May 08, 2009
Credit Card Companies Draw Battle lines / Politics / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Global_Research
Will The US Senate Pass Long Needed Reforms Of Credit Card Abuses?
I recently was advised by American Express, a company whose credit cards I pay in full each and every month, and with whom I have been a paying “member” since l981 that my credit card limit is being cut. I have become unworthy.
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Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Capital One sites Worsening Economic Conditions for Refusing Credit Cards / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Mike_Shedlock
Here is an interesting email from "Scott" who was denied a credit card from Capital One, on the basis of "worsening economic conditions" in his area. "Scott" says he has a FICO score of 800. From Scott .....
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Friday, April 24, 2009
Congress Targets Credit Card Companies Bad Practices / Politics / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Peter_Schiff
With much fanfare this week, Congress and the Administration began a series of actions designed to protect over-leveraged consumers from the high fees imposed by credit card lenders. As with most other initiatives devised by government, this policy will create a host of unintended consequences that will undermine the benefit the program hopes to create.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Warning, Beware of Credit and Debit Card Foreign Usage Charges / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
With the Easter bank holiday nearly upon us, many people will be looking to go abroad on holiday in the coming weeks. While using your credit or debit card may be the easiest way to pay for things while your away, costs can so mount up. Read full article... Read full article...
Friday, March 06, 2009
Nationwide to Introduce Fee on Debit and Credit Card Foreign Transactions / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Nadeem_Walayat
Millions of British consumers have long enjoyed the benefit of using the transaction fee free Nationwide credit cards abroad both when on holiday and for online purchases. However the Nationwide has now announced that they will be introducing a 0.84% fee from 6th of May which will rise to 1% on the 1st of June.Read full article... Read full article...
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Is Credit Card Relief Coming? / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Mike_Shedlock
Credit card defaults are soaring. And banks after having fought credit card reform for years are now in panic mode over losses.Newsday.Com asks Is Credit Card Relief Coming?
Banks, which are losing billions because many card holders aren't paying anything, seek OK to forgive up to 40% of strapped consumers' debts. Big banks have formed an unusual alliance with consumer advocates to urge the government to allow huge portions of credit card debt to be forgiven, a turnabout from recent years when the banking industry lobbied strenuously to make it harder for consumers to erase their credit card debts in bankruptcy.
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Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Pre Paid Credit Cards- Great Idea, or Financial Con? / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Mike_Gracia
Pre paid credit cards are, in a way, like a debit card, in that now actual credit is involved. They differ from debit cards however, because they are accepted pretty much anywhere that accepts the credit card brand (for example, MasterCard)Read full article... Read full article...
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
UK Credit Continues To Get More Expensive / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Michelle Slade, analyst at Moneyfacts.co.uk, comments: “With increasing costs on all household bills, many people are relying on their credit card to get by each month. But these people are going to find themselves out of pocket as purchase and cash rates, along with charges, continue to increase.Read full article... Read full article...
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Instant Decision Credit Cards– A quick fix for bad credit? / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Mike_Gracia
Many people are now aware that opening a new credit card and running the account well is one of the best ways of improving one's credit rating. Those with bad credit that are expecting to get one of the instant decision credit cards however, may be a tad disappointed.Read full article... Read full article...
Thursday, April 17, 2008
OFT credit card default charges– Two years on / ConsumerWatch / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
In April 2006 the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) declared that default charges on credit cards were too high and suggested capping these at £12. In the months that followed lenders cut these charges to £12 but in an attempt to recoup lost revenue, they hiked rates and charges elsewhere. Two years on, how much have the rates and charges on credit cards increased?Read full article... Read full article...
Thursday, April 10, 2008
What Are Air Mile Credit Cards? / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Mike_Gracia
As you spend money using your air miles credit card, you accrue points that you can redeem for car hire, flights, or hotels.Read full article... Read full article...
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Purchase credit card offers– The 10 Must read Tips for getting the best 0% card offers / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Mike_Gracia
0% on purchases … 0% on balance transfers … sounds great – We can't loose can we – Or can we!
We have put together a small list of tips to help consumers get the most from these promotional offers. With this guide, hopefully you will learn how to sieve through the multitude of deals, and get one that's right for you.
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Monday, April 07, 2008
Using Credit Cards Abroad– Avoid Nasty Charges and a Shock on Your Return! / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Mike_Gracia
Having a credit or debit card while on holiday can give you peace of mind, knowing that you are not having to carry large sums of money all the time.
But what about the costs of using your credit cards abroad ? If you do not use your card wisely, you could come home to a shock that turns the normal post holiday blues into a financial nightmare!
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Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Credit Card Balance Transfers – Not What They Used to be / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Samantha Owens, Head of Personal Finance at Moneyfacts.co.uk, comments on the 0% balance transfer deals and how this market has changed: “It was way back in 2004 when balance transfer fees first started to raise their ugly heads on 0% credit card deals. However with increasing levels of personal debt, the market for transferring balances has become more competitive, but for the consumer it has become harder to get these deals.Read full article... Read full article...
Thursday, November 15, 2007
How Much Does Your Christmas Shipping On Your Credit Card Really Cost? / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Nationwide
Half of credit card holders do not know the rate they pay
With Christmas around the corner people are getting ready for one of the most expensive and stressful times of the year. A new survey by Nationwide Building Society has revealed that the majority of respondents (55%) still brave busy shopping centres to buy most of their Christmas gifts rather than shopping online. In addition to this the research shows that half (50%) of respondents do not know what rate they pay on the credit card they use most often.
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Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Credit Crunch Causes Credit Card Chaos / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
A survey carried out by Moneyfacts.co.uk reveals in the last two months credit cards have been hit hard by rising charges, in particular cash withdrawal fees and rates,
- 69 cards have seen increased cash withdrawal fees
- 25 cards now face higher cash withdrawal rates
- 18 cards have been hit by higher foreign usage charges
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Using Your Credit and Debit Cards Abroad Could Cost You a Small Fortune… / ConsumerWatch / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Lisa Taylor, analyst at Moneyfacts.co.uk – the money search engine, comments: “With travellers cheques becoming less popular more of us are opting for the convenience of using our plastic when we jet off on our holidays. However many travellers are unaware of the level of costs associated with using debit and credit cards whilst abroad.
“We take it for granted that using our debit cards is free of charge whilst on home soil, so it’s not surprising that some consumers are shocked when they see how the charges stack up after using their card on holiday. With terms such as retail conversion charge, and foreign usage charge, it can be confusing for travellers to know exactly what types of fees they will be liable for, and how much it’s likely to add to the cost of their trip.
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Thursday, July 12, 2007
Don't Get Burnt with Unnecessary Foreign Credit Card Usage Fees this Summer / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Nationwide
Nationwide reveals holidaymaker's lost £326 million last year : With summer holidays around the corner, millions of holidaymaker's are planning to travel abroad. Despite shopping for the best holiday deal, many people overlook the foreign usage charges imposed by their card provider. Nationwide estimates that travelers wasted over £326 million* in unnecessary foreign loading fees on their credit card whilst abroad last year. The Society therefore urges consumers to pay as much attention when selecting the card they take abroad, as they do in choosing the perfect holiday destination.Read full article... Read full article...
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Tips For Responsible Credit Card Use When You Have Bad Credit / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Submissions
Here are some great tips for responsible credit card use.
If you have several credit cards look into transferring the balances to one or two that have the lowest interest rates and then get rid of the other credit cards. By limiting the number of credit cards that you own you will not have to worry about juggling a repayment schedule that you can't afford to keep up with. Once you have the balances on your remaining credit card under control then try to limit your purchases to things that you really need.
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Thursday, May 31, 2007
Credit card fees: What are you paying for? / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Michelle Slade of Moneyfacts.co.uk – the money search engine comments:“Since the OFTs intervention in the credit card market to cap penalty fees, card providers have used numerous rate and fee increases, and have tweaked terms and conditions in an attempt to recoup the lost revenue, with the latest tack being to introduce annual fees.
“Most annual fees recently introduced have the common condition to charge only when the card has low usage, either in terms of the frequency of transactions or their value.
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Wednesday, April 18, 2007
The Aftermath of the OFTs Credit Card Fee Capping Continues… / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Michelle Slade, personal finance analyst at moneyfacts.co.uk – the money search engine, comments: “It’s now almost a year since the OFT capped credit card penalty fees at £12, but the repercussions are still rumbling on with little sign of letting up. In the last two weeks alone a further seven providers have increased rates or fees (see table below).
“While other factors, including levels of bad debts will have an impact, it cannot be disputed that the OFTs actions has spread the cost burden to a much wider customer base, with card providers continually seeking ways to recoup this lost revenue.
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Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Easter Holiday Makers are Hopping Mad Over Credit & Debit Card Foreign Exchange Usage Fees / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Nationwide
UK holidaymakers wasted nearly £16 million last Easter
Nationwide Building Society is urging Easter holidaymakers across the country not to make the same mistake as last year by incurring unnecessary charges for using their cards abroad. Last Easter over 15 million* UK holidaymakers travelled to Europe and wasted nearly £16 million** in foreign usage charges on credit and debit cards.
This Easter, people heading abroad for a week of sun or for a city break should make the switch to one of Nationwide’s credit or debit cards, that all offer free card use abroad. Last Easter Nationwide saved its customers almost £1 million*** by not charging them for using their cards abroad.
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Friday, March 30, 2007
A dozen devious credit card cons / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: Fool.co.uk
A recent review of UK credit cards by fool.co.uk has identified no less than a dozen devious measures by banks to ensnare unsuspecting customers. These traps are designed not only to heap misery onto people in debt, but are also devised to ambush sensible card users.David Kuo, Head of Personal Finance at fool.co.uk , says: “Credit-card companies are increasingly targeting rate tarts and convenience users. In other words, they are picking on sensible customers who always pay their outstanding credit-card debts in full.
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Thursday, March 22, 2007
Credit card providers still clawing back lost fee income…. / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Michelle Slade, personal finance analyst at Moneyfacts.co.uk – THE money search engine, comments: “Almost one year on from the OFTs response to tackle ‘excessive’ default fees, the credit card market still remains unsettled. Battling with rising bad debts, Bank of England rate increases and a huge loss in revenue from the capping of default fees, credit card providers have been forced to look for other ways to maintain their income stream.
“In the last two weeks alone, six credit card providers have made major changes to some or all of their cards. Changes range from interest rate increases, by as much as 10% (on cash transactions), to shortening of interest free deals. If you delve further into the small print of their terms and conditions, cash withdrawal fees and foreign usage charges are rising, but perhaps the sneakiest of all is the requirement to make purchases as part of a 0% balance transfer deal.
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