Should you use a credit or debit card?
In the debate over credit cards versus debit cards, proponents of both sides have good reasons for embracing one method and rejecting the other. The case for credit The greatest advantage a credit card offers is security. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA), if someone uses your card number fraudulently to go on a spending spree, federal law limits your liability to $50. And many... READ MORE
Get and check free weekly credit reports
The three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — will continue to offer a free credit report to consumers each week at AnnualCreditReport.com until April 20, 2022. The extension follows the bureaus’ move in spring 2020 to provide free weekly reports as the coronavirus pandemic struck the U.S., causing financial hardship for Americans who lost their job or... READ MORE
Reap cash rewards by referring friends
Do you like your credit card or bank account enough to recommend it to a friend or family member? If so, you may be able to scoop up extra cash, rewards points or frequent-flier miles by making a referral — and your friend may get a bonus, too. Several major card issuers provide referral bonuses to eligible cardholders. Chase, for example, offers $100 cash back for each friend who... READ MORE
Is your credit report wrong? What to do
Consumers filed complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in record numbers in 2020, according to a report released last month by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group. Credit reporting issues were cited in 282,000, or 63%, of the complaints. The majority noted “incorrect information” on credit reports or “information... READ MORE
Why to always use at least one credit card
Certified financial planner David Rae said he used to think that “anyone who could draw breath” could get an auto loan. Then one of his millionaire clients tried to buy a car — and failed. The 42-year-old client was turned down for a loan because he had no credit scores, said Rae, who is based in Los Angeles. Nineteen million American adults are “unscoreable,” lacking enough ... READ MORE
Store card could torpedo your credit score
When a sales clerk cheerfully asks, “Would you like to save 20 percent on your purchases today by opening a card with us?” you may think you’re getting a bargain. But the reality sounds a lot less cheery: “Would you be interested in a low-limit card that could damage your credit standing?” Credit expert John Ulzheimer warns that opening a new store card could hurt your... READ MORE
