Norfolk is the site of yet another credit card scam warning. People in the county have been telephoned by scam artists acting as though they are from the fraud and security department of Visa or MasterCard. These scammers are informing the consumer their credit card transactions have been flagged with unusual spending and they are calling to verify the purchase(s).
Of course in order to verify these fraudulent charges they must verify the consumer’s identity by getting the consumer to give their full name, address, and birth date. They also ask the consumer to confirm if they purchased an item for a large amount.
The scammers take it a bit further than others in the past. When the consumer states they have not made that purchase the scammer states they will credit the amount of the purchase back and open an investigation. T
Nationwide personal income decreased $16.8 billion, just 0.1 percent, in September from the rate observed in August, according to the latest figures from the Economics and Statistics Administration. Meanwhile, disposable personal income dropped $20.3 billion, or 0.2 percent. In addition, personal consumption expenditures climbed $17.3 billion, or 0.2 percent.
This came after an August that saw sizeable increases in income and disposable income, as well as a slightly sharper jump in personal consumption, the report said.
This marked the first decline in personal income since April, the report said. While June saw no improvements, there were somewhat significant increases in May, July and August.
Private wage and salary disbursements increased $3.3 billion in September, up slightly from a far steeper increase of $23.6 billion in August, the report said. Read more…
With less than 10 weeks to Christmas you may be thinking about getting a credit card to help manage your spending this festive season.
We usually don’t advocate mentioning Christmas before November (at least), or that you should use a credit card to plug a spending gap (unless you can pay the amount off in full).
However, we do appreciate that the festive season is one time that many might want to splash out and if you have the right credit card to manage your spending you can limit the damage to your finances.
It can take up to a month for an application to be processed so if you want to get a new credit card in time for your Christmas shopping you will need to apply as soon as possible.
0% purchase credit cards
If you want to spread the cost of your shopping over a longer period then a 0% credit card might be the best option for you.
By spending on this type of card you can take advantage of introductory 0% interest (usually up to 12 months).
If you know you’re not going to be able to pay off the balance of your festive splurge immediately then you can spread out the repayment over a longer length of time.
There are several cards available at the moment with 0% interest on purchases here are our top picks.
Tesco Clubcard credit card* Rate: 0% for 13 months then 16.9% APR Balance transfer offer: 0% for 9 months (then 18.26%) with a 2.9% fee. Extras: This card also allows you to collect Clubcard points everytime you use it for purchase.
Barclaycard Platinum Visa* Rate: 0% on purchases for 12 months then 16.9% APR Balance transfer offer: 0% for 12 months (then) 2.9% balance transfer fee Extras: No transfers are allowed from other Barclaycards.
Sainsbury’s credit card* Rate: 0% on purchases for 12 months then 15.9% APR Balance transfer offer: 0% for 12 months (15.94%) 3% balance transfer fee Extras: Only available to existing Nectar card holders. Read more…
Each financial action a consumer takes may affect their credit score, causing it to constantly change.
The economic downturn has put Americans’ credit scores in the limelight, especially as more homeowners struggle to stave off foreclosure by refinancing or modifying their mortgage loans. Although a large majority of Americans are working to improve their scores, it’s important to understand how credit scoring works – and the factors that cause consumer scores to constantly undergo changes.
Credit scores provide a snapshot of a consumer’s financial health. This information is largely determined by the information on an individual’s credit report and his or her payment history, both of which evolve on a monthly basis. For example, if a consumer is late with a payment, his or her credit score will decline slightly. Read more…
Instant approval credit cards offer the quickest way to apply for a credit card. Many of these cards provide decisions as to whether you are approved or not within 60 seconds of submitting your application. All you do is complete an online application and you will get your answer right away. An instant approval credit card does not necessarily mean you automatically get approved, as you do still have to meet the credit criteria for the card. Here are a list of 5 American Express Rewards Cards that offer an instant approval after you complete and submit the online credit card application.
American Express Blue Cash
When you shop with Blue Cash, you can earn up to 5% cash back on every eligible purchase
The Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is doubling the reward points you can earn on everyday purchases during the first year anniversary celebration of their PenFed Premium Travel Rewards American Express® Card, now until December 31, 2010. The PenFed Premium Travel Rewards American Express Card offers exceptional earn rates, including 5x points on airfare, and, for a limited-time, 3x points on hotels and dining and double points on virtually all other purchases. There are no caps or limits on the number of points cardholders can earn, and there are no foreign transaction fees.
