Comments on: Our Holiday Wish List: Five Things from Card Companies http://blog.filife.com/our-holiday-wish-list-five-things-from-card-companies/ A production of FiLife, a new personal-finance site that goes live later this year. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:18:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Ron Lieber http://blog.filife.com/our-holiday-wish-list-five-things-from-card-companies/#comment-472 Ron Lieber Wed, 26 Dec 2007 16:35:25 +0000 http://www.filife.com/our-holiday-wish-list-five-things-from-card-companies/#comment-472 yeah, the schumer box: http://www.credit.com/slp/chapter4/Look-for-the-Schumer-Box.jsp was supposed to help with this, but there are all sorts of other thing that ought to be in the box that aren't, including a clear explanation of how the rewards, if any, work yeah, the schumer box:

http://www.credit.com/slp/chapter4/Look-for-the-Schumer-Box.jsp

was supposed to help with this, but there are all sorts of other thing that ought to be in the box that aren’t, including a clear explanation of how the rewards, if any, work

]]> By: Jess http://blog.filife.com/our-holiday-wish-list-five-things-from-card-companies/#comment-471 Jess Wed, 26 Dec 2007 13:03:18 +0000 http://www.filife.com/our-holiday-wish-list-five-things-from-card-companies/#comment-471 I wish the whole business of credit cards were more transparent. Banks always conceal something, or make the terms so complicated that regular consumer can hardly understand them. I wish the whole business of credit cards were more transparent. Banks always conceal something, or make the terms so complicated that regular consumer can hardly understand them.

]]> By: Gary Steiger http://blog.filife.com/our-holiday-wish-list-five-things-from-card-companies/#comment-352 Gary Steiger Fri, 30 Nov 2007 21:10:15 +0000 http://www.filife.com/our-holiday-wish-list-five-things-from-card-companies/#comment-352 Most banks offering 0% on balance transfers obscure the fact that if you make purchases on the card or have purchases listed on your account at the time of the transfer, those purchases will be charged interest. This because payments are credited to the lower interest bearing balance first. Info on how to use these offers profitably (I have been doing so for years) can be found on my website. Credit Cards > Important Starting Info > Cautions. My wish would be that banks make this very clear up front. Of course, if they were to do that, there would no longer be incentive to make 0% offers. Gary Steiger Free Frequent Flyer Miles http://www.freefrequentflyermiles.com/index.htm Most banks offering 0% on balance transfers obscure the fact that if you make purchases on the card or have purchases listed on your account at the time of the transfer, those purchases will be charged interest. This because payments are credited to the lower interest bearing balance first.

Info on how to use these offers profitably (I have been doing so for years) can be found on my website. Credit Cards > Important Starting Info > Cautions.

My wish would be that banks make this very clear up front. Of course, if they were to do that, there would no longer be incentive to make 0% offers.

Gary Steiger
Free Frequent Flyer Miles
http://www.freefrequentflyermiles.com/index.htm

]]> By: Gary Steiger http://blog.filife.com/our-holiday-wish-list-five-things-from-card-companies/#comment-351 Gary Steiger Fri, 30 Nov 2007 21:07:32 +0000 http://www.filife.com/our-holiday-wish-list-five-things-from-card-companies/#comment-351 The Pentagon Federal Credit Union Visa cards charges only 1% (the Visa charge) for foreign currency transactions. But it pays back 1.25% on all purchases, and 5% for gasoline purchases paid at the pump. I am not sure if the 5% is available outside of the U.S., but I get a minimum 1/4 % profit from foreign currency purchases. A very large number of people can join the credit union for free. Everyone else can still join by first joining a military family support organization for $20. Details on my website below. Credit Cards > Free Cards > Cash Back Cards. Gary Steiger Free Frequent Flyer Miles www.freefrequentflyermiles.com The Pentagon Federal Credit Union Visa cards charges only 1% (the Visa charge) for foreign currency transactions. But it pays back 1.25% on all purchases, and 5% for gasoline purchases paid at the pump. I am not sure if the 5% is available outside of the U.S., but I get a minimum 1/4 % profit from foreign currency purchases.

A very large number of people can join the credit union for free. Everyone else can still join by first joining a military family support organization for $20.

Details on my website below. Credit Cards > Free Cards > Cash Back Cards.

Gary Steiger
Free Frequent Flyer Miles
http://www.freefrequentflyermiles.com

]]> By: Ron Lieber http://blog.filife.com/our-holiday-wish-list-five-things-from-card-companies/#comment-349 Ron Lieber Wed, 28 Nov 2007 19:55:46 +0000 http://www.filife.com/our-holiday-wish-list-five-things-from-card-companies/#comment-349 Thanks Nicole -- It's only recently that merchants here have even had the choice about whether to accept debit but ban credit. So far very few of them have tried this out... Thanks Nicole — It’s only recently that merchants here have even had the choice about whether to accept debit but ban credit. So far very few of them have tried this out…

]]> By: Nicole Simon http://blog.filife.com/our-holiday-wish-list-five-things-from-card-companies/#comment-348 Nicole Simon Wed, 28 Nov 2007 19:53:24 +0000 http://www.filife.com/our-holiday-wish-list-five-things-from-card-companies/#comment-348 One fun thing for me - even with being slashed with a percentage fee - is to buy stuff in the US with a credit card. Starbucks does not even BLINK when I order it with the card. :) Over here in Germany, credit cards are not considered a normal paying method, we do have a very developped system of debit cards which everybody takes, and it is more likely that the store - due to the fees - will not offer credit card at all. So much fun for so few money. ;) One fun thing for me - even with being slashed with a percentage fee - is to buy stuff in the US with a credit card. Starbucks does not even BLINK when I order it with the card. :)

Over here in Germany, credit cards are not considered a normal paying method, we do have a very developped system of debit cards which everybody takes, and it is more likely that the store - due to the fees - will not offer credit card at all.

So much fun for so few money. ;)

]]>