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CARDNEWS FOR CONSUMERS
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(4/30/01)
Swiss Tix
If you gotta MasterCard, then head for the Alps. Swissair is offering
MasterCard members an opportunity to buy one Economy Class ticket and take a
companion free for travel now through the end of May.
-READ MORE |
(4/27/01)
Free Scores
Do you know your credit score ? If not, here is an opportunity to learn
your credit score and understand exactly what goes into computing a
personal credit rating..
-READ MORE |
(4/26/01)
College Card
Most Citibank credit cards can now be turned into a savings vehicle for
college. This week Citibank joined several other top U.S. companies in a new
college savings program created by Upromise Inc.
-READ MORE |
(4/25/01)
BaseBall Card
As the Official Card of Major League Baseball, a MasterCard is really "The
Baseball Card". Starting this week, MasterCard is offering the new Grand Slam
Ticket Pack to cardholders in 15 markets around the country.
-READ MORE |
(4/24/01)
Grinch Winner
Among the 500 VISA cardholders who received all of their November and
December credit card purchases for free in the Grinch Give Back the
Holidays! promotion, was a man who charged $30,000.
-READ MORE |
(4/23/01)
Tiny Business Card
Any business, any size can now plasticize. American Express has introduced
the Community Business Credit Card for very small businesses. The new card
contributes one percent of spending to select microenterprise development
organizations that provide loans and technical assistance to microbusinesses.
-READ MORE |
(4/20/01)
Birthday Card
Here's a real birthday card, loaded with cash! The Anywhere Gift
MasterCard has
been launched for the five million Americans who celebrate a birthday every
week. Birthdaygift.com today unveiled the pre-paid MasterCard gift card, which
can be ordered online or via a toll-free phone number.
-READ MORE |
(4/19/01)
Rate Surprise
It's time to switch to variable rate credit cards in the wake of another,
unexpected cut in interest rates. Yesterday, the Federal Open Market
Committee cut short term interest rates by half-a-point, which forced banks
to cut the prime rate to 7.5% today.
-READ MORE |
(4/18/01)
Debit War
When it comes to signature-only or non-PIN debit card use, VISA has seriously
kicked MasterCard's butt. VISA's Check Card now has an overwhelming 79% share
of the U.S. market. Last year VISA racked up more than $239 billion in domestic
debit card volume compared to $62.6 billion for MasterCard.
-READ MORE |
(4/17/01)
Bust Rush
Consumers going bust have been flooding bankruptcy courts with petitions for debt relief. During the first three months of this year, more than 350,000 personal bankruptcy filings were made, the highest quarterly total since 1994.
-READ MORE |
(4/12/01)
Card Debt Soars
After a sluggish December and January, American consumers are now racking up
credit card debt at a record pace not seen since 1995. During February, U.S. cardholders piled on $11.1 billion to outstanding balances, representing an annual growth rate of 19.9%.
-READ MORE |
(4/11/01)
Fraud Fighters
The "Information Age" may facilitate fraud but it can also fight fraud.
Consumers now have new tools to combat credit card and identity fraud.
-READ MORE |
(4/10/01)
Financial Literacy
While most high school kids don't fully understand credit cards, they know
far less about the impact of taxes on take-home pay. A survey conducted
last year shows that most students use their current part-time jobs as a
way of estimating future income taxes.
-READ MORE |
(4/9/01)
Card Acceptance
MasterCard has been the most widely accepted payment card in the world . .
. but not anymore! VISA is now accepted by 21.4 million merchants worldwide
compared to MasterCard's 19.6 million.
-READ MORE |
(4/6/01)
ATM Fees
If you have had the feeling that ATM fees are creeping upward, please be
assured it is not your imagination. A national survey just released revealed
that the cost of using another bank's ATM machine has nearly tripled over the
past five years.
-READ MORE |
(4/5/01)
Hidden Fees
A super low introductory credit card may not be all that low if you intend
to consolidate credit card balances. Watch out for a special fee for
transferring balances from one card to another.
-READ MORE |
