Entries by Debtmerica

Consumers taking on less credit card debt at small businesses

Consumers took on less credit card debt at Main Street retailers, service providers and restaurants dropped to 5.06 percent in the third quarter of the year, according to the latest quarterly study from the Capital Access Network. That's a decline from the high observed for the same period last year, when the proportion was 14.84 […]

Some gift cards may not carry proper information

Because balances on gift cards don't work in the same way traditional credit card debt does, Congress included rules stating that a gift card must carry information on its expiration date and fee rules on its packaging. But these rules also allow retailers to keep cards with the old, information-free packaging on the shelves until […]

Some banks powerless against credit card fraud attacks

Credit card skimming, in which thieves attach a device that reads and stores all information to a normal card reader, then uses it to compile fraudulent credit card debt in other peoples' names, has become a new trend among criminals, according to a report from Information Week. The U.S. Secret Service estimates that such scams […]

Get Out of Credit Card Debt

The national recession has had a profound impact on the finances of many Americans, and as a result, some have seen their credit card debt grow to the point it's become unmanageable. For these people, there are several ways they can get out of credit card debt and get their finances back on track within […]

Credit card agreements still carry fine print

A Schumer Box is a legally required part of a credit card agreement with information, in at least 18-point font, on everything from an account's interest rates to its annual fees and introductory offer periods. But according to a report from Forbes, all that information can still be confusing. For example, some agreements will display […]

What the average credit card debt really costs

Because credit card debt is compounded annually, there are a number of factors that will affect any amount owed to a lender, according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle. That $5,100 may not sound like a tremendous amount of money, but when a consumer finally pays it all off, it can add up […]

T introduces mobile billing service to replace credit card payments

AT&T customers will soon be able to charge purchases made online to their existing wireless bill. The cellular service provider recently partnered with BilltoMobile to roll out its Direct Mobile Billing payment service, which allows customers to make purchases with their smartphone that will then show up on their monthly cellular service bill, rather than […]

More credit cards coming with better rewards offers

Major retail chains and credit card issuers alike are boosting their rewards programs to draw consumers into taking on credit card debt with them, according to a report in the Dallas Morning News. "Name a big chain and you'll find a discount deal," David Robertson, publisher of credit card industry publication The Nilson Report, told […]