Free From Broke

A Personal Finance Blog for Regular Folks

Credit Card Use and Reviews

Credit cards can be a gateway to debt but can also be a powerful personal finance tool. See articles that will teach you about credit cards,keep you up to date on credit card rules, show you the best credit cards, as well as show you reviews.

Credit Card Delinquency on the Decline

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Amidst all the negativity that sometimes shrouds credit cards there is some amazing news. For the first time in a decade, bank card delinquencies dipped below the 15-year average.  Earlier this month, the American Bankers Association (ABA) released a report announcing this good news.

According to the ABA’s report, credit card consumers overall have done a better job in meeting their debt obligations in the fourth quarter of 2010.  They indicate that this may be attributed to a slowly improving economy which allows consumers to better manage their debt.  Another contributing factor is that for the first time in two years, over 200,000 jobs were created; therefore the unemployment rate dropped to 8.8 percent. [Read more…] about Credit Card Delinquency on the Decline

Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Visa Signature® Card – Review

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When you travel, do you ever stay at a Hilton Hotel?

If you find yourself staying at one of over 3,600 hotels that are part of Hilton on a regular basis then you need to know about the Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Visa Signature® Card.

With a Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Visa Signature® Card, you earn Hilton HHonors points for your spending that can be redeemed things such as free nights in the Hilton HHonors network and more.
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Make Credit Cards Work For You By Earning Rewards

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Credit cards have had a bad rap in the press lately; some credit cards have increased their annual percentage rates and some have increased their fees.  Most have made at least a few changes to the way they do business thanks to last year’s CARD Act.  However, if consumers are responsible with what they charge on their credit cards and are disciplined to pay off their balances each month, there are many benefits to using a credit card.
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Platinum Card® from American Express Review – The Premium Card for You

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*Note – This particular offer isn’t currently available.*

The Platinum Card® from American Express has been around since 1984, but it has no problem keeping up with the changing wants and needs of its affluent customers.

The company’s goal is to ensure that the customer is taken care of, and that through benefits and points, the card will pay for itself.

While all the cards offer excellent benefits, the Platinum card’s Membership Rewards First program specifically focuses on making travel easier and less stressful (making it an excellent travel rewards card).

First off, understand that the American Express Platinum Card® is a charge card not a credit card.

This means you will be paying your balance off monthly.  That’s great since you won’t pay any interest on the card.  It also means there’s no pre-set spending limit (thought that doesn’t mean unlimited spending).
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Send Credit Card Companies A Message By Using Cash Only

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A few years ago, it was a credit card user’s world. As long as you paid on time and didn’t go over your limit, you could have your choice of credit cards and interest rates.  However, with the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act (CARD Act) that went into effect last year, meant to crack down on credit card companies, consumers are finding that they are paying higher interest rates.  In addition, it can be harder to negotiate a lower interest rate.

I had a credit card for over 15 years that routinely offered an interest rate below 10%.  Now, the interest rate is 15.99%.  When I called to have it lowered, they would not negotiate with me as they had in the past.  When I threatened to take my business elsewhere, they were unfazed.  “Sorry,” I was told, “there is nothing we can do at this point.”
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