| |
| |
|
Credit Information |
|
|
|
Credit Cards: What is the Universal Default Clause?
Most people who carry major credit cards are well aware that the interest rates associated with them tend to be higher than for other types of lending, such as home or auto loans. Anyone who has paid their credit card bill late more than once or twice is also aware that doing so may cause the interest rate on their card to go up - sometimes by quite a lot. Many credit cards carry interest rates of as much as 20% or 25% annually, and customers who want to avoid interest rates in that range make an effort to pay their bills on time. What many people do not realize, however, is that up to one third of all credit card issuers now include what is known as a "universal default clause" in their bills. This information, usually disclosed in the tiny print on the bill that few people bother to read, indicates that the interest rate on your credit card may be increased if you pay bills late to other lenders, even if you pay your credit card bill on time. This means that paying any bill late that could show up on your credit report, such as an auto payment or a utility bill could cause your credit card interest rate to go up. This, in turn, could hurt your credit score. There is currently nothing in Federal law that prohibits this practice; the law only requires that lenders disclose it in writing. Credit card companies justify this by saying that customers that make late payments to anyone increase the risk for all lenders. Nevertheless, many, if not most, credit card customers are unaware that such policies exist. Not all credit card companies have such a policy; in fact, most do not. Customers who are not interested in having the interest rates of their credit card tied to their ability to pay their phone bill on time would be advised to read the fine print in their credit card statement. If such a policy exists, you could either complain to your credit card issuer about it or shop around for another credit card. The lesson to be learned here is a valuable one - when you receive your credit card bill or a notification that your credit card billing terms have changed, take a moment to read the fine print. ©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling, and HomeEquityHelp.net, a site devoted to information regarding home equity loans.
MORE RESOURCES: Former Credit Suisse broker charged with subprime-linked fraud in ... - International Herald Tribune
Credit - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Shoppers Beware - Tis The Season It's the number one complaint from consumers and it only takes a moment for you to become a victim. While you search for holiday bargains, identity thieves are searching for targets - unsuspecting consumers. What You Didnt Know About Your Credit Card Numbers Have you ever really looked at your credit card and tried to figure out what that huge string of numbers really means? Do these card issuers have so many customers that your account number has to be 16 digits long?You may be surprised to know that all those numbers you see actually do stand for something, and it's not just who you are. Let's take a look. Bad Debt Recovery Bad Debt IdentificationIdentifying bad debt is not as easy as it sounds. But the earlier it is done, the better are chances of recovering it. How did a Thief get my Name? Don't be a Victim of Identity Theft How do these people get my name? If you have a credit card, your name is sold to third parties, if you do not want this to happen, you must contact your credit card companies to inform them that you do not want your information sold. Check the privacy notice that comes with your bill. Rebuild Your Credit the Right Way the First Time If you are one of the millions of people out there with bad credit you need to step up and start doing something to get yourself back into credits good graces. Having good credit is the only way to assure that you will get the best interest rates on any loans and credit cards that you apply for. Credit Help for Real Estate Financing: Five Categories of Your Credit Score 1. Payment History -- 35%The number of accounts paid as agreed and a good payment history give you a higher score. How to Deal with Hire Purchase Debt WHAT IS HIRE PURCHASE/CONDITIONAL SALE?Although people often talk about "buying on HP", Hire Purchase Agreements are quite unusual these days. Cars are the most usual goods sold under Hire Purchase or Conditional Sale Agreements. Compare Credit Card Offers and Reward Yourself Here's a simple system on how to pay zero interest and get tons of free stuff. Almost everyone uses credit cards. How To Use Your Credit Cards Wisely Are you one of the thousands pulling your hair out trying to figure out how you're going to pay your credit card bills? Using your credit cards wisely and sensibly will help you avoid financial problems and establish a strong credit rating, so here's some information to help you get your credit card problems under control.Credit cards are convenient for buying things now and paying later. Consumer Credit Reports A consumer credit report is a factual record of an individual's credit payment history. It is provided for a purpose permitted by law: to help a credit grantor or lender quickly and objectively decide whether to grant you credit. Five Debt Negotiation Facts These five debt negotiation facts along with a few debt reduction planning tools gives you the ability to control your own debt. For many people today credit card debt is a mounting problem and very few know how to successfully negotiate debt settlements. The Truth About Credit What you might not know about credit.Some people don't know about a loop hole in the credit reporting system. Identity Theft - Monitor Your Credit Report The recent security breach at credit card processor CardSystems Solutions has many consumers worried. Thanks to a well-placed computer virus, nearly forty million credit card numbers were stolen, and cardholders nationwide are justifiably concerned about identity theft. Some Truth About Credit Credit is currently and has been historically an integral component of our economy. Credit contribute a person's net worth, and financial power. Keep Your Credit History Clean - Remove A Negative Credit Record From Credit Report The three major credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and Trans Union are similar and feature a "Credit Score", which is created from credit report data submitted to them about you.But very often your credit report includes inaccurate, wrong or incomplete information (credit records). 10 Signs You May Need Credit Counseling Debt management programs can be of real help for people that discover they cannot face their debts. At first, they will attempt to solve the situation all by themselves by cutting down on spending and keeping a close eye on accounts. How To Boost Your Credit Score Years ago your credit score was a big secret, known only to a select few such as your mortgage and credit card companies. In 2000, Fair, Isaac Co. How To Establish Great Credit Building a good credit history is important. If you have no reported credit history, it may take time to establish your first credit account. Rewards Cards: Are They Worth It? Virtually all consumers will have a credit card at some point in their lives. Is this an understatement? Probably, as most consumers carry multiple credit cards. Like It Or Not, You Have A Score To Settle! Part 1 Just when most people finish with school and can stop worrying about test scores, there's a new kind of scoring that enters the picture. It's called credit scoring.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
