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Good habits and a credit score
Chris Farrell Feb 1, 2012
We use a credit card to pay for all monthly expenses and then pay it off at the end of each month. My credit score fluctuates every quarter, depending on when the accounts are checked. My question is how can we convince the credit rating company that we do not carry any credit card debt from one month to the next? My score is currently at 749 but has been as high as 815. Thanks, I really enjoy your program. Randy, Macomb, IL
The time to purge receipts
Chris Farrell Jan 27, 2012
I have recently started purging old files of financial information (statements, bills, receipts, etc.). I have heard that I should keep credit card statements for 7 years, but I was wondering: If the accounts are closed and there are no discrepancies on the credit reports, do I really need to hang on to these statements? Thanks for your insight. Alicia, Indianapolis, IN
Americans paying down on credit card debt
David Brancaccio Jan 17, 2012
Americans cut their credit card balances by 11 percent in 2011, bringing the national average balance down to $6576.
JPMorgan Chase slows debt collection
Tess Vigeland Jan 16, 2012
The American Banker says that JPMorgan Chase appears to be backing off efforts to collect unpaid credit card debt from its customers. They're not forgiving the debt, but they've quietly stopped going after it.
Taking the Card Case out for a spin
Tess Vigeland Dec 16, 2011
Tess takes her newly downloaded Card Case app for a spin into the real world.
This week: The Postal Service, the CFPB (non) confirmation
David Gura Dec 9, 2011
We talk to one of our Washington reporters about what happened in the news this week.
To close or not to close
Chris Farrell Dec 8, 2011
I recently "moved my money" and I'd like to get rid of my old credit cards linked to the old bank accounts. Assuming there are no fees for keeping the old cards, should I save one and not use it, or occasionally use it in case it needs to remain active? Or can I simplify my life, cut loose the dormant accounts and just move on to my new cards? Any advice appreciated. Charlie, San Francisco, CA
CFPB rewrites credit card fine print
Nancy Marshall-Genzer Dec 7, 2011
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau wants customers to understand their credit cards better. So, they've unveiled a new and shorter prototype of a credit card agreement.
Consumer credit hits two-year high
Duncan Wilson Dec 15, 2011
The amount of money consumers owe in credit -- excluding mortgages -- grew by $7.7 billion in October, hitting a two-year high.
How's my ratio?
Chris Farrell Dec 8, 2011
I understand that your credit score is affected by the percentage of your available credit that you use. However, does this reflect the total percentage of the total available, or is it specific to each line of credit? Gabriel, Somerville, MA
