Credit Card Skimming: How To Protect Yourself

Right now someone, somewhere, may be using one of your credit cards — without your permission.
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Are you paying new, higher charges on your credit cards?

When the Credit Card consumers’ Bill of Rights goes into effect next month (Feb. 22, 2010), banks will be prohibited from using some of the worst unfair practices they have been subjecting their customers to.

That’s why banks have been working hard to dream up new fees…
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Citibank closes number of credit card accounts; credit scores may be affected

No law prevents banks from closing down credit accounts without warning.

The new Credit Card Consumers’ Bill of Rights has done nothing to change that.

But when Citibank recently closed a number of Mastercard accounts — co-branded with oil partners such as Shell, Citgo, ExxonMobil and Phillips 66-Conoco — it did so on very short notice. [video]
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PayPal gives young people a way to handle their finances

PayPay recently introduced an account option aimed at teens and young adults. According to PayPal it’s a safer and more secure way for teens to learn to manage money. [video]
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Credit Card Consumers’ Bill of Rights goes into effect

The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act (CARD) is a credit cardholders’ Bill of Right that prohibits various tricks and traps until now used by the credit card industry — including hidden interest rate hikes and exorbitant fees. [video]
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Fixed-Rate Credit Cards May Disappear

Credit card issuers increasingly are switching customers from fixed-rate to variable-rate cards, in part because the new credit card law will limit lenders’ ability to raise rates.
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What is a good credit score?

Your credit score is an all-important number, more so today than ever before. Traditionally your credit rating, or credit score, affected your ability to borrow money. However, nowadays it can also have an impact on your ability to find a job, rent an apartment, or get a security clearance.

It almost seems as if your credit score is now more important than your social security number — something many people realize too late.

But what is a good credit score?
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National credit score averages are dropping

As more Americans struggle to pay their bills while banks at the same time take actions to limit credit card debt, national credit score averages are dropping.
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Lower credit limits result in lower credit scores

What you don’t know can hurt you, especially when you do not know what is going on in your wallet — or in your credit card accounts.

In response both to the financial crisis and to new consumer protection rules slated to come into effect in 2010, credit card issuers are making major changes to customer accounts.

Many of these changes can negatively impact your credit score.

Yet a recent survey shows that many consumers are unware of recent changes made to their accounts.
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Paul Krugman on the worldwide financial crisis

Noted author and columnist, economist Paul Krugman shares his views on the current financial crisis. [video]
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