Credit Card Charges | Credit Card Topics

2018 Guide: “How Does Credit Card Interest Work?”

By: Brittney Mayer, 7/24/2017

While the mathematical nature of finance can often intimidate consumers, the truth of the topic is actually much less complicated than it's made out to be. If you understand the formulas involved, calculating important personal finance numbers typically requires no more advanced skills than those of simple arithmetic. In many cases, the apparent difficulty of finance-related mathematics is due more to a confusion of concepts and terms than the need for calculus and derivations. This... read more »

What is APR on a Credit Card? 9 Best Low-Interest & 0% APR Cards

By: Linsey Knerl, 5/30/2017

If you’ve been considering applying for a new credit card, you’ve likely heard a lot about the term “APR”. This term is perhaps the most critical factor in deciding which card to get, and it can be used to put you in a better overall financial situation – if handled correctly. Here are the facts about APR, why it matters, and what you can do to make it work for you. Low APR | 0% Intro APR | 0% Balance Transfer APR APR Stands for "Annual Percentage Rate" One of the... read more »

The Merchants Payments Coalition: 2.7M Stores and 50M Employees Fighting for a More Transparent Credit Card System

By: Ashley Dull, 4/29/2016

In a Nutshell: More than ever before, consumers are choosing credit as their preferred method of payment for the added security and rewards-earning potential they provide. However, the current fee of up to 4 percent per transaction that the credit card associations — Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover — impose each time someone swipes their card has become the second-highest operating expense for most merchant businesses. With credit card associations earning as... read more »

My Credit Card Was Used Fraudulently (Here’s What to Do)

By: Eric Bank, 1/19/2016

If you’ve been victimized by credit card fraud or identity theft, the IRS's advice is to place a “fraud alert” or a “credit freeze” on your credit account. You can also use a credit monitoring or identity-theft-repair service, and you can choose credit cards that provide extra protection from fraudulent losses. The first step you need to take, however, is to notify your credit issuer. Contact the Card Issuer Upon learning of the fraud, immediately contact the card issuer,... read more »

Consumer Guide: California Credit Laws

By: Ashley Dull, 11/24/2015

California is notorious for its beautiful scenery, Hollywood celebrities, surfing and wine country — but California is also recognized for having many unique laws (like how women are prohibited from driving in house coats...), including some pertaining strictly to credit card usage. For example, if you’re using a card to make an in-store purchase and the cashier asks for your address, did you know this is against the law in California? Where I live in Florida, I am asked for... read more »

10 (Unbelievable) Government Credit Card Abuses

By: Logan Ladnyk, 7/9/2015

Remember when an audit found Pentagon employees spent more than $1 million at casinos and adult entertainment? It's just part of a much larger pattern of abuse. In 2008, a Government Accountability Office report noted that government-issued cards could be easily abused. Since then, controls have been implemented but fell drastically short, as scandals came out every few months. The Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act, passed in 2012, was designed to combat these problems. ... read more »