The Ultimate Guide to Credit Cards
Wednesday, November 13, 2024

All articles tagged Credit Card Charges (12)

What is a Credit Card Billing Cycle? How it Impacts Interest, Payments, and Grace Periods

What is a Credit Card Billing Cycle? How it Impacts Interest, Payments, and Grace Periods

Hitting for the cycle in baseball is one of the most interesting and exciting feats in the sport. It happens when a player hits a single, double, triple, and home run (in any order) in the same game. The odds of an average player hitting for a cycle in a game are 0.0059%, which is why I am still waiting to see it happen! On the opposite end of the spectrum is the credit card billing cycle. While it isn’t exactly inspiring or memorable, it’s still important to understand for your... read more »

What Is a Credit Card Annual Fee? Why Issuers Charge Them & Cost-to-Benefit Analysis

What Is a Credit Card Annual Fee? Why Issuers Charge Them & Cost-to-Benefit Analysis

An annual fee is a charge you pay once a year to use a credit card. It’s like a membership fee for having the card. Some credit cards have this fee, whereas others do not. The annual fee may be a fixed number, but some cards, especially those for bad credit, may alter the fee after the first year. Typically, the higher the fee, the more rewarding the card. Unless it’s from a subprime issuer, in which case, it’s one of the many fees people with poor credit must face to gain... read more »

How to Dispute a Credit Card Charge

How to Dispute a Credit Card Charge

The ability to dispute a charge may be one of the most valuable and least understood benefits of using credit cards. With most card companies, disputing a charge is relatively easy.  If you win, you may receive a statement credit up to the full amount. You'll have lost some time, but no money. 3 Types of Charges You Can Dispute and Probably Win Most of the card charges that can be successfully disputed fit into the following three categories: 1. Billing Errors ... read more »

11 Best Credit Cards For Subscriptions (Oct. 2024)

11 Best Credit Cards For Subscriptions (Oct. 2024)

The subscription economy has grown by more than 400% in recent years. This hasn't gone unnoticed by banks, who have curated some of the best credit cards for subscriptions. Whether you’re a Netflix and chill type of person, would like to broaden your music catalog with Spotify, or want to settle in to read the book of the month on Audible, there’s a subscription for just about any hobby or interest. And while most of these subscriptions are paid monthly, the best card options... read more »

12 Best Credit Cards for Extended Warranties (2023)

12 Best Credit Cards for Extended Warranties (2023)

Does your credit card offer benefits you don’t even know about? One valuable, albeit less-familiar benefit is the extended warranty. This adds months or years of protection to your purchased items. Read on to learn about the 12 best credit cards for extended warranties. Although the benefit may be seldom used, it can save you a lot of money if you run into problems with your purchase after the regular warranty expires. This benefit is becoming harder to find, but some issuers... read more »

7 Best Credit Cards for Auto Repairs (2024)

7 Best Credit Cards for Auto Repairs (2024)

If your budget isn’t ready for a blown tire, busted hose, or broken transmission, then you may want to consider one of the best credit cards for auto repairs. These cards offer an extended period of interest-free financing to help you pay for your repairs over time without overpaying for the privilege. And, depending on the card you choose, your repair bill may just earn you a cash signup bonus that will help bring down the overall cost of your repairs. Cards | FAQs Best Credit... read more »

6 Best Credit Cards for Emergencies (2024)

6 Best Credit Cards for Emergencies (2024)

Emergencies never provide a courtesy warning and usually require funds at the ready. With one of the best credit cards for emergencies, you can pay for what you need easily and move onto whatever’s next, given the circumstance. But if you don’t already have a credit card stored away for such events or another source of quick funds, the situation can become even more stressful. That’s why we’ve deemed the best credit cards for emergencies those that can give you access to your... read more »

7 Best Credit Cards With Price Protection (2023)

7 Best Credit Cards With Price Protection (2023)

It’s happened to all of us at some point; we think we’ve found the best deal on a new device or gadget we’ve been eyeing, only to see a lower advertised price after we’ve bought it. No worries, that’s what price protection is for, right? But if you’re wondering about the best credit cards with price protection, you may want to start asking a different question. For years, credit card companies touted their price protection programs — sometimes called price matching,... read more »

7 Best Credit Cards for Buying a Car (2023)

7 Best Credit Cards for Buying a Car (2023)

Has it ever occurred to you that you could use a credit card to buy a car? Astute readers of CardRates.com will recall that we’ve addressed this exciting possibility, explaining when cards can and cannot help pay for a car purchase. If you are contemplating acquiring one of the best credit cards for buying a car, it makes sense to understand the different rewards and promotions first. Getting a new card with an introductory period of 0% APR purchases means that you can avoid the... read more »

How Does Credit Card Interest Work? (2024)

How Does Credit Card Interest Work? (2024)

If you've ever wondered, "How does credit card interest work?" read on — it's not as complicated as it may seem. 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 is particularly apparent when one cracks... read more »

What is Credit Card APR? 9 Best 0% APR Cards (2023)

What is Credit Card APR? 9 Best 0% APR Cards (2023)

If you’ve been considering applying for a new credit card, you’ve likely heard a lot about the term “APR." So, exactly, what is APR on a credit card? 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... read more »

My Credit Card Was Used Fraudulently: Here’s What to Do (2023)

My Credit Card Was Used Fraudulently: Here’s What to Do (2023)

Even with today's increased security measures, credit cards can still be susceptible to fraud. Just a few months ago, my credit card was used fraudulently. Thankfully, I was able to recover the funds lost through the duplicitous purchases. If you find yourself in a similar situation, and your credit card was used fraudulently, here's what to do. 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... read more »