March 20, 2014 By

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

medical concept - stethoscope over the dollar billsToday’s top story: How many accounts are too many on your credit report? Also in the news: What your car is really costing you, how to manage your money in your 30’s, and it’s time to spring clean your finances.

Do I Have Too Many Accounts on My Credit Report?
The answer may surprise you.

What your car really costs you
Has your car turned into a money pit?

How to Manage Money in Your 30s
This decade could be pivotal to your financial future.

5 Ways to Spring Clean Your Finances
Winter is finally over!

3 Health Myths that Cost You Money
Not taking care of yourself could be costing you money.

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March 14, 2014 By

Who offers real chip-and-PIN cards in the U.S.

Chip cardMost of the rest of the world has adopted more secure chip-and-PIN credit cards–which can cause some problems for Americans traveling overseas.

When we were in Italy two years ago, we found our old-school magnetic-stripe cards wouldn’t work in automated kiosks. That included our British Airways card, which had a chip, but no PIN. Without a personal identification number to punch in, it was useless.

Unfortunately, many articles about where to get chip-and-PIN cards in the U.S. make the mistake of thinking chip-and-signature cards are the same thing. They’re so not.

Because we’re going to Europe again soon,  I hit up Bill Hardekopf of LowCards.com for a list of U.S. issuers that offer the real deal. The few organizations on this list have many members that travel overseas. And here they are:

United Nations Federal Credit Union.. If you don’t actually work for the UN, you can become a credit union member by joining United Nations Association ($25 membership fee).

USAA. You must be a member of this financial services organization for active-duty military, veterans and their families.

Andrews Air Force Base Federal Credit Union. “You can  join by becoming a member of the American Consumer Council which is open to all so essentially is open membership,” Hardekopf said. Membership is $5.

State Department Federal Credit Union. Same deal: you can  join by becoming an American Consumer Council member.

Pentagon Federal Credit Union. You can join this credit union is you’re a member of one of a host of associations. If you’re not already a member of one, you can join Voices for America’s Troops for $15.

Or you can just wait, if you don’t have an overseas trip planned. True chip-and-PIN cards should be here by October 2015, when merchants without the terminals to process the cards and banks that have failed to issue them will have to pay for fraud. As Ron Lieber of the New York Times put it, “It’s an elaborate game of chicken, fitting for an industry where the major players spent years embroiled in a lawsuit.” Ultimately, though, more secure cards will benefit banks, merchants and consumers.

 

 

 

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March 3, 2014 By

Monday’s need-to-know money news

download (1)Today’s top story: Should you splurge or save with your tax refund? Also in the news: Saving for the end of the world, understanding Obamacare tax penalties, and why free checking is becoming a thing of the past.

Tax refunds: Cheap thrills or savvy savings?
Choose wisely.

End-of-world money moves to make
Why should the zombies get your money?

Obamacare Tax Penalties: Will You Have to Pay?
Understanding the new insurance penalties.

Free checking disappearing at the big banks
Free checking is going the way of free toasters.

Will Opening Credit Cards Help My Credit
Possibly. But proceed with caution.

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February 28, 2014 By

Should your credit card issuer have to give you free credit scores?

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau today called on major credit card issuers to provide free scores to their customers on their statements or online. The regulator’s idea is that low scores could tip people off to problems in their credit reports–problems they might not otherwise find, since too few people get their free credit reports each year.

Creditors use a variety of scores to evaluate and monitor their customers–scores that measure everything from the likelihood of default to the likelihood the user will stop using the card. It’s the score that measures the likelihood of default that the regulators want customers to see.

I believe you should be able to see any score that’s used to evaluate you, and that you shouldn’t have to pay for it. Getting scores from your credit card company could be a good start, assuming the companies aren’t allowed to sub in some “FAKO” score that no one actually uses.

The problem comes in the execution. Seeing their scores is likely to make a lot of people upset, and not just the folks with low scores. People with high scores usually want to know why their scores aren’t even higher. Credit card companies may not want to mess with having to explain how scores work or take the heat for a process they don’t control. (Credit scoring formulas are created by other companies, like FICO-creators Fair Isaac, and applied to data held by the credit bureaus.)

We’ll have to stay tuned to see if any major issuers bite. In the meantime, you can get free scores from sites like Credit.com and Credit Karma, although they aren’t the FICO scores most lenders use. For those, you’ll need to go to MyFico.com and pay.

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February 19, 2014 By

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

1594411528_1512b1aad5_zToday’s top story: Capital One faces major backlash against home visit policy. Also in the news: Retirement strategies for the self-employed, how to choose between a will and a trust, a how your taxes could affect your chances of buying a home.

Capital One policy about home visits causes backlash
Customers aren’t thrilled with the idea of Capital One literally knocking on their doors.

Retirement Strategies for the Self-Employed
The best ways to build your retirement nest egg.

Wills vs. Trusts: What’s Best For Retirees?
Important differences to consider.

How Your Taxes Could Hurt Your Homebuying Chances
Saving money on taxes could increase the cost of a future home.

Double Trouble: Being an Identity Theft Victim Can Land You in Jail
Adding insult to injury.

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February 18, 2014 By

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Capital One could be paying you a visit. Also in the news: Why your tax return could get audited, the pros and cons of self-insurance, and how to rent a home with bad credit.

Capital One Says It Can Show Up at Cardholders’ Homes, Workplaces
“What’s in your wallet? No, really. Show us what’s in your wallet.”

6 Reasons Your Tax Return Might Get Audited
Don’t panic.

Should You Self Insure Against Long-Term Care Risk Or Buy Insurance?
Hedging your bets.

5 Tips for Renting a Home With Bad Credit
Bad credit doesn’t have to leave you out in the cold.

Track How Happy You Are with Your Purchases in Your Ledger
Analyzing your purchase satisfaction can save you money.

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February 13, 2014 By

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Three dumb things you’re doing with your credit cards. Also in the news: Learning about the most common tax credits, details on the newest way to save towards retirement, and tips on how to spend your tax refund.

3 Stupid Things You Do With Your Credit Card
Stop doing that, would you?

Tax credits for all
A primer on the most common tax credits.

What’s All the Fuss About myRA Accounts?
A look at the newest way to save towards retirement.

Smart Tips for Your Tax Refund
How to get the most from your refund.

When to Tell Your Sweetheart About Your Money Problems
The best time to have The Talk.

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February 7, 2014 By

Not to make you paranoid, but…

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailIt’s bad enough that tens of millions of Americans’ financial and personal data got hacked in recent database breaches (Target, Michaels and Neiman Marcus have admitted breaches, and more may be on the way).

But this week we learned that you’re much more likely to be the victim of identity theft these days than you were even a few years ago. From Kathy Kristof’s post on MoneyWatch:

If your data had been stolen three years ago, you only had about a 10 percent chance of falling prey to identity thief. Today, one-third of those who are affected by a security breach become victims of identity theft, according to Javelin Strategy and Research, which has done comprehensive annual studies of identity theft since 2006.

If your debit card information was stolen, the chance is even higher – 46 percent of consumers with a breached debit card in 2013 became fraud victims in the same year, according to the Javelin study.

As I wrote earlier, you should demand a new debit card (one with a new number) and change your PIN if you used your card at any of the affected retailers. Same goes if you used a credit card, although you have more protections from fraudulent charges when you use that type of plastic.

And you need to be vigilant. Scrutinize your statements and question every charge you don’t recognize. Beware of emails and phone calls purporting to come from your bank, your credit card company, even the IRS. The Target breach included email addresses and other personal information that could be used to deceive you.

If you really want to make yourself paranoid, watch this short video that shows how much data we leak in a typical day. It’s an eye-opener.

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February 5, 2014 By

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: The wrong way to boost your credit score. Also in the news: Target’s data breach spreads to big hotels, how to make a tax lien disappear, and better, more responsible ways to use credit cards. images (1)

The Wrong Ways to Boost Your Credit Score
What not to do in pursuit of a better score.

Latest Known Credit Card Data Breaches Target Big Hotels
If you’ve stated at the Sheraton, Marriott, or Holiday Inn, pay close attention to your bank statement.

How to Make a Tax Lien Disappear
How to handle on of the worst things to appear on your credit report.

Yes, Virginia, There Is a Responsible Way to Use Credit Cards
Credit cards are not the enemy.

10 Ways to Boost Your Retirement Savings
It’s time to build a better nest egg.

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February 4, 2014 By

Credit card fraud alerts: don’t be too impressed

Dear Liz: My wife and I have had our bank’s airline cards a long time, but we want to change because it’s become almost impossible to cash in the miles. What I don’t see in various card-comparison articles are ratings of the card issuers for customer service and fraud protection. Our bank has been quite good at both, but what about the other issuers?

Answer: People are often unduly impressed when their credit card issuers contact them frequently about possibly fraudulent charges. The issuers are the only ones at risk in these situations, since under “zero liability” policies you can’t be held responsible for bogus charges. Also, if their software were better, they might do a better job of separating legitimate from fraudulent transactions and have to bother you less.

In any case, it’s tough to tell as a customer how good the issuer’s fraud prevention measures are. So perhaps a better metric to use is customer service, and J.D. Power publishes an annual credit card satisfaction study that tries to gauge six factors: interaction; credit card terms; billing and payment; rewards; benefits and services; and problem resolution. American Express has ranked at the top of the survey every year since it started seven years ago. Discover ranked second for 2013 and Chase ranked third.

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