Recently ive noticed that my credit card company has been messing with my APR that is supposed to be locked into the length of the balance. Twice within the last few months ive had to call and ask why i was being charged about 4.00 at a interest rate of 20 percent! Make sure to keep your eyes on that APR I really feel its a scam for them with hopes that people arent watching. That small change adds up!

I also find the paper copy works out better then the online statements. You arent saving any money by getting online statements so request the paper trail so if you have a problem you can see it clearly then looking online.

Good advice. If you don't keep a hawk-like vigilance over them, they will and do try to sneak things past you. Be it intentionally or unintentionally.

When we sign up for our credits cars it says they may raise rates at their disgression and all that other stuff. That's the only way they are covered on that. However, if you do complain then they will not raise your. They want money, but if it means losing your account and all that interest, you bet they'll leave you alone.

My credit card comapny was even slicker before I canceled it. I would only receive the bill after it was due. So before I knew it I would get charged late fees and an overlimit fee!

I get that part but they added 4.00 and started charging that a 20 percent interest! I dont use the card and never made a purchase on it to add up to 4.00. We are talking .06 a month lol

Hehe.

Thanks for the warnings, guys. I just got my very first credit card, so all tips in this forum are really useful to me.

The only way to handle a credit card is to pay it off completely each month. Then you never have to deal with the whole interest rate issue. Plus, it will help to keep your credit rating up.

In a perfect world i completely agree. Unfortunately I'm still paying off years of debit before i wised up! I started at 20,000 on credit cards alone!!! Im down to 6,000 total debit. That includes cars and house. Im very proud of that!

Keep it up Palefrost. When you get out from under that monthly credit card interest payment, you will wonder how you ever got there in the first place.

I find myself so much more freer and flexible since I got on top of my credit card debt.

A very good point - those clueless bank staff again ...

I am a freelancer and I find that I am forced to live on credit sometimes..while I wait for payment. Is there any other way around this? I am now in debt..but it started first with my old North American car (I since cashed some stocks out with they were up and bought a Toyota Corolla CE).
It was one thing after another and they were big bills! I swear, I am NEVER going to own a car past 5 years...it’s like the computer industry...if I sell and upgrade every year or two, I can at least get a good buck for it. Then, I had to travel back to my hometown on a family emergency...was gone for two months in total...when I got back, half my clients went somewhere else! Being in your own business - well - there are pros and cons...

Wow, good advice there, palefrost! I'm sure that not many people bother checking that on a statement (including myself!)

Chase keeps trying to play games with our interest rates. They will be losing us as customers.

Wow... well this certainly made me sit up and take notice... Chase is what I have! I've been paying off the full balance, but over the few months that I'm Christmas shopping, I usually carry the balance for 3 months or so.

I even keep the charge slips saved until I get my statement and only after I tally the transactions, do I pay the amount.