I call back, and because it is nearly impossible to reach the same Customer Service Rep, spend the next 20 minutes being transfered between cities, probably continents, until “Angela” gets on the phone. For Part 1, click here. For Part 2, click here. Me: “Alrite Angela, I appreciat...

Beginning October: I STILL don’t have my card yet, so I call, and yet again, Capital One still doesn’t have my address information on file.  I repeat exactly what I did the last time, and am not getting frustrated yet.  “Sorry sir, within 7-14 days you will have your card.”...

Last month, I did something I have been wanting to do for awhile: I took a serious step to improving my credit score. Why? Because a bad credit score will ruin you. I applied for the Introductory Rate 0% Interest Capital One Platinum credit card.  Now, I haven’t had a credit card for over two...

College students don’t seem to realize the importance of having a good credit score.  If you plan to go to grad school, buy a car or house or get married, having a bad credit score can be pretty costly. A bad credit score… Can’t get you a low interest rate on loans. If you want to...

Identity theft. Anyone is vulnerable.  It very well can happen to you.  I recently experienced a scary situation regarding personal information.  I own stock in a large company.  A well-known bank was the company’s transfer-agent, and both have great reputations. Several months ago, the...

By Dannielle Slaven - Youngstown State University Once you establish your credit, you have to maintain it. We know your first priority is checking your credit report and score (yeah, right!). It doesn’t have to take top priority, but it should be a concern to you. Case in point, I recently dec...

By Chelsea Jamison - Seattle Pacific University “I can afford it; I’ll just make monthly payments!” I’m sure you’ve heard this phrase uttered from the lips of your friends, and if you are anything like me, you bite your lip, and in your head you’re screaming “No!” This is a good ill...

By Chelsea Jamison - Seattle Pacific University As you know, credit card companies allow you to make a minimum payment on your oustanding debt, allowing the principal to accrue interest, in turn giving them more money. So what is the real cost of making the minimum payment on a purchase? Let’s...

You don’t just “have” good credit, or “receive” good credit… you earn good credit. So, you have a bad credit score or have no credit to your name. Where do you start? First, find out what your credit score is. Remember, more than one inquiry into your credit sco...

Have you ever seen the movie Fight Club? Do you remember the last scene where Psycho Boy Jack and Marla are holding hands watching the destruction of high-rise buildings through the window? Right after Jack shoots himself in the cheek? Ok, good. Well those buildings, according to the book by origina...