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Credit

Discover® More Card: No Balance Transfer Fee, 0% APR

by Luke Landes

When you take a look at our list of the best 0 percent balance transfer credit cards, you’ll notice that all offers are featuring balance transfer fees these days. Whether it’s 3 percent, 4 percent or 5 percent, every time a consumer takes advantage of a 0 percent balance transfer offer, the credit card issuers still make money by charging ... Continue reading this article…

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Credit Card Rewards Hurt Your Bottom Line

by Luke Landes

I’ve been a proponent of cash-back rewards credit cards for a while. My theory, or perhaps my excuse, is that if I plan on spending money and can do so with either cash or a credit card that offers rewards, I might as well use the rewards credit card to damage my bottom line less ... Continue reading this article…

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PenFed Platinum Cash Rewards Visa Card offers 5% cash back on gas paid at the pump

by Luke Landes

As the offers on cash back credit card continue to increase, consumers who use credits cards should make sure theirs is one that allows them to save the most amount of money possible. Whether it’s a great APR, a long introductory period or a top notch credit card rewards program, weigh the benefits and drawbacks ... Continue reading this article…

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PenFed Promise VISA Card Review

by Luke Landes

Whenever you make a purchase with your credit card, the wise move is always to pay off the purchase before the bill is due to avoid interest charges and late fees. If you know that won’t be possible in the short-term, the best thing you could do is keep your interest payments low by choosing ... Continue reading this article…

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Big Savings for Small Businesses and Shops on Swipe Fees

by Luke Landes

Last week, the Federal Reserve Board announced two proposals for limiting the fees paid to transaction processing companies. MasterCard and Visa would be the most affected if either of these new proposals, set into motion by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act, are put into effect. Small businesses and shops that accept debit cards stand ... Continue reading this article…

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Citi® Platinum Select® Card 24 Month 0% Balance Transfer

by Luke Landes

The offer you are interested in has expired. Read our review of other Citi cards.

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When Doing the Right Thing Hurts (Your Credit)

by Luke Landes

It’s been many years since I’ve paid interest on a credit card balance. I don’t think I’ve missed a payment, either, thanks to automatically scheduled transfers from my checking accounts. I know that many regular Consumerism Commentary readers are like me, as well, and rarely pay a fee that’s unnecessary. (Keep in mind I recently ... Continue reading this article…

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The Plum Card® from American Express OPEN 1.5% Cash Back

by Luke Landes

Small businesses often rely on credit to survive through the early stages. Unless you’re independently wealthy with money ready to invest, getting a small business off the ground requires a lot of hard work. The money is often provided by banks willing to back your business. Without collateral for a loan, many start-up entrepreneurs are ... Continue reading this article…

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Citi ThankYou℠ Premier Card $200 Gift Card Bonus

by Luke Landes

The offer you are interested in has expired. Read our review of other Citi cards.

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Citi Limited Time Holiday Student $50 Cash Back Offer

by Luke Landes

The offer you are interested in has expired. Read our review of other Citi cards.

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Sony Card From Capital One $50 Gift Card

by Luke Landes

The holiday season is one of the best times to hold a rewards credit card and it’s quickly approaching (again). The Sony Card from Capital One is a good example of this. Each year around the holidays, Sony bumps up their credit card offer and this year they’ve done it again. Today, The Sony Card ... Continue reading this article…

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Get Your Free Credit Score With IDENTITY GUARD®

by Luke Landes

If you’re looking to obtain a copy of your credit report, your first choice should be to visit the website AnnualCreditReport.com. As I mentioned this morning, every American is entitled to three free credit reports, and this is the only website that allows you to view these credit reports for free. Once you’ve exhausted your ... Continue reading this article…

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Discover Open Road Card Review

by Luke Landes

You don’t hear people complaining about gasoline prices as much as they used to. At least, I don’t write about it as much as I did in 2006 (or even in 2000, before Consumerism Commentary). I still remember being able to fill up my first Honda Civic for $12. When a few short years later, ... Continue reading this article…

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Chase United Mileage Plus® Signature® Visa Card Review

by Luke Landes

The offer you are interested in has expired. Read our review of the United MileagePlus Explorer Card.

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Blue Cash from American Express Review

by Luke Landes

You may have noticed the high ranking for the Blue Cash® from American Express on our best cash back credit cards page. I own the business version of this credit card and use it for all of my business purchases and some bills. In terms of rewards, this card is one of the best around ... Continue reading this article…

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Kim Kardashian Prepaid Debit Card: Worst Product of the Year?

by Luke Landes

Update: The Kardashian Kard has been taken off the market due to Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal’s concern over the prepaid debit card’s over-sized fees. If you’re the type of person to be outraged by credit cards companies marketing to kids, you probably are not a fan of the Kardashian Debit Card (or “Kard”). This ... Continue reading this article…

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Blue Sky Preferred from American Express earn $200 statement credit

by Luke Landes

You’ve seen cash back offers from Chase, Citibank and Discover; here’s one from American Express. The Blue Sky Preferred® from American Express is offering new cardholders a welcome bonus offer 15,000 point bonus after making $1,000 in purchases within the first three months. Those points can be traded in for a $200 statement credit which ... Continue reading this article…

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