Credit Cards

The “Skimming” Scam: Technology, Thieves, and ATM Machines

The “Skimming” Scam: Technology, Thieves, and ATM Machines Imagine this:  Right now, there’s a band of tech-savvy crooks prowling the city, outfitting ATM machines (and, in some cases, gas station pumps, and retail point-of-sale readers) with sophisticated gadgets designed to steal debit card numbers, PINs, and – of course – your money.  These guys are highly organized, and they’re armed with nearly undetectable spy cameras, Bluetooth devices, and fake...

Credit Card Rewards: Are They Worth it?

Credit card companies sometimes use rewards – things like airline miles, rewards points, and cash-back offers — as a way to attract new customers.   But just how rewarding are these “rewards,” exactly?  Are they worth it?   Well, that depends.  I have mixed feelings about credit cards to begin with.  On one hand, I think credit cards can be useful tools that can help you build up your credit...

Six Good Reasons to (Responsibly!) Use Your Credit Card

For this month’s blog, I thought it would be fun to talk about something I almost never talk about: the benefits of credit card use. Yes, you read that right.  There are benefits to credit cards. I spend most of my time working with people who are struggling with crippling amounts of credit card debt – and there’s no doubt that, if used irresponsibly, credit cards can wreak havoc...

Why Credit Cards Lead to Overspending (and What You Can do About It)

As someone who deals with debt for a living, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people defend their credit card use.  “I only use my credit card for emergencies,” they tell me.  Or, “I just use it to get the airline miles/reward points/cash back.” And of course, one of my favorites:  “It’s okay because I know how to use it responsibly.”   Here’s the thing, though:...

The Benefits (and Risks) of “Swipe and Go” Cards

They’re the latest innovation in credit- and debit-card technology:  “Swipe and go” cards make it easier than ever to get in and out of the grocery store, the gas station, or anywhere else.  These new cards look like traditional cards – except that in addition to the traditional magnetic strip, swipe and go cards are also equipped with a small radio frequency identification (RFID) chip containing your credit card...