Paper checks are so yesterday, says a 2007 survey conducted by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). As corporate America moves toward "paperless offices," universities and colleges are following suit, enabling students to pay their tuition and fees with credit cards, e-checks and electronic fund transfers. |
Credit cards in the hands of children may sound excessive, but in today's swipe-happy consumer market, plastic rules.
According to the law, individuals younger than 18 must have the permission of a parent or legal guardian to obtain a credit card -- and according to a 2006 study by the JumpStart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, 51.6 percent of high school students use credit cards.
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That plastic in your wallet could be burning a hole in your pocket, especially if you get snared by some of the credit card industry's sneakier practices. Congress is weighing whether to make some of these charges and interest rate methods illegal, but in the meantime, here are five pitfalls to watch out for |
Treasurer Wayne Swan has warned that it could take up to two years of rate pain to get inflation under control with the underlying rate hitting 3.6 per cent. The Reserve Bank of Australia is almost certain to increase rates at its February meeting in an attempt to drive the inflation rate back down into its 2 to 3 per cent comfort zone. Key contributors to the inflation result were petrol, up 7.3 per cent in the last quarter, and rents which increased 1.6 per cent over the same period. Rises in most food categories were offset by a 13.5 per cent fall in the price of fruit and a 6.9 per cent reduction in the price of vegetables. Mr Swan has called on unions, employers and employees to avoid adding fuel to the fire and exercise restraint in any wage claims.
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MUMBAI: Timesofmoney, a Times Group company, has launched India's first entertainment co-branded credit card. Envisioned to be an aspirational credit card for high spenders, ‘Times Card' offers its members innumerable exciting opportunities to redefine their lifestyle across entertainment, dining, shopping, travel, body and beauty.
Times Card has been packaged to meet lifestyle fancies. It will also offer privileged invitations to high profile Times events such as the Femina Miss India, Filmfare Awards, blockbuster movie premieres, live concerts and celebrity parties. "With the growing Indian economy, there has been a considerable growth in lifestyle and the luxury spends from today's high-end spenders. Times Card is weaved along the 5Cs of |
Theft of your personal financial information is definitely something about which to "worry" or at least be concerned. It is true that you are not responsible for fraudulent charges on your credit card if it is stolen or lost. Federal law limits your amount of liability to $50 once you report a loss or theft and many issuers will not find you liable for anything. However, you must be aware of the fraudulent charges to report them as such to your creditor. |
You have a situation that many (if not all) are facing today: what to do about rising prices. You say you are concerned about running up your credit card bills, but you aren't sure if you should be paying them off, plus you are looking ahead to retirement. All of this is in the face of what you describe as rising food and energy prices. |
Most retirees get about $1,000 in Social Security benefits per month -- hardly enough to pay living expenses and try to pay off an $8,000 debt. Fortunately, the law is on your side. In fact, two laws may be on your side! |
According to a customer representative at American Express, whenever the company sees "unusual activity," they can investigate it. American Express has people in its fraud and identity theft departments working full-time to catch any irregular use of your card. The goal is to stop misuse right then and there. |
Credit card fraud monitoring can halt legitimate purchases |
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