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New Credit Card Rules Target FreeCreditReport.com

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We've all seen the "Free" credit report commercials before. Some love them, most despise them.

But whatever your opinion is of FreeCreditReport.com's advertising tactics, there's no denying how difficult it is to get the catchy jingles out of your head. It's crazy how those melodic rhymes can just find a little crevice in the mind, set up camp, and stick around for days on end.

Managing Credit Cards While Living Overseas

My wife and I moved from Seattle to Thailand for work late last year. Other than preparing myself for lots of spicy food, tropical weather, and a 12-hour time difference with clients on the East Coast, I also wanted to make sure I was prepared to properly handle my credit cards while living overseas. I have always traveled internationally for work, and ever since my first trip abroad I quickly realized that credit cards were my lifeline. They could mean the difference between staying at the Hyatt, or sharing a hostel room with a talkative German named Franz. That said, over the last seven months I have learned some valuable lessons - many the hard way- about managing my credit cards internationally. Hopefully some of these experiences will be of value to you wherever you happen to call home.

Credit Card Bill Heads to Obama's Desk

Consumers rejoice! Congress swiftly passed the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act yesterday, and it's already headed to Obama for his final approval.

In fact, the President is expected to sign the bill into law by early next week, even if it does include a completely unrelated provision that allows individuals to bring concealed weapons into wildlife refuges and national parks. It's funny how our government works sometimes, isn't it? Of course, it doesn't seem like even a controversial gun proposal is enough to stop such a popular piece of legislation from getting signed into law. Chances of anything thwarting the bill's success at this point are slim to none.

Advanta to Dry Up Business Credit Cards

One of our favorite business credit card issuers, Advanta, has decided to cease lending to its business credit card holders. Whereas other credit card lenders are simply ceasing to lend to new customers, Advanta will also shut down all existing accounts for future use. So if you have an Advanta credit card, you'd better start looking for another way to pay for your business expenses.

Credit Card Bill Headed to Senate

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Legislation that will forever change how credit issuers do business is swiftly moving through Congress with the strong support of President Obama and his administration. In fact, the House has already passed its version of the Credit Card Holders Bill of Rights, and now the Senate is gearing up to vote on its own version later this week. We still don't know exactly what will end up in the Senate's final version of the bill, but you can bet it will be even more thorough and complex than what the House put together.

Fed Says Fewer Banks Tighten Credit

Is the worst of the credit crunch behind us? According to an April study conducted by the Fed, which surveyed more than 75 domestic and foreign banks regarding their lending practices to businesses and consumers, there are some leading indicators that credit markets are beginning to loosen.

Young Money Fights for Financial Literacy

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Our friends over at YoungMoney.com are taking great strides to further promote financial literacy among young adults. As part of a recently announced Financial Literacy Program, Young Money is partnering with multiple universities and businesses to deliver co-branded magazines, both online and offline, to students and young employees.

Obama Calls for Credit Card Reform

President Obama has already made transparency a key theme for his administration, and it's clear he expects the same from leading companies in the credit card industry. Sitting at a long table surrounded by key executives from corporations such as American Express, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Capital One, Obama stated, "No more fine print, no more confusing terms and conditions. We want clarity and transparency from here on out" (). Has the moment finally come?

Credit Card Execs Prepare for Obama Beat Down

The Obama administration has been largely silent about the credit card holder bill of rights since last year's presidential campaign. However, a meeting scheduled for today with key executives from 14 major credit issuers suggests Obama is finally gearing up for an extended beat down that will have lasting effects on how credit card companies do business.

Enter to Win $500 from Creditnet.com!

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According to a study published by Nellie Mae (2005), 56% of undergraduate freshman obtain their first credit card at age 18. Unfortunately, most fail to receive any education about how credit works or what it takes to build a solid credit history after the card arrives in the mail

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