Negotiate lower interest rates on your credit cards
Posted By: sm on 2008-10-21
In Reply to: Frugal ideas - Siren
It’s worth a shot, and some credit card companies might do it if you’ve been a faithful customer or you threaten to balance transfer to another card.Buy a texting plan for your cell phone. Texting has become unbelievably popular. I have no idea why, because it seems like a pain in the butt, but it’s typically 15 cents for every message you send and receive. This adds up, so better off paying $5 to $10 a month for the add-on plan if you’re addicted to texting.
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- Negotiate lower interest rates on your credit cards - sm
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try to negotiate for a lower APR before going to CCC & use the word "hardship"
Search Google for credit info center they have great advice there.
Try to negotiate for a lower APR yourself first.
First call and threaten to cancel, (but do not cancel if they don't help!) and that might get you a lower APR.
If that fails write or call back,you have to say the word "hardship" to them to really work with you if you are not 60 days past due...that is the magic word. Their hardship plan and CCCS looks the same on your credit report, at least you control it by doing it yourself.
HTH :)
NO more credit cards
I had a credit card with a high balance. I got a second mortage to pay it off. I called the credit card and got the payoff balance and my bank sent a check to them. I kept watching on line to make sure they got it and when they did I noticed that there was a $95 credit. So, I called and said how do I get my money back. They sent me a check and when I got it, I called and closed the account. This was about two weeks ago. Today I get a statement from them with a balance due of $45! Huh??? I called and they keep telling me it is a finance charge. I got pretty steamed and finally ended up saying that I would pay it, but no more. Well, I wrote out the check and put in in the mailbox, but I'm still stewing about this. If I still owed them money, why did they send me a credit?? What is the finance charge on if I had a credit balance? I suppose I will just pay it because they will only keep tacking on even more charges, but it is really bugging me. Has anyone else had any experience with this??
I will say one thing - NO MORE CREDIT CARDS EVER EVER EVER. REALLY. I mean it this time.
I think its credit cards...
The newspaper had an article the day after Christmas how people are defaulting on their credit cards all over the place. This added to the mortgage companies having problems with people unable to pay their balloon payments and the bad housing market, price of gas is sure to lead (the article said) to a recession.
When I was shopping I saw all the people with tons of things in their carts, DVD players, computers, etc. on Christmas eve. This was regular people at Walmart. I saw a lot of credit cards flashed around. Paying minimum payment will cause Christmas to cost tons more and they will be paying beyond the item's life which they purchased.
We went through this. We tried to sell our house, rented to own another and went broke in 3 months. After we had 2 house, fell back on credit cards the interest piled up and it was terrible! We moved back and are on a budget. So, I shopped without credit this year, and you know what? I had more fun. And I have 3 kids. Their things were simpler than the fancy things they got last year. The most expensive things we got were bikes because they are growing and we got those on sale. The rest were creative items. I am not saying that what we did is so great. What I am saying is that peeople are not looking at the big picture these days and if they do not use cash (as we had not in the past), they may not be able to pay their debt if hard times fall. In the meantime, grandpa sent my son 100 bucks, which I let him spend on a train set (I should not have let him do that he is 7) and he cried that his money was all gone and he did not want the train set anymore. I bet if I had him save some of it and had him buy simpler things, well I bet he would not have been crying. At least at age 7 he is learning that money is not easy to come by. And he is learning the hard way because I will not give him more money to replace what he spent. Sorry such a long message. It is just that we did not even afford an XBox, and I wanted a Wii myself, but we avoided all of that because in the end we learned that Christmas is not about credit cards, the junk it buys. I think the end of the cartoon the Grinch where the Who people did not even care about the presents was correct. Maybe we'd be happy with less things and more love. I don't know. This was not meant to be a sermon forgive me. We all have to learn what Christmas means to us and I say let people do what they want, consequences are always result of actions anyway. Just IMO. Happy New Year everyone!
If you are just talking about credit cards sm
If you call your credit card companies, they can set you up with a plan to help. I was in the same boat. Low to no wages and a very large hospital bill, plus household expenses.
I have 5 credit cards. Up until the hospitalization, I paid on time or paid more than the minimum, as I used to use them for work-related items.
Sadly, all were maxed out during the hospitalization and subsequent rehabilitation. Of course in the meantime, during the time I couldn't contact them, my interest rates went from 9% to 21-29%. I didn't know about their programs...a well kept secret. 
I'm still hurting, but now my credit rating isn't being dinged and 1 card is back down to 12%.
BUT, you must agree to pay the amount they set for you faithfully every month. If not, you lose the advantage. When you have a little extra, put it on the bill, even if it's only $1. I have the payments automatically deducted from my checking account. That way, I KNOW they're being made on time as I sometimes don't know one day from the next (if you know what I mean) and if I have extra at the end of the month, I hand write a check to one of them (preferably the highest amount of debt).
Don't need credit counseling. Just work with the companies themselves. It's a pain to make all the calls, but it's worth it. Good luck.
If you are no longer using credit cards......
i've had several credit cards throughout my time and all but four are paid off. i don't plan on using the other credit cards ever. they do show up on my credit report. i would like to cancel the ones i don't use, but i've heard that it looks back on your credit report. anyone else have info about this? i think it's a better idea to cancel the cards you will never use again because of the identity theft going on.
First, avoid credit cards, charging....
Try not to use plastic if you possibly can because you'll never catch up. Don't buy anything you don't absolutely need. Make do with food you can prepare yourself. Don't go out to eat. Don't be afraid to ask for help, not money, but help with children, etc., so you won't get stressed out. Most of all, don't let the kids see you depressed, they feel it and get scared. Google for help, such as making your own Play Doh, recipes, help with just about anything, you would be surprised at what you can find out. Just be careful you don't get involved on the Net with wrong people. I watch CNN or CNBC because I want to know what's going on, you HAVE to know so you'll be aware of changes coming. I don't own stock but I want to know what's going on with the banks, etc., so I can avoid making mistakes. Suze Orman said on one show that you should live happily in a shack rather than over your head. On another program, she stated she was building a new home in South Africa. I used to follow her lead, but now I only listen to her when it comes to paying off credit cards, otherwise she doesn't walk in our proverbial shoes. You have to be informed, even if it hurts. Making lots of mac and cheese. I think a lot of this expensive organic stuff is totally overblown. Don't use Starbucks when McDonalds will do; better yet, don't go there at all, stay home! Just my humble opinion, less is more, family is all that counts, don't scare the kids! Leave your 401 alone, it WILL come back, don't despair, it will repair.
Anyone who resorts to payday loans, credit cards or
paycheck advances should either find a better paying job or a second job. Crazy to borrow money just to live day to day. Don't bother telling me that I don't know how hard it is today to make ends meet....been there, done that then got smarter! What happens when you can't make the payday loan payment, credit card payment or you've taken such an advance on your paycheck it's gone before you get it?
Cancel the ID theft protection on your credit cards.
If you didn’t pay for it, you’re not liable for it.
Credit cards with 0 balance can also negatively affect you -
If you have too much credit line available to you and you apply for a mortgage, they can turn you down because they know you can get your hands on that money quickly and therefore put your debt to income ratio way out of whack and jeopardize your ability to pay your bills. That happened to me once many years ago. I had 2 credit cards with large credit lines, but both had 0 balances. The mortgage company made me close them before they would approve my loan.
Our kids got their own credit/debit cards when they hit 18 and got jobs. Their success or lack of
s
"Food stamps" now are paid on EBT cards - federal EBT cards which look the
have the option to have their pay on an EBT card as well.
She may well have been using her family's federal EBT card and working for the government for a living.
Or, if she is a foster parent, those children will receive state benefits and she could use an EBT card for food assistance.
Everything is not always what it appears to be. I'm sure you're a nice person, right?! See?! We wouldn't know any better if we believed the appearance you have given here! :)
I agree with trying to negotiate with the CC companies
yourself first. That's what I did. We had a medical problem and we went from paying on time for years to 90 days behind in 3 months. We wound up living off the cards...which is an absolute no-no, but couldn't be helped, and wound up with $45,000 in CC debt.
I called them all and they all have programs for hardship cases. They set up payments for you which are lower than what you would usually be paying and they lowered my interest rates again (in the good times, I was paying 9%) from 19% to 21% down to 9% again and one company even lowered my interest rate to 6%!
They automatically take the money from your account and you just have to remember to keep the money in there. Payments are much lower since they lowered the interest rate and all the cards will be paid off in 4 years.
One company did close my account, but none of the others did. I haven't used a credit card for 2 years and most of the cards I had for 10 years.
Hope this helps and good luck. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
Always negotiate and do your homework before hand!
If you do some good internet research you can find out what the dealer actually pays for the car before their mark ups. I bought a new car several years ago and took this information with me. It was about $3000 less than sticker price and I only paid a couple hundred over this base price AND they went to another state to get the car that I wanted because I didn't want to wait for one from the factory. They will push you hard so be ready to stand your ground. Also, ask them to throw in license fees, plates, taxes, etc. in the price. Many places will do this if you finance through them and some will give you a gas card for $50, free oil changes, and what not if you ask at the end. Just remember, the worst they can say is no. You will likely never see this person again. I would recommend using your own bank for financing. If you use theirs I feel they use that to their advantage and finance you the sticker price and make it more difficult to bargain.
Why does closing a credit card account negatively affect your credit report
Especially when I never use it anyway, and really never wanted it?
With all the bank rearranging going on in the past few months, one of my accounts was tranferred to Bank of America. I was sent new cards and a new agreement, new interest rate etc...
So I called them up and cancelled but before they did, I had to listen to a spiel about how this would negatively affect my credit report.
Huh?? Why is that?
shows who rates around here
So, the almighty humans get the seatbelts and all we get is a stinkin' leash?
Mortgage rates
Is anyone refinancing with the mortgage rates so low? I doubt we'll ever see them this low again.....thoughts?
Won't your rates go back up when you start getting RX again, though? nm
xx
what if HIV positivity affects survival rates
And some peace corp volunteer from Mexico City lands in Congo where there is a 40% infection rate?
Try Monte Carlo, good rates, right on the strip nm
ss
If you have any interest in
plants and gardening, I notice that the nursery where I work utilizes volunteers for certain things. You might see if there are any garden nurseries or arboretums in your area that do the same. The fresh air and outside work is fun when you get to work with plants.
interest-only payment
We'll just be paying "interest only" for the house, so that would be around $2700 monthly. Do you think our combined income would be enough for this? If we don't get approved by a finance institution, someone will co-sign for us to get the house.
I know about the no interest loans
I had 2 - one where I moved from previously and still owned and rented that home out and my present home. We got rid of those as soon as humanly possible- those sound good but the interest soon shoots through the roof- this is why all the repossessions going on now. These are only a stepping stone- not for you to keep for years on- you will lose it all. We did not lose but then again we could afford to play around a little- does not sound like you can and you have your hands full.
Of interest to Pet Lovers
Wanted to share a link for an email from my friend in Australia....
You all piqued my interest so I did some research
I had no idea what a french press was, how it's used, or nothin'. I found this site with a picture narrative and even detail on what kind of a grinder to get. Way to much work for me--I can barely operate my Mr. Coffee correctly, never mind one of these bad boys. For you coffee afficionado's though, this looks incredibly fascinating and delicious!
http://www.coffeegeek.com/guides/presspot
and why do you read posts you have no interest in?
Perhaps no life? Grow up!
isn't the interest on that pretty high?
:(
I lost interest - read why
I don't know what it was about it. I absolutely loved the show when it first began. Then the next season it got weirder and kept getting more and more weird. One time I was watching it and all of a sudden everyone was old. I couldn't figure out what it was I missed. I understand that Christian is the father of the boy, who married the girl that Christian was having sex with (the sexy model that Christian fixed from some horrible accident she was in). She ended up being a religious wack, they had a baby, were into drugs big time, mother turned lesbian, assistant in OR turned lesbian. Then not Christian but other main character (whose wife turned lesbian) the lesbian wife took off to another state with the daughter and their baby who had a horrible deformity. They had a "small person" caretaker (what he did to add to the story I don't know). The druggee son who had a gay relationship became a doctor? Whoooo-boy, I just got too confused that I lost interest. It reminded me of how I feel when I watch the show "Lost" - lost. I do like all the actors and actresses though. Have seen them in other shows/movies. They are good but I just don't understand the story anymore.
Just closed on 4.375 interest rate! nm
If you are that concerned about a potential love interest
check out abika.com. There are a million ways to find information on someone - for a price. There is no such thing as protected privacy anymore. Remember, though, saavy suitors can find the same information about your mom in the same way. She doesn't have to know you are doing it either. They have one section where all you need is their screen name from one of maybe 3 or 4 of the major dating sites to start a search.
I don't know the answer about the SS benefits.
Point of interest-use older eggs for hardboiled,
x
Pay off highest interest rate debt first, then the next, and onto the next. The house can wait. Do
dd
Where in lower NY?
I'm in Upstate NY and it's in the mid-70's here. I think this morning the low was in the high 50's. Brrr to you.
That is way down in lower manhattan
If you are going to South St. Seaport and are staying in Midtown, you might want to plan other things in that area while you are there. If you like Latin food, there is a restaurant called Cabana at South Street Seaport. Reasonable for lunch but expensive for dinner. It is on second floor and overlooks harbor. Also the downtown alliance has a free shuttle that takes you around lower manhattan. you get on and off at various points. http://www.downtownny.com/gettingaround/?sid=19
That way you can do Staten Island Ferry, ground zero, Brooklyn bridge, etc., and not get lost walking around in lower manhattan. It is not laid out like a grid down there and gets very confusing.
My daughter plans on going to college in NYC so we go often. Have a great time. Don't be afraid of the subway. It is a great experience. Going back to NYC in August. Cannot wait.
me too (lower NY state)
had to go out for son's teacher conference
Please not the lower back...
Hip or shoulder yes, lower back...please NO!!! So trashy...MHO, of course...good day!
I have one on the right side of my lower
abdomen, only see it in swimsuit. Really wanted one on the back of my shoulder, but decided not to get one that would show when I was "dressed up." My ex told me I could NEVER have one, so when we divorced that is the first thing I did!!!!
Lower it - 21 is too high
1. Three years is not a huge difference.
2. Most kids are drinking earlier than 21 anyway and nobody is enforcing the law when they get caught drinking under age.
3. It was 18 when I was 18 and there was not a high incidence of drunk driving or whatever reason they have for a drinking age.
4. Germany there is no drinking age and they do not have a high rate of drunk drivers (they have one of the lowest rates of any country).
5. If they are not going to lower the drinking age they should then raise the age of joining the military. Someone tell me that it makes sense that they can't drink til their 21, but at 18 years old in the military they are given guns and can use them.
Some kids will be responsible and some kids won't. I know a lot of people who are in their 20s and 30s and older who are very irresponsible when it comes to drinking - btw, I am 48 years old, not 18, 19, or 20 (and just want the age lowered) :-)
Your lower teeth
in the front ... have your gums eroded in back of the teeth as well? Mine look fairly normal in front of the teeth, but behind them (especially bottom front teeth), I can see the gums are quite receded. I have one of those little dental mirrors. I am wondering why they would be worse in the back, as I think I brush the same way there.
If the houses around you are crap, your value will also be lower than it should be.
s
She said TURKEY BACON which is much lower in sat fat, etc. sm
I did Weight Watchers for years and I'd eat something like this, if you were judiciously using the bacon/cheese.
P.S. They DO lower your minimum payment due (nm)
x
Is gas still high where you live? $2.45 to 2.90 in lower NY state. nm
s
If you suffer from lower back pain
or arthritis like me, you may want to try the SALONPAS pain relieving patch. Works great! Relatively inexpensive. Comes in different sizes. Right before it rains, I often get horrible arthritis related lower back pain problems. I put on the patch and I am able to type almost pain free. If you can not find it in your local pharmacy, your may want to look it up online. Made by Hisamitsu Parmaceutical Co. Best patch/pain reliever I have tried.
Are you going next week? I'm in lower NY state and a.m. temps have been in
s
We're like that here in lower NY today, but it's ladybugs
s
look up the lower down posts, this is a totally different story..nm
nm
Since they are in the public eye, they must do it. John Edwards is lower
xx
Take iot from a midwife (posted lower under MWMT)
that the most painful stage of a delivery is the 2nd stage! Yes, I remember that and I agree!
Lower NY state north of NYC, getting hit with sleet and ice! Few inches of it now. :( nm
s
Our little burg here in lower NY state does this, too, and the final concert is usually
s
40 degrees in lower NY state and I have my space heater ON
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