Jean Chatzky blog :: The Difference :: Personal finance, debt, and money advice

Daily Finance: Identity Theft

This week I spoke at Daily Finance on the increasing costs of identity theft and how you can protect yourself. Check out the video clip below to learn more.

Help Me, WalletPop!: Best Buy Opened and Damaged My Video Game

In this week’s WalletPop Consumer Ally, I helped get a credit on a video game opened and damaged by Best Buy.

Today’s Money: Fighting Frugal Fatigue

This morning on Today I spoke with Ann Curry on ways to keep your spending in check. Watch the video below to learn more.

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Daily Finance: Interest Rates

This week I spoke with Nikhil Hutheesing from Daily Finance on how to protect yourself from rising interest rates. Check out the video clip below to learn more.

Help Me, WalletPop!: Kohl’s Won’t Honor Offer

In my latest WalletPop Consumer Ally, I helped get a buy-one, get-one-free offer reinstated from Kohl’s.

New York Daily News: Credit Cards

In this week’s New York Daily News column, I offer some tips and tricks to finding the best offer in a credit cards fine print.

Ask Jean: Lowering Credit Card Interest Rates

iStock_000005912769XSmall Why would the Visa Credit Card people at my bank tell me the reason they cannot reduce my interest rate is due to the “Credit Bureau Act of 2009″?????? What exactly is this? Is this just a put off tactic or is there something to this? I’ve never heard this mentioned by advisors who say to ask for a reduction and give examples of people who get it. Thanks for your help.

Hi Betsy,
You’ve got me. The Credit Card Act of 2009 may be what they’re referring to, but I don’t know of anything in it that would prevent them from reducing your original interest rate. It prevents them from raising your interest rate on new purchases unless you pay 60 days late. What it doesn’t do is force them to reduce your interest rate. That they don’t have to do unless they feel like it and often they don’t feel like it unless they think they’re going to lose you as a customer. Here’s what to do: Call customer service back and ask again. If they say no, speak to a supervisor. And if that supervisor says no, speak to his or her supervisor. If you still strike out, look for a cheaper card to transfer your balance to (go to lowcards.com to find one). But don’t close the old card unless the annual fee is ridiculous. Closing it will take your credit score down.

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