Asset Planning, Inc Blog

The latest from the team.

A Recent Survey Suggests You Can Save Money by Making One Simple Call

Most people assume that things such as, annual fees, interest rates and late fees are non-negotiable when it comes to credit cards. A new survey from creditcards.com is showing us that this is not the case. In most circumstances all you have to do is call your credit card company and ask. The survey asked 952 American cardholders and the majority received what they asked for. The problem is that hardly anyone asks.

Here are the results from cardholders who asked:

  • 87 percent received a late payment fee waiver.
  • 69 percent got a lower interest rate.
  • 89 percent received a higher credit limit.
  • 82 percent had their annual fee waived or reduced.

If you are looking for ways to reduce or eliminate fees on your credit card it doesn’t hurt to call and ask. The worst they can say is no. This can save you lots of money in the long run, if you carry balances on your cards, so it’s definitely worth a call.

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Mobile Banking Security Tips

 

Mobile Banking Security Tips     

Whether using your phone or a tablet, mobile banking is a wonderful tool that gives you access to your financial world with a touch of a button. Almost all banks and credit cards now have apps that allow you to access your account information, make deposits, complete transfers and make payments directly from your smartphone. While we love the convenience of mobile banking it can also be a way for a thief to obtain your personal information if you are not careful. Here are a few tips to keep you secure while enjoying all of the convenience that mobile banking offers.

  1. Always download banking apps directly from the banks website or the app store.
  2. Never download banking apps on “jailbroken” phones. Phones that have been “jailbroken” or modified no longer have the operating system’s security in effect and are more likely to be hacked.
  3. Always secure your phone with a strong passcode and enable the auto-lock feature in case your phone is lost or stolen.
  4. Never use public Wi-Fi when logging into the app. That is a common way for hackers to get your personal information.
  5. Never respond to a text or email requesting your banking/login information. A real bank will never send a request for this info.
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Checking Your Own Credit Score

 

Everybody knows how important maintaining a good credit score is. Having a good credit score will get you better interest rates on home mortgages, car loans and credit cards. Landlords and even employers are looking at this number when making decisions to rent/lease to you or hire you. With credit being such an important factor in life it’s crucial that you know what your credit score is and checking your own credit score does not impact your credit. Luckily for you there are many new and free credit monitoring services out there to help you do just that. So if your credit needs a little help, don’t despair, check out these free tools to help guide you on the path to great credit!

Creditscorecard.com

 

Creditsesame.com

 

Creditkarma.com

If you choose to sign up for one of these websites they will ask you for personal information to identify yourself to verify that it is in fact you signing up. These websites are all free monitoring services and they will not ask you for any credit card information. They will however send you marketing materials with offers based on your personal information. It seems like a small price to pay in order to be able to monitor and take control of your own credit. Good luck on your journey to overall better credit health!

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