Most credit cards offer some type of rental car coverage. Unfortunately, the terms of these policies are often difficult to find and poorly spelled out. In addition, this coverage contains numerous limitations and exclusions that diminish its value and utility. Thankfully, holders of some credit cards have another option when it comes to rental car coverage. American Express offers an optional, Premium Rental Car Insurance plan. This is a paid plan that all of its card holders are eligible for.

How It Works

Any American Express cardholder can sign up for Premium Rental Card Coverage with no initial fee. Once enrolled, customers who rent a car with their American Express card will automatically be charged a one-time fee of $24.95 per rental of up to 42 consecutive days. California residents are charged only $17.95. Customers will be charged for each rental paid with the enrolled card until they choose to terminate their enrollment. Continue Reading »

Chase’s Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Plus credit card has undergone a number of makeovers during the past year. The latest rendition of the Southwest credit card provides applicants with a very respectable 25,000 Rapid Rewards point sign up bonus worth slightly more than $400 in Wanna Get Away Fares as well as all the standard reward features consumers have come to expect from airline credit cards.

Southwest Credit Card Benefit Overview

Approved applicants who make a single purchase obtain the aforementioned 25,000 Rapid Rewards point bonus. The points have a value of 1.7 cents each when used for Wanna Get Away fares and can thus be used to purchase a round-trip flight comprised of two one way $200 tickets. Given that it is often possible to get Wanna Get Away fares for as low as $50, these points could theoretically be enough for four flights.

Apart from the sign-up bonus, card-members earn 2 Rapid Rewards points for every dollar spent on Southwest Airlines purchases in addition to rewards earned from flying. Given the value of the points, this equates to a 3.4% discount on Southwest flights. Everyday purchases earn a straight one point per dollar, the equivalent of a 1.7% discount on all purchases. Continue Reading »

A few weeks ago, a Facebook page declaring December 11th as Balance Transfer Day sprung up. This marginally coherent “movement” to occupy credit card companies was clearly aiming to piggyback on the success of the Move Your Money Project as well as the Occupy Wall Street (or whatever irks you today) Movement.

The stated goal of the “movement” was to get consumers to utilize low and 0% balance transfers as a way to save money while getting back at major credit card companies. The underlying logic and motives weren’t so clear.

Earlier this week, Candice Choi of the Associated Press wrote an excellent investigative article questioning the motives of the people behind Balance Transfer Day. This controversy brought national attention to the matter and, in the process of shooting holes in the “movement,” it also served to increase awareness of balance transfers.

Consequently, the Balance Transfers Day controversy may end up helping consumers more than the “movement”.

How Consumers Can Benefit from Balance Transfers Day

Simply put, balance transfers allow consumers to transfer high interest rate debt to a new credit card that offers a low and/or 0% interest rate for anywhere from 6 months to a current maximum of 21 months. During the 0% introductory period, consumers pay no interest on outstanding balances. The ability to avoid interest expenses during a 0% balance transfer promotion can help consumers pay down the principle portion of their credit card debt faster or, at the very least, prevent interest from piling up. Continue Reading »

Many Americans are obsessed with finding a good deal, especially during the holiday season. The desire to save money manifests itself in all sorts of ways, including the frenzy that surrounds Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Not to be left out, major credit card issuers are offering their own holiday specials on reward card redemptions. This year, Chase is offering a variety of discounts to members of it Ultimate Rewards program.

What Chase Is Offering

Chase has several holiday promotions that many of its cardholders can take advantage of.  Throughout the holidays, Chase credit card rewards card-holders can earn up to 10 extra Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent at featured merchants in the Ultimate Rewards mall. Other promotions occur only on a single day where purchases can receive as many as 20 bonus points per dollar or even more. Continue Reading »

Although consumers are typically more focused on spending money than saving money with balance transfers during this time of year, credit card companies continue to aggressively pursue new consumers with 0% balance transfer offers. This November, Chase unveiled a 0% APR no fee balance transfer version of Chase Slate. This is the first such offer made available by a major bank since February. Meanwhile, Citibank and Discover continue to offer 0% rates on balance transfers and/or purchases lasting up to 21 months.

Consequently, November is a good time for consumers to preemptively take advantage of 0% APR credit cards in the event the market deteriorates following the holiday season. Given the large number of cards offering 0% rates on purchases as well as balance transfers, utilizing this type of credit card now can also help eliminate the need to pay a 3% transfer fee on balances accrued during the holidays on high rate cards if a 0% card is needed down the road.

Average 0% Offer Durations & Fees in November

As a result of the introduction of the Chase Slate no fee balance transfer offer, average balance transfer fees fell to 3.1% this month, down from 3.26% in October. However, because the Slate card offers a relatively short introductory period that lasts either 6 or 12 months, the average length of 0% offers also declined slightly from 12.16 months to 12.08 months.

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The battle to get to the top of consumer wallets during the holidays is beginning to heat up with the introduction of a new version of the Citi Diamond Preferred card, the Citi Diamond $200. While similar to the Chase Freedom $200 cash back offer in terms of upfront bonuses, this new limited time offer from Citibank differs in many significant ways, most notably in the 0% interest rate department, but also in the spending requirement needed to obtain the Diamond card’s $200 cash back bonus.

The Citi Diamond $200 Bonus Offer

The Citi Diamond Preferred $200 bonus offer provides consumers who make $500 in online purchases within three months of becoming a card member a statement credit for $200.  This differs from similar $200 credit card offers in two key ways. First, while $500 is typical as far as spending requirements go, the online purchase requirement differs from standard offers, which grant bonuses regardless of where money is spent.  The online spending element of this deal is a factor that should be weighed carefully by consumers, particularly those who expect to do the bulk of their holiday shopping off-line. Continue Reading »

Many people truly understand how credit card interest is calculated. When they do learn how their purchases incur interest, it often strikes them as unfair. Chase Blueprint, which is available on a number of their most popular credit cards including Chase Freedom, Chase Sapphire and Chase Slate, aims to help consumers better manage credit card debt by giving them more vision into and control over interest expenses.

How Credit Cards Normally Work

When a customer first charges items to a credit card, interest payments can be avoided by paying the entire balance in full and on time. Technically, interest is being incurred, but it is forgiven when the full balance is paid off during the grace period; the time before the due date.

However, if a customer fails to pay the complete balance, even by one cent, that customer will owe interest on each purchase from the day of the transaction. From then on, interest continues to accrue on all new and existing purchases on the account until they are completely paid off. Only then is the customer eligible to re-establish an interest free grace period on his or her purchases. Continue Reading »