Welcome, visitor! [ Login

Post an Ad

Secured Credit Card Marketing Scams

Debt-Credit Consolidation September 23, 2024

Secured Credit Card Marketing Scams

ANYONE CAN QUALIFY FOR A MAJOR CREDIT CARD!

Separated? Divorced? Bankrupt? Widowed?

BAD CREDIT? NO CREDIT?

NO PROBLEM!

900-555-1111

  • Make the call NOW and get the credit you deserve!
  • Even if you’ve been turned down before, you owe it to yourself and your family.
  • Your major credit card is waiting.

Ads like this may appeal to you if you have a poor credit history or no credit at all. Beware: while secured credit cards can be an effective way to build or re-establish your credit history, some marketers of secured cards make deceptive advertising claims to entice you to respond to their ads.

Secured vs. Unsecured Cards

Secured and unsecured cards can be used to pay for goods and services. However, a secured card requires you to open and maintain a savings account as security for your line of credit; an unsecured card does not.

The required savings deposit for a secured card may range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Your credit line is a percentage of your deposit, typically 50 to 100 percent. Usually, a bank will pay interest on your deposit. In addition, you also may have to pay application and processing fees — sometimes totaling hundreds of dollars. Before you apply, be sure to ask what the total fees are and whether they will be refunded if you’re denied a card. Typically, a secured card requires an annual fee and has a higher interest rate than an unsecured card.

Deceptive Ads and Scams

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken action against companies that deceptively advertise major credit cards through television, newspapers, and postcards. The ads may offer unsecured credit cards, secured credit cards, or not specify a card type. The ads usually lead you to believe you can get a card simply by calling the number listed. Sometimes the number is not toll-free. A ‘900’ number service, for which you are billed just for making the call, may instruct you to give your name and address to receive a credit application, or give you a list of banks offering secured cards. It also may tell you to call another ‘900’ number — at an additional charge — for more information.

Deceptive ads often leave out important information.

  • The cost of the ‘900’ call — which can range from $2 to $50 or more;
  • The required security deposit, application, and processing fees;
  • Eligibility requirements like income or age;
  • An annual fee or the fact that the secured card has a higher than average interest rate on any balance.

How to Avoid the Scam

To avoid being victimized, look for the following signs:

  • Offers of easy credit. No one can guarantee to get you credit. Before deciding whether to give you a credit card, legitimate credit providers examine your credit report.
  • A call to a ‘900’ number for a credit card. You pay for calls with a ‘900’ prefix — and you may never receive a credit card.
  • Credit cards offered by “credit repair” companies or “credit clinics.” These businesses also may offer to clean-up your credit history for a fee. However, you can correct genuine mistakes or outdated information yourself by contacting credit bureaus directly. Remember that only time and good credit habits will restore your credit worthiness.

Credit Reporting

If you’re considering a secured card as a way to build or re-establish a credit record, make sure the issuer reports to a credit bureau. Your credit history is maintained by companies called credit bureaus; they collect information reported to them by banks, mortgage companies, department stores, and other creditors. If your card issuer doesn’t report to a bureau, the card won’t help you build a credit history.

For More Information

To build a credit record, you may want to apply for a charge card or a small loan at a local store or lending institution. Ask if the creditor reports transactions to a credit bureau. If they do — and if you pay back your debts regularly — you will build a good credit history.

If you cannot get credit on your own, you can ask a relative or friend with a good credit history to act as your cosigner. The cosigner promises to repay the debt if you don’t.

If you’re having problems paying bills, you may want to contact a credit counseling service. Non-profit organizations in every state counsel consumers who are in debt. Counselors try to arrange a repayment plan that is acceptable to you and your creditors. They also can help you set up a realistic budget. These counseling services are offered at little or no cost to consumers. You can find the office nearest you by checking the White Pages of your telephone directory.

Sometimes, non-profit counseling programs are operated by universities, military bases, credit unions, and housing authorities. They are likely to charge little or nothing for their services. Or you can check with your local bank or consumer protection office to see if it has a list of reputable low-cost financial counseling services.

  • Debt Collectors -Recovery Services - PA & VA

    by on September 1, 2024 - 0 Comments

    Entity Address Telephone Monarch Recovery Management, Inc. 10965 Decatur Road, Philadelphia, PA, 19154 (215) 281-7500 Monarch Recovery Management, Inc. 9350 Ashton Road, Suite 101, Philadelphia, PA, 19114 (215) 281-7500 Central Credit Services, Inc. Five Neshaminy Interplex, Suite 117, Trevose, PA, 19053 (215) 333-2272 Tate & Kirlin Associates, Inc. 2810 Southampton Road, Philadelphia, PA, 19154 (215) […]

  • Credit Counseling Agencies :EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA

    by on August 9, 2024 - 0 Comments

    Alliance Credit Counseling, Inc. 13777 Ballantyne Corporate Place, Ste.100 Charlotte, NC  28277-3433 Phone:  888-594-9596 Fax: 704-943-0313 Email:  kevin@knowdebt.org Website:  www.acc.consumerbkcenter.com, www.crisishelp.org, www.knowdebt.org Debt Management/Credit Counseling All Names Used: Alliance Credit Counseling, Inc., AAAlliance Credit Counseling, Inc., AAA Alliance Credit Counseling, Inc.  Addresses: 15720 John J. Delaney Dr., Ste.100, Charlotte, N.C. 28277, 7621 Little Avenue, #100, […]

  • How to calculate Monthly Income and Expenses - Case study

    by on August 2, 2024 - 0 Comments

    Monthly Income and Expenses   Once you know your monthly expenses, you can use a Monthly Income and Expense Worksheet (similar to the one on page 8 of your Participant Guide), a money management software program, or an online budgeting worksheet to determine: How much money you have coming in (income) How much is going […]

  • 5 Tips for Getting the Most From Your Credit Card

    by on September 14, 2024 - 0 Comments

    Pay on time. Paying your credit card account on time helps you avoid late fees as well as penalty interest rates applied to your account, and helps you maintain a good credit record. A good credit record leads to a higher credit score, which helps you qualify for lower interest rates. Know the date your […]

  • Credit cards fees

    by on July 29, 2024 - 0 Comments

    Fees Many credit cards have fees. You will want to read your credit card agreement carefully to make sure you understand all the fees associated with your card. You can use the Federal Reserve’s consumer credit card agreements search to find general examples of the type and range of fees a credit card may have. […]