Understanding banks’ new credit criteria
Although you could easily get credit with a 680 FICO score two years ago, acceptable credit scores are far higher now, said Ken Lin, chief executive of Credit Karma in San Francisco.
8 Phony ‘Bargains’ (and Better Alternatives)
Big discounts! Big sales! Big freebies! In the recession economy, enticing deals abound. But you need to distinguish those from the raw deals masquerading as bargains. Many of them come with so many strings attached that they could cost you plenty.
CreditKarma: Zen and the art of credit score maintenance
"What goes around, comes around" is a phrase you hear often about the Great Cosmic Scorecard of the universe. So how does it apply to your finances? Kenneth Lin, CEO of CreditKarma, can explain how. "Your past behavior plays a huge part in your current credit situation. If you always do the right thing, pay all your credit card bills on time, you get the best interest rates on cars, your house, and more"
Teens, credit cards and debt – New legislation
Ken Lin, CEO of Credit Karma says waiting until 21 to get a credit card could have long term implications on a person's credit score. "Generally, credit cards are the backbone of most consumers' credit history."
College Credit Card Rule Changes: Make a Plan Now
If you start using credit cards at 18, by the time you're 19 or 20, your credit score could be in the 700-range, which could get you a credit limit of about $5,000, possibly more, Lin says. And if your credit score is around 740, you can get an interest rate of as low as 9%, a tempting idea for a newly independent consumer
7 tips for a successful credit card dispute
"It's no secret that in this recession, many travel companies are playing the discount-and-surcharge game. You know, the one where they slash prices and then add hidden fees to make up the difference. It would follow, then, that a lot of unwanted charges are popping up on credit card bills - fees that, if not removed, will end up being contested."
Credit scores stable despite limits cuts: Credit Karma
"Despite concerns that credit card limit cuts would devastate consumers' credit, scores nationwide seem to be holding steady, according to Credit Karma, a score-tracking site."
Average credit scores down from 2007, but leveling off
"Credit card company policies that drastically cut people's available credit over the past two years did their damage to credit scores as expected. Credit Karma, in its trend study, reported today that according to its June Credit Score Climate Report the current average U.S. consumer credit score was 674 in May."
Credit card debt barometer reports second-quarter improvements
"If you're wondering how your credit card debts and other borrowing loads stack up with the average consumer, check out these numbers compiled by Credit Karma, an online research and educational business."
New Credit Rules Bring Unintended Consequences
"You've seen a lot of credit card companies already starting to raise their interest rates," said Ken Lin, founder and CEO of Credit Karma, a provider of credit reports and scores. "With default rates over 10 percent, credit card companies are trying to get ahead of the curve before the Credit Card Act takes effect."