Gift Cards and the New Card Act

Christmas past, Christmas present and Christmas future! I love looking back at holiday pix when my babies were babies, that's part of the fun of the season.

Recently, I was on ABC NEWS, talking about the fact that for the past three Christmas seasons, the present at the top of most people’s list is the gift card. While recent surveys indicate that people love to give and get gift cards, this year, gift cards are not just for those who are short on time or scrambling for ideas. In a post recession economy, gift cards can help some families make ends meet for months to come. This year, there’s good news for those in the market for gift cards, the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act enacted last year has imposed new restrictions on gift cards so they are more consumer friendly.

Understanding the new CARD Act rules will help you make the best selection when purchasing gift cards. First of all, there are different kinds of gift cards, so it's important to know the options and how to you decide which card to buy. There are basically two kinds of gift cards and they each have had their advantages as well as drawbacks. The credit card or bank issued cards have the advantage that they can be used almost anywhere, but traditionally, they’ve been racked with fees, including a hefty purchase fee. The other kind of card is a retailer card, which may not have the fees attached, but the obvious disadvantage is that they can only be used at a specific retailer.

Billions Lost in Christmas Past

Over the past several years there have been billions of dollars lost each year. Consumer have lost out because of expiration dates on cards, fees that can deteriorate their worth, and lost or misplaced cards. Plus, some businesses went under and the customer who had not yet finished using their card was out of luck.

CARD Act is Helping With Christmas Present

The CARD Act changed the scene on behalf of the consumer when it comes to gift cards in several ways. For example, gift cards sold after Aug 22, 2010, can’t expire in less than five years. The law also bars issuers from charging an inactivity fee unless the card has been dormant for at least 12 months. In the past, some gift card issuers deducted inactivity fees after only 30 days. Issuers are also barred from charging a fee to replace a lost or stolen card.

Even though these restrictions can do away with a lot of unpleasant surprises, it’s not all smooth sailing, there are still some drawbacks that people should be aware of. The first area is purchase fees. If you decide to give someone a gift card from a credit card or bank, then you need to expect to pay more than the face value of the card. All eight of the general purpose cards included in Bankrate.com’s annual gift card survey charge between $3.95 and $6.95.

Why do credit card and bank issuers charge these fees? What kinds of services do they pay for?

They do pay for a variety of services, including the infrastructure that allows gift card holders to check their balances online. To contrast that with retail cards, none of the 46 retailers and restaurants in the Bankrate survey charge a purchase fee for their gift cards. Some retailers go even further, offering customers a gift or discount with the gift card purchase.

Beware the Ghost of Christmas Future

There are still areas where you should consider the future in purchasing your gift card. While the CARD Act restricts inactivity fees it doesn’t eliminate them. Consumers who allow them to languish for a year or longer could still get hit with fees, which are typically subtracted from the value of the card. Most of the general purpose cards in the Bankrate survey charge a $2.50 per month inactivity fee if the card isn’t used after 12 consecutive months. But this is primarily true for the credit card and bank based cards, not for retailers and restaurants.


Isn’t there suppose to be full disclosure at the point of sale for any kind of gift card and how do you decipher these disclosures, they can be really confusing?

All of these disclosures, as mandated by the CARD act are now suppose to be on the back of the gift card itself. The info is supposed to include fees, expiration dates, and a toll free number. In July, though, Congress agreed to extend the disclosure deadline until Jan 31, 2011 for gift cards produced before April 1st. So this holiday season consumers won’t get in on that part of the good deal. This is because Congress granted a reprieve. You would think it would be a good idea, especially during the holidays, to have full disclosure for the consumer. But the gift card industry would have had to destroy 100 million gift cards, which might have had a negative trickle down effect for the industry, and would have also made it virtually impossible for card manufacturer’s to meet retailers’ order in time for the holidays. So be aware of the fact that the cards you buy this holiday may have some outdated information on them. You can find the correct information through websites that the retailer will give you as well as signage and advertisements.

Ellie Kay
"America's Family Financial Expert" (R)

Good News for Those Who Need Debt Consolidation!

This week on ABC NEWS, I was able to share GOOD NEWS for those who are in need of help!

Consumers in a post recession economy are easy prey for advertisements that claim their company can reduce your debt by 50% or more in just a few months. Thousands of those who have been battered by the recession have succumbed to the ads and dialed the toll free numbers featured in these ads. They’ve also signed up for debt-relief services, often at considerable expense. Sadly, many of these consumers have ended up even deeper in debt than before they made the phone call. Today, let's look at the facts.

Q. First of all, how bad is the situation among debt relief agencies—are most of those firms out to take advantage of consumers?

ELLIE: The situation is pretty bleak, the Better Business Bureau reports more than 3500 complaints about debt-relief companies since the beginning of the recession. Granted, it’s probably out of line to make gross generalizations and say that all debt relief agencies are out to take advantage of a debt ridden consumer. There are some out there that are doing a good job with minimal fees attached. But unfortunately, there are many more that are adding to the debt woes of those they say they are trying to “help.”

Q. Would you say that the debt consolidation industry has thrived during a down economy?

ELLIE: Absolutely, it’s one of those industries that tends to do very well during financially challenging times. All of the sudden, people can’t pay their bills and they hear about others who have gone to a credit union or a debt consolidation company that has combined their debt in order to reduce monthly payments. But I believe, personally, that this industry, which tends to be opportunistic at best---is about to see a major change.

Q. A rule approved by the Federal Trade Commission last week will make it much harder for debt settlement companies to make a living. How does this FTC ruling help consumers?

ELLIE: It’s primarily wrapped up in the way that debt consolidation companies can advertise. No longer can they promise to “wipe away your debt” or “reduce it by 50%.” These dubious claims about their success rates are coming under close scrutiny. But even more importantly, the rule will prevent them from charging upfront fees for their services, which is expected to put a lot of debt-settlement companies out of business.

Q. Do you think it’s a good thing that many of these debt settlement companies could go under?

ELLIE: Yes! As a financial expert for the last 20 years, I’ve seen a lot of businesses that are out to stick it to the consumer. I’m all about helping families get out of debt and in my opinion, the majority of these companies are adding so many fees, that a lot of the people I’ve talked to are actually in debt 3 to 5 years LONGER after going to these kinds of companies. It’s been a wild, wild west for debt settlement and it’s about time the sheriff showed up and put some of those guys out of business.

Q. But the problem is greater than just dealing with the debt settlement firms, right? Aren’t there other companies that contribute to this problem and what is the FTC doing about them?

ELLIE: Excellent point, and I’m glad you brought it up. There are others that contribute to the issue and the FTC is cracking down on those companies as well. For example, there have been marketing agencies that earn big commissions for signing up as many customers for debt settlements as they can. These businesses have no interest in determining whether consumers are good candidates for debt settlement—they are just going after the bucks. In fact, many of those who signed up for debt settlement end up in Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Q. It almost sounds as if there are no good options when it comes to debt settlement—are there any “good guys” out there in the wild, wild west? Is debt settlement ever a good idea?

ELLIE: There are legitimate companies that don’t charge an upfront fee and they offer full disclosure about what they can and cannot do for the consumer. You can go to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, a non-profit organziation that can direct you. There are consumers out there who have large credit card balances, need debt consolidation and are not good candidates for bankruptcy. In fact, a 2005 bankruptcy reform law created a “means test” that has made it more difficult for some individuals to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. And a bankruptcy filing will stay on your credit report for 10 years, which could make it difficult for you to get a job, particularly one that requires a security clearance.

Q. So, how to you find a company that can truly help consolidate your debt without taking advantage of your difficult situation?

ELLIE: The key is to ask them the right questions such as:
“What’s your success rate and what percentage of people drop out of your program?”
Before the FTC rule came into play, companies could cherry pick examples of successful customers to inflate their results. But now if the company claims it can reduce your debt by a certain percentage—for example 40% to 60%--then the consumer has the right to ask for objective evidence to support those claims. If they can’t provide the information, then they probably belong to the unscrupulous crowd.

Q. What are some other questions consumers should ask?

ELLIE: Besides asking about their success rate, the next most important question is: “How much will it cost, and how long will it take to settle my debts?” The biggest misconception that people have about debt settlement is they’ll get a service in exchange for an advance payment. Most of them do not do that. In fact, the new FTC rule now bars debt settlement firms from collecting any money until they’ve settled or reduced your debt. But you should still make sure you understand how much the service is going to cost and how long you’ll have to wait before you see results.

Ellie Kay
America's Family Financial Expert (R)

Atonement - How to Keep Your Kids from Making the Same Mistakes You Made

Can you atone for the financial mistakes you made and keep your kids from making the same errors? This week in national media, I'm talking about how to help your kids make right financial choices. Here's my main talking points.


Statistics indicate that the majority of high school graduates cannot pass a basic financial literacy test and end up accruing $3800 in consumer debt in college. In fact, a 2010 American Express survey of parents with children between the ages 6-16 revealed that:

• 71% of parents say their children understand we are in a recession.
• 91% of parents say they are committed to instilling lessons of financial responsibility upon their children, with 62% giving their children a weekly allowance.
• One in five children (20%) has indicated to a parent that "maybe we shouldn't buy that due to the recession."

Q. Ellie, in a day where foreclosures abound and consumer debt is at an all time high, there are many parents who are watching who want to help their kids avoid the mistakes they made. Have you ever made any financial mistakes?

ELLIE: Yes, I’ve “been there/done that” and have the t-shirt to prove it. Our family had 40K in credit card debt when we were first married even though my husband had a good job. There were a couple of weeks when we didn’t have money for groceries, things were so bad. We were able to change our ways and became financially healthy and we don’t want our kids to make the same errors we did.

Q. Why do parents need to take responsibility for teaching our kids good money management, aren’t there new financial literacy programs, such as Jumpstart, that are making a difference?

ELLIE: I’ve spoken at Jumpstart conventions and they are a fantastic organization, but these programs aren’t available in every school and it’s up to parents to take that responsibility. In fact, I think that one of the greatest things we can do for our kids is to teach them about money management, something they don’t learn in the classroom. Since the number one reason cited in divorce is “arguments over money” teaching our kids to be financially literate can even help them in their future relationships.

If they don’t have to worry about debt, they know how to manage a budget and they learn smart ways to save money, then we’ve given them the best gift possible. We all know that kids learn most about how to manage money from their parents. And parents have a huge opportunity to teach kids healthy money management habits at an early age so they don’t make the same mistakes we made.

Q. What are your favorite ways to give your kids financial responsibilities without losing control?

ELLIE: There are several options out there for parents looking to stay in control of family spending while still extending financial empowerment to their teens and young adults. One of the things we’ve done is to teach our kids from a young age that if they “borrow” money from us, they pay it back at their next allowance, thus developing the habit of not carrying a balance from month to month. This concept is most closely identified with the Charge Cards that we have with American Express. In my work with their consumer education area, I decided to add additional cards with custom limits to our own account that is in the children’s name so we can teach them about the smart use of plastic and they can never spend more than the limits we’ve placed on the card. One of the reasons I believe in a charge card is that you have to pay it off at the end of each month. These cards are on the parents' account, not the teens, but we can go online and see how they spend the money and we can also set limits for each additional card. Once they turn 18, these cards, while still under our account, can be also used to develop our child’s FICO score.

Q. What are some of your favorite money management tactics?

ELLIE: One of my favorite money management tactics is to teach kids the art of managing an allowance. By getting an allowance, kids learn to manage their own money while they are still in our house and have the freedom to fail under our safety net. We teach them to give, save and spend smart. We’ve also used the tactic of a “Fun Kid Budget” where we set aside a certain amount for trips to the movies, zoo or an amusement park. They manage the money we’ve given them for the fun outing and the key is: they get to keep what they don’t spend. As they get older and become teens, their budgets expand to include a school supply budget, clothing allowance and a gasoline budget. A great option is to put their designated amount on a American Express PASS , which is a prepaid, reloadable card that once again, we control. That way, we don’t have to worry about them taking cash to the mall or using our debit card and the funds can be replaced if the card is lost or stolen. It’s like driver’s ed for the teen’s wallet but parents are in the driver’s seat.

Q. You have a “Family 401(k)” how does that work and what age do you start this kind of savings program with your children?

ELLIE: A “Family 401(k)” is a program where our kids have to earn half of the money for a large ticket item that they want such as a bike, videogame, roller blades, skateboards, etc. It may take months for them to earn their half, but once they’ve earned it and purchased the item, they take far better care of it than if we just bought it for them outright. They worked hard to earn their half so they’re going to make sure that videogame doesn’t get scratched and that they don’t leave their bike out in the rain. They can start this program as young as 6 or 7, depending upon the maturity of the child and their math skills. I remember our daughter, Bethany, saving for 8 months to get an American Girl doll, she was only seven years old but she was so proud of it and took such good care of it that it’s still in good shape and she’s now 20 years old!

Q. How can activities like back to school shopping help parents teach kids about money management?

ELLIE: A recent survey that examines consumer back to school spending intentions, notes that 39 percent of Americans plan to spend more on back to school shopping this year than in 2009, yet the majority (63%) say they will have a set budget and virtually all parents (94%) say they will look for ways to be resourceful and stretch their dollars.

I come alongside my kids and teach them how to compare prices, recognize quality and shop the sales, even using a coupon on some of these items. For our teens, we let them use our smartphone while in the mall to local coupons and the best deals that are accessed on the phone and used at the register. For example, retailmenot.com will list coupon codes and special deals. The fact that we’re using their “language” which is technology drives the financial lesson home in an upbeat and lasting way.

One of the other things we do is to teach them that “we pay for the item but you pay for the brand.” So if my son wants the latest Air Jordans, then we tell him we’ll pay $50 for the tennis shoes and he pays the additional $70 (for a total of $120) for the brand. It makes them realize what’s a need and what’s a splurge, then they can decide if it’s worth it to spend their own hard earned money on a brand.

If we can help our kids do better, then you can, too!

Ellie Kay
America's Family Financial Expert (R)

Red, White and Scammed - Part II- Answering Your Questions

Here's a blast from the past--when our children were little & white tights were in!

This is part two of a series that is an effort to help military families. I've been on ABC News and KLOVE these past two weeks, answering your questions.

Here's a transcript for those of you who asked--Be sure to pass this link along to your military friends!


Q. Ellie, you came to our Army base to speak last November and I think that your message really helped me get through my husband’s deployment. Thank you for the work you are doing with military families. I did have a question about ordering items online. You showed us how to pay 40% less by using some websites, but how do I know if the website is legitimate?

Steph from Rothenburg, Germany
Submitted via online contact form

ELLIE: Steph, thanks for writing and thank you for what you do as a military family member, I admire you so much and know it’s a hard job! To avoid getting scammed online, make sure that you never respond to an email inquiry, but you find the site yourself on your own search. Then, go to BBB.org to make sure they aren’t listed and also check out the FTC.gov, plus the Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov, to investigate complaints against the company.

Q. I’m 19 and have been a soldier for 18 months. There are quite a few of my friends who regularly go to the payday loan business that is right outside our base. I keep telling them that they are losing a lot of money by getting a pay advance, but they say the interest rates are low and it’s no big deal. What do you think?

"Private Benjamin" from Ft Bragg
Submitted via Facebook

ELLIE: Private Benjamin, thx for your service and you’re the smart one. Tell your friends that some of these payday loan companies are charging as much as 500% interest. Even though the Defense Authorization Act of 2007 put a cap of 36% on interest loans to military members, many of these companies skirt the law by added exorbitant fees and calling the loans “revolving lines of credit” instead of payday loans in order to bypass the law.

Q. My husband’s hazardous duty pay was backlogged by red tape and didn’t arrive early enough for us to pay our bills. How am I supposed to pay things like our car loans while he is in the Middle East if I shouldn’t go a payday loan center?

Justine Long, Fort Drum, NY
Submitted via Facebook

ELLIE: In situations like yours, there are resources as near as your Army Community Services center where they can offer free financial advice. In extenuating circumstances, such as yours, you might even qualify for special programs offered by the Army’s charity, Army Emergency Relief or the AER. By going to these legitimate resources, you can avoid getting ripped off.

Q. Our community here in Alamogordo, NM is very supportive of the military and so is Las Cruces, which is a little further down the road. Many businesses carry banners that say, “we support our military.” Even so, a friend of ours bought a car from one of these places and it turns out that the dealership didn’t own the title and then went out of business. Now our friend has an $12,000 loan to pay and no car to show for it! How can we avoid being “taken” and who can we trust?

Heidi Rothenburg, Holloman Air Force Base
Submitted via blog

ELLIE: Heidi, I’m so sorry to hear of that situation, especially from a business that advertises its support of the military. Unfortunately, auto vendors are a huge source of complaints. In most cases, the salesperson will offer you “easy credit” but you pay jacked up prices, hidden fees and interest rates of 15% to 20%. Military financial counselors have files full of horror stories. Bad dealers have taken cars in trade, promising to pay them off and then they go out of business, leaving service members with two payments. Go to BBB certified dealers and if the deal sounds too good to be true, just walk away, because it usually is. Or go to your base's ACS, Airman & Family Readiness Center or Fleet and Family Support Center for local financial counseling.

Q. My daughter just got commissioned with the Marine Corps and I’m concerned about the possibility of someone taking advantage of her financially. Are military members bigger targets for fraud than civilians?

Sue Simpson, Stillwater, OK

ELLIE: Military members have guaranteed paychecks and won’t ever get laid off. This makes them good credit risks. But it also makes them targets. Some people see the military as cash cows and they want to get their cut. One of the greatest evidence of this fact is that outside of any large military installation, you’ll see businesses that offer payday loans, pawn shops, and check cashers. These are the kinds of businesses that prey on unsuspecting military.

Stephanie, Phoenix, AZ
Submitted via email

Thank you to those who serve!

Ellie Kay

America's Family Financial Expert (R)

The Road to Financial Heckie-Fire

Here's one of my favorite picks taken a few years ago with the "Pastor to Presidents," Billy Graham. He's an amazing man of integrity and in the business of keeping people out of hell.

They say that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. When it comes to your finances, some of these well meaning money moves can actually become major slip-ups that only compound existing financial difficulties. While parts of the economy are looking better, unemployment remains at a rate of 9.7% and this means that many families are dealing with weeks of unpaid leave. Still others are trying to recover what they lost in their investments, home equity and in the stock market. Recently on ABC NEWS NOW, I shared with the host, Tanya Rivero, some advice on how to stay out of the bad place. Here are some things to avoid:

Q. Ellie, one of the primary money sources that some families are using to avoid bankruptcy is to raid their 401 (k), which, you say is a major misstep. Why is this so problematic?

ELLIE: Our parents’ generation tended to work for someone who gave them a pension check for the rest of their lives. This means that current workers may not have been raised with the mindset that they control their own pensions and need to make funding their own retirements a priority. There’s an alarming trend that involves looking at 401(k) accounts as “now” money when it’s really “later” money, that really must be saved for later. While raiding an IRA to avoid bankruptcy is a well intentioned money move, it’s also foolish because if you end up in bankruptcy anyway, then you’ve passed up the benefit you have in the fact that retirement accounts are protected under bankruptcy laws in most states.

Q. For twelve million Americans, their homes are worth less than they owe, which leads us to the next major money misstep that has become more common in the past two years and that is walking out on a mortgage. What are some other options available to families that feel this is their only option?

ELLIE: I would say that half of the people who walked away from mortgages didn’t have to take that path and probably didn’t consider all their options. Providing you still have some income to pay on a house where you owe more than it is worth, the first step homeowners should take is to decide whether their mortgage issue is a short term or longer term problem. For example, if you just got laid off and have no savings or small savings, but the job market in your town is such that you can probably get some part time or full time work to keep money coming in, then you have a short term problem. On the other hand, a long-term problem means you’ve been unemployed, you’ve wiped out your savings and you don’t see a way back into the job market.
The sooner you recognize the fact that it’s a long term problem, the sooner you can put your best food forward to sell your home in a short sale and move into a smaller, less expensive place. That way, you can preserve your capital for a better time.
If it’s a short term problem, then talk with your mortgage lenders and see if they will suspend or lower your payments over the next three to six months until you are employed again. You can go to MakingHomeAffordable.gov, which is a federal government website with the goal of helping families by providing free HUD-approved counselors who can help you modify your mortgage.

Q. In every newspaper and on television, we see advertisements for credit counseling agencies that will eliminate your debt. But you say that debt wipeout scams are a major problem. How can we tell the scam from the real deal?

ELLIE: It can really be confusing because they sometimes advertise as debt consolidation companies, but you need to be extremely cautious because I would say the majority of those advertisements are misleading at best and a scam at worst. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Instead, go to the NFCC.org with is the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. This is a non-profit and free service that you can trust.


Q. An alarming number of Americans, some 19 million of them, have also resorted to payday loans in order to make ends meet. How do these loans work and are they ever a good idea?

ELLIE: These are high interest loans that have an average interest rate of between 390% and 520%. They are marketed as short-term cash advances to help meet emergency expenses between paychecks. But the problem, besides, the interest rate, is that it becomes a repeated pattern and consumers become trapped in this kind of borrowing. Avoid these at all costs, and if you have young adult children, especially those in the military, educate them on the dangers of payday loans since these companies tend to flourish near military bases.

Q. Credit card usage has dipped more than 13% in February and yet almost 15% of American families still owe more than 40% of their income in consumer debt, according to the Federal Reserve. Ellie, you say that another major misstep is ignoring the card balance.

ELLIE: Yes, Tanya, while it’s commendable that credit card usage has declined, it’s still an issue when the credit card is used as a means to spend more than you can afford. This is a strategic error that can lead to financial hell as consumers ignore the balance. The new government mandated box on your credit card bill will show you how long it will take to pay off your balance if you pay only the minimum and how much interest you pay to carry a balance. Pay attention to these numbers, instead of ignoring them, and ask yourself if you can afford that item before you put it on your credit card. Behavior modification doesn’t happen overnight, but eventually, you can begin the climb toward getting out of debt.

Q. One final area that we’ll look at today has to do with trying to fool Uncle Sam. Ellie, you say that this money misstep can cost taxpayers big bucks if they are caught and that there is a difference between mistakes and intent—what is the difference?

ELLIE: It’s really pretty simple. Everyone will make a mistake here and there can be accidental errors on the tax returns of the most honest kind of people. But some folks are looking to save money by “accidentally” misrepresenting large amounts of money. We see them in the news—whether you’re a celebrity or a politician, you still have to pay your taxes. By signing the box on your tax form that you believe everything to be accurate and true on your form, you open yourself up to significant liability. If you’re audited and they can prove that the misrepresentation is intentional, then not only are there penalties involved, but you could also be charged with federal fraud. So pay those taxes, even if you have an extension and call the IRS to set up payments if you cannot pay all you owe.

Ellie Kay
America's Family Financial Expert (R)
http://www.elliekay.com/

Prioritize Your Debt - What to do With Unpaid Bills

Recently, on ABC NEWS, I talked about the fact that some parts of the country still have unemployment in the double digits while other employees are facing cutbacks in hours and salaries. More and more people are having a hard time paying their bills in these economically challenging times. If you only have a certain amount of money available and you know you won’t be able to pay all the bills, you need to know that not all bills are created equal. There are certain bills that have greater penalties than others. Today, I want to help you look at how to tackle those unpaid bills as well as grace periods and the variable consequences for not paying bills on time.
**********
Q. Are people still having a harder time paying their bills? I mean, we hear about new jobs being created and the recession is officially over. Why are some families susceptible to continued financial difficulty?

ELLIE: Obviously, unemployment is a big issue as well as the fact that many workers have had to accept pay cuts or work fewer hours to keep their jobs. With these come a contagion effect in that if you are unemployed or you go part time, there’s additional costs involved such as purchasing health insurance. Even if these workers find new jobs, they still have the residual effect of having less income for many months. In other cases, some may have had homes foreclosed upon and it’s cost them a lot to get established in another place of residence, plus these individuals has tanked their credit ratings—which means that rental property will require a larger down payment. A poor credit score also means these renters have to pay more down to even get basic utilities hooked up to their rental property. All these expenses start to add up and eventually, families are finding that they don’t have enough to pay all the bills.

Q. So if someone is between jobs or had some unexpected expenses such as medical bills, then what bill should they pay first?

ELLIE: When it comes to paying the bills there are always consequences for not paying. However, it’s the severity of the consequences that people need to consider when they are rank ordering which bills they should pay first, second, and so forth. The rule of thumb is to look at how fast your creditors will be likely to move against you. Which brings us to the most important bill and first bill you should always pay—your mortgage. If you fail to pay, the bank can begin foreclosure in as little as three months. Plus, this is the most significant debt you have when it comes to influencing your credit score. And with a poor credit score, the bills will just stack up even more quickly as we know that those who have bad credit have to pay more for deposits, for auto insurance some times and a poor score can even influence whether you get a new job or a job promotion at your existing place of employment. So protect your score and your financial future by paying the mortgage first.

Q. OK, so we understand that the mortgage is the most important bill, what would come second?

ELLIE: The next most important bill to pay is your car loan. Not only because you need a car to go to and from work, but also because as the second most significant loan you have, it will also impact your credit score in a more significant way than a department store charge card or a utility bill will. As for the consequences of not paying, a lender can begin repossess your vehicle if you’re a day late, but in all actuality, most will wait about sixty days. If you are serving in the military in a combat zone, there’s a little more leeway for vehicle repossession, you should contact your base’s financial office if you’re in danger of repossession while on active duty. But for the rest of us, not paying this important bill will cripple your ability to remain gainfully employed as having a vehicle is essential in most cases.

Q. So we’ve paid the mortgage and the car loan, now we pay credit cards, right?

ELLIE: Yes, that’s right. As you know, credit cards payment are very important because if you don’t pay on time, you’ll get hit with late fees. But there are more consequences than just a late fee. You might be faced with a hike in your APR if you’re tardy and then it could spread to other cards as well. You might find your average APR going from 9% on your credit cards to 24% or more in just a month. After about six months of missed payments, credit card companies start to send your account to collections and then you have an entirely new set of headaches to contend with. Concentrate on paying bank cards first such as Visa, Mastercard and American Express. You can even go to www.bankrate.com and look for lower interest rate cards that offer a promotional for transferred balances which can help your overall liability on credit cards. A final option is to go to your local credit union to see about a consolidation loan.

Q. Let’s say you have a little bit of money left, what’s one of the lower priority bills that you can tackle?

ELLIE: The next bill to concentrate on just happened yesterday—taxes. While technically, there is no “grace period” you can ask about an installment plan. The IRS can eventually garnish your wages and seize property or bank accounts. The old saying, “death and taxes are inevitable” exists, it’s because you WILL have to pay that tax bill some day—whether you’re a celebrity dishing on talk shows and making 25 million dollars a picture or whether you dish up ice cream part time at Coldstone making $25 a day!

Q. Thus far, we haven’t mentioned student loan debt, isn’t that an essential bill as well?

ELLIE: Yes, it does seem kind of crazy that student loans haven’t made it into our priority list yet, but I think that it illustrates the fact of how quickly the money goes for more “essential” bills and how there’s often more month left at the end of the paycheck Lenders for student loans will wait about nine months before placing a federal loan in default. As of last July, graduates can opt for a loan program that bases payments on up to 15% of your annual gross income. If you have these kinds of bills, then you can go to www.IBRinfo.org for help in how to pay your student loans more efficiently.

Ellie Kay
America's Family Financial Expert (R)
www.elliekay.com

When Free Credit Reports Aren't Free

When A “Free” Credit Report is not Free

Ellie was on ABC News Now this past week talking about this critical topic. Since 2004, consumers have had the right to request a free credit report every 12 months from each of the three credit-reporting agencies. But almost from the beginning there’s been confusion about how to get a free credit report. There are thousands of people who respond to TV ads offering “free” credit reports or they order a credit report online only to later discover that they have signed up for a monthly credit-monitoring service that was definitely not free.
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Q. Let’s start with the obvious question, Ellie, when is a free credit report really free?


Ellie: There’s basically one primary way to get a no-strings-attached free credit report and that is to go to AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228. You can also write into Annual Credit Report Request Service at PO Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. While there are many look-a-likes sites, there is basically one government site and that is AnnualCreditReport.com .

Q. What is the difference between a credit report and a credit score and are they both free?

Ellie: A credit report is your credit history and that is free as outlined above. However, you are not entitled to a free credit score. The credit score is your FICO (Fair Isaac Credit Score) and it indicates your credit worthiness and will impact a variety of financial areas including what kind of Annual Percentage Rate you will pay for your mortgage loan.

Q. How often can you get a free credit report and from what credit reporting agencies?

Ellie: You are allowed one free report, per year, from each of the three major reporting agencies: TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. You don’t have to get all of them at the same time. In fact, I recommend that you spread out each of the reports every four months. That way you can track, for free, whether there have been any major changes in your credit history on a regular basis.


Q. Should I order a copy of my kids’ credit report to see if someone stole their ID?

Ellie: Child identity theft is on the rise and it is important for you to order a copy of your child’s credit report at least once a year to make sure it has not been compromised. You should also go to Social Security Administration website and order a copy of your child’s social security earnings to make sure someone isn’t using their number in order to obtain work.

Ellie Kay

America's Family Financial Expert (R)

http://www.elliekay.com/

Just Say "No" to All Credit Cards??

Just Say No? Fact or Fiction? ABC NEWS NOW Special with Ellie Kay



Revolving credit—largely made up of credit card debt—fell by nearly 20% in November, the largest drop on record, according to the Federal Reserve. Credit card usage is definitely slowing due to less borrowing by consumers as well as banks’ tighter lending standards. Through October, the number of new credit card accounts was down 46% from the same period in 2008, according to Equifax.
The average consumer in America owns five credit cards but there has been a slow emergence of a “no-credit-card” lifestyle among former credit card holders. These “cash only” buyers are convinced their numbers will grow as consumers become increasingly disenchanted with credit card industry practices. Cash-only can be inconvenient, but these consumers say it is worth it. **********

Q. Some of the consumers who have sworn off credit cards say that they are doing it in order to “get back to basics” and their “desire for a simpler lifestyle.” How do you think getting rid of credit cards can help them achieve their goals?


Ellie: I’ve done research on and talked to those families who have downsized, sold their rental property, small businesses or material “stuff” and used that money to pay off most of their debts. They’ve made these radical lifestyle choices in order to go back to the “less is more” worldview in a quest for the simple life. One of these families has a blog, ManVsDebt.com and reading about their experiences is both inspiring and challenging. In fact, our own family has “been there and done that” to a certain extent, when we had a lot of consumer debt and opted to become a one car family for a season. I think that there is an advantage in that you have fewer bills, fewer arguments over money with your spouse and fewer headaches. There is a lot to be said for the simple life—and I’m not talking about Paris Hilton’s “Simple Life” but a more streamlined lifestyle that if free of the trappings of consumer debt.


Q. According to a July 2009 survey by Auriema Consulting Group, 28% of consumers have shifted the way they pay for purchases in the past year with an increase in debit card usage coming at the expense of credit cards. In fact, 46% of consumers surveyed said they believed debit cards helped control their spending. Do you think the increased acceptance of debit cards makes the “cash life” easier to achieve?

Ellie: A decade ago, consumers who didn’t want to use credit cards had two choices: they could carry around a lot of cash or write a check and hold up the grocery store line. I do think that with the increased use of debit cards, we have a situation where you can blend the discipline of paying cash with the convenience of using plastic. Most merchants, including online retailers, accept debit cards if they accept credit cards. Plus, there are other options such as paypal that help those consumers who want to use a debit card instead of a credit card. Since debit cards are broadly accepted I think that the decline in credit card usage is due primarily to a desire by people to get a better handle on credit card spending rather than a rejection of credit cards.


Q. Abandoning credit cards seems to be a much more radical step than using them less. Furthermore, consumers who don’t own a credit card often have a hard time renting a car, among other inconveniences. What are some of the drawbacks of cutting up those cards?

Ellie: Getting rid of all of your credit cards is a radical step that can have a significant impact on your ability to function in a card based society. Not only is it almost impossible to rent a car, but some hotels won’t book a room to travelers who want to pay with a debit card or cash. Those that accept debit cards may place a hold of several hundred dollars in the customer’s bank account, which could cause checks to bounce. Debit cards also provide fewer consumer protections than credit cards. If fraudulent charges show up on a credit card bill, the card holder can refuse to pay them. Federal law limits credit card holder’s liability to $50 of the fraudulent charges and most card issuers have zero liability policies for victims of identity theft. Whereas money stolen from a debt card is immediately removed from the card holders bank account, which means they must fight to get funds reimbursed. All of these drawbacks don’t even begin to discuss the consumer’s ability to develop good credit.


Q. Many consumer experts say that responsible use of credit cards is one of the most effective ways to build a good credit record, how would a “cash or debit card only” approach impact the ability to develop a good FICO score?


Ellie: Personally, I don’t agree with a cash only approach, especially for people in their early twenties who are trying to develop a good credit history in order to get a car loan, rent an apartment or secure lower cost auto insurance—all of these are dependent upon a good FICO score. Not to mention the fact that more and more employers are checking an applicant’s credit score before they consider employing them. The philosophy is: if you can’t manage your own money, why should I let you manage my company’s resources?
I think it's important to stress the responsible use of credit cards. We have several of our children who are now young adults and we coach them in securing a credit card in order to build a good score.


Q. What are some of the guidelines you advocate among first time credit card users so that they can build a score without building consumer debt?

Ellie: If possible, their first card should be secured at the same lending institution where they have a checking account and a savings account. It should have a low limit, such as $500, and be a major credit card rather than a department store card. Then they should follow three rules: First, they should make sure they try to pay off the balance each month and pay it on time. Second, they should never charge more than 30% of the available credit in order to keep the proportionality or utilization aspect of their credit scoring healthy. And finally, if they cannot pay off the full balance, then they should always pay more than the minimum balance due in order to have their score reflect that they are paying down a balance.

Ellie Kay
America's Family Financial Expert (R)
http://www.elliekay.com/

College Credit Card Debt -- Ellie answers on ABC NEWS NOW

As a mom of many (with three in college in 2009) and as "America's Family Financial Expert," I know a bit about college kids and credit card debt. Recent studies indicate that the average college student will graduate with $3,000 in consumer debt (in addition to $20K in student loans). This translates into BIG trouble for those starting out in life.

For example, our son, Daniel, recently graduated from college and then got married right away. Because he did things right and worked very hard, he has no car loans, no consumer debt, no student loan debt and a GREAT degree from the University of Texas. But then he lost his part time job--the one he was hoping would turn into full time work even as he was applying elsewhere (hint: it's not a great time to be a print journalist looking for work). But because he was debt free, he and his new wifey weathered the storm. Within three days, he had in 16 applications and within three weeks he was employed again--this time full time. If he had consumer debt, he would be in trouble.

So how do you navigate your kids toward financial literacy while in college? And how does the new Credit Card ACT impact your student? Click onto the link to hear the answers I gave on ABC NEWS NOW, "Good Money" to these questions and YOUR questions:

My question is why would you want to pay off a credit card while you're in college, making very little if any income? Why not pay the small minimum payment due each month, and pay off the balance after graduation? You would have a much higher paying job with a new college degree, and could pay off the balance (hopefully) within the first six months to a year of employment.
Teresa, Boise, ID

Our oldest daughter is entering her junior year of college, and has so far avoided any credit card debt by very purposefully not having a credit card. She has said that she knows the temptation for impulsive spending would be too great, so she would rather not open that door. While I admire her self-awareness, I am concerned that she is not establishing a "good credit" rating for herself. Is my concern valid? If so, do you have any advice for helping her manage a credit card responsibly?
Debra Devens, MA

Our daughter is a freshman this year. She is carrying 19 units so having a job is very difficult. She is on the waiting list for a job on campus and no one seems interested in hiring only for the weekends. It’s hard for her to get and pay off a credit card with no job. Do you have any suggestions?
Crystal Rough - Lancaster, CA

Is it a good idea to set up a debit card for college students so they can only spend what’s in the check acct? Wouldn’t that limit the % on a regular charge card if over extended?
Mitchell, West Bend, WI

Should parents help their student get a card, give them a set dollar amount, then let the student use the card to buy things, with the parents paying the bill, to build up the student's credit rating? Cherie Cheramie from Norton, OH

When you are a college student and keeping a budget, trying to pay credit card debt, what should you do if you don't have a stable income? Kelly, St. Louis Park, MN

All these readers got FREE copies of "The Little Book of Big Savings" and "Money Doesn't Grow on Trees." CONGRATULATIONS!

Ellie Kay

America's Family Financial Expert (R)

http://www.elliekay.com/

Win My New Book - Questions on College Credit Cards

Once again, it's time to give you a chance to win a copy of my new book, The Little Book of Big Savings . In case you missed the discussion about paying for college, then take a peek at ABC News Now for last week's media appearance. It answers questions as to how we are putting all of our kids through school debt free.

You'll see from previous blogs that others have already won their free book and this week, I'm throwing in one of my other titles as well: Money Doesn't Grow on Trees.

I'll be guesting on a national show on August 28th talking about: Credit card debt for college students: How to avoid getting buried in debt and finding ways to consistently pay if off even though they don’t have a steady income.

Get creative and ask me your questions on this blog or by emailing them to assistant@elliekay.com . If the producer selects your question to have me answer on the air, I'll send you both of my books as a way of saying "thank you." We need to have your questions posted or submitted no later than Tues, Aug 25th at 6:00 PM (PST).

Happy Savings,

Ellie Kay
America's Family Financial Expert (R)
http://www.elliekay.com/

Ellie Answers Your Questions on ABC News - "Good Money" Show

I was recently in New York on the set of a fun new show called "Good Money" and I solicited questions from this blog to ask on the air. By now you know if the producer chose your question to read on the air and you also have a free copy of my new book, The Little Book of Big Savings (Waterbrook, 2009) on its way to your mailbox! If you didn't win this time, don't give up! We'll post new ways to win a copy of my books in the future.

Here is a link of me answering your questions on ABC News Now - Good Money. Follow this live link to listen to my answers to the following award winning questions:

My husband and I want to get out of debt, but we each have a different idea as to how to go about achieving this. Any advice on how to get on the "same page"? Bren Jones - Vienna, WV

Deals4moms.org said... After all your experiences with counseling couples, can you say that your financial advice has helped to save marriages?If yes, what are the 3 top things that helped those couples?

Audrey asked...Here's my question-if one spouse makes more than the other, how can the budget be equalized?

L A Hughes said... Dear Ellie Kay,I saw your advice to the married couple who found it difficult to communicate about spending on Nightline. My question concerns couples who are dating, engaged, etc : Do you have any suggestions or tips for how couples can learn discover, understand or achieve common ground about attitudes about money--before marriage--without sacrificing romance, or without seeming pushy?

How can you have some fun and adventure with your spouse when you really shouldn't spend money to go out on a date night once a week because you have so many other bills to pay, and it gets boring just sitting home watching a movie and ordering a pizza or worse making your own dinner when it is supposed to be a break from the routine and not work. Kim from Manchester, Maryland.

OK, guys, we'll do this again in the future and please remember I didn't choose the questions to air, the producer did!

Ellie Kay

America's Family Financial Expert (R)

www.elliekay.com

Back To School, Baby! - ABC News "Good Money" Show

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Summers are great and kids run free, but by the end of the break, a lot of parents are more than ready to start that back-to-school shopping. Truth be told, I think my "babies" are as ready to get back in the academic groove as I am ready to send them back! (BTW, I still call my 6'5" sons baby and get away with it). But getting ready can be hard on the old bank account if you are not strategic in how you shop. Here are some ideas that I shared on a new ABC News Now show called "Good Money"
1. Layer the Savings –When shopping online, look for sale items where you can also use a coupon or code to save even more on the price, shipping, or by getting free products. With the economy forcing parents to make hard decisions about what's really a necessity, putting a little research into finding extra discounts can add up to big savings.

2. “Double Dipping” – To maximize limited back-to-school shopping dollars, look for items that have good value, but also look to shop at locations where you can have a percentage of that purchase deposited into your child’s college savings account. Sign up for www.upromise.com so that a percentage of your purchases will go into your child's 529 plan.

3. Logistical Savings – If your college-bound baby is attending a school out of state, shop at online retailers that also have physical stores in the town where she/he is going to school. Often times, these retailers have online-to-store options where they will send the products to one of their local stores without charging a shipping fee. This option will allow parents and students to shop at their leisure online, take advantage of all the savings options, and have the convenience of going to a local store to pick up the items they ordered.

4. Link-in Friends and Family – Oftentimes, family and friends want to help contribute to a child’s education, but they don’t know how to help – especially in a recession. Grandparents or others can sign up for Upromise as well, for free to have a percentage of their purchases from hundreds of participating merchants deposited in a college savings account.

5. Family Spending Plan – Distinguish between “needs” and “wants” by making financial savings a family affair. Give children a spending plan that shows them how much money they can spend on back-to-school items. Inform children that what they do not spend, they can keep. This added motivation of learning ways to spend less and save more not only saves the family money, but trains children in money matters, making them more adept as young adults.

Wonderfully Yours!

Ellie Kay

America's Family Financial Expert (R)

http://www.elliekay.com/

Credit Card Reform - Ellie on Neil Cavuto Today

The Senate passed a bill for credit card reform and this populist idea may end up costing the good credit managers more as they shoulder the burden of those with poor credit problems. In the next two years, government stress tests indicate that companies will chargeoff 82 billion in bad debts and that money is coming from somewhere. Today on Neil Cavuto, here is what I suggested:

What Consumers can expect:

• Annual Fees - 50 million of you are paying no fees but I believe you'll be charged in the future while existing annual fees are likely to rise
• Higher APRS - beware that in many cases, using your card after the APR has been raised is the same thing as accepting the higher APR
• Reduced limits - if your limit hasn't changed yet, it probably will and if you are not aware of the limit change, this could result in an over-the-limit fee
• Altered Grace Period - your new due date could be sooner than you thought and the result is a hefty late fee
• Hidden Fees - When it comes to recovering 82 billion in chargeoffs and 20 billion in lost revenue from fees, credit card companies will get creative in what they'll charge you for!

What Consumers can do about it:

• Call in -- When you receive notification of higher APRs, lowered limits or annual fees be prepared to call the credit card company and do what you can to try to get back what they have taken away from you. Read my blog on what to say and what not to say in my tagged consumer debt label.
• Caution - Do NOT cancel your major bank card just because they've added an annual fee--this could hurt your credit score in a significant way! If you've had the card for 5 or more years and cancel it, then your longevity is affected in your credit scoring. So be strategic in what you cancel and when.
• Control - Make sure you are in control, in terms of knowledge, of your card's changes. If you receive any kind of notification about grace periods, credit limits or higher APRS, then read the fine print in order to understand what limitations are being placed on your card. If you don't understand the fine print, then call the company and ask them when your new due date is, what your credit limit is, what your new APR will be and if using your card constitutes acceptance of the new APR. Also ask them if there have been any other changes to your credit card agreement (this is where you may discover some hidden fees.)
• Creativity - With the reduction of reward perks and cash back savings, it may be time to look outside your own credit card for rewards on the items you purchase. For example, at the site Upromise.com you sign up free and get anywhere from 1% to 25% deposited into a 529 savings plan for items purchased. Also be sure to check bankrate.com in the future ( a few months from now) in order to compare what other credit card companies are offering in terms of rewards and perks. There may yet be something left for those of us with good credit!

Ellie Kay

America's Family Financial Expert (R)

www.elliekay.com

Ellie Kay on Nightline

Resolved to dig out of debt? It can be done but there's a right way and a wrong way to approach the topic, which is true in a lot of areas of our life. For example, there's a right way to hail a cab in New York City. I can jump out of an airplane, but can't successfully stop a cab without lying down in front of it --and even then it probably wouldn't STOP! But my biz colleague, Tara, can hail a cab by just walking out of a building! It's truly miraculous, I've watched her hail cabs a half a dozen times and she just takes a few steps, raises her hand, gets the magic gleam in her eye and voila! A yellow cab appears!
Conquering consumer debt can be as daunting as trying to get one of those yellow things to stop but not if you know what you're doing. So let's look at the right way to get outta debt!

1. Assess Your Debt -- Order your credit report for free at http://www.annualcreditreport.com/ and add up all your consumer debt numbers (for both spouses if married.) Most consumers don't know how much debt they have, like Lorinda on the recent Nightline special I was on earlier this week. Go to 1. Link to video only of segment: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6599750 2. Link to video embedded in four-page story on website (note this onetook some time to play--maybe it was my computer--which is why I am also offering the one above.)http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Economy/story?id=6594831&page=1
2. APR Reduction -- This is where the miracle of compounding interest happens and it can either work for you or against you. If you go to my tools section at http://www.elliekay.com/ you can find the minimum payment calculator and run your own numbers. Watch the Nightline section for the specific strategy involved in HOW to do it (hint: you should never threaten to close your account). It involves knowing how to talk to the person at the credit card company and being polite, prepared, and persistent! The average family with 10K in debt, paying the 2% minimum at an 18%APR can save $6K a year (in interest) by lowering their APR to 9% and paying a little more on the minimum (3%). It's a "little" that saves a "lot!"
3. All IN -- OK, I'm not a poker player, which is where the term comes from, but being "all in" is when you put all your chips on the table and decide to play your hand--hoping it will work out. With consumer debt, it's important to commit to getting out of debt and that ALL the money you save (on the tips that are shared throughout my book, Living Rich for Less and this blog) is going to go toward consumer debt. ALL the unexpected money that comes in (tax refunds, bonus checks, birthday dollars) will go toward paying the principle on those credit cards. To get started, take TEN MINUTES, and shop around for auto insurance. I'm amazed that 1/3 of consumers never compare auto insurance prices. Go to http://www.progressive.com/ to see quotes from multiple carriers and pick the one that is right for you. People I've worked with save hundreds by comparing prices. Then take those dollars saved and immediately write a check toward your debt!

I've given this consumer debt reduction advice to thousands of families through my writing, media appearances and at live events and there are thousands of those readers/viewers/audience participants who are now outta consumer debt.

I may not be able to hail a cab in NYC, but I do know how to help people find financial freedom.

Ellie Kay

America's Family Financial Expert (R)

http://www.elliekay.com/

Wanna Be on National TV With Me?

I love a challenge and am something of a risk taker. But I try to play it safe, too. Does that make sense? In other words, if I'm going to jump out of an airplane, I'm going to make sure the skydive center is certified, has a solid safety history and my instructor is experienced. In the happy pic, you can see where I'm in the sky with Jack Hammer, who had 3,000 jumps to his credit.

I'm also one to look at our present economic crisis as a challenge as well. I don't recommend risky endeavors like speculative investments or get rich quick techniques. However, I do think it's appropriate to take other "risks" to get out of debt--like downsizing a house, or going from a two car family to a one car family for a season. Even shopping at consignment stores or growing your own veggies can be an adventure to some.

Families are trying to recover from the mortgage and wall street meltdowns just in time to face the next big challenge--credit card debt. Stay posted to get the latest news on how to manage your credit card debt and here's a special announcement for those who are right in the middle of this challenge. It's an adventure you and I can take together!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Are you a young family struggling with consumer debt? If you are over $20K in credit card debt and need support, there is an opportunity to work with me as I help you negotiate with your lenders and work towards paying down your debt. A national television show may follow you every step of the way. Email us at assistant@elliekay.com if you are interested.

Just remember that no matter what the headlines read today, you can still take steps to face the challenge and succeed. But watch out for that first step, it's a doozie!

Ellie Kay
America's Family Financial Expert (R)
http://www.elliekay.com/