| Chase Card Services Announces ChaseHealthAdvance financing options and ...
WILMINGTON, Del. - Chase Card Services, a division of JPMorgan Chase & Co. [NYSE: JPM], announced today that it has finalized the acquisition of Unicorn Financial Services, a leading patient financing company. The combined company officially launches its expanded set of patient financing products today as ChaseHealthAdvance financing options. Rising medical and dental costs have created a need for new and adaptive healthcare financing options. In addition, the demand for elective procedures ranging from dental, vision correction and cosmetic procedures to veterinary care for pets, is increasing at a rapid rate. The knowledge base that Chase has built in providing consumer credit to millions of credit card holders prompted Chase to develop ChaseHealthAdvance. "As a premier and trusted financial institution, Chase is able to offer affordable, flexible options for those looking to finance healthcare procedures, as well as provide competitive service fees for providers" said Hugh Bleemer, general manager, ChaseHealthAdvance.
Higher Credit Card Rates May Be Lurking in Your Mailbox
You'd think that an economic environment chock-full of interest rate cuts from the Fed would lead credit card issuers to gradually decrease the rates they charge us on our plastic. But no -- many cards have actually been raising their rates recently. Bill Hardekopf of LowCards.com, for example, has noted rates moving in directions other than down at cards from American Express (NYSE: AXP), JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), and Bank of America (NYSE: BAC). What's going on? Well, there's been a bit of a financial crisis at many banks (you may have heard about it). It's related to their having issued a few regrettable mortgages to risky borrowers. So, perhaps feeling pressured, they're seeking out additional income from the likes of you and me, via the debt that we carry. We don't have to be their suckers, though.
Just Rewards?
Cash back, frequent-flier miles, gift certificates: more than 55% of all credit-card offers have some type of reward attached to them, according to the latest survey by Mintel's Comperemedia, a company that monitors direct-mail solicitations nationwide. Needless to say, the rewards can be great. Every time you use your Chase Disney card, for example, 1% of your purchases goes into an account you can use to pay for trips to Disneyland and Disney World. You get a check for $25 every time you spend $2,500 on your Chase Free Cash Rewards card. Signing up for a rewards program seems like a no-brainer. After all, it's a free perk, right? .
Cashback: Consumer nirvana or con?
With less than eight weeks to go until Christmas, credit card companies are enticing customers with cashback offers promising attractive rates of money back on spending. American Express is the latest to launch a cashback deal. It is offering new credit card customers 5% back on all purchases made in the first three months, and between 0.5% and 1.5% after that, depending on how much they spend. Michelle Slade of analyst Moneyfacts says: "For someone spending £1,000 a month over a year, the new American Express deal would yield a £247.50 return in the first year. That's an impressive return for just going about your day-to-day spending." Many mobile phone retailers also offer deals where they will in some cases offer several hundred pounds worth of money back.
Keeping track of online passwords is wise to do
Dear Abby: Allow me to draw your readers' attention to the importance of keeping track of their online log-in information. We all know it's smart to keep photocopies of our driver's license, credit cards, etc. With as much time as some of us spend online, in addition to the billions of dollars we spend there as a nation, it's wise to keep track of sundry log-in details as well. I keep track of the various Web sites from which I make purchases -- the Web site name, user name and my password -- because various Web sites require different information. Please suggest that your readers compile this information in a single document and print it out from time to time. Keep a hard copy in a safe place with other important papers. That way, if anything should happen to them, family members will be able to access these Web sites, delete saved credit card information and close the accounts.
Vesdia Launches Innovative Rewards Credit Cards
ATLANTA, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Vesdia Corporation, a leading provider of loyalty marketing services, announced today the launch of four new Visa(R) credit cards to support its leading reward programs BabyMint(TM), NestEggz(R), Stockback(R) and FundraiserRewards(R). The card launch in partnership with MXT Card Services provides consumers with additional earning opportunities in the rewards currencies that matter most to them. Consumers can apply for the Platinum Visa cards on the program websites through an easy to use web application, and earn rebates of 1% on any purchase made using the card. The new rewards credit cards offer competitive benefits and no annual fee. Cardholders can earn additional rebates of up to 26% of their purchases at hundreds of retailers in Vesdia's merchant network, including top brands like Eddie Bauer, Illuminations, Best Buy, Gap.com, Lands' End(R) and Banana Republic - representing over 100,000 store locations and service providers, hundreds of catalogs and gift cards, and more than 600 leading online retailers.
Amazon invests in billing service
Amazon.com has made an investment in Bill Me Later, a service that allows consumers to make purchases online without using a credit card. Terms weren't disclosed Amazon said in a statement Tuesday that it will make Bill Me Later's service available on its Web site. Seattle-based Amazon is the world's biggest online retailer. Microsoft Office 2007 update beats release target Microsoft said Tuesday that it has released the first major update of its Office 2007 productivity software at least one month ahead of its projected target. The software maker said Office 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) will crash less, is easier to use and is more secure than the original program that was released to consumers in January. Microsoft had said it planned to release Office 2007 SP1 in early 2008, but the company finished updating the software sooner than it expected.
Bank of America, Countrywide to Name Sambol to New Role
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America Corporation and Countrywide Financial Corporation today announced that David Sambol, Countrywide's president and chief operating officer, will lead the combined consumer mortgage business once Bank of America's planned purchase of Countrywide is complete. Sambol will continue in his current role, reporting to Countrywide Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Angelo R. Mozilo until completion of the transaction, which is targeted for the third quarter. In a related announcement, Bank of America Global Consumer and Small Business Banking President Liam McGee announced that Card Services Executive Bruce Hammonds will assume the newly created role of Global Consumer Credit Executive when the purchase closes. Hammonds, who will continue to report to McGee, will be in charge of all consumer credit products, including the consumer mortgage organization, Bank of America Card Services and unsecured lending.
Honey, you blocked my card
Dear Heloise: In reference to the hint about NOTIFYING YOUR CREDIT-CARD COMPANIES if you are going on a trip, especially out of the U.S., be sure to let them know if your spouse is not coming with you. As a corporate travel agent, I recently had a spouse whose husband was overseas call me because her purchase was declined. He had to contact the credit-card companies to let them know that his wife was still at home and had access to the cards. Kitty Hodges, Frisco, Texas Who would have thought? It could sure put a crimp in shopping. Heloise Dear Heloise: I think making a welcome basket for guests is a great hint, with one word of warning: When we had company visit last year, I prepared a lovely basket with essential items and left it in their bedroom. However, I used a very expensive basket.
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