Heading overseas this summer? Don’t forget your credit card. Whether you’re in a pinch or simply picking up the tab on the road, credit cards can be your best friend–or worst enemy. Before hopping on that plane, be sure to follow these tips to make sure your credit card works for you in foreign territory.
This is the first step because it’ll take the longest. Considering the amounts of perks, travel rewards and insurance protections now being offered by mid- to high-end credit cards, now might be a good time to apply for a new credit card. Start the process a few months out so you can have it and get it activated before you ship out. If you don’t have one already, look for a card that has:
Don’t be afraid to get a card that’s completely unbalanced for domestic use. It’s not only
The value of the contents of your handbag may come as a surprise.
A NEW survey commissioned by insurer Suncorp Insurance has revealed that almost one third of Australian women have no idea how much it would cost to replace their handbag and its contents if it was lost or stolen.
“While four out of five women agree they would never leave the house without a handbag, our online survey shows almost one third have no idea of the value of what they have hanging over their shoulders,” says Suncorp Insurance Executive Manager, Martin Weatherhead.
Over 2,200 Australian women were surveyed online about the everyday items they regularly carry in their handbags.
Of those surveyed, 94 per cent said that they carry a wallet or purse and 88 per cent carry a mobile phone every time they take their handbag out of the house. Oth
Credit card thieves. We know they’re out there. We know we’re supposed to fear them, be ever vigilant against them, and, if given the opportunity, finger them so the authorities can haul them into prison. But who are these people who are stealing your credit cards everyday? It turns out that the vast majority of credit card and identity thieves fall into five main categories:
This fellow is rare, but often gets lots of screen and airtime because of his obvious Hollywood appeal (we love a good 21st century cat burglar). The other issue with the criminal mastermind: when he steals your credit card, it’s not your fault. He’s so damn slick that no one saw it coming. There’s even a grudging admiration from the public and law enforcement when they get gracefully grifted by one of these smooth operators.
Example: Gerald Blanchard, the sticky-fingered super thief who lifted the prize Sisi Star–a diamond encrusted royal jewel–from the Schloss Schönbrunn in Austria and never got caught. He also dabbled
May20
Existing Capital One MasterCard holders may or may not be getting the same deals, but new credit card offers from Capital One are arriving in the mail to new credit card users. These are not reserved for highly qualified borrowers with high credit scores either.
How do I know?
One good piece of financial advice that I frequently give is to use phony names when signing up for certain things, especially promotional offers and magazine subscriptions. The reason is that these companies like to turn around and sell your name and address to other companies that then send you plenty of junk mail. These mailing lists can be more profitable than the actual business of writing a magazine or newsletter!
Nothing helps sort out a real “Urgent! Response Required,” mailing from a phony one like seeing one of the fake names that you used to sign up for something in the past. Jus
Planning ahead can prevent holiday headaches.
As holidaymakers head out on the road, Suncorp are advising early preparation is the key to long drives.
It is important to approach driving in the right frame of mind – especially if you are taking a long holiday trip.
If you get stressed while driving, it is worth remembering that speeding is not only unsafe, it actually saves very little time.
Being involved in an accident is never worth the short amount of time you might lose by driving safely and being calm and courteous while on the road.
Tips for long trips;
Oh boy. What follows is a rant from a non-believer. So, take it with a grain of salt.
There’s this hot new trend on the horizon that folks like The Wall Street Journal are calling “social payments.” (Because anything with the word “social” in front of it has got to be edgy and relevant, right? Bob in communications really thinks this could “go viral.”) The idea? For everything you buy–whether it’s an inflatable kiddie pool, a package of tube socks or a case of Enzyte–you’ll now have the option of sharing it with friends, family, co-workers and strangers. It’s conspicuous consumption 2.0, and it’s the perfect solution for anyone who wants to take decades of effort spent desperately trying to keep stuff like credit card statements and spending habits a matter of privacy and kiss it all goodbye.
So, why is this going to work? According to the experts (i.e. those who are actually tr
Deja vu: Emergency services workers at the scene of yesterday’s three-vehicle crash on the Landsborough-Maleny Road – precisely where a water truck plummeted over an embankment two weeks ago.
EVERY year, 1500 people die on Australian roads – over 300 of them in Queensland alone. And for every fatality a further 10 people are injured. These frightening statistics are the reason Russell White, driver safety advocate and founder of www.driversafety.com.au, initiated Fatality Free Friday in 2007.
“We started with the idea that if we get people to reflect on their road use for just one day – whether as a driver, passenger or pedestrian – we could ensure that no one died on our roads,” said event founder Russell White.
In an effort to make the road toll zero, the organisers have enlisted the support of thousands of Australians, including a sponsorship by Suncorp CTP Insurance.
Suncorp Executive General Manager CTP Insurance, Neil Singleton said, “Suncorp CTP Insurance is once again proud to be involved with Fatality Free Friday. It is a great o
If “Things You’d Find in a Wallet” were a survey question on Family Feud, chances are that “credit card” would be right up there just below “driver’s license” and cash. It says something that credit cards are as ubiquitous as your photo ID. Both are pieces of plastic that you simply must have if you want to enjoy all of the privileges that are reserved to your fellow Americans. And just like it’s difficult – or even illegal – to purchase tobacco and alcohol, operate a motor vehicle or board a plane without a driver’s license, it’s equally as hard to get by without a credit card. In many cases, you can pull it off. But doing so comes with a financial premium as well as inconvenience. Consider some of these ways that credit cards have been built into our way of life and how doing without them can sometimes be a drag.
Driving around an unfamiliar city in someone else’s high speed piece of machinery that’s worth tens of thousands of dollars has liability written all over it. Rental agencies like to give