It has been confirmed on many forums that the 2% Unlimited Charles Schwab Cash Back Credit Card will no longer accept new applicants by the end of March. This means you need to apply for this card ASAP to be grandfathered in and the 2% will still apply to you. I have recommend this card for all my friends and family members simply because this is the best cash back card overall. Another great perk is no foreign transaction fees for using this card overseas.

I recommend to apply over the phone since CSR said they no longer accept online applications.

Call 866-724-9223 and use priority code UAAS36.

Some other benefits:

- Purchase Replacement for damaged lost or stolen items within 90 days
- Price Protection coverage 60 days
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver 15 days US, 31 days international
- Warranty Manager Doubles the warranty up to 1 year
- Lost luggage reimbursement $3000 per trip maximum
- Common Traveler Accident Insurance $1M (accidental loss of life/limb)
- Concierge Services Locate tickets, flowers, etc
- Identity Theft Protection Contacts the credit bureaus for you
- Travel and Emergency Assistance Assistance reboooking flights, getting meds, etc
- Roadside Dispatch Calls tow truck, lock smith, etc
- Visa Signature Dining Zagat ratings access, access to special Fine Wine and Food events
-BOGO movie tickets through Fandango

The cash back will automatically be sent to your Schwab brokerage account each month. Hence, you must open a Schwab brokerage account in order to link your credit card. You can then link your bank account to the brokerage account to withdraw the money. I’ve been doing this for the last 6 months and it works flawlessly.

Looking to make $1020 in free money? Check out Virtual Bank. Only a few more referral links, email me for one today!

Here is how you make $1020. You guess it, it is a referral program. For example, email me at hustlermoneyblog@gmail.com to ask for a referral to Virtual bank along with your full name. Once you open up the account through my referral link, you must deposit $100 into your account. You will make $20 and I too will make $20. If you have a blog, great…do exactly what I am doing. If not, in your Virtual bank account, you can send out referral links to 50 of your friends and family. I would ask them first if they want to open up an account before sending.

The credit card Act of 2009 is about to takes effect this Monday, credit card issuers are coming out with new ways to increase their earning according to this WSJ’s article. The new law expects to cost the credit card industry $12 billion a year.

New Tactics to Recuperate their loss Earning:

1. Citi and Bank of America now charge 3% foreign-transaction fees on all foreign transactions including those charged in U.S dollars such as in the Bahamas. Discover is charging a new 2% for foreign purchases since last year.
2. American Express Cardholders will lose their rewards points if they pay late.  In order to get the points back, they must pay a $29 fee.
3. Expect higher annual fees, higher balance-transfer charges, and growing charges for overseas transactions. E.G. Citi’s recent $60 fee annual fee.
4. More fees for extra services from requesting a year-end itemization of all your purchases to  paper statements or getting extended warranties on purchases.

The article claims that they are going beyond charging fees to increase their profit. They are cutting back their rewards program significantly such as shortening the expiration periods, raising redemption fees or implementing earnings caps on rewards.

ING Direct Checking $50 Bonus

I’m starting to think ING is the new Chase. Currently, ING Direct is giving out a $50 bonus for their new Electric Orange checking account customers. Click through the link, then apply now button, hit the continue button, and make sure to put in the offer code EM428 in the reference box.

In order to qualify, you must make 3 signature based debit transactions in 45 days after account opening. If you already have their ING Savings, then you are automatically approved. Simply sign through this link with the offer code EM428. With both accounts, you can easily transfer money back and forth. It doesn’t have the best interest rate since it’s only a checking account. However, it very convenient to have both checking and savings.

The Credit Card Act of 2009 (H.R. 627) has a new set of rules for credit card issuers with annual fees, rewards program, interest rate hikes, and issuing cards to minors. Most of the major changes will take effect on February 22nd as outlined by the Federal Reserve.

Top Credit Card Act Rules

1. Interest rate cannot be raised within the first year unless it’s an end of introductory rate, variable rate tied to the LIBOR, or more than 60 days late on a payment.
2. Existing balances cannot be retroactively apply rate increase.
3. Monthly statement due dates must be the same day every month.
4. Minimum payment requirements cannot be raised without notification.
5. Issuers can raise interest rate with 45 days advanced notice and customers can opt out.
6. Any amount over the minimum payment due will go to the highest interest rate balance first.
7. Double cycle billing and Universal default are not permitted.
8. The over-limit must be opt in, likewise cardholder can opt out anytime.
9. Issuers cannot charge extra fees for paying their bill and statements must be 21 days before due date.

If issuers make a change to your card agreement, you have the right to opt out. If you do opt out, issuers can have cardholder repay the balance over 5 years and keep the same payment as before.

Rules for Minor/College Students

1. You must be 21 to get a credit card. If not, you must get co-signers or prove source of income to repay the debt.
2. College or alumni association’s deals with credit card marketers must be transparent to the Federal Reserve Board.
3. Credit card companies cannot come within 1,000 yards from campus.

Gift Card Rules

1. Prepaid cards, gift cards and certificates are good for at least 5 years unless stated otherwise.
2. No more dormancy or inactivity fees unless clearly stated.

Quick Free FICO Score and Report

MyFico is giving your credit Score Watch and report Free Trial for thirty days. They will remind you when your free trial is up. The best part is they are making the cancellation extremely easy. Simply visit this MyFico cancellation page so you won’t ever have to pay anything! Once you login, the cancellation is quick with an easy cancellation button. No need to call customer services or dealing with them selling other financial products.

Checking your credit score and report are vital to your financial health. Visit MyFico today to get your free credit score and report.

For those Chase customers with a Chase Credit Card and a Chase Checking Account, you may be able to get a free FICO Experian score. People from the following states AZ, CA, ID, NV, OR, UT, and WA are qualify at the moment.

Here’s a recent email from the CSR:

Thank you for contacting the Internet Service Center.

Thank you for inquiring about the ability to view your
credit score online. I’m happy to explain this new feature
to Chase Online.

Starting February 11, 2010, some credit card customers who
log onto Chase Online will see a full-page ad notifying
that you can find out your FICO credit score at no charge.
The FICO score is valuable to you because it’s a key
factor in determining the loan rates and credit card terms
that you are offered.

The ad features a “Show me my free credit score from FICO”
button that you click on to see your score.

When you click on the button, you’ll be taken to a special
Chase Online page that gives you your credit score (within
a 10 point range) and additional information about how to
improve or maintain your credit score. FICO scores can
range from 300 to 850; they’re provided by Experian, a
third-party credit reporting agency.

When you click “Go to My Accounts” on the full-page ad you
will see a banner ad promoting the free FICO score after
subsequent log-ins to Chase Online.

Please note, your FICO score is calculated based on
information from your credit report (e.g. payment history,
length of credit history, new credit, amounts owed), but
the score does NOT reflect your full credit report.

If you have questions about your FICO score, please call
Experian at (888) 397-3742. Also, if you would like to
obtain your Credit Report you can contact any of the three
credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax (800-685-1111) and
TransUnion (800-888-4213).

I’m not really sure how we were able to offer this but
being a bank I believe since we do work closely with
credit reporting agencies we may have been able to have a
contract with them to offer this to our crdit card
customers. I’m sorry that I cannot answer your question
but enjoy this new wonderful benefit and have a great
weekend Ms. xxxxxx.

If you have any questions or require further assistance,
please e-mail us via the Secure Message Center or contact
our Internet Service Center.

You should be able to see the screen like below inside your Chase account:

$25 ING Savings Bonus

ING Direct is an online bank with the quickest $25 bonus I can think of. I have set up some automatic links so you can sign up right away. In order to get the bonus, you must go through my referral link and deposit $250. The $25 bonus will take no longer than a day to show up. There is no monthly or minimum fees. Setup is extremely fast and easy. Not only it’s a quick $25, the account is 1.25% APY and FDIC insured. You can also use this account to send money to other bank accounts such as Chase and Bank of America, and it will count as a Direct Deposit requirement.

Once you got your account open, you can send 50 referrals to your friends and family members to make up to $500 more.

Make sure to deposit $250 for opening deposit

1. ING $25 Referral Link!
   
2. ING $25 Referral Link!
3. ING $25 Referral Link!

Those with a Visa Signature card from the list below, you can get a free $5 in movie tickets for every $20 purchased at Fandango. Before they have the buy one get one free, but the promo is over.

414716 – Bank of America (US) – Alaska Airlines Signature Visa Credit Card
426690 – Chase Disney Visa Rewards
414720 – Chase freedom
424615 – Chase freedom alternate code
426684 – Chase freedom Cash Rewards
426681 – Chase Rewards
441712 – Chase Buy.com
441597 – Chase rewards
435787 – Chase Sapphire

412800 – Citi Dividend
412800 – Citi Forward
412800 – Citi MTVu

441712 – SW visa

431307 – Fidelity Investments

431307 – Schwab Invest First

438857 – United Mileage Plus

414778 – USBank FlexPerks

Hustler’s Saving Money Tip of the Day:

One of the things I learn with car insurance is that you can always cancel your policy at any time. There is no early termination fee and you get your money back pro-rated if you pay it full in advance. Since rates are always changing, you can be sure to find a lower price from all the competitors.

It took me less than 5 minutes to find a lower rate by going through online with Netquote. After filling out online, the offers begin to pour in from at least 10 insurance companies. The major companies include Farmers, Allstate, Progressive, Nationwide, and many more. I put in the year and model of my car, along with the type of coverage I would like, and they will email you the best rates. I didn’t put my real phone number because I didn’t want to be bothered with them calling.

The Chase Sapphire is getting great reviews from many blogs and online mags. The $100 bonus is not the only icing on the cake. Here’s a quick sample of their no hold time for customer services.

When a Sapphire cardholder calls Chase, “a specially trained advisor picks up the phone – with no need to navigate a voice-response system.” These specially trained advisors have the goal of resolving the customer’s need on the first call. (Chase didn’t say anything about the empowerment to do so, but perhaps that’s a picayune quibble). No phone tree has to be worth at least a ten point reduction in blood pressure. Can one really put a price on health? Perhaps not, but Sapphire seems to have given it an annual fee…

Chase Sapphire $100 Bonus

Currently, Chase Sapphire(SM) Card is giving away 10,000 Bonus Points after first purchase. The 10,000 bonus points can be cashed in for a $100 check. There is no annual fee with the Chase Sapphire Card. I personally have this card and got a $100 Check.

With the Chase Sapphire Card, you get 2X on all airfare booked through Ultimate Rewards. There is no earning caps, point expiration, or blackout dates. Also, earn 10x for every dollar when shopping at select merchant through Ultimate Rewards Mall and 1 point for every dollar on all other purchases. Chase gives you 24/7 Dedicated service advisor (No voice recording) with premier travel protection benefits.

Good news for those with the Discover Card 0% Balance Transfer for life; you no longer required to make 2 minimum purchases to get the 0% APR.

Here’s a recent email:

Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding the extension of the balance transfer rate on your Discover Card account.

Great News! You no longer have to make transactions in order to extend your balance transfer rate on your transferred balance per the terms of the original offer.

Please keep in mind that if you pay late, the promotional Annual Percentage Rate (APR) will end, and we may increase all of your APR’s to a variable Default Rate of up to 29.99%. This change does not affect any other Balance Transfers or other promotional rates and terms that you may have on your account.

Remember, Discover Card rewards you with CashBack Bonus for the things you buy. We did not advertise this as we encourage you to continue using your account for your purchases to increase your CashBack Bonus balance.

We appreciate your business and hope you enjoy the many benefits of being a Discover Cardmember.

They didn’t do this out of their good heart, but  they are in preparation for the new Credit Card Act. Also, it has been confirmed that they have increase the 2% minimum payment up to 4%. People have been told that all existing balance transfers will be subject to a 2% minimum, or 2% plus $40 if balance is greater than $40.  Check with your credit statements to be absolutely sure. Also, call Discover CSR to check on their new policy of no purchases requirement.

ShareBuilder $50 Bonus

If you never open a Sharebuilder account, then these bonuses are pretty easy. There is no hard pull on your credit report. Normally, you would need to make a trade, but it seems like there is no need to make one trade on this bonus offer.

Here’s the newest code I just found: 50WCFA

Follow these steps:

1. Sign up to your ShareBuilder account.
2. Click on the “Get Started” tab.
3. Select account type Individual Account and then click “I’m responding to a Promotion”.
4. Fill out the rest of the form. Click “Next” to fill out second form. Under Promotion Code, enter promo code E.G.: 50WCFA
5. Select “No I don’t have an account” and fill out the owner information and username/password information. Click “Next”.
6. Select “Sharebuilder Basic Account” (Don’t select Standard or Advantage as those programs have monthly fees).
7. Deposit $50 from your checking account, Fund your account with an Electronic funds deposit from savings or checking account .
8. It seems like you don’t even need to make a trade to get the bonus.
9. Receive email that you got the promotion.
10. Wait 4-6 weeks to get your bonus.

I’ve reading on a few articles the Credit Card Act goes into effect on Feb. 22, and it seems like Credit Card companies will take a closer look at your household income on your applications.

From the article:

“We’re headed down the road where if you can’t verify your income, you can’t get a credit card,” says John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education for Credit.com, a card-comparison Web site

CC companies are doing everything in their power to cut your credit limit. On one hand, I don’t think people who is not credit “worthiness” should get credit. This prevents people from buying things they cannot afford. On the other hand, this is how CC companies make money by people borrowing money and paying interest each month.

Another good thread to read on ” Database of YOUR Salary Information, Article in the AJC About Equifax”

ARE YOU ON FILE?
• To find out if The Work Number’s database includes information about your employment history and to review that information, call The Work Number’s customer service department at 1-800-367-2884. The Work Number also takes consumer complaints at this number.
• To find out more about The Work Number, go to www.theworknumber.com.
• To file an official complaint about any consumer reporting agency or data broker, contact the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov or 1-877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357).

Personally, I can think of a few ways to evaluating one credit “worthiness”: Proof of income, assets, credit history, and records of debt repayment. Approving or denying an CC application shouldn’t be based on income alone.

PerkStreet Bank $50 Bonus

I just found out a $50 bonus to PerkStreet Financial™ offers a brand new online checking account designed to reward those who spend responsibly.

Each PerkStreet online checking account comes with a PerkStreet Financial Visa® Debit Card that offers 1% cash back, free music or coffee and you get a $50 bonus for opening an account.

Hate doing direct deposit to get a bonus? Then check out PerkStreet Financial $50 bonus for opening a checking account with a $25 minimum deposit. You must keep it open for 3 months but there is no direct deposit requirement. There is a $4.50 fee if there is no activity. Make sure to keep the account active once a month by depositing or withdrawing a small amount.

For those who made a foreign transaction with a Mastercard, Visa or Diners Club branded credit card, or debit card anytime between February 1, 1996 and November 8, 2006, you can get $25 for filing out this settlement form.

There are few other options to choose, but I think the $25 is the easiest. You just need to give your name, address, credit card number, issuing bank, and the last 4 digits of your Social Security number in order to claim your $25.

For more info, visit their FAQ page.

Chase Visa Platinum

• 0% APR introductoria por hasta 12 meses¹
• La duración de la APR introductoria y los saldos a los que se aplicará se
  basarán en nuestra evaluación de su solicitud y su historial crediticio
• Sin Cargo Anual
• Acceso GRATIS a su cuenta por Internet²
• Servicios GRATIS para sus viajes, como seguro contra choques de autos alquilados y seguro contra accidentes de viaje en todo el mundo

¡Solicítela Ahora!