Arlington, Va., December 14,
2006 - With holiday
shopping in full swing, credit
card charges are surging.
Consumers appreciate the
convenience and safety of credit
card transactions. The "buy
today, pay later" philosophy has
become a holiday tradition.
"Credit cards are wonderful
tools when used responsibly. The
challenge is to remember the
'pay later' part of your credit
card agreement. The Better
Business Bureau encourages
consumers to carefully review
credit card options, in order to
avoid a post-holiday credit
'hangover," said Steve Cole,
president and CEO of the Council
of Better Business Bureaus. This
is particularly important if you
are considering applying for a
new credit card. US households
receive an average of six card
solicitations per month, which
can be tempting this time of
year, the BBB advised. "Our new
BBBTips™ on Credit Cards,
released today, is designed to
help guide consumers to make
credit card decisions that are
right for their particular
financial circumstances," said
Cole. The BBB system's new
educational resource is
available online at
www.bbb.org/tips/clearpoint.
BBBTips™ on Credit Cards is
intended to assist experienced
cardholders as well as those
seeking to qualify for their
first credit card. Topics
include:
- Various types of credit
cards, reward programs and
other enhancements;
- The pros and cons of
credit cards;
- Credit terms and
definitions;
- Understanding credit
card solicitations and
applications;
- Deciding which credit
card is right for your
situation;
- Evaluating balance
transfer offers; and,
- Steps to take if you
cannot make a payment.
BBBTips on Credit Cards is
sponsored by ClearPoint
Financial Solutions, Inc.™, a
System-wide member of the Better
Business Bureau. This is the
newest release in a series of
BBBTips™ resources on credit and
debt issues. "Consumers need to
carefully examine all credit
card offers before deciding what
suits their budget and spending
patterns. We join with the BBB
to provide practical information
about credit cards to help
consumers be credit 'wise' and
creditworthy," said Dan Oelrich,
President and CEO of ClearPoint.
The BBBTips™ program supplements
other helpful information
provided by Better Business
Bureaus to promote an ethical
marketplace. In 2005, BBBs in
the United States and Canada
provided nearly 90 million
instances of service to
consumers and businesses."
About ClearPoint
Financial Solutions, Inc.
ClearPoint Financial
Solutions, Inc.™ (formerly
Consumer Credit Counseling
Services of America, Inc.) is a
national non-profit organization
dedicated to helping consumers
achieve financial wellness
through counseling and
education. Established in 1980,
ClearPoint has helped over one
million individuals achieve
financial security. ClearPoint
is the only non-profit
System-wide member of the Better
Business Bureau (BBB), and one
of the largest members of the
National Foundation for Credit
Counseling (NFCC). Headquartered
in Richmond, Virginia,
ClearPoint manages branches
across the country. Personalized
and confidential consultations
are available in person, by
phone or online. Visit
ClearPoint Financial Solutions
at
www.ClearPointFinancialSolutions.org
or call 877-877-1995. Credit
Counselors, CDC Consumer Debt
Counseling, and Solutions, Inc.
are all trade names of
ClearPoint.
ABOUT BBBTips™
BBBTips™ is a trademark of
the Council of Better Business
Bureaus, Inc. (CBBB) used for
information provided to assist
consumers and businesses in
making informed and intelligent
decisions. BBBTips™ are
developed in partnership with
the Better Business Bureau
Consumer Education Foundation,
Inc. and made possible, in part,
through the generous financial
and technical support provided
by corporate sponsors that are
members of the CBBB and of the
Better Business Bureau where the
sponsor is headquartered. As a
matter of policy, the CBBB and
Better Business Bureaus do not
endorse any product, service or
company.
Reporters and journalists may
contact
Steve Cox, CBBB's Vice
President, Communications, or
call 703.276.0100 to request an
interview or additional
information. If you are a
consumer who is seeking
additional information, or need
assistance with a complaint
against a business, please
contact your local BBB, visit
the BBB web site (www.bbb.org)
or call 703.276.0100. |
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