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Credit Card Comparison Rates as at 18 August 2011

By Credit Card Researcher, 18 August 2011

Check out the latest interest rates, cash advance rates, annual fees and balance transfer details as 18 August 2011, read more

Credit Card Comparison Rates as at 25 November 2010

By Credit Card Researcher, 25 November 2010

Check out the latest interest rates, cash advance rates, annual fees and balance transfer details as 25 November 2010, read more

New South Wales Police to Probe Thomson Credit Card Claims

By John Brinsley, Ben Richardson, 23 August 2011

Aug. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Australia's New South Wales police will investigate allegations that federal Labor Party lawmaker Craig Thomson misused his union credit card. Liberal party Senator George Brandis "has provided information to police in relation to a number of matters concerning a Federal Labor MP," police said in a statement. "This correspondence has now been referred for internal assessment to determine whether a criminal offense has occurred." read more

Fone Doc Mobile Phone Sales and Repair Centre

By Fone Doc Sydney, 23 May 2011

Fone Doc was established in 2002 after recognising the high demand for mobile phone repairs, repairing around 200 handsets a month. read more

What are Balance Transfers?

By Credit Card Researcher, 26 November 2010

There are a lot of credit card products on the market to choose from. As a consumer, it’s difficult to know which one to pick; we try to clarify your options in this article. read more

Struggle puts squeeze on bill payments

By Third Party, 1 November 2010

ONE in five NSW households was unable to pay an electricity, gas or phone bill on time in the past year and seven in 10 expect to have to make sacrifices to meet future bills, a Wesley Mission survey has found. read more

Credit card security to adapt to virtualisation

By Third Party, 1 November 2010

The second edition of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard was released on Thursday and contains minor changes to take virtualisation into account and increase security levels. read more

Tap and go and move through the check-out faster

By Third Party, 1 November 2010

For my sins, I can't enter a bookstore without buying at least one new book (for that matter, I have the same failing with wineries and ice-cream shops, but that's another story). On my last visit to my local bookstore, I saw the customer in front of me make their purchase with a swipe of their credit card and they were out the door in seconds. read more

Woolworths expands credit offering

By Third Party, 1 November 2010

Retail giant Woolworths Ltd has expanded its financial services offering with the addition of a platinum credit card offering Qantas Frequent Flyer rewards. read more

Dollar for dollar

By Third Party, 28 October 2010

The Australian dollar has done something rather unexpected. It has gone up against the greenback and won. read more

Big four loans cost borrowers an extra $9.6bn

By Third Party, 28 October 2010

BORROWERS who rely on the "big four" banks could save $9.6 billion a year by switching to cheaper rivals. read more

Home loan pressure spawns national credit card binge

By Third Party, 28 October 2010

Amid the rapid-fire interest rate rises earlier in the year, courtesy of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Australians have begun to rely heavily on credit cards for cash flow while they repay their home loan. read more

No cash? Just wave and run

By Third Party, 28 October 2010

'Tap and pay" card readers are sprouting all over the place - hardware outlet Bunnings and bookstore Dymocks are the latest to join a network - but some people may wonder just how safe it is to have a debit or credit card where neither a signature nor a PIN is required for transactions. read more

Australian GST Update - Full Federal Court considers credit cards and charge cards

By Third Party, 28 October 2010

The case involved two Amex entities, American Express International Inc (Amex) and American Express Wholesale Currency Services Pty Limited, however, it is not necessary to differentiate between these entities for the purpose of the decision and this article refers only to Amex. read more

Hear the word on credit debt

By Third Party, 25 October 2010

HIGH levels of credit card debt in tight-knit communities such as Avalon has prompted the local church to hold a free money managing course to help people handle their finances. read more

Oz Consumer Spending Trending Higher

By Third Party, 22 October 2010

Signs are emerging Australian consumer spending is beginning to stage a recovery, as the Commonwealth Bank Business Sales Indicator (BSI) has now risen in successive months. The BSI tracks the value of all credit and debit card transactions processed through Commonwealth Bank merchant facilities. As such, it could be regarded a key gauge of economy-wide spending. read more

Australian Consumers Drive The Future Of Credit Card Pricings

By Third Party, 22 October 2010

Datamonitor's latest research on 'Australian credit card customers' reveals that Australian consumers have made a greater effort this year to repay their credit card debt in full. read more

Savvy consumers paying down plastic debt

By Third Party, 22 October 2010

Credit card issuers could be receiving less revenue as Australian consumers make a greater effort to pay off their credit card debt, research shows. read more

Shop safely online

By Third Party, 22 October 2010

With the Aussie dollar so strong and the months flying by, now is the time to get your online Christmas shopping done. However, shopping online can be a hazardous business. Here are some tips to playing it safe. read more

No PIN? No worries in new card payment system

By Third Party, 22 October 2010

A new no-touch, no-PIN card payment system speeding up the shopping process is raising security concerns. read more

Australians still living on borrowed dimes

By Third Party, 21 October 2010

A NEW era of financial conservatism sweeping Australia has failed to stop our ballooning credit card balances, which have climbed 16 per cent in the past three years. read more

Card rewards not always rewarding

By Third Party, 21 October 2010

AUSTRALIANS really love their credit card rewards - around 65 per cent of us have a card linked to a rewards program. I’m all for getting something for nothing but recent research by Citibank shows that the focus on earning rewards and other freebies can be taken to extremes. read more

On borrowed time

By Third Party, 18 October 2010

Australia's love affair with credit is as strong as ever, with latest data showing we have record debt levels, writes Anthony Keane read more

Top 10 Tips For Shoppers Excited By The Strong Aussie Dollar

By Third Party, 18 October 2010

With the Australian dollar having briefly achieved parity with the US dollar last week and looking likely to remain strong for some time, buying from US shopping sites seems more appealing than ever. It can be a great way to save money, but follow these tips to make sure you don’t lose out. read more

Supermarkets offer faster payment

By Third Party, 18 October 2010

Faster and more convenient payment options are becoming a reality for Commonwealth Bank customers, with the Bank announcing further momentum with contactless payments. read more

Business credit extends fall as costs rise

By Third Party, 14 October 2010

Business demand for credit fell in the September quarter of 2010, as firms adopt cost-saving measures in the face of waning government stimulus, a survey shows. read more

Corporate Australia adjusts to deflation

By Third Party, 14 October 2010

Business confidence is down; conditions are up – but broadly, little has changed. The NAB business confidence index eased from 11.2 to 10.1 in September. The business conditions index rose from +4.5 in August to +6.7 in September – only the second rise in six months. read more

Australia Urges Public To Guard Against Identity Theft

By Third Party, 14 October 2010

As part of National Identity Fraud Awareness Week, the National Manager of AFP High Tech Crime Operations Neil Gaughan has urged the public to learn how they can protect themselves against identity fraud. read more

Warning: Five phone scams to avoid

By Third Party, 14 October 2010

Fraudsters posing as Microsoft technicians are among the five most concerning telephone scams listed by competition and telecommunications regulators today in an attempt to warn users to be more vigilant. Find out more. read more

Put house in order before rate rise

By Third Party, 12 October 2010

Don't let a reprieve lull you into a false sense of security. Interest rate rises are around the corner. read more

RIP wallets, long live the phone: Bradlow

By Third Party, 8 October 2010

Telstra's chief technology officer Dr Hugh Bradlow has said that the days of the plastic credit card are numbered. read more

What Will the DOJ Lawsuit Do for You?

By Third Party, 8 October 2010

Retailers are no doubt popping open the champagne to celebrate the Department of Justice’s settlement of a lawsuit challenging rules that American Express, MasterCard and Visa have in place to ”prevent merchants from offering consumers discounts, rewards and information about card costs, ultimately resulting in consumers paying more for their purchases.” read more

NAB reform on credit cards

By Third Party, 7 October 2010

A reform by NAB is a good first step but the big banks have a long way to go when it comes to credit cards. read more

US sues American Express

By Third Party, 6 October 2010

The Justice Department on Monday sued credit card company American Express for alleged anticompetitive practices while proposing a settlement with the two biggest credit card companies, MasterCard and Visa. read more

Big results for the little guys

By Third Party, 4 October 2010

All financial products are not the same and choosing the right one can result in substantial savings, writes Zoe Fielding. read more

Balance Transfer vs Bank Loan - which one should you choose?

By Credit Card Researcher, 4 October 2010

With easy access to store loans, store credit and high interest credit cards it’s no wonder that a lot of people are drowning in debt. If you’ve been searching for a way to get your finances in order, and consolidate your debts, you have a few options... read more

American Express Rewarded Points for Going Green

By Third Party, 4 October 2010

American Express has earned a reputation for featuring lucrative rewards credit card deals, as well as for scoring highest in customer satisfaction for several years in a row. Less known is the fact that Amex also is raking in points from environmentalists for funding environmental projects and, internally, pioneering more environmentally friendly company policies. read more

Warning on Credit Card Travel Insurance

By Third Party, 4 October 2010

Thousands of Australian holidaymakers are exposing themselves to unnecessary risk by relying on travel insurance coverage offered through their credit cards. read more

Buyers brace for interest rate increase ahead of Christmas

By Third Party, 4 October 2010

Retailers face a bleak Christmas as the Reserve Bank prepares to pull the trigger on higher interest rates as early as tomorrow. read more

Technical glitch hits NAB net banking

By Third Party, 1 October 2010

National Australia Bank credit card customers were shocked to learn that their funds had gone "missing" for a few hours today. read more

NAB: leading Australian banks on fair fees once more

By Third Party, 1 October 2010

Following its abolition of bank fees in 2009, National Australia Bank is now set to shake up the Australian credit card sector through changes to the way in which it treats card repayments. Datamonitor believes that the move will help build the bank's 'fair' credentials, and may pave the way for other financial services providers to follow suit. read more

Westpac threats referred to ASIC

By Third Party, 1 October 2010

IN yet another front in a series of battles with big banks, Westpac's behaviour in chasing a customer to repay his debts was referred to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission yesterday. read more

Australian Lenders Begin Talks With Government On Credit Card Reform

By Third Party, 29 September 2010

Australia’s largest lenders have begun their discussion with the Federal Government on the proposed crackdown on credit card fees which became an election issue. read more

Jobless entrapped in global credit racket

By Third Party, 28 September 2010

UNSUSPECTING jobseekers are funnelling stolen funds and goods worth an average of $4000 a time out of Australia into global fraud networks. read more

Banks talk to ALP on credit card overhaul

By Third Party, 28 September 2010

National Australia Bank has reduced some of its credit card fees, as all major banks are also starting to lobby the new Federal Government on the issue. read more

NAB changes credit card repayment method

By Third Party, 27 September 2010

National Australia Bank will introduce changes to its credit card payments system that will see high interest payments paid off before lower interest items. read more

ANZ customers launch $50m class action lawsuit over 'illegal' bank fees

By Third Party, 22 September 2010

ANGRY bank customers have stung the ANZ with a $50 million compensation claim alleging years of fee rip-offs. read more

RSA: Stolen information sites pose local threat

By Third Party, 22 September 2010

Stolen personal information and cyber crime tools are being traded on fraud sites for prices ranging from as little as $US3 to $1000, according to a monthly online fraud report by RSA, the security division of EMC. read more

When frequent flyers get taken for a ride

By Third Party, 22 September 2010

Discounts and rewards dealt out in loyalty schemes are a tempting incentive but it's worth considering who reaps the biggest benefits. read more

Amex loses appeal on tax refunds

By Third Party, 22 September 2010

Yet another Federal Court of Australia decision involving goods and services tax (GST) law has been a split one. In the case of credit card company American Express and the Australian Taxation Office's (ATO) claims over late payment fees. read more

Fake credit cards fooling shopkeepers

By Third Party, 22 September 2010

An identity theft symposium has heard fake credit cards have become so realistic they fool shop assistants 99 per cent of the time. read more

Identity fraud costs billions a year, conference told

By Third Party, 20 September 2010

Fraud experts say one in five Australians have fallen victim to identity theft and it is costing Australia around $3 billion a year. read more

Rates jump after card honeymoon ends

By Third Party, 16 September 2010

Banks have quietly lifted interest rates on credit cards when their discounted introductory period ends, slugging consumers lured by a low starting rate, research shows. read more

Branch free ID 'aids cyber crime'

By Third Party, 16 September 2010

Banks approving new accounts and credit cards online are opening the door to fraudsters, says a global online security expert. read more

Debit card spending is king at present

By Third Party, 16 September 2010

Debit cards are becoming the preferred spending option for a growing number of Australian consumers, it has been suggested. read more

Record credit card use

By Third Party, 14 September 2010

AS MEMORIES of the financial crisis fade, we are whipping out cards from our pockets as never before. New banking figures show we put goods on credit cards an extraordinary 131 million times in July, more than in any previous July and up 3 per cent on the year before. read more

Commonwealth Bank rolls out credit card security code system

By Third Party, 13 September 2010

Australian financial services provider Commonwealth Bank has made available a new service which is meant to boost protection for customers shopping online. read more

Aussie banks set 'overdraft traps'

By Third Party, 10 September 2010

Some of Australia's major banks are looking to entice depositors into taking out overdrafts on basic transaction accounts, it has been suggested. read more

Almost 7 in 10 Aussies fall prey to cyber crime

By Third Party, 10 September 2010

NEARLY seven in every 10 Australians have fallen victim to cyber crime, according to a worldwide report. More than 7000 adults from 14 countries took part in the Norton Cybercrime Report The Human Aspect, which found an alarming number of internet users are exposed to online crime. read more

Fast Food Outlet Questionnaire Attempts To Steal Financial Details

By Third Party, 10 September 2010

According to Symantec, the security software giant, its researchers have just found a unique phishing attack trying to get unwitting users to reveal their finance-related details, after it employs one McDonalds sponsored survey as bait. read more

Suncorp Increases Gold Credit Card Balance Transfer to 15 Months!

By Credit Card Researcher, 9 September 2010

Suncorp have just released their new balance transfer rate of 1.9% 15 months! read more

ASIC outlines tough credit regulation plan

By Third Party, 7 September 2010

The Australian Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC) will provide for more responsible credit card lending under its new powers, its current boss has said. read more

BOQ credit card holders can access 3,500 ATMs after new partnership

By Third Party, 7 September 2010

Bank of Queensland customers will now be able to access more fee-free ATMs following an agreement. read more

ATO 'to invest in credit card payment services'

By Third Party, 7 September 2010

New credit card, phone and online payment services will shortly be revealed by the Australian Tax Office. read more

Credit card signatures 'should be more thoroughly checked'

By Third Party, 7 September 2010

Retailers should be vigilant in checking the signature on credit cards, one theft victim has noted. read more

New Balance Transfer Rate for BOQ Gold Credit Card

By Credit Card Researcher, 22 August 2010

BOQ have just launched the new balance transfer rate of 1.9% for 9 months on their Gold Credit Card. read more

Citibank Reduces Balance Transfer Rate on Emirates

By Credit Card Researcher, 15 August 2010

Citibank have just launched the new balance transfer rate of 1.9% for 12 months on their Platinum Emirates Credit Card and increased reward earnings from 1.5 to 3 Skyward Miles per dollar spent. read more

Should you get a student credit card?

By Credit Card Researcher, 15 August 2010

Fees, new textbooks and school supplies - it all adds up. If you’re a student you’ll know how stressful the start of a new semester can be, especially if you’re short on money. If you’re looking for a convenient way to cover all your back to school expenses, a student credit card might be what you need. read more

Suncorp Reduces Balance Transfer Rates

By Credit Card Researcher, 6 August 2010

Suncorp have just launched the new balance transfer rate of 1.9% for 12 months on their Suncorp Gold, Suncorp Plus and Suncorp Standard credit cards. read more

Things You Should Know Before Getting a Low Interest Rate Credit Card

By Credit Card Researcher, 1 August 2010

Low interest rate credit cards are becoming increasingly popular in our credit loving society. Not only do they enable consumers to make purchases at a lower rate of interest but they also make it possible to pay off a credit card balance quicker. While these cards are really handy if used correctly, there are a few things you need to be aware of before pushing the “Apply Now” button. read more

8 Reasons to Use a Business Credit Card

By Credit Card Researcher, 26 July 2010

We’ve spent some time analysing credit cards aimed at businesses and have put together a list of our top 7 reasons to use a business credit card. read more

Citibank Reduces Balance Transfer Rate on BP MasterCard

By Credit Card Researcher, 21 July 2010

Citibank have just launched the new balance transfer rate of 1.9% for 12 months on their BP MasterCard. This is a reduction of 1% from the previous 2.9% rate so it's a pretty good offer... read more

Avoiding the Pitfalls of Credit Card Balance Transfers

By Credit Card Researcher, 15 July 2010

As more of us struggle to pay off high interest credit cards, 0% or low rate balance transfers are coming to the rescue. Or are they? Credit card balance transfers can be really handy, provided you’re aware of some of their shortcomings. Here is our list of the top 7 things you need to know when contemplating a credit card balance transfer. read more