What Every Credit Card Holder Needs To Know: How To Protect Yourself and Your Money [Paperback]

Howard Strong (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 12, 1999

Protect yourself from the outrageous practices of credit card companies.

Would it make you happy to know that the longer you delay in paying off your credit card balance the more money the companies make off of you? That companies aren't forced to reveal costs for cash advance fees, overlimit fees, or late fees on card applications? That invasion of privacy begins when stores "data mine" valuable information on your purchase record to lessly solicit you?

Here, finally, is a book for card holders eager to fight back and protect their consumer rights. Informative, practical, and savvy, What Every Credit Card Holder Should Know exposes the often devious workings of the credit card industry and the profit makers behind it. Issuing hard-earned advice about lowering interest rates and annual fees, handling fraudulent charges and disputes, preventing identity theft, choosing the best card for personal needs, and the perils of the new "debit cards," What Every Credit Card Holder Should Know also shares secrets card companies never tell you about how you can save money. Filled with hilarious and terrifying real-world anecdotes, this is a refreshingly bold approach to credit cards and how to make them work for us, not the other way around.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Howard Strong is an attorney who has handled numerous class-action suits against credit card companies and major financial institutions. A gadfly and activist, he lives in southern California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 218 pages
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks; 1st edition (January 12, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080505314X
• ISBN-13: 978-0805053142
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,832,540 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the answer to all your credit card problems, April 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: What Every Credit Card Holder Needs To Know: How To Protect Yourself and Your Money (Paperback)

As an employee of a major credit card company, I was very excited to see if this book really supplied the information any credit card user needs to know. Don't misunderstand me, I am on the consumer's side. The problem with this book is that doesn't really tell the consumer the most important things about interest rates. Credit cards aren't about interest rates. There are more twist and turns a company can use to make money on you besides the interest rate or finance charges. This book barely touched this subject, and actually encouraged the reader to look for the lowest rate card instead of saying,"Don't worry about the rate, you shouldn't carry a balance anyway!" Its a good book for understanding your rights as far as disputing credit card charges and understanding credit law. I wouldn't recommend the book if you are looking for all the answers, this book only answered a couple of the many questions surrounding credit cards.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Right on the money, March 7, 2000

By 

Jim Lewis (NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: What Every Credit Card Holder Needs To Know: How To Protect Yourself and Your Money (Paperback)

Superb! We got ripped off on a vacation and wanted to know our rights. Got the book and it gave exactly the info we needed. Pleasant reading too. Found out why to tear up our debit cards too! Highly recommended.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for every adult who uses a ATM/Credit Card, May 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: What Every Credit Card Holder Needs To Know: How To Protect Yourself and Your Money (Paperback)

Ths book is a phenomenal expose of what banks and other financial institutions will do to skim money from you. The book is not just about credit card but also about the debit cards referred to in the book at Financial Death cards. A must read for every adult who uses either one of these very widely marketed and convenient financial tools which could ruin your financial life if used improperly. I read a copy from the library but I will buy a copy for several of my relatives. Very useful.