Personal Finance and Investing

Late credit card payments are a good reason for credit card companies to charge additional fees on a credit card account. In fact, some people get charged late fees even when they pay on the last day their credit card bill is due. Or, some credit card companies increase their late fees and move the due dates earlier in the month without notice so that clients are more likely to be charged a late fee. However, late payments can adversely affect credit score, cause a huge increase in credit card interest rate or significantly increase the credit card balance.

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I’m so glad to be able to wish you all another Christmas for the fourth time! Yes, this is our 4th Christmas online… geez, how time flies. As usual, we had our traditional family Christmas party yesterday with our extended family (this is how we normally celebrate the special annual event commemorating the birth of Christ). While yesterday was about reunion, gift giving and merry making, today is about recovery from all that fun and excitement (especially since I’ve lost my voice to laryngitis and animated talk). And a

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Forget drinking less or promising to go to the gym. If you really want to make 2010 a good year you’d be a lot better off making financial resolutions. Here are a few suggestions.

1. Dump your bank manager

If there is one lesson to take away from 2009, it is that banks don’t care about customer welfare – so don’t think loyalty pays. It doesn’t. That means that if you want the best bank account on the market – or even an adequate bank account – odds are you need to switch. Almost all the most rewarding offers are exclusive to new customers.

The best account available for those who are always in credit is Halifax’s Reward Current Account.

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There has been incredible disruption to people’s travel plans this year, as threatened strikes, broken trains, collapsing airlines and extreme weather forced thousands of people to abandon their Christmas trips. While nothing can compensate for calling off Christmas plans, it’s important to know what you’re entitled to.

Many people will be left hoping their travel insurance will pick up the bill, but not every eventuality is covered – so are you protected?

First up, before you ask your insurer to foot the bill, you should check if you are entitled to claim elsewhere.

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