Bad credit can have a detrimental effect on the borrower’s quality of living, affecting everything from home ownership to furniture rentals as well as everything in between. However, one overlooked aspect of life that can also be hit by poor credit is job searching. Virtually every major company uses credit checks to determine the financial responsibility of an applicant, making finding a job even harder in the current market. Fortunately the following tips can help anyone minimize the negative effects that bad credit can have on the job hunt.

Be Straightforward

Before applying for a job it’s best to be straightforward and inquire whether or not bad credit will be an issue. Thi

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The government has launched a call for evidence reforming the regulation of consumer credit and personal insolvency.

The Department for Business Industry and Skills and the Treasury said they were looking to establish a ‘fairer deal’ for people when borrowing money and managing their debt.

The consultation is seeking views on the following issues: how to tackle unfair bank charges, introducing a cooling-off period for store cards, introducing a power to cap interest rates on credit and improving information to help consumers judge which credit card is best for them.

Consumer minister Edward Davey said: “Well-informed, empowered consumers are central to our vision for how a credit market between customers and lenders should work. I wan Read full article…

Australian credit card balances have risen 16 per cent over the last three years, new figures show.

According to Reserve Bank (RBA) data, Aussies now owe a total of $47.7 billion on their credit cards.

The RBA said that $35.1 billion of this is accruing interest, up from $29.4 billion in October 2007.

Speaking to News Limited, CommSec chief economist Craig James argued that the data appears worse than it is by not accounting for the rise in population, rising wages and the growing number of accounts.

In fact, he suggested that consumers have become more astute and are now more likely to compare credit cards and other financial products than they were three years ago.

“People are more conservative and consumers are a lot more savvy now,” said Mr James.

“A trend we are seeing is people are more inclined to make a purchase on their debit card. Read full article…

Credit card provider MBNA has undertaken a major revamp of its consumer-facing website to make it more accessible for its card customers. MBNA, which is a subsidiary of the Bank of America UK, has launched a range of new features in a bid to move much of its customer services online.

New features on the site include a credit card selector, which has been developed to assist users choose the most suitable credit card for their individual needs, as well as a protection and security section which provides guidance on card and information protection . Customers of the provider will be able to activate their new cards, and also registering for online card services .

Richard Honey, e-commerce executive for Bank of America Europe Card Services, said “We have listened to feedback from our customers and have re-designed our website to be more contemporary and customer-focused. Read full article…

Business credit cards can be an excellent asset for growing business, providing constant access to funds for investments and random business expenses. When used properly, business credit cards can aid in the expansion of a company by giving the business owner and their employees  the financial leverage needed to make mission-critical investments. However, not all business credit cards are the same, which is why it’s important to consider the following four aspects before applying.
Interest Rates

Interest rates should be the central focus for any business owner who is looking for a suitable credit card, as they directly determine how much money will be charged on any balance that must be carried beyond the grace period. Th

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