Originally Posted by Robnlaura (Post 2365339)

I love our fantastic economy ! Such awesome credit card rates. Someone touted using “store cards” I love Best Buy’s interest rate “ Standard Purchase APR is 29.99% for non-promotional purchases. Account must be in good standing. Subject to credit approval.” Keep on paying peeps

Originally Posted by larrycrilley@gmail.com (Post 2365139)

An actuary once told me use my Amex for everything I possibly can. “If you have to pay for something why not get something in return” were her words. She said she had enough points to cover two round-trip first class airfares anywhere on earth. I have been following her advice, and now I am redeeming my points for a fly/drive trip from San Francisco to San Diego and onto the Grand Canyon…all on points I have accumulated. The fights, the hotels, and the car rental inclusive. I even received a few upgrades and perks just for being a member.

The best advice is to use the card then go into your online checking and send them the payment right away. No big surprises at the end of the month and no interest charge.

We even has some left over points and points from other cards that can be used if need be.

California here we come!

Originally Posted by villagetinker (Post 2364957)

Over the last several months several stores we deal with have been using or changed to using Synchrony Bank, which has in turn imposed a $2 per statement fee unless you use paperless banking.
Here is my question: if your account has a zero balance and you have not signed up for the paperless banking do you still get a $2/monthly charge?
My analysis is that I can use my money back credit card instead of the store card and come out ahead on most accounts and most months. Based on this I am planning on dropping most if not all of the store credit cards and just use the money back card.

Thank you for your info and thoughts.

Originally Posted by chris237 (Post 2365271)

I totally agree with you. Rather than create -yet another - online account and password, as well as, supplying my email and phone number to to be stored online, sold, etc., I just closed my JC Penney credit card.

Originally Posted by Wilharm (Post 2365422)

I thought all the JC Penny stores were closed.

Originally Posted by villagetinker (Post 2364957)

Over the last several months several stores we deal with have been using or changed to using Synchrony Bank, which has in turn imposed a $2 per statement fee unless you use paperless banking.
Here is my question: if your account has a zero balance and you have not signed up for the paperless banking do you still get a $2/monthly charge?
My analysis is that I can use my money back credit card instead of the store card and come out ahead on most accounts and most months. Based on this I am planning on dropping most if not all of the store credit cards and just use the money back card.

Thank you for your info and thoughts.

Originally Posted by LuvtheVillages (Post 2364982)

I recently received a similar notice for my Bealls store card. They will impose a $3 fee for each statement unless I sign up for paperless billing.

The only reason I have the card is because it is linked to their rewards program. With the statement I sometimes get a credit for my next purchase, the amount based upon how much I have spent recently.

So I signed up for paperless. Not happy about it as it is too easy to miss the email announcement that the statement is ready among the onslaught of emails I receive. However I refuse to set up automatic payments. I want to see and verify the accuracy of the bill before I pay it.

We will see how this goes.

Originally Posted by villagetinker (Post 2365555)

OK great info so far, so let me ask the next question. For those of you that use paperless payments, are all of these like ACH, where it gets paid with NO INTERVENTION by you, or are these a hold for approval before the bank pays. I have been burned by the first and only want the second.

Originally Posted by villagetinker (Post 2365555)

OK great info so far, so let me ask the next question. For those of you that use paperless payments, are all of these like ACH, where it gets paid with NO INTERVENTION by you, or are these a hold for approval before the bank pays. I have been burned by the first and only want the second.

Originally Posted by villagetinker (Post 2365555)

OK great info so far, so let me ask the next question. For those of you that use paperless payments, are all of these like ACH, where it gets paid with NO INTERVENTION by you, or are these a hold for approval before the bank pays. I have been burned by the first and only want the second.

Originally Posted by Pugchief (Post 2364999)

Not sure why you guys are opposed to paperless billing. The USPS is a dumpster fire. I get 100%* of my bills online and also autopay them electronically. Way less errors and problems than snail mailed.

I also gave up store cards ages ago. Get yourself a good Visa or Mastercard that has a nice cash rebate (Citibank Double Cash MC 2%, Fidelity Rewards Visa 2% if deposited into a Fidelity account, etc) and you can streamline your finances as well.


*except for the few bills that do not have online option, like the guy who cuts my grass

Originally Posted by larrycrilley@gmail.com (Post 2365139)

An actuary once told me use my Amex for everything I possibly can. “If you have to pay for something why not get something in return” were her words. She said she had enough points to cover two round-trip first class airfares anywhere on earth. I have been following her advice, and now I am redeeming my points for a fly/drive trip from San Francisco to San Diego and onto the Grand Canyon…all on points I have accumulated. The fights, the hotels, and the car rental inclusive. I even received a few upgrades and perks just for being a member.

The best advice is to use the card then go into your online checking and send them the payment right away. No big surprises at the end of the month and no interest charge.

We even has some left over points and points from other cards that can be used if need be.

California here we come!

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2365583)

I have electronic billing and banking, but no "auto-pay". I make all payments manually myself using my bank's bill pay system. They are usually handled by the ACH method. I never allow any merchant or bank to automatically remove money from my account.

Originally Posted by villagetinker (Post 2365555)

OK great info so far, so let me ask the next question. For those of you that use paperless payments, are all of these like ACH, where it gets paid with NO INTERVENTION by you, or are these a hold for approval before the bank pays. I have been burned by the first and only want the second.

Originally Posted by Glowing Horizon (Post 2365634)

Here’s something to consider. If you get your bank & investment accounts via email, will your spouse or your other beneficiaries know where your funds are, how much is there, who is entitled to the funds & the password to access the account after you die or are incapacitated?

If they don’t have access to your password- or biometric-protected EMAIL, they may not ever receive anything to trigger them to seek possession of it. Mailed paper statements serve as notifications to your heirs.
^^^Voice of experience^^^

Originally Posted by villagetinker (Post 2365555)

OK great info so far, so let me ask the next question. For those of you that use paperless payments, are all of these like ACH, where it gets paid with NO INTERVENTION by you, or are these a hold for approval before the bank pays. I have been burned by the first and only want the second.

Originally Posted by Bwanajim (Post 2366645)

When I was in Texas a few years ago I spent about $5000 on furniture and used that card. I got five years 0% interest so I’m OK with paying 2 dollars a month.
On something like that, I don’t want auto deduct. I wanna see a paper bill showing the four different balances.