[Marine1974]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

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.

I have Verizon Synchrony credit card . I downloaded their Mobile app . I receive 4 % back on groceries and gasoline. Less on other purchases. I am paperless . I’ve opted to use my rewards monthly to reduce my Verizon mobile phone and 5g internet bill .automatically. I get a notification when my statement comes out .
I get notified when my rewards are used to decrease my phone and internet bill . Do not miss
paper statements.
I believe my Kohl’s credit card is switching to synchrony bank this month .
I receive some good discounts when using my Kohl’s card at their stores .

[arbajeda]

What's missing (so far) is a reason for receiving a paper statement. For a cash-back card, I recommend the CITI Visa through Costco. It costs the price of a Costco membership. It gives back 4% on gas, 3% on travel and restaurants, 2% on Costco purchases (which is matched by CITI), and 1% on everything else. We use this card to pay every bill that doesn't charge a fee (car and home insurance, etc.). We have paperless statements for it (as well as bank and other credit cards). When the statement cuts we download and print the transactions, balance them against the receipts, then shred them all. At the end of the year we download the annual statement and keep them for historical purposes. For our bank account, the first of every month we reconcile transactions to entries in our check registers (credits and debits). We make and keep paper copies only of whatever we will need to file our taxes.

Costco cash-back happens in February when CITI emails a barcode. You have to take that code to a Costco to redeem it for cash. At the register, they will either count out the cash or issue a paper check. The Costco purchase 2% cash-back comes in the mail as a separate paper check.

https://www.costco.com/my-life-benef...here-visa.html

[Marine1974]

Have your spouse download the mobile app on her phone . No computer.

[rothbear]

We have had a Synchrony Bank account through Lowes for many years with paperless billing. No problems so far. The closing date/due date is always the same +/- a day every month. I keep a Google calender and set up a repeating reminder about 7 days before the due date each month. If we don't have anything for that month I just delete that individual reminder. Easy-peasy. With Lowe's rewards you get an instant 5% off each purchase (10% if you are military or retired military) plus every now and then a coupon for 10% off instantly for everyone with the card.

I also pay everything through my bank, even if they have to send a check to do it. There is a record that I did it and no one can say that I didn't. I do as much paperless billing as I can so that if we go away for awhile I have access to the bills to pay them. And I also print out the statements as well. I check each statement against the receipts I have and then discard the receipts and file the statements so they are in my tax file box for the 3 years I keep them. The only auto-pay I have is my car payment and that will go away in about 6 months.

My husband has always said if anything happens to me he will never find all the money or be able to pay the bills. I keep saying that one of these days I will sit down and make up a cheat sheet with all the info. Guess I better do that! But I"m sure our daughter an easily figure it out for him because of my filing system and payment notations I have made on each bill and statement.

[MrFlorida]

Paperless, can get my statements wherever I'm at.. don't have to worry about how USPS is screwing up and giving my statements to somebody else. Ask me how I know..

[RoseyRed]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Print???? Just save it to an external hard drive, disconnect that drive when not in use.

Yes!

[chris237]

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.

[Pugchief]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Agreed saves me the trouble from printing out the statement.

Why would you print it? Save it in a pdf file on your computer. I have a separate folder for SECO, Massey, VCCD, Munn's, etc, which are all sub-folders of Villages. That one is in Documents.

Saves paper (JimJam approves!), saves ink, saves closet space for other useless garbage.

[Pugchief]

Originally Posted by Angelhug52

95% paperless. My choice. Problem,the other half doesn't even know how to turn the computer on. Anything happens to me or the power source there will be a bigger issue! Thus I spend time printing out statements, filing them and making sure they are paid. I have also witnessed situations where a spouse dies or is incapacitated and the other half knows nothing about paying the bills. Top that with getting hacked and now every card is compromised. No easy solutions. Favorite card, Discover. Great cash back.I say do what works for your life style but make sure someone in your life can pick up and continue if you cannot. If peace of mind is a two dollar fee or frequent notification from a monitoring company go for it. Also lock/ freeze credit reports and cards not in use .Rather be dancing then time on line changing passwords because of compromised accounts. Or just pay cash.

My father took care of all the finances back in the 70s. Mom was clueless. Then Dad died and Mom had a near nervous breakdown from the stress of ignorance.

Do your significant other a favor and teach them, while you are still able.

[Robnlaura]

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

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Robnlaura

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

Costs a lot of money to be poor. If you cannot pay credit card on time and avoid interest cost rip up the darn things and pay cash

[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by larrycrilley@gmail.com

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!

I have no interest whatsoever in receiving free airline flights, hotels, auto rentals, etc.
I get money back which would be preferential to most people.
I can spend the money anywhere, any time, on whatever I want, and that would include what you have mentioned.
Why limit yourself to specific things???

There is nothing easier than autopay.
If something isn't right, credit card companies fix the problem pronto!

[mlmarr]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

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.

more cost effective for the business to belong to a group and not individual credit services .. sign of the times..

[mlmarr]

paperless is the best way to go, verify and track services on line, most places you can print your own summary, snail mail service is the best..

[Wilharm]

Originally Posted by chris237

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.

I thought all the JC Penny stores were closed.