I know Bank of America still has a secured CC program.

The problem with using your debit card as a credit card for travel is the hold put on the credit limit. If your CC has a $5000 limit and the hotel puts a $500 hold on it, then you just have $500 less you can charge. If you use your debit card, then you have $500 less in the bank until that hold clears. Several years ago, I had a $100 check bounce from my checking account that I thought had over 2K available, but there was over 2K worth of holds on my card from car rental companies and hotels, even though I paid cash for the bill (it took about a week to have my funds released).

When a hotel puts a hold on your credit card, we think it doesn't matter because it's not "our money".

When they put a temorary authorization on your checking account, all of a suddend it's a problem.

Fact is, either way you could end up being liable for the charge, that's why they put it on there.

Try not to trash the room.

Just a shot in the dark, but I wonder if they've been asked/forced to "reduce their risk exposure."

Who would they drop? Not the folks who are paying 15-20% and have no other choice. They will drop the "non-producing risk" which is no risk at all. So it looks good on the books even though it's B.S.

My $0.02.

+5 to that.

Local owner banks and credit unions are the way to go. they will still issue the card through a credit card company, VISA, etc, but the terms will be through your local financial institution. Generally local banks and credit unions are in much better shape than the big banks simply because they play games placing bets on money they didn't have.

Also, another big bonus in my book, over and above good rates and reasonable terms, is that money deposited in local banks and CUs tends to stay within the local economy.

Now you know one - in 25 years, I paid interest 1 month - In fact, I have the card set to auto pay the full amount every month. I treat it like cash

Your case is one of the reasons why CC companies need to be regulated and why a credit card user bill of rights is required. Right now CC companies can arbitrarily change the rules any time they want - on April 1st they did exactly that. My own rate for Mastercard went from 16.99% to 19.99% even though I have never had a late payment! Since I don't carry a balance either, the rate increase is not a big deal for me.

But the problem with closing accounts with CC companies is that it LOWERS your credit rating in most cases. If you can help - don't close those accounts just before going to your bank for a mortgage, line of credit or car loan. The drop in your rating will last for a minimum of 3-6 months.

Interesting thread. I've had credit cards since 1984, and NEVER missed paying them off every month. I used to have Discover, but they played too many games. I got a VISA years ago, for the sole purpose of having a card with a small limit for renting cars. I don't travel that much any more, so I'm not worried about it that much.

The one thing that I really like about credit cards is one check to pay at the end of the month rather than several. It really cuts down on postage.

I refuse to pay any bills on line. Not nearly enough safeguards. I once took out a car loan that way, and swore I'd never make that mistake again, and I haven't.

Working in retail and banking I've seen how dangerous paying by paper can be, I'll never go back and was an early adopter of online bill pay even paid for it way back when because the online bill pay fee was cheaper than dealing with the lost/delayed checks.

OK, let me give you some perspective on that point.
First of all, you're at more risk with paper-based ID theft than with "cyber theft". MUCH more. Again, the losers in the fraud game are more the merchants and less the consumers, so there's been a LOT of security stuff implemented that I can't go into but it's good. The nice thing is that there's this tireless and constant monitor of your accounts when you do stuff online, you just can't watch as closely with paper.

Secondly, in the last 3 years, the progress in online bill payment has been extensive. It's easier, faster and free.

Finally, A car loan is NOT online bill payment, that's a loan application, a totally different beast.

I just won another free lottery that I never entered.
I never knew winning lotteries was so easy!
Too bad they keep asking for personal information which I refuse to give.
I figure if they are smart enough to know my email address they are smart enough to know the rest of my info and just send me my millions, especially if they are from the FBI like the last few have claimed to be.

There is still plenty of online fraud.