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Let me be clear: There's nothing wrong with going into debt for a valid reason. However, there's no more abusive or onerous debt than credit card debt, and I include Guido & Vinnie. Most credit cards nowadays immediately snap to 24.87% and sometimes 29% interest on any balance (PLUS, of course, the late fees) if you miss or are late on a payment. OR IF you are late on some other credit instrument and they hear about it....have you actually read your credit card "terms and conditions" recently? Seriously, it should scare you. Essentially....they can change ANY term and ANY condition ANY time they want...without notice...because the next bill showing your rate has just tripled DOES constitute proper notice. Also, a great many smaller CC cos have been bought by MBNA and are now adminstered/collected under these types of very onerous terms.

I've sometimes carried large CC debt on my business line. Fortunately, the receiving bank is nearby me, in the same state. I always send in the payment far enough in advance so that I can 1: check w/my (checking) bank to see if the ck has cleared 2: with enough leadtime so that if I find no demand on my ckg acct within a few days after mailing, I'll have time to send another check. MOST often, the CC company does NOT have a street address, so you can't send them pmt via Fed Ex in a hurry in case of a snafu.

Now...having read these discussions before on FR, I know there's quite a few folks who immediately pay off their CC charges (which they seldom use) and there can be no criticism of that. But, many less established entrepreneurs use CCs for business expenses; or a homeowner might need an unforeseen roof replacement and might have to go this route. Yes, there are smarter ways. I just want to point out that you can seriously hurt yourself should you forget the payment envelope on the dash of your car for a few days....or if the CC company somehow "doesn't get" your pmt (Advanta is FAMOUS for "not getting" timely pmts)...or...if you're a deadbeat.

But where does one go to find out who the good guys are? What CC companies are NOT bending over their customers these days?

Too hard to sort through all the ads on the net... Everyone's an affiliate these days.

Online payments are the way to go. I pay off my credit card balance once a week. No stamps. I always meet my minumum payment, so even if I do slip up, I've at least 1) paid off the minimum and 2) kept the balance low on the card throughout the month so there's less interest.

Pay online!!!!!!!!

Why would anyone ever do it any other way??!!

By paying online, you have a guarranteed payment date. No more mail roulette. Do you know several card companies have actually been sued, because they were caught 'holding/delaying' payments sent in the mail?