According to hubby’s buddy, a Streamyx authorized agent, the amount of $0.95 came from the first phone line account in Kuala Lumpur that we had terminated many, many years ago.

Gosh! We moved from KL to Ipoh in year 2002! More than 7 years ago.

Sigh! Hubby and I didn’t even know we still had a balance of $0.95! Don’t we have to settle the outstanding balance first at the TMNet outlet before we terminate the phone account? Weird!

Anyway, hubby’s buddy paid the $0.95 on behalf of us first as he was a the TM Point outlet yesterday. Today he called to inform that the technician would do the phone setup tomorrow afternoon and then he would submit the Streamyx Combo 1.0Mbps application.

If everything goes on well, it’s expected that we can use the No.1 broadband Internet on Friday. Yay!

Once the phone and Internet lines are working fine, I will terminate the current phone line and Streamyx broadband access accounts next Monday.

If you have had a bad experience dealing with the #1 Telekom/TMNet/Streamyx like I had before when transferring phone line and Internet connection accounts to new address, you’ll understand why I preferred to open a new phone and broadband access accounts than doing the transfer.

I would rather pay another month’s phone and Internet fees to make sure that I stay online while waiting for the new lines to start working.

According to hubby’s buddy, the Telekom officer called him and told him that we hadn’t settled our bill yet. If we didn’t settle it, the officer wouldn’t let us open another new phone account.

Gosh! It’s the 23rd on Wednesday and the latest phone bill hadn’t even arrived yet! The Telekom officer told our buddy that he was scared that we wouldn’t pay our bill after we opened another new phone account.

Ridiculous! Our phone bill amount was only RM30.45 and there was the deposit of RM75 in the account, so did Telekom have to be so worried that we wouldn’t settle our bill? Besides, we settle our bill every month!

See? Malaysian phone users must always settle their bills fast while Telekom can take a few months to return the deposit they owe us!

Last night after hubby and I came back from KL, I checked my mail box and the Telekom bill hadn’t still arrived yet. What to do? I called 100, checked the latest due amount and made the payments for phone and Streamyx broadband access bills online.

This morning, I saw the Telekom bill, together with some bank statements, stuffed in the mail box.

I am really hoping that the Telekom technician will install the new phone line and the Streamyx authorized agent will get the Streamyx Combo 1.0Mbps account set up next week before the school holiday is over.

By the way, I am confused. Telekom or TMNet? Which one now? They always change their company name, logo design, outlet renovation, uniform color, but one thing remains the same – their service.

Telekom, TMNet or Streamyx’s service still sucks! No.1 broadband in Malaysia? Another joke to end year 2009.

I think any reasonable mind will go mad or freaked out after seeing no noticeable decrease in credit card balance despite being in a debt management program, right?

This morning, I thought of doing a spreadsheet for all my credit card accounts. When comparing the figure of March and November statements of a bank, I was shocked to see RM6,300 and RM6,400.

How could it be? I had already been in AKPK debt management plan for one year, so logically, the amount owed should have dropped to less than RM6,000, right?

Ya, I was mad and freaked out. I knew it’s because of the late payment charges that showed up almost every month for the last few months.

I remember my Ipoh credit counsellor had told me before that there’s nothing to worry about the late payment fees. They would not show up anymore once the banks had everything updated.

I also thought the banks would remove the late charges from their record sooner or later, so I didn’t call or write to the banks. But after giving them so many months to get updated, the late charges still showed up in the statements.

Enough! Too much! So I gave AKPK Ipoh branch a call. As usual, the ever helpful Ms Lina answered the phone.

I told her about banks (except Public Bank) which still had the late charges printed on the monthly statements. After listening attentively to my complaint, Lina assured me not to worry about the late payment fees.

According to her, banks would stick to only collecting the agreed amount of outstanding balance plus interest charges. I hope the banks really do so.

To know the latest correct amount of each of my credit card, Ms Lina even gave me every bank’s phone number and name of person who is in charge of AKPK cases.

I did call one of the banks and raised my concern regarding the late payment charges. Again, I was reassured that there’s nothing to worry about the late fees.

First, surf the net and do some research on the types of credit cards available on the market. By doing this, you can familiarize yourself with different credit card types and terms.

Balance transfer credit cards, low interest credit cards, cash back credit cards, reward points credit cards, retail rewards credit cards, travel points credit cards, gas rebate credit cards, home improvement rewards credit cards, airline mile credit cards, bad credit credit cards, business credit cards, student credit cards, and the list goes on.

Being a form of borrowing that involves charges, credit cards usually have underlying credit terms and conditions that affect your overall cost.

So, it’s best to compare terms and fees before you apply for a credit card and agree to open an account.

Some of the important terms to be understood well include the annual percentage rate or the APR. Being a measure of the cost of credit expressed as a yearly rate, make sure you know the APR rate before you apply for a credit card.

Aside from APR, you should also find out the periodic rate so you would have an idea of your outstanding balance and finance charge for each billing period.

Other important terms to know before you apply for a credit card are free period or grace period, annual fees, transaction fees and other charges, and balance computation method for the finance charge like average daily balance, adjusted balance, previous balance, and two-cycle balances.

I am not that type of person who is patient enough to research on all the credit card terms, that’s why I ended up in deep debt trouble and had to resort to enrolling in a free debt management program to get out of debt.

If you are also not that type of person who is patient enough to understand all the terms, you should at least get the card issuer to give an explanation how the balance is computed and it must appear on your monthly billing statements.

Once you are familiar with the types, terms and fees of all credit cards available on the market, your next step is compare numerous credit cards that would best serve your needs.

Different types of credit cards offer different options, depending on what your needs are. Some are geared toward individual consumers, while others are set up in ways that work best for small business needs.

And lastly, you may now apply for the right credit card of your choice by filling out a credit card application by visiting a bank representative or through online.

I had to resort to joining a free debt management program after failing to see much decrease in my credit card debt. Month after month I threw in chunks of my hard-earned money into making the minimum payments, yet the total credit card debt didn’t seem to drop much.

Was it because I kept adding new credit card debt to my outstanding balance? Noop. It’s because of late payment fees, over-limit charges, cash advance fees, retail interest charges, and miscellaneous fee charges that kept being added into my total debt.

Scary, right? To avoid letting these horrendous fees imposed by banks and credit card companies drags you into a deep debt hole, you need debt management tips to help you get out of debt fast.

1. Credit Counseling. Seek help from a certified credit counselor who can help you navigate through your debt dilemma.

You can either opt for a non-profit credit counseling agency or a for-profit credit counseling company when it comes to credit counseling. The difference is that the former provides free counseling and charges a nominal monthly fee if you decide to enroll in a debt relief program while the latter charges quite exorbitant fees.

2. Debt Consolidation Loan. You should only consider a debt consolidation loan if you are not able to replace your high interest credit cards with one, low interest rate credit card. This is because you may have to pay for an application fee for a debt consolidation loan, whereas with a credit card you would not.

3. Home Refinancing. Refinancing your mortgage allows you to save hundreds of dollars per month on mortgage payments. With lower mortgage payments, the money saved could be used to pay off your credit card debt.

4. Home Equity Loan. Alternately to home refinancing, you may have enough equity in your home to cash out and pay off your debt. Most importantly, credit card debt is not tax deductible, but a home equity loan is. This means you can reduce your debt as well as reduce your tax obligation by cashing out.

See, you have some viable solutions to help you get out of debt fast without resorting to any debt management program, debt settlement plan or bankruptcy that damages your credit score.

“Hello. I think I’ve been a good customer. I’d like to stay with you, but I need my intrest rate of my credit card to be lowered. Could you help me?”

Do you know that you, as a credit cardholder, can get your credit card interest rate lowered by simply using the above script to call your credit card company?

It’s a simple script, yet it brings amazing results that save you money in the long run.

Like many credit cardholders out there, you may be so used to paying a certain interest rate that it never comes across your mind that you can ask for lower interest rate by just making a phone call to your credit card company.

Let me tell you, your credit card company is more than willing to lower the interest rate if you’ll just ask.

Imagine how much money you can save if you ask for bringing the interest rate down Let’s say you have a $3,000 outstanding balance every month and your credit card company agrees to lower you rate from 21.99% to 14.9%.

From paying $54.00 in interest every month to $37.20, you save $17.70 every month. It’s more than $200 per year! This amount of $200 can be used to pay to the principal to knock down your credit card debt more quickly.

Now, pick up your phone and call your credit card company to lower your credit card intrest rate with this magic script, “Hello. I think I’ve been a good customer. I’d like to stay with you, but I need my interest rate of my credit card to be lowered. Could you help me?”

Interest rate charges are the main hurdle that hinders you from paying off your credit card debt fast. Therefore the very first thing you should do in your attempt to reduce your credit card debt fast is to call each of your credit card company and negotiate a lower interest rate for each of your credit card.

Tell them that you have made up your mind to do credit card debt reduction and you have already sent some applications to other credit card companies that are offering a lower interest rate. You can tell them sincerely that you would stay with them only if they give you a lower interest rate.

Credit card companies are willing to negotiate the interest rates with you if you sincerely want to pay off your outstanding balance. Lower interest rates could mean that you can add the payment earmarked to settle the principal amount on your credit card bills.

Once you have successfully secured a lower interest rate for each of your credit card, pay your credit card debt persistently so that your debt is reduced and your monthly payment is also lower.

It’s easier to gain weight than to lose weight, likewise, it’s easier to get into debt than to get out of debt. It’s way too easy to accumulate debts than saving money to pay off the debts. But if you can follow the credit card debt reduction tips and ways on how to pay off your credit card debt with a little discipline, you will see your credit card debt reduction works.

To get the most from a new credit card your are going to own, know more about various types of credit cards first.

Let’s see the different types of credit cards before you pick the best new card that suits you and your lifestyle.

1. Low Interest Rate Credit Cards. Low interest rate credit cards suit credit card users who always carry a monthly outstanding balance on their credit cards. If you know you are one who will always carry a monthly balance, low interest rate credit card that has a low APR allows you to save hundreds of dollars on accumulated interest charges every month.

2. No Annual Fee Credit Cards. If you hate paying an annual fee for your credit service, then consider a no annual fee credit card. It also includes no annual balance transfer fee, as well as redeemable reward.

3. 0% APR Balance Transfer Credit Cards. If you are carrying an outstanding amount on one or a few credit cards, you can save money on interest rate charges by getting a 0% balance transfer credit card. Not only does consolidating your credit card debt into one card for free saves you money, it also saves time and hassle of making various payments.

4. Cash Back Reward Credit Cards. A cash back reward credit card allows you to accumulate points to a certain level where you will start receiving gifts. The rewards range from travel insurance to small home appliances and many other kind of things.

5. College Student Credit Cards. College student credit cards are for college students who want to build up their credit history.

6. Gas Rebate Credit Cards. With looming recession and increasing living costs, a gas rebate credit card helps save you some money by cutting down your gas expenses through gas rebates and rewards. Bonus points earned can be redeemed for free gas at most gas stations.

7. Airline Miles Credit Cards. An airline miles credit card is perfect for you if you are a frequent flyer on personal trips or business trips. Points earned can be redeemed for free flights or other travel-related services.

8. Bad Credit Credit Cards. If you have any kind of negative credit history you will probably be aware of the difficulty involved in getting a credit card. Luckily there are bad credit credit cards available now for people who suffer from bad credit history and want to build up a new credit history score.

Now I am sure you know what type of credit card to look for, you can start filling up a credit card application form now at the nearest credit card company or online.

Whether you owe hundreds or even thousands of credit card debt, it’s wise to get rid of it before it gets out of control. It’s better to walk around without carrying a ton of credit card debt. How I wish could walk around carrying only cash!

Speaking from my own experience, getting out of debt is a long, drawn out process. It takes months, even years to get out of debt but it can be done.

To get out of debt fast without filing bankruptcy, try this simple, yet practical credit card free debt reduction tip list. It’s workable if you stick to it diligently.

List Out the Outstanding Balance of Each Credit Card. Spread out your credit card statements and jot down how much you owe on each, and their respective interest rates.

You may organize your list of credit cards from highest interest rate down to the lowest, or from lowest debt amount to the highest.

Find Out the Minimum Payment on Each Credit Card. If you can’t afford to pay off all your high-interest debt at once, it’s fine. Settle the first credit card on your list, the one with highest interest fees on. Then move on to the second one.

While paying off the first card carrying the highest interest rate by paying as much as possible over the minimum, you must also continue to make minimum payments each month on the lower-rate cards.

Use Cash. If you have been in credit card debt long enough, you will agree with me that cash is king.

By following this simple yet practical credit card debt free reduction tip list, you can be rest-assured that your credit card debt won’t get out-of-hand. Eliminating needless debt also saves you money, lessens stress, and boosts your credit rating.

I am a work at home mom who was once loaded with $23,321 credit card debt!

If you are also one of the many people in deep credit card debt trying to pay off your credit card debt, there is hope! You can get out of debt by following the helpful tips that I have been using to pay down my staggering credit card debt from $23,321 to $13,632 in one and a half year.

1. Know Exactly How Much Credit Card You Owe. If you want to eliminate your credit card debt, you must know exactly how much debt you owe. Sit down, spread out all credit card statements and add up the outstanding balance of each card.

2. Cut Down on Credit Cards. Keep one or two where you have still got a bit of good standing and then shred or transfer the rest. You should not however, cancel any of your cards, as this will have an adverse effect on your credit rating.

3. Negotiate a Lower Interest Rate. Call the credit card companies and threaten them that you want to move the balance elsewhere if they do not offer you a lower fixed rate for the lifetime of the balance or just reduce the interest rate. Every credit card company will sacrifice something to get their outstanding back, therefore they will plan a good repayment deal for you.

Once your credit card interest rate is lowered, you pay less finance fees. Thus, a larger portion of your monthly payments will help reduce the outstanding balance.

4. Cut Your Expenses to Save Money. Examine areas in your household expenses where savings can be made. Use the money saved from the expenses to pay down your credit card debt. Even if you only pay an extra $50 a month along with your minimum payment due, you will be $50 less in debt.

5. Pay Extra Each Month on One Credit Card Debt. Start with the smallest debt and make a plan to pay it off. Once that balance is paid off, start on the next balance. Make the same minimum payment due plus the amount you used to pay off the other account. You will then repeat that process for any other debt you may have.

Getting out from tonnes of debt is a long process but it is possible. As long as you take one smart step at a time, you can pay down your credit card debt!