[rpoz-29]

In October, I sold some parts for around $1300.00, and the fees were $63.94. In December, I sold a Go-Kart for $525.00. The listing fees were $8.35, and today I get an invoice for $100.00. Do they have a yearly member's fee of some sort? According to their figures, the selling fees should have been about $27.00. A hundred dollars is such a random amount, I can't figure out what it is. I've already checked, and it isn't spam. Just seems odd. Any ideas, or similiar issues?

[00 Trans Ram]

Here are 2 things that weigh into the "credit card" conversation:

1) I lost my debit card and went to the bank to get another. No big deal. However, the guy that helped us gave us some previously-unknown advice. He said to ALWAYS use the debit card as a "credit" card when possible. When the cashier/gas pump/etc. asks, "Credit or debit" - say credit. Why? Because of what happens if your card is stolen. If it's stolen from you by someone who also gets your PIN, then YOU are liable for all charges (legally speaking; your bank may be more forgiving). If you use it as a debit all the time, it's much easier for them to learn your PIN just by looking over your shoulder. But, if they use your card as a "credit" card, you are not liable for the charges.

2) Don't close out credit cards or "consolodate" your credit. We went to purchase a car a few years back. They had 0% financing with good credit. They ran my credit, and I got a score of 825. Didn't make the purchase that day. A few weeks later, my wife and I went throught our credit cards and got rid of a half-dozen. Transferred balances and cancelled the cards. Negotiated the rates down on the few cards we had, because the balances would be larger. Ended up saving us about $250 per month or so. Went back to purchase a car a few months later. They ran our credit, and we had a 650.

Why? The credit reporting agencies cannot tell if you close a card, or if it is closed ON you. They also look at balances. If you have multiple cards with small balances, they figure you can handle the responsibility without going crazy. But, if they see a few cards with high balances, they figure you can't be trusted with credit.

Anyway, sometimes credit cards can be good. If you have discipline and make payments, you get a better score than if you don't have the cards at all.