Getting Your Bank To Bargain

ANCHOR LEAD IN:
IF IT SEEMS TOUGHER THAN EVER TO GET OUT FROM UNDER
YOUR CREDIT CARD DEBT - THERE'S GOOD REASON.
INTEREST RATES ON CARDS HAVE SKY-ROCKETED OVER THE
LAST COUPLE OF YEARS-LEAVING CARD HOLDERS WITH
MOUNTING DEBT.
BUT YOU MAY HAVE MORE POWER THAN YOU REALIZE TO CUT
YOUR INTEREST RATES -AND YOUR BILLS DOWN TO SIZE.
____ ____ REPORTS ON WHY NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO
BARGAIN FOR A BETTER DEAL.

TRACK ONE Length :07
UNTIL RECENTLY, RUSH KITTLE FELT POWERLESS OVER THE
RISING INTEREST RATES ON HIS CREDIT CARDS.
HE WAS AFRAID TO ASK FOR SOMETHING BETTER.

SOT
NO KEY
"I was worried about rejection. (smiles)"

TRACK TWO Length :07
BUT NOT ANYMORE.
WHEN RUSH LEARNED THAT BANKS ARE IN THE MOOD TO
BARGAIN THESE DAYS-HE SIMPLY PICKED UP THE PHONE AND
ASKED FOR A BREAK.

SOT
KEY @ :19 Rush Kittle, Card holder
"I just flat said that I thought the interest rate was too high. And I'd like
to get a lower interest rate, and… immediately the guy accommodated me."

TRACK THREE Length :11
DEBT SMART-DOT-COM FOUNDER SCOTT BILKER (BILL-ker)
SAYS THERE'S NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT TO PRESS FOR A
LOWER INTEREST RATE ON YOUR CREDIT CARDS.
FIERCE COMPETITION IS FORCING CARD ISSUERS TO
NEGOTIATE TO KEEP THEIR GOOD CUSTOMERS.

SOT
KEY @ :42 Scott Bilker Founder, DebtSmart.com
"The market is just saturated with credit cards and banks--the only way
they're going to get new customers is to steal them from other banks,
and they know that. It costs them about $300 in marketing to get a
good customer."

TRACK FOUR Length :08
BILKER, WHO'S WRITTEN A BOOK ON THE SUBJECT, SAYS YOU
NEED TO BE PERSISTENT WHEN YOU CALL.
IF THE FIRST PERSON CAN'T HELP YOU, INSIST ON SPEAKING
TO A SUPERVISOR.

SOT
KEY@ :59 Scott Bilker Founder, DebtSmart.com
"You can say, 'look, I've spent all this money, I've paid on time, I've
made you guys a lot of money. I want a better deal.'"

TRACK FIVE Length :08
BILKER SAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR ODDS-COME PREPARED
WITH 'OPTIONS.'
SHOP FOR CARDS WITH LOWER RATES, AND SAVE THOSE
'BALANCE TRANSFER' OFFERS YOU GET IN THE MAIL.

SOT
KEY@ 1:15 Scott Bilker Founder, DebtSmart.com
"You need a 'deal breaker.' That's what you're going to do if the bank
doesn't reduce your rate. You're either going to close your account, or
transfer your balance."

TRACK SIX Length :17
RUSH GOT A NINE-MONTH PROMOTIONAL RATE OF LESS THAN
TWO PERCENT.
…THAT'S DOWN FROM A RATE OF MORE THAN FOURTEEN
PERCENT BEFORE HE MADE THE CALL…. A SAVINGS OF ABOUT
100 BUCKS A MONTH IN FINANCE CHARGES.
IN NINE MONTHS, HE SAYS HE'LL CALL AND PRESS THEM AGAIN
FOR ANOTHER DEAL.
AND HE'S NOT STOPPING THERE…

SOT
NO KEY
"It's given me the courage to call other credit card companies, which I'm
going to do."

ANCHOR TAG
BILKER SAYS NO BANK IS GOING TO ADVERTISE THAT THEY'RE
WILLING TO DO THIS - SO YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE INTIATIVE TO
MAKE THE CALL TO LOWER YOUR RATES.
THOSE WITH DECENT CREDIT WHO PAY ON TIME AND CARRY A
BALANCE HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF GETTING THEIR RATES
LOWERED.
BUT EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE PERFECT CREDIT, OR A PERFECT
PAYMENT RECORD, THE BANKS MAY STILL WORK WITH YOU…
SOMETIMES BY LOWERING YOUR INTEREST RATE A MODEST
AMOUNT, OR WAIVING FEES.

SOURCE LIST
This information may be posted on your website at the bottom of the NewsProNet script if your station has an extended license that includes your Web property.

Scott Bilker
Founder, DebtSmart.com
Barnegat, N.J.

Scott Bilker created DebtSmart.com, and has authored several books,
including "Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt." Bilker has spent ten
years making banks compete for his business. His credit card advice
has appeared in Money Magazine, Smart Money, The Wall Street
Journal, Newsweek, and other sources.

Rush Kittle
Card holder
Burleson, TX.

Mr. Kittle found Bilker's web site, SmartDebt.com, and began
employing some of his advice from his book. He says the advice will
save him thousands in interest payments over time.

ADDITIONAL SOURCE INFORMATION
FOR CLIENT-STATION USE ONLY
The additional information provided below is for client-station use only. This
private contact information cannot be given to viewers nor posted on your Website. It is for internal station use only. It is provided to help you obtain answers to any additional questions you may have and to help you localize a story. Thank you.

Scott Bilker
Founder, DebtSmart.com
7 Driftwood Court
Barnegat, N.J.
08005
(609)660-0682

Rush Kittle
Card holder
6804 County Rd. 527
Burleson, TX
76028
(817)426-0401

EXTRA BACKGROUND

Sources: DebtSmart.com

Synergistics Research Corporation
September, 2006
> Last year, five billion credit card offers were mailed to
consumers.
> In a survey by Synergistics Research Corporation, one-third of
card users reported that they, at some point asked to have their
interest rate lowered. Just over three-fourths reported they were
successful. About one-tenth did not get a lower rate and
cancelled their card.

Additional Web Sites:
http://www.DebtSmart.com
http://www.cardratings.com
http://www.bankrate.com