March 2, 2008

Compare Credit Cards and Save

Purchasing things with the use of credit cards is a more convenient way than purchasing with actual money. You do not need to carry around actual money, especially large purchases for home appliances and furniture.

You need to present a small plastic card, which the merchant will swipe on a machine when you are done. You purchased your item by just using a small plastic card. Credit cards are also useful in emergencies that require payment instantly.

Credit card is a type of loan that you can pay every month. Many people have been using credit cards to purchase items because of its convenience and efficiency. Credit cards decrease the chance of getting your money stolen or lost.

Imagine walking on a hurry on a crowded street with money on your pocket and suddenly your phone rings, you then get your phone out of your pocket along with your money. Credit cards avoid these accidents.

To apply for a credit card, you first have to have a good credit history; this is possible by loaning a small amount of money in a bank. Pay the loan on the due date and you will have a good credit.

By having a good credit, credit card issuers will consider to give you a credit card. Also, make sure that the credit card issuer you plan to get your card is one who you trust and has a good reputation.

There are many credit card issuers available today. If you are getting a credit card for the first time, it is usually very difficult to understand how it works and what to choose. This can lead you to decide negatively on choosing a credit card issuer and may lead you to huge debts to pay.

To avoid this, compile a list of credit cards in which you are interested on getting and compare the pros and cons of each one.

A reward card is beneficial for you if you pay the total amount of bill every month. This credit cards offer cash backs and some have air miles that you can accumulate and can benefit you if you are a traveler.

Another type of credit card is credit cards that offer no balance transfer deal. This is very beneficial for people who already have credit cards and want to transfer to another service.

This is because you can transfer your current balance to your new credit card with no interest added. Keep in mind that this is only good for a period. Choose zero interest deal that offers enough time for you to pay off your previous balance. It is also wise that you find out how much the interest rate is after the introductory period.

Some companies offer zero interest rate for an introductory period but have high interest rates after the period.

Having a poor credit history is not a problem. Some people are worried they will not obtain credit cards because of their poor credit history. There are companies that offer no credit cards.

They will usually give you a secured credit card. This works by you depositing money on a special savings account as insurance for the credit card issuer that you can pay back your debt. The secured credit card issued to you will usually have a limit similar to how much you deposited in the special savings account.

However, secured credit cards usually charge a higher rate than those of regular cards. You also have the chance to apply for a regular credit card if you pay your monthly bills in your secured credit cards on time for a few months.

Choosing the right credit card for you can avoid having to pay large amount of debts. Always remember that do not apply for a credit card if you cannot afford pay the monthly payments.

Some people carelessly use credit cards and often results in large debts, so be sure that you can handle the responsibility of owning a credit card.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Credit Cards. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Compare Credit Cards.

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January 30, 2008

Credit Repair After Bankruptcy: Your Options

When it comes to credit repair after bankruptcy you have essentially three options:

1) Hire a credit repair company

2) Buy credit repair software

3) Do it yourself (free!)

Before we go further, for the purpose of this article “credit repair” means the removal of any inaccurate or obsolete negative information from your credit report - not the removal of accurate non-obsolete negative information from your credit report.

Okay, now that we’ve defined “credit repair”, let’s look at each of the three credit repair options in more detail:

1) Hire a credit repair agency.

You can hire a credit repair company, which usually costs a few hundred dollars or more. The advantage here is it saves you some time.

The downside to hiring a credit repair company is that it can be expensive as mentioned above, costing a few hundred dollars or more.

If you do decide to hire a credit repair company, choose one very carefully. Stay away from credit repair companies promising to delete accurate non-obsolete negative items from your credit report.

Why? Because even if the credit repair company gets lucky and does manage to remove any accurate non-obsolete negative items from your credit report it may only be temporary - the credit reporting agencies update their files on a regular basis, so any accurate non-obsolete negative item that was removed from your credit report can re-appear again in the future.

While we’re on the topic of “non-obsolete” versus “obsolete” negative information on your credit report, let’s look at how long negative information can remain on your credit report: Most negative items can remain on your credit report for up to seven years from the date they were included in your bankruptcy. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy can remain on your credit report for ten years from the date it was filed, while a Chapter 13 can remain on your report for seven years from the date it was filed.

2) Buy credit repair software

There are a number of credit repair software programs on the market today. This option is typically less expensive than a credit repair company because you are doing the work. It also saves you time from having to compose your own letters.

Here’s how most credit repair software works: You load it onto your computer, fill in the blanks with your information, and then print out the customized dispute letters the software creates.

The risk you run here is that the credit reporting agency may not investigate the dispute and respond by saying they believe your dispute is “frivolous and irrelevant”. Why? Because when they see any sort of form letter they may think you are using a credit repair company.

3) Do it yourself

This is usually your best option, and it’s free. You just need to know exactly what to do when it comes to credit repair. You can start by visiting each major credit reporting agency’s website and reading their instructions on how to dispute any inaccurate or obsolete negative information on your credit report. The three major credit reporting agencies are: Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union.

In addition, you can also pick up a book on credit repair. One word of warning though: Some books and courses encourage you to do illegal things: For example, creating a “new” identity. Stay away from these! Others are excellent resources when it comes to showing you how to remove inaccurate or obsolete negative items from your credit report.

If you have discharged or dismissed bankruptcy and want to repair your credit, there are some specific steps you need to take. I have seen very few credit repair books that even mention them. In After Bankruptcy Credit Solutions, I go into detail on each one.

For example, if you are applying for a home loan after bankruptcy, any inaccurate or obsolete negative information on your credit report can cost you thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in extra interest - if it doesn’t prevent you from qualifying for a loan. There is a way that you can get these negative items on your credit report removed or updated in as little as 48 hours!

So now you know what options you have when it comes to credit repair. Bottom line: Doing it yourself is usually the best, and most inexpensive, option when it comes to credit repair after bankruptcy. It just takes an investment of time on your part - but it can be well worth the effort.

Remember, if you have a discharged or dismissed bankruptcy on your credit report there are some specific steps you need to take when it comes to credit repair. Keep this in mind if you choose the “do it yourself” option and plan to shop for a book on credit repair.

Copyright (c) 2006 Innovative Solutions Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

The company and product/service names referenced in this article are the trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. None of the owners have sponsored or endorsed this article.

DISCLAIMER:

This information is designed to provide only a general overview of the subject matter herein.

This information is provided with the understanding that neither the publisher nor author is engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional advice. If legal or other expert assistance is required, the services of a professional should be sought.

Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss or damages, including but not limited to special, consequential, incidental or other damages, caused by the information contained herein.

R. Lawrence Anderson is author of After Bankruptcy Credit Solutions, which shows individuals how to qualify for credit and loans after bankruptcy. For details visit: www.bankruptcy-credit-solutions.com

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January 24, 2008

Citibank Online Credit Card - Why Should You Pick the Most Popular?

You must decide on what appeals to you the most in the choices that you find available. Are you confused a lot of times searching around and not being able to make a decision on which card is most beneficial to you?

If you are like most consumers on the internet today, it can be an all out battle. You must remember that all is not lost.

Do you believe a well formatted design with excellent visual content can help you make the right decision?
I bet you can and I will show you how and why in just a minute.

So why would Citibank be the most popular?

Here’s just a couple of reasons why.

A Citibank credit card can be different things to different people. They offer a reward program that most people find appealing. There are several types of reward cards available.

The Thank You Redemptions Network credit card offers a way for users to spend money at select merchants and receive points for each dollar they spend. These points can in turn be used as dollars at a long list of retailers, travel companies, and entertainment venues. The more points you accumulate, the higher dollar amount you can use at the retail partners. You can also set up your own list of favorite shopping venues to spend you points with your online credit card.

Another Citibank credit card available is great for anyone who likes to have some money set aside at the end of the year. The cash back program they offer is a generous one. You get 5% cash back for every purchase you make at grocery stores, drug stores, or gas stations. That’s a great way to save money on your everyday purchases and have some money waiting for you at the end of the year for that last minute holiday shopping.

One popular option, especially for business owners, is the AAdvantage card. This low rate credit card gives you the ability to earn miles on American Airlines for every dollar you spend with your card. As the miles add up, you earn tickets to places all over the world. Think of what a bonus it would be to have your air travel paid for simply by doing your shopping with your credit card.

For families with children on their way to college, the UPromise low rate credit card offers you college savings for the money you spend. You get 1% on most purchases that is collected for you and set aside for a college fund. You also get 2% on gas station purchases and up to 10% on drug store and grocery store purchases. This savings is a great way to earn money for college by doing what you always do: spend money for every day needs.

The car rebate card is a great idea for people who do a lot of driving and take pride in their car care. You get rebates for the distance you travel and the money you spend along the way. You can use the rebates for a rental car, a down payment or discount on a new car, or on car repairs or maintenance.
Citibank also offers an online credit card intended for college students. Students can qualify for a cash back card or a car rebate card to help them get started in the world and save money.

Plus more reasons can be found at http://www.findcardsnow.com/issuers/citibank
where you can apply quickly online for the card of your choice.

Sean Mullan is a freelance writer for a number of web sites offering an in-depth look into consumer’s areas of interest throughout the web.

One of his sites FindCardsNow.com is popular because of its easy design layout and visual content of the most important facts to help your decision.

Your best option is to look at http://www.findcardsnow.com/issuers/citibank, where you will find access to all that Citibank has to offer in lines of credit.

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January 18, 2008

Convenience Can Be Costly

You’ve just opened your credit card bill and attached to your statement you find a “convenience check” included. It may already be filled out with a dollar amount such as $300, $500, or even $1,000. Your mind fills with ideas of what you could buy with this “instant” money. A new summer wardrobe, a nice dinner and tickets to a concert, a weekend getaway.

But before you go off on a shopping spree, you should be aware that your “convenience check” is nothing more than a cash advance on your credit card. Cash advances on credit cards carry many extra fees, often overlooked or misunderstood by consumers.

Here’s a quick look at the types of fees most card issuers charge for a cash advance:

1) Upfront fee of 2-4% of the amount advanced. On a $1,000 cash advance your fee will range from $20-$40 in addition to the interest charges.

2) Higher interest rate than on purchases. Many credit card companies charge 18% or more on cash advances. In addition, most companies apply only a small percentage of your monthly minimum payment toward the cash advance.

Some require that you pay down the balance on your purchases first before applying payments to the higher-interest advance. In other words, you’ll be paying fees and interest on your cash advance for a long time, especially if you only pay the minimum payment.

3) Cash advances normally carry no grace period. This means interest charges accrue as soon as you withdraw money or cash the convenience check.

By law your credit card company must disclose any fees associated with a cash advance. The easiest way to find out what fees are charged is to carefully read your credit card statement or to call your credit issuer’s toll-free customer service number and ask questions.

Credit card companies charge these fees for two main reasons. One, to cover the costs to process this transaction which are often higher than a regular credit card purchase. And secondly because of the percentage of defaults among credit advance users. These costs are then passed along to you the consumer in the fees and interest rates associated with a cash advance.

The next time you are tempted to cash that convenience check or withdraw money from an ATM using your credit card, be sure you understand the fees and long term effects of using a credit card cash advance.

© 2004, www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com
Author: James H. Dimmitt - James is editor of “TO YOUR CREDIT”, a weekly free newsletter. Subscribe to the newsletter by visiting
http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com.

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January 12, 2008

7 Consumer Credit Laws You Should Know if You are Trying to Repair Your Credit

There are seven consumer credit laws you should be aware when dealing with your credit.

1. The Truth in Lending Act

The customer had to be told the true cost of borrowing, so they could figure out exactly what the charges would be. You must be informed, in writing of the finance charge and the APR before you sign any contract. Also, you need to be informed of the method they are going to use to calculate the balance on which you pay a finance charge.

This Act gives you a chance to change your mind when you use your home as security in a transaction. The first 3 day right of rescission gives you 3 business days to cancel the transaction and the creditor must give you this notice prior to the transaction.

2. The Fair Credit Reporting Act

Check other bonus material for your rights.
Basically this act regulates the activities of credit reporting agencies or credit bureaus and gives the FTC responsibility for enforcement.

3. The Fair Credit Billing Act

This law establishes procedures requiring creditors to promptly correct billing errors, and allows the consumer to withhold payment on damage goods, and makes creditors promptly credit your payments.

4. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

This act establishes the guidelines for collectors to follow. They may not contact you at unreasonable times or places. Unless agree, they must not contact you before 8 am or after 9 pm, nor at your place of employment. You must receive a written explanation of your supposed debt and what to do if you feel you do not owe the money.

5. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act

This Law prohibits discrimination in the granting of credit of any form due to sex, marital status, race, religion or age.

6. The Electronic Funds Transfer Act

This act gives protection in all stages of modern banking techniques such ATM, telephone transfers, computer transactions, etc. Its limits for the first time consumers’ liability for lost or unauthorized use of debit or electronic cards are similar to those in place for credit cards.

Notifying the bank within 2 days, your maximum liability is $50. If you miss that timeframe, you could be liable up to $500 in charges. After 60 days, you’ll be liable for the entire amount.

7. The Credit Repair Organization Act

This law states that the credit repair organizations could not make a statement that was misleading. They were prohibited from advising their clients to make a misleading or untrue statement to a credit bureau.

This law gives the consumer 3 day right of cancellation, which needs to be on the contract and must direct you on how to cancel. The document must detail the services that will be provided, guarantees, time frame for service and cost for the consumer.

Copyright © 2005 ExcellentCreditNow.com - All Rights Reserved

Carmen Shearer is the President and CEO of S&S Financial Solutions. She has worked in the finance arena for over 10 years and holds two engineering degrees and an MBA from a branch of Harvard Business School. S&S Financial Solutions offers you credit repair tools, debt elimintation programs and personal financial information with a 90 days guarantee. For more credit related information go to: http://www.excellentcreditnow.com
or for how to eliminate your debt go to http://www.excellentcreditnow.com/NoMoreDebt.com

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December 25, 2007

Do You Want to Get a New Credit Card at a Great Rate?

1) Do your homework. Applying for and getting approved for a credit card is nothing more than legwork. Credit card contracts can sometimes contain onerous terms that might make you sorry that you signed up for the new card that you did. Read the fine print carefully. If a deal looks to good to be true, it just might be. Credit cards can be a great way to finance your purchases, but make sure it’s not at such an expense that you end up paying for a long time afterward.

2) Read about the APR. The APR stands for “annual percentage rate”. Yes, the APR of a credit card is important no matter what people tell you. A low APR for a credit card is more critical than you think. When you sign up for your new card, you probably are thinking that “hey, all I never miss a payment so who cares what the APR is?” The fact of the matter is, expenses come up. Unexpected expenses that you have to pay for no matter what. If your credit card’s APR is low and when those expenses arise, you will be in a better financial position when you pay it off. You would rather pay off your a credit card’s 4% on $1000 than 15% on $1000. This can make a world of difference.

3) Compare offers. Not all credit card offers are made the same. All credit cards that you see will appear to be physically similar (made out of plastic), but these credit cards can often be worlds apart. Some offer reward points, sky miles, cash back, and bonus dividends, while most offer nothing at all. If you are going to pick a card, make sure you get the most out of it you can. Finding out later that you could have had 50,000 Sky miles when you actually got none can be quite a surprise. Compare offers, compare banks, and get the best credit card deal you can.

This article may be freely reproduced and distributed as long it is not altered and the link below is kept live.

Want to learn about credit cards? Visit http://www.thecreditcardlistings.com today.

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November 15, 2007

Credit Restoration: Do’s and Don’ts

Credit restoration can be frustrating and time-consuming. Many experts say that only time and patience will improve a bad credit history and this is true to a certain extent. But, this does not mean that time alone will correct anything. Nor does it mean that credit restoration is a waste of time or money. If done properly it can be effective. However, you should be careful what programs or services you buy.

The first thing to do for any credit restoration program is visit www.annualcreditreport.com. This website was created by the three major credit bureaus, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax, in response to a law enacted in 2005. Here you can view and print copies of your credit reports at no charge. Your bad credit history may not be as bad as you think. Even people with good credit should look at their credit reports on a yearly basis, due to the prevalence of identity theft in the United States. According to a survey sponsored by the Federal Trade Commission, nearly 10 million people were victims of identity theft in 2003 alone. So, if you have a bad credit history, tell your friends with good credit to keep an eye on their credit reports.

Most credit restoration processes involve disputing information that has been reported to the credit bureaus over the years. You can dispute information that you believe is inaccurate, unverifiable, misleading or obsolete. Depending on the amount of bad credit history items reported, this alone may seem overwhelming. Unverifiable simply means that the credit bureau, upon investigating your dispute, cannot verify a reported item. Get the item removed and you are one step closer to credit restoration.

In some cases, credit restoration may involve negotiating with past creditors to remove negative information. They may do this because the information is inaccurate, outdated or because you have become a good customer and it is not in their best interest to continue to report the negative item. People with a so-called bad credit history may be totally unaware of what information has been reported to the credit bureaus over the years, until they view their credit reports. Anytime that a negative item can be removed or inaccurate information can be corrected, your overall credit score will go up.

Legal credit restoration does not involve applying for an employer identification number, using a different social security number or making false statements on credit applications. Debts must be paid or the bad credit history will haunt you for years.

If you are considering a credit restoration kit, software program or book, find out exactly what is included, before you buy it. There must be a lot of people with a bad credit history, because there are a lot of products on the market which target them. Most do-it-yourself programs contain advice and information that you can find for free, if you take the time to look. If you do not have the time to look for free information, then the best advice may be to hire someone to do the work for you. Many people have failed to achieve credit restoration, because they gave up. It is hard to find the time to do the research, write a lot of letters and talk to past creditors, when you are working full time, commuting and trying to have some time with the family. This is why the credit restoration law firms have become so popular in the past several years. Many of us have the desire to correct bad credit history, but neither the time nor patience to do it on our own.

Some experts say that we should not pay someone to do something for us that we can do ourselves. But, we pay people to mow the grass, cook our dinner, wash our cars, etc. Why shouldn’t we pay someone to help with a frustrating process like credit restoration?

For more tips and advice about do-it-yourself credit restoration, visit Credit Fix Solutions at http://creditfixnow.blogspot.com

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October 15, 2007

Establishing Credit - Strategies and Guidelines

Establishing Credit may seem like a daunting task to a young person, but a good strategy can help take some of the sting out of the process.

Start by opening a checking and savings account in your name. This alone will not establish credit, but it will get you on the map and provide much needed credibility with financial and lending institutions. Keep accurate records of your checking account balance and make sure to never overdraw on your account. Bouncing a check will send up red flags with potential creditors and diminish the likelyhood of establishing credit. Good credit that is.

With a limited credit history you probably won’t qualify for a major credit card yet. Therefore you may want to consider opening a charge account with a large oil company (e.g. Exxon, Chevron, Mobil, Texaco) or a local department store (as long as the store reports to the three major reporting agencies). In general, oil companies and department stores do not impose the rigorous standards of performance as do the major credit card companies. So obtaining one of these cards will be much easier in the beginning.

Another step you can take in establishing credit is to put one or more of the household utilities in your name and pay the bill on time each and every month. Your responsible payment history will be collected by the three major credit reporting agencies
(Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) which will help you establish a good credit rating.

Points to Remember When Applying for and Using a Credit Card:

  • Credit cards are not a source of free money - misuse can damage your credit.
  • Make sure you understand the “Terms and Conditions” of the card including due dates, interest rates, fees and grace periods before applying.
  • Keep monthly charges manageable - don’t go overboard on your spending
  • Don’t over do it by getting numerous credit cards
  • Pay the amount in full each month.
  • And always pay your bills on time

    By following the simple guidelines above, you will eventually prove your credibility. And in doing so, will qualify you for an extended line of credit.

    Undoubtably, establishing credit is a process whereby you have to prove to creditors that you are a resposible consumer, have all of your financial affairs in order and you can pay your bills on time.

    About the Author:
    Randy Savage is the owner and webmaster of http://www.the-best-of-credit-cards.com where consumers can easily compare credit card offers. Students can browse through cards at http://www.the-best-of-credit-cards.com/student-credit-cards.html.

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  • October 3, 2007

    How To Improve A Low Credit Score

    If your credit score is below 700, you may not qualify for some of the best interest rates on credit cards, loans or mortgages. This means that just by having a credit score of 695, instead of 725 (just an example), you may end up paying thousands more in interest on any new credit you are granted, which you can avoid by just taking some simple steps to increase your credit score before applying for a new personal loan, auto loan or mortgage. It is widely believed that a credit score of 720 or higher is ideal.

    How to improve a low Credit Score

    If you have a recent bankruptcy on file, repossession, foreclosure, missed or late payments… it will take time to bring your credit score back up after such a blow. If you are in this position, in the mean time just be sure to borrow “within your means” (although you may have trouble getting approved for any new credit) and don’t overextend yourself. Keep paying your bills on time, and you will be back on the road to raising your credit score.

    If you pay your bills on time, don’t have a recent bankruptcy on your record, and don’t have any missed payments or collections on file, look at your credit card balances. Normally you will want to keep your debt-to-credit limit ratio, on your credit card accounts, below 25%. If you owe more than 25% of your total credit limit on your credit cards, consider paying them down.

    Example: if you have a credit card with total credit line of $10,000, and you have a balance of $2,500 on the card, you would owe 25% of your total credit line on that card.

    Also keep in mind that even if you pay your credit card balance off each month, it still may be reported to the credit bureaus that you are carrying a balance on that card. It depends on what time of the month your credit card issuer reports to the credit bureaus, they will list whatever your balance is on the day they report it. However, most (if not all) lending institutions are aware of this, so this is generally not something to worry about.

    Too many open credit card accounts

    Also, too many open credit card accounts can be a bad thing. But, if you already have several open credit card accounts in good standing, don’t cancel them, the added “good” credit history can help your credit score. If you find that you have way too many open credit card accounts and you have decided to cancel some of them, be sure to cancel the most recently opened accounts. Keep the oldest accounts open. Normally the longer your payment history on an account, the better your credit score will be.

    Try not to open any new credit card accounts that aren’t necessary. Generally when you open a new credit account, it will lower your credit score slightly, at least for a short period of time.

    How you manage your “revolving credit” (credit card accounts) is a big factor in determing your credit score.

    Newly Opened Credit Accounts

    Usually your credit score will take a slight hit from newly opened credit accounts such as credit cards, auto loans, or mortgages. How many points your score will decrease depends on how many times you have applied for credit in recent months.

    However, this decrease is only temporary, your score should rise again after several more months of making your payments on time. Normally this is not something to worry about, unless you have submitted many applications for new credit in a short period of time. That may indicate to credit issuers that you are beginning to overextend yourself (applying for too much credit), or that you are being denied credit and you keep trying other lenders hoping for a different result.

    Short Credit History?

    If you have a very short credit history (length of time you have been using your credit), that can also be a reason as to why you have a low credit score. Keep paying your bills on time and follow good overall credit management, and rest assured - with time - your score will rise!

    No Credit History?

    If you have absolutely no credit history, your credit score will most likely be low to start with. You can get started by applying for a credit card in an attempt to establish your credit history, or if you are trying to obtain an auto loan, but haven’t had any luck getting approved because of a short credit history (or no credit history), you can ask someone you trust to help you by co-signing on a loan with you.

    These are just 2 of the ways you can start establishing your credit, but probably the 2 most common ways. When you are approved for your first credit account, be sure to pay your bill(s) on time, and you will be on your way to a better credit score!

    Jake Rustenhoven is the webmaster of Freebie Credit Report, a site dedicated to providing useful information on different credit report related topics.

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    September 22, 2007

    How To Use Your Credit Cards Wisely

    Are you one of the thousands pulling your hair out trying to figure out how you’re going to pay your credit card bills? Using your credit cards wisely and sensibly will help you avoid financial problems and establish a strong credit rating, so here’s some information to help you get your credit card problems under control.

    Credit cards are convenient for buying things now and paying later. Credit card companies are in business to make money. Don’t forget that every time you use your credit card you are borrowing money. You will pay a finance charge if you don’t pay off your balance each month.

    Millions of people use credit cards to avoid carrying large amounts of cash, for emergencies, to track spending, etc. However, charging more than your income allows can be worrisome and potentially devastating to your finances and your credit rating. The pitfalls of credit card use are the accumulation of large amounts of debt and the inability to make more than the minimum monthly payment.

    It’s important to look out for your own interests. Some credit card companies have lowered minimum monthly payments to less than two percent of the balance. It could take 30 years or more to pay off your credit cards if you pay only the minimum payment. Debit cards should not be confused with credit cards. There is no credit extended with a debit card. The money is deducted directly from your savings or checking account. The bottom line is don’t spend more than you can afford to pay on a monthly basis.

    Limit the number of credit card applications you fill out. There will be an inquiry into your credit report for each application you submit. Your credit report contains a record of every company or institution that has evaluated your credit. It reflects negatively on your credit score if you have an inquiry that does not lead to the issuance of a credit card. Obtaining too many credit cards can affect your ability to finance other purchases as well, such as homes or automobiles. Too much available credit can cause suspicion in the eyes of a lender as to your ability to repay your potential debt.

    Consider what you are looking for in a credit card such as the interest rate, annual fee, grace period, and credit line. Be wary of companies offering cards with a low introductory interest rate that often lasts for only a brief period of time, after which they become considerably higher. The average interest rate for credit cards is over fifteen percent. Choose a credit card with no annual fee. Credit card issuers are paid a percentage from the vendor each time you make a purchase. Many companies have waived the annual fee to attract customers. Avoid cards offering a high credit limit. There is great potential to overspend. Instead, pay down your balance before using your card to make additional purchases. Send in your payment well ahead of the due date. Issuers may charge late fees, and late payments could result in a considerably higher interest rate than the advertised rate.

    So the bottom line is by using your credit cards wisely you can reduce adverse effects of credit cards and maximize the benefits by spending wisely, using self-discipline, and paying off your balance as quickly as possible to avoid unnecessary fees.

    About The Author

    © Noel Hynes is the owner of http://1st-for-credit-cards.com. Easy online credit card applications.

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