So many different choices for credit cards: 0% APR credit cards, travel rewards credit cards, 0% balance transfer credit cards, and cash back credit cards. Selecting the right card for the way you use your credit card can mean a big difference in your pocketbook. Use this quick guide to help you spot the differences in your credit card offers:
*Will you carry a balance every month or almost every month? If so, a lower interest rate is better for you. If you transfer a high balance credit card to a lower or 0% APR credit card (often an introductory period), you will save even more.
*Will you be paying the credit card balance off every month? Then you will want to apply for a credit card without an annual fee. Finance charges may be higher, but since you pay the balance off every month, you won’t be charged. Look for credit cards that offer grace periods, usually between 25 to 30 days, before credit interest begins.
*Will you be shopping for credit card balance transfer? Be sure to check out the transaction fees and the introductory periods. Occasionally your credit card company will offer you a credit card debt consolidation with convenience checks so that you can transfer one or more credit card balances, but be sure to check out the transfer guidelines.
*Will you need cash advances? Apply for a credit card that offers a lower APR and lower transaction fees. Be sure to read the fine print on their requirements. Some credit card companies impose a transaction fee and a cash advance fee plus the interest rate. Some credit cards charge a higher rate for cash advances than regular purchases.
*Will you be traveling frequently, and charging your trip expenses? If this is your situation, then a cash back credit card reward program may suit you best. Be sure to consider your interest rate first, however. Rewards should come secondary to your spending habits and the cost of the credit card itself. Cash rebate cards offer you a cash back refund at the end of the year that you can use anyway you choose. Other credit card reward programs offer purchase points or redeemable rebates. Airline credit cards offer you miles as credit for every dollar you spend, sometimes offering you double or triple miles.
Whatever credit card offer you apply for, be sure to carefully consider the terms of your credit card, including the interest rate (APR), annual fees, transaction fees and balance transfer fees. Those hidden charges can add up quickly and cost you more than what you bargained for, so choose your credit card wisely.
Copyright 2005 Ed Vegliante. You may freely reprint this article provided the resource box remains intact with a live link back to http://www.credit-card-surplus.com .
Ed Vegliante is the owner of http://www.credit-card-surplus.com , a well organized credit card directory enabling the user to compare and apply for a variety of credit credit card offers. Find links to secure online credit card applications.
Showing posts with label Apply Credit Card. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Apply Credit Card. Show all posts
Choosing Between Debit and Credit Cards
Cardholders make a lot of choices. First they must choose whether or not to apply for a card. Then they have to decide which card they want. Their choices include 0% interest cards, reward cards, charity cards, and so forth. But now there's another choice for cardholders to make: debit or credit? Which card suits your needs better? Is one payment method superior to the other?
Debit Cards
Debit cards are a convenient choice for everyday purchases. You swipe them at cash registers and gas pumps just as you would a credit card. Debit cards pull money straight from your bank account. There is no interest involved, and no monthly payments to worry about. If you tend to carry a balance on your credit cards from month to month, debit cards might be a good alternative.
Still, buyers should pay careful attention to their bank balances when using debit cards. Most debit cards won't be declined until you're overdrawn by hundreds of dollars, and each overdrawn transaction will cost you big.
Also, debit card users aren't subject to the same amount of purchaser protection that credit card users enjoy. For example, purchases made with credit cards can be reimbursed if the merchandise turns out to be shoddy. When you buy something with a debit card, you're pretty much stuck with the purchase unless you can get an old-fashioned refund from the seller.
Credit Cards
Credit cards offer variety, perks, and consumer protection. They also come with the temptation to make purchases now and pay for them months later. If you're not careful, it could even take years to pay off that family vacation or Christmas shopping spree! The number one rule for credit cards is this: Pay your balance in full every month. If you don't, interest rates and finance fees will inflate the cost of your purchases.
For those who pay off their monthly balances, credit cards are good financial tools that offer benefits not found with debit cards. For instance, some credit cards offer cash rebates for daily purchases like groceries and gas. Others help frequent travelers rack up free airline miles. Special-interest credit cards put money toward a variety of good causes, from college funds for children to veterinary care for pets. Still others donate a portion of all purchases to the charity of your choice.
Credit cards offer other bonuses as well. Many provide rental car insurance and roadside assistance. Their greatest benefit is the protection they offer against fraud. If someone uses your credit cards to make unauthorized purchases, you won't be liable for the costs. Also, if you purchase an item that turns out to be faulty, you can receive a reimbursement from the credit card company.
Are credit cards superior to debit cards, or vice versa? The answer depends on what kind of buyer you are, and what kind of perks you want. If you'd rather not deal with monthly payments, debit cards are a good choice. But if you want to build up your credit score and enjoy some rewards along the way, credit cards are your best bet.
Article Source:CreditorWeb.com
Debit Cards
Debit cards are a convenient choice for everyday purchases. You swipe them at cash registers and gas pumps just as you would a credit card. Debit cards pull money straight from your bank account. There is no interest involved, and no monthly payments to worry about. If you tend to carry a balance on your credit cards from month to month, debit cards might be a good alternative.
Still, buyers should pay careful attention to their bank balances when using debit cards. Most debit cards won't be declined until you're overdrawn by hundreds of dollars, and each overdrawn transaction will cost you big.
Also, debit card users aren't subject to the same amount of purchaser protection that credit card users enjoy. For example, purchases made with credit cards can be reimbursed if the merchandise turns out to be shoddy. When you buy something with a debit card, you're pretty much stuck with the purchase unless you can get an old-fashioned refund from the seller.
Credit Cards
Credit cards offer variety, perks, and consumer protection. They also come with the temptation to make purchases now and pay for them months later. If you're not careful, it could even take years to pay off that family vacation or Christmas shopping spree! The number one rule for credit cards is this: Pay your balance in full every month. If you don't, interest rates and finance fees will inflate the cost of your purchases.
For those who pay off their monthly balances, credit cards are good financial tools that offer benefits not found with debit cards. For instance, some credit cards offer cash rebates for daily purchases like groceries and gas. Others help frequent travelers rack up free airline miles. Special-interest credit cards put money toward a variety of good causes, from college funds for children to veterinary care for pets. Still others donate a portion of all purchases to the charity of your choice.
Credit cards offer other bonuses as well. Many provide rental car insurance and roadside assistance. Their greatest benefit is the protection they offer against fraud. If someone uses your credit cards to make unauthorized purchases, you won't be liable for the costs. Also, if you purchase an item that turns out to be faulty, you can receive a reimbursement from the credit card company.
Are credit cards superior to debit cards, or vice versa? The answer depends on what kind of buyer you are, and what kind of perks you want. If you'd rather not deal with monthly payments, debit cards are a good choice. But if you want to build up your credit score and enjoy some rewards along the way, credit cards are your best bet.
Article Source:CreditorWeb.com
Taking Responsibility For Your Credit Cards
In numerous cases, credit card companies issue cards to customers who may be deemed, risky. In many cases they do so at a higher interest rate. Some of these cards still have annual fee's and additional charges. Now, granted, customers should avoid these cards. However, some customers who want a credit card, will do what they have to in order to get one. So begins the snowball effect.
A customer, who probably could not afford a credit card at those terms in the first place, proceeds to max out the card, get immediately behind on their payments, the fee's begin to build, and that snowball continues to roll down the hill that did not have to be. Again, it is a shared responsibility. The credit card companies have to be aware of their risks and not issue credit cards for profit potential only. On the other hand, customers who take on credit cards, must accept the responsibility of owning up to their financial obligations.
There was once a time in our society where credit revolved around a simple hand shake. Those times have long since faded into obscurity. Why? For one thing, a hand shake was based on honor during a time when someone's "honor" actually used to mean something. Your hand shake was your bond, the reflection of you as someone who could be trusted. This was a reputation that was not taken lightly. Of course, honor does still exist, but it just seems to mean more to some than others. There are instances of course, where hard times just get the best of you and it has nothing at all to do with your honor- just your financial situation!
You end up taking on too much, and then you get buried in an ocean of credit related debt that continues to grow as you find it difficult to keep up with your payments. There is hope, though, and all does not have to be lost. You can still save your honor! You can climb out of the hole that you are in. Don't give up the ship without a good fight.
Here is how to take responsibility for your credit cards:
If you are going to take on credit cards, you should be prepared to take responsibility for them. Until you can get your financial situation under better control, at least make an effort to make the minimum payment due, before it's due. This will avoid the addition of late fees or increased interest rates that are often the result of a late payment to a credit card company.
Do not depend on your credit card as a bail out. Use it responsively. Call your credit card company and ask to have your interest rate lowered. Many times it will be in the credit card companies best interest to lower the rate, rather than simply inherit a delinquent account. Organize your finances. Know what you have coming in and what you owe out on a monthly basis. Take responsibility for your credit cards and they will take care of you by giving you access to credit when you need it.
Article Source: business credit card
Tips In Applying For Guaranteed Approval Credit Card
When applying for guaranteed approval credit cards for bad credit, the application process is usually done online. As the name suggests, these type of credit cards give instant approval and are especially designed for people who are suffering from bad credit. Perhaps you've received offers for instant approval bad credit cards from your e-mail. For those with bad credit, it is easy to get enticed by these offers. But before you go and sign up, check out these tips:
1. Don't make decisions hastily.
Don't be tempted with the first guaranteed approval offer that comes your way. Before you make any decisions to apply, be sure that you've checked all your options first and that you've chosen the one that best matches your needs. Take the time to compare between different guaranteed approval credit cards in the market. Check out their application procedures, rates, do they submit to the credit bureaus, will they give you a better rate after a period of time with good payment history.
2. Don't submit too many applications.
Don't send out several applications to different guaranteed approval credit cards at once. This will only damage your credit further. Too many inquiries on your credit report will have a negative impact on your rating. Even worse, if a lender looks at all the inquires and sees that no one approved you (no new credit lines from the inquiring lenders) they will deem you an even bigger credit risk.
3. Prepare a repayment plan.
If you do get approved, have you created a definite and effective repayment plan? Don't go into a situation unprepared. The important thing to remember as a credit card holder is to keep up with your bills regardless of the type of credit card you use. Will your monthly salary allow you to pay additional expenses or is it more practical to work on improving your credit first before getting a credit card?
4. Consider other options.
Aside from getting a bad credit credit card, another tool that can help you improve your credit score is to get a department store card or a gas station card. These cards are easier to obtain and work similar as a credit card. The difference is that you'll have to pay your balance by the end of the month and you're not allowed to carry over balances for the next billing cycle. Nevertheless, this requirement will help you keep expenses under control and keep your payments on time.
5. Be determined to pay off your balances completely.
If you're really decided on owning a bad credit credit card, be determined to keep up with your obligations to pay. Don't let anything keep you from submitting your payment on time. Avoid carrying over balances. Be consistently aware of your payment schedules.
6. Read before signing.
Again, take your time in reading every statement in your credit card's terms and conditions page. Make sure that you understand everything clearly. If you have questions, don't hesitate to call the bank and talk to representative. It is very important to be sure that there are no vague clauses or hidden charges in your card.
Article Source: guaranteed approval credit cards
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