Archive for the ‘credit card’ Category

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A 0 balance transfer credit card may seem like the solution to your credit card woes. However, before you jump in with both feet there are some things you need to watch out for. Remember that saying “if it looks too good to be true…”? There’s a reason so many people say it. Make sure you don’t fall for these 3 common pitfalls when looking for a 0 balance transfer credit card.

1. You Want Me To Pay What?

A 0 balance transfer credit card can seem like a wonderful opportunity — until you read the fine print, that is. Some balance transfer credit cards want you to pay a free to transfer your balances over to them. Sometimes this fee can be as much as 3 or 4 percent.

If you have a $5,000 balance and you’re being charged a 3-percent balance transfer fee, that 0 balance transfer credit card is going to cost you $150. Since some balance transfer credit cards don’t charge a fee at all, that fee may be hard to swallow.

2. Let Us Abuse You Yearly

If you have good credit, you should never pay an annual fee for a credit card. Even if it is a 0 balance transfer credit card.

There are plenty of credit cards out there that don’t charge any annual fee at all. Why should you pay $30 or $40 a year for a card when you can get the same thing for free somewhere else.

If you’re not careful, a 0 balance transfer credit card can nickel and dime you right out of your savings. Don’t end up paying more for that 0 percent than you would with a fixed-rate low-interest card.

3. Look How High I Can Jump

A 0 balance transfer credit card is not a fixed rate card. Your interest is going to go up at some point in time. Just how high it goes is the question.

Some balance transfer credit cards entice you with a 0-percent introductory offer, jumping up to more than 20 percent when the “real” real rate kicks in. If you have good credit, that’s no deal at all.

Before you apply for any 0 balance transfer credit card, make sure you know exactly how long that 0 rate lasts for and how much it’s going to go up to when the introductory period is over.

Balance transfer credit cards can indeed be a credit card user’s best friend. They can also be your worst nightmare. Make sure you avoid the above mistakes and find a 0 balance transfer credit card that’s truly right for you.

Max Anderson
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/3-things-you-need-to-consider-before-taking-that-0-balance-transfer-credit-card-offer-276304.html

A balance transfer credit card aids in consolidating credit card debt and sometimes can also be a way of steering clear of the burden of debt. You will find as you are searching through all those credit card company offers you receive all the time that they are now offering balance transfers in a variety of ways. You will also notice they all these credit card companies are all competing for your business so the incentives are becoming more and more appealing all the time especially when it comes to credit card balance transfer offers.

The dream of most Americans is to have an interest free credit card all the time, not only during an introductory special. There are a few rules that you can use to ensure that you get the most out of a balance transfer.

Pay close attention to any balance transfer offers that you may find. They change all the time and you do not want to apply after they are no longer offering this special deal on Balance Transfers.

Watch that your credit card balance transfers are completed on time without any overlapping time from one credit card to another. You will find yourself paying a lot more in interest charges. When you are responding to banks and credit card companies by mail, remember to take in consideration the delay that normally happens with mail. The company must have time to receive your correspondence and then reply to you.

Are you going to have a balance transfer to a store card or a major credit card? You should pay attention to the APR on the credit card that you plan to place your balance transfer. Many store cards have a higher APR than major credit cards; choose a credit card for your balance transfer that has a low APR. The way in which you handle your credit card balance transfer can be practical and expedient, and can be a great way in which to evade extra credit card debt.

Always read the fine print. If you are applying for a 0 APR credit card then that is what you should be receiving, make sure the 0% includes your balance transfer and the length of time you have before the APR changes.

Do not apply with any company that you do not trust. You should be able to understand their terms and conditions, their rules regarding balance transfers, etc… If you have never heard of the company do your own investigating, never feel pressured to applying because you are afraid of missing a good thing, you may be in fact saving yourself some heartache and financial drawbacks.

Find out as much as you can about the company that you are applying with, are they quick with balance transfers and do they respond quickly with answers to your questions and information regarding your account.

Robert Alan
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/balance-transfer-credit-card-rules-24704.html

Think you’re ready for a Visa student credit card? Most students assume they are without giving the matter very much thought. If this describes you, then you might be biting off more than you can chew. Before you jump into the world of credit cards with both feet blind, make sure you ask yourself these three important questions…

1. Who’s Tab Is It?

First and foremost, before you decide whether or not you’re ready for any Visa student credit card you’d better make sure you have a way to pay the statement when it comes in each month. If you don’t have a job you won’t be able to pay your bill. Remember, this is your credit card — not your parents’. It’s your responsibility to pay it.

2. How Disciplined Are you?

Okay, so you have a job and you can pay the bill when it comes in. The other question you have to ask yourself is how disciplined are you? Will you have the willpower to use your Visa student credit card wisely, or is it just going to put you under a pile of debt?

If you can barely resist the temptation to spend when you have cash in your pocket or a checkbook in your purse, how are you going to resist it when you have plastic in your wallet?

Remember, a Visa student credit card is not a license to spend. It’s supposed to be a tool to build your financial future and help you out in case of emergencies.

3. Do You Realize This Will Go On Your Permanent Record?

Another thing you need to consider when applying for a Visa student credit card is that everything you do with it is going to go on your “permanent record”. No, not your academic record, but a record that is just as important.

If you make a late payment or max your card out it’s going to show up on your credit report. And it’s not just going to be there for the world to see — it’s also going to lower your credit score. You might not know it yet, but your credit score can make or break your financial future. This can interfere with your plans to get an apartment or buy a car when you graduate.

The above questions raise some valid points. If they’re making you second guess yourself, it’s best to stick with debit cards and leave the Visa student credit card for later. If, however, you are more confident than ever that you can manage a Visa student credit card with ease, you just may be ready for the credit card world.

Max Anderson
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/are-you-ready-for-a-visa-student-credit-card-282095.html

When it comes to secured credit cards, many myths abound. From “they’re only for people with bad credit” to “they’re more expensive than unsecured cards”, you can’t always distinguish the truth from the lie. Worry not. I’m debunking the most common secured credit card myths.

1. Secured Cards are a Bad Credit Stigma

Think a secured card announces to the world that you have bad credit? Guess again. Most secured cards are indistinguishable from unsecured cards. Your card itself won’t say anything and your credit report won’t show the fact that your account is secured.

2. Secured Credit Cards Have High Interest Rates

Many people assume that secured cards are for people with bad credit, and as such they have a higher interest rate attached to them. This isn’t the case. A secured credit card is less of a risk to creditors because the credit line is backed by a bank account. Because of this, secured cards often have lower interest rates than many of the bad credit unsecured cards.

3. They’re For People with Bad Credit

If you think a secured credit card is only for people with bad credit, you can rethink that logic. Secured credit cards are for people from all walks of life. You don’t have to have bad credit to carry one. Many people with decent credit qualify for unsecured cards, but not the best ones. In these cases, a secured credit card can offer better terms and higher credit limits.

4. They’re Issued by Predatory Lenders

Secured credit cards, more often than not, are not issued by predatory lenders. The cards issued by predatory lenders have high interest rates and high annual fees and processing charges attached to them. While a secured credit card is likely to have an annual fee it will usually be reasonable (in the $50 range), as will the interest rate.

5. A Secured Card Is Like a Debit Card

This one couldn’t be further from the truth. Secured cards are connected indirectly to a bank account, but they work nothing like debit cards. Your secured credit card account will be reported to the three credit bureaus, helping you improve your credit rating. Debit cards don’t do this. And like unsecured cards, you must pay your secured credit card statements when they come in each month even though your security deposit is securing that line of credit.

So are secured cards the black sheep of the credit card family? Absolutely not. A secured credit card can be a valuable financial tool — it’s just a matter of differentiating the myths from the reality.

Sean Masterson
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/debunking-5-secured-credit-card-myths-614754.html

6 things you MUST know before you get a credit card.

- You should beware of credit card companies offering new deals especially if youâ??re thinking of transferring a balance from

another credit card. Each credit card company claims to be having the best suited credit card deal for you. Take your time

and do your research it can save you time and money in the long run.

- Remember, fixed rates aren’t always fixed..! A credit card company can change the rate by informing you 15 - 20 days before

changing the rate Also be aware of annual credit card fees. Many times you can be charged over $50 or just to have one card.

- Watch out for exclusive introductory credit card offers! When you receive a credit card offer with a low rate, it may expire sooner than you think. Find out when and by how much the credit rate increases after the offer expires.

- Transfer the balances from your high interest rate credit cards to a credit card with a lower interest rate. Many companies have periodic special deals that give you low interest rates on balance transfer for up to a year.

- Use credit cards with great reward programs. This gives you the opportunity to earn rewards like cash back or airline miles.

Credit cards are available with reward points attached to them so do your research and check your rewards. Reward point credit

cards are a great type of card to choose.

- Limit the spending amount each month. Try to only spend as much as you can afford every month to pay off in keeping with your

budget. By doing so, you will find that the credit card balances will start to diminish.

- Think twice about your purchases. If you are not able to afford the purchase today, chances are you won’t be able to pay your bill!

Credit cards are a wonderful financial tool although they can be dangerous at times if one does not use their credit cards wisely. Find more tips and news i our free guide below..

Tomas Loden
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/6-important-facts-about-your-credit-card-no-one-else-will-tell-you-about-301300.html

Visa credit cards are one of the most common types of credit card, and they are widely accepted all over the world. Visa is a method of payment, but the credit cards are not actually issued by Visa. Instead, the cards are issued by banks or finance companies that contract with Visa. The banks determine the terms of their own credit card offers, so the details can vary widely depending on which bank issues a card. Here are five tips to help you choose the best Visa credit card for you:

1. Know your credit needs and habits. Do you use your credit cards often or just for emergencies or large purchases? Do you pay your balance off monthly or carry a balance? Are you looking for a card for a specific purpose, such as building credit, or earning rewards? Questions like these can help you decide which options fit you best.

2. Consider which features are most important to you. Depending on how you want to use your new card, some features will be more important than others. Do you need a low introductory APR for a balance transfer or large purchase? Are you more interested in finding the best rewards program for you? Make a list of the options you want and prioritize which are most important.

3. Compare cards issued by several different banks. Because different issuing banks can offer very different terms and options, it is important to look at cards issued by several different banks when you are deciding which one to apply for.

4. Read the fine print. Be sure to read and understand the terms of the credit card agreement in detail before applying. Fees, interest rates, credit limits, grace periods and rewards terms are all important to understand in order to get the most out of your card.

5. Check several sources of information. The Federal Reserve publishes a survey of credit card terms every six months, and there are many websites on the Internet that let you compare credit card offers.

Beth Derkowitz
http://www.articlesbase.com/credit-articles/5-tips-for-finding-the-best-visa-credit-card-48752.html

If you’re like a lot of parents, your first thought upon reading this title was, “Are you crazy? Why would a child need a credit card?” But believe it or not, the reasons extend well beyond the shopping mall.

Credit cards are handy for children traveling abroad or even locally with school or a youth group. They won’t be renting cars, but they will be eating and almost every fast food chain now accepts them. It’s also something your child can keep handy just for emergencies. There are plenty of other reasons why minors should have credit cards, including as a tool to teach financial responsibility.

Giving a credit card to a minor really is a decision only parents or guardians can make. If this is something you’ve been considering, here are some options to consider.

It’s important to realize first that minors cannot have their “own” credit cards. Issuance of a credit card is a contractual matter and because of their age, minors aren’t allowed to enter into legally-binding contracts. Therefore, a minor’s credit card has to be attached to a parent or guardian’s account.

Secondary cardholder

Listing a minor as a secondary cardholder is easy. Applications and credit history checks aren’t required because what matters is the creditworthiness of the primary account holder. A secondary card might have a different account number, making it easier to track expenditures or to cancel if it’s ever lost or stolen.

But on the downside, the primary account holder assumes full responsibility for making all payments. Should problems arise, it’s the primary account holder whose credit history is affected.

Debit cards

These look and feel just like credit cards but there’s one big difference: no credit’s involved. Debit cards are linked to bank accounts and as purchases are made, funds are immediately withdrawn. The downside of being linked to a parent’s checking account is immediately apparent when the minor doesn’t control its use and the parent suddenly finds a depleted bank account. So do yourself a favor and find a bank that offers youth accounts. That way, your child can only use the debit card as long as there is money in his/her account. If spending is managed, youth debit cards are great for teaching children that they have to earn money before they can spend it!

Charge cards

The difference between a charge card and a credit card is that at the end of each billing cycle, the balance must be paid in full; interest doesn’t accrue. It’s another situation in which the minor is considered a secondary card holder. Because you can’t carry a balance with a charge card, it is a good way to stress the importance of managing spending.

Prepaid cards

These are cards onto which you load money that can be used for making purchases anywhere the other major credit cards are accepted. As long as money’s available, they can also be used at ATMs for cash withdrawals. When funds run low, all mom or dad or the child has to do is reload!

Secured cards

This too looks and feels like a credit card, but it’s more like a debit card because the user can only make purchases as long as the card’s funded. The way this type of card is funded is by making deposits to the institution which issues the card. Secured cards are often used by minors trying to establish credit history. From a parent’s point of view, it’s a good alternative to co-signing.

To co-sign or not to co-sign

Most parents do whatever they can to help their children succeed. That’s admirable, but when it comes to co-signing for a credit card, they really need to think twice. Once they turn 18, young adults can apply for credit. If they’ve not established sufficient credit though, they won’t be approved without a co-signer.

And the co-signer assumes responsibility for making payments. If your adult child doesn’t have a job, you’ll be paying the bills. If you don’t your credit is affected. What’s worse, if your adult child hasn’t been taught good money management skills, you might end up paying down those cards you co-signed for a long time!

Debbie Dragon
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/credit-card-options-for-minors-219792.html

When selling on internet, an online trader needs to have the service of credit card processing to facilitate it’s customers with easy online payment and to support the growth of its business. credit card processing is helps to lure customers whether you have a land based store or an online website. Ecommerce supports the status and expansion of trade, but before you begin with an online merchant account there are things to keep in mind and rules to be followed

Ecommerce is any trade being done via internet and to successfully manage such online trade there are guidelines to be followed such as:

- Pick and choose a good merchant account
- Make things simple and safe for customers or visitors
- Make transactions fraud free for your website

While these may sound simple steps towards a successful and uprising ecommerce via credit card processing, fact is that from opening a merchant account to doing a deal a trader needs to have a clear picture of what he or she wants.

Before going in to the detail of these steps you need to know the importance of credit card processing in an ecommerce. When you open up a website to sell your products you face visitors or buyers on your site. These visitors surf and decide to purchase your service, but when they find absence of any online payment mode or credit card processing they turn towards other sites offering them the facility of easy online purchasing. Thus, with credit card processing (which requires a merchant account) you get to serve your customers with trouble-free money transaction, as well as get to increase your sale and ranking.

For beginning with a credit card processing you need a merchant account which affiliates a trader with permission to accept credit card payments and transactions, but before you choose one take care of the conditions and the fees. Following are some of the common fee terms you may come across when dealing with a merchant account:

- Discount rate
- Qualified discount rate
- Mid qualified discount rate
- Monthly minimum charges
- Transaction fee
- Chargeback charges
- Programming fee
- Cancellation fee

It is advisable that you understand each one of the above charges and any further terms to avoid any future trouble when dealing ecommerce trading.

Now that you have chosen and begun with a desirable merchant account for your credit card processing, you need to take care of things to be done in order to please your customers and provide them with safe and contented experience. Provide your customers with safe ‘web server’ and SSL (secure socket layering) facilitated encrypted data. Make your shopping cart navigation simple and easy to discourage any complication for a novice net user. Never use big or posh words, as it can confuse some visitors who may not be vocabulary friendly. The key towards making your ecommerce credit card processing a success is, make your check in and checkout process simple and provide clear information on the stocks available.

Lastly, you may be doing everything to please your customers but do not forget to make your ecommerce a scam/fraud free. Always use the facility of AVS (address verification service) and carefully scan the order details. Make sure you call the customer once to cross check the order and shipment address.

Ecommerce credit card processing is a benefit if taken care of the important guidelines and course of action required for trouble free transaction.

Devin Gilliland
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/guidelines-regarding-ecommerce-credit-card-processing-271472.html

Aren’t all credit cards the same? The truth is that they are not. To make the assertion that they are is akin to saying that a rock and a bullet are the same thing. Consumer credit cards vary quite a bit from one to another and their differing terms and conditions can either save or cost you a lot of money.

There is a lot of competition among banks and other lenders for your business as a cardholder â?? so you’ll see many different terms and conditions out there. Be a smart comparison shopper and be sure to always read the fine print; when it comes to credit cards, it can save you a lot of money.

Obviously, you’ll want the best deal for your money. What you should seek out is a credit card which offers a low APR. APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate and is the amount that you will pay to use the card â?? think of it as rent paid for the money you are borrowing from the credit card company.

The important thing to do here is to always make at least the minimum monthly payment on time â?? this will keep your credit card company from raising your APR on you.

Making your payments late can cause your APR to rise as high as 26% - and just because you make your payments on time afterwards will not result in your APR dropping back to a lower level; there is no escape clause for this penalty.

Let’s suppose that you will always make your payments on time. You should try to find a card which offers you rewards, such as points which can be traded in for goods and services; meals, travel and the like.

Whenever you use your credit card, you’ll be working towards getting something that you want. This makes a good deal an even better one through these incentives. Some people use their credit cards for every purchase that they can, paying in full each month. These people earn all sorts of rewards, even first class airfare!

The quickest way to get a credit card and start using it right away is to apply online. In a matter of minutes you can be approved. If your credit is good, approval should be no problem.

Some credit card companies will even give you a limit from the moment you are approved; meaning that you can start shopping online right away. The actual card will arrive in the mail between one and two weeks later.

If the credit card you have right now is a high interest one, you can look on the web for a better deal. There are many cards which offer 0% interest for six months as an introductory offer. You can apply for this card and transfer your existing balance to it to make it easy to pay off.

Nick Makaryk
http://www.articlesbase.com/credit-articles/choosing-the-best-consumer-credit-card-527995.html