Get Ready To Buckle Down And Stop Charging Your Credit Card( S)

Category: Finance, Credit.

Credit cards are extremely convenient and useful, but they have a dark side that is often difficult to escape once you re in too deep.

You have the potential to be left in debt for years, ruining your credit and thus, your chances of being able to acquire assets like vehicles or homes. Credit cards can get you into a terrible mess when used irresponsibly, without paying them off or down significantly as you go along. Rest assured that, if you find yourself drowning in credit card debt, you are not alone. Balance transfers are one of the most common ways to take steps toward paying off credit cards. Millions of people are in the same situation, and because of the size of the problem, there are plenty of ways to get out of it. Shifting high- interest debt to a low or 0% balance transfer credit card is a great way to save money on interest when you re ready to be serious about chipping away at that balance.

First, obtain your credit reports so that you know what your history and score are looking like right now. It s easy to do a balance transfer, but just like with using credit cards, there are pitfalls to this method that must be avoided for it to work in your favor. You should have no problem getting approved for a 0% balance transfer interest rate if you have good credit. You can pretty much bet that there will be an average fee of 3% of the amount you wish to transfer, so prepare yourself for that. Some people are lucky enough to even find a card that offers a no fee balance transfer, but these are rare. Most credit card companies impose limits to the amount you can transfer. At this point, you need to decide how much you are willing to transfer to one card.

If your debt is more than$ 10, 000, you probably won t be able to transfer the whole thing- -and it s likely you wouldn t want to because of the additional 3% fee that would be tacked onto that. You may also consider transferring one large debt to two different cards assuming they both have 0% balance transfer rates. Transferring a balance can be a really smart debt relief move, but remember that it takes time and discipline to pay off large credit card balances. If the idea of obtaining two more cards makes you wince in financial anguish, simply transfer as much as that balance as you can stand to a 0% interest card- -this alone could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in interest while you pay off the rest. Get ready to buckle down and stop charging your credit card( s) . If you have a low or 0% balance transfer interest rate, chances are it will not last forever- -12 months at the most. This is the only way you ll get the best possible results from your balance transfer.

The name of the game now is paying off as much as you can in as little time as possible. So many people wait until it s too late to begin taking steps toward correcting their debts. Use foresight when managing your finances from now on. If you can regulate debt early on, you ll have more of an opportunity to be debt free later in life.

Read more...

Choosing A Student Credit Card - Finance and Credit Articles:

Students are often neglected with regards to getting any credit benefits from various lending or credit sources who are otherwise ready to offer credit to businessmen and other working professionals. So its important to encourage and support them with the best available financial and credit opportunities so they can grow in their own fields and provide the best output for our country.

A Flexible Rewards Credit Card Can Earn You Trips On Any Airline With No Blackout Dates - Finance and Credit Articles:

In this day and age, we are always traveling. That is why most major banks and other credit card issuers now offer Airline Credit Cards.

Christian Debt Settlement Companies Also Try To Deduct The Amount Of Debt

Category: Finance, Credit.

With the present lenient financial services, life has become so easy for everyone.

However, these services are making human life better but sometimes they also bring frustration of debts since people usually shop extravagantly through their credit cards and repent for it later. Now people can buy everything even when they have no cash in their pocket. While penalty amount keep on increasing on due credit card bills and other debts, the defaulter finds himself in a helpless situation. Such services are available through debt settlement companies that apply bible principles to help a depressed person. For people, who are in such a miserable financial condition due to their debts, Christian debt settlement program is the only possible way to cope up with this worst situation. These companies provide that depressed person with expert advice and technical debt settlement.

Therefore, if you are a Christian and struggling to settle your ever- increasing debts along with penalties then such organizations can truly help in living a debt- free life. With these Christian debt settlement companies, every deprived can get each possible care and help to lighten his or her burden of debts. Since debt settlement is a considerable option to deal with your debts, you can avoid situations like bankruptcy, collection calls and legal notices and damaged credit with it. The only motive of such organizations is to help people in repaying their debts so that they may start a new life by following bible. Taking help of Christian debt settlement is a nice alternative to settle debts without affecting your reputation in society as your information will be kept confidential during settlement process. Christian debt settlement can prove to be the biggest help for financially stressed people, as it grants them the facility to repay the credit and to live with self- respect once again.

You will get everything arranged by them and their representatives will negotiate with banks and financial institutions on your behalf. With them, you will never have to worry about the dealings with banks and financial institutions with so many bad debts. They find lending source for their clients so that they may get easy and low interest loan to repay your due debts. As far as the repayment of that loan is concerned, you can repay that loan through low valued monthly, quarterly or yearly installments. Once you pay all your debts with that available loan, you can be relaxed and can get back to your routine professional and personal life. Christian debt settlement companies also try to deduct the amount of debt. In some cases client often get 50- 70% reduction in total amount as a result of a successful debt settlement.

Usually, they perform a successful negotiation for elimination of penalty and deduction of obligation amount. For getting help from any Christian debt settlement company, you need to have a record of constant monthly income source and details of your bank statements as possibilities of satisfactory settlement will be decided only after analysis of your financial record of accomplishment and spending habits.

Read more...

Applying For Credit Cards - Finance and Credit:

Following the changes to the credit and loan industry that went into affect in October 2005, you may be noticing an increase in the number of credit card offers you are receiving in your regular mail and on the Internet.

Everyone Has A Credit Report - Patrica Dimuzio about Finance and Credit:

We hear so much about improving and repairing your credit score, but why?

How Do You Get Hold Of A Joint Credit Card - Clare Crisco's Finance and Credit blog:

It really is very easy to recognize newly married couples.

In The UK It Is Common For Merchants To Refer To Their Terminals Which Can Read Credit Cards As PDQ Machines

Category: Finance, Credit.

The word" credit" comes from the Latin meaning" trust" and although credit was first used in Egypt some 3000 years ago, credit cards as we know them today have only been around for around 60 years. In 1949 one New York businessman, went to pay, Frank McNamara his restaurant bill after entertaining clients only to find he had left his wallet in another suit.

In 1946, John Biggins of the National Bank of Brooklyn instigated a" Charge- It" programme between bank customers and local merchants allowing merchants to deposit sales slips at the bank who then issued an invoice to the customer. From this potentially embarrassing situation( his wife was able to cover the bill) he came up with the idea of a Diners Club who issued their first cards to approx 200 customers in the USA who could use their new facility in selected restaurants in New York. In 1959 Bank of America began issuing its own card in California which was the first widely available credit card accepted by a substantial merchant base. However, this was technically a charge card as the customer had to pay the entire amount as soon as billed by Diners Club. At the same time American Express issued their first credit cards for travel and entertainment charges which was accepted at participating restaurants, hotels and airlines. In the same year 14 US banks formed the first banking association named Interlink, with the ability to exchange information on credit card transactions and the following year four Californian banks did the same in order to compete with the BankAmericacard, renamed Visa in 1976, who introduced the MasterCharge programme, renamed MasterCard in 197Thereafter banks wishing to issue credit cards joined either the Visa or MasterCard Association whose members shared costs making access to the programme available to smaller financial institutions.

In 1966 the Bank of America began forming licensing agreements with other banks enabling them to issue credit cards on a widespread basis and was promoted, particularly to traveling salesmen, as a time- saving device rather than a form of credit as instant access to their own banking facilities was difficult when not in their own area. Barclays Bank was the first bank outside the USA to issue its own Barclaycard credit card in 1966 but it wasn t until the magnetic strip was introduced in 1970 that the credit card entered the technological era. This system proved reasonably effective cutting down on both paperwork and fraud but still had a number of security problems. Under this system, a magnetic strip, invented by IBM capable of storing data on a band of magnetic material on the reverse of the card is swiped through a magnetic reader. To solve this banks are replacing this system with the current technology of" smartcards" or" Chip& PIN" which contain an embedded microchip and can only be authenticated by using a Personal Identification No( PIN) . This has arisen as Barclays Merchant Services( BMS) , who were one of the first banks to introduce credit card machines in the UK, referred to their terminals as PDQ s and people got to associate the initials PDQ with credit card machines- just as vacuum cleaners came to be known as Hoovers after the company who pioneered the vacuum cleaner. In the UK it is common for merchants to refer to their terminals which can read credit cards as PDQ machines.

Merchants must apply to a bank for the facility to accept credit cards as a form of payment via a credit card machine or over the internet. Having reached very high usage levels in the USA, take, UK and Canada- up of credit cards was much slower in many other developed countries of the world with many European countries not having anything near the penetration levels of the USA& UK until the mid to late 1990 s. Most banks now offer mobile and portable terminals, commonly used by restauranteurs. Today, there are countless, however variations on the basic concept of revolving credit including branded credit cards, commercial cards etc, store cards and with the continually developing technology we can only wait and see how the market will evolve in the coming years.

Read more...

Ask The Debt Consolidation Pro How Can A Bad Credit Credit Card Improve Your Credit - Finance and Credit Articles:

If your credit ratings have been at the receiving end for all the reasons that can attract bad ratings you need to stop and assess your debit situation. This will help you assess your debit situation and arrive at a decision on how to improve it.

However, Getting A Bad Credit Bank Loan Is Not The Impossible Dream It Once Was - Finance and Credit:

Traditional banks and lending institutions are raising the stakes in credit investigations because of the number of non- performing loans, so even those with good credit have a hard time getting approved.

Clearly Outline The Information You Believe To Be Incorrect Or Inaccurate - Finance and Credit Articles:

Vital personal information such as where you live, your place of employment, your bill paying methods, and whether you ve ever been arrested or declared bankruptcy is all contained within your credit report. Your credit score is used by lenders to determine interest rates for mortgages and other loans.

What Can You Do About Past Bad Credit

Category: Finance, Credit.

This is the foundation of obtaining a great score.

We can work on that. If you re going to have bad credit, its best for it to be past bad credit. The one thing you have to do is make sure of is that your current debt and bills are being paid on time. I ve seen people who pay their mortgage and car notes religiously. You can t forget ANY bills, even the$ 15- $20 bills. But when it comes to their miscellaneous debt, they put it off or forget.

Not entirely a true statement. They rationalize that if the bill is only$ 15 it doesn t affect them as much as their mortgage. Yes the mortgage may weigh more when considering a person s credit mix, but guess what? So, its vital that you pay all debt on time, small and large. A 30 day missed payment is just that, a 30 day missed payment. OK, we ve got your present debt in check.

Plenty! What can you do about past bad credit? This discussion makes the assumption that you ve pulled all three of your scores and reports. First and foremost, check to be sure that the accounts listed are even yours. Look at the reports. You d be surprised to know that some accounts appear on your file that aren t even yours.

These would be the second group to attack/ dispute. Are there any negative accounts that have been paid and are 7yrs old or more? Here s a tip. How? Even accounts 7yrs old that HAVE NOT been paid could come off through a dispute. Most companies only keep records for 18- 24 months, which is why that time span is so important. Take notice that just because the account no longer appears on your file, doesn t mean that the debt isn t still owed.

An account that old may not be able to be verified, therefore must come off the report. It just means your score will benefit from it coming off. That would be fraud. Now, we re not going to lie and say the debt isn t ours. What you can do is write saying you re not sure about the debt amount listed or/ and the late payments associated with the negative accounts. Another way to make your payment history better is to do the opposite of what we ve just discussed.

If they can t be verified. they should come off! Instead of trying to take information off your file, simply add( good) accounts to your credit file. What you want is for them to add you to one of their good paying accounts. Maybe you have a family member or close associate who can help you out with this strategy. It can be a credit card, or whatever, store card. What this does is instantly add a good payment history to your file, thereby increasing your credit score.

As long as the account is in good standing and reports to all three major credit agencies. One other thing to be aware of when using this technique is the liability factor. An authorized user has the right to access the account but will not be held liable for delinquent payments. If possible, be added to the account as an authorized user and not a joint user. A joint user will not be so fortunate. Persistence is the key to making this strategy work. If the account doesn t ask for the secondary user s social security number, then they may not report the account to the additional user s credit file.

Read more...

When Choosing For The Best Credit Card Offer, It Is Best To Look For One That Has A Low Or 0% APR And No Annual Fees - Finance and Credit:

In today s age of high technology, the Internet has significantly changed the way we do things even how we apply for a credit card.

For Borrower Who Wants To Avail Loan, Bad Credit Has Always Been A Stigma - Finance and Credit:

Some people don t dare to apply for a personal loan online because the have a bad credit rating.

Observe Your Credit Report, And Fix Anything You Can To Make It Better - Finance and Credit Blog:

We all get all credit card offers from junk mail, and everyone knows how they work. These days are gone as the internet has made this a lot easier.

Points Per Dollar: 2 Points

Category: Finance, Credit.

The Choice Privileges� Visa� Platinum, issued by Bank of America, N.

The credit card reward program is by far the most attractive benefit of the card and is ideal for those who frequently stay at any of the Choice Privileges hotel locations. A. (USA) , is designed for those with very good credit who plan to take advantage of the travel reward program that is offered. Cardholders earn two points for each dollar spent on general purchases and 15 points for each dollar spent at Choice Privileges locations throughout the U. New applicants also receive 8, 000 bonus points after their first purchase, which is enough for a free night at over 1, 000 Choice Privileges locations. S. , Canada, including Comfort Inn, and Mexico� , Comfort Suites� , Quality� , Sleep Inn� , Clarion� , and MainStay Suites� . Most Attractive Features: No annual fee; No yearly limit on points earned; First Purchase bonus free night; There is no yearly limit on the number of points that can be earned; The card offers a low apr credit card introductory rate that can be applied toward purchases and balance transfers for the first six billing cycles with no annual fee.

A. (USA) that include up to$ 500, 000 in travel accident insurance, and lost luggage, auto rental insurance insurance. In addition to the reward program, this card offers common platinum benefits provided by Bank of America, N. Those who frequently stay at any of the Choice Privileges hotels( to earn additional points) and plan to pay in full each month( to avoid finance charges) will find the Choice Privileges� Visa� Platinum to be very beneficial. Points per Dollar: 2 Points. Earned points can be redeemed for free hotel stays, gift certificates to retailers and restaurants, and airline miles with many major airline partners. In addition, there is a unique donation option that allows cardholders to redeem their points toward donations to the Armed Forces Relief Fund and UNICEF. Any points earned in a calendar year will expire on December 31st of the second calendar year following the year during which the points were earned.

Least Attractive Features: Not all applicants may qualify for the lowest rate offered; APR based on the highest Prime Rate during a three- month period. Although the low interest rate for purchases and credit card balance transfer is considered reasonable for a reward credit card, it is not ideal for those who plan to carry a balance after the introductory rate expires. It is strongly recommended that you carefully read the Terms and Conditions statement that accompanies the credit card application. Note.

Read more...

The Pressures Created By Credit Card Debt Are Enormous - Agnes Ormand's Finance and Credit blog:

Holding one or more credit cards accounts can be a very convenient way of handling your finances in today s society, and while there are definite advantages to having the extra credit facility, it is important to exercise a level of control in the way you use these accounts.

Give Them Their Money On Their Allow Card Prepaid MasterCard� And Know Exactly Their Spending Habits - Irma Borowski about Finance and Credit:

The numerous demands of kids spread over the entire year rise dramatically during festivals and their special occasions.

But, How Do You Get The Most Out Of Your Business Credit Card - Ana Imhoff about Finance and Credit:

Business reward credit card offer a lot to the small business in terms of savings, business travel, cashback, hotel stay, protection and other, insurance facilities. Strange it might sound, but the fact is that most of the small businesses aren t even able to enjoy a fraction of the business reward credit card benefits.

X Who Opens A Credit Card Account At A Given Rate, Say 99%

Category: Finance, Credit.

In recent years, credit cards have become a major component of everybody s life. Keeping a balance on a credit card account is today a very common thing and interest rates are a dominant factor in peoples daily finance.

It started as a convenient spending tool but now it has become a reasonable way to gain access to much needed credit in the form of cash and loans. As newer credit cards are issued every year, a balance transfer between credit cards is a common way for many to reduce their monthly payments and fees to lending organizations. Most credit cards offer introductory rates that are as low as zero percent and very often this low interest is kept up to twelve months. If the credit history is kept in good standing, a balance transfer can be much easier and rewarding as most credit cards will be willing to grant a new loan to obtain future customers. Clearly, if someone has a very high interest rate on a credit card, he or she will save a lot of money if he/ she can transfer its entire balance into a different credit card. But that is a dangerous game to play. But a balance transfer between credit cards can actually be used effectively for years by switching from one card to another while paying down the overall balance.

Let s take for example, Mr. As he uses his card, he decides to carry a balance and just make the minimum payments. X who opens a credit card account at a given rate, say 99% . Within a few months, his balance or principal will most likely be the same and his minimum payments will only be paying down a percentage of the interest. X to transfer his balance. Let s assume now that another credit card issuer offers a 99% interest rate to Mr. Mr.

Furthermore, let s assume that a year later a third credit card issuer offers 0% interest rate. X will save 5% right off the bat by moving his balance. In this case, Mr. But obtaining a balance transfer credit card has a few rules that need to be followed. X can transfer the balance yet again, effectively eliminating the interest paid for the period offered. We already mentioned the fact that your credit history must be in good standing. Another important factor is fixed fees that are involved in balance transferring.

The balance to be transferred should not be too high or at least in the price range that the other credit card is willing to lend. Because of the potential for significant balance transfer fees, before making a final decision on balance transfer card it is very important to compare the net benefit of the card offer. At least two more elements must be taken into consideration regarding balance transfer credit cards. Simply put, because of added fees and surcharges, the other credit card offering a low or even a 0% interest rate might not be sufficient to justify such transfer. First to consider is the duration of the lower interest rate offer and second, is the amount of credit available for the actual transfer. In this case, it is possible to find many credit cards that will guarantee the same introductory interest rate for the entire life of the balance that has been transferred. The duration must be for a sufficient amount of time and the interest rate at the end of the promotional period must be lower or equal than the original interest rate.

Read more...

Which Is One Of The Crucial Steps To Repair You Bad Credit - Beatriz Toohey about Finance and Credit:

Most people do not know about the Wage Earner Plan.

The Information Contained In Your Credit Report Is Even Given A Numerical Value Called Your Credit Score - Finance and Credit Articles:

Payments and default payments on your credit card are reflected on a single report called the credit report. The information contained in your credit report is even given a numerical value called your credit score.

In Fact, This Practice Became So Widespread That Credit Card Companies Were Forced To Rethink On The Issue - Finance and Credit Blog:

What happened to those wonderful balance transfer offers with no fees and why can t you find a single such offer despite scouring the database of every single online credit card website? Such offers have been exploited by people to defer their repayments and shelve themselves from high interest rates.

So Do Not Be Frightened Of Applying For A Credit Card

Category: Finance, Credit.

Before everything else, you have got to be aware that although credit cards come with certain exciting perks such as cash prices or gift certificates, it doesn t give you the right to spend much more than you are entitled to or you might end up in debt. It equally ensures you a faster relay of your credit card.

A benefit of online credit card registration is that it saves you both time as well as finances. Credit card firms that specialize in providing student credit cards utilize the credit card rate or annual credit card rate( APR) , as a check to stop students from exceeding the credit card limit and as a means of encouraging rapid payment of credit card bills. So far reaching concern is needed when making use of your credit cards. If you are unable to meet your credit debts on account of the fact that you are too far behind in payments, you stand the risk of facing bankruptcy and might loose a considerable chunk of your assets in the bid to pay off your debts. The beauty about the credit card procedure is that it s attainable for every person, no matter what, including you wage or status. Chase credit card, a relevant credit card company can be found online with a range of credit cards such as flexible rewards visa signature card, free cash rewards platinum visa card, chase perfect platinum master card and others.

So do not be frightened of applying for a credit card. It s easy to access the necessary information on the site- www. The attraction of a business credit card is that it facilitates business bills accounting. Chase. com. More so, the business owner can have an account of his bills drawn up for study or for the record. If you are an individual who loves shopping at a particular retail outlet, uncover if the outlet supplies credit cards is an excellent way of getting a credit card suited to your requirements. You have got to pay close attention to details when filling out an application for a credit card on account of the fact that any slight mistake might mar your credibility as well as render you ineligible to get a credit card.

As a conclusive remark, if you are in credit card debt and are planning to consolidate your credit card debt, you have got to make a decision to invest money prudently and meet payments on time. This decision will truly aid you pay off your debts faster.

Read more...

So What Makes A Platinum Credit Card Different From Others - Finance and Credit:

Platinum credit cards are considered as the most desired credit cards and to get a platinum card, one requires proving his or her credentials.

However, Judging Those Two Factors Can Be Difficult For Those Of Us That Are Not Credit Card Experts - Finance and Credit:

When it comes to choosing a credit card, you have many options to consider as a means of achieving your goal.

Prepaid Cards Can Be Applied Online Instantly - Finance and Credit:

Prepaid cards come as a whiff of fresh air to those suffering from huge drawbacks of credit cards, and credit card debt.