Saturday, August 30, 2008

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.

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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.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

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.

Monday, August 25, 2008

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.

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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.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

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.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

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.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

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.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

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.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Understand The Terms Of Your Reward Credit Card Carefully

Category: Finance, Credit.

When it comes to credit cards, not everyone is worry- free.



Instead of enjoying incentives and savings from their" reward credit cards" , some people are having problem keeping up with their bills and not getting any reward at all. Even those who own reward credit cards often find themselves in a difficult situation. Why? Some people spend more on their reward credit card just for the purpose of collecting points without paying attention to their monthly balances. One major reason is that reward credit cards come with very high interest rates. As a result, they have to put off their monthly payment and get charged with a high interest.


One thing to remember about reward credit cards is that the rewards should come as a bonus, an incentive, a perk. It is easy to lose control of your spending if you don t have a sense of obligation and self- discipline. It should not be the primary reason that drives you to spend more on your credit card than what you really can afford. Or else, you will be charged with an expensive interest rate which puts additional burden on your budget. When using your reward credit card, you still need to be aware that you ll need to pay back your purchases at the end of each month. Furthermore, if you often incur unpaid balance in your account, you can lose your chance of redeeming your rewards.


And some reward credit cards require their members to settle their monthly accounts to qualify for rewards. Yes, credit card issuers have the right to change, stop or disqualify you from claiming rewards if you violate stipulations in the agreement. Thus, be sure that the expenses you make in your account are within your means, and that you ll be able to pay it back on or before the due date of payment. If your reward credit card offers a 0% APR on balance transfers, this is your chance to transfer over your high interest balances from other credit cards and pay them off while there s no interest charged. Another way to use your reward credit card smartly is by taking advantage of the 0% introductory offers. This way, you can focus on paying the actual amount you owe without worrying about interest costs. Of course, you still need to collect points to earn rewards.


Just make sure that you ll be able to pay off all your balances before the 0% introductory period ends. How can you earn more points without necessarily going beyond your budget? For instance, cash back reward credit cards give points for all types of purchases. This is by choosing reward credit cards that matches your spending. If you have a cash back reward card, use it to pay your monthly utilities such as telephone bills, electricity, cable, mortgage and other monthly that you have the obligation to pay one way or the other. Understand the terms of your reward credit card carefully. If you put these bills together, you can earn more points in your account while making sure that you pay off all your duties accordingly.


There might be some options about earning points that you might have missed or there might be some restrictions on collecting or redeeming rewards that you should be aware of. Even if you ve had your reward credit card for some time and you think you know everything, it s still a good idea to review the terms and conditions of your card. In any case, it would be to your advantage if you know and understand correctly all terms included in the credit card agreement you signed.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Get Your Credit Straight

Category: Finance, Credit.

Many people today do not understand what it really means to have bad credit.



With each passing day, I realize the significance of having credit and using it wisely. I used to be one of them. Bad credit can be a huge obstacle to getting the car or house you want. Having good credit doesn t necessarily mean being filthy rich. It can literally keep you in poverty all of your life and keep you from achieving your dreams of success. It simply means that you have access to the resources necessary to do what you need to do when you need to do it.


Cash In The Bank. Understanding your true purpose in life and therefore, is key to, your destiny using credit wisely. Having good credit is like having money in the bank. Bad credit is a dream killer. If you own or ever want to own a car, home or other investment, solid credit, you need good. For most your major investments, you will need access to thousands even millions of dollars in capital. cold, hard cash.


Are You Worth The Risk? If you have bad credit, you won t be able to get a dime. If you are serious about using credit wisely, and you have made sure that you have the financial capacity to pay back the loan, you will establish good credit. They will even present you with pre- approved offers. When you establish good credit, lenders love you and want to give you money. Keep in mind that lending is a business, it s an industry. If you have good credit, they will want to invest in you because not only will you pay them back, but you will pay them back with interest.


The investors or creditors need to invest money to make a profit. If you are not serious about using credit wisely and just want to spend someone else s money without the intention or the means of paying it back, you will screw up your credit and be labeled a bad credit risk. without. Fix It and Forget It. However, if you do not have the financial means and/ or the intention of paying back the loan, you will screw up your credit and will become a bad credit risk. Here are the three( 3) essential things you MUST do to fix your credit and put your it on auto- pilot to a good credit history: Change your attitude toward money. You should never be slave to it.


It is a tool for helping you to achieve your destiny. Eliminate your poverty mindset. Why? Amazingly, those wanting the most to be rich would become even poorer if they got the money they so desire. Because if you have a poverty mindset, it will destroy your wealth. Take consistent, and productive action, positive to improve your credit. Unless you eliminate the poverty mindset, you will always be poor regardless of how much money you have.


You don t need an expensive attorney or specialist to repair your credit. Change your spending habits. If you are willing to do a little work every now and then, you can do it yourself. Stop buying things you don t need or don t use. Keep less. Give more. Get Your Bad Credit Straight And Live A Better Life.


Despite what the fools of the world will tell you, this is not a race to see who will finish with the most toys. Having credit is not a status symbol. That s a fools game, so you should leave that to the fools. Having good credit is also a tool for you to live out your destiny which, includes your desire, I hope to help other people become the best they can be. Having good credit and being creditworthy is an opportunity for you to have the most basic enjoyments of life: food, decent( not designer) clothes, trusty transportation, modest housing, and the ability to pay your utility bills on time. Get your credit straight.


Get your life straight.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Sometimes Credit Repair Companies Aren' T Even Legitimate

Category: Finance, Credit.

Many people believe that credit repair companies can be very helpful in getting your credit report back on track. But most credit repair agencies will try to get all the money out of you that they can, when in all reality you could do it just as well or better on your own.



Sure, perhaps they can be of benefit sometimes, if you get the right company and you do not have to pay them much if your credit report does not change for the better. Credit repair companies are almost always beneficial in the fact that they are quick and convenient. It does not depend on the swiftness of the credit repair company alone, but also the amount of time it will take the credit bureaus to investigate your dispute, which may take much longer considering you' re not paying them to do it. The speed at which they can dispute your credit report is amazing, but that does not change the fact that the dispute will probably take about thirty days to produce any results. The biggest attraction that people see when they ask for help from a credit repair agency is the fact that the company does all the work so that they don' t have to. Not always.


Sure, that's worth the money, right? Credit repair companies will charge you an arm and a leg, plus an extra few bucks to dispute your credit report. This is reason enough for them to charge you, and you really can' t do anything about it. Sometimes this dispute doesn' t even turn out to be effective, but you still owe them money because they took time out of their day to try and fix your problems. Sometimes credit repair companies aren' t even legitimate. A lot of" credit repair services" out there are really just crooks who are out to get your money and leave you hanging.


Make sure that you know who you are dealing with before you pay them anything. Don' t pay anybody anything in advance. Doing it yourself may end up proving to be worthless if you don' t know what you' re doing. However, when you do it yourself, there are a couple disadvantages there too. However, researching what you should and should not do through the Internet, friends, family, and/ or coworkers will help you to understand better what you should do to make your dispute most effective. Still, it does take time to dispute your credit report.


Ignorance is nothing you can' t fix, right? If you cannot find the time to do it yourself and feel that paying for someone else to do it is worth the money, then by all means get help. But saving money and getting your credit report fixed is a route that most people would take any day rather than paying someone who might not even get the job done.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Fair Credit Billing Act

Category: Finance, Credit.

Statistics show that 80% of Americans have either bad or erroneous information on their credit reports. If you ask me a more startling statistic is 90% of the information on the internet teaching you how to improve your credit is bad or erroneous.



That means there's a great chance credit repair could be right for you. Let me explain. If they cannot prove it's your debt in that time frame, they must delete it" . If you' ve done any research on credit repair, surely you' ve seen free dispute letters, If you haven' t let me show you the pitch. "The FTC says under the FCRA credit bureaus have 30 days to investigate any dispute. Then it's followed with a generic dispute letter stating the following. "This debt is inaccurate, under the laws of the FCRA please investigate this account and delete it from my file" . Use some common sense for a moment. I' ve said it for years and finally people are beginning to realize, these letters rarely work anymore.


If it was that easy, we could all go charge until we' re blue in the face and not worry about our bills because we have the magic letters. The real way to improve your credit score is understanding the laws. With that said, credit repair works and better then ever, just not with that method. When I say that, I mean actually using the law as opposed to just quoting it in your dispute letter. Understanding how a debt's" date of last activity" is calculated is paramount. Obviously, I can' t cover every law here but I can point out a few violations that are present in nearly every trade line. 1) Re aging debts- Among the most common violations on nearly every credit report. Chances are it won' t be reported accurately.


Because collectors like to date it from the time they" bought the debt" and that is wrong and a sure fire way to have it removed. Why? You can find" date of last activity" and" Re aging Debts" in both the FCRA and the FDCPA. 2) Statute of Limitations( SOL) - Another very common infraction. I' m referring to how long a collection agent is allowed to attempt to collect and/ or sue on an account. The SOL I' m referring to is not the SOL for how long a debt can be reported on your credit file. You might be surprised to learn that its only 3 to 4 years in many states. 3) Also, you must learn the Fair Credit Reporting Act( FCRA) I recommend an abbreviated version if you don' t want to die of boredom. You' re mainly looking for balances, date of last activity for each account, Credit Limits and payment history.


Learn how to read a credit report. Learn the FDCPA- again abbreviated version should work. This is where you' ll score most your points. This law governs 3rd party collection agents. These guys can' t seem to follow the rules. Fair Credit Billing Act.


Other laws to look at: The truth in lending act. Hippaa- Medical disputes. If you don' t see where I' m going with this, it's about finding actual violations of your rights, not depending on luck, loopholes and generic letters. Service members Civil relief act- special Military laws. It will take some time, there are a lot of laws to learn. IF there are violations of your rights, there is a great chance ANY debt, accurate or not can come off.


You don' t have to be a lawyer, but you do have to get out that fine toothed comb and figure out who has made mistakes. It comes down to negotiating a trade off between you, and the" violator" 4) Opt Out with the credit bureaus. They alert them of disputes you' re making, banking information, address changes? Did you know that credit reporting agencies alert your creditors of new applications of credit you may be applying for? That's right, collectors subscribe to credit bureau services which enable them to more easily track you. More times then not, collection agents will obtain the necessary licensing, bonding and insurance requirements in their home state only because the cost is so high too obtain in every state. 6) If your state and requires bonding, the collector must, licensing or insurance posses them all or is not allowed to collect. Opt out and this information is no longer available to your creditors. 1- 888- 5- optout. 5) Check licensing information for collection agents.


Therefore, it is not a valid collection and must be removed from your credit report. Sounds easy enough, but you' d be surprised. You can check your Attorney Generals Website for requirements. 7) Request the collector show proof he is allowed to collect the debt. When you request validation of a debt, the collection agent must show proof he has a contract with the original creditor that he has the right to collect on their behalf. 8) Furthermore, he must get proof you actually owe the debt. That is not sufficient. You' d be surprised how many collectors have nothing more then their internal records. He must get the original contracts directly from the original creditor and send them to you. 9) Send your disputes to different addresses.


Send your disputes certified mail, return receipt requested to different addresses. Credit reporting agencies have dozens of addresses which you can find on the net. You are not required to send disputes to any specific address. That's not your problem, if somebody signs for your letter when it arrives. Many of the addresses take much longer to get to the dispute department. It's their responsibility to get it to the right department. Credit repair can be very easy when you employ all the tricks and secrets of credit repair that you have at your disposal.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Don' T Have A Pet But Love Animals

Category: Finance, Credit.

Pet lovers now have a new way to show off their pet and earn pet related rewards. Bank Of America, US's largest debit and credit card issuer as well as US's largest commercial bank, merged with MBNA back in June 2005 to become what it is today.



Introducing the Bank of America Pet Rewards� Platinum Plus Visa� Credit Card, a credit card designed specifically for pet owners. With advanced privacy policies and regulations, it is not only one of the most trusted companies, it is very profitable as well. With the introduction of the Pet Rewards� card, you can now become a part of America's largest company, gain convenience and, plus save money show off your pet! Bank of America's current goal to become the number one bank in the domestic market is already well on it's way to succeeding. Do you have a kitty or mutt that you just love to bits? Don' t have a pet but love animals? With just a few clicks of your mouse, you can customize your Bank Of America's Pet Rewards� Visa card with your favorite picture of your pet.


There are also 3 default pictures to choose from when you sign up! Earn while you spend! Need more bonuses? With every dollar that you charge on your Pet Rewards� Visa card, you earn 1 point. It's easy now that you can start redeeming after only 750 points. Add that to the 500 points you receive just for signing up and start redeeming for your rewards!


For eligible pet related purchase you can earn 2 points for every dollar you spend. The points can be used towards veterinary services, pet food discount certificates and shelter donations. That includes veterinary clinics, farm and feed, pet food retailers stores, and neighborhood pet specialty stores. It gets better, with the Bank Of America's Pet Rewards� credit card, there is no need to pay an annual fee, 0% fixed APR( annual percentage rate) for the first 6 months, and no fees for balance transfers. Once you' ve received your credit card, you can apply for additional cards at no extra charge, order convenience cheques for free, as well as be covered for purchase replacements and purchase guards. Reap in even more benefits with this Platinum card such as online banking services, Total Security Protection� , travel assistance, auto rental insurance. the list goes on! It is just what you need for your peace of mind in today's hectic world.


Apply today and be ready to show off your loved one while earning rewards! So what are you waiting for? It is also available in Spanish, and large print, Braille.

In Fact, This Practice Became So Widespread That Credit Card Companies Were Forced To Rethink On The Issue

Category: Finance, Credit.

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.



The answer isn' t difficult to find. In fact, this practice became so widespread that credit card companies were forced to rethink on the issue. These credit cards came with 0% intro APR for a specified period like 6, 12, or 15 months. Earlier, it was very easy to find credit cards which allowed to transfer balances without any fee what so ever. This was used as a goldmine by those with large outstanding balances. The 0% intro offer would then be exploited by them.


They would simply transfer their balances to such credit card and get rid of existing high APR's. Just by paying the minimum balances they would stay in the good books of credit card companies, and when the' golden period' of0% intro APR was nearing its end, voila they shifted their huge balances to another credit card with similar offer. A major issuer of such no fee balance transfer credit cards, Morgan Stanley with their range of Discover credit cards, took strong exception and withdrew all such offers. So, this resulted in loss of revenue for credit card companies in terms of interest rates, but a more disastrous consequence of this process was that the credit card holder was increasingly getting into huge debts. Now they decided to take a certain percentage on balance transfers. Game the system and the system will game you.


To counteract such measure the credit card companies now have a different APR for balance transfer, this includes credit card with 0% intro APR. Nothing applies more truly to this particular practice. Days of such unhealthy credit card practices are now over, unless some new credit card company comes into the game and decides to capture the market with such' lucrative' offers. The credit card companies have retaliated with their new terms and rates to stop the trend of transferring balance and avoiding high APR's.