A cash back credit card is a fantastic way for you to make some cash, while all the time spending! Although it does only suit the customers who pay their bill in full at the end of each month.
A cash back credit card will give you the chance to earn as you spend. A percentage is returned to you on an annual basis for every pound that you have spent. This is usually set at between 0.5% and 2% depending on how generous the credit card lender is. And as I have said already and I cannot stress enough is you should be able to pay off your credit card statement in full each month as is the only way that a cash back credit card will work for you.
A cash back credit card is not for everyone…
If you are a borrower then a cash back credit card will only cost you, even though you will be earning a little back, you will find that this will be eaten up and more by the interest charges, which are usually on a higher scale of APR.
By not incurring the interest payments, then every pound that you spend on the card will see a little winging it’s way back to you and if you do pay your credit card bill off in full and never have worries about doing so, then why not switch to a cash back credit card. If you don’t already have one, there are only a few ways in which you can get money from a credit card lender, rather than the many ways in which they abstract cash from us.
Do not transfer any balances…
There is a word of warning that will come with this though, if you decide that you want to balance transfer an amount from your existing credit card company on to a cash back credit card, then you should try and avoid this, in fact avoid it altogether. As any payments you make to the credit card will only go on to pay the amount transferred and interest will mount up on any purchases that you have made on the credit card, which will leave you paying back more than the cash back card is making you.
There are a few good deals on the go right now, with the Amex Blue cash back card the Amex Platinum and the First Trust Bank cards worthy at a look if you decide that a cash back credit card is for you.
Remember…
1) Pay off your balance every month 2) Cash backs are repaid annually 3) Avoid transferring a balance to your cash back card
So if you have a clear statement at the end of each month then go for it and make that bargain in the sales save you even more cash.
Credit card bills can be expensive. Sometimes they can be simply too expensive. Depending on how you use your credit cards, and how much you spend, and how disciplined and controlled you are over your own spending, you may or may not have trouble paying your credit card bills when it comes to the end of the month and the bill arrives in the mail. No matter what your situation is however, there is always one thing you will not, under any circumstances, want to see on your monthly credit card bill, and that is a credit card fee.
Keep it simple and stay on top of your bills…
There are different types of credit card fee and different reasons for incurring them, but the good news is that many of them can be avoided by simply following a few simple rules and keeping on top of your finances and bills. The most important way to minimise the fees you receive from your credit card company is to pay your bill on time and in full each month. Generally if you do this, you will be charged no interest or finance charges at all, and will be receiving all the benefits of a credit card and over a month of credit absolutely free. If you are one of the lucky customers who can manage to maintain your account in this way, you will be very lucky.
However, many people cannot pay their account in full each month, therefore, they incur the most common of all credit card fees, and this is finance charges. Credit card companies actually charge very high interest rates to their customers so if you have the option of borrowing in other ways that may be cheaper it is recommended that you use these methods if you are planning on needing the money for more than a couple of months. It is far cheaper to pay back a short-term loan than to maintain a large credit card balance.
Another credit card fee is a late fee for when you are late in making your monthly payment. Many people who have more than enough money to make their repayments simply through a lack of organisation miss payments and incur large fees. If you are late in making your repayment because you don’t have enough money to make it you may need some debt counselling or other advice to help you manage your way out of this situation.
There are many other fees that your credit card company can impose upon you depending on the company, but being aware of how they are calculated and what sets them off is probably all you need to know to be able to avoid incurring them in the future.
Are your credit card debts giving you nightmares? If yes read on and see if we can save you some money and help you sleep better at night. It is so easy to get yourself into debt, as all these credit card companies seem to be throwing these cards at us.
Learn to understand your statement if you’re paying more than 15% of your monthly salary to your credit card bill then now is the time to take some action. If you pay the minimum payment and the interest charge takes up a lot of your monthly payment, not much is actually coming of the balance. For example say you pay £100 a month now take a look at your statement and see how much actually goes on interest.
Avoid minimum payments…
The minimum payments are a nightmare they are costing you a fortune and will take years to pay of the debt. Credit card companies used to take 5% as a minimum payment of the total money owed, but now ask as little as 2% as people where finding it hard to pay back the 5%. This has in turn created a debt problem for many people.
Here are some ways to help you reduce your credit card debts! Try to stop using your credit card and if you cannot, monitor what you spend. Balance transfers are a good way to save you money, lookout for the ones that offer 0% interest free periods for 6-9 months; this will give you a bit of breathing space. Make sure you check the APR rate once the 0% interest free period is over and cut up the previous card, as you do not want to be tempted again and end up in more debt.
You can move your debt to a credit card with a lower APR…
There is nothing that says once the 0% interest free period is over that you must stick with this card, if you watch what you’re doing you could then change to another card that has the same offer on. Just be careful and make sure you have your dates correct, as you do not want to be getting charged for any late payments.
Once you feel that you have got yourself on an even keel the next step is to try and clear up your debt completely. The way we do this is to start with the credit card that has the highest APR rate, pay the most to this credit card and just pay the minimum payment to the rest of your cards, once this card is finished then go the next highest APR card and so on until all your credit cards are paid off.
For credit card advice please visit here http://www.creditcards-gb.co.uk/creditcardadvice.html
Credit cards are a great thing and we all need them, but they must be on our terms and we must be able to pay them off, if possible at the end of every month. If we cannot, this is when the problems start as minimum payments only get you into more debt and will take years to pay off.
Remember…
1) Try to stop using your credit card 2) 0% balance transfers can help you pay off your debt 3) Pay off the debt with the highest APR first
Once you have got the debt under control and at an amount that you feel is manageable, the next step is to try and curb the spending and clear the debt completely and get back on an even keel, then you can enjoy the spending freedom that a credit card brings you, but under your terms.
Switching credit cards is an everyday part of life now whether it is taking advantage of the introductory offers or simply deciding that your existing credit card account is old hand and you are looking for a newer better credit card deal than you have already. If you choose your new credit card wisely the advantages could prove beneficial to you.
Here we are going to look at some of the advantages of switching your credit card and how it may benefit you.
Lower APR
Finding a credit card with a lower APR could be beneficial to you if you do not pay your credit card balance in full every month. Having a lower APR would mean paying less interest on your outstanding balance. (Do be aware of the minimum payment warning; always try to pay more than the minimum payment.) If you had bad debt in the past and could only get a high interest credit card then you may now be able to get a credit card with a lower APR.
Reward Schemes
Does your current credit card have a rewards or cash back scheme included? Are you benefiting from the reward scheme you currently have in place? It is better to find a new credit card that you would benefit from rather than have points totting up for vouchers that you know you are not going to use. I.e. store vouchers could help you with your grocery shopping or if you are a frequent flyer air miles could save you some money on your flights. Think about the reward scheme and ask yourself if you would use the vouchers etc.
Charity Credit Cards
If you have been thinking for a long time about helping out or donating money to your favorite charity chances are they will have a credit card that you can purchase. If you purchase a charity credit card every time you use your card your lender will donate to your chosen charity. People can feel very strongly about certain charities whether it be through losing a loved one or working in a charity environment so having a charity credit card could put your mind at rest knowing that you are helping in some way. You will generally find that charity credit card have all the other incentives that other credit cards have. The same applies to football credit cards, your favorite football club would receive a payment for every transaction you make which would in turn be reinvested back into your team club.
Thinking about switching credit cards? There are many different options to think about so don’t just stick to your current credit card out of habit make your credit card decisions work for you whatever your circumstances.
We all wish that our credit cards were interest free all the time. How much pleasure would it be to know that what you spend is what you pay back and there would be no interest to pay. What is happening is the credit card companies are fighting it out to see who can get the most customers and one way is to offer us 0% interest deals.
The credit card companies are offering introductory offers including 0% on balance transfers and purchases for 6 or 9 months, so everything you buy is interest free how great is that! These offers are becoming more popular by the month, the credit card companies realise we will go with these credit cards first and that interest free deals for any period of time is a great way to pull in the customers.
Break free from your high interest credit card…
All credit cards can be interest free if you pay off your full balance on time and at the end of every month, but most of us cannot afford to do this. When the APR comes into force, usually a typical rate of 15-20% will be charged. There are however some better rates about if you are willing to search for them, including a rate of 9% and maybe even lower. Always check what your rate will be once the introductory period is over.
Many credit card holders are using the 0% deals to their advantage. The term “Rate Tart” is used to describe people who transfer their balance from one card on to a credit card that has the 0% deal. This will cut out the interest payments on their existing card, however, you really have to keep on top of this especially if you have more than one credit card, as you do not want to get confused as to when and where your balance transfers are due.
Take advantage of the 0% deals…
There has never been a better time to take advantage of these great 0% deals with the big companies fighting for your business. If you’re using the 0% deals for transferring your balance and are intending to use the card after the interest free period, double check the interest rate once the introductory period is over as it may be higher than the card you have.
· Switch your balance to a 0% deal · Check the APR that will be charged when the 0% deal is over · Start searching for a new credit card 4-6 weeks before your existing deal runs out
For credit card advice please visit here http://www.creditcards-gb.co.uk/creditcardadvice.html
0% deals are great as long as you watch what you are doing. The more cards you have the more chances are of getting transfer balance dates confused, but if you have a good head on your shoulders and are well organized then you will benefit greatly.
It is one of the most frustrating feelings in the world. You’re trying to rid yourself of your debts. You’re putting more and more of your paycheck towards your credit cards. You’re gradually paying them off. Finally, the day arrives when you clear the entire outstanding balance. The card is finally cleared. A huge weight has been lifted from your shoulders and you can go to sleep at night knowing that you’ve got one less worry in life.
Credit Card Company
Does your credit card company share your joy? Do they congratulate you on taking care of a pressing anxiety in your life? In fact they do the exact opposite. It’s not really surprising, after all you’re their customer and they’re losing your business. But who would have guessed the lengths they go to stop you closing your account. Recently my wife has been closing a couple of credit card accounts and when she zeroes out the account and calls to tell them to close it, she’s sometimes insisting with them for ten minutes that she doesn’t want the account any longer, she doesn’t need it for emergencies, she doesn’t want a lower interest rate, and she doesn’t want any special offers. She just wants to close the account.
Our Personal Experience
Bad as that sort of behaviour is, it’s not the worst. On one of her credit cards, she had a magazine subscription. She had tried cancelling the subscription but the company involved refused to stop charging her account. So when the time finally came that she could close her account she paid them off, paid off all her other bills, and told the credit card company that she wanted to close her account. After the usual to and fro, they finally agreed to close her account for her.
Identity theft is fast becoming the major way in which criminals are stealing your money. They are not only stealing your money but they are stealing your identity, using your personal details to gain access to your credit and open up new accounts in your name redirecting the mail to a new address.
It is fast becoming easier for criminals to steal your identity as record numbers of consumers are obtaining credit cards and using their credit cards on unsecured websites. It is not only using your credit card in what may seem to be otherwise normal situations that you need to be wary of. You should make sure that credit card statements are disposed of in the correct manner as well as all material that includes your personal details.
Shopping
Situations that you may think normal when using your credit card could be otherwise threatening your identity. Corrupt cashiers or waiters could easily scan the black strip on the back of your credit card to obtain details that they can then use to clone your card. When purchasing goods or paying for your bill never let your credit card out of your sight as it would be more difficult for fraudsters to swipe your card.
Other scanning machines that you need to look out for are at cash machines where you insert your card. Criminals have been known to attach these scanners at cash machines duping customers. If when using a cash machine and you think there might be a scanner attached do not use the cash machine and report it as soon as you can.
Online
If you are not security conscious when buying online you could become a victim of identity theft. When purchasing an item on the internet be sure the site is secure as you may be entering your credit card details. You can check this by making sure there is a padlock symbol on your browser bar. You may also wish to have a Paypal account, which will further protect you from online fraud. New security measures are being updated frequently to try and erase the problem of online fraud.
Personal Documents
When disposing of your credit card statements, bills or any documents that may have your personal details included on them you must think about who may be able to have access to them. Investing in a shredder will eliminate prying eyes seeing your details and they are quite a cheap investment considering the amount of money you could lose if you were to fall victim of identity theft.
It is important to check your credit card statements against receipts every month to verify what you have bought and what you are paying for. Any kind of misuse on your credit card should show up and you can then act on it immediately.
Be vigilant and be just as protective of your personal details as you would be your cash.
If you are unhappy with the interest rate you currently receive for your credit then there are a number of steps you may wish to consider taking in order to get yourself better rates and more favourable terms. These include:
· Ensuring that you credit report is accurate and up to date · Requesting better rates from your existing credit providers · Applying for better rates from new credit providers · Consider switching to secured credit or less flexible credit over a longer term · Put effort into improving your credit rating
All of these steps have a potential to get you better credit card interest rates and reduce the amounts you have to pay in monthly repayments. If you have a lot of loans and payments on credit cards and other high interest accounts, one of the best ways to reduce your monthly payments is to consolidate this debt into one loan. This loan can be secured over your home if you are a homeowner and this will give you access to far better interest rates. You should be very careful before securing any debts over your home as it may put your home at risk if you find that you are unable to meet your repayment commitments. A consolidated loan, over a period of two to five years usually, can give you access to far lower rates of interest and this alone can save you hundreds of dollars each month in bills.
Ensure your credit report is accurate…
Another step you may consider is checking that your credit report is accurate. Since all credit-reporting companies have a legal obligation to ensure the accuracy of their reports, they will usually be happy to amend your report if you find that there are errors contained on it that will make it harder for you to receive credit. You may also wish to put some time into improving your report if it is bad, by paying your bills on time, reducing the amount of overall credit you have outstanding and making other alterations that get reported on your rating.
For credit card advice please visit here http://www.creditcards-gb.co.uk/creditcardadvice.html
If all else fails, just ask…
One very simple way of getting better interest rates is simply to ask for them. If you have been with your credit provider for some time and have always managed to pay your bill in full and on time, you may be entitled to have your credit rate lowered. If you have other credit cards with lower rates, tell this to the company and they may be willing to match this in order to keep your business.
If you have ever been asked by your wife, husband, child or friend to have someone else as an authorised signatory to you, i.e. a supplemental signatory, on your credit card account you no doubt gave this some serious thought. If you agreed to the request, the following are some reason why you should have a credit card in your own name and they have a credit card in their own name.
Credit History
Possibly the main reason why you should have a credit card in your own name is the effect it has on your credit history.
In short, you have had to manage your financial affairs very astutely in order to gain a sufficient credit worthiness to apply for, and be approved, a credit card. Conversely, any supplemental signatory to you on your credit card doesn’t have to do anything – as the card is relying on your credit history to determine the risk of the third person. This may sound a little harsh, but if you think about it you are the one who is responsible for repaying the card, so why shouldn’t they rely on your ability to repay rather than some third person who has no obligation to repay them if there is an outstanding debt?
Now, you may well be thinking: “That’s not a problem, I’ll control their spending.” And, you may even be able to manage that feat. But, here’s another reason why you should have a credit card in your name and they should have a credit card in their name. Throughout the time that they are supplemental signatories to you on your credit card account, they are not enhancing their own credit worthiness – nor are they affecting their credit rating. So, even if they are good supplemental signatories and never spend money on your card without first seeking and getting your approval, it has no positive affect on their credit history. On the other hand, if they were to have a credit card in their own name, and were good and managed their account well, all of this would add lots of brownie points to their credit history!
Lose - Lose Situation
The reason why having a supplemental signatory on your credit card account is a lose-lose situation is not only because you take on the financial risk that they will behave themselves, but also they have no upside if they behave well. Also, keep in mind that if your supplemental cardholder runs amok and spends, spends, spends, it is your credit history that is being affected, not theirs!
What Does This Mean?
It means that you could work years building up the perfect credit history and rating only to have it all torn down overnight by someone else. So, if you don’t want that to happen, make sure have these good reasons why you should have a credit card in your own name only the next time someone asks you if they can become a supplemental signatory on your credit card account.
Credit cards that charge no interest on your purchases or on your balance transfer for a certain period of time are said to be interest free credit cards. This interest free period is for a certain time and limit. This gives you the chance for more shopping around and spending without any tension of being levied any extra amount. Thus you can save a lot on these cards.
At times it is so that the interest you pay would depend entirely on how good or bad you fair in credit ranking. Your annual income and nature of past payments also matter a lot. If you have had a bad credit history then you might have to pay a higher interest as compared to those who have good credit ranking. Thus, by paying off your balance on time or even before the due date you can easily assure the interest free credit card for your good credit ranking. Today all the major credit card companies provide customers with interest free credit cards whether they are Virgin credit card or Egg credit card or even Natwest credit card accompanied with additional offers.
Any interest free credit card can prove very advantageous for you by many means. This option gives you the chance of balance transfer and helps you to pay off your existing outstanding balance of your borrowings without added burden of interest. This card proves to be the handy tool when you are looking forward to a big purchase and want to repay in the easy installments. This card proves to be a boon for you if it is used wisely. Unfortunately the credit card issuers generally hide the actual APR and which comes into picture once the interest free period is over. This proves hard because now you have to pay more than what you may wish to.
Interest free credit cards are a great option for those running into high debts. Since, you can get an opportunity to pay back your debts without mounting any more of them. But do not let the concept of interest free credit cad pile up your debt any further. Within that interest free period you have to repay your outstanding amount within the stipulated period. The best way to find the interest free credit card is to go for a detail market research, seeking all the avenues available for the information and then go for any credit card.
The credit card market is seeing a boom with numerous market players. It has created a kind of choice chaos or rather a clutter. It is important to differentiate between a good and a bad market offer. We all have discussed enough about the good and best credit card offers but it is equally important to know about the poor credit card offers, and what to beware of.
It is important to check the credentials of a credit card company before signing up for any offer since a number of fraudulent credit card companies have also sprung up along with the equal numbers of genuine ones. There is never a credit card offer that is perfect. Each has its pros and cons. Normally, if it sounds too good to be true, then it is a sure sign of being a credit card offer for someone with an adverse credit history. Offers like these can simply rip off your pocket and leave you with peanuts. They make tall claims to lure customers but if you read between the lines there is always a trap clause that takes the air out of the claim.
However, desperate requirement you might have of a credit do not fall into the trap of these jazzy claims. They might claim to give you low APR and high credit limit even with your bad credit history. Now this is obviously unbelievable. More unbelievable means more unreliable.
Then there could be credit card offers that are ridiculously unreasonable. For example, they may have a worthless balance transfer offer with amount limited to a level of say £500. Or there could be store cards through which you can shop only at a particular shop and that too only from a particular catalogue.
These credit card offers are responsible for maximum credit card frauds or losses to customers due to unprecedented high costs. These are mostly wipe, pack and vanish firms, i.e. companies that wipe off your resources, pack their business and simply vanish leaving a big hole in your pocket.
We all receive those flowery once in lifetime offers claiming to change the course of life with all the financial gains we can get through them. Remember they are out there for business. They are not going to pay out of their pockets so obviously they cannot live up to their tall claims. Think wise and smart. It is good to invest in small time lesser-known ventures but at the same time it is better to be safe. After all prevention is better than cure.
Aiming to save money on our credit cards should be something that we all should be doing. This can be done by switching your credit card to one that has a 0% interest free offer on balance transfers and purchases, or simply playing a credit card game such as “stoozing”. The term stoozing is used to describe the practice of using the credit limit you receive on a credit card to make money by transferring the balance to high interest savings account.
It can be so much simpler to save money without having to go through all of these games and switching from one credit card issuer to the next. Many people while on holiday use their credit card to either make purchases or to withdraw cash from an ATM. This is one credit card usage you should always avoid.
Your credit card will incur a load of different charges when it is used abroad, which will be adding up on the bill when you return from your trip. Many of these charges you will not even be aware of, as many of us do not even realise that the charges exist.
Every purchase incurs a foreign usage fee…
Did you know that you could be charged by up to £2.00 a transaction on your credit card for every transaction that you make or £1.50 if it’s a debit card? This is bad enough, but you could also be getting charged interest from the moment that you have made the purchase, even though when you are back home you will not be charged interest from anything up to59 days. So if you have purchased goods or paid for your meals using your credit card when you first arrived, then depending on how long you are away the interest has already built up by the time that you return home.
Every cash withdrawal from an ATM is charged interest immediately…
If you use the card in an ATM, you could be facing further charges, as we already know we are charged for using our credit cards in a hole-in-the-wall here. So it is going to be much more expensive to use the card in an ATM on your vacation in a foreign country and are charged at a higher level than a credit card transaction in a store or restaurant.
For credit card advice please visit here http://www.creditcards-gb.co.uk/creditcardadvice.html
The best thing to do is contact your credit card issuer and find out where they stand regarding the charges that they make when using your credit card abroad. When you add up the details, you may very well find that travellers cheques or changing the your cash to the currency of where you are travelling to will be a whole lot cheaper and easier on the finances.
Remember…
1) Avoid using your credit card to withdraw cash from an ATM (you are charged interest immediately) 2) Every you make with your credit card incurs a foreign usage fee (there are some exceptions) 3) Some credit card issuers charge interest on foreign purchases as soon as they are made
We are getting to this time of year again, when your credit card is used a lot more than at any other time of the year. So much so that if it is not the credit card that is screaming for mercy then you will be when that first credit card statement after the festivities, falls on the doormat.
So what are the things that we can do to make this time of year be such a pleasure, that we are not dreading the Christmas period next year?
Make repayments cover the interest…
Here is a few suggestions that you should follow to make your Christmas remain white and not for it to cause you to go in to the red. Firstly, learn to know when you are over spending and you can see that you are accumulating debt that you cannot sustain. The first signs of this will be when the repayments that you making to your monthly statements, are only covering the cost of the interest charges. Check this out, for example if you are paying £200 towards your bill each month, look to see how much of this cash is actually going towards clearing the balance and how much is going on interest payments.
Stay away from minimum payments…
Secondly, do not stick to the minimum payments set by the credit card company, this will only see you slide further into debt at a much quicker rate. The credit card issuers have in recent years lowered the minimum payment; it now stands at 2% or a minimum of £5 of the total bill, this has dropped from the 5% that used to be the norm with repayments. The credit card issuers have looked to maximise profits by giving their customers they lower minimum repayments, meaning that they could spend more. This though is a false economy to the customer, as it only means that the less they pay back the more that the credit card companies make in interest charges.
This will lead to you struggling to actually reduce your debt, with the minimum payment being all that you can afford, if this is the case, STOP using the credit card immediately and look for ways in which you can reduce the debt as quickly and pain free as possible.
Use a 0% balance transfer card…
One way to do that is with a 0% Balance Transfer. Most credit cards are offering this facility at the moment and would be a good option to give you a little breathing space as with regards to the interest your bill will accumulate each month.
You will get credit card companies giving you 0% on a Balance Transfer from anything from 6 months to a year, which will stop you racking up any more interest on an already heavy burden. However, there is one thing that you should refrain from doing and that is using the credit card to make any more purchases, by doing so everything that you are striving to do to get your finances back to somewhere near normal, will only see you fall through a debt trapdoor that will slam shut, with no way out.
If you succeed in reducing your debt, learn from what went before and curb the level of spending on credit cards and work within a limit that you feel you are comfortable and manageable and in doing so you will be able to use your credit card to your advantage and not filling the already bulging coffers of the credit card companies.
For credit card advice please visit here http://www.creditcards-gb.co.uk/creditcardadvice.html
Follow these simple steps and have a wonderful Christmas
1) Regulate your spending 2) Ensure your repayments at least cover the interest accrued 3) Do not stick to minimum payments! (Very important) 4) Look at some of the 0% balance transfer deals
Getting the best deal on a credit card is not always about jumping from one 0% APR card to another and getting a bad name for you. As you will because the credit card companies are getting wise to this and are beginning to refuse serial jumpers their credit card application.
This though is not aimed at those who up until now have found it easy to get their hands on any credit card that they choose; this article is aimed at those who find it extremely difficult to get their hands on a credit card at all and can only dream of taking advantage of all the 0% interest deals that are out there.
Your low credit rating can affect your application…
This is down to the fact that many potential credit card customers have such a low credit scoring that the credit card issuers; see them as too much of a credit risk. So they ultimately refuse issuing those with a low credit scoring the cards, as they only want those, who they see as profit making customers. This can even happen to you if you have no debt and never have had debt, as the credit card lenders only go on credit information that is held on you on their data bases. So if you have no credit history, they will more readily refuse you one of their cards.
What you have to remember though, is that you should not take your anger out on the credit card company as you have no divine right to expect them to let you borrow their cash just because you want it, they have to be sure that you are a worthy credit risk. To combat this, the first thing that you should not do is to apply again and again to different credit cards, credit agencies or banks for loans, this will only dig the hole deeper for yourself. The next time you apply for any type of credit it will be known that you have applied before and been rejected in the past, so they will find they’re answer easier to come by.
Get your credit rating background…
What you should do is contact a credit reference agency, to see where you are going wrong and maybe find the reason why the credit cards are not letting you handle they’re plastic. Ask the credit card company who have refused you, which credit reference agency they use, this will normally be one of two the main ones which are Equifax and Experian. Once you have ascertained which one it is, you can write to them asking for a detailed run down of your credit history. This will normally cost a couple of pounds, but will be a worthwhile practice to help you get your credit scoring back up.
Once that you have found out where you have gone wrong in the past, you can then begin working on getting your credit scoring up. You may wonder as how this can be done if you are not allowed credit, but by keeping your household bills up to date and paid on time, making sure that you can prove where you live, make sure that you are on the electoral role and make sure that you never lie on your application for credit. These are all simple things and if followed through, you will not only find that your credit rating will go up, you will also be able to build on it and be able to one day get the best credit card deals and when you want them.
When it comes to life the majority are always assuming, and the most of them assume the worst. Creditors, debtors or anyone today all base their theories on assumptions and assumptions from the beginning of time have caused nothing but failure. When people fail to pay their bills on time, many of the creditors assume that the debtor does not have the means to pay the debt. Many creditors with the assumption that you are not capable of paying your bills will often set up an arrangement or else lower the amount so that you can repay the debt. This is a step to credit repair, however it takes you to contact the creditors to let them know your situation. If you have several bills on hand and all the bills are pressing it makes sense to payoff the debt that benefits you the most. After this bill is paid you can set aside an amount the following paycheck to payoff another of the bills. Once you follow this strategy it allows you to work your bills down gradually thus repairing your credit. If you don’t have the funds to repay the entire bill at most pay the minimum amount so that you can continue using the service. Most debtors assume they are in debt and there is nothing they can do to resolve the problems that plague their lives everyday. Creditors are always on their back, and their paychecks are never enough to make ends meet. This is the process of giving up on life. When we give up it often leads to stress. The answer is often in front of them or comes somewhere down the line. Sometimes we see Credit Counseling or Debt Consolidation advertisings and think, ‘how can they help me.” The fact is Debt Consolidation is only a lead to get creditors off your back for a moment. Credit Counselors are more prone to help you find a solution to repairing your credit. Credit Counselors is the solution when you don’t see a way out on your own. The professionals work closely with your creditors, you, and work toward a resolve. This is certainly a way to get creditors off your back, work out an agreement with your debts, and reduce the stress level that comes along with financial burdens. Some of the Credit Counseling Services offer a low fee for their services and provide you with a financial managing solution. The services often offer help with managing your money, as well as offering counseling to homeowners, students, and so on. There are many solutions for debt relief so the key then is not assuming the worst. Again the main solution is paying off the debts that are considered priorities. If you have secured loans it is always wise to find a way to pay these bills first. Unsecured loans pose a threat, but nothing compared to secured debts. Some of the nonessential bills can include credit cards. Although you are responsible for this bill, however the worst that happens with credit cards is that you loose your privileges. Check your terms & agreements, since some credit cards may allow you to pay the interest on the cards. This will give you the time you need to find a solution for paying off the card. Some cards may even allow you to pay the minimum balance on the card and allow you to keep the card in your possession. If you have credit cards you might want to consider paying your bills, which will give you time to repay the credit card. Pay the maximum amount on the credit card before the bill comes in so that you have funds available to pay your bills the following month in case you don’t have the funds available. There is always a solution, so never assume that you can’t deal with any problem. You might want to cut back on some of your spending so that you will have extra cash when those bills come in also. Cutting back only provides a solution for gaining money and repairing your credit. Get more money articles at http://www.click4money.net and http://www.earn4clicks.com
Normally, when you're looking to consolidate credit card debt you have the following options: get a debt consolidation loan -or- apply for a home equity loan. But if your credit card debt is still manageable, you may want to consider consolidating your balances to a 0% APR credit card instead. Using a 0% APR credit card will help you spend more money paying off your balances, and less on interest charges!
To use a 0% APR credit card to pay off your debts, follow these steps:
1.) Transfer your existing credit card balances to a new 0% APR credit card. 2.) Continue to pay down your balance as usual. But instead of paying only the minimum each month, also pay the amount of interest you would have paid with your other card. This will reduce your debt even quicker! 3.) Watch your introductory period. When it's about to expire, shop around for a new 0% APR credit card and transfer your balances again. 4.) Continue this cycle until you become debt free!
0% APR Credit Cards vs. Debt Consolidation:
So you're considering a debt consolidation loan instead of a 0% APR credit card. Let's see how much you could save and how much quicker you could pay off your debt using the method shown above. Here's an example:
Assume you have an existing credit card debt of $15,000. You would like to pay $250 per month until the debt is paid off. Your debt consolidation loan was approved at 7% (much lower than your original 12% credit card!).
Beginning Balance $15,000 Total Principal Year 1 $2,014 Total Principal Year 2 $2,160 Total Principal Year 3 $2,316 Total Principal Year 4 $2,483 Total Principal Year 5 $2,662 Total Principal Year 6 $2,855 Total Interest Paid $3,516
Total Amount Paid: $18,516 TOTAL # Payments Made: 70
Now let’s compare paying off this same debt using 0% APR cards
Beginning Balance $15,000 Total Principal Year 1 $3,600 Total Principal Year 2 $3,600 Total Principal Year 3 $3,600 Total Principal Year 4 $3,600 Total Principal Year 5 $ 600 Total Interest Paid $ 0
Total Amount Paid: $15,000 TOTAL # Payments Made: 50
You save $3516 over a six year period! Plus you'll be done with your payments 15 months sooner! Imagine being debt free over a year before you planned!
Words of Advice:
Although using 0% credit cards to pay down your debt is a great option, try not to switch credit cards too frequently. Doing so can negatively impact your credit report. Shop around for 0% APR credit cards that have the longest introductory periods and the lowest APRs (after the intro period) to buy you a little breathing room. Also, don't fall into the trap of spending again on your old credit cards. Either close them or deactivate them so that you don't get yourself into further debt. And don't overspend with your new card either (even if it is 0%)! Finally, make sure you apply the money you saved on interest to your new payments to help eliminate your debt faster.
Christmas is almost upon us once again and the worry of meeting the demands that it has on our finances comes to the fore. Many will get themselves into a level of debt that they cannot sustain and if it’s paid for with your current credit card or god forbid a store card, then the expenditure will be worse with the addition of the interest charges that come with your plastic.
Use your credit card wisely…
This does not mean we should be avoiding using our plastic over the festive season, far from it, as apart from having the cash to pay for your goods and leaving you without any debt, the credit card is the next best thing in getting your gifts, festive food and drink in, without the interest being a problem.
So how do you fancy getting all of this and interest free for nine or twelve months? Well if you need that bit of breathing space and the Christmas period sorted interest free, then taking advantage of one of the credit card that are offering a 0% introductory offer on purchases. These will help ease the burden and will give you up to 12 months to pay it off, or in other words just in time for Santa coming back next year!
Keep clear of store cards…
Doing it this way rather than using your current credit card will mean that you could save around £75 in interest payments if you spent in the region of £500, which is being claimed that as a nation we spend on average per person. Do not use a store card to make any purchases as the majority of these credit cards come with an APR as high as 29.9%.
Other methods that you could use to accommodate your Christmas shopping could be an overdraft, but always remember to speak to your bank first, as going in to the red without the permission of the bank, will only see you face charges that could see you having to pay a hefty interest of almost 30%.
Use a 0% credit card
So the best bet to deal with Christmas this year is to take advantage of a 0% on purchases credit card and budget for what you will have to pay back each month, so that when the 0% period is over, you will have a clear balance and no interest payments to meet, before you have to start dealing with next year and starting all over again.
So get applying now and have your Christmas sorted and worry free before the big day is upon you.
A credit card minimum payment means that you can spend more and pay as little back as the credit card issuer will allow you. Sounds great in theory but it is a system that will turn out to be your worse nightmare. If you stick to it before long you will find that you have reached your limit, have nothing left to spend and all the while your past purchases are totting up interest charges. These sequence of events make your minimum payments so high, that you can only afford to pay back the interest charges and your debt remains the same, with no light at the end of the tunnel as to how you are going to clear it.
This is where the credit card companies have gotten wise and by reducing the minimum payment steadily from 10% on original credit cards to the 2% that most now have set, they have seen a way of making as much profit from you and I as possible. By reducing the minimum payment to such a low level, they have given the customer a false picture on how much they can spend on their credit cards and how much they can really afford. With the minimum payment now sitting at 2%, those who cannot clear their credit cards in full each month, will now see interest charges being added to interest charges, as their balance increases month by month.
To reduce your debt stop using your credit card
This is a position that many find themselves in and by noticing it early on you could be saving yourself a lot of grief and a good bit of money. If you are there at this point, then the best thing that you can do is to stop using the credit card altogether and start to look at ways to reduce your outstanding debt. Even if you find that you have to cut back on other expenditure, you should deal with a debt that is a drain to your finances and by saving now on a few luxuries it will be to your advantage. As you pay off you balance quicker you will save more in interest charges.
Always remember that by paying minimum payments and minimum payments only, you are playing a very dangerous game with your hard earned cash. So why should you work many hours a week just to feed the profits of a bank or credit card issuer, who will be your friend until such a time you cannot afford to pay back the cash that they let you borrow.
Credit cards are a great way to spend money that you do not have and we all know that so it is nothing new to us. A credit card is a spending tool that many of us would feel as if we had had a limb cut off if we could no longer have one, would also ring true to a lot of people.
Start Making Money
There are ways to make money from credit cards, rather than them being a drain on your finances. One such way that many may do not know about is the 0% “Super Balance Transfer”, another step up from the 0% Balance Transfer, which lets you move your debt around to save you from paying interest charges. The 0% “Super Balance Transfer” allows you to pay other debts.
This is how it works, a 0% “Super Balance Transfer” can be used to pay off any debts that you have that are not credit card related. This is done by paying the money that you will get from the new credit card straight into your bank account, leaving you free to pay off any manner of debt that you have, this is where it differs from the normal 0% Balance Transfer facility.
You can pay off any debt that suits
This cash can also be transferred into your account even if you are free from any debt, which means that you can place your credit limit into a high savings account, then once the 0% interest period is almost over, you take the cash that the credit card company “lent” you and pay it back into and thus clearing the credit card debt. Always remember though that while this cash is lying in your savings account gathering interest you will still have to meet the minimum payment set by the credit card issuer, which is normally 2% of the balance or a minimum of £5.00.
The golden rule! Do not use this card to make purchases!
Once you have paid off the credit card you will be left with a profit for borrowing someone else’s cash, but what you have to remember is that you don’t spend on the credit card, this will only eat into the profits that are there to be made and could defeat the whole purpose of why you were doing it in the first place.
Finding the credit card companies who offer this service wont be too difficult, but most will require a fee to transfer your credit limit into your account, this will normally be a 2% charge to a maximum of £50, though you may find that a few credit card companies will not be charging as much as this.
Cash back credit cards are a fantastic way for you to make some cash while spending on your credit card, although it does only suit the customers who pay their bill in full at the end of each month.
A cash back credit card will give you the chance to earn as you spend, as a percentage is returned to you on an annual basis for every pound that you have spent. This is usually set at between 0.5% and 2% depending on how generous the credit card lender is. I cannot stress enough, you must be able to pay off your credit card statement in full each month, and this is the only way that a cash back credit card will work for you.
If you are a borrower then a cash back credit card will only cost you, even though you will be earning a little back, you will find that this will be eaten up and more by the interest charges, which are usually on a higher scale of APR.
Is a cash back credit card for everyone?
By not incurring the interest payments, then for every pound that you spend on the card you will see a little coming back to you. If you pay your credit card balance in full every month, then why not switch to a cash back credit card. A cash back credit card is a fantastic opportunity to reward you for spending money!
There is a word of warning that will come with this though, if you decide that you want to balance transfer a amount from your existing credit card company on to a cash back credit card, then you should try and avoid this. As a matter of fact avoid it altogether, as any payments you make to the credit card will only go on to pay the amount transferred and interest will only mount up on any purchases that you have made on the credit card. You will then be paying back more than the cash back card is making you.
Here are some of the best deals
There are a few good deals on the go right now, with the Amex Blue cash back card the Amex Platinum and the First Trust Bank cards worthy at a look if you decide that a cash back credit card is for you.
So if you have a clear statement at the end of each month then go for it and make that bargain in the sales save you even more cash.
The spate of credit card offers and leaflets that most of us receive through the post or in our daily newspapers, which promise us unlimited spending power and in some cases blank cheques, has threw up a major surprise and that is the way that small businesses are using personal credit cards that you or I use for granted in our daily personal use, to finance their business practices.
Many are doing this to the tune of almost £2 Billion a month and this is not getting spent on business expenses that they can claim back from the company coffers. The biggest uses are travel or entertainment. The personal credit cards are being used to fund the workings of the everyday running of the business and in some cases the company car is being charged to the credit card.
This has all come about because of the easy access to credit card lenders funds, which are put under our noses at every turn. You cannot even go to a supermarket or shopping mall without being accosted by some credit card sales representative offering you the chance of spending someone else’s cash.
So all in all it is hardly surprising that many people who either have to fund a small business or wish to start one, would feel this to be an easier road to go down, rather than sitting in front of the local friendly neighbourhood bank manager and having to explain all the little details on why you need a loan, while asking you to offer up guarantees. The guarantees enable them to be able to get their cash back and this could mean putting your home up as collateral if it all backfires.
So all of this makes the applying for the credit cards the easy option, as it quite easy to apply to credit cards and see yourself with a spending power of thousands and thousands of pounds with an amount as much as £50,000 easily attainable. So much easier than applying to the bank for this amount of backing! There a simple reason for this and that is that the bank, even if you think that they are killing your business plan, have to look at all the pros and cons to your claim and will access things that may even go wrong that you have not even considered or put into your business plan, before they will loosen the purse strings.
By doing this, the banks are also protecting you, yep that’s right protecting you from any irresponsible borrowing that may lead to you falling into a debt that you simply cannot find away out of. By going to the bank, you will be protecting yourself personally and if you are going the way of a limited company, with the assets of the business alone being the sole contributor of any debts owed, where as if you go down the personal credit card route, you will in no doubt find that a couple of big burly bailiffs, will come a Knocking at your door and start taking stock of you and your families belongings and that would be a tad more harder to take than a NO from your bank manager.
Around £6billion a year is lost due to credit card users not understanding how their credit card works. Too many people are dazzled by the latest deals offered by credit card companies and end up paying more than they should, simply because of a lack of any real understanding on how the introductory deal works that they took advantage of.
Millions of us have taken advantage of these offers, which include low promotional rates and the favourite one for the credit card issuers (until it came back to haunt them) the 0% deals on balance transfers or on both purchases and balance transfers, but recent research has revealed that those of us who do not understand the workings of these deals, could be costing ourselves £200 extra in interest payments.
Why am I getting charged interest?
The main reason for this is that most credit card companies always put the payments that you make towards the cheapest debt first and with many making use of the 0% balance transfer deals. When you switch your existing debt from one lender to another to save on interest repayments, the lender will pay the balance transfer deal first, as this is the debt that is carrying the lowest interest rate and any new purchases made on the card will mount up. All new purchases made are charged at the standard APR.
How does this happen?
Lets give you an example of this to make it a little clearer, for talking sake say you have a debt of £3,500 on your credit card and it consists of a balance you have transferred from another credit card company to the value of £2,000, you have made new purchases of £1,000, using the card in the standard way and withdrew cash from ATM’s to the tune of £500, with you paying back your card the money will be put towards the balance transfer first and the new purchases and cash withdrawals will be taking on the interest charges right away, which could leave you paying £200 more in interest repayments.
Earlier in the article I said that most credit card companies work this way, which means there are some that do not, most notably included in those who do not are Nationwide and the HSBC Black card, who revert to paying the most expensive debt first, leaving the lower APR debt unpaid until such a time as when the more expensive debt is cleared, which is a fairer and less sneakier way of attributing someone’s payments to their debts, where as the others are only taking away the goodness of the deal that they have offered you in the first place, by giving you in one hand and taking it away from the other.
What can I do to stop paying excess interest?
When dealing with these deals read the small print, as it always makes sense of where you stand when it comes to your finances, as knowing where you are in terms of your repayments will save you the cash that you were trying to save in the first place, though always having a clear balance at the end of each month is always the ideal scenario, but as we all know life and our finances are not always that simple.
Some Contacts Nationwide http://www.nationwide.co.uk HSBC http://www.hsbc.co.uk Credit Card Advice http://www.creditcards-gb.co.uk
An investigation organized by Egg says consumers have greatly underestimated the amount that credit cards are used throughout the United Kingdom, what this means is consumers are spending a lot more than they think. The investigation revealed that when consumers thought they had spent was £236billion was in fact £437 billion, some difference!
How come there is such a big difference?
Well most of us usually pay for everything with the plastic card and find it hard to keep track of what we spend.
Most people have more than one credit card and a lot of them transfer their balances from time to time to get the best interest rate, so when you are working with two or more credit cards it’s easy to miscalculate how much you’re spending, and with so many different payment options for you to choose from you can see how there can be such a difference in what we spend, over £200billion! scary or what?
Another question you have to ask is, if we do not know what is in our accounts how do we know we are not getting ripped off?
Six out of ten consumers didn’t know how much was in their accounts so money could be taken out and they would have no idea. Mind you some would say (not me you understand) if you don’t keep track of your money you deserve to have it pinched.
The British Bankers Association revealed that by the end of September, credit card sales had fallen for the last two months indicating that consumers are being careful, but with Christmas around the corner I am sure the credit card sales will be up and we will have another bumper spending spree with the plastic cards.
So the question was, are we underestimating what we are spending? well the facts definitely say yes!
So what should we do about it well keep a tighter grip on your accounts, double check what’s coming in and out and make sure everything balances at the end of the month.
Ah, the "good old days". If you are a baby boomer, like me, then you probably remember how important it was to rush to the bank on payday. You had to get there before the teller lanes closed so that you could have your "cash allowance" for the week. Otherwise, if you needed cash you had to write a check, then go to the bank, and "cash" the check for real cash.
Fortunately the days of the mad rush to get cash from the bank are long gone. We now enjoy the convenience of using a nearby automatic teller machine (ATM) or you can even get "cash back" at your local grocery, hardware or convenience store.
The card you use at the ATM is known as a debit card. When debit cards first appeared it was easy to tell them apart from credit cards. Debit cards didn't have a credit card company logo on them; instead, they usually just had your bank name, your account number and your name.
Today debit cards look exactly like credit cards even carrying the same logos. Both types of cards can be swiped at the checkout counter , used to make purchases on the internet, or to pay for the fill-up at the gas pump.
When you use your debit card to make a purchase, it's just like using cash. The account that is attached to your debit card, in most cases your checking account, is automatically debited when you use your debit card. The cost of your purchase is deducted from the funds you have in that account.
On the other hand, when you use your credit card to make a purchase you are using someone's else's money, specifically the issuer of the credit card, usually a banking institution.
In effect, you agree to pay them back the money you borrowed to make your purchase. In addition you will also pay interest on the money "loaned" to you at the rate which you agreed to when you applied for their credit card. This is known as the annual percentage rate (APR).
While the two cards might act and look alike, the levels of consumer protection that each type of card provides can be different.
Under federal law, if someone steals your credit card you're only responsible to pay the first $50 of unauthorized charges. However, if you notify the credit card issuer before a thief is able to make any charges you may be free from all liability. If the credit card is not physically present when an unauthorized or fraudulent purchase is made, such as over the internet, you're also free from liability for those charges.
MasterCard and Visa offer zero-liability protection where you won't pay any charges if someone uses your credit card to make an unauthorized purchase.
The protection offered to debit card fraud is similar but with a few exceptions. For example, your liability under federal law is limited to $50, the same as for a credit card, but only if you notify the issuer within two business days of discovering the card's loss or theft. Your liability for debit card fraud can jump up to $500 if you don't report the loss or theft within two business days.
And if you are the type of person that gives a passing glance to your monthly bank statement, you could be totally liable for any fraudulent debit card charges if you wait 60 days or more from the time your statement is mailed.
Visa and MasterCard zero-liability protection applies to your debit card but only for transactions that do not involve the use of your PIN (personal identification number).
Additional protection against fraudulent use of your credit or debit cards may be available through your homeowner's or renter's insurance. Check your policy or with your agent for more information about your coverage.
Also be aware that you should contact your card issuer by certified letter, return receipt requested, after you've contacted them by phone to protect your consumer rights.
As for which card to use for what type of purchase, most experts agree that you should use your debit card for the same type of purchases you'd make as if you were using cash. Therefore, it makes more sense to use your debit card than your credit card at the grocery store or gas station (provided you have sufficient funds to cover these purchases of course).
Avoid using your debit card for any online purchase or for something which is expensive. Why ? You'll find it much easier to dispute a charge when you use your credit card. If your gold-plated, limited edition, hip-swinging Elvis wall clock arrives broken, your credit card company will remove the charge until the problem is resolved.
With your debit card you are stuck dealing with the merchant directly to resolve any problems with a purchase, even if your banking institution could really use a gold-plated, limited edition, hip-swinging Elvis wall clock of their very own.
There's only one way to discover the "health" of your credit. You need to examine your credit report. Your credit report is your "consumer identity" that potential lenders will use to judge your credit worthiness.
Use these tips to give your credit profile the "tune-up" it needs for 2003.
Tip #1- Check for Errors Your credit report or profile is more than just a collection of who your creditors are and how much you owe them or have paid them.
The first thing you need to do is carefully check that your credit report is accurate. Nearly 70% of credit reports contain errors.
These errors may be as simple as an incorrect middle initial or address. Or it could be as serious as a creditor reporting that you were late with a payment when in fact you were not late at all.
This error might not seem like a big deal to you. However,to a future lender like a mortgage company it makes a big difference !
Carefully examine your credit report and if you find an error contact your creditor and the credit bureaus. Catch and correct these errors now before it hurts your chances of securing credit in the future.
Tip #2 - Correcting Errors The two most common errors contained in credit reports are: 1) wrong account information 2) incorrect recording of late payments.
If you find an account reported that does not belong you, you need to contact the credit grantor or issuer immediately. Remember, finding accounts that you have not personally opened is a sign of possible identity theft.
Hopefully you'll discover that this error is nothing more than an oversight and not an identity theft problem. Most often this occurs when they report an account belonging to a family member or someone with a similar name on your credit report.
If your problem is an error in reporting a late payment you will need proof to back up your case before this error can be corrected or removed. The most common error occurs when a payment is reported as "late" when it was actually a current or "on time" payment.
In either case, the problem can and should be corrected. You will need to correct the error in writing. Keep a journal or log of all calls and correspondence.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires the credit bureaus and the agency reporting the information to the credit bureau to correct inaccurate information in your credit report. Therefore, it is important that you contact both the credit bureau and the creditor whose information is in dispute.
A sample letter is included here to help you in correcting your credit profile. Make sure that you clearly identify the information that you dispute, include copies of receipts or documents that support your position. Then request that the information be corrected or deleted from your file.
Send your letter by certified mail and request a return receipt from the recipient. Keep all correspondence that you mail out. Give the agencies involved 30 days to begin their investigation. You can call them but be aware that phoning them does not protect your consumer rights! You must notify them in writing to protect your rights.
They must notify you of the results of their investigation. Although the process will take time, it's important to do it. This is your credit profile, your "consumer identity" that is at stake. Don't expect an error to correct itself.
At your request, the credit bureaus must send notices of corrections to your credit profile to anyone who has requested your report in the last six months. If you applied for a job and were turned down because of inaccurate information in your credit report, you can have the corrected report mailed to anyone who received a copy in the past two years.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Sample Dispute Letter Date
Your Name Your Address Your City, State, Zip Code
Complaint Department Name of Credit Reporting Agency Address City, State, Zip Code
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am writing to dispute the following information in my file. The items I dispute are also encircled on the attached copy of the report I received. (Identify item(s) disputed by name of source, such as creditors or tax court, and identify type of item, such as credit account, judgment, etc.)
This item is (inaccurate or incomplete) because (describe what is inaccurate or incomplete and why). I am requesting that the item be deleted (or request another specific change) to correct the information.
Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence if applicable and describe any enclosed documentation, such as payment records, court documents) supporting my position. Please reinvestigate this (these) matter(s) and (delete or correct) the disputed item(s) as soon as possible.
Sincerely, Your name
Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing)
Originally Posted at http://www.ftc.gov/
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Tip #3 - Budget Planning You can also use your credit report to help you plan and implement a personal budget. Your credit report will show you where you are spending your hard earned dollars. While the credit card balances may not be completely current, you'll still see which of your cards has the highest balance outstanding.
If you have more than one major credit card you should compare the annual percentage rate (APR) you are paying on each account. If you are working on a budget to "pay down" your credit cards, start by paying down the one with the highest APR or interest.
Once that credit account is paid off, move toward paying off the account with the second highest APR. Using this method you will be able to concentrate your efforts toward paying down your outstanding credit obligations.
You should also check with your credit card company to see what's the best annual percentage rate (APR) they can offer you. If you are a good customer, you can often qualify for a lower rate than what you are currently being offered.
Caution: Ask if the new rate you are getting is a "promotional" rate or a "contract" rate. A promotional rate will expire at the end of the promotional term, for example 6 months. A contract rate does not have an "expiration" as long as you continue to meet the terms outlined by your creditor for that rate.
Tip #4 - Making a major purchase If you are considering a major purchase such as a car or a home, checking your credit report gives you the chance to see what a potential lender sees and uses to judge your credit worthiness.
You want to make sure that your credit report is accurate before you apply for that sports car or new home. Errors or problems can be corrected before your lender can use those against you and deny your credit request. You'll also have a better idea of what type or rate of credit you should expect from a potential lender.
Tip #5 - Check your credit report regularly Check your credit report regularly. Guard your "consumer identity" as you would anything else you treasure. Use your credit wisely, along with these tips, and you will enjoy the benefits that your good credit and your good name deserve now - and for years to come.
Identity Theft scams continue to flourish on the web. One that you need to be aware of and beware of is any site that seems to be selling high-demand items (digital cameras for instance) at a much lower (almost unbelievable) price than you can find on other sites or the manufacturer's site.
Often the victim's are told to pay nothing until they receive the merchandise. The person behind the scam uses the victim's name and a credit card number belonging to another person to purchase the item at a legitimate site.
Once the item is shipped, the victim then authorizes his credit card to be billed or sends payment directly to the scammer. The scammer has now put you in the position of being in receipt of stolen merchandise while they get away with your money.
Another scam that still seems to be working is being contacted through e-mail by someone claiming to be from your credit card company, your internet service provider, Paypal, or Ebay.
The scammer will send a message stating that your account information needs to be verified because their files were hacked into, their database crashed or they believe that someone has tried to steal your account information and they want to verify your information in order to protect your account. The con artist then uses the information supplied to "verify" your account to run up fraudulent charges.
NEVER give personal information to a company, such as AOL or Ebay, that already has it. If you are suspicious about being contacted, contact the company yourself before giving out any personal information.
I have three major credit card accounts that I've had for many years. The other night I was reconciling my monthly statements and noticed a large discrepancy in the APR's (annual percentage rate) I was paying on these three accounts.
My first card, card "A", has an APR of 8.9%; card "B" has an APR of 9.9%; and card "C" has an APR of 17.9% -Ouch ! I knew I had to see what I could do about this"out of range" interest rate on card "C". So I considered a couple of options.
One choice would be to transfer or switch the balance on card "C" to a new card with a lower APR. This would be very easy to do since I had received several pre-approved credit card offers earlier in the week. They included "convenience checks" that I could use to payoff that high APR credit card, thereby transferring that balance to a new account.
I decided against this option however because I didn't really want to add another account to my credit profile. Your credit score, that "magic number" that establishes your credit-worthiness to merchants can be affected negatively by having too many accounts.
So instead I decided to contact the issuer of credit card "C" to see what they could do about that 17.9% APR which seemed so out of line with my two other credit card accounts. I reasoned this was the better of the two options before me since I've already established a relationship with this company; a relationship which included many years of on-time payments which reflects positively in my credit profile with the credit bureaus.
I called the 800 number and talked to a very a nice gentleman. I explained to him the reason for my call; two other credit card issuers offered me a much more reasonable interest rate and so I'd like to see what his company could offer to me.
I wasn't surprised when he replied that he could lower my current rate from 17.9% to 15.9%. Since the credit card company makes a profit from the interest rate they charge I didn't expect to be offered the best or lowest rate right off the bat. I prepared myself to have to do a little negotiating.
And so I reminded him that my account was in good standing and had been for many years now. I had not made any late payments and always made more than the minimum payment due.
Again he informed me that the best he could offer was a rate of 15.9% that would be good until August 2003. So now not only was I not feeling like I was getting a very good deal but this new rate would only be a "promotional" rate !
I remained calm and friendly, knowing that yelling at him or telling him what a "lousy" company he worked for would be counterproductive to my end goal - a lower and better APR for this account. I thanked him for his time but told him I didn't feel this was a very good offer.
And then the "magic" happened. He asked if I would like to speak to an account manager and that perhaps they could better assist me. I thanked him for his time and assistance and was then transferred to an account manager.
I explained my dilemma to her and reasoned with her that as a good customer I expected a much better rate. She empathized with me and then offered to upgrade my account to their platinum status which carried an APR of 9.9% ! In addition, the platinum card offered many more benefits and had no annual fee. She also assured me that this was a "contract rate" and not a promotional rate. I would keep the same account number so I would not be opening a "new" account but simply upgrading my current account status.
Next time you are reconciling your monthly statements take a close look at the various APR's you are paying. If you notice a disparity in the rates you are paying, call your card issuers and negotiate a better rate. My persistence paid off. Be persistent - it can pay off for you too !
Sue is a homeowner and pays her mortgage and other bills on time like a good credit consumer. Sue's on-time mortgage payments are reflected in her credit score profiled by the three major credit bureaus; Equifax, Experian and Trans Union.
Joe on the other hand is a renter, who wants to buy his first home in the near future. He pays his rent on time every month as well as his phone and utility bills. Joe is also a good credit consumer but his on-time payments are not reflected in his credit profiles. Why? Because the major credit reporting agencies are not set up to track this type of payment and therefore they are not reflected in Joe's credit score. Chances are good that Joe's credit score will be lower than Sue's because his on-time rent payments go untracked by the credit bureaus.
As a result Joe will be quoted a higher interest rate and higher fees to his lender when he applies for his first home mortgage. Seems a bit unfair doesn't it? The good news for Joe and other renters like him is that the credit reporting system is about to change.
In a recent Chicago Tribune article, reporter Kenneth R. Harney points to the creation of a new national credit bureau whose "sole mission is to track the payments that nobody else tracks." The new credit reporting agency PRBC (Pay Rent, Build Credit) wants to build credit files on as many as 10 million renters nationwide over the next 5 years.
According to PRBC's founder and chief executive Michael Nathans, the new bureau will earn revenue by selling supplemental credit reports to lenders. CitiMortgage, Inc., one of the nation's major home lenders, is already a subscriber of the new service.
Some other highlights of PRBC's service include:
- 24/7 access to online files by consumers, free of charge. - Consumers must give permission to have their files accessed by lenders. - Consumers can input up to 36 months of documented on-time payments. - They accept payment histories from phone, credit and debit cards so long as the source (merchant) can send a date-stamped electronic receipt of payment. - Many consumers who bank online can have their payment information recorded by PRBC once the bureau becomes fully functional
PRBC can benefit not only renters but also young and minority borrowers who have little or no credit history with the traditional bureaus. "We think we can help create equal credit opportunities for everybody who deserves a a prime rate loan, " Nathans said.
Consumers can register for free with the new bureau online at http://www.payrentbuildcredit.com.
Ask a friend what resolutions they made for 2004 and your bound to hear them reply 'Pay off my credit cards.' Ask them how they planned on reaching that goal and many of them will not have a clear cut answer.
The obvious first step to paying off credit card debt or paying down credit debt load is to cut back or eliminate the use of your credit cards. For some people this first step can often be the most difficult. If you're used to spending freely with plastic and worrying about the consequences later, it's difficult to break free from this 'buy now, pay later' attitude.
To gain control of their careless credit card spending habits, some people cut up their credit cards therefore making it impossible to use them. Others lock up their credit cards or hide them in a safe place and vow to use them only in an emergency.
The second step to paying down credit debt is to pay more than the minimum balance due. Most credit card companies require a minimum monthly payment of 2.5% of the outstanding balance. For example, if you have an outstanding balance of $1100.00 on a credit card charging an Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of 18.9% your minimum monthly payment would be $27.50. It will take you 66 months or 5.5 years to pay off your balance of $1100.00 making the minimum payments. The credit card company will make $676.94 in interest from your use of their credit card.
Monthly payments are purposely kept low by the credit card companies so that they can earn as much as possible from the interest rate charged to you the consumer. Paying just the minimum payment will keep you tangled in credit's web for years and years to come.
If you've been paying only the minimum due month after month, ask yourself this question, 'Do I have an extra $10.00 I could apply to this month's payment?' I'm sure that most of us could find some way to come up with an extra $10.00 for the month. Try cutting out a few cups of coffee or lunches at your nearby fast food outlets and in no time flat you'll have saved up the extra money that you need.
Now, it's time to unveil 'The Simple $10.00 Debt Elimination Solution.' Take that extra $10.00 and add it to the minimum monthly payment above, therefore making a payment of $37.50. By adding just that $10.00 a month to your minimum payment, you'll trim 23 months or nearly two years off of that credit debt! On top of that you'll save $277.00 in interest alone! That's money you can put toward savings or paying off other debts. Imagine how much you'd be able to save if you applied this same simple strategy to each of your other credit card debts!
Paying down credit debt doesn't always mean having to make huge monthly payments or sacrifices. It just takes some basic planning and a simple effective strategy to make it work.
Mark and Beth, a young couple in their twenties, established a goal to buy a home within the first three years of their marriage before starting a family. They used the budget and their money wisely in order to save for the deposit. Whenever they purchased something they always paid cash-no credit cards for them. Why waste money by paying interest to a credit card company?
Within two years they had reached their savings goal and began to look for housing. They found their "American dream" house in a new community with lots of amenities that seemed perfect for their soon-to-be family. They were elated that their years of saving were about to finally gain.
But they met a big problem when they went shopping for a mortgage. Even though they had enough income to make mortgage payments and enough money to pay the down payment, they had no credit history. Lenders FICO score did not assess their creditworthiness in order to offer them a loan. Fair Isaacs Co. Established a system of credit score in the 1980s, and since then FICO scores have been used to determine whether someone will qualify for a mortgage and the interest rate they pay.
More than 50 million American adults fall into the same category, they have too little credit history or no credit history at all. But now, thanks to a new FICO formula called FICO Expansion Score, lenders will now have opportunities to extend credit to consumers based on traditional credit data that are excluded from credit bureau reports.
FICO Expansion will consider a wide range of financial transactions, including payment activities such as rent, deposit accounts, payday loans, book or CD club payment plans, and retail sales plans set aside .
Who stands to benefit from this new scoring model? Anyone who makes little use of banks, credit cards or checking accounts. The bad credit receivables Fair Isaac Co, which includes young adults, low-income consumers, widows or divorcees, and immigrants. And while those in the credit card and mortgage industry see this new scoring model as a potential advantage, credit counseling in the area to prevent potential problems.
Fair Isaac CEO Tom Grudnowski is enthused about his new company credit scoring resource. "This extension of the FICO score gives lenders and other businesses another powerful tool ..., while expanding service options for consumers who have missed opportunities simply because they no have no traditional credit history. '
The opposition, namely debt and credit counselors, see both the good and the bad. Some consumers will benefit by qualifying for less costly credit arrangements. However, other countries could fall victim to too much unless they also receive basic credit and debt education.
Tom Hicks, a credit counselor in Chicago, worries that "the average American household $ 8,000.00 because of credit debt, which could open the door to other people who are not able to s look properly credit. Ultimately the burden lies with the consumer, "he says.
Fair Isaac Co. Believes that at least half of those without traditional credit profiles will benefit from this new method of scoring.
About five years ago, I moved to the ranks of being a tenant to an owner. Now, a week goes by that I do not receive some kind of supply through the mail encouraging me to refinance my mortgage, open a home equity line of credit (HELOC), or apply for a home equity loan.
Debt Payoff high interest credit card! To reduce your monthly payments! Buy a new car! Refinance and obtain money now! Crier slogans splashed across the envelopes.
The interior of the letters point out how it will be easy for me to 'get the extra cash you need! "They promise 'not out of pocket expenses" for a new refinancing 30-year loan.
Could I use some extra cash NOW? I could bet! Who needs a great interest credit card debt? Not me, no way, no way! Buying a new car? Hmmm, I like the new Pontiac G6 I saw on television, perhaps in a sleek titanium-colored with black trim?
For thousands of American families "Home Sweet Home" is quickly replaced by a new confession - "Home Sweet ATM." According to the latest study by the Federal Reserve, 45% of homeowners who refinanced their mortgage fired cash and 74% Liquidated extend their mortgage nearly six years. Only 17% short duration opting ready to reduce 15 years of mortgage.
In a six-year period, Americans have more than doubled the amount owed on the value of loans and lines of credit, nearly $ 766.2 billion, according to the Federal Reserve.
If you are in your 40 and the refinancing to a new 30 years. Ready, you will be in your 70 when your loan ends. Even if you shave a few years by paying off your principle, you are still not risking ownership of your home "free and transparent" with the approach of retirement age.
What happened in the days when your home was reviewed your nest egg must be used only for life-threatening or life-changing to pay for events like the marriage of a child or for a medical emergency ? And worst of all, many new owners are using their home equity as an alternative source of funding for new debts.
Think twice before using home equity to pay off credit card balances. If you are already overspending on your credit card, which makes you think everything will be different after you pay with a loan or a line of credit? Many people simply deepen the liquidation of the debt or facing bankruptcy because they could not resist their charge cards again.
Keep this in mind before you enter your home-your equity or HELOC is loan secured by your home. Default on the loan and you could lose your house, even if you declare bankruptcy!
The best use for home equity is to bring about improvements that add value to your home. Remodeling a kitchen or bathroom, adding an extra room or creating a master suite are just a few of the "hot" improvements that can really pay off when it comes time for you sell.
If your home is your nest egg, how intelligently use its own funds. Make sure it is part of your overall financial plan and golas. Otherwise, you could be left without a nest and just the egg!
college first year Congratulations! You are about to embark on one of the most exciting times of your life. By maintaining your parents, brothers and sisters, and friends have offered all kinds of advice on how to make smooth transition to college-how to get along with your roommate, what classes to take and which to avoid, where to find the best off-campus food, and how to stay safe on campus.
One thing they may not have warned, it is how you will quickly overwhelmed bids credit card. You will find in your textbooks, in your mailbox, and on every campus bulletin boards. You will be provided free DVDs, T-shirts, music downloads, and more in return to complete a credit application.
Why all this fuss over you for a stupid piece of plastic? Because they like to recruit new borrowers, especially in your age. They know, numerous studies, that college students tend to be impulse buyers. And even if your impulse purchases tend to be small pizzas, coffee, beer, CDs, cigarettes, books, etc., these small purchases can be added quickly.
Fifty-four per cent of first-year students and 92% of sophomores have at least one credit card. A recent study shows the average college student graduates with $ 1,500 from $ 3,000 in Credit Card Debt.
Here are seven tips to help you manage your needs college credit card:
1) Go to a card with the lowest fixed percentage rate and a low or no annual fee. Carefully read the fine print many 0% or low introductory offers expire in 6-12 months.
2) NEVER use your credit card for a cash advance. The reimbursement of costs and structure associated with a cash advance is outrageous.
3) Get a budget! Your credit card is not free money. Budget your money so that you can pay off your balance at the end of each month. If you can not pay the balance, always make more than the minimum payment.
4) Pay your bills on time, otherwise you will pay a late fee between $ 25 to 40 every time your late with a payment. Late payments will also increase your chances for having raised your rates on ALL your credit accounts.
5) Ask for a low credit limit, somewhere between $ 700 to $ 1,500. The objective is to have credit available to answer some of your expenses and, in case of emergency.
6) Less is better. You do not need more than one or two cards to the maximum. The more you have the more you will be tempted to use or "max" between them.
7) Consider using a debit card instead. A debit card is linked to your checking account and purchases are automatically deducted from your account balance. Of course, make sure you have money in your account to cover any purchases you make.
Using a credit card is a great responsibility that you are a student or an adult. Managing your credit wisely establishes a positive credit history that will serve you now and in the future.
You may have a rewards credit card, but are you making the most of it? Having a cash-back or miles card is a good resource - make it work for you by putting money back in your pocket. Most people pay their bills every month by check when they could use their credit card instead.
Save at least 1% on all your bills simply by paying them with your credit card. Some debit cards also offer cash-back rewards, so you may be able to use those as well.
Here are a few key points to consider when using this money-saving strategy:
Spend often, Pay Often
The more you use your card, the more your rewards will add up - so spend often. In order to save money, get in the good habit of paying your credit card bills immediately - pay often. When using a system like this you don't want to be paying credit card interest on your bills, that defeats the goal saving money. Paying a few days interest should be ok, but don't let the balance add up to the point where it cancels your rewards savings.
Check your contract
Some cards will not offer you rewards if you make payments too quickly, so check your contract for the minimum period. You want to get rewards for the bills you pay, then repay in full before paying any sizable interest. If in doubt, give a call to your customer service department. You don't need to tell them the whole story, just ask whether you still get your rewards if you pay your balance in full every month.
Bonus: Building Credit
As a bonus, you can improve your credit rating by showing regular activity and payments on your card. Over time this may help qualify you for better interest rates - an added bonus.If you have credit card rewards, you might as well use them.
This "cash-back on bills" strategy won't work for everyone, but if you have the discipline there is money to be saved.