Credit Card Interest Rates – APR

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

As you are most likely already aware that credit card interest rates can be very high with rates of 30% annually, depending on your credit history and credit card issuers are getting more and more diligent watching for late payments and over limits and may raise your interest rates and lower your credit limit because of it.

The annual percentage rate (APR) is the interest rate you will pay if you carry over your balance from month to month, take out a cash advance, or transfer balances from another credit card. If your like most who sometimes may carry over a balance each month, you should be more interested in a credit card that carries a lower interest rate, but the lower interest rate means you need a good credit score. Credit card companies may charge a yearly fee in addition to the interest rate. Many card issuers, including most of the largest credit card issuers, have started lowering interest rates to below the 18 to 19 percent levels that were common through most of the 1980s and early 1990s.

If you have unpaid balances from previous months, there may not be a grace period for your new purchases. The grace period can help you avoid finance charges by paying your balance in-full before the due-date. There is usually one annual percentage rate (APR) for purchases and another for cash advances (usually the highest), and yet another for balance transfers.

The Federal Reserve System surveys credit card companies every six months andhas a easy to understand explanation of commonly used credit card terminology, and a survey of major credit card companies which is updated twice a year. The Federal Reserve plans to require credit card companies to give consumers at least a 45 day notice before they can raise interest rates and to provide clearer info on the fees. The Federal Trade Commissionalso explains credit card terminology but also has information on where and how to file a complaint.

How Many Credit Card Deals You Need?

Sunday, August 29th, 2010

Day by day we get lots of credit card applications in our mail boxes. Banks and credit card companies offer credit card deals for different purposes to fit everyone: reward credit cards, business credit card deals, student credit cards and etc. No matter what your credit history is, you can always find an offer for you.
Using credit cards, we can earn cash back, free movie tickets, discounts, free flights and hotel stays, etc. That is why having one more credit card offer in your mail box it is so easy to yield the temptation to apply for a new credit card deal. But there is a question: how many credit cards you need? Can the number of credit cards you own affect your credit history?
The researches show that most Americans use from five up to ten credit cards. An average American family owes credit card companies around $12,000 when an average household is only $ 50,000. Their credit card debt makes 24% of the annual income and it is without mentioning their car loans and mortgages. Isnt the statistics is alarming?
The main question is: How many credit cards you need? Financial experts believe that two or three credit cards are quite enough and advise credit card owners to limit the number of credit cards they own.
Keep in mind, that your outstanding balance is very important to credit card companies. The balance should be between 25% and 50% of the available credit on each credit card of yours. If you overdraw your balance the potential creditors will hardly have much trust in you.
Before applying for one more credit card, consider the fact that the fewer the number of credit cards you owe, the easier it will be for you to keep control of your balance. Just think, having 3 reward credit cards, 2 gasoline credit cards and a business credit card dealat the same time, you can have many difficulties in keeping under control of your debt on all these cards. However, if you own only two or three cards, you will be able to keep track of your spendings and will know exactly where you stand with your balances!
Using fewer credit cards, you will feel that your credit cards work for you but not you work for them. It can also help you to decrease your entire debt. So, consider your needs and purposes carefully before applying for a new credit card in order to get the card that will fit all your needs. Mind the most important is not to have many credit cards, but to get a credit card that will provide you with all the features you need.

Instant Approval Credit Cards – Instantly Gratifying?

Sunday, August 29th, 2010

Nowadays, instant gratification seems to be everyone’s mantra. People see something that they want and they do not think twice about buying it. “Buy now and pay later” has become a routine practice followed by many people. Today, it seems that all you need is an income to get access to a credit card.

With the advent of electronic communication and the Internet, instant approval has become a prominent feature with credit card applications these days. Simply put, certain card offers maintain an instant approval feature whereby cardholders applying for a credit card get to know immediately whether he/she is eligible for the credit card or not. Many consumers find this method to be convenient as it requires much less, and in some cases, no paper work at all, eliminating the need to physically mail the card application by regular mail, which traditionally takes a much longer time.

Credit Card Instant Approval Facts

In order to prevent confusion when discussing the prospect of a credit card instant approval, one should know the following facts. First of all, the instant approval and the credit card application are two different processes. Getting instant approval is the screening process that the respective banks and credit card companies use to filter out unqualified prospects. If you do qualify, the instant approval merely means that the card company has identified that you are suitable for the card offer, but that does not guarantee that you will be approved for the card itself.

The primary data points or pieces of information that banks or credit card companies will need to process your instant approval request are your name, address, and social security number. Some card issuers will require additional information but those 3 pieces of information will be required by all banks and credit card companies to do the initial screening for instant approval credit cards.

The credit card providers usually target people who have a good credit history. But because of the competitive nature of the credit card business, banks and card issuers today are more likely to extend credit to a wider range of potential consumers with varying degrees of credit history.

Many consumers are very concerned about the safety of providing information online. Credit card issuers that provide application forms online provide highly secure, encrypted environments to safeguard customer information and ensure that cardholders vital information will remain safe throughout the application process.

Primary Advantage of Instant Approval Credit Cards

The primary advantage of instant approval credit cards online is simply a much quicker turnaround on qualification for the actual card offer. While this process is undoubtedly much more convenient than the traditional card application process, many times, however, the bank will need to further investigate the credit worthiness of the applicant and will require additional information before approving the application. So even when applying for instant approval credit cards online, consumers should be patient and realize that although qualifying for an instant approval credit card might be instant, getting approved and gaining access to the credit line most certainly will not be instantly gratifying.

So the bottom line is that while instant approval does hold some significant advantages, an instant approval does not mean instant credit or instant access to money, which is a common misconception of potential cardholders.

Chase.com Credit Card: An New Breed Of Cashless Shopping

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

When people started using plastics as their primary source of financial disbursements when shopping, they did not yet realize its greatest potential until today.

It is only now that consumers learned how to treat credit cards with utmost care and concern as these could be one way to their success or failure.

Consequently, with the dawn of cashless shopping, many credit cards companies continue to proliferate in the market. What they are targeting right now is the world of information technology. With this, they continue to advocate the very concept of the word convenience. Thus, many credit card websites had incessantly created websites to cater to the growing virtual populace.

One good example is the chase.com site. It primarily provides all the credit card requirements of every consumer. Whats more they offer online services wherein their credit card holders can take advantage of digital services and wireless transactions through the site and through their chase credit cards.

The chase.com credit cards offer a variety of credit cards that will suit the customers specific credit needs. Chase.com credit card comes in a wide array of general purpose cards, rebate cards, entertainment cards, travel cards, and auto & gas cards. Chase.com credit cards also include retail cards, student cards, and college and university alumni cards, cards to support organizations, military cards, sports cards, and business cards.

With the wide array of credit cards chase.com provides, the consumer will have lots of choices that will certainly answer to their specific needs. There are credit cards that also cater to rewards, cash backs, points, and miles.

Moreover, choosing and applying for chase.com credit cards is relatively easy. The site offers four ways how to apply for chase.com credit cards. They can:

1. Choose by category

In this manner, customers may look through the categories of the cards that they think would serve them best. They can choose whether they want travel rewards, cash backs, auto and gas rebates and a whole lot more.

2. They can use the help me choose facility.

With this facility, consumers may ask the site for suggestions regarding credit cards that would provide them their needs.

3. Compare card features

Customers can select some cards and place them next to each other for comparison purposes.

4. Browse through the complete list.

This option is available for customers who really cant decide which credit card to choose.
So, with the advent of chase.com credit card, there will surely be a better way to enjoy cashless shopping.

Credit Card Interest Rates

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

If you are concerned about the credit card interest rates you are being offered, or any other terms or conditions that you feel are unfair or less favourable than those to which you are entitled to, you may wish to familiarise yourself with the Fair Credit Reporting Act or FCRA as it is abbreviated. This law is primarily aimed at ensuring that peoples credit reports are kept accurate and up to date, as well as protecting your privacy in financial matters such as these. It is governed and enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, which, takes on the role of protecting consumers at a federal level.

Therefore if you feel that you are being cheated or there is something afoul with the credit card interest rates you are being offered, you may wish to get into contact with the Federal Trade Commission to see what exactly your rights are in this regard. You should always make a point of understanding and being up to date with these rights whenever you are negotiating for new credit, or an improvement in the terms of your existing credit, since such knowledge and information will improve your bargaining position and will help ensure that you are not taken advantage of by the big credit providers and banks that you will be dealing with.

With regard to your credit report, there is a free disclosure rule in the Accurate Credit Transactions Act that gives you a right to view your credit report for free. This right applies to the credit reports compiled by each of the three nation wide consumer credit reporting companies that operate on a national basis. There is a web site and phone number that you can use to get access to all three reports at the same time.

  • www.annualcreditreport.com is the website
  • 1-877-322-8228 is the phone number.
  • You may mail a request to Annual Credit Report Request Service, PO Box 105281, Atlanta, GA, 30348-5281.

    The companies must provide you with a copy of your report, free of charge, at least every 12 months and you can then ensure that all of the information contained in it is accurate and up to date. You may then be able to use this information to protect your right to receive the best possible credit card interest rate offers that you are entitled to. Simply ensuring that your credit report is accurate and being aware of your rights can significantly improve your access to the best credit card interest rates on the market so make sure you keep on top of these issues if you are considering applying for new credit in the near future.

  • Get the Best Credit Card Deal

    Friday, August 20th, 2010

    Payments are made via credit card for bills for purchases made or services availed of. The issuer of the credit card lends money to the consumer or the cardholder by meeting the commitment for these bills on their behalf. In turn, the cardholder pays the money bank to the lender according to the terms and conditions of the lender with or without interest as agreed by both. Credit card facility allows the cardholder to repay the amount in easy installments with an interest towards the loan.

    A membership fee is charged either annually or monthly depending on the type of the credit card. It is a certain percentage calculated sometimes on the allowed credit limit.
    The issuer of the credit card is benefited if the cardholder opts the monthly membership fees as more money is collected than the annual fees.

    A fee is charged when the customer makes the payment; late that is after the agreed period for payment without fees.

    Most of the credit cards have a limit on the amount of purchase which means the amount allowed for credit. When the person while making purchases exceeds the limit knowingly or unknowingly, is charged with the over limit fees.

    When purchase is done in foreign currency, normally three percent of the amount is charged. Only a few credit card issuers do not charge any fee for this kind of a transaction.

    While signing up for a credit card, it is very much necessary to go through the fees structure and policies of the card issuer. Due to a stiff competition in the industry, a lot of credit card issuing companies offer rewards and offers to make the consumer buy their card. Credit card issuers encourage the card holder by various incentives such as gift certificates, cash back offer which is based on the purchase made, (normally one percent is given back) frequent flier points for those who pay by credit cards for their air tickets, by encouraging the usage of credit cards.

    The most common offer is being low interest credit cards or zero percent credit cards. But, unfortunately it is only for a given period of six months to one year after which the card issuing company charge exorbitant amount as interest. Also there are companies, which intimate the customer on expiry of the low interest period and charge a monthly or yearly fee for doing so.

    A credit card with a trailing interest is said to be an unfair cost as to many it is of hidden nature. Cardholders are left to their dismay to find out that even after paying their credit in full, they need to pay the interest.

    A lot of credit card issuers charge their customers a hidden tax on all transactions made through credit cards, as they need to compensate for the cost of transaction fees. The credit card issuers know that if the consumer knows the cost on transactions and other card services, it will decrease the sales. Thus surcharging and hidden costs are not made known to the consumer.

    To get the best credit card deal, one needs to go through the reward schemes, offers made and fees charged very carefully to enjoy the benefit of holding a credit card to the maximum.

    Instant Approval Credit Cards – How Instant Are They?

    Friday, August 20th, 2010

    Instant approval credit cards appear to be offers that sound too good to be true, but many people are benefiting from them in their daily lives. Our tendency is to see things skeptically, which is a reflection of the society we are living in. But such apprehensions are misplaced at least in the case of instant approval credit cards, which are often times misunderstood.

    It is called an instant approval credit card because, after submitting the application, the person concerned could get the response from the credit card company regarding the status of the application within a short duration irrespective of whether it is an acceptance or a rejection. If it is a rejection, then the battle, as it were, is over. If it is an acceptance, the customer could receive the credit card by mail in a few weeks time.

    But keep in mind that all of these type of credit card approvals may not be that instant. It is highly dependent on the applicants credit history and credit rating. The following article will demonstrate the exact grounds on which the credit card approvals will be instant and situations in which it may be a pending approval.

    Instant approval credit cards online generally happen within a matter of seconds if the applicant has the security of an excellent credit history. The credit card company may have some credit score benchmark requirements and if the applicants figures match their criteria, they immediately approve the request. Such cases are generally cleared in less than a couple of minutes.

    On the other hand, if the credit card company feels the credit rating of an applicant is less than ideal or if the credit score falls short of the benchmark, they may seek some additional information and until they finish with their background check on your credit worthiness, they will keep the application under pending status. True, such a procedure cannot be called an instant approval. But it will not lag to the degree that a traditional credit card application can. Most applications should be approved or rejected in a couple of days time.

    Once the credit card has been approved, the card will be mailed to the cardholder and the entire process should take only about two weeks. So, even if it is an instant approval credit card, the applicant still has to wait around 2 weeks to receive the credit card and start using it. But, as previously mentioned, the entire process is still quicker than the traditional application/approval process. So if you want to expedite the credit card application process, instant approal credit cards online are definitely worth considering.

    Caution Look out for those instant approval credit card companies that charge a processing fee for the instant approval. Also it is advisable to compare the benefits and reward programs associated with the instant approval credit cards against a traditional credit card before applying for one. If there is no much advantage with an instant approval credit card offered by a credit card company, what is the point in applying for one?

    Cash Rebate Credit Card

    Sunday, August 15th, 2010

    When shopping for a new credit card in today’s market, it would behoove price conscious consumers to seriously consider cash rebate credit card offers. With a cash back rebate credit card, the cardholder is reimbursed for a percentage of their total year’s credit card purchases. The offers vary from 1% to 5% cash back.

    To encourage consumers to use their credit cards where they normally use cash or a money card, financial institutions are offering the higher rate of 5% cash back when the credit card is used at grocery stores, drug stores and gas stations. The 1% rebate is offered at other outlets such as discount and department stores.

    The cash back rebate credit card isn’t for everyone. If you’re not one to pay off your balance each month, the cash rebate would be eaten up by finance charges. It’s at this time the consumer should be more concerned with the monthly finance charge assessed.

    If someone has large balances on one or more credit cards and would like to consolidate their payments, the 0% APR introductory offer with added cash back features may be the way to go. There are some issuers that offer not only the above 1% and 5% discount, but also an additional $5 cash back for each balance transfer transaction.

    Every day we see people in the grocery store using coupons and club cards to get a discount of up to 30% or more on their groceries. Imagine using a credit card each week and receiving a check for an additional 5% cash back at the end of the year. This could be a tidy sum.

    We’ve also seen the prices at the pump rise steadily the past several months. How much do you spend on gasoline a week? Imagine getting a 5% cash back rebate check for your gasoline purchases at the end of the year!

    Some consumers spend time clipping coupons. It’s worth a few moments of your time to look at the current credit card offers. Cash rebate credit cards can save you money.

    Earn Free Flights with Airline Credit Card Deals

    Saturday, August 14th, 2010

    At present there are a lot of people who go on various trips. For people who lead a busy life and frequently travel by air, it is always a problem to plan and fund their trips. That is why many credit card issuers have worked out airline plastics. If you go on different trips very often, airline credit cards can be the best way for you to save a lot of money on travel expenditures

    Airline plastic cards are considered to be the best credit card deals for people who travel a lot, as such plastics offer them many benefits and rewards. Having these credit cards, you will be able to accumulate air miles or points that can be redeemed for free or discounted flights, car rentals, hotel stays, etc.

    It is known that the first credit products with rewards were airline credit cards. These credit card offers have managed to win the hearts of many travelers, and nowadays they are very popular with the majority of people.

    As a rule, there are two types of airline credit cards. The first type is airline-sponsored plastics. The fact is that points you can accumulate with these credit products can be used only on a particular airline. So, airline-sponsored plastics will be the best choice for you, in case you travel a lot with one airline.

    The second type of airline credit card deals is bank-sponsored airline plastics. You can choose these cards if you want more flexibility in the rewards system. The points you accumulate with these plastics can be used on a wider selection of airlines. You will take advantage of this option, if you travel with different airlines or prefer choice when you travel.

    Airline credit cards offer a wide range of benefits for those who are fond of travelling. Bear in mind that kinds of benefits and how they work vary from card to card. Usually, many airline plastics use a point system. With the help of this system you accumulate a certain number of points for each dollar you spend with these credit cards.

    When you earn a certain number of points, you will be able to redeem them for free or discounted flights, car rentals, hotel stays, etc. Aside from getting free or discounted travel with the points you accumulate, many airline plastics offer additional travel-related benefits. When looking for the right airline credit card, determine what benefits will be the most important for you. Learn how many points you need to get an airline ticket. Usually, international flights require more points than domestic ones.

    Remember that airline plastics are used just like any other credit cards. Nevertheless, you should use them carefully in order to take advantage from having such cards.

    Getting an airline credit card can make sense for those people who travel by air very often. These plastics can be the best means for saving money on travel expenses. But it is necessary to compare a wide range of airline credit cards to be sure that a card you choose is the best one for you.

    Credit Card Debt – Do You Feel Frustrated

    Friday, August 13th, 2010

    If you’re one of those people who like to “charge it” to their plastic, chances are you’ve piled up a mountain of debt. And like most people who have spent their way into a financial corner, are probably don’t have the money to pay off your debt.

    Credit card debt is a serious problem – a problem that won’t just simply go away on its own. Unfortunately, many people compound their financial problems by doing just that – ignoring it, because it’s such a scary and humbling experience to face it head on.

    This is unfortunately a bad thing considering that people who are in debt need to snap back to their senses and assess whatever it is that they’ve still going for them and be ready to face their debt no matter how overwhelming a problem it appears to be.

    Ok, it’s time to get real and face the cold, hard reality that you’ve stumbled a bit and now it’s time to pick up the pieces. Not fun, but the sooner you start the sooner the oppressive weight of debt can be lifted from you life and you can go back to living again.

    Clearly, the first step is stop using your credit cards to buy stuff. Give them a rest for goodness sakes, exercise a little discipline and go back to only buying stuff you can afford, which of course translates into paying for things the old-fashioned way – with cash.

    Surrendering your credit cards won’t be easy, especially for shopaholics like yourself, but then again if you would simply remind yourself that if you don’t do something soon you debt will balloon out of control and before you know it you’ll be filing for bankruptcy. It’s like the old car commercial that talked about getting your oil changed and doing a little preventive maintenance. The tag line was something like: “you can pay me now or pay me later” with the clear implication that you exercise a little discipline now (preventive maintenance) or pay me later (a much costlier bill like a new engine).

    On the other hand, excessively high credit card debt, no matter how much it actually is, is not the end of the world – although it feels like it. A lot of people who have had the same problem have been given a second “financial” life after they stopped irresponsibly using credit cards. Of course, they also put in the effort to setup a budget and prioritized paying off their and changed their spending habits to better reflect their income and most importantly – they did something completely foreign – they started to actually spend less than they made. So you see, all is definitely not lost but it will take some effort.

    Once you decide to start taking financial responsibility it’s time to take action. Be friendly with your creditors and by friendly I mean asking for their advice on how you can restructure your debt into a plan that you can actually afford without having to starve yourself for years and don’t be afraid to ask for a big reduction in the interest you’re being charged and a little “forgiveness” in the amount of debt you owe – 50% reduction is good target.

    Knowing that you’re actually interested in taking responsibility for your credit card debt shows a lot of maturity on your part and your creditors will most probably be more than happy to help you out because 50% of whatever you owe at a lower interest rate is better than the hope of getting 100% of nothing – as in you filing for bankruptcy. Not that bankruptcy will eliminate all your debt, it won’t but this is not only a hassle for you it’s also a big hassle for your creditors.

    Although your creditors won’t give you the money to pay for your credit card debt, they can educate you in what you really need to know about fixing your finances: From learning how to discipline yourself from overspending, having a monthly budget as well keeping track of one’s expenses is extremely important. If you don’t know these things it’s nearly impossible to exhibit proper financial responsibility and to bit the bullet and make the necessary changes.

    Once you’ve finally been given a fresh start with regards to your financial life, don’t even think of falling back to your same old habits ever again. If your job doesn’t let you enjoy some of life’s luxuries then you better make a choice between having a lifestyle change or finding a better paying job or getting a second job. You have to make sure that your income, no matter how much it is, is more than you’re spending.

    Remember, credit cards are not the problem; it’s your lack of discipline. Learn to exercise discipline and having a credit card or two is not a bad idea. Just be sure to payoff the balances each month and only use them as an alternative to always having to carry around a bunch of cash.