The Truth About Low Rate Credit Cards

Monday, April 4th, 2011

Low rate credit cards or as some know them as low APR credit cards can be very great for those individuals that carry a balance forward every month. The problem is that most people that really need or want low rate credit cards are unable to receive one because most credit card companies will only offer low rate credit cards to people with above average or excellent credit. This puts the majority of the population out of the market for low rate credit cards.

These low rate credit cards are out there, you can see them advertised on the television, on the internet and even in your email, but unfortunately, you may not qualify. The average rate for low rate credit cards is around 9 percent and some even go as low as 3.99 percent for certain individuals with an excellent credit rating. If you have credit that is less than appealing, you can always negotiate and possibly receive low rate credit cards if you have been employed with the same company for a certain amount of time, and the credit card company believes your income will stay steady.

However, many companies that offer low rate credit cards also have a pretty hefty annual fee or membership fee, which can be as high as $100. This can cost you more in the long run that owning a credit card with a higher APR from the start. Watch out for those introductory specials as well, just because the low rate looks wonderful, it may only be for 3 months and then the rate can go up drastically to up to 17%. You can always discuss these fees with the credit card company to see if they may waive this fee.

low rate credit cards may only be for an introductory period. You can even find a few with a 0% APR, the problem is once again that after the special there will be an increase. Some introductory specials for low rate credit cards are for 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, and in some rare cases 15 months. If you are sure you will be able to pay off your balance before this period is over then it would be a great deal, however, if you will have it paid off you may notice that you will be paying 17% APR on your balance.

Just because, there are low rate credit cards out there does not mean that everything will be cheaper, the balance transfers can be expensive as well at around 3%. So, be sure that you read all the terms and conditions carefully before you even apply for low rate credit cards, or choose your Low APR Credit Card.

Many low rate credit cards offer a variable or a fixed rate of interest. If you choose a fixed rate of credit, this means that the rate will stay the same, however, with a variable interest the rate can fluctuate.

The Lowdown on Low Interest Rate Credit Cards

Thursday, March 31st, 2011

Low interest rate credit cards are useful for those who carry their credit card balance forward every month. However, not all applicants for a low interest rate credit card actually manage to acquire one. The reason for this is that these cards require a good to excellent credit rating, which precludes many potential cardholders.

There is sufficient information available online for an individual looking out for a low interest rate credit card; these cards are advertised aggressively. The average rate of interest with a low interest rate credit card is around 9%; it can go down to 5.5% for individuals with exceptional credit scores. Individuals with poor credit scores can negotiate with credit card companies for a deal that suits their requirement — the company may agree if the individual has had a steady income for the past few months and is likely to continue earning in the future.

Companies that offer low interest rate cards try to compensate for the low rates in various ways; these include an annual fee which may be up to $60. The actual rate of interest can be much higher than stated when the annual fee is considered; one should try and obtain a card that does not charge an annual fee. Often, credit card companies waive the annual fees upon request.

Low interest rate credit cards are often advertised as offering a 0% APR for the introductory period. This is a strong enticement for credit card prospects that spend heavily during the initial period only to find the interest rate escalate to upward of 15% at the end of the introductory period. A low introductory rate is fine if one plans to transfer a balance from one card to another, but otherwise it should not be considered as one of the influencing factors when selecting a low interest rate credit card. Low interest rate credit cards also try to make up for the low rate of credit by charging high balance transfer fees; sometimes these fees can be as high as 3% of the transfer amount. Therefore, it is important that one carefully reads and understands the terms and conditions related to a low interest rate credit card before signing up for one.

Low interest rate credit cards charge either a variable or a fixed rate of interest. A fixed rate of credit is advisable for card holders who are in the habit of carrying their balances forward every month. These cards also offer the opportunity for debt consolidation. One can transfer the balance from other cards to a low interest rate credit card that charges either no or low transaction fees, and the savings on the interest can be diverted towards paying off the principal.

The Convenience of Applying for Business Credit Cards Online

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

The internet is not only a good place for making comparisons between the various business credit card offers, but it is also a great channel to make your applications. This should make things somewhat easier and a great deal more convenient for you. You simply hop from one website to the next to investigate the different business credit card packages. When you finally find the business credit card which best suits your business, you can apply for that business credit card instantly.

If the prospect of using the Internet to shop and apply for business credit cards does not really appeal to you, there are other methods you can use to evaluate and apply for a card. You could look at the many business credit card offers that arrive in your snail-mailbox, write letters to the issuers requesting brochures or even pay them a visit in person, if that is your preference. But it is only on the Internet where you can immediately find all the information you need, compare all the features offered to your hearts content and see what the various consumers and experts have to say about the different business credit card packagesall in one place.

Using search engines is really not a hard thing to do! By simply typing the words business credit card offers in a search engines field, you will receive a whole bunch of business credit card offers that would never have otherwise come to you by snail mail. Should you for example want to narrow down your search to find those business credit cards that cater for people with bad credit, you simply add the word bad to the search. In a matter of seconds, you will have the right options displayed on your screen.

Some of the sites are purposely designed with the capability to allow in-depth comparisons between the various business credit cards. These thoughtful sites can tell you everything and anything you need to know about the different business credit cards on the market. They allow you to drill down in order to gather detail information under various business credit card categories, such as rebates and rewards business credit cards, business credit cards for people with a bad credit history, cash back business credit cards, zero APR business credit cards and a whole lot more.

You should not apply for the first business credit card you see online. Only apply after you have checked and compared every business credit card on the market. Once you have identified the appropriate business credit card package for your business, you can complete the online business credit card application. This is secure, quick and easy.

Once you have successfully submitted your online business credit card application, an employee from the business credit card issuer will contact you to discuss both your credit card application and the terms and conditions. As a standard, most issuers will need your signature on the paperwork. If this is the case, you will normally be able to print the credit agreement. If the site does not offer downloadable forms, simply request the issuer to send you these forms to either your email or postal address.

Cards For People With Bad Credit Helps You Spend Within

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

Cards For People With Bad Credit Helps You Spend Within Your Financial Means!

Cards for people with bad credit is a convenient way to help you control your current spending and get your life back on financial track!

Depending on how bad your credit is, people need to understand that debt can cause not only major financial trouble, but it could easily damage relationships with family and friends, and your bad credit could also be a good indicator that you have an addiction to spending.

In my opinion, theres no need to have more than two credit cards, and for many, three cards should be the maximum. The issue with having a MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and every other credit card under the sun is the difficulty in tracking each credit cards spending limit, and because the statements may come in at different times during the month, you can easily lose track of the overall amount being spent on each one.

Now with access to online cards, many individuals that are maxing out their credit limits are going to an online cards site that claim they will repair or consolidate their debt with their unsecured cards. But when you look at the interest they will end up charging, you may be getting in deeper than you may be in right now!

Checking Your Credit History With Bureaus Will Indicate Where Your Finance Stands!

Once you contact your local bureau to get your credit report, you can then take a deep breath and see how good or bad your current financial situation is, and if your credit score is beyond repair, then you have to make decisions on what type of debt repair you need.

Your bank may be willing to offer you an unsecured credit card with a lower interest rate or a consolidation card, and if youre financially capable of paying down your credit limits without having to borrow money from existing cards, then you should consider these options first before taking any other actions.

If your credit problems are beyond your control, and the interest on each card is turning into an emergency situation, then your next step is to talk to your financial institution, or a debt consolidation company to apply for a consolidation loan, and either hide your cards for a long time, or better yet, cut them up for good!

Remember, its never the end of the world even if you happen to declare personal bankruptcy. While youre taking the necessary steps to improve your rating again, and doing whats required to establish a better relationship with your creditor or creditors, you can look into other options such as prepaid credit cards to get you through your troubled times.

Pros and Cons of Instant Approval Credit Cards

Thursday, March 24th, 2011

Instant approval credit cards have become increasingly popular. With the rushed lifestyle many are living and the need to get things done quickly, it is little wonder more and more people are turning to instant approval credit cards. But, are instant approval credit cards really so great? Furthermore, are there any drawbacks or things you need to be aware of before applying for an instant approval credit card online? The answer to both of these questions is yes, so let’s weigh the pros and cons of these types of cards.

Pro: Instant approval credit card online applications can get a card in your hand quickly.

For those needing the flexibility and freedom of a credit card right away, the fact that an instant approval credit card can take as little as one to two weeks to arrive in your mailbox is a definite plus. Regular credit cards can take up to eight weeks to be processed and sent to you. If you have a project you want to get started on right away, a vacation you want to take soon, or bill that need to be paid quickly, you simply don’t have eight weeks to wait.

Con: Not everyone gets their instant approval credit card right away.

Although instant approval credit cards are billed as “instant approval,” not everyone qualifies quite so quickly. In fact, if you have poor to mediocre credit, your instant approval credit card online application may be put on hold for a few days while the lending company looks into your credit history a little more thoroughly. In addition, instant approval is not the same as guaranteed approval. Therefore, usually only those with an above average credit history will be instantly approved. Of course, an instant approval credit card will still most likely arrive to you much quicker than a traditional credit card, but you might be disappointed to learn you have to wait a bit longer than you originally thought.

Con: Instant approval credit cards often have a higher interest rate than regular credit cards.

While not always true, instant approval credit cards usually have a higher interest rate than regular credit cards. This is how the lending company compensates for expediting the application process. It is also the price you pay for the convenience of instant approval. When looking for an instant approval credit card, be sure to explore all of your options to find one that does not have a terribly high interest rate.

Pro: Instant approval credit cards often have a special introductory rate.

While many instant approval credit cards have a higher interest rate than standard credit cards, they often have a special introductory low APR. This special rate can be as low as 0.00%. Financially, the best move you can make is to receive one of these cards, take advantage of the introductory rate, and pay off the balance in full before the interest rate kicks in. If you want to still use the card for purchases beyond the introductory period, be sure to pay the balance at the end of each billing cycle.

Con: Some instant approval credit cards need to be secured.

A secured instant approval credit card is one that you send money to ahead of time. Therefore, you are never actually borrowing money from a line of credit. Instead, you are using your own money. This type of credit card is really more of a debit card that allows you to spend from your own account. For those with poor credit, however, a secured instant approval credit card can be a great way to rebuild credit or to establish a credit history.

Pro: Instant approval credit cards look just like other credit cards, even if they are secured.

No matter what type of instant approval credit card you obtain – whether secured or unsecured – it looks the same as a regular credit card. Therefore, no one will know that your card was instantly approved or secured, which could potentially leave you feeling embarrassed.

Small Business Credit Card – Keeping Business and Personal Separate

Thursday, March 24th, 2011

Small Business Credit Card – Keeping Business and Personal Separate

It can be a challenge for small businesses to acquire the proper funds they need to set up shop and/or to keep it running smoothly. It is also difficult to keep business and personal accounts separate and to build business credit. As a new business owner, a small business credit card might be just the thing you need. If you have an established business, than a business credit card may be a convenient way for you to manage your cash flow or provide emergency funds when your money gets tight.

Personal Liability For Corporate Spending

Lenders are not quick to give lines of credit or business credit cards to new start-ups and small business that do not have an established business credit history. Banks use your personal history when considering you (and your business) for credit. You will be personally liable for all spending using your business credit card and reports will be made by the three consumer credit agencies (Equifax, Experian and Transunion), rather than business credit agencies.

Having your business credit card accounts linked to your personal accounts isn’t the best situation. Large lines of credit for your business may make your personal financial situation appear worse than it really is. If you’re late on a payment or default on a business account this could damage your personal credit history too. Less than good credit can affect your purchasing power and increase your interest rates. You lose options and money. The bottom-line – use a business credit card wisely and keep a clean credit report.

Shopping Around For The Best Credit Offers

If you already started looking around for small business credit cards, you know there are hundreds of cards to choose. From zero percent introductory rates and no annual fees to frequent flier credits and cash back rewards. How can you possibly know which one to choose?

The great thing about small business credit cards is that they offer a few more perks that cater to the needs of business owners, as compared to personal credit cards. Low APRs… large credit lines… grace periods beyond 30 days… frequent flier programs… no fee employee credit cards… Take time to shop around. Depending on your spending requirements and business needs, you can find a business credit card that works best for you.

Building Your Credit

Once you’ve opened up a new business credit card, use it to make purchases on a regular basis and pay off your balances each month. Pay close attention to your personal credit report, ensuring that it stays free of errors, late pays and delinquencies.

After two to five years, you can request that your business accounts be separated from your person accounts. If you can prove that your business is viable and your personal credit history is squeaky clean, then most banks and business credit card issuers will remove the personal liability clause. All business’s financials will be reported exclusively to business credit agencies and your business spending will no longer be linked to your personal accounts.

Although small business credit cards aren’t considered capital, they can be a tremendous help in the running of your business. In tough times just starting out, it can also add a sense of security. Establishing business credit is difficult but with a little basic knowledge business owners can enjoy many benefits of financial freedom. From making purchases online or cashing in on those frequent flier miles, you can effectively manage your cash flow and even save money with small business credit cards.

Business Credit Cards – Corporate and Small Business Credit Cards

Sunday, March 20th, 2011

Business Credit Cards – Corporate and Small Business Credit Cards Compared

Business credit cards come in a variety of forms, which can seem a little overwhelming to someone that doesn’t know the difference between the different types of cards. When it comes to business credit cards, the largest percentage of the market is small business owners. In fact, small businesses are the driving force behind the American economy and create the most new jobs every year. Therefore, credit card companies have developed business credit cards with the small business in mind, but there are some differences between business credit cards for small businesses as compared to those for corporations.

Where You Find It

One major difference between corporate credit cards and small business credit cards is how you found out about it in the first place. For the most part, small business credit cards are those that you see advertised on the Internet and for which you might receive a pre-approval invitation. Corporate credit cards are not advertised in the mass media because they are set up differently, operate differently, and target a different group of people.

Customizing

When it comes to small business credit cards, you have to take what you can find. Of course, you can compare business credit cards to find the ones that suit you best, but you don’t really have much room for making changes to the card to meet your needs. When it comes to corporate credit cards, the business can request options to be custom-made to work with the company. The reason for this increased flexibility comes down to revenue. A corporation placing millions of dollars of transactions on the credit card can have more say in how the card is set up. This ability to customize is another reason why you generally don’t see corporate business credit cards being advertised within the mass media.

Of course, corporations generally have greater needs when it comes to their financial responsibilities than a small business owner. Options they might need to have included on the card are often meant to help the corporation keep track of expenditures and to review and approve them in order to reimburse employees for entertainment and travel. The ability to track all of these expenses so closely requires the use of specialized software that is designed to interface with platforms from human resources.

Payment Responsibility

Another major difference between corporate credit cards and small business credit cards is the matter of who is responsible for repaying the debt. As a small business owner with a sole proprietorship, you and the business are one and the same. This means you are personally responsible for repaying any debt that may have incurred. If you default on payments, it is your personal credit history that is hurt. A corporation, on the other hand, is separate from the owner. Therefore, the corporation is responsible for repaying the debt. As such, the corporation may default on the credit card loan and file for bankruptcy, but you do not personally file.

It’s in the Name

Since a small business owner is generally a sole proprietorship and you are personally responsible for the debt, another difference between corporate credit cards and small business credit cards is the name on the card. In the case of a small business credit card, your name is generally what is listed on the front of the card. A corporate credit card, on the other hand, will have the corporation name on the front. In addition to the corporation name, it will usually have your name as well in order to verify that you are an authorized user. This also helps the corporation track the expenses of each employee. But, the primary name is the corporation name since financial responsibility falls back on the company.

Pre-Approved Credit Cards Advantage Or Evil?

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011

In the century of plastic money and ‘buy-before-you-earn’ principle of living banks and card companies fight to the bitter end to get hold of another bite of consumers’ loyalty. But at the same time they won’t lend their money as simply as it may seem. Generally, the bank accepts a list of potential credit card applicants. After a bit of sorting, the bank sends pre-approval letters to those who are likely to apply.
In practice, if you make a credit card application for the pre-approved offer, the bank makes another inquiry on your credit which can sometimes result unfavorably. But this is not the only reason why one should feel dubious about pre-approvals. Let’s consider the matter to get the priorities right.
1. There are numerous preapproved credit card applications to be found in your mailbox daily.
You can look through many credit card offers by different banks, it enables you to watch the trends in the credit card market and makes it easier to find a card for your needs. On the other hand, you can get confused in the masses of paper, overlook the important correspondence or apply for too many credit cards, being unable to resist the temptation.

2. You receive pre-approvals in the form of common letters, they are delivered right into you mailbox.
It is easy to read the preapprovals and compare the terms they offer, but it is also risky to receive them, as some people can get access to your mailbox and apply for a credit card using your identity (in most letters you only have to put your signature, other blanks being filled out already). In this case the card can be delivered to the address one indicates and you will receive only statements.
Besides, you can be careless enough to throw these letters away, without tearing them to pieces, thus they can be found by criminals and used as described above.

3. All the letters say you were pre-approved for credit cards, so you don’t have to worry about denials or credit check.
In cases, when the letter says you were pre-approved and contains a card, you were really approved by the bank and you can use the card (though the terms implied can be not very advantageous). In other cases, when you have to fill out an application, there is no guarantee that you will be issued the card. To tell you more, there is a possibility of your credit score being damaged. Before sending a pre-approval to you, the bank get a list of people to whom they can send letters. This is a soft inquiry, and you credit score is not influenced. As you fill out an application (for which you are not yet approved, actually), you credit score is checked for a second time, and this is a hard check, as it is made on your request this time. If you happen to be disapproved, your credit score will get lower.
The above one is the most serious danger a pre-approved letter can cause.
There are several rules a wise consumer should stick to. Do not be sure you are universally approved, if you receive pre-approved credit card applications. They are sent to those with no credit history even. Know your credit history, before application. Do not apply for a card by an unknown bank; do not apply for too many cards. Destroy all the letters thoroughly instead of simply throwing them away. Opt out from getting pre-approvals, if you do not need them.
And, finally, go and search for a good credit card on your own, it will bring better results that looking through tons of colorful paper.

Miles Credit Cards Strategies to Accumulate Miles

Monday, March 14th, 2011

Put simply, miles credit cards allow cardholders to earn points for every dollar charged on the card. The accumulated points can be redeemed for reduced or, in some instances, free airfare. There are many promotional offers and some cards offer more points than others. To entice the customer, certain miles credit cards offer no annual-rate, no APR fees, additional bonus miles with new sign-ups, balance transfers at reduced or no interest rate for a certain period as well as no blackout date for miles redemption.

Credit card companies have also come up with affinity card programs that allow cardholders to collect airline miles with purchases at some of their most preferred retailing outlets and merchants. This lets cardholders add more miles at a faster rate with purchases from their favorite retailers. On the downside, these cards tend to have high annual fees and interest rates.

Frequent flyers tend to be mostly business travelers, who travel often due to work. However, careful planning can help normal travelers to accumulate good miles. Some tips to accumulate miles at a fast rate are:

1) Utilize Partner Services – Miles cards normally have tie-ins with car rental companies and hotels as part of their marketing strategy that also provide mileage points accumulation. Using these car rental companies or hotels and charging them to the miles card will also help to increase the points accumulated by using necessary travel expenditures.

2) Vacation or Tour Packages – Miles credit cards offer vacation or tour packages to encourage customers to travel and thus to increase demand for their airlines. Once again, by utilizing these vacation or tour packages, cardholders can accumulate more mileage points on the card per trip, earning more points while vacationing.

3) Non-frequent Travelers – For less frequent travelers, it is better to charge any travel related expense to the miles card when you travel. The travel related expenses could be anything from buying souvenirs, groceries, fuel while in a different location, etc, which also helps to accumulate additional miles on the card.

4) Affiliate services – Some miles card programs partner with a network of allied airline carriers. Examples of these kinds of network alliance services include the Star Alliance or Flying Blue programs. If your preferred airline does not fly to the location that you desire, try to choose from another airline that is part of the alliance network, giving cardholders yet another opportunity to accumulated miles.

Most miles credit cards have numerous benefits for frequent flyers. However, the benefits could vary, based on the specific program. Some mile cards provide additional or bonus points while making certain purchases. The points can later be traded for airline miles. Some miles credit card programs allow portability or the transfer of points to other frequent flyer accounts, and some even offer consolidation of all accumulated points to one single card. These earned miles give you free or reduced travel tickets. In addition, most of these cards also offer various other travel-related benefits, including free additional tickets, upgrade opportunities, lost baggage insurance, car rental insurance, and greater coverage amount for travel accident insurance.

Apart from points, most mile cards also offer different type of rewards for members. This could be anything from free hotel stays to car rentals, discounted vacation packages or even free airline tickets, in some instances. Certain airline miles card programs entice customers with an attractive offer to take advantage of free bonus miles, as high as fifteen to twenty thousand free points, in some cases. In general, you will receive flight miles per trip taken, but some miles card programs will offer a generous point total per flight, amounting to more points per mile than the actual miles flown. (Be sure to check with each reward miles program for specific details.)

Miles credit cards can be pretty costly for the credit card companies as well as the airlines. As such, miles credit cards tend to have higher interest rates and annual fees than traditional credit cards. One of the most recent promotional trends with certain miles cards programs is to enable cardholders carrying balances to qualify for a free domestic airline ticket on any airline. It is advisable that customers evaluate the pros and cons of such offers as in most cases, the cost of finance charges on the left over balance outweigh the benefits of getting a free ticket.

These cards will also have an expiration period, before which the accumulated miles need to be used. It is important to know this period and use the accumulated miles to get the maximum benefits. Nevertheless, miles credit card offers have become immensely popular as they allow customers to accumulate valuable miles through ordinary purchases, which later can be transferred to free flights and vacations.

Learning About Cash Back Credit Cards: Good or Bad Idea?

Saturday, March 12th, 2011

Learning About Cash Back Credit Cards: Good or Bad Idea?

Getting a credit card that offers cash back always sounds like a good idea. What could be better than getting cash back on all the purchases that you make with your credit card? It sounds too good to be true, doesnt it?

Well, there are cards that give you free cash, but it is usually only around 1% cash back. However, free money is free money, right? Well, sometimes.

If you like to buy a lot of things in one month, this kind of credit card probably sounds great to you. However, you need to keep in mind that they are not going to give you cash back on every purchase that you make. Even if they claim to give you cash back on every purchase, they will only give you up to a certain amount per transaction. The company also has a strict limit on the amount that they will give back to their customers. If you read the little, bitty print on the form that you signed, you will see a paragraph with their limits in the terms and agreements.

This is another way to try to draw in new customers for these companies. It is a good credit card to have and sounds great in theory, but they will have to check your credit rating before they will give you their card.

Research different credit card companies to see what they are offering. You may be surprised to find a cash back credit card that offers you just what you need and want with a high cash back percentage, few limits on the amount they will give you back, and instant cash deposits when you make each purchase with their card.

Although these credit cards seem like a great thing to have, some companies will need your credit rating to be great too. However, there are credit card companies that offer these cards to people with a low credit rating to help them rebuild their credit. Research all of your options.

What should your decision be? If you have a good credit rating, then this card is a great option for you. Research different card companies there are cards out there that offer you up to 3% cash back and impose very few limits. If, however, you have a bad credit rating, you may want to find a credit card that will help you rebuild your credit.