Credit card debt negotiation is the most reliable way to reduce credit card debt, lower rates or negotiating for reduced balances. With reduced interest, you can pay off the principal faster with the same monthly payment. Credit card debt negotiation happens when you ask your current card supplier to give you a lower APR on your credit cards for a specific period until you get back on your feet. Negotiation means talking to your card suppliers about your intention to consolidate your debts into one card with a lower rate of APR. Credit card debt negotiation is a very delicate process, involving a bit of give and take from both sides. You don't have the money to continue making payments over the long term, but the credit card company wants their money back.
There are different reasons why people get into debt. Just all of a sudden you realize that you just can not make your payments. Bills and credit card statements drive you crazy and it seems that you will never get out of this trap yourself. This is when debt negotiators step in. If you get online you will find a dozen of credit negotiation companies. They promise to help you with your unsecured debts through negotiating with banks.
Some of them claim to be non-profit organizations that simply work to help those in need. They tell you that they will be able to reduce your debt by 10-50%. All you need to do is to open a credit card debt negotiation account (for a small fee, of course). Then they might suggest you make only partial payments or stop making your payments to the bank and give money to them instead. Because the process of debt negotiation is not a very easy one you will be asked to wait for about six months. They promise that all the negative information will be removed from your credit report afterwards. And, of course, credit negotiation will not have a negative affect on your credit history.
The truth is that those debt negotiation 'experts' are one big scam. First of all, even if the company presents itself as a non profit organization it does not mean that there actions are legitimate. If you follow their advice and stop making payments you will get even higher interest rates and late fees. Your creditors might not like the idea of the debtor making only partial payments. Thus your debt might double or even triple.
The fees for those 'services' will also drain your purse. They usually include a fee for opening an account, a monthly service fee and a final fee. The amount of money you will pay as the final fee usually depends on the percentage of the sum you are to 'save'. Of course, some of their clients understand the trick before they get to the 'final' stage but the scammers still make a decent income.
As for the promise to remove all negative information from your credit history you should remember that there is no legal way to do it! The bank has to report everything to all the three credit bureaus. All the information stays on your credit report for seven years and bankruptcy remains for seven. The only way to remove any information from your credit report is to prove that it is incorrect.
Most of the time credit negotiation firms present there service as an alternative to bankruptcy. However, bankruptcy is a legal way to manage your financial situation. Debt negotiation will have no effect - if you are lucky. If you are not - you will be even more in debt than you have been before. Do not confuse credit negotiation services with credit counseling and debt consolidation planning. The latter simply give you advice and help you to plan your budget.
Credit card debt negotiation can be a great financial tool if used wisely. But if you can not make your payments do not fall into the credit debt negotiator's trap. Do not pay for getting your credit history ruined.
Credit Card Debt Consolidation
Credit card debt consolidating is perhaps the fastest, safest and best way today to get rid of your financial obligations and we are experts in this field. Consolidation credit card debt can significantly reduce your required monthly payment. Credit card debt is a type of unsecured debt. Credit card debt is the most common form of debt among Americans. There are many ways to get into credit card debt and it usually begins happening at a young age. Credit card debt is still debt and must be repaid.
There are some situations that can occur when you are consolidating your credit cards. You don't want to suffer because you are taking control of your credit. Manage your transfers well and you should avoid errors.
1. Don't cancel a card that still has a balance. This causes your rate to shoot up, because they know that they have to get the most out of you now. Don't even tell a card issuer that you are leaving until you have no balance. Many issuers will raise rates if you cancel with a balance remaining.
2. Pay all of your cards on time. It can take one late payment for your interest to go from 9% to 28%.
3. Don't start canceling all of your cards before you apply for a mortgage or car loan. This can make your chances of approval even lower. Credit scoring is based on many factors, including how much debt you have and how much you have available. If you have cards with no balance on them, it can raise your credit score. You need to remember that even if you find better terms for your debt, it is still debt. You must be sure that you pay it off before you add to it. If you don't, then it will never end.
Consolidation doesn't offer you a new start, just a better path to paying off your debt. If you truly want to get rid of your debt, use consolidation as a way to put all of your debt in one payment. And get out the scissors.
There are some situations that can occur when you are consolidating your credit cards. You don't want to suffer because you are taking control of your credit. Manage your transfers well and you should avoid errors.
1. Don't cancel a card that still has a balance. This causes your rate to shoot up, because they know that they have to get the most out of you now. Don't even tell a card issuer that you are leaving until you have no balance. Many issuers will raise rates if you cancel with a balance remaining.
2. Pay all of your cards on time. It can take one late payment for your interest to go from 9% to 28%.
3. Don't start canceling all of your cards before you apply for a mortgage or car loan. This can make your chances of approval even lower. Credit scoring is based on many factors, including how much debt you have and how much you have available. If you have cards with no balance on them, it can raise your credit score. You need to remember that even if you find better terms for your debt, it is still debt. You must be sure that you pay it off before you add to it. If you don't, then it will never end.
Consolidation doesn't offer you a new start, just a better path to paying off your debt. If you truly want to get rid of your debt, use consolidation as a way to put all of your debt in one payment. And get out the scissors.
How To Organize Credit Card Debt
Credit card debt is one of the leading causes of stress and this can lead to many health problems. So it is important for you to take control of your finances no matter how bad they are. Credit card debt is considered unsecured debt, because there is nothing of value backing the debt, only the borrower's credit history. If the borrower can't make his credit card payments, he has to find a way to come up with the money, which could mean borrowing more debt. Credit card debt is something that is sometimes necessary. We need it to buy some of the necessities in life.
Organizing your credit card debt
If credit cards have become a way of life for you, it might be time to organize your credit cards. If you have a lot of credit card debt, you might even want to look at consolidating your cards to a lower rate card that will save you in interest charges. Be careful, done incorrectly, canceling and consolidating credit card debt can harm your credit.
Before you consolidate, first you need to recognize why you want to consolidate. Are you looking for lower interest rates? Do you need lower monthly payments? Do you simply need to stretch out the term of your loan? If you answer yes to one of the last two questions, you should beware.
If you really just want to get out of debt, you need to understand how you got into the mess. Then you can fix the mess. Simply solving the problem with debt consolidation often makes the problem worse. Too many people consolidate and then charge the cards back up again.
If you know that you need to reduce the number of credit cards you have open, start with determining how much credit you need. How do you use your cards?
If you have several department store and gas cards that you never use, you should go ahead and close them. You also shouldn't need to pay a yearly fee for a credit card that earns you gifts, like cash back or frequent flier miles. Pay attention to whether you use the miles or not. You may find that what you are paying isn't worth what you are receiving.
You really only need one or two credit cards. Ideally, you need one card that is only used in emergencies. There are several steps you can take to start consolidating your balances into fewer cards.
Start by paying off all of the low balance cards that you plan to cancel and then close the accounts. Then, transfer your remaining balances onto the card that has the best interest rate. You can't use this card or the other cards until it is paid off.
Now you need to have one or two cards that have high enough balances to cover your charging needs. Make sure that they have the lowest interest rates you can find. These should be the only accounts you have open. IF you charge to them, make sure you pay off each balance in full every month.
When it comes to balance transfers, there are some questions you should definitely ask. Find out how long the transfer rate lasts. Sometimes you can be given a rate for balance transfers that only lasts a few months. Find out if the rate is just for balance transfers, or is it for transfers and new purchases?
You need to find out about the fees that apply. Is there an annual fee? Find out what the late fees and over-the-limit fees are. Some institutions will charge balance-transfer fees as high as 4%. The higher the balance, the higher the fee. Just add it up: 4% of $5,000 is $200!
Read through your credit card offers very carefully. A lot of information is hard to understand (and find). Some offers waive the fees for the "initial balance transfer" only. This could be your first transfer and not the additional ones.
Each additional balance transfer will be treated like a cash advance and charged cash advance fees, which are very expensive.
If you feel comfortable with the terms offered to you, fill out the balance transfer form carefully. Mistakes can mean that the transfer won't go through. Keep making the minimum payment on your old card until you are absolutely sure that the balance transfer has been completed. This can take two to four weeks. You don't want to try to lower your payments and still receive a late fee and penalty.
Even though the new card company will contact you when the transfer is complete, you still need to talk to your old card. Call and verify that there is no balance left on your account. Write down the representative, time, date and what is said every time you talk with a company over the phone. Have your card company send you a billing statement with a zero balance stated on it. You may need this in order to clear up any mix-ups.
Credit card debt is a pool of deep murky waters to get out of. But, if you use some simple tips and a bit of planning, you can get out of your debt. Credit card debt is an unfortunate fact of American life.
Organizing your credit card debt
If credit cards have become a way of life for you, it might be time to organize your credit cards. If you have a lot of credit card debt, you might even want to look at consolidating your cards to a lower rate card that will save you in interest charges. Be careful, done incorrectly, canceling and consolidating credit card debt can harm your credit.
Before you consolidate, first you need to recognize why you want to consolidate. Are you looking for lower interest rates? Do you need lower monthly payments? Do you simply need to stretch out the term of your loan? If you answer yes to one of the last two questions, you should beware.
If you really just want to get out of debt, you need to understand how you got into the mess. Then you can fix the mess. Simply solving the problem with debt consolidation often makes the problem worse. Too many people consolidate and then charge the cards back up again.
If you know that you need to reduce the number of credit cards you have open, start with determining how much credit you need. How do you use your cards?
If you have several department store and gas cards that you never use, you should go ahead and close them. You also shouldn't need to pay a yearly fee for a credit card that earns you gifts, like cash back or frequent flier miles. Pay attention to whether you use the miles or not. You may find that what you are paying isn't worth what you are receiving.
You really only need one or two credit cards. Ideally, you need one card that is only used in emergencies. There are several steps you can take to start consolidating your balances into fewer cards.
Start by paying off all of the low balance cards that you plan to cancel and then close the accounts. Then, transfer your remaining balances onto the card that has the best interest rate. You can't use this card or the other cards until it is paid off.
Now you need to have one or two cards that have high enough balances to cover your charging needs. Make sure that they have the lowest interest rates you can find. These should be the only accounts you have open. IF you charge to them, make sure you pay off each balance in full every month.
When it comes to balance transfers, there are some questions you should definitely ask. Find out how long the transfer rate lasts. Sometimes you can be given a rate for balance transfers that only lasts a few months. Find out if the rate is just for balance transfers, or is it for transfers and new purchases?
You need to find out about the fees that apply. Is there an annual fee? Find out what the late fees and over-the-limit fees are. Some institutions will charge balance-transfer fees as high as 4%. The higher the balance, the higher the fee. Just add it up: 4% of $5,000 is $200!
Read through your credit card offers very carefully. A lot of information is hard to understand (and find). Some offers waive the fees for the "initial balance transfer" only. This could be your first transfer and not the additional ones.
Each additional balance transfer will be treated like a cash advance and charged cash advance fees, which are very expensive.
If you feel comfortable with the terms offered to you, fill out the balance transfer form carefully. Mistakes can mean that the transfer won't go through. Keep making the minimum payment on your old card until you are absolutely sure that the balance transfer has been completed. This can take two to four weeks. You don't want to try to lower your payments and still receive a late fee and penalty.
Even though the new card company will contact you when the transfer is complete, you still need to talk to your old card. Call and verify that there is no balance left on your account. Write down the representative, time, date and what is said every time you talk with a company over the phone. Have your card company send you a billing statement with a zero balance stated on it. You may need this in order to clear up any mix-ups.
Credit card debt is a pool of deep murky waters to get out of. But, if you use some simple tips and a bit of planning, you can get out of your debt. Credit card debt is an unfortunate fact of American life.
How To Get Out Of Credit Card Debt
Credit card debt is one of the major debts that have affected the economy in recent times. People are filing for bankruptcy, instead of settling their debts through debt negotiation and debt management. Credit card debt relief is what all outstanding debt holders are in search of. It's about working for yourself and not just to pay down your massive debt. Credit card debt comes from the excessive use of credit cards and the lack of paying off the debt as it is accrued. It is a very common thing seen in America, as many Americans have more than one card in their wallets.
1. Making the payments
Obviously, you need to be making at least your minimum payments on time. Credit card debt relief is one of the most effective tools for debt management . By negotiating your debts, you can dramatically lower your monthly payments and actually see your debts dissolving.
Bi-weekly payments are an excellent means to pay extra principal almost painlessly - if your paydays are weekly or bi-weekly, and if there are no fees involved, and if you deal with a reputable money handler. A person who pays ½ of the required monthly payment bi-weekly makes the equivalent of 13.051 payments in an average year. The person who does so, pays the loan off early, and pays significantly less interest - especially on a mortgage loan (a person who pays a ½ payment bi-weekly can reduce a 30 year mortgage by more than 7 years, and save many thousands of dollars in interest). If you wish to match the bi-weekly advantage, but still make monthly payments, multiply your required monthly payment by 13.05 and divide by 12. Pay that amount each month.
2. Highest rate debt first
Pay more than the required payment (make extra payments in the manner your lenders prescribe - so you don't lose out because of computer errors, etc.) - focus on your highest rate debt first. If you have several debts, pay as much as you can on you highest rate debt and the minimum required payments on your other debts. As you pay off one debt, add the amount you were paying toward it to your next highest rate debt, and so on. Often times, this technique is much more effective and efficient than refinancing - even at a lower rate.
If you receive a pay raise or a bonus, apply most of it towards any debt that you have. You already know that you can live without the extra money. Put it to good use and draw down some debt. If you have the opportunity to work some overtime, use that money to help pay off your debt. Consider taking a second job to earn some money to help pay off your credit card debt.
3. Cut your expenses
Cut every corner that you can. Make your lunch at home and bring it with you to work. Skip the coffee, soda or candy bar that you normally have every day. Throw your change in a jar at the end of the day. Every month put the money in the bank and use it help pay off your debt. Go an extra week or two without that haircut. Don't go out to the movies (or at least cut back). Cancel your cable subscriptions. If you have a home phone and a cell phone, get rid of one. Look around. You will certainly find ways to cut back and save an extra hundred or two hundred dollars each and every month. Use this to pay down that debt and get out of the hole.
Credit Card debts are so very easy to accumulate, yet can seem impossible to get rid of.
1. Making the payments
Obviously, you need to be making at least your minimum payments on time. Credit card debt relief is one of the most effective tools for debt management . By negotiating your debts, you can dramatically lower your monthly payments and actually see your debts dissolving.
Bi-weekly payments are an excellent means to pay extra principal almost painlessly - if your paydays are weekly or bi-weekly, and if there are no fees involved, and if you deal with a reputable money handler. A person who pays ½ of the required monthly payment bi-weekly makes the equivalent of 13.051 payments in an average year. The person who does so, pays the loan off early, and pays significantly less interest - especially on a mortgage loan (a person who pays a ½ payment bi-weekly can reduce a 30 year mortgage by more than 7 years, and save many thousands of dollars in interest). If you wish to match the bi-weekly advantage, but still make monthly payments, multiply your required monthly payment by 13.05 and divide by 12. Pay that amount each month.
2. Highest rate debt first
Pay more than the required payment (make extra payments in the manner your lenders prescribe - so you don't lose out because of computer errors, etc.) - focus on your highest rate debt first. If you have several debts, pay as much as you can on you highest rate debt and the minimum required payments on your other debts. As you pay off one debt, add the amount you were paying toward it to your next highest rate debt, and so on. Often times, this technique is much more effective and efficient than refinancing - even at a lower rate.
If you receive a pay raise or a bonus, apply most of it towards any debt that you have. You already know that you can live without the extra money. Put it to good use and draw down some debt. If you have the opportunity to work some overtime, use that money to help pay off your debt. Consider taking a second job to earn some money to help pay off your credit card debt.
3. Cut your expenses
Cut every corner that you can. Make your lunch at home and bring it with you to work. Skip the coffee, soda or candy bar that you normally have every day. Throw your change in a jar at the end of the day. Every month put the money in the bank and use it help pay off your debt. Go an extra week or two without that haircut. Don't go out to the movies (or at least cut back). Cancel your cable subscriptions. If you have a home phone and a cell phone, get rid of one. Look around. You will certainly find ways to cut back and save an extra hundred or two hundred dollars each and every month. Use this to pay down that debt and get out of the hole.
Credit Card debts are so very easy to accumulate, yet can seem impossible to get rid of.
Credit Card Debt - Managing your expenses in the holiday seasons
Business people usually cash in on the holiday seasons to maximize their sales and profits. It will be high season for them. They will stock up, price up and smile all the way to the bank. They know that people will be less restrained in their suspending than at any other time. It possible that you may be among the many who have suffered post-holiday season financial stress, and want to make sure it does not happen again. Your success in this will be determined by how well you control three critical factors: your increased rate of spending, the manner in which you finance that spending, and the heavy financial demands that follow in the subsequent month.
With summer holidays, Christmas and the New Year seeming to come round too quickly, people often find they have not saved up enough for their celebrations. Moreover, budgeting is an alien concept during this and spending can spiral out of control. To cover the inevitable shortfall in resources, the credit card is an obvious attraction. There are advantages to using the card to finance your expenditure:
i) It gives you free access to about a month's credit.
ii) It gives you the temporary ability to spend beyond your current means.
iii) It allows you to track your expenditure.
iv) You do not have to carry lots of cash around with you.
Use of credit card, how ever, does carry with it significant dangers if it is not carefully controlled. Research indicates that spending could increase by up to 35% when using a credit card compared with using cash. Here are some key principles to help you guard against running into credit card debt trouble.
1. Budgeting
Budgeting is an important tool for debt management. Budgeting includes calculating your monthly disposable income. Budgeting plays an important role in avoiding credit card debt. What is your exact budget for an entire month? Budget a certain amount of each month's earnings to go into an emergency savings account. Then decide what little you can budget for occasional entertaining and clothing expenses. Budgeting helps you to avoid overspending and increases savings or free money to pay off debt.
2. Discipline
Cut every unrequired expenses. Theatre, cable, new clothes every week, restaurants etc. Cut up the credit cards and start to depend on cold, hard, cash. There is no better way to spend.
Credit card debt reduction is fundamental to alleviating financial difficulties for the average U.S. Personal debt can be reduced naturally with a debt consolidation loan or a balance transfer. Credit card debt is destroying many Americans' financial lives. Credit card sharks continue devouring us with outlandish interest rates of up to 24%. Credit card debt is a plague that has stricken countless families. Paying off the excessive debt can stress your monthly cash flow but having too much debt can keep you from getting a good rate on a home mortgage or car loan.
With summer holidays, Christmas and the New Year seeming to come round too quickly, people often find they have not saved up enough for their celebrations. Moreover, budgeting is an alien concept during this and spending can spiral out of control. To cover the inevitable shortfall in resources, the credit card is an obvious attraction. There are advantages to using the card to finance your expenditure:
i) It gives you free access to about a month's credit.
ii) It gives you the temporary ability to spend beyond your current means.
iii) It allows you to track your expenditure.
iv) You do not have to carry lots of cash around with you.
Use of credit card, how ever, does carry with it significant dangers if it is not carefully controlled. Research indicates that spending could increase by up to 35% when using a credit card compared with using cash. Here are some key principles to help you guard against running into credit card debt trouble.
1. Budgeting
Budgeting is an important tool for debt management. Budgeting includes calculating your monthly disposable income. Budgeting plays an important role in avoiding credit card debt. What is your exact budget for an entire month? Budget a certain amount of each month's earnings to go into an emergency savings account. Then decide what little you can budget for occasional entertaining and clothing expenses. Budgeting helps you to avoid overspending and increases savings or free money to pay off debt.
2. Discipline
Cut every unrequired expenses. Theatre, cable, new clothes every week, restaurants etc. Cut up the credit cards and start to depend on cold, hard, cash. There is no better way to spend.
Credit card debt reduction is fundamental to alleviating financial difficulties for the average U.S. Personal debt can be reduced naturally with a debt consolidation loan or a balance transfer. Credit card debt is destroying many Americans' financial lives. Credit card sharks continue devouring us with outlandish interest rates of up to 24%. Credit card debt is a plague that has stricken countless families. Paying off the excessive debt can stress your monthly cash flow but having too much debt can keep you from getting a good rate on a home mortgage or car loan.
How To Avoid Credit Card Debt During Holiday Seasons
Credit card debt is a major issue in a substantial percentage of consumer bankruptcies. Nearly 90 percent of the cases had at least some debt listed, and it accounted for 42.8 percent of the total general unsecured debt in our sample cases. Credit card debt can help or hurt your credit report. Credit card debt is really a huge problem here. Anybody can get a card, and there is no, or hardly any, restriction on how much you can spend with it. Credit card debt is resulted when a customer of a credit card company purchases items or services through the card system. The debts will be accumulated via the interest charged and penalties when the customer does not make payment to the credit card company.
These are tips on how to avoid credit card debt during holiday seasons:
1. Spending Plan
If your spending is going to exceed your income for the festive month, consider cutting intended festive expenses, or other expenses, to stay within your income. I am assuming you have drawn up your spending plan for that period. That's where a credit card comes to the rescue. Though not readily apparent, the use of your credit card can create distortions in the management of your finances. Unless you are monitoring your spending in both cash and credit, there is a danger that you will be uncertain whether or not you are living within your means. It would therefore be unwise to begin using a credit card if you are not in control of your finances, that means using a spending plan.
2. Debt to Income Ratio
Do not forget that use of your credit card adds to your indebtness. In managing your financial affairs, one of the key indicators to watch is your debt-income ratio. This is monthly debt repayment as a percentage of your monthly after-tax income, and raises a red flag when you tinker with too much debt. A ratio of over 20% is becoming unhealthy. If you already have credit card debt that is overdue, do not add to it.
3. Bridging Finance
Use of a credit card is ideally a means of short- term financing of your operations. That means settling any debt incurred using your card within days. Paying the minimum balance will not do. If you are not confident that you can pay it off in full, you wound do yourself a huge favor by not using a credit card. Should you decide to go ahead and use a card, you need to be prepared for extra costs in interest and penalties associated with extended credit. This adds to your expenses, and you need to be ready to be ready to reduce other regular expense to accommodate this, otherwise you run the risk of creating ongoing hard-core debt
4. Net Worth
Credit card debt incurred during the festive season is usually for consumer spending- paying for your holiday, buying gifts, entertainment, traveling expenses, etc and creates what is known as consumer debt. This kind of debt adds to your liabilities, but contributes nothing to your assets. Your net worth is reduced to the extent of consumer debt incurred. Shrinking net worth is not good for your financial health. So do have yourself a happy holiday. But as you go about it, finance it in a way that gives you the comfort that you won't be debt-laden the following month.
Credit card debt and other unsecured debt can ruin your financial future, enslave you to monthly payments and ruin your health from the constant pressure and worry. Miss a payment on your credit card debt and the credit card companies charge you outrageous late fees, raise your interest rate, and report you to the credit agencies for a black mark against your credit rating.
These are tips on how to avoid credit card debt during holiday seasons:
1. Spending Plan
If your spending is going to exceed your income for the festive month, consider cutting intended festive expenses, or other expenses, to stay within your income. I am assuming you have drawn up your spending plan for that period. That's where a credit card comes to the rescue. Though not readily apparent, the use of your credit card can create distortions in the management of your finances. Unless you are monitoring your spending in both cash and credit, there is a danger that you will be uncertain whether or not you are living within your means. It would therefore be unwise to begin using a credit card if you are not in control of your finances, that means using a spending plan.
2. Debt to Income Ratio
Do not forget that use of your credit card adds to your indebtness. In managing your financial affairs, one of the key indicators to watch is your debt-income ratio. This is monthly debt repayment as a percentage of your monthly after-tax income, and raises a red flag when you tinker with too much debt. A ratio of over 20% is becoming unhealthy. If you already have credit card debt that is overdue, do not add to it.
3. Bridging Finance
Use of a credit card is ideally a means of short- term financing of your operations. That means settling any debt incurred using your card within days. Paying the minimum balance will not do. If you are not confident that you can pay it off in full, you wound do yourself a huge favor by not using a credit card. Should you decide to go ahead and use a card, you need to be prepared for extra costs in interest and penalties associated with extended credit. This adds to your expenses, and you need to be ready to be ready to reduce other regular expense to accommodate this, otherwise you run the risk of creating ongoing hard-core debt
4. Net Worth
Credit card debt incurred during the festive season is usually for consumer spending- paying for your holiday, buying gifts, entertainment, traveling expenses, etc and creates what is known as consumer debt. This kind of debt adds to your liabilities, but contributes nothing to your assets. Your net worth is reduced to the extent of consumer debt incurred. Shrinking net worth is not good for your financial health. So do have yourself a happy holiday. But as you go about it, finance it in a way that gives you the comfort that you won't be debt-laden the following month.
Credit card debt and other unsecured debt can ruin your financial future, enslave you to monthly payments and ruin your health from the constant pressure and worry. Miss a payment on your credit card debt and the credit card companies charge you outrageous late fees, raise your interest rate, and report you to the credit agencies for a black mark against your credit rating.
Free Credit Score Online
Free credit score online is one of the best ideas to improve or increase your credit score. There can be many errors in your credit report that can obstruct your financial flexibility. Some people have the opinion that checking score can reduce their credit score rating but it is not so. Checking does not harm your credit score. In fact credit score check improves the credit score rating of an individual.
Credit Score is an important factor considered by creditors, money lenders and other financial institutions. This score is studied and the risk involved in lending money to you is evaluated. This puts you in one of the two categories, high risk borrower and a low risk borrower. Therefore, it is very important to maintain a good credit score.
The following points illustrate the importance of having a good credit score:
- The Potential lenders, banks, credit card companies and employers measure your credit worthiness with the help of your credit score.
- Your credit score can change daily with the change in the information in your credit report.
- A good credit score will allow you to stay on the top of your credit and will make you eligible for easy loans.
Online Credit Score
Your credit score is a reflection of your credit worthiness. It is made up of a three-digit number, which is evaluated using your credit related information like your credit history, current indebtedness, and other credit report information. With the increase in Internet technology, you can now get your credit score online. There are many companies that offer this service to you. Many companies even provide free online credit score, if you order a complete credit report.
Raising Credit Score
You should not be under this misconception that a bad or poor credit score will always remain poor. You can improve your credit score but it takes some time. Similarly, a good credit score does not guarantee that it will always remain good. If you become careless with your bills and credit card payments, soon it will start reflecting on your credit score. The simple thing that you can do to improve or raise your credit score is “make timely payments”.
Many lenders and retailers who extend credit facilities use credit score. The main purpose is to eliminate bad debts or any such poor line that may involve in the transaction. If you have bad credit score the lender may refrain from extending credit facilities but person with good credit score does not face any financial shortage. If you desire to have good credit score or want to increase credit score scale then you must check your credit score periodically. It is always advisable to check your credit score once in six months. Remember a minor error in your credit score can cause major destruction in your credit score rating.
Credit Score is an important factor considered by creditors, money lenders and other financial institutions. This score is studied and the risk involved in lending money to you is evaluated. This puts you in one of the two categories, high risk borrower and a low risk borrower. Therefore, it is very important to maintain a good credit score.
The following points illustrate the importance of having a good credit score:
- The Potential lenders, banks, credit card companies and employers measure your credit worthiness with the help of your credit score.
- Your credit score can change daily with the change in the information in your credit report.
- A good credit score will allow you to stay on the top of your credit and will make you eligible for easy loans.
Online Credit Score
Your credit score is a reflection of your credit worthiness. It is made up of a three-digit number, which is evaluated using your credit related information like your credit history, current indebtedness, and other credit report information. With the increase in Internet technology, you can now get your credit score online. There are many companies that offer this service to you. Many companies even provide free online credit score, if you order a complete credit report.
Raising Credit Score
You should not be under this misconception that a bad or poor credit score will always remain poor. You can improve your credit score but it takes some time. Similarly, a good credit score does not guarantee that it will always remain good. If you become careless with your bills and credit card payments, soon it will start reflecting on your credit score. The simple thing that you can do to improve or raise your credit score is “make timely payments”.
Many lenders and retailers who extend credit facilities use credit score. The main purpose is to eliminate bad debts or any such poor line that may involve in the transaction. If you have bad credit score the lender may refrain from extending credit facilities but person with good credit score does not face any financial shortage. If you desire to have good credit score or want to increase credit score scale then you must check your credit score periodically. It is always advisable to check your credit score once in six months. Remember a minor error in your credit score can cause major destruction in your credit score rating.
Credit Report Score - How To Build It
Credit report score is an important tool that helps to know how credit worthy you have been. Credit report is your personal financial report card in other words it's nothing but all your credit history. Your credit report can affect your daily life from where you live and work to how much you pay for a loan or insurance. Here's a guide to building your credit score
Improving yourself is always a good thing. If you thrive hard to become a better public speaker, you can might yourself a promotion. Exercising and going to the gym can help you lose weight and have the figure you have always wanted. But the best thing of all is improving and building your credit score ‘ this can help you save hundreds and thousands of dollars on your biggest purchases.
For some, it may be hard to keep up a good credit score but actually, improving credit is not that hard to achieve. You just need to be patient and learn a little bit about the credit scoring system and how it works.
A person who is patient and willing to improve their credit profile can do it easily. There are five things that they can follow in order to boost their credit scores.
1.Check your own credit report from time to time. It is necessary to regularly check your credit and take the steps to remove any inaccuracies in your credit report. Sometimes bad credit is caused by simple inaccuracies in the report. If you see something, contact your creditor immediately, and work to correct the error as soon as you can. Leaving an inaccuracy on your report counts against you.
2.Be on time with payments. Literally, it means that you have to pay all your bills on time. If you are always late with your payments, it will affect your credit report and score. Also, collections and bankruptcies have the most negative effect on your credit report. All reports including the late payments are noted and written in your credit report.
3.Learn how to manage your debt. You must maintain the balance of your credit report to 35% of your available credit limit. Make sure that you always watch your accounts and estimate if you can still handle the using more credit.
4.Avoid unnecessary inquiries. Every time you make an inquiry, it is written in your credit report. Even if you have no plan to open a credit account, your inquiry records will show how often someone has looked at your report, and will cast doubt on your ability to pay. So as much as possible, do not make an inquiry into your credit report unless it is important.
5.Give yourself time. Time is considered one of the most significant aspects that can help improve your credit score. Time management is important to get yourself on the right track and show that you can handle your credit responsibly. You can also keep even the oldest account open in order to help make your credit use look longer.
Unfortunately many of us do not know our credit score, if you take an approximate you will come to know that only 33 percent of consumers know their credit scores according to Government Accountability Office. As important as it is to know how much money you have available before you write a check, it is equally important to know your credit score and what is on your credit report. Not knowing these things could cost you money.
Improving yourself is always a good thing. If you thrive hard to become a better public speaker, you can might yourself a promotion. Exercising and going to the gym can help you lose weight and have the figure you have always wanted. But the best thing of all is improving and building your credit score ‘ this can help you save hundreds and thousands of dollars on your biggest purchases.
For some, it may be hard to keep up a good credit score but actually, improving credit is not that hard to achieve. You just need to be patient and learn a little bit about the credit scoring system and how it works.
A person who is patient and willing to improve their credit profile can do it easily. There are five things that they can follow in order to boost their credit scores.
1.Check your own credit report from time to time. It is necessary to regularly check your credit and take the steps to remove any inaccuracies in your credit report. Sometimes bad credit is caused by simple inaccuracies in the report. If you see something, contact your creditor immediately, and work to correct the error as soon as you can. Leaving an inaccuracy on your report counts against you.
2.Be on time with payments. Literally, it means that you have to pay all your bills on time. If you are always late with your payments, it will affect your credit report and score. Also, collections and bankruptcies have the most negative effect on your credit report. All reports including the late payments are noted and written in your credit report.
3.Learn how to manage your debt. You must maintain the balance of your credit report to 35% of your available credit limit. Make sure that you always watch your accounts and estimate if you can still handle the using more credit.
4.Avoid unnecessary inquiries. Every time you make an inquiry, it is written in your credit report. Even if you have no plan to open a credit account, your inquiry records will show how often someone has looked at your report, and will cast doubt on your ability to pay. So as much as possible, do not make an inquiry into your credit report unless it is important.
5.Give yourself time. Time is considered one of the most significant aspects that can help improve your credit score. Time management is important to get yourself on the right track and show that you can handle your credit responsibly. You can also keep even the oldest account open in order to help make your credit use look longer.
Unfortunately many of us do not know our credit score, if you take an approximate you will come to know that only 33 percent of consumers know their credit scores according to Government Accountability Office. As important as it is to know how much money you have available before you write a check, it is equally important to know your credit score and what is on your credit report. Not knowing these things could cost you money.
Airline Credit Cards - Counting The Miles
Travel is one of the most popular ways to spend your down time. With travel agencies online and easier methods of booking flights and hotel rooms, travel is the choice for weekends and vacations of all sorts. And airline credit cards make travel available to all, whether you have a travel budget or not. Most times, you will receive flyer miles per trip taken, and some of these airline credit cards will offer a generous point total per flight.
Here are some tips to getting the most out of your airline credit card.
Some people use cash to travel, however others prefer to use airline mile credit cards. The airline credit cards often have airline miles attached, which provides ongoing benefits. While the cards benefits vary, some provide categories that are major points to consider when selecting an airline credit cards, (i.e. while earning flights the person could choose from more than 200 airlines to fly from, by selecting the choice of airline). If you prefer to use a major airline, (i.e. an airline which you frequently fly) the cards often include features, such as earn x amount of points for each flight taken.
Airline credit cards are often referred to as mileage credit cards. The card enables you to earn points per dollar charged on the card then you can use the points toward a flight. Some cards offer more points than others do.
Checking out the marketplace for the bargains is ideal while considering airline miles credit cards. Once you select a card and accepted, as a cardholder you will discover that you earn points on the card. Be sure to take full advantage of discounts and free offers, since the points will expire on some credit cards.
Some of the disadvantages of airline credit cards are that the cards often have higher interest rates and annual fees attached. Most of the airline cards are for those that can handle paying off the monthly debts incurred on the cards, or for travelers that frequently take trips and utilize the credit cards as a means to manage and document purchases. Still, the rates are comparable in an online search. If you are considering an airline mile credit card, take time to research and compare the values, APR (Annual Percentage Rate), points available, and other services.
While traveling, the idea of the credit cards is to save money, so why not take the time to find the best rates and save even more cash while using your airline credit cards to earn points.
Some of the no-annual-rate cards include the Miles Card from Discover. This card offer no APR fees, and you will receive 5,000 miles once the initial purchase is charged to the card. Balance transfers are free for the first twelve months, and you will find an added benefit in earning a mile per dollar charged to your card. The Value Miles Platinum Visa cards offer miles per dollar spent with no blackout dates. Fly on the major airlines and earn points while receiving assistance on travel. If you are in an emergency, this card offers emergency funding, and the rates per interest are attractively low.
Noting the two cards named in this article will help you to see the comparison. The Discover Card offers 5,000 points on the first debt incurred on the card, while the Visa Card does not. Now, how can we decide which card is more of an advantage? We can do this by contrasting and comparing airline credit cards. Check for the best rates online, since here you can compare at your own pace, finding multiple offerings and significant savings in fees and interest.
Restrictions
Many airline credit cards come with restrictions on how you can use your miles. For example, you may need to acquire a certain number of miles before you can redeem them for an actual plane ticket. Other airline cards make you use your miles only on certain days or during certain times of the year. It is vital that you check out the contract for your credit card to be sure what these restrictions are. Another airline card might actually offer you more miles for shopping with specific merchants that the financial institution partners with for this purpose. Check the rewards program details for information on promotions of this kind.
Here are some tips to getting the most out of your airline credit card.
Some people use cash to travel, however others prefer to use airline mile credit cards. The airline credit cards often have airline miles attached, which provides ongoing benefits. While the cards benefits vary, some provide categories that are major points to consider when selecting an airline credit cards, (i.e. while earning flights the person could choose from more than 200 airlines to fly from, by selecting the choice of airline). If you prefer to use a major airline, (i.e. an airline which you frequently fly) the cards often include features, such as earn x amount of points for each flight taken.
Airline credit cards are often referred to as mileage credit cards. The card enables you to earn points per dollar charged on the card then you can use the points toward a flight. Some cards offer more points than others do.
Checking out the marketplace for the bargains is ideal while considering airline miles credit cards. Once you select a card and accepted, as a cardholder you will discover that you earn points on the card. Be sure to take full advantage of discounts and free offers, since the points will expire on some credit cards.
Some of the disadvantages of airline credit cards are that the cards often have higher interest rates and annual fees attached. Most of the airline cards are for those that can handle paying off the monthly debts incurred on the cards, or for travelers that frequently take trips and utilize the credit cards as a means to manage and document purchases. Still, the rates are comparable in an online search. If you are considering an airline mile credit card, take time to research and compare the values, APR (Annual Percentage Rate), points available, and other services.
While traveling, the idea of the credit cards is to save money, so why not take the time to find the best rates and save even more cash while using your airline credit cards to earn points.
Some of the no-annual-rate cards include the Miles Card from Discover. This card offer no APR fees, and you will receive 5,000 miles once the initial purchase is charged to the card. Balance transfers are free for the first twelve months, and you will find an added benefit in earning a mile per dollar charged to your card. The Value Miles Platinum Visa cards offer miles per dollar spent with no blackout dates. Fly on the major airlines and earn points while receiving assistance on travel. If you are in an emergency, this card offers emergency funding, and the rates per interest are attractively low.
Noting the two cards named in this article will help you to see the comparison. The Discover Card offers 5,000 points on the first debt incurred on the card, while the Visa Card does not. Now, how can we decide which card is more of an advantage? We can do this by contrasting and comparing airline credit cards. Check for the best rates online, since here you can compare at your own pace, finding multiple offerings and significant savings in fees and interest.
Restrictions
Many airline credit cards come with restrictions on how you can use your miles. For example, you may need to acquire a certain number of miles before you can redeem them for an actual plane ticket. Other airline cards make you use your miles only on certain days or during certain times of the year. It is vital that you check out the contract for your credit card to be sure what these restrictions are. Another airline card might actually offer you more miles for shopping with specific merchants that the financial institution partners with for this purpose. Check the rewards program details for information on promotions of this kind.
Airline Credit Card - Do You Need It?
An airline credit card is one which rewards purchases with air travel miles or points which can be redeemed for them. When you apply for a credit card online or at your banking institution, you have the option in many cases of applying for an airline card. These cards work just like rewards cards do in that they offer you something back for every dollar you spend. Most airline cards offer you one mile in the sky for each dollar you spend.
This means that if you spend five hundred dollars on your credit card each month, you could earn five hundred airline miles with that particular airline. This could come in handy when traveling with your family or on business. Some airline credit cards offer different ratios of rewards so be sure that you read the fine print to find out how much you have to spend to get the miles you need.
Ideal Airline Credit Card User Checklist
Before deciding to go for an airline credit card you should check your credit history. If it is perfect or almost perfect, you can check off one of the requirements of the ideal airline credit card user checklist. If you pay your credit card debt on time, you fulfill the second requirement of the checklist. It is also important that your debts on other credit cards and other bills are paid one time. You are a big spender, and spend it through your airline card. Most importantly, the travel miles are useful or important to you.
Reasons for the Airline Card Checklist
Airline cards usually charge higher interest than ordinary cards. If you are not timely in your credit payments, you incur a lot of interest. Also if you do not have excellent credit ratings, you fall into a higher interest bracket and do not qualify for the lower APR credit cards. This makes airline cards very expensive to own. It is also important to pay other debts regularly, since the rules link you credit ratings across debts. What this means is, if you have a bad credit rating in relation to another credit card you own, it affects your credit rating in the airline credit card and you may have to pay a higher rate of interest.
If you are not a big spender and do not spend much through your airline card you will not earn enough miles to travel by air for a long time. If travel isn't interesting to you or is not incidental to your line of work, you may be better off looking for a low APR credit card.
If you do purchase an airline credit card, make the most of it, by using it whenever you shop. Also use your airline miles at the first chance you get. It is better to use your airline miles for long flights to make the most of them. Airline cards are used best when they are redeemed for airline miles. It is generally not worth it to redeem your airline card on other products.
Airline cards vary greatly in terms of their bundle of offerings. There are different APR's and differing credit requirements (but you must have good credit). Also some airline credit cards offer bonus air miles. Different annual fees are charged. Bank sponsored airline cards allow you to redeem your air miles through a number of airlines. With airline sponsored cards you have to patronize the issuing airline. An informed purchase of your airline credit card can lead to smart savings for some, and free holidays for others. Remember to combine the informed purchase with smart usage of your airline card. If you can choose and use your airline credit card wisely, the only negative effect you can expect is jet lag.
Overall, airline credit cards are a wonderful way to earn a free vacation for you or for your family. However, in these unstable times, be sure that you check out the financial stability of the company you want to earn miles with. Remember that if you earn miles with a company that goes bankrupt, you may be able to transfer your miles and you may not. If you are able to transfer them, it could take months for the transfer to go through. So check out your airline as well as your airline card.
This means that if you spend five hundred dollars on your credit card each month, you could earn five hundred airline miles with that particular airline. This could come in handy when traveling with your family or on business. Some airline credit cards offer different ratios of rewards so be sure that you read the fine print to find out how much you have to spend to get the miles you need.
Ideal Airline Credit Card User Checklist
Before deciding to go for an airline credit card you should check your credit history. If it is perfect or almost perfect, you can check off one of the requirements of the ideal airline credit card user checklist. If you pay your credit card debt on time, you fulfill the second requirement of the checklist. It is also important that your debts on other credit cards and other bills are paid one time. You are a big spender, and spend it through your airline card. Most importantly, the travel miles are useful or important to you.
Reasons for the Airline Card Checklist
Airline cards usually charge higher interest than ordinary cards. If you are not timely in your credit payments, you incur a lot of interest. Also if you do not have excellent credit ratings, you fall into a higher interest bracket and do not qualify for the lower APR credit cards. This makes airline cards very expensive to own. It is also important to pay other debts regularly, since the rules link you credit ratings across debts. What this means is, if you have a bad credit rating in relation to another credit card you own, it affects your credit rating in the airline credit card and you may have to pay a higher rate of interest.
If you are not a big spender and do not spend much through your airline card you will not earn enough miles to travel by air for a long time. If travel isn't interesting to you or is not incidental to your line of work, you may be better off looking for a low APR credit card.
If you do purchase an airline credit card, make the most of it, by using it whenever you shop. Also use your airline miles at the first chance you get. It is better to use your airline miles for long flights to make the most of them. Airline cards are used best when they are redeemed for airline miles. It is generally not worth it to redeem your airline card on other products.
Airline cards vary greatly in terms of their bundle of offerings. There are different APR's and differing credit requirements (but you must have good credit). Also some airline credit cards offer bonus air miles. Different annual fees are charged. Bank sponsored airline cards allow you to redeem your air miles through a number of airlines. With airline sponsored cards you have to patronize the issuing airline. An informed purchase of your airline credit card can lead to smart savings for some, and free holidays for others. Remember to combine the informed purchase with smart usage of your airline card. If you can choose and use your airline credit card wisely, the only negative effect you can expect is jet lag.
Overall, airline credit cards are a wonderful way to earn a free vacation for you or for your family. However, in these unstable times, be sure that you check out the financial stability of the company you want to earn miles with. Remember that if you earn miles with a company that goes bankrupt, you may be able to transfer your miles and you may not. If you are able to transfer them, it could take months for the transfer to go through. So check out your airline as well as your airline card.
Airline Credit Cards - A Useful Guide
An airline credit card can save a lot of money for that special trip. Among the generous incentives by some financial institutions are free airline miles. Think of the souvenirs you could buy with the savings. Not everyone can afford to take a vacation every year. Then others don't include an airline trip for that yearly retreat. So when a dream trip comes to mind, it's important to many, to try to do it as economically as possible.
Some people may not want to be tied down to one airline so they wouldn't necessarily be interested in an airline credit card. Perhaps a credit card that offers air miles in their rewards program would be more to their liking. This type of card can also save on any travel or purchase.
Let's discuss in more detail how to maximize your card's earning potential.
Bonus Miles/Points
Some airline credit cards will give a new card holder bonus miles for choosing their card or even give double miles/points when you purchase airline tickets. A little investigation into what each card offers before applying can save you not only in interest and fees, but in actual miles/points as well. In fact, some airline credit cards offer as much as 25,000 miles just for choosing their card! A little research in this area will definitely be to your advantage in getting the most miles/points as quickly as possible.
Double Miles/Points
Another avenue of quickly adding mileage/points to your account is by receiving double miles/points for airline ticket purchases. Check to see if the airline credit card companies you are interested in will double miles/points for the purchase cost of a regular ticket charge. If you travel frequently due to business or for personal reasons, these types of miles/points credits could really add up quickly.
Business Expenses and Tickets
As a business owner, you can use your airline credit card for business expenses and earn miles to help offset the expense of your employees' airline tickets for their business trips.
For personal benefit, another approach is to charge business expenses to your airline miles credit card that will be eventually reimbursed by your employer. When you receive your travel check from your employer, make sure you pay the balance owed by the due date and you will have miles/points earned for a well-earned vacation!
Earning Maximum Miles/Points and keep the Interest Costs down
Since many airline miles credit cards have a higher interest rate than other cards, to most effectively use your airline credit card without running up unnecessarily high interest charges:
1. Using your airline card for your everyday shopping, such as grocery shopping, pharmacy needs, or even online bill paying. Be sure that the financial institution that issued your card rewards miles for the ways you want to use your card. Be sure not to go over your usual monthly expenses already budgeted;
2. Many airline cards will give you bonus miles for using the card at specific merchants, so the easiest way to earn more miles quicker is to do your shopping with these select merchants.
3. Immediately pay off any balances when your airline credit card statement arrives.
What will this accomplish?
1) It will credit your account with the maximum miles/points without incurring the high interest rates;
2) Since you are earning miles/points quickly, you can enjoy the reward of going on more trips or to a more exotic destination than by just occasionally using your airline miles credit card.
It is up to you how quickly your reward miles/points add up. These ideas are very simple, but if used correctly will give you maximum benefits with minimal costs. Here is a quick checklist for your reference:
1) Research alone can add up to 25,000 miles on your new card;
2) Add some miles from airline ticket purchases;
3) Business expenses-either actual business or personal business can be used to offset future business expenses or used to enable personal trips.
4) Finally, converting simple costs of daily purchases/budgetary expenses into miles/points will give you countless opportunities to earn miles and points.
Some people may not want to be tied down to one airline so they wouldn't necessarily be interested in an airline credit card. Perhaps a credit card that offers air miles in their rewards program would be more to their liking. This type of card can also save on any travel or purchase.
Let's discuss in more detail how to maximize your card's earning potential.
Bonus Miles/Points
Some airline credit cards will give a new card holder bonus miles for choosing their card or even give double miles/points when you purchase airline tickets. A little investigation into what each card offers before applying can save you not only in interest and fees, but in actual miles/points as well. In fact, some airline credit cards offer as much as 25,000 miles just for choosing their card! A little research in this area will definitely be to your advantage in getting the most miles/points as quickly as possible.
Double Miles/Points
Another avenue of quickly adding mileage/points to your account is by receiving double miles/points for airline ticket purchases. Check to see if the airline credit card companies you are interested in will double miles/points for the purchase cost of a regular ticket charge. If you travel frequently due to business or for personal reasons, these types of miles/points credits could really add up quickly.
Business Expenses and Tickets
As a business owner, you can use your airline credit card for business expenses and earn miles to help offset the expense of your employees' airline tickets for their business trips.
For personal benefit, another approach is to charge business expenses to your airline miles credit card that will be eventually reimbursed by your employer. When you receive your travel check from your employer, make sure you pay the balance owed by the due date and you will have miles/points earned for a well-earned vacation!
Earning Maximum Miles/Points and keep the Interest Costs down
Since many airline miles credit cards have a higher interest rate than other cards, to most effectively use your airline credit card without running up unnecessarily high interest charges:
1. Using your airline card for your everyday shopping, such as grocery shopping, pharmacy needs, or even online bill paying. Be sure that the financial institution that issued your card rewards miles for the ways you want to use your card. Be sure not to go over your usual monthly expenses already budgeted;
2. Many airline cards will give you bonus miles for using the card at specific merchants, so the easiest way to earn more miles quicker is to do your shopping with these select merchants.
3. Immediately pay off any balances when your airline credit card statement arrives.
What will this accomplish?
1) It will credit your account with the maximum miles/points without incurring the high interest rates;
2) Since you are earning miles/points quickly, you can enjoy the reward of going on more trips or to a more exotic destination than by just occasionally using your airline miles credit card.
It is up to you how quickly your reward miles/points add up. These ideas are very simple, but if used correctly will give you maximum benefits with minimal costs. Here is a quick checklist for your reference:
1) Research alone can add up to 25,000 miles on your new card;
2) Add some miles from airline ticket purchases;
3) Business expenses-either actual business or personal business can be used to offset future business expenses or used to enable personal trips.
4) Finally, converting simple costs of daily purchases/budgetary expenses into miles/points will give you countless opportunities to earn miles and points.
Business Credit Cards - Important Things To Note
Competent accessories are the forte for setting up any business empire today. And if the tool gives you maximum benefits and least tensions, it is indeed a boon in disguise. Business credit cards with its multifaceted twin benefit system — of simplicity in application and of churning out a lot of profits for the owner are truly designed for people who want to make a mark in the business world.
From looking after your daily operations to organizing your business expenses to guiding you towards saving money, business credit cards are the real managers behind a successful entrepreneur. What makes it more popular is that its application is not complicated at all. And you have varieties to choose from. There are business credit cards designed to suit entrepreneurs with poor credit history and then there are those made especially for the corporate business owner.
Most of the credit card companies pride themselves with having created the perfect card for any business owner. The onus is on the customer to pick and choose the best credit card to suit his type of Business Empire.
Given the variety of business credit card programs available, anyone with decent credit should seriously consider one. Although intended primarily for small business owners, the offers combine every kind of credit card contract. Business credit cards are available with low APR, zero introductory interest rates, balance transfer options, rewards (like airline miles or cash back), and on and on. Business cards offer travel discounts on cars and hotels, frequent flyer miles, travel insurance, even restaurant savings.
Business card contracts usually offer comparatively lower interest rates and much higher credit limits. Of course, it's expected that you will have somewhat better credit history. Issuers are eager to offer superior benefits since business owners generally spend more and tend to maintain a higher balance.
They are convenient for large or small expenditures, whether office furniture or stationary supplies. Gone is the need to maintain a petty cash account. And every business owner has seen the day when emergencies arise that present the need for unexpected additional funds. It's times such as those when those high credit limits come in handy. Nearly all provide, free of charge, quarterly or annual reports that categorize expenses. This helps manage cash flow and makes it easier to track tax deductible items. They help around tax filing time, when you need to total those items. They also help separate personal from business expenses.
Business cards can be issued to more than one individual. The business owner, or authorized representative, can specify an unlimited number of additional card bearers, who receive a different account number. This makes tracking expenditures by different employees easier.
It also makes abuse easier to detect. Terminating one account is as easy as a phone call and your primary account remains active and unaffected. Of course, as the primary account holder, you are still held responsible for any charges made. One way to deal with this unfortunate, but all too common, issue is to use pre-paid cards. Pre-paid cards allow you to load a card with a specified quantity of funds, which automatically caps the amount for which you can be liable.
For businesses that experience lag in accounts receivable and which don't, business cards can help smooth out cash flow bumps. Pay now with the card, invoice the client, and you'll be better able to time paying your expenses when your clients pay you.
Every major financial institution offers business credit cards. Some have several programs. Everything from Platinum cards to Debit cards are offered, usually with the same low rate and no annual charge. And here's the catch — which for once is in your favor. Anyone can consider him or herself a business owner. No special proof (such as a business license) is required. Most programs are available through the issuers' web sites. You fill out the form, a credit check is performed by an automated computer system, and you receive an answer within seconds. For a business owner with a thousand things more to do than time to do them, it doesn't get better than that.
Low introductory rates, unrestricted spending limits, and cash advances are all attractive but each one can lead you to trouble. Where cards with high introductory rates could land your business in trouble and could result in no savings. On the other hand if you have no control over what you spend, you could end up paying much more and saving much less. Remember you have to pay a due amount every month. So check your limits. Lastly one has to be careful with cash advances too. While cash advances allows an owner to access cash during periods of low cash flow, most cards have extremely high interest rates and extra fees attached to advances.
From looking after your daily operations to organizing your business expenses to guiding you towards saving money, business credit cards are the real managers behind a successful entrepreneur. What makes it more popular is that its application is not complicated at all. And you have varieties to choose from. There are business credit cards designed to suit entrepreneurs with poor credit history and then there are those made especially for the corporate business owner.
Most of the credit card companies pride themselves with having created the perfect card for any business owner. The onus is on the customer to pick and choose the best credit card to suit his type of Business Empire.
Given the variety of business credit card programs available, anyone with decent credit should seriously consider one. Although intended primarily for small business owners, the offers combine every kind of credit card contract. Business credit cards are available with low APR, zero introductory interest rates, balance transfer options, rewards (like airline miles or cash back), and on and on. Business cards offer travel discounts on cars and hotels, frequent flyer miles, travel insurance, even restaurant savings.
Business card contracts usually offer comparatively lower interest rates and much higher credit limits. Of course, it's expected that you will have somewhat better credit history. Issuers are eager to offer superior benefits since business owners generally spend more and tend to maintain a higher balance.
They are convenient for large or small expenditures, whether office furniture or stationary supplies. Gone is the need to maintain a petty cash account. And every business owner has seen the day when emergencies arise that present the need for unexpected additional funds. It's times such as those when those high credit limits come in handy. Nearly all provide, free of charge, quarterly or annual reports that categorize expenses. This helps manage cash flow and makes it easier to track tax deductible items. They help around tax filing time, when you need to total those items. They also help separate personal from business expenses.
Business cards can be issued to more than one individual. The business owner, or authorized representative, can specify an unlimited number of additional card bearers, who receive a different account number. This makes tracking expenditures by different employees easier.
It also makes abuse easier to detect. Terminating one account is as easy as a phone call and your primary account remains active and unaffected. Of course, as the primary account holder, you are still held responsible for any charges made. One way to deal with this unfortunate, but all too common, issue is to use pre-paid cards. Pre-paid cards allow you to load a card with a specified quantity of funds, which automatically caps the amount for which you can be liable.
For businesses that experience lag in accounts receivable and which don't, business cards can help smooth out cash flow bumps. Pay now with the card, invoice the client, and you'll be better able to time paying your expenses when your clients pay you.
Every major financial institution offers business credit cards. Some have several programs. Everything from Platinum cards to Debit cards are offered, usually with the same low rate and no annual charge. And here's the catch — which for once is in your favor. Anyone can consider him or herself a business owner. No special proof (such as a business license) is required. Most programs are available through the issuers' web sites. You fill out the form, a credit check is performed by an automated computer system, and you receive an answer within seconds. For a business owner with a thousand things more to do than time to do them, it doesn't get better than that.
Low introductory rates, unrestricted spending limits, and cash advances are all attractive but each one can lead you to trouble. Where cards with high introductory rates could land your business in trouble and could result in no savings. On the other hand if you have no control over what you spend, you could end up paying much more and saving much less. Remember you have to pay a due amount every month. So check your limits. Lastly one has to be careful with cash advances too. While cash advances allows an owner to access cash during periods of low cash flow, most cards have extremely high interest rates and extra fees attached to advances.
Helping Debtors With Low Interest Credit Cards
Low interest credit cards are an ideal choice for those who are looking for the much needed financial flexibility to become debt free. Many of you many wonder how low interest rate credit cards can help get you out of debt, when it appears on the surface, that most credit cards seem to help get people into debt. But if used wisely and with discipline, these type of cheap credit cards can provide the right kind of financial assistance during any tough financial crisis.
How Can I Get Out of Debt with Low Interest Credit Cards?
Are you a self-confessed shopaholic who buys anything and everything that you get your shopping addicted hands on? Such thoughtless and impulsive buying will most likely result in the accumulation of a bunch of junk that will simply collect dust. Can you even remember that silk scarf you just had to have and since it was a virtual steal at 50% off you just had to buy it? Where is it now and how many times have you actually worn it? Is it still fashionable?
Unfortunately, many people fall into this mode of impulsive buying that they really can't afford and before they realize it they become saddled with debt. If you fall into this category, you'll soon need to learn a thing or two about debt settlement which can assist you in extracting yourself out of that self-imposed state of financial trauma and begin to start rebuilding your life bit by bit. And the time to start is now. Of course, you have to be honest with yourself, admit that you've got a serious debt problem and then humble yourself enough to seek the help you need to pull yourself out of this devastating ordeal.
Financial Discipline
Some people use low interest credit cards as a license to overspend as the APR is so low and cheap. But nothing could be further from the truth. Low interest rate credit cards alone cannot get you out of debt traps. Strict financial discipline and proper financial planning is necessary for it. Low interest credit cards can then act as a booster or catalyst to solve your debt problems.
This is how credit card debt builds. Soon they learn about credit card debt consolidation and other credit card debt elimination techniques. They are quick to grab such credit card debt reduction techniques, but that's not because they are serious about reducing their credit card debt but because of the attractive low APR offers. As if it were booty, they again get back to building up their credit card debt. All the while they are spoiling their credit card rating and they soon realise that no one is ready to lend them money because of their credit history. They can only get a secured credit card now (where you first deposit money into your credit account and then only you get the privilege of spending it (50-100% of it) using their credit card. Credit card debt collection agencies, auction of their goods and bankruptcy is the next thing that hits them and their dream run is blown away in a moment.
To avoid further debt traps, you should aggressively pay down the low interest credit card and utilize the card for additional purchases only if you can pay off both the new purchases as well as the existing debt payment. Remember, however, that if your card balance is large, it is best not to charge additional items on the card. You should focus on paying down the balance before incurring additional debt.
Things to Remember
Before applying for low interest rate credit cards, you should thoroughly assess your current financial situation. Keeping your personal financial situation in mind, you can mindfully search for the different types of low interest credit cards. Most people obviously want to transfer balances of high interest credit cards to low interest credit cards, and this is a very good option as it can save substantially on finance charges.
Make sure that transfer fees or other miscellaneous fees that might be involved do not negate the savings captured by a low interest card. Some cheap credit cards might have high interest rates that are applied to balance transfers, but lower APR's on an ongoing basis, while some low interest rate credit cards only give introductory rates for a specific period of time. Before selecting any one of the low interest credit cards, get a clear idea about the introductory rate, balance transfer rate, cash advance rate as well as the ongoing long term APR.
How Can I Get Out of Debt with Low Interest Credit Cards?
Are you a self-confessed shopaholic who buys anything and everything that you get your shopping addicted hands on? Such thoughtless and impulsive buying will most likely result in the accumulation of a bunch of junk that will simply collect dust. Can you even remember that silk scarf you just had to have and since it was a virtual steal at 50% off you just had to buy it? Where is it now and how many times have you actually worn it? Is it still fashionable?
Unfortunately, many people fall into this mode of impulsive buying that they really can't afford and before they realize it they become saddled with debt. If you fall into this category, you'll soon need to learn a thing or two about debt settlement which can assist you in extracting yourself out of that self-imposed state of financial trauma and begin to start rebuilding your life bit by bit. And the time to start is now. Of course, you have to be honest with yourself, admit that you've got a serious debt problem and then humble yourself enough to seek the help you need to pull yourself out of this devastating ordeal.
Financial Discipline
Some people use low interest credit cards as a license to overspend as the APR is so low and cheap. But nothing could be further from the truth. Low interest rate credit cards alone cannot get you out of debt traps. Strict financial discipline and proper financial planning is necessary for it. Low interest credit cards can then act as a booster or catalyst to solve your debt problems.
This is how credit card debt builds. Soon they learn about credit card debt consolidation and other credit card debt elimination techniques. They are quick to grab such credit card debt reduction techniques, but that's not because they are serious about reducing their credit card debt but because of the attractive low APR offers. As if it were booty, they again get back to building up their credit card debt. All the while they are spoiling their credit card rating and they soon realise that no one is ready to lend them money because of their credit history. They can only get a secured credit card now (where you first deposit money into your credit account and then only you get the privilege of spending it (50-100% of it) using their credit card. Credit card debt collection agencies, auction of their goods and bankruptcy is the next thing that hits them and their dream run is blown away in a moment.
To avoid further debt traps, you should aggressively pay down the low interest credit card and utilize the card for additional purchases only if you can pay off both the new purchases as well as the existing debt payment. Remember, however, that if your card balance is large, it is best not to charge additional items on the card. You should focus on paying down the balance before incurring additional debt.
Things to Remember
Before applying for low interest rate credit cards, you should thoroughly assess your current financial situation. Keeping your personal financial situation in mind, you can mindfully search for the different types of low interest credit cards. Most people obviously want to transfer balances of high interest credit cards to low interest credit cards, and this is a very good option as it can save substantially on finance charges.
Make sure that transfer fees or other miscellaneous fees that might be involved do not negate the savings captured by a low interest card. Some cheap credit cards might have high interest rates that are applied to balance transfers, but lower APR's on an ongoing basis, while some low interest rate credit cards only give introductory rates for a specific period of time. Before selecting any one of the low interest credit cards, get a clear idea about the introductory rate, balance transfer rate, cash advance rate as well as the ongoing long term APR.
Credit Card Debt Settlement - Advantages and Disadvantages
Credit Card Debt' is a much discussed topic in the commercial and social circles. A big section of the population has been bit by this bug called ‘credit card debt'. Can't blame them much; as such, it's pretty easy to fall prey to this bug.
The main reason behind so many credit card casualties (rather credit card debt related casualties) is that many people don't understand the concept of credit cards properly. They treat credit card as free money that is never to be returned. Thus all the discipline, which would otherwise have been exercised with spending hard-earned money, goes for a toss. That means people overspend and get into credit card debt. They keep spending till they reach the credit limit on their credit card. Some people go to the extent of treating that like a game and consider it a defeat (or consider their credit card under utilised) if they don't hit the credit limit quick enough.
These unnecessary spends result in a situation where they are not able to payback their credit card bills and end up paying interest on the amount they owe. This keeps building up their credit card debt and they soon find that the interest component has become a regular feature in their monthly expenses and it is there even if they spend nothing on their credit card. That is credit card debt on the prowl. Soon they find that their current credit card can no longer handle their needs and start looking to get another credit card. With the new power of credit, they let themselves loose again and follow a ‘shop till you drop' routine. Soon the credit limit of the new credit card is reached too and they again default on payments.
First things first, a lot of people may actually think that they only have a few choices when it comes to solving their debt problems. The two most common options for those who are burdened with enormous amounts of debt are either to consider declaring bankruptcy or debt consolidation. Unfortunately, if you take the easy way out by declaring bankruptcy, it will leave an embarrassing and indelible mark on your credit report for up to 7 years, which will result in higher interest rates, less credit and if you try do qualify for a mortgage (some lenders do give loans immediately after bankruptcy) you will most likely not be able to get a loan to cover 100% of the financing you need. Normally, an 80% first mortgage and if you can get a second mortgage, it will be at much higher interest rate and probably only 10% of the loan value for a total of 90% of the loan to value and you'll have to come up with 10% down.
Clearly, everything will come with a higher price for a period of time but you'll have to weigh that with a straight debt consolidation solution in which you pay off your debt. However, in many cases you can negotiate with the collection agency and it's realistic to get 25% - 50% of the debt forgiven, if you can show that you'll continue to make monthly payments until the remainder is paid off.
Many of the debt settlement / debt consolidation companies were actually established by the credit card companies themselves. This is because it only makes sense for the credit card companies to help you pay off your debt because they can either forgive some of the debt or reduce the interest rates, lower the monthly minimum payment requirements or some combination and get paid a portion of the money owed or receive nothing if you declare bankruptcy. What would you do if you were in their shoes? The answer is obvious. This is why a lot of people who have been saddled with debt are now being offered debt settlement. Of course, not all debt consolidation service companies are owned by credit card companies but many are.
Some groups offer debt settlement programs through arbitration. The "selling point" when it comes to these kinds of solutions is that debt settlement will actually help end your debt problems, without having to go through declaring bankruptcy, without having to pay overcharged debt consolidation program fees as well as helping you avoid getting caught in the debt consolidation trap that a lot of people have fallen victim to.
In many cases, what the organizations do that offer debt settlement services is negotiate your debt down with the collection agencies that have been given your case. I would encourage you to contact a number of companies to ensure you feel comfortable and that you are working with a quality company that doesn't over-charge you for their services.
On the other hand, if you would really like to save money, which only makes sense since you are already heavily in debt... then negotiate with the collection agency yourself. It's not difficult, rather than getting upset when you get called night after night simply tell the collection agency rep that you would like to pay off your debt but you can only do it if you can get it reduced and then ask them that you would like to get the debt you owe reduced by 50% - 60%, even 75% and ask them to see what they can do. Ask for a lot up front because as in any negotiation there's always a give and take. Believe me, they will go to work for you and your offer will be seriously considered because they only get paid when they collect and it's better to get their percentage on a smaller amount than "diddly squat" on the full amount.
Of course, you'll have to decide what route you want to take... bankruptcy versus debt settlement but shop around and realize that you do have options. The internet is full of companies offering their bankruptcy or debt settlement services, but be careful and don't let them push you around and never work with anyone you don't feel 100 percent comfortable with.
The main reason behind so many credit card casualties (rather credit card debt related casualties) is that many people don't understand the concept of credit cards properly. They treat credit card as free money that is never to be returned. Thus all the discipline, which would otherwise have been exercised with spending hard-earned money, goes for a toss. That means people overspend and get into credit card debt. They keep spending till they reach the credit limit on their credit card. Some people go to the extent of treating that like a game and consider it a defeat (or consider their credit card under utilised) if they don't hit the credit limit quick enough.
These unnecessary spends result in a situation where they are not able to payback their credit card bills and end up paying interest on the amount they owe. This keeps building up their credit card debt and they soon find that the interest component has become a regular feature in their monthly expenses and it is there even if they spend nothing on their credit card. That is credit card debt on the prowl. Soon they find that their current credit card can no longer handle their needs and start looking to get another credit card. With the new power of credit, they let themselves loose again and follow a ‘shop till you drop' routine. Soon the credit limit of the new credit card is reached too and they again default on payments.
First things first, a lot of people may actually think that they only have a few choices when it comes to solving their debt problems. The two most common options for those who are burdened with enormous amounts of debt are either to consider declaring bankruptcy or debt consolidation. Unfortunately, if you take the easy way out by declaring bankruptcy, it will leave an embarrassing and indelible mark on your credit report for up to 7 years, which will result in higher interest rates, less credit and if you try do qualify for a mortgage (some lenders do give loans immediately after bankruptcy) you will most likely not be able to get a loan to cover 100% of the financing you need. Normally, an 80% first mortgage and if you can get a second mortgage, it will be at much higher interest rate and probably only 10% of the loan value for a total of 90% of the loan to value and you'll have to come up with 10% down.
Clearly, everything will come with a higher price for a period of time but you'll have to weigh that with a straight debt consolidation solution in which you pay off your debt. However, in many cases you can negotiate with the collection agency and it's realistic to get 25% - 50% of the debt forgiven, if you can show that you'll continue to make monthly payments until the remainder is paid off.
Many of the debt settlement / debt consolidation companies were actually established by the credit card companies themselves. This is because it only makes sense for the credit card companies to help you pay off your debt because they can either forgive some of the debt or reduce the interest rates, lower the monthly minimum payment requirements or some combination and get paid a portion of the money owed or receive nothing if you declare bankruptcy. What would you do if you were in their shoes? The answer is obvious. This is why a lot of people who have been saddled with debt are now being offered debt settlement. Of course, not all debt consolidation service companies are owned by credit card companies but many are.
Some groups offer debt settlement programs through arbitration. The "selling point" when it comes to these kinds of solutions is that debt settlement will actually help end your debt problems, without having to go through declaring bankruptcy, without having to pay overcharged debt consolidation program fees as well as helping you avoid getting caught in the debt consolidation trap that a lot of people have fallen victim to.
In many cases, what the organizations do that offer debt settlement services is negotiate your debt down with the collection agencies that have been given your case. I would encourage you to contact a number of companies to ensure you feel comfortable and that you are working with a quality company that doesn't over-charge you for their services.
On the other hand, if you would really like to save money, which only makes sense since you are already heavily in debt... then negotiate with the collection agency yourself. It's not difficult, rather than getting upset when you get called night after night simply tell the collection agency rep that you would like to pay off your debt but you can only do it if you can get it reduced and then ask them that you would like to get the debt you owe reduced by 50% - 60%, even 75% and ask them to see what they can do. Ask for a lot up front because as in any negotiation there's always a give and take. Believe me, they will go to work for you and your offer will be seriously considered because they only get paid when they collect and it's better to get their percentage on a smaller amount than "diddly squat" on the full amount.
Of course, you'll have to decide what route you want to take... bankruptcy versus debt settlement but shop around and realize that you do have options. The internet is full of companies offering their bankruptcy or debt settlement services, but be careful and don't let them push you around and never work with anyone you don't feel 100 percent comfortable with.
Understanding Credit Card Debt
When talking about credit card debt, the effects of debt depend upon such factors as the sources of loan funds, the purpose for which borrowing is done, the terms and conditions under which the debt is floated, the volume of the existing debt, the interest rates, the types of loan employed and the general economic condition of the community.
Credit card debt can get out of hand if it is not promptly attended to. Most people advocate the case of credit cards, quoting the benefits and convenience that arises from them. However, there is another group that strongly opposes credit cards. The reason for the opposition is ‘Excessive Credit Card Debt', which is one of the most serious problems faced by the credit card holders and credit card industry. However, you can't pull the shutters on the credit card industry just because of some irresponsible people. That is not a solution for beating excessive credit card debt. Moreover, you can't overlook the benefits associated with the credit cards.
Credit cards are no more a luxury, they are almost a necessity. So, you would imagine a lot of people going for credit cards. In fact, a lot of people possess more than one credit card. The credit card industry is a rapidly growing industry that owes its boom to the advent of the internet and increase in online shopping in recent years. However, the credit card industry and credit card holders are posed with a big problem called ‘Credit Card Debt'. In order to understand what ‘credit card debt' actually means, we need to understand the workflow associated with the use of credit cards as such.
What are credit cards?
Credit cards are cards on which you can get credit i.e. make borrowings (your credit card debt). Your credit card is a representative of the credit account that you hold with the credit card supplier. Whatever payments you make using your credit card are actually your borrowings that contribute towards your credit card debt. Your total credit card debt is the total amount you owe credit card supplier. You must settle your credit card debt on a monthly basis. So, you receive a monthly statement or your credit card bill which shows your total credit card debt. You must pay off your credit card debt by the payment due date failing which you will incur late fee and interest charges. However, you have the option of making a partial (minimum) payment too, in which case you don't incur late fee but just the interest charges on your credit card debt. If you don't pay off your credit card debt in full, the interest charges too get added to it. So your credit card debt keeps on increasing, more so because the interest rates on credit card debt are generally higher than the interest rates on other kind of loans/borrowings.
The individual may borrow from individual investors, financial institutions and commercial banks. The effects of domestic borrowing are quite different from those of foreign borrowing. In internal borrowing, there is no increase in the total quantity of resources available for the use. Rather, it is a method to enable the individual to command more domestic resources. Borrowing from financial institutions is simply a transfer of resources from private to government use. Individuals purchase government securities by diverting their current or previously accumulated savings, after reducing their cash balances. So the above transfer of resources from individuals or institutions does not create any expansionary effects on the economy.
The effects of debt also depend on the purpose for which the debt is created. If the borrowed funds are used for wasteful expenditures which will not create any assets, then borrowing is indefensible. Further, the interest rates have a bearing on the cost of borrowing and consequently upon the banking system and economic conditions in general. The higher the interest rate for borrowing funds, the stronger the pull on funds from competing investments.
A serious diversion of funds from marginal enterprises would tend to cause the latter's failure and this, in turn, would affect production and other economic processes, like market prices and interest rates. If the financial institutions get tax exemptions for their loans, this will tend to encourage the purchase of their securities.
Further, the interest charges add on to your credit card debt each month to form the new balance or the new credit card debt amount. If you continue making partial payments (or no payments) the interest charges are calculated afresh on the new credit card debt. So you end up paying interest on the last month's interest too. Thus, your credit card debt accumulates rapidly and soon you discover that what was once a relatively small credit card debt has grown into a big amount which you find almost impossible to pay. Moreover, if you don't still control your spending habits, your credit card debt rises even faster. This is how the vicious circle of credit card debt works.
Credit card debt can get out of hand if it is not promptly attended to. Most people advocate the case of credit cards, quoting the benefits and convenience that arises from them. However, there is another group that strongly opposes credit cards. The reason for the opposition is ‘Excessive Credit Card Debt', which is one of the most serious problems faced by the credit card holders and credit card industry. However, you can't pull the shutters on the credit card industry just because of some irresponsible people. That is not a solution for beating excessive credit card debt. Moreover, you can't overlook the benefits associated with the credit cards.
Credit cards are no more a luxury, they are almost a necessity. So, you would imagine a lot of people going for credit cards. In fact, a lot of people possess more than one credit card. The credit card industry is a rapidly growing industry that owes its boom to the advent of the internet and increase in online shopping in recent years. However, the credit card industry and credit card holders are posed with a big problem called ‘Credit Card Debt'. In order to understand what ‘credit card debt' actually means, we need to understand the workflow associated with the use of credit cards as such.
What are credit cards?
Credit cards are cards on which you can get credit i.e. make borrowings (your credit card debt). Your credit card is a representative of the credit account that you hold with the credit card supplier. Whatever payments you make using your credit card are actually your borrowings that contribute towards your credit card debt. Your total credit card debt is the total amount you owe credit card supplier. You must settle your credit card debt on a monthly basis. So, you receive a monthly statement or your credit card bill which shows your total credit card debt. You must pay off your credit card debt by the payment due date failing which you will incur late fee and interest charges. However, you have the option of making a partial (minimum) payment too, in which case you don't incur late fee but just the interest charges on your credit card debt. If you don't pay off your credit card debt in full, the interest charges too get added to it. So your credit card debt keeps on increasing, more so because the interest rates on credit card debt are generally higher than the interest rates on other kind of loans/borrowings.
The individual may borrow from individual investors, financial institutions and commercial banks. The effects of domestic borrowing are quite different from those of foreign borrowing. In internal borrowing, there is no increase in the total quantity of resources available for the use. Rather, it is a method to enable the individual to command more domestic resources. Borrowing from financial institutions is simply a transfer of resources from private to government use. Individuals purchase government securities by diverting their current or previously accumulated savings, after reducing their cash balances. So the above transfer of resources from individuals or institutions does not create any expansionary effects on the economy.
The effects of debt also depend on the purpose for which the debt is created. If the borrowed funds are used for wasteful expenditures which will not create any assets, then borrowing is indefensible. Further, the interest rates have a bearing on the cost of borrowing and consequently upon the banking system and economic conditions in general. The higher the interest rate for borrowing funds, the stronger the pull on funds from competing investments.
A serious diversion of funds from marginal enterprises would tend to cause the latter's failure and this, in turn, would affect production and other economic processes, like market prices and interest rates. If the financial institutions get tax exemptions for their loans, this will tend to encourage the purchase of their securities.
Further, the interest charges add on to your credit card debt each month to form the new balance or the new credit card debt amount. If you continue making partial payments (or no payments) the interest charges are calculated afresh on the new credit card debt. So you end up paying interest on the last month's interest too. Thus, your credit card debt accumulates rapidly and soon you discover that what was once a relatively small credit card debt has grown into a big amount which you find almost impossible to pay. Moreover, if you don't still control your spending habits, your credit card debt rises even faster. This is how the vicious circle of credit card debt works.
Tips On Credit Score
Your credit score is an integral part of your financial life. It is important that you understand what it's all about. Lenders, landlords, insurers, utility companies and even employers look at your credit score. It is derived from what's in your credit reports, and it ranges between 300 and 850.
Yet, according to a survey that was recently conducted, nearly half of all Americans don't know how these scores are derived or even what factors are used to come up with them.
Credit score is not based in any way on the following information:
- references to debt management or credit counseling programs.
- person's marital status.
- current employment status, including how long with the same employer.
- credit report inquiries made by you, employers, insurance companies, or banks if made without your knowledge.
- what interest rates are charged on your credit cards, etc.
- public assistance received.
- person's age.
- child or family support received.
You can increase your score by:
- always paying bills on time.
- paying off or reducing credit card and other debt.
- keeping old, unused credit cards, departments store cards and other “revolving” credit accounts open, even if you don't use them.
- not applying for credit very often.
- correcting mistakes on your credit reports.
The best ways to improve your credit score are: pay down the debt, pay your bills on time, correct existing errors on your credit reports in each of the three bureaus and apply for credit infrequently.
Yet, according to a survey that was recently conducted, nearly half of all Americans don't know how these scores are derived or even what factors are used to come up with them.
Credit score is not based in any way on the following information:
- references to debt management or credit counseling programs.
- person's marital status.
- current employment status, including how long with the same employer.
- credit report inquiries made by you, employers, insurance companies, or banks if made without your knowledge.
- what interest rates are charged on your credit cards, etc.
- public assistance received.
- person's age.
- child or family support received.
You can increase your score by:
- always paying bills on time.
- paying off or reducing credit card and other debt.
- keeping old, unused credit cards, departments store cards and other “revolving” credit accounts open, even if you don't use them.
- not applying for credit very often.
- correcting mistakes on your credit reports.
The best ways to improve your credit score are: pay down the debt, pay your bills on time, correct existing errors on your credit reports in each of the three bureaus and apply for credit infrequently.
Myths And Truth About Credit Score.
Credit score is the key factor determining approval of almost any type of credit. It is based on the information contained in your credit report files. The widely used FICO score was developed by Fair Isaac Corporation, and it is a formula which assesses your potential credit risk.
The information used to calculate credit score can be broken down into five major parts. Your payment history with banks and other lenders will account for 35% of the score, the amount of money you owe for 30%, and the length of your credit history for 15%. New credit and a statistical assessment of how healthy your credit mix is will both account for 10%.
For example, if your credit score is 580 you are probably going to pay nearly three percentage points more in mortgage interest than someone who had a score of 720.
Or another way of looking at it, if you had a $150,000 30- year fixed-rate mortgage and your credit score was good enough to qualify for the best rate, your monthly payments would be about $890. This is according to Fair Isaac, the company that created the FICO score and who the rate is named afte (Fair Isaac COrporation). If your credit is poor, however, it is very likely that you would have to pay more than $1,200 a month for that same loan.
With so much depending on the credit score, it's important to understand what it is all about and what are the things that affect it.
Unfortunately, people commonly have a lot of misinformation and misunderstandings about their credit score. Here are five of the most common credit score myths and along with it the true facts:
MYTH #1: The major bureaus use different formulas for calculating your credit score.
FACT: The three major credit bureaus - Equifax, TransUnion and Experian -- give the score a different name. Equifax calls their score the "Beacon" credit score, Transunion calls it "Empirica" and Experian gives it the name "Experian/Fair Isaac Risk Model." They all use different names for the credit score, but they all use the same formula to come up with it.
The reason that the credit score you receive from each bureau is different is because the information in your file that they base the score on is different. For example,the records that one bureau is using may go back a longer period of time, or a previous lender may have shared its information with only one of the bureaus and not the other two.
Usually the scores are not too far from each other. Unless there is a big difference between what each bureau says is your credit score, many lenders will just use the one in the middle for the purpose of analyzing your application. So, for this reason alone it is a good idea to correct any errors that exist in each of the three major credit bureaus.
MYTH #2: Paying off your debts is all you need to do to immediately repair your credit score.
FACT: Your credit score is mostly determined by your past performance more than your current amount of debt. It will definitely be very helpful to pay off your credit cards and settle any outstanding loans, but if yours is a history of late or missed payments, it won't remove the damage overnight. It takes time to repair your credit score.
So definitely pay down your debts. But it is equally important to consistently get in the habit of paying your bills on time.
MYTH #3: Closing old accounts will boost my credit score.
FACT: This is a common misconception. It's not closing accounts that affects your credit score, it's opening them. Closing accounts can never help your credit score, and may actually hurt it. Yes, having too many open accounts does hurt your score. But once the accounts have been opened,the damage has already been done. Shutting the account doesn't repair it and it may actually make things worse.
The credit score is affected by the difference between the credit that is available and the credit that is being used. Shutting down accounts reduces the amount of total credit available and when compared with how much credit you can use your actual credit balances are made to seem larger. This hurts your credit score.
The credit score also looks at the length of your credit history. Shutting older accounts removes old history and can make your credit history look younger than it actually is. This also can hurt your score.
You generally shouldn't close accounts unless a lender specifically asks you to do so as a condition for them giving you a loan. Instead,the best thing you can do is just pay down your existing credit card debt. That's something that definitely would improve your credit score.
MYTH #4: Shopping around for a loan will hurt my credit score.
FACT: When a lender makes an inquiry about your credit, your score could drop up to five points. Some borrowers think that if they shop around by going to a number of different lenders that each time a lender does an inquiry it will generate another reduction in the credit score. This isn't true. For credit score purposes, multiple inquiries for a loan are treated as a single inquiry, as long as they all come within a 45 day period. So it is best to do your rate shopping within this 45 day window.
MYTH #5: Companies can fix my credit score for a fee.
FACT: If the credit bureaus have accurate information, there's nothing that can be done to quickly improve your score if in fact you have a history of not handling your debts well. The only way to have an effect on your credit score is to show that you can manage your debts in the future.
Banks decisions are made according to their own standards.
While the majority of lenders use credit score as a key factor in approving credit, other facts play their parts as well, among them: your income, employment status and length of time at present address, to name a few. Each bank has its own standards. What score is acceptable for a particular loan or credit product depends solely on a lender. The person's credit score might not be high enough to get credit with one bank, and perfectly acceptable with another.
The information used to calculate credit score can be broken down into five major parts. Your payment history with banks and other lenders will account for 35% of the score, the amount of money you owe for 30%, and the length of your credit history for 15%. New credit and a statistical assessment of how healthy your credit mix is will both account for 10%.
For example, if your credit score is 580 you are probably going to pay nearly three percentage points more in mortgage interest than someone who had a score of 720.
Or another way of looking at it, if you had a $150,000 30- year fixed-rate mortgage and your credit score was good enough to qualify for the best rate, your monthly payments would be about $890. This is according to Fair Isaac, the company that created the FICO score and who the rate is named afte (Fair Isaac COrporation). If your credit is poor, however, it is very likely that you would have to pay more than $1,200 a month for that same loan.
With so much depending on the credit score, it's important to understand what it is all about and what are the things that affect it.
Unfortunately, people commonly have a lot of misinformation and misunderstandings about their credit score. Here are five of the most common credit score myths and along with it the true facts:
MYTH #1: The major bureaus use different formulas for calculating your credit score.
FACT: The three major credit bureaus - Equifax, TransUnion and Experian -- give the score a different name. Equifax calls their score the "Beacon" credit score, Transunion calls it "Empirica" and Experian gives it the name "Experian/Fair Isaac Risk Model." They all use different names for the credit score, but they all use the same formula to come up with it.
The reason that the credit score you receive from each bureau is different is because the information in your file that they base the score on is different. For example,the records that one bureau is using may go back a longer period of time, or a previous lender may have shared its information with only one of the bureaus and not the other two.
Usually the scores are not too far from each other. Unless there is a big difference between what each bureau says is your credit score, many lenders will just use the one in the middle for the purpose of analyzing your application. So, for this reason alone it is a good idea to correct any errors that exist in each of the three major credit bureaus.
MYTH #2: Paying off your debts is all you need to do to immediately repair your credit score.
FACT: Your credit score is mostly determined by your past performance more than your current amount of debt. It will definitely be very helpful to pay off your credit cards and settle any outstanding loans, but if yours is a history of late or missed payments, it won't remove the damage overnight. It takes time to repair your credit score.
So definitely pay down your debts. But it is equally important to consistently get in the habit of paying your bills on time.
MYTH #3: Closing old accounts will boost my credit score.
FACT: This is a common misconception. It's not closing accounts that affects your credit score, it's opening them. Closing accounts can never help your credit score, and may actually hurt it. Yes, having too many open accounts does hurt your score. But once the accounts have been opened,the damage has already been done. Shutting the account doesn't repair it and it may actually make things worse.
The credit score is affected by the difference between the credit that is available and the credit that is being used. Shutting down accounts reduces the amount of total credit available and when compared with how much credit you can use your actual credit balances are made to seem larger. This hurts your credit score.
The credit score also looks at the length of your credit history. Shutting older accounts removes old history and can make your credit history look younger than it actually is. This also can hurt your score.
You generally shouldn't close accounts unless a lender specifically asks you to do so as a condition for them giving you a loan. Instead,the best thing you can do is just pay down your existing credit card debt. That's something that definitely would improve your credit score.
MYTH #4: Shopping around for a loan will hurt my credit score.
FACT: When a lender makes an inquiry about your credit, your score could drop up to five points. Some borrowers think that if they shop around by going to a number of different lenders that each time a lender does an inquiry it will generate another reduction in the credit score. This isn't true. For credit score purposes, multiple inquiries for a loan are treated as a single inquiry, as long as they all come within a 45 day period. So it is best to do your rate shopping within this 45 day window.
MYTH #5: Companies can fix my credit score for a fee.
FACT: If the credit bureaus have accurate information, there's nothing that can be done to quickly improve your score if in fact you have a history of not handling your debts well. The only way to have an effect on your credit score is to show that you can manage your debts in the future.
Banks decisions are made according to their own standards.
While the majority of lenders use credit score as a key factor in approving credit, other facts play their parts as well, among them: your income, employment status and length of time at present address, to name a few. Each bank has its own standards. What score is acceptable for a particular loan or credit product depends solely on a lender. The person's credit score might not be high enough to get credit with one bank, and perfectly acceptable with another.
How To Get The Most Out Of Your Home Mortgage Loan With Good Credit
Sometimes so much is talked about how to solve the problem of having bad credit, but what about when you have an excellent credit rating? Good credit is considered to be a credit score of 650 or higher. How can you get the best interest rate and loan terms to make your good credit history work for you? Even with excellent credit, you have to be careful not to get talked into a loan that may not be the best one you could qualify for.
Over 30 million people in the U.S.A. have credit scores low enough (less than 620) to make shopping for low mortgage loan rates very difficult at best. The major credit reporting agencies use a slightly different system to arrive at a credit score. The best known is called the FICO score, developed by Fair Isaac and Company (FICO). A FICO credit score can range from 300 to 800. Most borrowers fall into the 600-800 credit score range.
A high FICO score is your reward for paying bills on time. This is one of the most important factors that determine your California home mortgage loan rate. If you've had a few credit "bumps in the road" recently, and you're asking yourself, "How can I improve my FICO credit score"? Here are 5 ways to boost your FICO credit score.
Here are some tips to help you find the best loan for your great credit history:
1. Don't maximize out your credit cards. The smaller balance gives you a wider difference between your balance and your credit limit. Also, if you are planning to purchase a new car or other major item, wait until you get that low mortgage loan rate.
2. Apply with as many mortgage companies online that will provide you with more than one quote per application, as long as they will not pull your credit with your application. If you are about to start applying for a mortgage, you don't want to have your credit pulled until you have narrowed down which mortgage company you want to work with. Every time your credit is pulled, your FICO credit score drops.
3. Paying your bills on time is the first step in improving your FICO credit score. Late payments can have a big negative impact on your FICO score, 30 days or more late on one account can lower your FICO score 50 points or more. If you don't like writing checks, go online and automate your bill paying.
4. Talk to your lender about closing costs. If you have excellent credit, the lenders should be falling over themselves to get you a loan. Ask for special treatment. Find out what fees your broker or lender may be able to reduce or remove from your closing costs. Find out if they will match lower fees offered by another lender.
5. Make sure your lender is offering you excellent customer service. Are they returning your calls quickly? Are they answering all of your questions to your satisfaction? Have they thoroughly researched all of your loan options and offered you more than one possibility? If they haven't, you should probably look somewhere else. With good credit, you have no reason to be a quick, easy sale for a lender.
6. Research interest rates, mortgage information and articles online so that when your lender offers you a loan package, you will know about the fine print ahead of time. Whether you are purchasing for the first time or refinancing, it will help you to understand more about the mortgage process.
7. If you are sincerely interested in improving your FICO credit score, bankruptcy MUST be avoided! Bankruptcy is more negative than late payments or collection accounts.
If you close an old account it could make you look like a "rookie" in the credit world. A factor in obtaining credit is how long you've had credit. If your FICO credit scores are over 620, but you want to raise it, obtain a copy of your credit report and request that the credit bureau remove any errors.
Over 30 million people in the U.S.A. have credit scores low enough (less than 620) to make shopping for low mortgage loan rates very difficult at best. The major credit reporting agencies use a slightly different system to arrive at a credit score. The best known is called the FICO score, developed by Fair Isaac and Company (FICO). A FICO credit score can range from 300 to 800. Most borrowers fall into the 600-800 credit score range.
A high FICO score is your reward for paying bills on time. This is one of the most important factors that determine your California home mortgage loan rate. If you've had a few credit "bumps in the road" recently, and you're asking yourself, "How can I improve my FICO credit score"? Here are 5 ways to boost your FICO credit score.
Here are some tips to help you find the best loan for your great credit history:
1. Don't maximize out your credit cards. The smaller balance gives you a wider difference between your balance and your credit limit. Also, if you are planning to purchase a new car or other major item, wait until you get that low mortgage loan rate.
2. Apply with as many mortgage companies online that will provide you with more than one quote per application, as long as they will not pull your credit with your application. If you are about to start applying for a mortgage, you don't want to have your credit pulled until you have narrowed down which mortgage company you want to work with. Every time your credit is pulled, your FICO credit score drops.
3. Paying your bills on time is the first step in improving your FICO credit score. Late payments can have a big negative impact on your FICO score, 30 days or more late on one account can lower your FICO score 50 points or more. If you don't like writing checks, go online and automate your bill paying.
4. Talk to your lender about closing costs. If you have excellent credit, the lenders should be falling over themselves to get you a loan. Ask for special treatment. Find out what fees your broker or lender may be able to reduce or remove from your closing costs. Find out if they will match lower fees offered by another lender.
5. Make sure your lender is offering you excellent customer service. Are they returning your calls quickly? Are they answering all of your questions to your satisfaction? Have they thoroughly researched all of your loan options and offered you more than one possibility? If they haven't, you should probably look somewhere else. With good credit, you have no reason to be a quick, easy sale for a lender.
6. Research interest rates, mortgage information and articles online so that when your lender offers you a loan package, you will know about the fine print ahead of time. Whether you are purchasing for the first time or refinancing, it will help you to understand more about the mortgage process.
7. If you are sincerely interested in improving your FICO credit score, bankruptcy MUST be avoided! Bankruptcy is more negative than late payments or collection accounts.
If you close an old account it could make you look like a "rookie" in the credit world. A factor in obtaining credit is how long you've had credit. If your FICO credit scores are over 620, but you want to raise it, obtain a copy of your credit report and request that the credit bureau remove any errors.
How To Increase Your Credit Score With Credit Cards
Because bad credit credit cards include various fees and higher interest rates, some people are hesitant to open a bad credit credit card account. However, there are certain advantages to using these sorts of credit cards.
For starters, if you have no credit history, bad credit credit cards are easier to qualify for. Similarly, these credit cards are perfect for raising a low credit score.
Disadvantages of Having a Low Credit Score
There are no advantages to having a low credit score. Because many large purchases such as homes and cars are financed, maintaining a good credit history is essential for getting the best rates. Credit scores are a big deal to lenders. Before issuing a line of credit, potential lenders carefully assess a borrower's income and credit to judge their creditworthiness. Having a low credit score closes the door on many financing opportunities.
Reasons to Maintain a Good Credit History
If you have a good credit history, your credit options are numerous. Because interest rates greatly affect monthly payments, obtaining a low rate on a home loan or auto loan may actually decrease your payments by a few hundred dollars. In this case, having good credit increases your purchasing power, allowing buyers to afford more for their money.
Having good credit also makes obtaining a loan approval much easier. Many people apply for credit with prime lenders. However, these lenders favor borrowers with a good credit history. This consists of making regular payments, keeping low debts, etc. If a credit report does not meet a prime lender's criteria, these applicants must seek alternative lenders.
Benefits of a Bad Credit Credit Card
Before applying for a home or auto loan, individuals with bad credit should strongly consider boosting their credit rating first. With a car loan, bad credit persons may obtain rates as high as 20%. To improve the odds of obtaining a lower rate, apply for a credit card designed for people with poor credit.
Credit cards are often the first step for a consumer to build their credit score. When you make regular payments with a small credit limit, lenders will be more willing to lend you larger amounts. Before you jump out and open an account, make sure you don't have too many credit lines open or otherwise hurt your credit.
Pick A Good Card
Credit card companies offer several different types of credit cards for consumers. You can find student programs that require no co-signer or income. This is a great offer for your first card, but these cards also have higher rates.
You can also find cards with cash back rewards or other incentives. The trade-off are higher rates though. However, you can find no frill cards with low interest rates if you plan to carry a balance. Whichever credit card program you choose, make sure it fits with your financial goals.
Start Small
When you are building your credit score, you want to start small. Open one account and use it at least once a month to make a purchase. This can be a regular purchase that you have cash to pay for. The point is to use your credit and then repay it. Every time you make a payment, it will show up on your credit report.
Lenders will also look at how often you make payments. So using your card once a year and paying off the entire balance that month won't do you much good. Your credit report covers three years' worth of payment history, and lenders want to see your payment pattern.
Don't max out your card either. Only use a small portion of your credit to show lenders that you don't get yourself into financial binds.
Maintain Your Credit
Regular payments are only one part of your credit score. You also want to keep your credit in good order. If you have dozens of accounts open, close the ones you don't use. The less open credit you have, the more you will be eligible for, a bonus when buying a home or car.
Also be sure to take advantage of your annual free credit report. Look over it to make sure that your credit history is correct. If you find any discrepancies, resolve them with your lender.
Bad credit credit cards are very useful, and can help you boost your FICO score by several points. The key to a higher credit rating involves using the credit card responsibly. With this said, avoid acquiring too much debt, pay bills on time, and never skip a payment.
For starters, if you have no credit history, bad credit credit cards are easier to qualify for. Similarly, these credit cards are perfect for raising a low credit score.
Disadvantages of Having a Low Credit Score
There are no advantages to having a low credit score. Because many large purchases such as homes and cars are financed, maintaining a good credit history is essential for getting the best rates. Credit scores are a big deal to lenders. Before issuing a line of credit, potential lenders carefully assess a borrower's income and credit to judge their creditworthiness. Having a low credit score closes the door on many financing opportunities.
Reasons to Maintain a Good Credit History
If you have a good credit history, your credit options are numerous. Because interest rates greatly affect monthly payments, obtaining a low rate on a home loan or auto loan may actually decrease your payments by a few hundred dollars. In this case, having good credit increases your purchasing power, allowing buyers to afford more for their money.
Having good credit also makes obtaining a loan approval much easier. Many people apply for credit with prime lenders. However, these lenders favor borrowers with a good credit history. This consists of making regular payments, keeping low debts, etc. If a credit report does not meet a prime lender's criteria, these applicants must seek alternative lenders.
Benefits of a Bad Credit Credit Card
Before applying for a home or auto loan, individuals with bad credit should strongly consider boosting their credit rating first. With a car loan, bad credit persons may obtain rates as high as 20%. To improve the odds of obtaining a lower rate, apply for a credit card designed for people with poor credit.
Credit cards are often the first step for a consumer to build their credit score. When you make regular payments with a small credit limit, lenders will be more willing to lend you larger amounts. Before you jump out and open an account, make sure you don't have too many credit lines open or otherwise hurt your credit.
Pick A Good Card
Credit card companies offer several different types of credit cards for consumers. You can find student programs that require no co-signer or income. This is a great offer for your first card, but these cards also have higher rates.
You can also find cards with cash back rewards or other incentives. The trade-off are higher rates though. However, you can find no frill cards with low interest rates if you plan to carry a balance. Whichever credit card program you choose, make sure it fits with your financial goals.
Start Small
When you are building your credit score, you want to start small. Open one account and use it at least once a month to make a purchase. This can be a regular purchase that you have cash to pay for. The point is to use your credit and then repay it. Every time you make a payment, it will show up on your credit report.
Lenders will also look at how often you make payments. So using your card once a year and paying off the entire balance that month won't do you much good. Your credit report covers three years' worth of payment history, and lenders want to see your payment pattern.
Don't max out your card either. Only use a small portion of your credit to show lenders that you don't get yourself into financial binds.
Maintain Your Credit
Regular payments are only one part of your credit score. You also want to keep your credit in good order. If you have dozens of accounts open, close the ones you don't use. The less open credit you have, the more you will be eligible for, a bonus when buying a home or car.
Also be sure to take advantage of your annual free credit report. Look over it to make sure that your credit history is correct. If you find any discrepancies, resolve them with your lender.
Bad credit credit cards are very useful, and can help you boost your FICO score by several points. The key to a higher credit rating involves using the credit card responsibly. With this said, avoid acquiring too much debt, pay bills on time, and never skip a payment.
How To Get Good Home Loan Terms With Bad Credit Score
Having a good credit score rating means everything in today's world. It is something that you should have in order to live life comfortable and as easily as possible. This is why many people work hard in order to have good credit rating score and prevent them from plunging in to a bad credit rating score.
Getting a home loan is just like getting recognition at the end of each academic year in school. Before you are awarded of any recognition, you must comply with the requirements for such recognition. For instance, before you will be given an academic award, you must first satisfy the required general weighted average on each or all subjects. Other awards also follows particular criteria before it would be awarded to deserving students at the end of the school year.
The same thing also goes in securing a home loan. There are certain requirements that you must meet before you will be able to secure a home loan. One of which is that you must possess a good credit rating. However, despite the wide availability of home loans, there are still thousands of individuals who failed to secure home loans merely because they possess a bad credit score. They are not fully aware that any delinquency in paying their outstanding loans caused the “stain” in their credit record, thus they would be having a hard time securing a good home loan.
In other words, possessing a bad credit score simply means you are giving the lender reason to get more money from you through giving you home loans with high interest payments. You want to secure a home loan because you do not have enough money to finance the purchase of your new home, and yet you will be given a financial burden if you insist on getting a home loan despite of your bad credit score. That would be a terrible situation for your part.
Fortunately, there are still loan options for you despite your possession of a bad credit score. There are commercial lenders who offer bad credit home loan for individuals who are having a hard time securing a loan to finance the purchase of their new home. However, bear in mind that because of your bad credit standing, you will automatically become a “great risk” to the lender. Thus, expect that they will charge you higher interest rate as an assurance that you will be able to repay your home loans in the agreed period of time.
Bad credit score will really put you in a situation wherein it is you who is on the bottom of the wheel. Thus, you need to strongly convince your preferred lender that you are still worthy of another chance and not be a risk to them. How to do it? Have a look on the following guidelines and make sure that you will follow them.
- Research for the best available bad credit home loan offer in the market. You may prefer visiting various commercial lenders and financial institutions in your local area to know their terms and conditions as well as their rate of interest for home loans with bad credit score. In addition, a personal contact inside these financial institutions could be of great help in your credit problem.
- Cleanse your credit rating while there is still time for you to do so. If there are incorrect entries posted in your account, it is best that you call the attention of the authority with regards to this matter and have them clear your record of any incorrect rating. You may also ask for some certification from your previous lenders clearing you of any financial obligations. In this way, the recovery of your credit rating will be in place before you can secure another loan.
Getting a home loan with bad credit score could really be a daunting task. But if you manage to clear your rating in the shortest time possible, you will be able to secure a home loan that will not be a financial burden to your part later on.
Getting a home loan is just like getting recognition at the end of each academic year in school. Before you are awarded of any recognition, you must comply with the requirements for such recognition. For instance, before you will be given an academic award, you must first satisfy the required general weighted average on each or all subjects. Other awards also follows particular criteria before it would be awarded to deserving students at the end of the school year.
The same thing also goes in securing a home loan. There are certain requirements that you must meet before you will be able to secure a home loan. One of which is that you must possess a good credit rating. However, despite the wide availability of home loans, there are still thousands of individuals who failed to secure home loans merely because they possess a bad credit score. They are not fully aware that any delinquency in paying their outstanding loans caused the “stain” in their credit record, thus they would be having a hard time securing a good home loan.
In other words, possessing a bad credit score simply means you are giving the lender reason to get more money from you through giving you home loans with high interest payments. You want to secure a home loan because you do not have enough money to finance the purchase of your new home, and yet you will be given a financial burden if you insist on getting a home loan despite of your bad credit score. That would be a terrible situation for your part.
Fortunately, there are still loan options for you despite your possession of a bad credit score. There are commercial lenders who offer bad credit home loan for individuals who are having a hard time securing a loan to finance the purchase of their new home. However, bear in mind that because of your bad credit standing, you will automatically become a “great risk” to the lender. Thus, expect that they will charge you higher interest rate as an assurance that you will be able to repay your home loans in the agreed period of time.
Bad credit score will really put you in a situation wherein it is you who is on the bottom of the wheel. Thus, you need to strongly convince your preferred lender that you are still worthy of another chance and not be a risk to them. How to do it? Have a look on the following guidelines and make sure that you will follow them.
- Research for the best available bad credit home loan offer in the market. You may prefer visiting various commercial lenders and financial institutions in your local area to know their terms and conditions as well as their rate of interest for home loans with bad credit score. In addition, a personal contact inside these financial institutions could be of great help in your credit problem.
- Cleanse your credit rating while there is still time for you to do so. If there are incorrect entries posted in your account, it is best that you call the attention of the authority with regards to this matter and have them clear your record of any incorrect rating. You may also ask for some certification from your previous lenders clearing you of any financial obligations. In this way, the recovery of your credit rating will be in place before you can secure another loan.
Getting a home loan with bad credit score could really be a daunting task. But if you manage to clear your rating in the shortest time possible, you will be able to secure a home loan that will not be a financial burden to your part later on.
How To Repair A Bad Credit Score
Credit score repair is nothing but raising your credit score from its current position to a higher position. It's quite possible that your credit report has number of errors in it. For instance you must have made some payment to your creditors but it must have not been recorded in your credit report. Credit score repair is informing credit report agencies of these errors and getting it rectified as quickly as possible. Rectification of errors in your credit report can affect your credit score greatly, thereby leading to improvement in credit report.
You now ask what kind of things that you can benefit from by having a good credit score.
1. First of all, a good credit score can increase your chances of getting the loan you apply for.
2. It will help you get certain jobs and programs that will require good credit score. These are the two main reasons why you need good credit score.
However, if you are plagued with bad credit score in the past, you now ask how you can get good credit score again or how you can repair your credit score. It is important to realize the fact that if you have a bad credit score, you will need to repair it as soon as possible before your credit score becomes much worse.
Repairing bad credit score will require you to have patience and also a little luck. It is something that you should do in order for you to live life comfortably and also a little easier for you and your family. By repairing your bad credit score as soon as possible, you will never miss out on any more great opportunities that will cross your path in the future.
Before you go on and start repairing your bad credit score, you first need to understand what credit is all about. You have to know how it can affect you life. For example, if you are in need of a loan, lenders will take a look at your credit rating to determine if you can be approved for the loan. A good credit rating will ensure the lenders that you pay your loans on or before the deadline and thus, will ensure them that you will be able to pay the loan you will apply for. The same applies when you are applying for a credit card.
Now that you know what it means to have a good credit rating, the next thing you need to do is to determine if you have a good credit rating or not. Surprisingly, not many people know if they have a good credit rating or if they have a bad credit rating. To know about your credit score, you can simply ask for it in several credit reporting agencies. They will be able to provide you with a numerical indicator of how much your credit rating rates and how much credit risk you are.
If the indicator says that you have a high score, this means that you have a good credit score, if you have a lower score, then it will indicate that you have a bad credit score and will be far more risky to get approved of for loans.
Best ways to overcome bad credit score
If you are under the trauma of a bad credit score you can overcome it by paying your bills and meeting your financial responsibilities. Owing a reasonable amount of money and being able to repay will show your money lenders that you take your finance very seriously.
How can you fix your credit score?
- Check your credit report at least once in six months and rectify errors in it immediately
- Do not open unnecessary account. It would be advisable to shut down all the unnecessary accounts
- Do not open multiple accounts at the same time. Remember a zero balance account is also taken into consideration.
- Repair your credit report in case of any errors
- Pay your minimum balances before the due date. This alone will fix your credit report
- Avoid excessive credit
- Look for identity theft
These ate things you have to do in order to stop your credit score from getting much worse than it already is.
However, paying all your debts doesn't necessarily mean that you will instantly get good credit rating. You have to remember that this will just stop it from getting any more worse. Your old bad credit score will still be there. So, obviously the next step would be to start looking for ways to make some positive reports on your credit rating.
You can do this by applying for a credit card that is designed for people who have bad credit rating, such as a secured credit card. You should also start opening a new savings account or checking account. Always remember that you should pay your balance on time in order for you to establish a positive credit report.
Eventually, your old bad credit score will expire in time. Always keep paying your debts on time and your credit history will look better than in the past. However, it will usually take around 5 to 7 years for your old credit report with negative reports to expire. This is why patience is very important.
With patience, you will see that in time, your credit score will rise and get rid of those negative reports that you had in the past. Always remember to keep paying your debts on time in order to continue have a good credit score.
You now ask what kind of things that you can benefit from by having a good credit score.
1. First of all, a good credit score can increase your chances of getting the loan you apply for.
2. It will help you get certain jobs and programs that will require good credit score. These are the two main reasons why you need good credit score.
However, if you are plagued with bad credit score in the past, you now ask how you can get good credit score again or how you can repair your credit score. It is important to realize the fact that if you have a bad credit score, you will need to repair it as soon as possible before your credit score becomes much worse.
Repairing bad credit score will require you to have patience and also a little luck. It is something that you should do in order for you to live life comfortably and also a little easier for you and your family. By repairing your bad credit score as soon as possible, you will never miss out on any more great opportunities that will cross your path in the future.
Before you go on and start repairing your bad credit score, you first need to understand what credit is all about. You have to know how it can affect you life. For example, if you are in need of a loan, lenders will take a look at your credit rating to determine if you can be approved for the loan. A good credit rating will ensure the lenders that you pay your loans on or before the deadline and thus, will ensure them that you will be able to pay the loan you will apply for. The same applies when you are applying for a credit card.
Now that you know what it means to have a good credit rating, the next thing you need to do is to determine if you have a good credit rating or not. Surprisingly, not many people know if they have a good credit rating or if they have a bad credit rating. To know about your credit score, you can simply ask for it in several credit reporting agencies. They will be able to provide you with a numerical indicator of how much your credit rating rates and how much credit risk you are.
If the indicator says that you have a high score, this means that you have a good credit score, if you have a lower score, then it will indicate that you have a bad credit score and will be far more risky to get approved of for loans.
Best ways to overcome bad credit score
If you are under the trauma of a bad credit score you can overcome it by paying your bills and meeting your financial responsibilities. Owing a reasonable amount of money and being able to repay will show your money lenders that you take your finance very seriously.
How can you fix your credit score?
- Check your credit report at least once in six months and rectify errors in it immediately
- Do not open unnecessary account. It would be advisable to shut down all the unnecessary accounts
- Do not open multiple accounts at the same time. Remember a zero balance account is also taken into consideration.
- Repair your credit report in case of any errors
- Pay your minimum balances before the due date. This alone will fix your credit report
- Avoid excessive credit
- Look for identity theft
These ate things you have to do in order to stop your credit score from getting much worse than it already is.
However, paying all your debts doesn't necessarily mean that you will instantly get good credit rating. You have to remember that this will just stop it from getting any more worse. Your old bad credit score will still be there. So, obviously the next step would be to start looking for ways to make some positive reports on your credit rating.
You can do this by applying for a credit card that is designed for people who have bad credit rating, such as a secured credit card. You should also start opening a new savings account or checking account. Always remember that you should pay your balance on time in order for you to establish a positive credit report.
Eventually, your old bad credit score will expire in time. Always keep paying your debts on time and your credit history will look better than in the past. However, it will usually take around 5 to 7 years for your old credit report with negative reports to expire. This is why patience is very important.
With patience, you will see that in time, your credit score will rise and get rid of those negative reports that you had in the past. Always remember to keep paying your debts on time in order to continue have a good credit score.
How To Improve Your Credit Score
These days most of us avail loans to buy a house, set up a business, or buy a car. Many students take loans to further their education. How soon the loan is sanctioned, the rate of interest, and the amount sanctioned will all depend on your credit score which is based on your credit report. People with scores of 700 and more are the beneficiaries of lower interest rates and quick sanctions. Imagine if your score is greater than 700 and another person has a score of 698 then the person with score 698 will have to pay interest that is higher by one-half percentage point. And, this means over a year a person with a lower score will pay USD 22,000 and more as interest on a loan of say USD 183,000.
A credit score takes into consideration: payment history, current earnings, current debt, length of credit history, types of credit utilized, and your new credit. If two or more members of your family are earning then apply for a loan jointly.
Your credit score is usually based on the answers to these questions:
1. Do you pay your bills on time?
The answer to this question is very important. If you have paid bills late, have had an account referred to a collection agency, or have ever declared bankruptcy, this history will show up in your credit report.
2. What is your outstanding debt?
Many scoring models compare the amount of debt you have and your credit limits. If the amount you owe is close to your credit limit, it is likely to have a negative effect on your score.
3. How long is your credit history?
A short credit history may have a negative effect on your score, but a short history can be offset by other factors, such as timely payments and low balances.
4. Have you applied for new credit recently?
If you have applied for too many new accounts recently that may negatively affect your score. However, if you request a copy of your own credit report, or creditors are monitoring your account or looking at credit reports to make prescreened credit offers, these inquiries about your credit history are not counted as applications for credit.
5. How many and what types of credit accounts do you have?
Many credit-scoring models consider the number and type of credit accounts you have. A mix of installment loans and credit cards may improve your score. However, too many finance company accounts or credit cards might hurt your score.
You can take a few simple steps and ensure that your credit score is higher than 700.
- Maintain a long healthy credit history. Keep alive your oldest credit card and be sure to pay all bills in time. Never keep bills pending over a 30 day period. If in a crunch at least pay the minimum charges due.
- Do not have too many credit cards. Learn to say “NO,” to offers of free credit cards. And, maintain a good credit limit. Avoid using all the available credit on the cards.
- Ensure that the credit report you have is accurate and that there are no errors clerical or otherwise.
- Plan your finance such that it is healthy. Consider debt consolidation.
- Never suddenly close or open accounts. This leads to suspicion that you are trying to manipulate your credit report.
- If you are having problems speak to your creditors well in advance and work out a stage wise repayment. Request the creditor to refrain from reporting the late payment.
- Late or delayed payments drive your score down so always pay bills dead on time. Keep a tab on due dates and ensure that all bills are paid.
A credit score takes into consideration: payment history, current earnings, current debt, length of credit history, types of credit utilized, and your new credit. If two or more members of your family are earning then apply for a loan jointly.
Your credit score is usually based on the answers to these questions:
1. Do you pay your bills on time?
The answer to this question is very important. If you have paid bills late, have had an account referred to a collection agency, or have ever declared bankruptcy, this history will show up in your credit report.
2. What is your outstanding debt?
Many scoring models compare the amount of debt you have and your credit limits. If the amount you owe is close to your credit limit, it is likely to have a negative effect on your score.
3. How long is your credit history?
A short credit history may have a negative effect on your score, but a short history can be offset by other factors, such as timely payments and low balances.
4. Have you applied for new credit recently?
If you have applied for too many new accounts recently that may negatively affect your score. However, if you request a copy of your own credit report, or creditors are monitoring your account or looking at credit reports to make prescreened credit offers, these inquiries about your credit history are not counted as applications for credit.
5. How many and what types of credit accounts do you have?
Many credit-scoring models consider the number and type of credit accounts you have. A mix of installment loans and credit cards may improve your score. However, too many finance company accounts or credit cards might hurt your score.
You can take a few simple steps and ensure that your credit score is higher than 700.
- Maintain a long healthy credit history. Keep alive your oldest credit card and be sure to pay all bills in time. Never keep bills pending over a 30 day period. If in a crunch at least pay the minimum charges due.
- Do not have too many credit cards. Learn to say “NO,” to offers of free credit cards. And, maintain a good credit limit. Avoid using all the available credit on the cards.
- Ensure that the credit report you have is accurate and that there are no errors clerical or otherwise.
- Plan your finance such that it is healthy. Consider debt consolidation.
- Never suddenly close or open accounts. This leads to suspicion that you are trying to manipulate your credit report.
- If you are having problems speak to your creditors well in advance and work out a stage wise repayment. Request the creditor to refrain from reporting the late payment.
- Late or delayed payments drive your score down so always pay bills dead on time. Keep a tab on due dates and ensure that all bills are paid.
How to Avoid Bad Credit
Because we live in a society that is dependent on credit, having credit that is bad can make life very difficult. Many high paying jobs won't hire you. Lenders are unlikely to give you a mortgage. Getting an unsecured credit card will also be hard, if not impossible. It is not a secret that many people have less than perfect credit. But why is this, and what can be done about it?
Many of the credit problems people experience is a self-inflicted wound. This means that most people are their own worst enemy, and hurt themselves. They are caught up in having the latest gadgets, clothes, shoes, or electronics. Few take the time to read articles like this to find out ways they enhance their personal finances. Because of this, many people don't try to change until they're in debt that may take years to get out of. The best way to avoid debt is to change your lifestyle. Statistics show that the average American household has almost $10,000 in credit card debt, and this should tell you something.
The solution to avoiding bad credit and repair is to research, invest wisely, make good decisions, and budget. Being informed and educated is two of the best tools offered to us but you must allow yourself the time to do it.
There are mortgage loans that offer overpayments and underpayments and these loans include vacation packages and lump sum payments to the borrowers. There are also other loans available that offer low mortgage monthly installments and low interest rates with insurance policies attached that will pay your mortgage if you are sick, unemployed, in an accident and so on. If you have an interest in this type of loan, discuss it with your lender. Make sure there are no “hidden costs” when applying for this type of loan i.e. prepayment penalty.
On the other hand, there are mortgage loans that have high interest rates, high mortgages, and balloon payments attached. When balloon payments are attached to home mortgages it is almost guaranteed in a few years you will be searching for a solution to repair your credit. Just remember that the interest on an average home mortgage can cost a homeowner almost twice (or more) the cost of the home itself. There are very few home lenders willing to tell you the truth about the variety of home loans available. Most of the lenders are making money and you are a source of income. It is important to scope the terms & agreements carefully as well as reading all fine prints on any loan contract before you sign.
If you want to avoid bad credit and repair, you want to stay on the right path. Loans are agreements that are made between two parties and attached are interest rates and other fees. If you are applying for a home loan and want to avoid bad credit, it makes sense to learn what the fees include and how much those fees will cost you. Anytime you take out a mortgage loan there are upfront fees attached. In some cases, you can get a home for little or no cost. Avoid a loan with high interest as much as possible or you will end up paying almost all interest on your home. Perform a little research before coming to a decision on any loan because searching and investigating the marketplace can save you time and money.
Some home loans offer an ‘acceleration clause', which covers you if you miss mortgage payments. The lender will apply the clause by allowing you leniency providing you make payments the following month on time. This type of loan is great for avoiding bad credit, foreclosures, and repossessions. The marketplace is swarming with realtors and other sources that will help you get a mortgage loan affordable to you with benefits included.
Car Loans
If you are applying for a car loan, it is also important to research the marketplace carefully before agreeing to any terms & conditions. Make sure that your find the best deals affordable to you. In college I learned a golden rule that applies to everyone. This rule is that most car dealers up the fees on cars 15%. This means if you negotiate with the dealer you can get a reduction on the vehicle up to 15%.
Credit Cards
Another word of advice is when applying for credit cards you want to stay away from cards that have fees attached with high interest rates. Avoid credit card offers that have upfront fees and offer a high line of credit. If some offers look to good to be true, it probably is. Credit card companies will offer low rates to “reel” you in. This is usually good to start but read the fine print because those low interest rates will jump after a period of time. If you pay your bill in full every month the rates won't matter but if you begin to pay the minimum amount or more…look out!
Student Loans
If you want to advance your education, you might want to consider student loans. You may be qualified for a student grant from the government. This is the first place you want to start before committing your self to a loan agreement.
Many of the credit problems people experience is a self-inflicted wound. This means that most people are their own worst enemy, and hurt themselves. They are caught up in having the latest gadgets, clothes, shoes, or electronics. Few take the time to read articles like this to find out ways they enhance their personal finances. Because of this, many people don't try to change until they're in debt that may take years to get out of. The best way to avoid debt is to change your lifestyle. Statistics show that the average American household has almost $10,000 in credit card debt, and this should tell you something.
The solution to avoiding bad credit and repair is to research, invest wisely, make good decisions, and budget. Being informed and educated is two of the best tools offered to us but you must allow yourself the time to do it.
There are mortgage loans that offer overpayments and underpayments and these loans include vacation packages and lump sum payments to the borrowers. There are also other loans available that offer low mortgage monthly installments and low interest rates with insurance policies attached that will pay your mortgage if you are sick, unemployed, in an accident and so on. If you have an interest in this type of loan, discuss it with your lender. Make sure there are no “hidden costs” when applying for this type of loan i.e. prepayment penalty.
On the other hand, there are mortgage loans that have high interest rates, high mortgages, and balloon payments attached. When balloon payments are attached to home mortgages it is almost guaranteed in a few years you will be searching for a solution to repair your credit. Just remember that the interest on an average home mortgage can cost a homeowner almost twice (or more) the cost of the home itself. There are very few home lenders willing to tell you the truth about the variety of home loans available. Most of the lenders are making money and you are a source of income. It is important to scope the terms & agreements carefully as well as reading all fine prints on any loan contract before you sign.
If you want to avoid bad credit and repair, you want to stay on the right path. Loans are agreements that are made between two parties and attached are interest rates and other fees. If you are applying for a home loan and want to avoid bad credit, it makes sense to learn what the fees include and how much those fees will cost you. Anytime you take out a mortgage loan there are upfront fees attached. In some cases, you can get a home for little or no cost. Avoid a loan with high interest as much as possible or you will end up paying almost all interest on your home. Perform a little research before coming to a decision on any loan because searching and investigating the marketplace can save you time and money.
Some home loans offer an ‘acceleration clause', which covers you if you miss mortgage payments. The lender will apply the clause by allowing you leniency providing you make payments the following month on time. This type of loan is great for avoiding bad credit, foreclosures, and repossessions. The marketplace is swarming with realtors and other sources that will help you get a mortgage loan affordable to you with benefits included.
Car Loans
If you are applying for a car loan, it is also important to research the marketplace carefully before agreeing to any terms & conditions. Make sure that your find the best deals affordable to you. In college I learned a golden rule that applies to everyone. This rule is that most car dealers up the fees on cars 15%. This means if you negotiate with the dealer you can get a reduction on the vehicle up to 15%.
Credit Cards
Another word of advice is when applying for credit cards you want to stay away from cards that have fees attached with high interest rates. Avoid credit card offers that have upfront fees and offer a high line of credit. If some offers look to good to be true, it probably is. Credit card companies will offer low rates to “reel” you in. This is usually good to start but read the fine print because those low interest rates will jump after a period of time. If you pay your bill in full every month the rates won't matter but if you begin to pay the minimum amount or more…look out!
Student Loans
If you want to advance your education, you might want to consider student loans. You may be qualified for a student grant from the government. This is the first place you want to start before committing your self to a loan agreement.
Bad Credit
Staying in touch with your payments each month can help you avoid bad credit. By keeping yourself organized when your payments are due, you are on your way toward avoiding bad credit. If you do your research on the marketplace before coming to a purchasing decision, you are definitely well on your way to avoiding bad credit and repair credit hassles. You want to consider all applications, including credit cards, student loans, mortgages, and car loans carefully to avoid being overcharged.
Making the wise decision ahead of the game is the ultimate solution to maintaining good credit. Most people when taking out a home mortgage loan are not aware of the options available to them. Many will walk in the bank door, fill out the application, and accept the terms & conditions when offered to them. If you ever heard the many reports that swept the pages of newspapers, television and other advertising sources…families and individuals are filing bankruptcy because they cannot afford their homes anymore. This is because these people did not take the time to check the marketplace first and searching the options available to them. There are many options available to a lender.
It doesn't pay to be like everyone else when it comes to your personal finances. Since most people borrow money, you should seek ways to save money. When you are in excessive amounts of debt, it is the credit card company or bank that ultimately wins. Once you credit has been ruined, they are the institutions that will decide if you will get a house or car. Many people are under the impression that they have to take out loans in order to have nice things. This simply isn't true.
While it is possible to be responsible with your loans or credit cards, it is sometimes best to simply not use them. If you feel like you're not responsible or spend too much money, it may be best to just save money instead. While most people go out and get car loans, it may be a good idea to buy a good used car. Instead of going down to the electronics store to buy the latest gadget, maybe it would be a good idea to wait until it depreciates in value. Instead of making a down payment towards a mortgage, why not look at foreclosed homes or tax liens?
You should strive to be different from others, especially when it comes to your personal finances. If you decide to get a credit card, read the fine print. The credit card company doesn't expect you to, because many people don't. When you decide to get a home, look for alternative methods to obtaining it other than the methods that will be given to you by real estate experts and mortgage brokers.
The secret to avoiding bad credit is not to do what many people do. Don't follow the crowd. Stop listening to the advice of so called "experts." These people are often not looking out for your best interests. Many people have bad credit because they lack discipline. They are not willing to "think outside of the box" and find creative ways of getting what they want. They choose to go for the easy money that is given out by credit card companies and banks.
Despite this, there is no such thing as easy money. While many people owe thousands of dollars in credit card debt, the credit card companies and banks make billions of dollars each year. New bankruptcy laws recently passed by the government will insure they continue to hold on to their profit. The best way to avoid debt is to change the way you look at yourself, and the world around you. You have to make the decision to avoid debt and protect yourself financially, because no one else will.
Making the wise decision ahead of the game is the ultimate solution to maintaining good credit. Most people when taking out a home mortgage loan are not aware of the options available to them. Many will walk in the bank door, fill out the application, and accept the terms & conditions when offered to them. If you ever heard the many reports that swept the pages of newspapers, television and other advertising sources…families and individuals are filing bankruptcy because they cannot afford their homes anymore. This is because these people did not take the time to check the marketplace first and searching the options available to them. There are many options available to a lender.
It doesn't pay to be like everyone else when it comes to your personal finances. Since most people borrow money, you should seek ways to save money. When you are in excessive amounts of debt, it is the credit card company or bank that ultimately wins. Once you credit has been ruined, they are the institutions that will decide if you will get a house or car. Many people are under the impression that they have to take out loans in order to have nice things. This simply isn't true.
While it is possible to be responsible with your loans or credit cards, it is sometimes best to simply not use them. If you feel like you're not responsible or spend too much money, it may be best to just save money instead. While most people go out and get car loans, it may be a good idea to buy a good used car. Instead of going down to the electronics store to buy the latest gadget, maybe it would be a good idea to wait until it depreciates in value. Instead of making a down payment towards a mortgage, why not look at foreclosed homes or tax liens?
You should strive to be different from others, especially when it comes to your personal finances. If you decide to get a credit card, read the fine print. The credit card company doesn't expect you to, because many people don't. When you decide to get a home, look for alternative methods to obtaining it other than the methods that will be given to you by real estate experts and mortgage brokers.
The secret to avoiding bad credit is not to do what many people do. Don't follow the crowd. Stop listening to the advice of so called "experts." These people are often not looking out for your best interests. Many people have bad credit because they lack discipline. They are not willing to "think outside of the box" and find creative ways of getting what they want. They choose to go for the easy money that is given out by credit card companies and banks.
Despite this, there is no such thing as easy money. While many people owe thousands of dollars in credit card debt, the credit card companies and banks make billions of dollars each year. New bankruptcy laws recently passed by the government will insure they continue to hold on to their profit. The best way to avoid debt is to change the way you look at yourself, and the world around you. You have to make the decision to avoid debt and protect yourself financially, because no one else will.
Avoiding Credit Card Fraud
Credit card fraud is becoming more and more of a problem, and if you are not careful then you could lose money to fraudsters. If you are worried about fraud but are unsure how you can protect yourself and your credit cards, then this article could help you.
Here are some useful tips and advice about how to protect yourself from credit card fraud:
1. Always keep an eye whenever you use your credit card and get it back quickly if you have given it to some other person and try not to let your card out of your sight.
2. You need to be careful while you give your credit card to someone else and never give your account number over the phone unless you are sure that the company is a reputed one. Also it is not safe to give the credit card number over phone to any company who asks you for the same seeking excuses such as “computer problem”.
3. Don't give any response to emails asking you to provide your credit card information and emails that ask you to go to a website and verify your personal and credit card information as these are known as “phishing” scams.
4. Don't provide your credit card information over insecure websites.
5. You should sign your credit card as soon as you receive them and shred all the credit card applications when you receive.
6. You should not write your PIN number on the credit card or anywhere near your credit card.
7. Don't leave your credit cards and receipts lying all around.
8. You should shield your credit card number so that others who are around you could not copy or capture it on a mobile phone or camera.
9. Always keep the list of your account numbers and expiry dates and phone numbers along with addresses of each bank issuing you a credit card at safe places. You need to update this list each time you get one new credit card.
10. Try to carry only those credit cards that you require and don't carry extra credit cards that you need rarely.
11. You should promptly open your credit card bills and make sure that there is no bogus charge involved. You should also treat your credit card bill in the same way as you check your accounts and reconcile it monthly. Save your receipts so that you can compare them with monthly bills.
12. In case, you find any charges for which you don't have a receipt or one you don't recognize you need to report these charges to the credit card issuer.
13. You should destroy and void incorrect receipts and shred anything with your credit card number written upon it.
14. Don't sign a blank credit card receipt and you can carefully draw a line through the blank portions of the receipts where there is chance to add any fraudulent charges.
15. Even though carbon paper is not much in use but if there is any carbon used in a credit card transaction you should destroy it immediately.
16. Don't write your credit card account number in a public place for example a postcard or from a place that it is evident to others.
17. Its good if you carry your credit cards separately from your wallet.
18. Never lend your credit card to others and if you move from your existing residence, do notify your card issuer about the change in address.
Report Losses and Fraud
If your card is stolen or lost, report this immediately to the issuer immediately. Many companies have free emergency numbers specifically for such calls. By law, you have no further responsibility for unauthorized charges once you have reported it. Calling quickly will reduce your liability for unauthorized charges, and will help the card issuer to catch the fraudster or block the transactions, making life harder for the crooks.
Here are some useful tips and advice about how to protect yourself from credit card fraud:
1. Always keep an eye whenever you use your credit card and get it back quickly if you have given it to some other person and try not to let your card out of your sight.
2. You need to be careful while you give your credit card to someone else and never give your account number over the phone unless you are sure that the company is a reputed one. Also it is not safe to give the credit card number over phone to any company who asks you for the same seeking excuses such as “computer problem”.
3. Don't give any response to emails asking you to provide your credit card information and emails that ask you to go to a website and verify your personal and credit card information as these are known as “phishing” scams.
4. Don't provide your credit card information over insecure websites.
5. You should sign your credit card as soon as you receive them and shred all the credit card applications when you receive.
6. You should not write your PIN number on the credit card or anywhere near your credit card.
7. Don't leave your credit cards and receipts lying all around.
8. You should shield your credit card number so that others who are around you could not copy or capture it on a mobile phone or camera.
9. Always keep the list of your account numbers and expiry dates and phone numbers along with addresses of each bank issuing you a credit card at safe places. You need to update this list each time you get one new credit card.
10. Try to carry only those credit cards that you require and don't carry extra credit cards that you need rarely.
11. You should promptly open your credit card bills and make sure that there is no bogus charge involved. You should also treat your credit card bill in the same way as you check your accounts and reconcile it monthly. Save your receipts so that you can compare them with monthly bills.
12. In case, you find any charges for which you don't have a receipt or one you don't recognize you need to report these charges to the credit card issuer.
13. You should destroy and void incorrect receipts and shred anything with your credit card number written upon it.
14. Don't sign a blank credit card receipt and you can carefully draw a line through the blank portions of the receipts where there is chance to add any fraudulent charges.
15. Even though carbon paper is not much in use but if there is any carbon used in a credit card transaction you should destroy it immediately.
16. Don't write your credit card account number in a public place for example a postcard or from a place that it is evident to others.
17. Its good if you carry your credit cards separately from your wallet.
18. Never lend your credit card to others and if you move from your existing residence, do notify your card issuer about the change in address.
Report Losses and Fraud
If your card is stolen or lost, report this immediately to the issuer immediately. Many companies have free emergency numbers specifically for such calls. By law, you have no further responsibility for unauthorized charges once you have reported it. Calling quickly will reduce your liability for unauthorized charges, and will help the card issuer to catch the fraudster or block the transactions, making life harder for the crooks.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
