Credit Cards Online Information

In the fast-paced, retail-giant ruled world of today, credit cards have become a common accessory around the whole globe, with most people claiming that they cannot imagine surviving without a number of cards in their wallet. As acquiring credit cards becomes easier, the world seems to be running solely on credit, with most people spending more money then they really possess, and then suffering the backlash if they are unable to repay the loan.

When we spend money using a credit card, it’s not money in our possession but is what we borrow from the credit card company on the premise of repayment by the end of the month; which is why this spending is classified as a loan. Credit card loans also come in the form of cash when we use the cards to withdraw money from ATM's.

At the end of the month, credit card users are sent a bill which they are supposed to pay before the due date. The bill represents the money that has been spent during the month, along with service charges and interest rates, which vary according to the terms and credit card providers. If you pay before the due date, the charges are often nominal, and the whole system proves to be quite beneficial; if the loan isn’t returned on time, there are serious consequences. Astronomical late fees and interest rates are charged on the amount, which increase as time passes; and your credit report may also get a few red marks which affects your chances of acquiring future loans.

Most credit cards loans are unsecured, which means no collateral is offered by the borrower. This makes it much easier to obtain a credit card - especially if you have a clean credit history - and allows people with no valued property to also spend using a line of credit. The reason why credit cards loans often have very high fees upon non-payment is because the loans are not secure, and thus the company cannot legally seize any of the borrower’s belongings. Unsecured loans also mean that if you have a bad credit score, or your background doesn’t check out, it’s very difficult to obtain credit cards since every company requires confirmation that they are dealing with a borrower who will be able to reimburse the amount spent. Just like the amount lent depends on the value of the collateral offered in secured loans; the terms of an unsecured loan are based on a borrower’s credit history.

With the growth of competition, credit card companies have also cashed into what people call the 'loan sharking' business. Since most credit card loans are unsecured, the companies have the power to slap any late charges they wish and increase the interest rates. Credit loan sharks also operate using the ‘Universal Default’ provision, which runs on the principle that if a borrower is late in paying another creditor altogether, the introductory rates offered to the borrower may also sky rocket. The unsettling part is that these companies aren’t even breaking the law, but in fact seem to be penning them.

# posted by Medical Information : 2:22 AM

You have been refused a loan because of bad credit, why? You now assume that getting a car loan, mortgage or credit card is now going to be impossible. Don't panic, having been refused credit does not mean you will never be able to borrow again. There are many specialist lenders who will be glad to look at your situation. Before you run out and find a bad credit loan wait, read the rest of this article. Bad credit can often not be as bad as you first think and quite often by knowing what to do can be corrected quite easily.

Even if you have fairly serious problems with your credit history such as bankruptcy, property repossession or court judgements there is always some organisation that will consider your application for credit. You probably won't get offers of credit from the mainstream lenders but you also don't need to assume you have to take whatever credit arrangement is offered.

After being told you have a credit problem it would be natural to assume it is worst than it possible is. You may think straight away you will only get a loan from a specialist lender and not even consider normal lenders. More and more these days 'mainstream lenders' are prepared to accept borrows with a small amount of bad debt at normal interest rates. So don't be afraid to ask.

BE WARNED: If you approach a lot of lenders looking for new credit you could make the situation worst! Every time you apply to a credit company or lender to arrange credit they will normally get a copy of your credit report from the main credit bureaus. From your credit history they make a decision on whether to lend and at what rate. Every time an organisation requests a copy of your credit history it gets recorded on your report, if you have several credit searches showing on your report it can lower your overall credit score even more and make the situation worst. When applying for new credit ask lenders to provide a quotation for credit using your history and not a search.

When a company does a credit search on your file they leave ‘footprints’ on your credit file. More information about this can be read in my other articles.

A lot of lenders will now find a product and rate to fit your particular credit situation rather offer a high interest rate to everyone regardless of their credit status. Ask the lender if they have a cascading system to their lending. This can save you paying more for your loan than you need to you.

Once you complete an application a lender will get your credit report from one or all of the credit bureaus. They will then use this report to decide if they are going to lend to you and at what interest rate. The worst your credit history the higher the rate they will offer you because of the higher perceived risk to them. As you can see your credit report is crucial to all lending decisions so if you think there is a problem with your credit the first thing you need to do is get your credit report and check that is accurate. If it has wrong information it could be costing you money or causing you hassle in getting credit.

Loans are either secured or unsecured depending on the size and type of borrowing required. Whether the loan is secured or unsecured will affect the interest rate charged. This is because if you have a secured loan the lender will require you to have some asset that can be sold to pay off the loan if you default. This provides the lender with greater security and so they can offer lower interest charges. Unsecured loans have no asset to act as security and so the lender has to accept a higher risk and so charge a higher interest rate. Another way to provide the lender with security for your borrowing is to have someone act as guarantor for the debt. They agree to pay the amount owed if you fail to pay off the amount borrowed.

If you are arranging a new loan or credit agreement be sure to check what the interest rate you are being charged and not just what the monthly payments will be. Check how much you are having to pay to arrange the loan. These initial charges can be quite high but can be added to the loan so tend to be thought of as not important. If they are included in the overall loan you are still having to repay them which means your monthly payments will be higher. Also you need to know what the cost of paying off the loan early will be.

Knowing what the early repayment costs are may not seem important to you but as you will see they could be. You have had a credit problem and arranged a loan to get your existing debts paid off. You maintain the new affordable payments for 2-3 years. After this time you get your current credit report and find you have done enough credit repair to be able to get a new loan at a lower rate to replace the old one. If you then find out there are high repayment charges on this old loan it may not be economically viable to take out a new lower rate loan and so you could be stuck paying higher interest payments for longer than necessary.

Being declined for credit can be the first time you realise you have a credit problem. Having been refused credit you ask the lender why and they say "its something on your credit file". You don't have to have been made bankrupt or have had your home repossessed to cause you to have a bad credit history. Small things registered on your credit report can add up to a decline. Here are some of the things that can affect your credit rating:

If you have recently moved and not registered yourself at the new address a lender making an enquiry will not be able to confirm you live where you say you do. They then may not be able to find you if you don't maintain the payments. A company you have had credit with may have reported missed or late payments incorrectly on your file. You could be on or above your credit limits with existing lenders making new lenders think you can't afford any more borrowing. There may be no record of your employment which could lead lender to think you are unemployed.

Taken individually these things may not be a problem but when added together they reduce your credit score to a level where the company is not happy to agree to further borrowing. You have by now realised how important your credit report is to your financial situation so if you have a credit problem the first thing to do is request your credit report and check that everything is recorded correctly. Many times I have helped people correct wrongly recorded information and that has repaired their credit straight away.

# posted by Medical Information : 2:21 AM

Do you use credit cards? Almost everyone these days do. Using them can be really convenient, especially if you’re not comfortable with carrying a lot of cash. The modern world can be quite dangerous and there are a lot of criminals out there who want easy money. Having a credit card can protect you from losing money through robberies and pickpockets. However, credit cards also have disadvantages. Credit card rates can change unpredictably and can cost you a lot of money, especially if you’re not careful.

Credit card companies usually send offers through the mail. You can usually receive offers to get credit cards like MasterCard, American Express, Discover card, and Visa. These offers usually encourage you to take advantages of the rebates, low credit card rates, and other benefits of a particular credit card. Credit cards companies nowadays are not shy about advertising. Many people are annoyed at the constant credit card offers that they receive in their mail every day.

Most companies offer an initial credit card rates of 0 percent on all balance transfers. The problem is they are not as generous when it comes to purchases. These companies are aware of the spending habits of the everyday shopper and use a number of methods to take advantage of the amount of money they spend on a daily basis. They offer shoppers a 0 percent credit card rates on balance transfer to entice them to transfer any large amount that they are paying too much interest on. Many people can’t resist the temptation of having a 0 APR. If you have problems with high credit card rates, you should look for ways to transfer that nasty balance on another credit card.

If you are trying to find a good credit card, but aren’t sure about current credit card rates, then you should hop on the World-Wide-Web. Online sites can provide you with information about companies that have the best offers at this time. It will be more convenient to find those ideal credit card rates if you go through the Internet.

# posted by Medical Information : 2:21 AM

Though repairing the credit of your company may be a cumbersome task yet if it done with due care and attention then it will help you reap greater benefits in the long run.

Here are some easy tips that are sure to repair your credits.

1) Find out- It is very important to find out what do the reports have to say about the creditworthiness of your company. This is not a very expensive work and can be easily done by any of the companies who prepare credit reports. If you have been recently denied credit by a particular institution then they must surely be having a credit report of your company. You can also contact this institution to supply you with the credit report.

2) Self Assessment- This is a very vital step towards credit repair. It is important to know where you stand financially. Therefore you should have a clear picture of the situation that you are in so that you can device better and effective means of getting out of it.

3) Cut down your expenses- Though credit cards provide us with the facility to spend today and pay back in the future (obviously within a stipulated time, or else the interests might mount up) yet we often tend to overspend when we are using them. So if you have your best interests in mind keep these credit cards aside for the time being. This will help a great deal in curbing your urge to overspend. It is not required that you get the credit cards cancelled as it might become a little difficult for you to apply for one later on, considering that the your credit records have not been too favorable for you lately.

4) Plan out your strategies- Chalk out a plan for how you want to repay back your debts. Once you have done that try to pursue your goals in a single- minded fashion. Don’t accept all the suggestions that come your way instead be confident about the path that you have chosen.

5) Additions and alterations- The credit reports prepared by bureaus may not always be flawless. So make sure to check out any errors that they might have made while preparing your credit report. Since you are allowed to make additions as well, make sure to add something that might put your company in a better light. If you have recently cleared off an existing debt which has not been mentioned in the report be sure to add it.

These steps will surely address your company’s credit report and help you to avail better financial aids in the future!

# posted by Medical Information : 2:19 AM

Consumers interested in purchasing or refinancing a home will pay an interest rate based on current market conditions and their ability to pay back the loan. The borrower’s income and debt ratios are taken into consideration by the lender, as well as the predictability factor provided by credit scoring. It’s important to have a mortgage professional in your corner that has a keen eye for solutions to improving credit scores in an effort to get the best interest rate possible.

Interest rates associated with various loan programs are broken down into schedules based on credit score ratings. While each lender has its own guidelines, it’s safe to assume that as the consumer’s credit score goes down, interest rates will go up.

A borrower with an outstanding credit rating will get what is called an A-paper loan. This type of borrower is rewarded with a lower interest rate because they have a proven track record of using credit sensibly and paying their bills on time.

Loans designed for consumers with less-than-perfect credit – sometimes referred to as “sub-prime” – can range anywhere from A-minus, B-paper, C-paper or D-paper loans.

If you have already taken out a mortgage loan with a higher interest rate because your credit score was a little under par, you will really appreciate the value in doing a little work to improve your credit score. Refinancing from a D-paper loan to a B-paper classification can save literally thousands of dollars in financing fees over time, even though the B-paper loan is still considered sub-prime.

A qualified mortgage consultant will guide you through the nuances of the process of improving your credit score to refinance and save money. First and foremost, he or she will want to review the terms of the existing mortgage loan to determine if you have a pre-payment penalty clause written into your contract. In general terms, that means that if you sell the home or try to refinance before the pre-payment penalty expires and you have not already paid off 20 percent of the original loan amount, you will most likely have to pay a 3 percent fee back to the lender to compensate for the high risk and high costs incurred to provide that financing.

Next, you should obtain free copies of your credit reports from www.annualcreditreport.com and start working on improving the credit score six months prior to the expiration date on your existing pre-payment penalty.

There are five factors that make up the credit score and your mortgage consultant can coach you through some basic strategies to improve your credit score. This means very conservative use of credit cards, paying off debt as much as possible and not applying for additional credit cards unless you will benefit from such action. You will want to verify that negative items you have paid off are being removed from your credit report, and that good credit history is being reported to all three bureaus. You’ll also want to dispute any errors that appear on your credit reports and seek to have those removed entirely.

Once your credit score improves, it’s time to refinance at a better interest rate. Your mortgage professional should look for a program that carries no more than a two-year prepayment penalty so you can continue to refinance as your credit score increases. You can repeat this process until you reach A-paper status and secure the best interest rate available.

This is a strategy that also works well for first time home buyers who do not have enough credit history under their belt to get an A-paper loan at the time of purchase. The important thing is to work with a mortgage consultant who can give you a roadmap to follow and a strategy for success in building personal wealth.

# posted by Medical Information : 1:34 AM

If you have bad credit, you are not alone. Most people today have blemishes on their credit report. There are occasions that the bad credit record is due to an error. Regardless of how negative items appeared on your credit report, you can get rid of credit problems and restore a good credit record.

Waiting on a bad credit to fix itself is definitely not the best option. There are many things you can do to restore your credit rating. Repairing your credit is not as difficult as you might think. It requires some time, but you can do it.

All the information you need to do it yourself are covered in my ebook "How To Clean Up Bad Credit And Establish AAA-1 Credit Rating." You can check it out at www.aboutcreditrepairadvice.com and www.howtocleanbadcredit.com.

When you apply for any type of credit or financing, lenders review your credit report to determine whether you are a good credit risk. They rely on your credit report to see if you qualify for a loan or credit.

Your first step in the process will be to order a copy of your credit report from the credit bureau so you can see what type of records they have on you. Believe it or not, mistakes occur at the credit bureaus. Review the report to learn first hand what needs to be fixed.

If there is an error, contact the credit bureau to have the error removed. Dispute every single item that is erroneous in the report. The credit bureaus are obligated to investigate all disputes requested by consumers. Once the credit bureau receives your dispute, they must investigate it and inform you of the results of the investigation. They must provide you with a corrected copy of your report.

By using the dispute method, you can remove errors from your credit report and improve your credit rating.

# posted by Medical Information : 1:34 AM

Credit is based upon past, present, and future character. Your personal financial conduct is the critical tool used in judging your credit worthiness, for it is the measurement used to determine if you can be trusted with someone else's money. Being a responsible credit card holder can save you thousands of dollars over the years and provide opportunities that may not otherwise be available to you.

Nearly every purchase or consumer action taken today is monitored and recorded by someone. Whether you want to buy a car, house, cell phone, boat, clothes, insurance, or a new television, having good credit will greatly increase your ability to purchase. A responsible credit card holder never steps up to the checkout counter in fear that their credit card may be declined. There are several ways to become a responsible credit card holder. Let's look at the simple ways.

Pay your bills on time: By paying your bills on time you establish that you are a good credit risk. It can also save you hundreds of dollars in late fees. Some credit card companies charge as much as $29 each time your payment is late. If you your account ever goes into default the issuer may raise your APR because they now believe you are a greater credit risk.

Don't pay the minimum amount due: By paying only the minimum amount due it may take years to pay of your debt. It can also cost you thousands of dollars in interest that you could have had working for you. A $2,500 balance may end up costing you nearly $10,000.

Pay a fixed amount each month: If you are making on time payments your minimum payment amount should decrease slightly each month. If you can afford it, pay a fixed amount each month that is higher than your minimum amount due. For example if you minimum amount due is $50 than pay $60 or more each month, even when your minimum payment amount begins to go down. Be sure to choose a fixed amount you can pay each month so that your debt will decrease much faster.

Never skip payments: Always contact your credit card issuer if you are unable to make a payment. You may be able to make some type of payment arrangement that works for you both. Sometimes credit card issues will give you the option to skip a month if you have a good payment history. Remember, whether you pay or not your finance charges will still apply for that month. It is always best to continue paying your fixed amount.

Use cash advances sparingly: Only use cash advances in true emergency situations. Cash advances can run up your overall debt extremely fast. Some credit card issues can charge from 2 to 4 percent cash advance fees. For example a cash advance of 5,000 with a 4 percent cash advance transaction fee would cost you $200. Credit card issuers also charge higher interest rates for cash advances. It is no coincidence that there is a higher rate of default among cash advance users.

# posted by Medical Information : 1:33 AM

Choosing the best secured credit card for your situation is no simple task. There are literally hundreds of issuers offing secured credit cards. Before selecting a secured credit card you will need to remain mindful of the reason you are applying. Be sure to select the secured card that will best match your financial situation such as your income and your ability to repay.

A secure credit card works nearly the same way as an unsecured credit card. You are responsible for your line of credit and you make monthly payments on any balance you have acquired. Just like unsecured credit cards, your secured card may carry application fees, interest rates, finance charges, and annual fees in addition to any late fees and penalties you may incur. Your secured credit card will require you to deposit security funds into an account to be used as collateral for use of your card.

In most cases, secured credit cards carry higher interest rates and annual fees than unsecured credit cards. There are finance charges based upon a percentage of your current balance. As with unsecured credit cards, you'll want to choose a secured credit card with low interest rates, and low fees.

Most reputable secured credit card issuers will pay you interest on any security funds you have deposited. The interest rate you will earn on your security funds can range from 1 to 4 percent. You will want to consider the interest rate the issuer pays based on the amount of money you deposit. For example, if you deposit $100.00, the amount of interest the issuer pays may not be of great concern. If you deposit $1000.00 the interest rate the issuer pays may require careful consideration. Keep this in mind when making your choice.

One of the most important aspects to consider may be credit agency reporting. Does the secure credit card issuer you have selected report to a credit agency? You must remember the main reason for having a secured credit card is to establish or re-establish credit. Please select a secure credit card issuer that reports to the credit agencies. You want your account information to show up on your credit report as paid or paying as agreed each month. It is also important to select an issuer that does not report your account as secured.

When selecting a secured credit card it is important to be mindful of secured credit card scams. There are many unscrupulous individuals and companies that will take advantage of you and your financial situation. Some of the signs to watch for are 900 numbers and misleading information. Avoid the offers that read, "Bad Credit, No Credit, No Problem... Just call 900-555-5555." Chances are you will be charged unnecessary phone charges and could end up paying hundreds of dollars for useless information. You can also avoid being scammed by reading carefully. There are some companies that purposely leave out information about deposit amounts, application fees, and other processing fees so be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully when selecting a secured credit card.

# posted by Medical Information : 1:46 AM

Thanks to the Federal Fact Act, consumers nationwide are now able to get annually a free copy of credit report.

Why order for a free copy of credit report?

You credit report is actually your credit history for a period of time. Even though it is just a three-digit number but it has great importance in today's business world. Many money and bank lenders solely depend on your credit report to judge your financial stability to grant a loan. It's quite possible that your credit report may contain some errors and flaws. Remember this small error in your credit report can actually affect your credit history in a big way. In order to overcome this problem you need to get the error rectified as quickly as possible. It's a good idea to request a free copy of credit report at least once in six months.

When are you entitled for a free copy of credit report?

· You are entitled for a free copy of credit report if you have been denied credit
· If you are unemployed and intend to apply for employment within 60 days
· If you are a public welfare assistance
· If you report has been revised
· If you credit report contains inaccurate information due to fraud or theft

It is estimated that at least 48% of consumers have errors in their credit files and 12% of those errors are severe to result in credit being denied. It is unfortunate that these mistakes can actually cause you to be denied a loan, insurance or employment.

Can I get a free copy of my credit report?

· You are entitled for a free copy of credit report if you have been denied cedit
· If you are unemployed and intend to apply for employment within 60 days
· If you are a public welfare assistance
· If you report has been revised
· If you credit report contains inaccurate information due to fraud or theft

How can you fix your credit report?

· 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.

# posted by Medical Information : 1:45 AM

Building credit is essential to living in modern American society. A credit score is used to assess one's responsibility in repaying their debt. A credit score reflects one's credit history, and the numerical value of the score is a function of one's fidelity. A credit history is a detailed record or report on the repayment schedule of one's debts. Basically, your numerical credit score represents your "risk value" -- if a financial institution is going to lend you the money to purchase a high dollar item, they are more likely to "feel safer" lending their money to the person who demonstrates a "lower risk" of ignoring their repayment obligations.

Institutions evaluate credit history, and thus credit scores, when determining how much money and at what percentag rate you are eligible for. Financial institutions use your credit history and your credit scores to finance high dollar items, such as a home, a car, or furniture. While using cash is ultimately the best way to pay items, using cash does not assist in building credit.

One must begin building their credit sooner or later. (The reason why credit must be built is because not everyone has the cash or savings to purchase a house or a car.) Since time is a variable in determining your credit score (time means history), the longer that one demonstrates their fidelity in their repayment obligations, the higher one's credit score is. In other words, always keep the credit card that you have had for the longest period of time, even if it's not used.

Since repayment fidelity is an essential determinate of one's credit score, the dollar amount of purchases plays a significantly less role. In other words, building credit does not necessarily mean purchasing and paying on high dollar amount items. From the point of view of the financial institutions, it means more that one repays the debts that one has. Therefore, if one desires to build their credit, one can purchase low dollar amount items such as CDs and DVDs -- even items that cost less than $1.00. Using your credit card to purchase a single item that costs less than $10.00, and quickly paying back that $10.00, is an easy and inexpensive way of building a credit history. Begin small.

A credit score also factors in the variables of one's income and one's existing debt obligations. Those who demonstrate (1.) fidelity in their repayment obligations, (2.) a low debt-to-income ratio, and (3.) fewer lines of credit, are more likely to qualify for more money lent at a lower percentage rate. In other words, as a rule, one should be earning more money than one sends out on bills. Where possible, discontinue the use of specialied gas cards or specialized department store cards in lieu of one card that offers nice rewards for its use. You're more apt to earn rewards by using one or two cards more frequently than by using dozens of cards less frequently.

Always and forever zero out your credit card balance on a monthly basis. This demonstrates your financial responsibility to the future lenders who will query your credit history.

Obtain a credit report, on an annual basis, to eliminate errors that lower your credit score. This is especially important for a child who shares the name of one of their parents. All credit disputes should be hand written and sent in using certified mail.

# posted by Medical Information : 1:45 AM

If you are annoyed by the constant credit card junk mail that you receive, then you are not alone. People all over the country are receiving literally dozens of credit cards offers every year, most of which are misleading or not applicable to them. If you want to know how to deal with these credit card mail offers, then here are some tips.

Why get so many?

Whether or not you have a lot of credit cards, you get sent so many offers because of your specific credit rating. Whether you have a good or bad credit rating depends upon the types of offers you get, but whatever your rating you are a target for credit card companies to be sent offers. Some people will receive nearly 10 of these offers every month, many of them duplicates.

Bait and switch

Although some of the credit card offers you get might seem tempting, they usually not what they seem. Most of these offers employ the technique known as ‘bait and switch’. This is where you will be offered a great deal in the mail such as ‘ you are pre-approved for a credit card with up to £25,000 limit’, but when you fill in the paperwork and send it back you only get £1,000 at an incredibly high interest rate. This is not illegal because they only said ‘up to’ a limit and so even if they had refused you it would not be against the law. This technique may not be illegal but it is clearly immoral. This is one reason why you should avoid such offers.

Opting out

Although it isn’t the easiest thing to do, you can attempt to opt out of receiving these mail offers. There are companies that you can apply to that will help you to be removed from these mailing lists, although you are still bound to receive some offers. You can always try calling the credit companies themselves and asking them to stop sending you mail, although this usually falls on deaf ears.

Keeping your identity safe

Even if you don’t want to look at any of the offers you get through the post, it is important that you properly dispose of the offers you get. If you simply throw the offers in the bin, then someone could take them and apply to the cards you have decided not to look at. Before you know it you could get a bill in the post for thousands of pounds for a card you didn’t even apply for. Make sure you shred or tear up all credit card mail offers to protect yourself from identity theft.

Don’t dismiss them all

Although most of these offers will not be worth looking at, you shouldn’t simply throw them all in the bin. There really are some genuinely good deals to be had from credit card mail offers. This is especially true if they are from a company which you have a card with, as they might offer you preferential terms. If you are careful with credit card mail offers and can separate the good from the bad then they will be a benefit to you rather than a constant annoyance.

# posted by Medical Information : 2:05 AM

As you browse various websites to learn more about how you can finance a new desktop or laptop PC, some questions may arise if you aren't familiar with how financing works. Is it like paying for a computer with a credit card? Similar, yes, but in this case you are applying for the credit needed to take home one particular item, rather than a card that lets you buy multiple items. Is it like buying a house with a mortgage? Again, yes, only where you may need to offer a down payment on a home, some businesses will let you finance the computer you want for no money down.

Financing is defined as a means of obtaining the resources to purchase an item, then paying back the loan in a set time period for a set monthly or weekly fee. In most cases, people turn to financing when buying a house, a boat, or a car, but there are instances when financing may be needed to purchase other necessities. For example, furniture stores may offer financing plans to people who wish to purchase entire room sets, and yes, there are business that sell computers and accessories with similar plans.

You may be asking yourself now, why not just buy a computer on a credit card? While a convenient method for some, it isn't for everybody. With interest rates as they are, the price of a purchased item on credit will fluctuate as the rate on the card increases - a person will definitely end up paying more than what the item is worth. Also, consider the fact that not everybody will qualify for certain credit cards and rates. You may receive numerous mailings proclaiming that you are prequalified for this or that card, but it is still possible to be turned down for credit, and missed payments on present cards will show up in your credit score. So when you do try to buy a house or a boat and alarms ring when your credit history is brought up, you know you're in trouble!

So how then, you wonder, can one qualify for financing with a smaller business? Smaller businesses take various factors into consideration, of course, as you apply for a loan through them. Most importantly, they look at employment status - do you generate a regular enough income to be able to make monthly payments? If you are in the military, you may find it easier to apply to credit on the basis of your employment. That you are taking in a steady wage from the government tells a business owner that you are good for the money you will need to pay back, and from there a reasonable payment plan can be made so you can enjoy your PC now and pay as time passes. With some businesses, your paystub could be the ticket to owning a nice computer.

If you are interested in learning about financing, living on a budget, and other news of interest to military, you will find a wealth of information on the Internet to that respect. The Computer Connection, for one is proud to offer low financing plans to military personnel looking to buy PC desktops and laptops, and we assist civilian government workers and others as well. Such companies can be beneficial to military and civilian personnel who need a computer for work and leisure, yet need to budget their payments.

# posted by Medical Information : 2:05 AM

You may be surprised to learn how easy it can be to reduce your credit card debt. With the average American household carrying $8400 in credit card debt a simple reduction plan could save thousands of dollars.

Step 1: The first thing you want to do to reduce your credit card debt is find out exactly how much money you owe on your credit cards. Then find out how much you are paying in interest yearly. For example, if you a paying $50 in finance charges on one credit card each month and $40 on another you are paying $1,080 in finance charges alone each year. Learning how much money you are paying in interest is usually enough to motivate most card holders to reduce their credit card debt.

Step 2: Once you have this information you can then decide whether to consolidate your debt to your credit card with the lowest interest rate or get a new balance transfer credit card with a low APR or lower interest rate. By transferring the balance to a lower interest rate credit card you can save thousands of dollars in interest. Please keep in mind that this is only a temporary solution. If you transfer the combined balances to a low interest credit card you must destroy the old credit cards and close the accounts so that you do not use them again. This is very important. If you transfer your balances to a new low interest credit card, then run the balances up again on the old credit cards you have committed the ultimate debt sin.

Note: If you are unable to qualify for a low APR credit card or balance transfer credit card contact each of your credit card issuers and request an interest rate reduction. Explain to them that you are having trouble paying your bills and would like their assistance with finding a reasonable solution. If you are successful, simply transfer your credit card debt to the credit card with the lowest interest rate.

After you have transferred your combined balances to a single low interest rate credit card you will want to create a weekly budget. The only way to pay down your debt is to pay your bills on time, and to pay more than the minimum amount due. This can be easily done by paying your credit card bill weekly. If you create a weekly budget that includes all of your expenses such as rent, mortgages, loans, phone bills, etc. you will discover exactly how much you can pay.

Step 3: Credit card interest accrues daily not monthly. Therefore paying your bill each week will greatly reduce the amount of overall interest you will pay. Since your balance will be slightly smaller each week, you will be charged less interest on that smaller balance than if you continued to make a single monthly payment. You can figure out your weekly payment by using your monthly minimum. For example if your monthly minimum payment is $50 then you will want to pay as much as you can above $50. If you determine you can pay $60 then you simply pay a fixed $15 each week even after the balance decreases. You can pay more if you are able; however do not begin paying less when you notice a smaller minimum payment. Continue to pay this fixed amount until the debt is paid off.

You can tailor this weekly payment method to suit your needs. You can have your weekly checks all written out and simply drop them in the mail each week, or you can have the funds automatically deducted from your checking or savings account each week. Just think of the fun and excitement you will have as your credit card debt is reduced.

# posted by Medical Information : 2:04 AM

Every working individual has their own priorities to think of. Some are thinking about the mortgage they have availed when they have purchased their present residence. Others are prioritizing the education of their children through availing educational plans. These are priorities in which they need to invest a portion of their salary.

Despite of differences in terms of setting their own priorities, every working individual is bounded by a common goal—and that is, to save money from their salary, which they can use to fund other important things aside from their everyday living. With prices of commodities increasing nowadays, it is quite hard for every ordinary working individual to budget their salary for various needs. In fact, there are instances wherein they have work other than their regular job to keep up with the increasing prices of commodities and other essential needs.

There are many ways of saving money from your meager salary. You may switch to brands that are quite cheaper from the previous brand that you are using. You may also cut back on the quantity of goods that you have previously purchased. If you tend to buy 5 dozens of eggs for $4.50 per dozen, for instance, you may save a lot if you will just buy 2 dozens of eggs, that is $8.00. You have save some $14.50, which you can use on other expenditures.

If you are planning to get credit cards for your future purchases (if your cash is really not enough), you can save substantial amounts of money by getting 0 percent APR credit cards. Different credit card companies also need to cope up with the change in market conditions, and in order to attract more clients, expect that the 0 percent APR credit card always comes along with their offerings.

Definitely, a 0 percent APR (annual percentage rate) credit card lets you pay the amount that you have actually borrowed from the credit card company, with no additional charges. In other words, if your credit card’s monthly credit limit is $1,000 and it is at 0 percent interest, you will just pay the total amount without any additional charges.

With 0 percent APR credit cards, you will be able to save substantial amounts of money out of interest rate payments. However, in order to qualify for this kind of credit card offering, you need to consider several things first.

1. Individuals who qualify for 0 percent APR credit card are those who possess good credit standings. Individuals with good credit standings are considered by credit card companies as “low risk consumers”. Thus, you need to check first your credit report and clear any bad credit so that you will be able to qualify for 0 percent APR credit card. By the way, you are entitled to 1 free credit report every year.

2. Once you have now a clean credit report, you may now apply for a credit card without doubt.

There are two ways that you can get your 0 percent APR credit card.

a. If you have credit cards at present, you may ask if they can convert your account into 0 APR credit. In most cases, you will be given 0 APR credit for a period of 6 months to a year. Before the term ends, you may set up the 0 APR credit on a different card and transfer the remaining balance.

b. You may open new credit cards that offers 0 APR. However, this is usually an “introductory offer”, thus you will switch to a higher APR after a certain period of time (usually from 6 months to a year).

Your salary is your hard-earned money. Take the opportunity of getting 0 APR credit cards and save your hard-earned money for your future.

# posted by Medical Information : 2:04 AM

In the financial world, American Express or AMEX is one of the most widely renowned names. If you have a credit card in your wallet, chances are you own a credit card that has a VISA or MasterCard seal in it.

MasterCard and VISA rely on partnerships from different banks in the world and do not issue a credit card of their own. What these companies do is they are simply selling their payment methods.

MasterCard and VISA charge their partners a fee for using the payment systems in order to make money. Both these companies do not issue credit cards. It is important to remember that VISA and MasterCard are only payment systems used by thousands of banks worldwide.

In American Express, they have both the payment methods and issue their own credit cards.

This means American Express runs everything and is independent from credit card companies like VISA and MasterCard. They don’t need to rely on the payment systems of VISA and MasterCard because they already have their own payment systems for their credit cards.

VISA and MasterCard is by far, a more accepted payment method for a lot of people. This is because these two companies operate in around 20 million locations worldwide. However, American Express is more difficult to use because they still don’t have the payment systems that these other two companies have.

But, American Express is now upgrading their payment systems and considering opening up payment methods in other countries.

However, American Express has its advantages. American Express is widely popular in North America and Europe where this credit card can offer great credit card deals. Then can offer very attractive rates, great rewards, and also great customer service.

American Express is unique in its own way. Because of the great offers and great rates, American Express credit cards are well on its way to become one of the most popular credit cards used by people. American Express offers the “blue” card where it is gaining popularity for a lot of consumers in North American and in Europe.

They offer four different blue cards where it is different from each other. Here are the different blue cards that American Express offers their clients:

• American Express Sky Blue

The Sky Blue card that American Express offer is one of the best travel rewards card you can ever have. They offer great traveling benefits to their clients. It offers no black out dates and also no travel restrictions unlike other travel cards you would find in the market. This will mean that a Sky Blue card holder will be allowed to travel wherever they want and whenever they want. Not only that, the Sky Blue card offers 0% introductory APR and no annual fee.

Additional benefits of the Sky Blue card include airline tickets discounts, car rentals, hotel stays, and you can even have an insurance coverage for the rental card and travel accident.

• American Express Blue Cash

Blue Cash is also one of the best credit cards that American Express offers. The benefits get as much as 5% cash back from anything they purchase with a Blue Cash card unlike the 1% or 2% cash back cards from other credit card companies.

• American Express Blue Card

The Blue Card is the original card offered by American Express. Although it doesn’t have much of the features that the Blue Cash and Sky Blue cards offer, the original Blue Card is still a great choice. The Blue Card offers 0% APR up to 15 months. Other benefits are 4.99% APR on balance transfers and it also has great rewards program that can match other rewards program offered by other credit cards. Also, there is no annual fee with the Blue Card.

• American Express Jet Blue

The Jet Blue Card American Express offer gives you points whenever you use it to fly on Jet Blue Airways. For the first time users of Jet Blue, they will instantly get 5,000 points.

American Express truly gives what you want in a credit card. So, if you want a credit card with great benefits, great rates and great customer service, try getting an American Express credit card.

# posted by Medical Information : 2:03 AM

Because of the uprising number of credit card subscribers, credit card providers develop different tactics to attract these customers to avail in their company. There have been the cash pay back, monthly low interest rate and the enticing zero annual percentage rates. With these offers, who would not be tempted to get or transfer their balances to a new credit card and a promising one?

The only question here is, do you really get the real deal? Most often than not, maybe you don’t. So to help you decide on choosing the right APR for you, here are some guidelines:

• Reflect on your credit lifestyle. This means that you have to assess your credit needs and how you have proportioned your finances to meet these needs. If you are currently into the credit card system, ask yourself if there is already a need for you to transfer balances, what are the purchases that you badly needed and will you be able to pay the balances before the due date. Your honest assessment on these things will guide you to the credit card that best fits you.

• Consider the card features that will meet your needs. It should be noted that in most cases, the annual percentage rate for a balance transfer is different from that of purchased amounts. So which is more important to you? Or would you prefer both? And since APR are mostly part of the promotion strategy, it could last for a certain span only, say on the first six months after the approval of application up to a minimum of a year. This means that after the zero % APR has expired, the current rate will then be charged to your account. So look carefully and analytically what’s behind the offers. You can either get more or lose more.

• Find time to make a comparison among the credit card providers. Although a lot of companies offer the same zero % APR, the terms after that promo are certainly different. It is best to browse into these terms and conditions first before jumping into the pit. It would also be helpful if you set a criterion on what you want and how you want them to be.

• Stick to your criterion. There could be lots of flashy offers to mislead you so don’t lose sight of the target. If the zero APR will help you meet your balances, then find the best deal of it.

• Confirm each of the agreements under the terms with the credit card providers. They are the right people to ask regarding the matters governing their company. Though the company representatives will tend to sweet talk in order to hook you to apply in their company, you can get honest answers from them. Absolutely, they cannot speak more what they really can offer.

The offer of a zero annual percentage rate is indeed irresistible! But surely, too, you know that things which are too good to be true are ephemeral. They are temporary and soon, they can even rise to a more expensive fixed rate. So take a closer look to what it will cost you in the long run. Don’t be allured of flashy instant deals which will hook you to greater debts. The credit card should be an asset to you, and not a liability.

# posted by Medical Information : 2:03 AM