Thursday, February 14, 2008

Identity Theft Using Credit Cards

With online commerce growing everyday, using credit cards is the easiest and most convenient mode of online payment. And during the early years of online transactions, the use of credit cards has spawned a new breed of criminals that have made a living at the expense of these credit card owners. It's now more commonly known as Identity Theft. The new crime emerging in the last years of the 20th century and is only now being recognized for the damage it can do to many unsuspecting credit card holders.

What Gets Stolen?

Identity theft is basically a crime of stealing personal data for personal gain. Credit card numbers, bank account numbers, Social Security numbers and PIN are the most common personal data that can get you into trouble once stolen or lost. And of these, Credit card numbers are the easiest.

There are basically three ways that credit card data can fall into unscrupulous hands. Firstly, thieves can just take note of your credit card number when you use them in merchant stores. Every card holder is vulnerable. Even when paying for your meals in a restaurant can be risky. You'll never know if the waitress or cashier is in cahoots with some syndicate preying on unwary customers paying with their cards.

Secondly, thieves can hack into unsecured online transactions to capture not only your card information but also the other personal data typically required to effect an online payment for card verification. Telephone purchases can also be eavesdropped to surreptitiously obtain such information. Lastly, lost and stolen credit cards find their way in the hands of unscrupulous people who find the window between the time they are lost and the time the card is reported.

So what Do We Do About It?

There is only so much a credit card user can do to minimize the risk of falling victim to Identity Theft. Credit cards in themselves have very low security features against fraud. Those holograph symbols are there to prevent fraudulent duplication of the card. But the card itself is not necessary to make fraudulent transactions. Bear in mind that many merchants accept "Not Present Credit Purchases", so there is no need for the physical credit card or the person owning it for a purchase to take place.

For online transactions, most reputable online merchants are using security encryption schemes to protect its customers. Online customers are now advised to refrain from making such payments on the net on merchant sites that do not use such schemes. And there are secure payment sites like PayPal and other payment bureaus that use encryption methods that make it increasingly difficult for online hackers to steal your credit card and personal data.

The FBI and the US Postal Inspection Services are the government agencies tasked with combating credit frauds. But prosecution is often initiated for frauds committed involving $5000 and above. The bureaus are constrained by limited resources to pursue all criminals. The best way to do for us consumers is to really get a good grip of our cards and be constantly updated for credit protection methods.

Applying For Credit Cards Online

More and more people are applying for credit cards online. With the plethora of different means for which you can apply for your desired card, companies really try to make it easy for you to apply for their credit card. Along with online auctions, and shopping, signing up for credit cards, loans and insurance has been one of the fastest growing commercial activities on the net. Part of the reason is the speed and convenience of doing so. Another part of the reason is that you can find out the offers of a huge number of providers all at one place and judge which is the best very easily.

Applying for credit cards online can be an extremely simple process. Most credit card providers have websites that give you all of the necessary information to make your decision. If you are looking for a credit card, all you need do is visit their site and judge for yourself if the terms are acceptable. You have access to a huge number of card providers online so if you want to shop around it couldn’t be easier. There are even websites that specialise in comparing different rates and different categories of card which make your selection process even easier. For example, if you want a credit card that provides a good balance transfer rate, then you can search these specific cards. Or if you want a card that has a good reward scheme, low interest rates on purchases, or any other speciality, then it will all be there at your finger tips.

Once you have decided on a card, click the link to the card providers website or application form and fill in your details. You will be asked for all your personal details, and usually that is all. The rest of the information, the card providers can access themselves through your credit report. They will take your application and review it and do a credit check. If they are satisfied that you are a good risk, they will accept your application. While this is all done in the same way as any other form of credit application, because it is online it is secure, and also a lot faster. You do not have to wait for the application to get to them in the post and it is a lot more difficult for would be fraudsters to intercept the information.

Once the card provider has accepted your application, they will mail out the necessary documents which you should read, sign and return. Within a week, they can have sent you your card, and your pin in two separate letters and the process is complete; you have just been accepted for a new credit card.

There are some rules to credit card use that you should also be aware of, determined by the type of card that you have. Normally 0% balance transfer credit cards when you are transferring balances have the basic rule of not spending on the card – anything that you spend will accumulate interest, while you continue to pay the transferred balance. In effect, negating the point of the 0% transfer.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

How To Get Zero Interest Credit Cards

Zero interest credit cards are probably the most under-utilized way to get on one's financial feet. There's plenty of advice available on using lower interest debt consolidation loans to consolidate credit debt and reduce monthly payments. However, very rarely do we hear the suggestion that we can get away with paying no interest at all unless someone is trying to sell us furniture on a buy now and pay later basis. Yet, special zero rate credit card offers provide a fantastic way to significantly reduce monthly expenditure on credit cards as well as to get out of debt sooner.

You don't have to be a materialistic, greedy individual to find yourself overspending on credit cards. So many things can go wrong in this high cost society that can increase our credit card debt. Serious illness, emergency repairs and job loss are just a few common situations that can cause our credit card balances to soar. Most of us hope that things will get better and we will be able to catch up later, unfortunately the higher our credit card balances, the higher our monthly payments. This increasing monthly cost can keep us poor and make it difficult for us to ever get back on our feet. The largest part of our monthly credit card payments are interest charges. Therefore, it only makes sense to reduce our interest costs as much as possible and you can't get lower than zero interest. By simply transferring your credit card balances to one of the many available zero interest credit cards you will be able to save your interest charges for a given, introductory period of time.

There so many introductory credit cards available that it can be difficult to sort through them and choose the best one for your needs. It is important to choose an offer with low balance transfer fees and a long introductory period during which you do not have to pay any interest at all. The easiest way to find zero interest credit cards is to use a professional online credit card service which has already done a lot of the hard work for you by finding the best deals. These sites not only give you a number of cards to choose from, they also offer online applications to make things convenient and easy.

However, to truly make the most of zero interest credit cards, you can keep transferring the balance to new zero rate offers before the end of each introductory period. If you do this, you will never pay interest. Unfortunately, with the best will in the world, life tends to take over and we can easily forget to transfer the balance before interest payments kick in. Some of the more excellent online credit card services also offer a reminder service to let you know when your interest free period is due to expire so that you can apply to transfer your balance to a new interest free credit card offer.

Used in this way, zero interest credit cards can substantially improve your financial position. By taking advantage of professional, online services that also offer an alert to remind you when to transfer your credit card balance again you can take long term advantage of interest free credit card offers. Do this, and you'll never look back.

Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Do you have a credit card with a balance? Are you looking to save money? If so, you might to learn more about balance transfer credit cards. These credit cards are ideal for people looking to save money and in this article, we tell you exactly why.

What Are Balance Transfer Credit Cards?

Balance transfer credit cards are available for those who are looking to pay off one credit card with another. This may sound like a silly thing to some people. However, if you are currently paying high rates of interest with one credit card, but another offers you a great interest rate on balance transfers, why wouldn't you take advantage of the lower rate?

What Types Of Balance Transfer Credit Cards Are Available?

The great thing about this type of credit card is that they are generally available in most any type. Many different reward program credit cards also offer balance transfers and at a great rate. However, there are credit cards that are designed specifically for those with balances and are looking to take advantage of a lower interest rate.

How Do They Work?

It is really easy to get started with balance transfer credit cards. The first thing you have to do is apply for the credit card. Generally, when you apply, they will ask you to list the balance, type, and other information regarding the credit cards you are wishing to transfer. Once you have been approved, the balance is then transferred over to the new card and becomes a part of your new account.

Essentially, the credit card company will pay off the existing creditor and take on the credit themselves. You will begin to pay them back for this balance instead. It is something like refinancing a loan to get a better rate of interest.

The Pros and Cons of Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Balance transfer credit cards can be great for getting a lower rate of interest. They can also take some of the pressure off of your life when you are paying less. However, it is important to be very careful about the credit card you choose. In many cases, there are a host of fees involved in balance transfers. This could be as much as $100 just to transfer the balance to your new credit card.

The best way to understand if balance transfer credit cards are right for you is to read the terms and conditions as they apply to a specific credit card. This will give you a rundown of all fees involved, as well as interest rates to expect and the like. Carefully comparing different credit cards can enable you to make the right decision in regards to your own financial affairs. You can read more about Balance Transfer Credit Cards here.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Online Credit Card Application Methods

With so many things to discuss about credit cards, you get to know more about the pros and cons of having one. In spite of the disadvantages however, it is realistic to say that it is a helpful tool for everybody to manage expenses. There’s no denying it. Credit cards are one of the main tools in purchasing goods and services today.

You can apply for credit cards directly to the credit card companies by filing up their information and application sheets. Thanks to technology, it plays its role again of providing convenient and easy to use services.

You can now find and apply for credit cards online. By simply clicking on your mouse, you can now have an access to different credit card companies available in the internet. You can also transact business from a multitude of banks available in the network.

If you have an Internet connection at home, you have the greatest advantage over other people. Almost a majority of the banks features an online application system via the Internet. One good thing about these banks is that they are willing to approve the credit cards within 30 seconds or even less.

The process of online application is simple. After you accomplish all the necessary prerequisites that you need to furnish, the website will send you through email the result of your application in just a few seconds.

In order for you to find out the types of credit cards that you can avail, try to search in the net. You have plenty of options. Every credit card company is obliged to post the entire copy of their terms and conditions. You can also check on it on the Internet. Some of the sites do not post their annual charges so beware about this.

If your problem is your previous bad credit, worry no more about it. Even in online credit card application, they offer a special credit card for people with such status. Nevertheless, there are certain restraints that are set for you unless you recover from your bad credit record.

As of now, more and more people are applying for credit cards online. Part of the reason for doing such is the speed and convenience of doing so. Another reason is that, you can choose from a wide variety of credit card companies. The sites are providing all the possible names of the companies that offer online credit card application.

Credit card application is easy. Everyday, an additional website posts all the needed information in the net. Therefore, you will have an access to a huge number of sites, if you want to shop around, it will be easier for you.

After you have decided on which type of card you want to avail, you click on the site of the credit card company and fill in your details. You will be asked about your personal data of course, be honest as possible in filing it for legality purposes.

They will check your application, review it and do a credit assessment. If they find all the information about yourself satisfying and they believe in your credibility, they will instantly accept your application. There are some rules that you also need to comply with credit card online application. You can find them online in their website. These rules vary from one credit card company to another.

Like direct application of credit card in credit card companies, always abide with the regulations that they set for you. This is also same with your credit card application online.

Monday, February 11, 2008

The Truth about Online Credit Card Approval

With the credit card industry developing at such unprecedented rate, more and more people are experiencing the so-called credit card hype. In fact, in the U.S. alone, the average household gets to receive at least two credit card applications in a day.

What happens next is that consumers have the propensity to get into information overload, and so, they do not have any time to meticulously scrutinize each application that they receive.

Moreover, because of having too many credit card application forms thriving on the mailboxes every single day, they find it hard to make clear choices. In fact, according to some surveys, 75% of credit card users admit that they do not read the fine print at all.

That is why when the information technology had taken its fair share in the industry, things were definitely better. This is because the credit card industry, along with the consumers, is so overwhelmed with the fact that everything can come on an instant using the Internet.

For this reason, the online credit approval programs of most credit card companies seem to be the most practical technique that was ever created. Many people find it feasible to use online credit card approvals than to exert extra effort to personally apply for credit, only to find out that they will be rejected in the end.

The Concept behind the Screen

Online credit approvals works the same way as the typical application forms. The only difference is that these things are not hard copies.

However, one of the best things about this program is that it lets the consumers have the time to analyze the credit card offers and see if it will work for them.

Basically, there is nothing special about online credit card approval. The interested person just have to supply the necessary information on the online application form, wait for a few minutes (usually within 60 seconds), and, when approved, the consumer just have to wait for his or her card.

But the best thing about it is that the bank can instantly check on a particular person’s identity and credit score. If ever the score meets the requirement, instant approval will be provided and the credit card will be processed as soon as possible.

So for those who wish to know the advantages of having an online credit card approval, here is a list of some possible benefits that they can get from this program:

1. No messy applications

With online credit card approval, people can almost be sure of a safe and smooth transaction. There are no too many papers to trash or too many brochures to pile. Everything is done in just a few minutes and the status is instantly known if the application was approved or not.

2. Instant verification and comparison

There is no better way to get the best deal from a credit card but to have it compared to the others. In this way, the interested person can see the difference among credit cards, which gives him the ability to identify the best credit card deal.

3. Numerous benefits from the issuing bank

With this program, consumers can easily tap the available exclusive benefits provided for online applicants. There are instances wherein the banks will instantly give their new credit card users some amount from the credit line that they have provided.

These are just a few of the many benefits that consumers can get with online credit card approval. It is the best thing the credit card industry could ever have.

Indeed, with online credit card approval, there is nothing in the world that money would not have a value for it. Online credit card approval simply makes great things possible.

How To Get Zero Interest Credit Cards

Zero interest credit cards are probably the most under-utilized way to get on one's financial feet. There's plenty of advice available on using lower interest debt consolidation loans to consolidate credit debt and reduce monthly payments. However, very rarely do we hear the suggestion that we can get away with paying no interest at all unless someone is trying to sell us furniture on a buy now and pay later basis. Yet, special zero rate credit card offers provide a fantastic way to significantly reduce monthly expenditure on credit cards as well as to get out of debt sooner.

You don't have to be a materialistic, greedy individual to find yourself overspending on credit cards. So many things can go wrong in this high cost society that can increase our credit card debt. Serious illness, emergency repairs and job loss are just a few common situations that can cause our credit card balances to soar. Most of us hope that things will get better and we will be able to catch up later, unfortunately the higher our credit card balances, the higher our monthly payments. This increasing monthly cost can keep us poor and make it difficult for us to ever get back on our feet. The largest part of our monthly credit card payments are interest charges. Therefore, it only makes sense to reduce our interest costs as much as possible and you can't get lower than zero interest. By simply transferring your credit card balances to one of the many available zero interest credit cards you will be able to save your interest charges for a given, introductory period of time.

There so many introductory credit cards available that it can be difficult to sort through them and choose the best one for your needs. It is important to choose an offer with low balance transfer fees and a long introductory period during which you do not have to pay any interest at all. The easiest way to find zero interest credit cards is to use a professional online credit card service which has already done a lot of the hard work for you by finding the best deals. These sites not only give you a number of cards to choose from, they also offer online applications to make things convenient and easy.

However, to truly make the most of zero interest credit cards, you can keep transferring the balance to new zero rate offers before the end of each introductory period. If you do this, you will never pay interest. Unfortunately, with the best will in the world, life tends to take over and we can easily forget to transfer the balance before interest payments kick in. Some of the more excellent online credit card services also offer a reminder service to let you know when your interest free period is due to expire so that you can apply to transfer your balance to a new interest free credit card offer.

Used in this way, zero interest credit cards can substantially improve your financial position. By taking advantage of professional, online services that also offer an alert to remind you when to transfer your credit card balance again you can take long term advantage of interest free credit card offers. Do this, and you'll never look back.

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?

Subscribe to Posts [Atom]