Want Answers About Your First Credit Card
by Deanna Mascle
Stepping into the adult world presents a lot of new issues you may never have considered before. Among these new problems is how to establish credit. So many people find themselves ready to leave their parents' home to get a home or apartment of their own only to find out that they can't get certain things like a place to live and the utilities that go with it because they don't have sufficient credit. Sometimes having no credit can be worse than having bad credit. When you are trying to get a loan for a car or a house your future creditors want to make sure you can pay the loan back. They have no records to look at to tell them if you will do this or not. It might sound like a Catch 22, but you will have to start by getting a credit card and making a few purchases.
When deciding which credit card to start with, you should sit down and evaluate some things about yourself. For instance, are you someone who procrastinates? Do you have steady income that will allow you to pay the bills? Why do you want a credit card in the first place? It is very important to be honest with yourself when you answer these questions because it is easy to get into a hole that you can't crawl out from. Even if you feel like you are the most irresponsible person on earth, but you still want a credit card, a good one to get is the American Express green card. The Amex card has to be paid off every month, and you may be willing to spend less if you know that there is not going to be a minimum balance.
Finding the right credit card can be confusing because there are a lot of things to keep up with like APR, annual fees, and hidden charges. The best way to compare credit cards is to compare the APRs. The general rule is that the lower the APR, the lower the cost of credit. Try to look out for the hidden charges that are behind credit card companies. Sometimes companies like to hide things away in the fine print. Even if fine print annoys you, you should try to read it. There are often times charges for charging more than your credit limit, late fees, or periodic finance charges. Little charges here and there will end up costing you massive amounts in the long run.
When you use your first credit card there are some rules that you should follow. You should always shred your receipts, and also shred any credit card offers that you are not considering. Do not ever give your credit card number over the phone unless you are the one who initiated the phone call to the company that you are ordering things from, or trying to get a bill paid. Keep the customer service numbers of all of your credit cards in a safe place. Sometimes companies will send you a new card and it will get lost in the mail, an automated system will ask for your information before it will let you proceed, however, if you don't have a customer service number, you will have to wait until your next bill comes in. You would think that calling the store would help, but incompetence runs rampant in all parts of the world.
Try your hardest not to get a credit card in the first place. I know this may seem like impossibility, but they are only troublesome beasts. If you have to get one, make sure that you have really thought about what you are capable of, and how you are going to manage your money.
Showing posts with label Apply Online. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Apply Online. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Credit Cards - Handle Them With Care
Credit Cards - Handle Them With Care
by AJ Adams
Credit cards can be useful financial tools, but they can also get you into a lot of debt if you use them improperly. In order to make the most of a credit card, you should look for certain things when deciding which credit card you will use. If you make your decision carefully, you can avoid a lot of future grief.
Part of your decision will hinge on how you plan to pay back your debts. If you know that you can pay back your balance in full every month without carrying over any debt, then the APR won't matter. The APR refers to the interest rate of carrying over a balance. If you pay it back every month, then you won't be affected by a high APR! With this type of card, you will be able to find a deal with no annual fee, and longer grace periods (extra time to make your payment).
If you plan to use the credit card as a sort of long-term borrowing tool, then a high APR will be financial suicide. You should look for a deal with a low APR rate, but make sure to read between the lines. Some credit cards offer introductory APR rates that are quite attractive, but will change to a less appealing rate after several months. You should also beware of penalty APR rates that charge extra money if your balance exceeds a certain limit.
One thing you will quickly realize is that credit card companies frequently hit you with unexpected fees and charges. That is why it is important to read the contract they give you, no matter how intimidating it is. Find out exactly what you are getting into, and you will be able to use the credit card to your own benefit, to assist you in your financial troubles instead of creating new ones.
by AJ Adams
Credit cards can be useful financial tools, but they can also get you into a lot of debt if you use them improperly. In order to make the most of a credit card, you should look for certain things when deciding which credit card you will use. If you make your decision carefully, you can avoid a lot of future grief.
Part of your decision will hinge on how you plan to pay back your debts. If you know that you can pay back your balance in full every month without carrying over any debt, then the APR won't matter. The APR refers to the interest rate of carrying over a balance. If you pay it back every month, then you won't be affected by a high APR! With this type of card, you will be able to find a deal with no annual fee, and longer grace periods (extra time to make your payment).
If you plan to use the credit card as a sort of long-term borrowing tool, then a high APR will be financial suicide. You should look for a deal with a low APR rate, but make sure to read between the lines. Some credit cards offer introductory APR rates that are quite attractive, but will change to a less appealing rate after several months. You should also beware of penalty APR rates that charge extra money if your balance exceeds a certain limit.
One thing you will quickly realize is that credit card companies frequently hit you with unexpected fees and charges. That is why it is important to read the contract they give you, no matter how intimidating it is. Find out exactly what you are getting into, and you will be able to use the credit card to your own benefit, to assist you in your financial troubles instead of creating new ones.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Apply Online for a Credit Card: It's Safer than Ever
Apply Online for a Credit Card: It's Safer than Ever
by Edward Vegliante
Applying for a credit card has never been easier. Thanks to the Internet, you can look through a wide variety of credit cards, choose the right one, and fill out an application right away. With today's security features, you don't have to worry about your information falling into the wrong hands. Here's what companies are doing to make applying online for a credit card safer than ever.
Online Security Features
Protecting your privacy is essential for credit card websites and issuers. Secure credit card websites use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). This technology involves a complicated encryption program. It protects your information as it travels to the right place. SSL has been improved over the years; today's version makes it virtually impossible for the information to be intercepted.
To check for SSL, look carefully at your online credit card application page. The site's web address on the top of the page should begin with the letters https (as opposed to http ' the s indicates the security measures). Also, you should see a closed padlock on the screen. Many websites offer detailed information on their security plan. Click on the padlock or appropriate link to learn more about their safety features.
In many ways, it's actually safer to send in a credit card application through the Internet rather than the postal mail. Consider this: your personal data travels through cyberspace at lightning-speed. It lands, safely, in its appropriate destination in less than a second. If you send an application through the postal mail, it travels for days between places. Numerous hands handle the envelope. Every time it gets passed on, there are chances for identity theft or fraud to occur. For these reasons, you might be better off with an online credit card application.
Additional Online Benefits
Besides being safe, you'll enjoy other benefits when you apply online for a credit card. First, you'll have the chance to view many different offers. Credit card websites are organized into categories such as "low interest," "balance transfer," and "rewards." All you need to do is click on the type of card you're interested in and the various options will appear. You'll be able to see different credit cards right next to each other, making it easy to compare their features.
For many credit cards, after you send in the application, you'll get an email response. You'll know within minutes whether or not you've been approved. This is much faster than waiting weeks for the postal mail to arrive. It also lets you start planning how you'll use the credit card right away.
Filling out an application is just the beginning of what you can do online with your new credit card. You can sign up to receive your statements online. You'll also have the option of accessing your account online. Making payments, checking your balance, and redeeming your rewards can all be done with a few simple clicks of the mouse.
Applying online for a credit card is another convenient tool of today's society. With the safety features credit card sites use, you won't have to worry about your application falling into the wrong hands. And once the card is in your wallet, you can continue to manage the account through the Internet. It's safe, fast, and convenient.
by Edward Vegliante
Applying for a credit card has never been easier. Thanks to the Internet, you can look through a wide variety of credit cards, choose the right one, and fill out an application right away. With today's security features, you don't have to worry about your information falling into the wrong hands. Here's what companies are doing to make applying online for a credit card safer than ever.
Online Security Features
Protecting your privacy is essential for credit card websites and issuers. Secure credit card websites use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). This technology involves a complicated encryption program. It protects your information as it travels to the right place. SSL has been improved over the years; today's version makes it virtually impossible for the information to be intercepted.
To check for SSL, look carefully at your online credit card application page. The site's web address on the top of the page should begin with the letters https (as opposed to http ' the s indicates the security measures). Also, you should see a closed padlock on the screen. Many websites offer detailed information on their security plan. Click on the padlock or appropriate link to learn more about their safety features.
In many ways, it's actually safer to send in a credit card application through the Internet rather than the postal mail. Consider this: your personal data travels through cyberspace at lightning-speed. It lands, safely, in its appropriate destination in less than a second. If you send an application through the postal mail, it travels for days between places. Numerous hands handle the envelope. Every time it gets passed on, there are chances for identity theft or fraud to occur. For these reasons, you might be better off with an online credit card application.
Additional Online Benefits
Besides being safe, you'll enjoy other benefits when you apply online for a credit card. First, you'll have the chance to view many different offers. Credit card websites are organized into categories such as "low interest," "balance transfer," and "rewards." All you need to do is click on the type of card you're interested in and the various options will appear. You'll be able to see different credit cards right next to each other, making it easy to compare their features.
For many credit cards, after you send in the application, you'll get an email response. You'll know within minutes whether or not you've been approved. This is much faster than waiting weeks for the postal mail to arrive. It also lets you start planning how you'll use the credit card right away.
Filling out an application is just the beginning of what you can do online with your new credit card. You can sign up to receive your statements online. You'll also have the option of accessing your account online. Making payments, checking your balance, and redeeming your rewards can all be done with a few simple clicks of the mouse.
Applying online for a credit card is another convenient tool of today's society. With the safety features credit card sites use, you won't have to worry about your application falling into the wrong hands. And once the card is in your wallet, you can continue to manage the account through the Internet. It's safe, fast, and convenient.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
