How to Compare the Best Credit Cards
Lynette Hill asked:
Have you been bombarded with credit card offers in your email? Offers that seem to be alluring which states that they offer low interest rates and great rewards. Most of the card offers are always like this. So this gives you the headache when you want to search for the best credit card.
However you can still emerge victorious with your quest for the best card if you just know how to be a smart shopper or customer. You have to equip yourself with enough knowledge before hand.
It is very important that you know your needs and you know it well enough. Know what you want and what you really need. Weigh them out so that you know which things come first.
Make use of the information that the internet offers. Do research on credit card guide online so that you can see how well they really offer. Read reviews and comments from past cardholders and see how they can relay their experience with their card.
The best thing that you need to do is to always compare the offers. Every detail such as low interest rates, annual fees, discounts and rewards should be compared. The more you compare the more chances of choosing the best card.
Do a background check on the card company. Be aware that there are many scam policies online that lure unsuspecting customers. You don’t want to fall into their traps so better be ready. Make sure that the card company you apply for is well trusted and legitimate. Never give out very important personal details because this can be used by scam companies in fraud.
Make sure that you can afford to get a credit card. If you think you can’t pay for the purchases and interest that the card company will charge don’t bother getting one. Live within your means. If you have a regular income and a stable source of income then you can get a credit card. But never overuse your credit because at the end you will be the one to suffer the consequences of being an outrageous cardholder.
Martin
Have you been bombarded with credit card offers in your email? Offers that seem to be alluring which states that they offer low interest rates and great rewards. Most of the card offers are always like this. So this gives you the headache when you want to search for the best credit card.
However you can still emerge victorious with your quest for the best card if you just know how to be a smart shopper or customer. You have to equip yourself with enough knowledge before hand.
It is very important that you know your needs and you know it well enough. Know what you want and what you really need. Weigh them out so that you know which things come first.
Make use of the information that the internet offers. Do research on credit card guide online so that you can see how well they really offer. Read reviews and comments from past cardholders and see how they can relay their experience with their card.
The best thing that you need to do is to always compare the offers. Every detail such as low interest rates, annual fees, discounts and rewards should be compared. The more you compare the more chances of choosing the best card.
Do a background check on the card company. Be aware that there are many scam policies online that lure unsuspecting customers. You don’t want to fall into their traps so better be ready. Make sure that the card company you apply for is well trusted and legitimate. Never give out very important personal details because this can be used by scam companies in fraud.
Make sure that you can afford to get a credit card. If you think you can’t pay for the purchases and interest that the card company will charge don’t bother getting one. Live within your means. If you have a regular income and a stable source of income then you can get a credit card. But never overuse your credit because at the end you will be the one to suffer the consequences of being an outrageous cardholder.
Martin
Advantages of Using a Credit Card for Monthly Expenses
Debbie Dragon asked:
A credit card can be a great tool for managing your monthly living expenses. Using your credit card to charge all of your bills and purchases can make life easier. When used wisely, this approach can save time and help you maximize your credit card’s rewards program.
Establish a budget
The first step to successfully implementing this strategy is to set up a monthly budget. When you set limits for yourself, you can be sure not to charge more on your card than you can pay off at the end of each month. Start with your monthly bills (utilities, mortgage, car payments, etc), add your variable monthly costs (food, gas, entertainment, etc), and compare it to your total monthly income to establish your limit in each area. Most credit cards have online access that will allow you to keep an eye on your purchases.
Payments
If possible, set up your bills to automatically charge your credit card each month. Keep in mind that it may not be possible to charge every monthly expense to your card, but you can still take advantage of this approach with the remaining expenses. When choosing a credit card, make sure to factor in whether it is accepted by the stores in which you usually shop.
Ease the burden of record keeping
Making all your purchases on your credit card can make record keeping easier. Instead of having many transactions to record in your checkbook register throughout the month, you have only one: the check you write to pay off your credit card balance. This makes it much simpler to balance your checkbook.
Your bank statement is a record of all the transactions that have occurred in your account during a month. By paying for most expenses with your credit card, you are reducing the number of transactions that appear on this statement. The reduced number of transactions makes it easy to compare with your checkbook register. Not only can this save a lot of time, but it significantly reduces the margin of error in your records by making it easier to spot mistakes.
Maximize credit card rewards programs
Putting all your expenses on a credit card that offers rewards allows you to get the maximum benefits from these programs. The more you charge to the card, the more rewards you earn. For example, let’s say you use a card featuring a “cash back” reward that pays 1% for each qualified purchase. If your budget for monthly expenditures is $2,000.00 and you use your rewards card to pay for all of them, you can earn $20 per month. That totals an extra $240 each year, just for smart use of your credit card. Don’t forget the other rewards programs, like travel rewards or store credit. When choosing a card with which to try this approach, factor in which rewards program will be most advantageous to you and your family.
Some things to keep in mind
Pay attention to fees, grace periods and interest rates when choosing a card. Make sure that the benefits of putting everything on your card outweigh these costs or other inconveniences. In addition, staying within your budgetary limitations is key to the success of this approach. You must pay off your credit card each month in order for any of the above advantages to be worthwhile.
Paying your monthly expenditures with your credit card can make things more simple and can help you leverage your credit card rewards program. Choose your card wisely by comparing interest rates, fees, and rewards programs. Establish a budget, set up your payments, stay within your limits, and start seeing the benefits.
Clarence
A credit card can be a great tool for managing your monthly living expenses. Using your credit card to charge all of your bills and purchases can make life easier. When used wisely, this approach can save time and help you maximize your credit card’s rewards program.
Establish a budget
The first step to successfully implementing this strategy is to set up a monthly budget. When you set limits for yourself, you can be sure not to charge more on your card than you can pay off at the end of each month. Start with your monthly bills (utilities, mortgage, car payments, etc), add your variable monthly costs (food, gas, entertainment, etc), and compare it to your total monthly income to establish your limit in each area. Most credit cards have online access that will allow you to keep an eye on your purchases.
Payments
If possible, set up your bills to automatically charge your credit card each month. Keep in mind that it may not be possible to charge every monthly expense to your card, but you can still take advantage of this approach with the remaining expenses. When choosing a credit card, make sure to factor in whether it is accepted by the stores in which you usually shop.
Ease the burden of record keeping
Making all your purchases on your credit card can make record keeping easier. Instead of having many transactions to record in your checkbook register throughout the month, you have only one: the check you write to pay off your credit card balance. This makes it much simpler to balance your checkbook.
Your bank statement is a record of all the transactions that have occurred in your account during a month. By paying for most expenses with your credit card, you are reducing the number of transactions that appear on this statement. The reduced number of transactions makes it easy to compare with your checkbook register. Not only can this save a lot of time, but it significantly reduces the margin of error in your records by making it easier to spot mistakes.
Maximize credit card rewards programs
Putting all your expenses on a credit card that offers rewards allows you to get the maximum benefits from these programs. The more you charge to the card, the more rewards you earn. For example, let’s say you use a card featuring a “cash back” reward that pays 1% for each qualified purchase. If your budget for monthly expenditures is $2,000.00 and you use your rewards card to pay for all of them, you can earn $20 per month. That totals an extra $240 each year, just for smart use of your credit card. Don’t forget the other rewards programs, like travel rewards or store credit. When choosing a card with which to try this approach, factor in which rewards program will be most advantageous to you and your family.
Some things to keep in mind
Pay attention to fees, grace periods and interest rates when choosing a card. Make sure that the benefits of putting everything on your card outweigh these costs or other inconveniences. In addition, staying within your budgetary limitations is key to the success of this approach. You must pay off your credit card each month in order for any of the above advantages to be worthwhile.
Paying your monthly expenditures with your credit card can make things more simple and can help you leverage your credit card rewards program. Choose your card wisely by comparing interest rates, fees, and rewards programs. Establish a budget, set up your payments, stay within your limits, and start seeing the benefits.
Clarence
How Much Does a Free Credit Report Cost?
Scott Swinford asked:
If you saw an ad in the newspaper for a FREE CAR to the next 20 people who arrived at a particular car lot, would you go? I would! In fact, most people would probably be out the door before they read the fine print that said you must purchase a key for $28,000 to get the car for free. I can just imagine the riot at the dealership when the salespersons pointed that out to the mob in the sales lot.
Now apply that to your credit report.
With the sheer number of identity theft victims (many who are not aware of it yet) and the chance for mistakes in your credit file (Wall Street Journal estimates that 79% of all credit files have errors), it is in the consumer’s best interest to check their credit report on a regular basis and correct errors if and when they appear. I believe that this should be done every 6 months minimum and certainly before making a major purchase such as a car or a home.
The free credit resource that I recommend to my family, friends and clients is annualcreditreport (full contact information is below). This site is monitored by the FTC and created by the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies to allow everyone to have access to their credit report. You are given access to your report after answering a series of questions to verify your identity. They do not give you your scores for free, but you are allowed to purchase them from the site if you wish.
I tell my clients that they can purchase the scores if they wish, but the numbers that they are given may or may not (usually not) correspond to the scores that a mortgage lender would see. They are also different that what a car dealer would see and different than what your insurance agent would see. Add in the fact that some of the companies are using the new Vantage system while others are not and this whole ordeal can leave you very confused.
Back to my original question: how much does a free credit report cost? While the report may be given to you at no cost, it is usually under the condition that you sign up for some type of credit monitoring service. Although I will not plug any particular companies, I pay about $15 a month to have my reports “monitored”. I get an email when there is an inquiry on my report, if there are significant changes to it such as large balance changes or anything negative, and I get one once a month telling me that there were no changes. On top of that, I can run a new credit report on myself EVERY DAY if I wish and it will not hurt my scores like an inquiry from a credit card company, car dealer or mortgage lender might. If you decide to try one of the monitoring companies, they will usually let you cancel within the first 30 days without charge if you are not satisfied. Check their terms and conditions to be sure.
The downfall of annualcreditreport.com is that you are only able to pull one report from each of the three bureaus (Trans Union, Experian, and Equifax) every 12 months (in accordance with the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act). For someone who just wants to check their report infrequently, they could get one report every 4 months and be safer than if they had done nothing. For some, it is worth a small financial outlay every month to have the protection that the other companies offer. It’s really up to the individual.
That’s all on Free Credit Reports. I will be releasing future articles on what to look for on your report, how to dispute issues that you may find and how to improve your scores, among other topics.
Here is how to get your free credit report:
Online: annualcreditreport.com
Phone: 1-877-322-8228
Mail: Print, complete and send the request form (found online at annualcreditreport.com) to
Annual Credit Report Request Service
PO Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
Ernest
If you saw an ad in the newspaper for a FREE CAR to the next 20 people who arrived at a particular car lot, would you go? I would! In fact, most people would probably be out the door before they read the fine print that said you must purchase a key for $28,000 to get the car for free. I can just imagine the riot at the dealership when the salespersons pointed that out to the mob in the sales lot.
Now apply that to your credit report.
With the sheer number of identity theft victims (many who are not aware of it yet) and the chance for mistakes in your credit file (Wall Street Journal estimates that 79% of all credit files have errors), it is in the consumer’s best interest to check their credit report on a regular basis and correct errors if and when they appear. I believe that this should be done every 6 months minimum and certainly before making a major purchase such as a car or a home.
The free credit resource that I recommend to my family, friends and clients is annualcreditreport (full contact information is below). This site is monitored by the FTC and created by the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies to allow everyone to have access to their credit report. You are given access to your report after answering a series of questions to verify your identity. They do not give you your scores for free, but you are allowed to purchase them from the site if you wish.
I tell my clients that they can purchase the scores if they wish, but the numbers that they are given may or may not (usually not) correspond to the scores that a mortgage lender would see. They are also different that what a car dealer would see and different than what your insurance agent would see. Add in the fact that some of the companies are using the new Vantage system while others are not and this whole ordeal can leave you very confused.
Back to my original question: how much does a free credit report cost? While the report may be given to you at no cost, it is usually under the condition that you sign up for some type of credit monitoring service. Although I will not plug any particular companies, I pay about $15 a month to have my reports “monitored”. I get an email when there is an inquiry on my report, if there are significant changes to it such as large balance changes or anything negative, and I get one once a month telling me that there were no changes. On top of that, I can run a new credit report on myself EVERY DAY if I wish and it will not hurt my scores like an inquiry from a credit card company, car dealer or mortgage lender might. If you decide to try one of the monitoring companies, they will usually let you cancel within the first 30 days without charge if you are not satisfied. Check their terms and conditions to be sure.
The downfall of annualcreditreport.com is that you are only able to pull one report from each of the three bureaus (Trans Union, Experian, and Equifax) every 12 months (in accordance with the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act). For someone who just wants to check their report infrequently, they could get one report every 4 months and be safer than if they had done nothing. For some, it is worth a small financial outlay every month to have the protection that the other companies offer. It’s really up to the individual.
That’s all on Free Credit Reports. I will be releasing future articles on what to look for on your report, how to dispute issues that you may find and how to improve your scores, among other topics.
Here is how to get your free credit report:
Online: annualcreditreport.com
Phone: 1-877-322-8228
Mail: Print, complete and send the request form (found online at annualcreditreport.com) to
Annual Credit Report Request Service
PO Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
Ernest
How to Wipe Out Bad Credit and Rebuild Your Credit Report
Conleth Onu asked:
Most people who have bad credit think there is nothing they can do about it. They mistakenly believe that they have to live with their bad credit for a long time.
You don’t have to live with bad credit or pay hefty fees to have your credit repaired. You can remove bad entries in your report and rebuild your credit profile. You don’t need to spend a fortune to accomplish this. Armed with the right information you will be on your way to rebuilding your credit record.
Credit bureaus are required to delete items that are not 100% accurate or cannot be verified within a reasonable period of time. Also, outdated information must be deleted.
The first step in repairing your credit is to get a copy of your credit report. You need to know what the credit bureaus are saying about you. By law, you can get a copy of your credit report, for a fee. However, if you have been denied credit within the past 60 days, then you can get a credit report at no charge from the credit bureau.
When you receive your report, examine it carefully. Damaging information may appear in your report wihtout your knowledge. Make sure all information is current and accurate. Identify any incorrect or inaccurate information that has been entered into your report. Pay close attention to all the accounts listed on your report. Mistakes happen all the time. Make sure you do not overlook any errors.
You can have damaging information deleted from your credit report. You have the right to dispute incorrect or misleading information on your report.
To do this, complete the dispute form that you received with your credit report and return it to the credit bureau. Be sure to send your dispute letter certified mail, return receipt requested. This will provide you with a paper trail and help you remember when to follow up.
If you dispute an item, it must be reinvestigated and deleted if in the event the item is found to be false or unable to be verified. By law, if the credit bureau does not respond within the alloted time, then the disputed item must be deleted from the report.
Another way to smash negative credit remarks on your credit report is to take advantage of the “100-word consumer statement” which allows you to file a brief statement detailing your side of the story and submit this to the credit bureau, for inclusion in your report.
Once your credit report is updated, you should request that the credit bureau send updated copy of your report to any businesses that checked your credit within the past six months (or two years if it involves employment).
Now that you’ve removed the negative entries, it’s time to rebuild a good credit report.
One way to add positive information to your report is by taking out a small loan backed by funds in your savings account. When you pay off the loan, your security deposit will be released to you.
You can also build credit by having someone with good credit cosign on a loan for you. This strategy can speed up the process of rebuilding your credit.
Having a secured credit card can help you build or rebuild your credit. To obtain a secured card, you are required to deposit money in a savings account to guarantee the charges. The deposit is frozen and left untouched until it is obvious that you have defaulted. So make sure all your payments reach the company before the due date. Always stay within your credit limit.
If you ever wanted to wipe out your bad credit and rebuild your credit report, now you can. A good credit record can make your life easier and more enjoyable. Take action now.
Francisco
Most people who have bad credit think there is nothing they can do about it. They mistakenly believe that they have to live with their bad credit for a long time.
You don’t have to live with bad credit or pay hefty fees to have your credit repaired. You can remove bad entries in your report and rebuild your credit profile. You don’t need to spend a fortune to accomplish this. Armed with the right information you will be on your way to rebuilding your credit record.
Credit bureaus are required to delete items that are not 100% accurate or cannot be verified within a reasonable period of time. Also, outdated information must be deleted.
The first step in repairing your credit is to get a copy of your credit report. You need to know what the credit bureaus are saying about you. By law, you can get a copy of your credit report, for a fee. However, if you have been denied credit within the past 60 days, then you can get a credit report at no charge from the credit bureau.
When you receive your report, examine it carefully. Damaging information may appear in your report wihtout your knowledge. Make sure all information is current and accurate. Identify any incorrect or inaccurate information that has been entered into your report. Pay close attention to all the accounts listed on your report. Mistakes happen all the time. Make sure you do not overlook any errors.
You can have damaging information deleted from your credit report. You have the right to dispute incorrect or misleading information on your report.
To do this, complete the dispute form that you received with your credit report and return it to the credit bureau. Be sure to send your dispute letter certified mail, return receipt requested. This will provide you with a paper trail and help you remember when to follow up.
If you dispute an item, it must be reinvestigated and deleted if in the event the item is found to be false or unable to be verified. By law, if the credit bureau does not respond within the alloted time, then the disputed item must be deleted from the report.
Another way to smash negative credit remarks on your credit report is to take advantage of the “100-word consumer statement” which allows you to file a brief statement detailing your side of the story and submit this to the credit bureau, for inclusion in your report.
Once your credit report is updated, you should request that the credit bureau send updated copy of your report to any businesses that checked your credit within the past six months (or two years if it involves employment).
Now that you’ve removed the negative entries, it’s time to rebuild a good credit report.
One way to add positive information to your report is by taking out a small loan backed by funds in your savings account. When you pay off the loan, your security deposit will be released to you.
You can also build credit by having someone with good credit cosign on a loan for you. This strategy can speed up the process of rebuilding your credit.
Having a secured credit card can help you build or rebuild your credit. To obtain a secured card, you are required to deposit money in a savings account to guarantee the charges. The deposit is frozen and left untouched until it is obvious that you have defaulted. So make sure all your payments reach the company before the due date. Always stay within your credit limit.
If you ever wanted to wipe out your bad credit and rebuild your credit report, now you can. A good credit record can make your life easier and more enjoyable. Take action now.
Francisco
Applying For Business Credit Cards Online is Easy!
Kristi Ambrose asked:
Most all of us own credit cards, but which ones are the best? What one’s can you utilize in order to ensure that you receive the best possible rates? There are several different comparison credit card sites you can visit online in order to find these things out. A credit card compare site, is a site in which you visit to compare different manufacture cards as well as different attributes that the card is made for. For example, if you’re a company (small or large) the best type of credit card you could look into applying for is a Business or Business Premium card. These cards in general were specifically made for businesses in mind. They might offer things like cash back rewards or even a lower APR.
In my experience as an individual but also as a business owner a few of the really great business type cards as well as some “options” they come with are:
The Business Edition Visa Card –
0% APR on purchases for the first 12 billing cycles
No annual fee
Separate business expenses for purchases such as travel, entertainment, or supplies
Receive easy to read reports
Get records and tax deductible expenses
Received up to 60% off regular rates at more than 11,000 hotels, motels, and resorts
Discover Business Card –
0% APR for 12 months
5% cash back bonus
No annual fee
Free employee cards with customizable limits
Chase Business Rebate Card –
3% cash back for purchases at restaurants, gas stations, office supply stores, building supply stores, hardware and home improvement stores
1% cash back on all other purchases
0% APR for up to 15 months
No annual fee
Quarterly reports
Chase Business Cash Rewards Visa Card –
Earn up to 5% cash back
You can earn points by shopping where ever you want for whatever you want
0% APR for up to 12 months
No annual fee
Management reports
I’ve listed two Chase cards because in my opinion these are the best card to get if you have a business. Of course there are also other cards such as MasterCard, and American Express, you can check out! But again, in my experience as a business person, Chase credit cards always have been the best cards to get when it comes to all your business needs. In order to find out more about Chase cards, please visit the following websites listed below:
Chase Credit Cards
Chase Freedom Now
Finance Globe
Credit Card Guide
Bank Rate
Compare Cards
Feel free to search around a bit and find the right card for yourself or your business. As said above there are dozens of different credit cards that can be used in this instance as well as different stats, APRs, and options from different manufacturers. In the end, you have to get the card that will benefit you and your business the most! Good luck in finding the perfect card for your business.
Chester
Most all of us own credit cards, but which ones are the best? What one’s can you utilize in order to ensure that you receive the best possible rates? There are several different comparison credit card sites you can visit online in order to find these things out. A credit card compare site, is a site in which you visit to compare different manufacture cards as well as different attributes that the card is made for. For example, if you’re a company (small or large) the best type of credit card you could look into applying for is a Business or Business Premium card. These cards in general were specifically made for businesses in mind. They might offer things like cash back rewards or even a lower APR.
In my experience as an individual but also as a business owner a few of the really great business type cards as well as some “options” they come with are:
The Business Edition Visa Card –
0% APR on purchases for the first 12 billing cycles
No annual fee
Separate business expenses for purchases such as travel, entertainment, or supplies
Receive easy to read reports
Get records and tax deductible expenses
Received up to 60% off regular rates at more than 11,000 hotels, motels, and resorts
Discover Business Card –
0% APR for 12 months
5% cash back bonus
No annual fee
Free employee cards with customizable limits
Chase Business Rebate Card –
3% cash back for purchases at restaurants, gas stations, office supply stores, building supply stores, hardware and home improvement stores
1% cash back on all other purchases
0% APR for up to 15 months
No annual fee
Quarterly reports
Chase Business Cash Rewards Visa Card –
Earn up to 5% cash back
You can earn points by shopping where ever you want for whatever you want
0% APR for up to 12 months
No annual fee
Management reports
I’ve listed two Chase cards because in my opinion these are the best card to get if you have a business. Of course there are also other cards such as MasterCard, and American Express, you can check out! But again, in my experience as a business person, Chase credit cards always have been the best cards to get when it comes to all your business needs. In order to find out more about Chase cards, please visit the following websites listed below:
Chase Credit Cards
Chase Freedom Now
Finance Globe
Credit Card Guide
Bank Rate
Compare Cards
Feel free to search around a bit and find the right card for yourself or your business. As said above there are dozens of different credit cards that can be used in this instance as well as different stats, APRs, and options from different manufacturers. In the end, you have to get the card that will benefit you and your business the most! Good luck in finding the perfect card for your business.
Chester
