Wednesday, August 20, 2008

You May Want To Consider Checking What S On Your Credit Report At Least Once A Year

Category: Finance, Credit.

You may want to consider checking what s on your credit report at least once a year.



You ll want to know what each credit bureau( TransUnion, Experian and Equifax) have listed on your reports. That s right at least once a year get a copy of all three of your credit reports. You don t want any surprises when you apply for credit or seek new employment. You will also be able to find out whether or not someone has ordered credit in your name without your authorization. So, as a general rule it s a good idea to get copies of your reports at least once a year! Here are some tips and information which may assist you in your quest to get your credit reports: 1) How do I go about contacting the credit report bureaus?


You contact the bureaus either in writing or via the internet with the following information: TransUnion, P. Box 2000, Chester, PA. 19022, 800- 888- 4213, www. transunion. com. Equifax, P. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA. 30374, 877- 784- 2528, www. equifax. com. Experian, P. Box 2104, Allen, TX. 75013, 888- 397- 3742, www. experian. com. 2) Can I get a free copy of my credit report? You can receive a free report on an annual basis at no cost at annualcreditreport. com.


Yes. You can also secure free copies of your credit reports directly from each credit bureau. 3) Should I get a copy of my FICO score? As you may be aware, your credit score is used in determining whether or not you will qualify for credit you have applied for and the interest rate you will receive. Yes, this would be a good idea to find out where you stand in reference to your credit score. The higher your credit score the better chances you have of getting a lower interest rate and approval of your credit. 4) How can I improve my credit and credit score? Make sure you stay current with paying your bills.


By paying your bills on time and paying your credit card balance in full if at all possible. This will assist in improving your credit overall. 5) If I see an error on my credit report, how do I go about fixing the problem? You may want to also contact the creditor directly that is reporting the negative information listed on your report and get them to correct the error. Contact the credit bureau directly concerning the error on your report in writing and request that the error be corrected. You will also want the creditor to provide you with a written confirmation of them correcting the error to your credit report. No. The credit bureau has thirty days to respond to your request about erroneous information listed on your credit report. 6) Should I consider hiring a credit repair company to fix my credit?


This is not a good idea! Some credit repair agencies charge several hundred dollars in fees claiming they can repair your credit. The only one able to fix your credit problem is you. Some of these agencies even offer you a new social security number to establish new credit. It s best that you fix your own credit the right way by doing the following: contact the credit bureaus about any errors or discrepancies you have on your credit report. This is absolutely illegal, you do not want to be a party to this scam at all!


Contact the creditor directly about errors listed by them on your report. And, try to pay off your credit balances as soon as you can. Pay your bills on time. Ordering a copy of your credit reports is a good idea! This will give you a better peace of mind and will hopefully eliminate surprises when you go to apply for employment and future credit for the purchase of a home, or whatever else, vehicle you would like to purchase. The sooner you start this annual practice of getting your credit report the better off you will be.

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Many Cash Rebate Cards Have A Limit On How Big Of A Rebate You Get Back - Louisa Johansen's Finance and Credit blog:

You know credit cards that offer cash rebates give you cash rewards each time you make a purchase using the card. The single, reason credit card, most significant companies are doing this is because people prefer to get cash back over any other type of credit card reward.

Of Course, Dealerships Are Always Happy To Talk Loan - Clarice Capasso's Finance and Credit blog:

There aren t many people who can get a car without getting a loan.

The Money Lenders Of Today- - The Finance Companies - Diana Spadoni's Finance and Credit blog:

Whenever I think of money lenders, the first name that comes to my mind is that of Shylock, the Jewish money lender in Shakespeare s popular drama, The Merchant of Venice. Thankfully, this stereotype is no longer as prevalent as it used to be.

Monday, August 18, 2008

The First Airline Credit Card

Category: Finance, Credit.

Airline credit cards have not been around for as long as you may think.



Nonetheless, airline credit cards have quickly gained in popularity and can be found partnered with every major airline. In fact, they are a fairly new option available to credit cardholders. The First Airline Credit Card. When it came out, the card allowed consumers to earn miles with every purchase made. The first airline credit card to be offered to consumers was the City AAdvantage MasterCard. These miles could then be redeemed for free air travel through a variety of airlines. Today, you can redeem your airline miles at over 25 different airlines.


This card remains one of the major players in the airline credit card industry. In addition, you can redeem miles for discounts at numerous hotels and car rental companies. Realizing what a great idea airline miles credit cards was, airlines started following suit and partnering with credit card companies to create their own airline credit card. Airlines Follow Suit. The United Airlines Plus card was next. Although the card did not offer the flexibility of receiving discounted tickets with numerous airlines, those who frequently traveled on United Airlines enthusiastically embraced this United Airlines credit card. This card was the first airline credit card to be specific to an airline.


Not to be outdone, Continental Airlines unveiled its airline credit card, the Continental Airlines World MasterCard, shortly after United Airlines. Today, the United Airlines Plus Signature Visa Credit Card offers 17, 500 bonus miles after the first purchase with the card, a certificate for a free one- way 1, 000 mile one- class upgrade, and a$ 25 certificate for discount travel. Both airlines still offer their own airline miles credit cards, but provide their own special incentives to set them apart from the competition. The Continental Airlines World MasterCard offers 15, 000 OnePass bonus miles after completing your first purchase. Airline Miles Credit Cards Today. In addition, you can earn double OnePass miles with purchases made at Continental Airlines and with partner merchants and a 5% discount on Continental Fares purchased at their website using the card.


Today, airline credit cards are in abundance. In addition, competition to gain and to retain flying customers is fierce. Every major airline has partnered with a credit card company in order to bring their own airline credit card to the consumer. Therefore, airline credit cards offer a number of incentives, and special deals, bonuses to entice customers into acquiring their credit card. It is not unheard of for an airline credit card to allow the consumer to choose from over 200 different airlines when redeeming earned miles. In addition, the number of" generic" airline miles credit cards is on the rise. Many of these airline credit cards also offer other discount options, car rental, such as hotel, and vacation package discounts that can be purchased with earned miles.


With the competition being so strong when it comes to airline customers and credit card customers, the future of airline credit cards looks bright for consumers. The Future of Airline Credit Cards. In all likelihood, the number of incentives and bonuses will continue to rise in order to draw in new cardholders. Traditionally, airline miles credit cards have had annual fees and high APRs when compared to credit cards without rewards programs. A trend that is currently starting to develop are special low APRs and annual fees. While this remains true, more and more airline credit cards are starting to offer competitive APRs and waiving annual fees in an attempt to attract more customers. One thing is for certain: airline miles credit cards will continue to be popular among consumers, particularly for those that can pay off their balance in full at the end of each month and take full advantage of the special rewards.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Your Credit Rating Is Significant

Category: Finance, Credit.

Did you know that each time you take up any kind of credit or loan, or pay one back, it adds to your credit rating. They will supply your credit rating to any business that is considering lending to you.



Who keeps a record on you will vary according to where you live, but the three major credit reference agencies are Equifax, Experian and Trans Union. What Does Your Credit Rating Reveal. Believe it or not there is a history of all the debts you ve had in the past ten years or so, and special note is made of anything that has gone wrong. All your current debts are incorporated in to your credit rating. A Default( missing a payment) on any debt can damage your credit rating. It s also worth bearing in mind that the credit reports of anyone you live with may be linked to your own report, and in turn could reflect badly on you- your partner s credit rating is coupled to your own quite intimately.


Borrowing a lot before you start paying anything. back will make you seem like a very bad risk, as will going all the way up to( or even over) your limit on a credit card. How Your Credit Rating is Worked Out. FICO , named after the Fair Isaac Corporation, is the most, who invented it common method of coming up with your rating. Things that happened in recent times are given more weight than things that happened a while ago. Your present credit status is prioritised thus: 1: Whether you ve paid previous debts. 2: How much debt you now have. 3: Your credit history. 4: What types of debt you use. 5: How many times your credit rating has been checked of late. Your Credit Rating is Significant. Companies handing over small loans are far more probable to rely entirely on this rating than to bother checking your income, and a poorer rating will mean that you are offered a higher interest rate.


Each time you get declined for a credit card or any other type of loan, the odds are that it was because of your credit rating. Your rating is important when you get mortgages, loans or car finance too. How Do You Check Your Credit Rating. You wouldn t want to find a house you love only to get declined a mortgage thanks to your habit of paying your credit card bills late. Credit reference agencies are not allowed to hold your information on file without disclosing what it is they have. You can then look over your credit rating and contact them if you discover something that is incorrect.


If you write them a letter and pay a small fee, they must send you the full credit report they hold on you. You might find an error has made you look bad or there is a mistake. It is possible in some countries to sign up and get credit reports frequently for a small fee, or even free! They store anything you report in your file. Check your local laws to see if this is possible.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

There Are Offers Galore On These Cards In The Market

Category: Finance, Credit.

Credit card has conveniently replaced cash these days. There are offers galore on these cards in the market.



It is a major mode of financial transactions, used for business as well as domestic purposes for receiving and making payment. In fact, with so many tempting offers, it becomes difficult to make a choice. You can research about these cards on the Internet as well which should give you a fair idea of what you should ideally opt for. More options means you have more to research. The thing to remember is that it should suit your conditions and budget. You need to take into account your spending habits. And also see as to which interest rate offers would be more suitable.


Correspondingly, one also needs to consider the number of interest- free days as applicable on the card. In the latter case, do look out for cards that offer zero per cent on balance transfers for a certain time- period. Furthermore, one can use the card to suit one s specific requirements, such as whether you wish to use it to make purchases or for balance transfers. While comparing and considering the interest rates between different cards, it is important to understand that a credit card does not have one staple rate throughout. They have an APR wherein the range may begin from somewhere around ten per cent. It is subject to variations based upon different factors, such as inflation. What interest rate offers you would be able to avail also depends much upon your credit history.


But then, one ought to remember that this may be for a limited period and that the rates may vary in the longer run. Often there may be an introductory offer on a new credit card in the market. Of course, the indications are given in small print, and it is important that you check them out carefully.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Why Choose A Low APR Credit Card

Category: Finance, Credit.

Indeed, if a credit card is used properly, it can be the most powerful financial tool.



This is where the low APR credit card ushers in- to help people who plan to maintain a balance on their account and not to pay the full amount monthly. But not everybody can afford all the expensive rates of most credit card issuers offer. But, what does APR stands for in a low APR credit card? APR stands for" Annual Percentage Rate" of charge can be used to compare different credit and loan offers. Basically, APR is the cost of credit as a yearly interest rate. The APR on credit cards is usually calculated monthly based on the current amount in the card.


The interest on the amount over a year( APR) is worked out and divided by 12 to give the monthly interest. The monthly interest is calculated as if the current card balance would remain the same over a year. It is a must that all lenders tell the client what their APR is before signing any agreement. Why choose a low APR credit card? Although the arrangements and terms may vary from lender to another, it is better for people to avail a low APR credit card because the lower the APR, the better the deal for them to spend more money in shopping around. Low APR credit card is a good choice for those people who are into a tighter financial budgeting.


In a low APR credit card, the amount of interest one must pay on his or her credit card balance depends on its APR because the lower the APR is, the better it is him or her because it means they have to pay less interest. Being the most important attribute of a credit card, APR determines the significant balance over a longer period of time. APRs in a low APR credit card can either be" fixed" or" variable. " If you are planning to have a low APR credit card, there are so many cards that offer low APRs that can be found online. Some of the questions one have to ask when looking for a low APR credit card includes the charges- if they vary or a fixed rate. These low APR credit cards are chosen using a factoring scheme that organized these cards by computing a number of their attributes to place the best deals at the top. And if these charges are variable because it might affect the repayments and if these rate are fixed or will it stay the same. If there are any, make sure that you understand what they are and when do you have to pay them.


Searching for a low APR credit card may also include inquiries on the possibility of any charges that are not included in the APR like optional payment protection insurance or an annual charge. Lastly, looking for a low APR credit card should include questions on the conditions of the credit and how would these conditions suit you. Most low APR credit card offers 0% APR for the first months on purchases, and balance transfers, cash advances. If you are now seeking for a low Apr credit card you may begin looking for a scheme that could help you save hundreds in interest with a low interest credit card and low cost processing. Through these, low APR credit card can warn rebates towards any item purchased. Some low Apr Credit Card that have very good intro rate for purchases is recommended for those who would want to avail one.


They also offer$ 0 liability on unauthorized purchases, and no annual fees. They also offer good deals if one carry high balances on other cards and need to transfer the balance. But, before you apply for a card, consider the advantages and disadvantages especially with the current financial situation you are in. Indeed, having a credit card can be useful and convenient, and can even help build a strong credit history that will help you with future activities like home- buying, paying for higher education, and even finding a job.