Best Credit Card

How to use your credit card to establish a good credit history

If you’re young and just starting out credit cards are certainly convenient and can help you establish a good credit history, which will be important when you need to make major purchases down the road. However, carrying a credit card comes with big responsibilities. Here are some tips on how to use your credit card wisely.

Choosing the right credit card

When selecting a credit card, you should consider your own needs. For example, if you’re going to be carrying a balance (not paying off the entire bill each month) then it is imperative to seek out the lowest interest rates that you can find. But you may be limited by a few circumstances, one of which is your paycheque. Some credit cards require a minimum income level or charge an annual fee.

High limit credit card could be a recipe for disaster. Signing on the dotted line is fun. No money comes out of your bank account and no cash comes out of your wallet. Shopping has never been so easy. Thats why when starting out the best credit cards are the ones that have low spending limits, unless you can afford to pay for any of the charges that are made on it.

Just about all credit cards offer some type of incentives such as rewards points or cash back incentives. This is done for obvious reasons. The most common of which is to entice the cardholder into using it more often. Overall it is a pretty good deal to receive rewards for credit card charges as long as you bear in mind that this is not free money. Whether you realize it or not, you have already paid for those points.

Managing your account.

Managing your account online is a great feature; just about every body has access to the Internet and can easily access their credit card statements.

Studying your credit card statement

You’ll receive a statement that details what you’ve bought and what you need to pay. The purchases you’ve made will be tallied, just like on a bank statement. You’ll need to pay attention to:

The amounts – Make sure your purchases are listed correctly by comparing the amounts to your own purchase receipts. Doing this will help you understand where your money is being spent and help you adjust your spending patterns.
The balance – If for any reason your statement seems a lot bigger than you thought it would be, you may be heading into a danger zone. Keep your balance within a range you can afford to pay off every month. And remember to save some credit for emergencies.
The minimum payment – You need to pay this amount each month toward the entire outstanding balance. Making substantial payments every month will help you keep the interest under control.
The purchase interest – This is how much you’re paying on purchases that have not been paid off in full by the payment date. Whenever you carry a balance forward from the previous month, you’ll pay this monthly interest.
The payment date – When you are busy and responsible for many bills, it’s easy to forget when everything is due. However, paying bills on time is crucial to maintaining a positive credit record. Over time, it could mean the difference between being approved or denied for other credit, such as a car loan or a mortgage. Many credit card companies advise making payment a few days before the specified payment date to ensure receipt. Another option is to pre-pay your bills using telephone or Internet banking.

Staying out of the danger zones

It’s a good idea to avoid the following, despite the temptation:

Cash advances – You’ll pay interest on a cash advance from the moment the cash is in your hand. You may also be charged a service fee. Cash advances are great for emergency cash but avoid using them as an income supplement.
Hitting your credit limit – There are many reasons why hitting your credit limit can be dangerous. If you don’t have the money to cover your purchases, you will definitely feel the discomfort that a large balance brings.
Impulsive purchases – Think about the purchase and why you are buying. Do you really need it? Don’t let the ease and convenience of credit be the driver for purchasing the item.
Overusing the card – Credit cards aren’t a substitute for saving and budgeting. When you can’t afford to go to the movies, don’t think of your credit card as a saving grace.

Use Your Credit Card as a Tool

A credit card can be a tool that you use to your advantage. If you play your cards right you’ll prove to creditors that you are a person who can take care of business in a mature and responsible way. And a few years down the road, you’ll have a good credit history. Now that’s impressive.

How To Use A Secured Credit Card To Repair Your Credit

If you have ever had credit cards, paid a bill monthly, or obtained a loan, you have a credit rating. When you make payments to a creditor, they report these payments to credit reporting agencies that compile your credit report and track your credit history. If you miss a payment, or even worse, your debt gets sent to a collection agent, this affects your credit rating negatively, and may prevent you from obtaining more lines of credit when you need them in the future.

As soon as you realize you are in this situation, it is crucial that you immediately begin to make an effort to repair your credit rating. To most people, this seems like a difficult thing to do, but doing nothing to repair your credit will only prolong the damage for up to seven years. Until your credit is better, you will find that you are barred from any type of loans or even activities that require credit, such as renting a car.

One way to repair your credit is to obtain a secured credit card. You may wonder how this is possible with bad credit, when you will most likely be declined when filling out a credit card application. However, without a credit card, you will have a hard time proving to creditors your responsibility in making payments on time.

Try a secured credit card. Secure credit cards are marketed specially toward individuals with poor credit. These credit cards work when the customer applies a deposit equal to their credit limit. For example, if you make a deposit of 100, your credit limit will be 100. The credit card company then be use your deposit toward any balance on the credit card resulting from late payments.

This type of credit card is risk-free for the company that issues it, because they can always deduct the balance from your deposit, so it makes sense to issue these cards to people with poor credit. One drawback to secured credit cards, however, is the annual fee that most regular credit cards dont charge.

After you have obtained one of these secured credit cards, use it sparingly but regularly, and make sure you mail all of your payments on time. This will enable you to slowly, but surely, repair your credit. You will demonstrate to your creditors that you are trustworthy, responsible, and pay your bills on time.

Taking steps towards repairing your credit will eliminate the risk of keeping your credit rating poor for up to seven years. However, after seven years the black marks on your credit will finally be taken off, so waiting is always an option. If waiting is not an option, take the necessary steps toward credit repair. Obtain your secured credit card, use it responsibly, and reduce the seven-year sentence of bad credit.

For people who are organized and careful, using a credit card can be a good way of managing debt and handling spending. And there are other advantages that can make credit card use even more appealing.

Many credit cards can now be used to contribute to people’s favourite charities. This means they can spend as usual, secure in the knowledge that they are also contributing to a good cause.

How Charity Credit Cards Work

The way charity credit cards work is simple. Every time people spend on the card, the card issuer gives a proportion of their spending to the chosen charity. The charitable donation can range from 0.25% of the amount spent on purchases to 1% or more, depending on the card chosen and the particular deal. The amount donated may increase if spending goes over a certain threshold.

Many card companies also offer a one-off donation when the card is first issued. Again, this sum can vary considerably depending on the card chosen. There are also rewards for using the card within a set period and for continuing to use the card over months and years.

Some credit cards contribute to specific charities and are branded with the name of that charity. There are also credit cards that allow card holders to nominate the charity their donations will go to.

Other Incentives

Having a charity credit card does not mean giving up on some of the other incentives new credit card holders normally get. Many charity cards offer 0% interest free periods on balance transfers for up to nine months. Some also offer 0% on spending for a certain period. Others offer a fixed low interest rate. People can shop around for the best incentives and still make a charitable contribution. Standard interest rates for charity credit cards have the same range as normal cards, ranging from below 9% to over 17%.

What Charities Can I Support?

There are many charity cards available, supporting a wide range of charitable causes. These include the RSPCA, NSPCC, and cards supporting animals, diabetes, cancer and a wide range of medical conditions. Charities always need more cash to support the work that they do. Using a charity credit card means that people can help their chosen charities while doing what they would have done anyway.

How Else Can I Help My Charity?

Another strategy that credit card holders can use is to choose a credit card that offers a cash back facility. This means that holders get a percentage of their spending as cash at the end of a given period. This is usually once a year, often on the anniversary of taking out the card. Cash back percentages can be quite high, depending on the level of spending. Organized borrowers can spend on their cards and donate the cash back reward to charity as well. This is another good option for lending support to a favourite charity.

How to Save Money With a Credit Card Balance Transfer

Would you like to know how a credit card balance transfer can save you hundreds of pounds from your credit card bills? Do you currently have trouble keeping up with your credit card balances? If yes, then a balance transfer may just be what you need.

Getting a Balance Transfer Credit Card

What is a Balance Transfer credit card and how is it different from standard credit cards in the market? If you try to shop around for credit cards, youll notice that some credit cards offer 0% APR as part of their introductory offer. The 0% interest rate will usually apply on purchases but if you take a look closely at your choices, youll find credit cards that offer 0% rate on balance transfers. If youre lucky, you can even find a credit card that offers 0% APR for both purchases and balance transfers.

Why should you take advantage of 0% balance transfer credit cards? Carrying over your balances with each billing cycle increases your debt due to additional interest fees. With balance transfer credit card, you can focus on paying your original charges without the interest. Do the math, and youll realize how much you can save from the interest rates alone on your existing balances.

Finding the Right Balance Transfer Credit Card

Does this mean that all balance transfer credit cards are right for you? Take note that different credit card issuers also provide a variety of terms and conditions. Naturally, youll want to go with a company that will give you the best deals.

For instance, how long will the 0% introductory period last? Never forget that the zero interest offer is just a temporary option. Some companies offer as little as three months while others offer up to a year or more. Ideally, enjoying at least 12 months of 0% interest offer should give you enough time to repay your balances completely.

How much is the interest rate after the introductory period? Will the interest rate still be reasonable when the introductory offer ends or will it soar high? Its best to choose a card that will still give you a reasonably low interest even after the 0% APR expires.

How much is the interest on purchases? If the 0% APR is limited to balance transfers alone, how much will the interest be on your charges? If the interest on purchases will be expensive, you may want to consider using this particular card for balance transfers only.

Another thing to keep in mind is how much are the annual fee? Some balance transfer credit cards may have very expensive annual fees. If you have to pay such a large amount each year, will it still enable you to save your money? There are balance transfer cards that have no annual fee so youll want to take your time looking for the right card to fit your needs.

How to Save Big Money with a Gas Station Credit Card

The average American spends over 2000 a year on gas alone. Gas and fuel is a billion pound industry. How can we save on gas? There are the usual tips offered to you such as keeping you vehicle well maintained, changing your oil regularly, using public transportation, packing light and combining all your errands into just one trip daily. Unfortunately, obeying these procedures still doesn’t save you enough cash.

Another less known but highly effective opportunity to save is to apply for a gas credit card. There are many benefits of a gasoline credit card that can aid in the amount that we spend solely on gas. Most gasoline credit cards offer cash back and discounts, convenience, reward programs, and a great way to build or rebuild your credit history.

Some gas credit cards offered by well established companies such as Chase, Visa, MasterCard, or Hess offer cash back and discounts on gas purchases which can add up throughout the year to save you big bucks.

Signing up for a gas credit card can also bring you all the conveniences of any regular credit card. You can use them anywhere that accepts credit cards and you dont have to carry cash around for your big purchases anymore. Most gas stations now even have express lanes where ONLY direct payment or gas cards are to be used. Now that is what I call convenience!

Were all pretty familiar with earning points for specific stores when we shop at their locations. With most gasoline credit cards, you can earn points wherever you use your card. Earn points and treat yourself to a prize reward, or better yet, redeem them for cash off your gas bill!

What if you have a bad credit history? Gasoline credit cards are a better option than bank credit cards for this purpose because gasoline credit cards have a higher approval rate. Applying for a gas credit card is definitely a good choice for anyone who might have a bad credit history and wants to save on gas.

Once you have decided that you want a gas credit card, applying is easy! Compare credit cards online, then fill out a safe, secure application.

Credit card fraud is a serious problem in the United States, causing an estimated one billion pounds a year in losses to consumers. Consumers pay for this fraud when they have to pay higher finance charges, annual fees and increased costs for law enforcement.

Guard bills and credit cards

Consumers should keep in mind the following to protect themselves against credit card fraud. First, protect your bills and credit cards from scam artists.

Unscrupulous persons raid mailboxes and steal not only new and renewal credit card offers, but also bills, in order to obtain credit card numbers of consumers. You should be aware of when your bills and replacement credit cards are due to arrive. If your bills are late, contact your credit card company. You should sign all credit cards when they arrive by signing the back with your usual signature.

Keep a separate record of your card and account numbers

It is a good idea to keep a record of all your credit card numbers in a secure place separate from your wallet. Your credit card records should include the expiration date of each card and the phone number and address of the company that issued the card. Check your cards periodically to ensure that none of them are missing or have been stolen. Always be careful to get your credit card back promptly from sales clerks when making a purchase.

Guard your credit card numbers

When making credit card purchases over the phone guard your credit card numbers. Do not give out your credit card number out over the phone unless you are dealing with a company you know well and have done business with before, and unless you have initiated the call to the company in order to make the purchase. Never give your credit card number to anyone who calls you on the telephone. You should memorize any PIN number related to a credit card, and if you write it down, do not keep it with your credit card.

Limit identification presented to cash a check

Sometimes when you are making a purchase in a store, a business may require that you show them that you have a valid credit card before accepting your check. A merchant will often note the type of card, such as Visa or MasterCard, that you have produced and the name of the issuing bank. Do not give out your credit card number to anyone to guarantee a check.

Keep receipts and report stolen credit cards

There are a number of things you can do to protect your credit card privacy when making purchases. Destroy all carbons and voided receipts immediately. Keep receipts of all purchases you make and check your credit card statements against them. If you are not using a particular credit card, destroy it immediately. And, of course, if any of your cards are lost or stolen, report the theft immediately to the issuing company.

When you are traveling, carry the names of the issuers of your credit cards, your account numbers, and the toll-free numbers of credit card issuers in a secure place, separate from your wallet. If you report any cards as lost or stolen, make a note of the date, time and the name of the person to whom you spoke when you reported the incident.
Limit your liability for cards reported lost or stolen

Most companies have toll-free numbers and twenty-four hour service to deal with emergencies such as the loss of your credit or charge cards. You should report lost or stolen cards immediately because once you do, you have no further responsibility for unauthorized charges. The maximum liability in any event under Federal law is 50 per card. If you suspect that your card has been used fraudulently, the credit card issuer may ask you to sign a statement under oath that you did not make the purchases charged to your card.

How to Make the Most of Your Credit Card Rewards

Many great credit card companies are now offering their loyal cardholders credit card rewards. This provides the cardholder an opportunity to gain prizes just because they use their card. It is a great incentive for those that may not use their card much. The more credit card rewards they will receive, the more likely they are to use their card more frequently. Credit card companies realize that they profit more when cardholders use their cards more, and so the process is profitable to all involved.

Programs

Each card that offers credit card rewards will have slightly different programs than the rest. Some will offer a cash back reward, which is essentially giving the cardholder a certain percentage of their spending amount back. This is usually done annually or may be done monthly. These cards are great for those who use their cards frequently but dont have time to deal with points and other credit card rewards other cards may offer. Some credit cards rewards will be offered in the form of sky miles or other flying incentives.
These credit card rewards are perfect for the cardholder who travels frequently. If the cardholder is saving up their points for a free flight, they will be much more likely to use their card rather than cash. Other credit card rewards include other miscellaneous prizes. Some cards will allow their cardholders to choose from a selection of prizes.

Making The Most Of Rewards

The best way to make the most of your credit card rewards is by simply taking advantage of them. Credit card companies are amazed at the amount of cardholders who never redeem their rewards. They use their cards frequently and accumulate prizes, however they never take the time to get the prizes. The thing about credit card rewards is that unless you have a cash back program, you have to contact the company to get your prizes. Many cardholders forget about the programs or simply dont have time to deal with them. If you do have your eyes on a prize, then you can make the most of the credit card rewards programs by using your card frequently. Use your card instead of cash and simply pay off the balance before any interest collects. This way you can get closer to your prize without being out any extra cash.

Credit card rewards are a wonderful way to get excited about using your credit card. Those who usually carry cards filled to their maximum and who only pay the minimum each month may not be as excited about the credit card rewards. Unless you are able to use the card, you will not benefit. So, if your card has reached its maximum balance, work on paying it down to start benefiting from the credit cards rewards programs.

How To Make Sure You Dont Fall For A Credit Card Scam

Credit card fraudsters are having to up their game and are becoming ever more ingenious with the scams they try to pull off. As a UK credit cardholder you need to staying on your toes and ahead of the game. You need to ensure you keep up to date with all the different types of credit card scams that fraudsters might try on you. In this regard we are fairly lucky in the UK in that most UK credit card frauds have been tried previously elsewhere, notably the Unites States.

The following are some general tips to ensure that you do not fall foul of any fraudster:

Phishing Phonecalls

Never give your credit card number to anyone who phones you asking for these details unless you are certain that the call is a genuine call. Currently a number of fraudster are trying to get UK credit cardholders to give them vital information about their credit cards by cold calling and asking for these details on the pre-fix that a fraud has been carried out on the card. If you are in any doubt about the genuineness of a call, tell the caller you will phone them back and then independently check the number you need to call.

You Need My Personal Details?

Never respond to an email asking you for personal financial information. Always remember that banks and UK credit card providers will never solicit this information from you in an e-mail as theyre fully aware of the dangers of phishing scam e-mails.

Phishing Emails

Never click on a link in an e-mail if you are not sure of the genuineness of the e-mail sender. More and more fraudsters are obtaining vital personal information about credit cardholders by persuading them to click on e-mail links and complete bogus online forms.

Dispose Your Statemenst Carefully

Never throw your card statement away in the rubbish bin. It may be hard to believe, but it is known that credit card fraudsters are not adverse to checking through peoples rubbish to see if they have thrown away vital financial information that can be used to defraud them. If you really want to dispose of old credit card statements, then make sure you put these through a shredder at the office.

Take Command of the Situation

Never leave your credit card unattended. Today all credit card transactions can be completed via the Chip and PIN. There is no reason whatsoever why you should ever have to let your credit card out of your sight. If the salesman tells you then need to check something, tell them they have to do this in front of you.

Combating credit card fraud is the responsibility of every credit card user in the UK. If we can help to reduce the cost to UK credit card providers for losses arising from fraud the savings should trickle down to us as credit card users. More importantly, however, is if the UK credit card user can show that you did not act in a way that would have reduced the chances of your having been defrauded, then they may be able to hold you accountable for some of the loss incurred as a result of that behavior. So always remain vigilant and aware of any scam that UK credit card fraudsters may try on you.

How To Keep Your Credit Card Interest Rate At 0%

We’ve all been tempted by 0% credit card interest rate offers. These offers are usually for short periods of three to 12 months and there are usually conditions attached. For example, the preferential rate may apply to balance transfers, but not to cash withdrawals. The low interest rate may not apply to credit card cheques or purchases either.

People who are carrying a large debt will want to make the most of 0% interest rate offers. Here’s how to keep your credit card interest rate at 0%.

Researching 0% Credit Card Deals

First of all, it is best to research the credit card thoroughly. Consumers need to find out:
- what period the 0% interest rate is for
- whether it is for balance transfers only
- whether it applies to other spending on the card
- what the rate is for cash withdrawals or credit card cheques
- whether there is a balance transfer fee
- what other incentives there are for using the card

Answering these questions will help consumers to decide which 0% credit card is right for them. It is especially important to pay attention to the period that the incentive offer lasts for. To keep paying 0% interest, consumers will need to apply for a new 0% credit card a month to six weeks before the old offer runs out. This leaves time to get the card, activate it and transfer the balance without incurring any additional fees from the current credit card company.

Rate Surfing Benefits

Moving from card to card, or rate surfing, is a common way of keeping interest rates low and paying off as much of a debt as possible. Using a 0% card means that any money paid is reducing the outstanding debt rather than paying interest. This is good news for consumers’ long term financial stability.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that consumers will be able to get another card. This will depend on their credit profile. The best way to maintain a good credit profile is to have some credit card debt (but not too much) and to make all payments on time. This will show credit card companies that you are a good credit risk.

Watch Out For Balance Transfer Fees

Credit card companies do not like credit card tarts, another term for rate surfers, because they lose hundreds of thousands of pounds’ worth of income that they would normally gain from interest. As a result, many credit card companies take their money up front by charging a balance transfer fee of around 2% of the balance transferred. Even with this fee, savvy consumers should be able to shop around for the best rates and pay much less interest than they would normally have done.

In addition to the incentive of a 0% interest rate, consumers can also benefit from other rewards. These include points that can be used for travel, earning vouchers, cash back and charitable contributions. This means that consumers can reduce their outstanding debt and gain a reward as well.

If you have a credit card but are fed up because you have a low limit, then now is the time to start getting your limit increased. It might seem tricky to get your limit increased, but if you follow a few simple steps then your credit limit will gradually increase to the level that you want.

Prove your creditworthiness

The most important step to getting a higher credit limit is to prove to the lender that you are worthy of a higher limit. This involves showing that you are financially stable and that you can make the payments back on what you borrow.

Borrow wisely

To show your lender that you are worthy to get a higher limit, you need to borrow wisely. If you use your card wisely and show that you can handle debt and pay back what you owe, then the lender will feel safe in lending you more.

Use you card regularly

If you want a higher credit card limit then you need to use your card on a regular basis. Keeping your card for emergency use will make it hard for the lender to understand your financial stability and payment history. If you use your card regularly then you establish a buying history and the lender is more likely to increase your limit.

Keep up with payments

Obviously, to prove yourself a good borrower you need to keep up with your payments. Make sure that you always pay on time, because paying late costs you money and will affect your chances of getting a higher limit. Also, make sure you always remain within your limit and that you pay more than the minimum each month. Using your card regularly and paying off the balance each month shows you are a good borrower and financially stable. This is the quickest way to improve your credit limit.

Advantages of an increased limit

Increasing your credit limit, even if you dont want to use the credit, can be a good idea. With an improved limit you have increased buying power, and have the knowledge that you can afford purchases in an emergency situation. Also, having a higher limit can improve your credit rating, especially if you dont spend the limit. It shows other lenders you are a trusted borrower but that you can control your spending.

Extra isnt always best

Remember, although getting a higher credit limit can improve your buying power, unless you can afford to pay the money back it can be dangerous. The best way to use your credit cards is to get a limit that suits your needs and that you can afford to pay back easily. However, if your limit is too low for you right now, then simply keep paying on time and show you can handle a bigger limit. If you do this then you will quickly improve your credit limit to the level you need.