Monday, November 06, 2006

How To Dump-out Credit Card Offers

You are probably affected and irritated by so many credit card offers that
you receive in your e-mail. Most credit card applicants experience the same
thing that you do. Most of the time, these offers are redundant in nature
that the company you sign up with sends you one and the same offer, even
those offers that you have already chosen.

Credit cards normally include offers that are given to applicants to choose
from. There are offers that are so tricky enough that applicants get
confused and later would apply then complain. What is needed when this
situation comes is being clever enough to study the offer and read between
the fine print lines.

Choose Wisely

The very first thing you have to do is to be contented with your credit
cards. When you have two to three credit cards already and it provides a lot
of convenience then be happy with it, acquiring another credit card will no
longer be a good idea.
Every time you apply, you will be asked to show the credit profile that you
have with the other cards that you have.
Credit companies will no longer let you have so many responsibilities and
then forget the responsibility for them.
They are always after your payment. And when you have so many cards, they
will think about the future of the company with you.

Find and compare credit cards. There are so many things that credit card
companies offer and they are alluring to the point that you will be
convinced to sign up with them. Before you do that, try to do some research.
Ask your friends and relatives about credit cards that have good offers to
choose from. Shop around using the internet and ask for questions pertaining
to the offer they give. You may also ring the company and personally talk
with any representative and question every offer to make everything clear.

Speak their Language

When applying, always look for the terms and conditions of the company. In
general, the terms and conditions are included in the contract that you and
your company will sign together as proof of agreement. Terms and condition
are body of rules that will govern the account that you signed with the
lending company. The fees and other account sequences are written in that
rule.

All cards possess unique rules that must be followed by the applicant. They
also have their own schedule of rates and fees that are according to the
companies' policies. When applying, one must always look after the following
terms, for these are the most frequent offers that credit companies have:

-Annual Percentage Rate (APR) - the rate charged annually by the company in
interest.
-Annual Fee - the annual fee asked by the company for owning a credit card.
-Grace Period - time set by the company when you can settle the debts
without extra charges.
-Introductory Rate - a promotional rate given temporarily by the company.
-Other Fees - fees included in the terms and condition of the contract.

Activate Immediately

Activate your card immediately after receiving it. The more you defer the
activation of your card the more offers will be sent to you. The activation
of the cards will take six days for the company to remove your name from the
list that they will send offers through mail. Imagine the time when you have
not activated your account plus the 6 days for the company, how many offers
will you still be receiving?

About The Author: Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over
200 articles on various subjects. For more information checkout
http://www.applyforeasycredit.com.

The Ins And Outs Of Balance Transfers

If you have a number of credit cards, or are looking to get another card,
then it pays to know about the ins and outs of balance transfers. If you use
balance transfers correctly you can save yourself a lot of money in interest
payments on your debts. If you are uncertain about how to use balance
transfers properly, then here is some advice on the ins and outs of balance
transfer?

What is a balance transfer?

A balance transfer is simply where you transfer part or all of one credit
card balance to another credit card. You are effectively using one credit
card to pay off another one. For example, if you have one credit card with a
£1000 balance and another card with no balance, you could transfer some or
all of that £1000 onto the card with no balance.

How do I make a balance transfer?

Making a balance transfer is extremely easy, especially if you have online
banking. IF you have just got a new card then it is likely that you will
asked if you want to make any balance transfers straight away. If you do
then you simply give your other card details to the new card issuer along
with the amount you want to transfer and they will sort it out for you.
Also, on most online banking systems there is a feature to allow you to make
balance transfers at any time.

Costs of a balance transfer

Unless you have a special rate for balance transfers, there is usually a
cost involved in making a balance transfer. These rates can vary, but are
usually either a fixed fee or about 2% of the amount to be transferred. When
transferring a balance it is important to take these charges into
consideration, because it may cost you more than the money you are saving if
you have to pay a variety of fees.

0% balance transfer offers

One good way to make balance transfers work for you is to get a card with 0%
on balance transfers. These cards usually charge a fixed fee for
transferring your balance, but offer 0% interest on the amount you transfer.
This 0% rate usually lasts for around 6 to 9 months, during which time you
will not pay interest on your transferred balance. This is especially good
for people who are currently struggling to keep up with their credit card
payments due to high interest rates. However, you must remember that new
purchases on these cards will be charged at the standard APR, and that after
the 6 or 9-month period you will have to start paying interest.

Consolidating balances

Perhaps the best way to use balance transfers to your advantage is to
consolidate your credit card debts. If you have a number of credit cards
with different interest rates and balances, then try and transfer as much as
you can to the cards with the lower interest rates. This will save on your
interest, and as you pay off the debt you card start to transfer more and
more onto the lower interest cards. If you use balance transfers wisely then
you can really reduce the interest that you pay and keep up with your credit
card repayments.

About The Author: Peter Kenny is a writer for creditcards-gb Please visit us
at http://www.creditcards-gb.co.uk and
http://www.thriftyscot.co.uk/Credit-Cards/

Obtaining Unsecured Personal Loans Even With A Bad Credit Score

When a person has a bad credit score, he or she may feel that obtaining
unsecured personal loans is a total impossibility.
Yet, in actuality, it is not. One should not just throw one’s hands in the
air in despair, and resort to mental and financial misery. In the United
Kingdom, nearly one of every four people have some type of poor credit
history, perhaps due to late bill payments, arrears, defaults, County Court
Judgments (CCJ’s), or even bankruptcy. Sometimes bad credit can even be
traced back to a clerical error or identity fraud. These past discrepancies
may be the deciding factors that bring about a poor credit report for an
individual. Consequently, with that bad credit score, a person seeking a
loan, is likely to be turned down by conventional lenders. But a person’s
search for financial deliverance should not end there, even if he is down on
his luck, and there seems to be no way out of the black hole of personal
debt.

One should not despair about acquiring a personal loan, even with that
“dreaded” bad credit score, because there are companies that specialize in
loans to people who have previously been turned down by other types of
lenders such as High Street bankers. Indeed, if someone rents a flat and is
not a homeowner, with no equity, the future must seem rather bleak when
trying to obtain a personal loan. Happily, there are independent brokers who
do find loans for people who want to break out of the cycle of credit card
or other type of debt.
Unsecured personal loans can be a person’s light at the end of the tunnel of
personal debt, mainly through the consolidation of many debts.

A poor credit loan might be needed for other reasons. The purchase of an
automobile for work or for personal use is a legitimate expense. Perhaps
there is an upcoming wedding with reception and honeymoon costs approaching
in the near future.
Maybe a holiday in a warm climate is desired. Certainly needing funds for
starting a new business would constitute reasons for a loan. Cosmetic
surgery, or the payment of other medical bills both may require funds.

The companies that offer unsecured personal loans are even available online,
with applications that can be quickly filled out on a personal computer,
while sitting in one’s own home, or even at a Wi-Fi coffee shop. In many
cases, the application is so user-friendly, that it can be finished while
sipping a cappuccino! Although most of the loans that are granted are for
debt consolidation, the before-mentioned reasons for obtaining a loan have
merit as well. Whatever the need, the loan that can change a person’s life
may be available to the person with a bad credit score, but one will never
know unless he or she makes that initial inquiry! It may only be the
completion of a one-page application to find out for sure.

Loan applications from UK Council Tenants, Housing Association Tenants,
Private Tenants, and MOD Tenants, are generally welcomed. It really doesn’t
matter what the residential status of a client might be, and truly
home-ownership is not the only criteria that is used to determine the
granting of a loan.
Additional personal facts such as employment or other assets count as well.
Actually, loans to tenants are much more common than the average flat
resident might expect.

Tenant loan companies specialize in sourcing loans from £250 to £25,000 for
any legitimate purpose. Millions of pounds every month are lent to thousands
of people who complete the simple application forms, and consequently, find
their loan requirements answered by a large range of financial products.
There are even loan establishments that forego, completely, any upfront fees
for the service. Clients can often apply online for a same day decision. Why
should someone wring his hands monthly over the myriad number of bills that
appear in the letterbox, when financial aid is merely a brief application
away?

With a reputable loan company for tenants, there is no obligation to proceed
beyond the initial application, if this is the wish of the client. So no
risk or confidentiality is at stake. Indeed, every application should be
regarded with the utmost confidence. No bank, employer, other individual, or
institution would be contacted without the expressed permission of the
person inquiring about the loan.

Operating costs are kept to a minimum at online loan companies by handling
as many inquiries as possible, via e-mail and text messages. One can go to
websites, 24/7, and apply during one’s own non-working hours for a personal
loan, without having to meet at an inconvenient time in someone else’s
office.

What a relief it will be for that person who has been weighed down by
personal debt, to be able to throw off that burden, even though there was a
poor credit score in his or her history! That freedom from creditors can be
a mere few minutes of computer work away with unsecured personal loans. The
final questions one should ask oneself are, “Can I afford not to seek
financial help? Isn’t it better to place a foot on the terra firma of an
online lender rather than to be struggling forever for a toehold in the
quicksand of oppressive personal debt?”

About The Author: By PA Davis sponsored by http://www.tenantloansuk.com/ who
provides Unsecured
PersonalLoans: http://www.tenantloansuk.com/ from £250 to £25,000 for any
purpose for non home owners. Please link to this site when using this
article.

Commercial Hard Money Loans - Three Business Scenarios

The primary rationale for a business considering a commercial hard money
loan is that traditional commercial financing options are not viable. There
are three financing options for most commercial real estate scenarios:
traditional banks, intermediate lenders and hard money lenders. In those
situations where traditional banks and intermediate lenders both say "NO",
it then makes good business sense to explore under what terms a hard money
commercial loan might be available.

Many viable business projects can be funded ONLY via a hard money lender.
Before accepting "NO" from the traditional banks and intermediate lenders as
the "FINAL ANSWER", a prudent small business borrower should determine if a
hard money lender will say "YES".

Compared to traditional bank business loans, commercial hard money loans
will generally involve a higher interest rate (prevailing range of prime
rate plus 4-8% for typical scenarios), higher fees and shorter-term
financing (one to three years). However, because many hard money loans offer
interest only terms, the payments can be lower than a fully-amortized loan
with a lower interest rate. Commercial hard money loans are typically
completed more quickly than a traditional commercial loan.

Several common commercial financing scenarios using hard money loans are
described below.

COMMERCIAL HARD MONEY LOAN SCENARIO # 1:
Need to Obtain Commercial Financing Quickly

Traditional commercial loans will normally require several months to
complete. Hard money loans can be obtained within a few days in some
situations. This difference will be critical if commercial financing is
required within a short time frame.

COMMERCIAL HARD MONEY LOAN SCENARIO # 2:
Special Small Business Situations Not Easily Understood by Traditional Banks


. Foreclosure
. Bankruptcy
. Special Purpose Properties
. Tax Liens
. Losses
. Negative Net Worth
. Less than one year in business
. Environmental Requirements

COMMERCIAL HARD MONEY LOAN SCENARIO # 3:
Low Credit Scores

Most traditional commercial loans have very strict standards for acceptable
credit scores by the guarantors for a commercial real estate loan. Hard
money loans are much more flexible and low credit scores are acceptable.

As noted above, there are several common business situations in which a
commercial hard money loan should be considered as a viable commercial
financing option. The Commercial Mortgage Loans Guide ( http://aexcfgllc.com
) and The Credit Card Receivables Guide ( http://aexcfg.com ) will provide
additional insights into viable commercial financing strategies for
difficult commercial loan scenarios.

Copyright 2005-2006 AEX Commercial Financing Group, LLC. All Rights
Reserved.

About The Author: Stephen Bush provides commercial financing assistance
throughout the United States and focuses on more difficult commercial loans.
Steve is the Chief Executive Officer of AEX Commercial Financing Group, LLC
( http://aexcommercialfinancing.com ) in Ohio. His toll-free number is (888)
593-3951.

A Guide for Student Credit Cards

Oh, what a wonderful and terrifying time going off to college can be. Moving
away from home and making it on your own is a huge step. You have taken all
of the right classes to prepare you to succeed as a college student. But,
you need the proper education outside the classroom in order to succeed.
That includes knowing how to handle your student credit cards.

Keep Your Head On Straight!

One of the first things you will notice when you arrive on campus is that
there are student credit card vendors everywhere. It makes sense, really.
The credit card companies want to establish relationships while their client
base is young. This relationship can lead to car loans and mortgages down
the road, not to mention finance fees generated by the exuberant spending of
American youth.
Before you embark on this smorgasbord of credit consumption, you ought to
consider a few things.

Consider, for instance, that the average student ends their college career
with just under $3000 in credit card debt.
An astounding ten percent of all students graduate with more than seven
thousand dollars in credit card debt. I know, I know, you hear this
statistic all of the time. It seems abstract and it is easy to tell
yourself, "Well, I'm not the average student; I won't fall into that trap."
That's good. No, really, that is a great frame of mind. The
(difficult) trick is to keep that perspective so you don't get seduced by
your newfound spending power.

Some Quick Tips

Here are a few quick tips to keep your finances in order:

1. Keep your card count low - Have you ever seen John Q.
Consumer with 39 credit cards in his wallet? Absurd. Since you are just
starting to build your credit history you shouldn't need more than a couple
of cards. Choose wisely.

2. Shop Around - Don't grab the first credit card offer you see. There are
a ton of options out there, and a little patience will get you settled into
the card you need, and possibly save you much money and stress over the long
run.

3. Pay Your Balance!!! - It's the cardinal rule for developing superior
credit: keep your balance low, and pay it off completely when it's
appropriate. If you do this now, you will get far better credit card offers
in the future.

4. Tell Your Parents - Yeah, yeah. it's the last thing any college student
wants to hear. "Tell your parents." Um, yeah. right. Well, in spite of your
new independence you should let your parents know about your credit cards.
They are a good resource for not just emergency financial support, but more
importantly, for financial advice.

"In Conclusion."

Finding the right student credit card can make all of the difference. Two of
the most popular student credit cards are the Citi Platinum Select for
College Students, and the Discover Student Clear Card. The Citi Platinum
Select Card is an all around solid choice for first time card owners.
It is an essentially bulletproof option for any student looking to establish
credit history without having to worry about a minimum income, or a
co-signor on the card. For those students looking for a little extra, they
should start with the Discover Student Clear Card. The Clear Card has a lot
of extra features, including up to 5% cash back on specific purchases. Both
cards share a six month introductory APR of 0%.

When you arrive to college it is a good idea to get a student credit card or
two, but it's a better idea to use them wisely. You will quickly find that
the right card is an extremely useful tool for your purchasing habits and
developing a stable credit history. You shouldn't be afraid of credit card
ownership; rather you should realize that this is an early step to develop a
happy financial picture in the long run.

----------------------------------------------------
To find Student Credit Card Applications click the following link:
http://www.credit-card-surplus.com/student.php . Ed Vegliante runs
http://www.credit-card-surplus.com , a credit card directory enabling the
consumer to compare and apply for credit cards.

Get Out Of Debt Today With Credit Counseling

If you are deep in debt and it seems that there is no way out, there is
hope. Credit card counseling and/or debt consolidation may be the best
solutions to your problems.

A credit counseling professional can help you establish a plan to get out of
debt and help you learn ways to stay out. Credit counselors will work with
you to create a debt management program, which may include debt
consolidation, and they will also educate you on how to avoid the careless
spending and lax payments that landed you in debt in the first place. With
the help of a credit counselor, it won't be long before you are transformed
into a responsible and reliable consumer.

When you begin a debt management program, your objective is to completely
eliminate all of your debt. Therefore, you must do whatever it takes to
reach this goal. So don't be afraid to ask questions and don't worry about
appearing unknowledgeable. The credit counselor is there to help you and
answer any questions you may have. So ask plenty of questions, and if you
still don't understand something, simply ask your counselor to explain
again.

If your debt management program includes debt consolidation, be sure to ask
about any conditions, such as whether you will be able to continue using
your credit cards after the debt is consolidated. Oftentimes, consolidation
programs stipulate that you must forfeit the cards once the debt is
consolidated. This may or may not be the best decision for you. However, if
you really want to get out of debt once and for all, you may want to
consider not racking up any more credit card debt.

Lastly, feel free to do some of your own research. After all, you want to
make sure that you are with the right debt counseling company.

About The Author: Concentrating recent findings in credit consolidation,
George Davidsberg writes normally for http://www.creditenio.com . Sharing
his passion in writings (for example http://www.creditenio.com/councel.html
on credit counceling ) he established his deep knowledge in the field.

Bank Of America Credit Cards: A Look At The Top 3

You probably know Bank of America from its commercials on better banking.
They are one of the major players in commercial banking and lending. Well,
you know you can enjoy their "Higher Standards" through a variety of
products, including mortgages and checking/savings accounts, but did you
know they have an uncommonly large pool of credit card options? "B of A" is
one of the countries top credit card providers, and their Higher Standards
certainly extends to this product line as well. This article takes a quick
peek at the Bank of America Platinum Visa, the Bank of America Visa
Signature with WorldPoints, and the TripRewards MasterCard by Bank of
America.

A Look at the Top Three

The Bank of America Platinum Visa - The B of A Platinum Visa is a solid all
around card. Categorized by Bank of America as an "everyday credit card," it
is chock full of useful features and reasons to consider it. The Platinum
Visa offers a six month interest free introductory period, and accepts
initial and subsequent balance transfers with no additional fees. So, if you
are on the market for an all around solid card with cheap and easy balance
transfer options, this could be the way to go.


The Bank of America Visa Signature with WorldPoints - What on earth are
WorldPoints? We're glad you've asked. WorldPoints is one of Bank of
America's great incentive programs for cardholders. WorldPoints is a
flexible incentive program that lets you apply your purchases to a number of
categories: cash back, travel, merchandise, or personal services. In
addition to this powerful rewards program, you will receive an introductory
0% APR for the first twelve months of membership. B of A offers a handsome
black and silver design that really instills the impression that this is one
of their top-of-the-line cards.

TripRewards MasterCard Credit Card - With its uniquely redundant name, the
TripRewards MasterCard Credit Card has become a favorite for travelers. The
0% introductory APR on balance transfers is a nice feature (and a theme for
B of A), but most users are attracted to its high powered rewards plan.
Earn 2 points for every $1 in net retail purchases and earn 13 points for
every $1 spent for qualifying TripRewards hotel stays, and that can add up
quickly.

All Bank of America cards come with the same great 24 hour customer service,
online account management, and fraud protection. Opting into a B of A card
gives you all of the benefits and security of one of America's largest
financial institutions. So, if you are considering a general use card, check
out the Platinum Visa; if you want flexible incentives, make sure to apply
for the Visa Signature with World Points; and, of course, if you're out to
see the world, the TripRewards MasterCard Credit Card is the way to go.

About The Author: Click here
forhttp://www.credit-card-surplus.com/bankofamerica.php. Ed Vegliante runs
http://www.credit-card-surplus.com, a directory helping consumers compare
and apply for credit cards.

Credit Card Counseling

There are always things in life that are outside of our control. Sometimes
you have to buy something you don't have the money for. At times like this,
having a credit card can be pretty nice. But it's not so nice once the bill
comes.
Sometimes you can't help but use your credit card. You may need some advice
on how to better maintain your finances. Luckily, there are a number of ways
you can improve your situation.

The first thing you should do is give your credit card company a call. Most
companies have toll-free customer service numbers.
When you speak to the customer service representative ask if you can get a
lower interest rate on your account. In minutes, they can tell you if you
are eligible for this service. It's an easy way to rein-in your mounting
balances.

There are a number of websites that offer to help with your credit card
debt. They can either give you advice that can help you get back on track,
or help you find a low-interest debt consolidation loan. Certain websites
can link you live to a representative who can walk you through the steps of
getting your debt under control. There are also several books and tapes that
offer advice on eliminating debt. You can purchase these online.

Whether it's online or in person, credit counseling can help you to
establish good financial habits. It will help you to figure out where you
went wrong and what you can do to make it better. The services will work
with your current creditors to get your interest, and possibly even
payments, lowered. Credit card counseling can help you get your credit score
back up and keep it there.

Most credit counseling is free. Come equipped with your financial
information, a list of your creditors, and the amounts of your debt. A good
counselor will help you work out a plan that suits you situation and
decreases your debt one step at time.

About The Author: Dorothy Brown writes for several web sites, including
http://mowek.com and http://foraw.com