Skip Navigation.

Save Money With 0% APR Credit Cards

May 13th, 2008

A great priory of all, should be to save some money from their salary. This can be accomplished in many ways, such as purchasing cheaper goods, cutting back on the amount of goods purchased and by saving money on high interest rate loans.

It’s no great secret that nowadays there are plenty of lending companies offering 0 percent APR credit cards, usually as introductory periods to draw in new customers. So what’s the truth behind his offerings?

Annual percentage rates are used by the various credit card companies to compare current interest rates from the different lenders. They can be quite confusing.

To know if you are getting a good loan rate, you have to separate all of the independent factors associated with it. These factors include insurance, fees and other such things. Now to know all of these would take quite a bit of work.

The credit card companies use the low, or 0% teaser rates to bring in new customers that they are actually hoping will continue to carry monthly balances that extend beyond the introductory period.

In many cases, the interest rates are then raised to exorbitant levels. This is where the consumer must be careful to guard against is extremely expensive credit card interest rates.

The very best thing you can do is to make comparisons of the various credit card issuers to find out exactly how long these introductory periods last and then to see exactly what the interest rates will be one introductory period expires.

As always in your best interest to remember that 0% APR credit cards do not last forever. By their very nature, thanks the money by the interest they collect. The 0% APR credit card would result in zero profit for the bank and or issuers. And that’s not what they’re in business for.

Remember, as a consumer competition is your very best friend. There are some of me thinks and credit card issuers out competing for a finite amount of customers that they have to adjust their offer is constantly in order to stay competitive in the marketplace.

That is why their 0 percent APR credit cards can be found to be very good deal as long as you do your homework and know all the facts. An unpleasant surprise can become a very expensive surprise.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Credit Cards. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting
0% APR Credit Cards

0% APR Credit Cards Can Save You Thousands

April 29th, 2008

Low interest credit cards are available as alternatives to those with middle-of-the-road to very high interest rates. If you have a credit card with a high interest rate anywhere from 17% to 24% or higher, then you may not realize that it is costing you hundreds and even thousands of dollars every year in interest alone. Once you understand your credit and how it is impacting your debt situation, you will see how low interest or even 0% APR credit cards can be a much better solution.

Gather Your Statements

Collect your statements for all high and low interest credit cards. Include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, department stores, retailers, grocers and any other revolving accounts. For each bill, make a record of the total balance, minimum payment amount and interest rate. You might also want to include your estimated monthly payment (if it’s more or less than the minimum) and the monthly finance charge.

Compare Cards

If you compare the numbers for each card, you will be able to see which ones are costing you the most money. The higher the APR and the higher the balance, the more you will end up paying in interest in the long run. And, if you only pay small amounts of what you owe, you can go on paying for over 20 years. Now you can see the benefit of having a low interest credit card.

Categorize Your Debt

Once you’ve figured out which are the low interest credit cards and which are high, you need to categorize them from highest to lowest. Then reorder them, if necessary, based on the estimated amount of interest you would pay for the entire year. In other words, if you have a high rate card with a low balance, the overall interest may be less than a low interest credit card with a very high balance. This step will help you to focus on the cards that are taking the most of your hard earned money.

Negotiate With Your Bank

Before you cut up your plastic or send it through the paper cutter, call you current credit card company. Many consumers don’t realize it, but companies would rather lower your interest rate than lose your business. Tell them that you’ve been offered a better deal on a low interest credit card. They may just match that offer, saving you the time and effort used to close and open a new card.

Shop Around For 0% APR Credit Cards

Some banks just won’t budge. You may have to do some digging to get a low interest credit card. Check online, talk to your local bank and sort through those direct mail offers. Ask your friends, family, co-workers and other acquaintances to learn about the cards they use.

Carefully Read the Fine Print

Many cards look too-good-to-be-true - 0% interest on transfers, lifetime low rate, frequent flyer miles, insurance benefits, etc. Often times, the offers are just that. 0% offers may only be applied to a limited amount or during a specific time frame. Fixed rates may increase if you so much as miss a single payment and so on. Pay close attention to all terms and policies, making sure to read the fine print. Don’t accept a low interest credit card until you are sure you understand all that is involved.

Maintain Good Credit

Now you can stop throwing money down the drain. Treasure your low interest or 0% APR credit card and maintain your good credit rating. Pay more than the minimum amounts and don’t get behind. Just as fast as you were able to lower your APR, it could jump up to astounding numbers.

For more on 0% APR credit cards, Robert Alan recommends that you visit CreditCardAssist.com

What To Expect When You Complete A Credit Card Application

April 3rd, 2008

You can find a credit card application in your daily postal mail, in your email and you will find all types of credit card applications online. If you want a credit card, if you want a new credit card or even if you are seeking another credit card for your wallet, you can find credit card applications for that particular type of card you want to get. Complete a credit card application to obtain a new line of credit for yourself, your business or even for a child you are sending off to college.

You should know there are different types of credit card applications, such as balance transfers, low interest rate, and you will find special cards for special rewards and needs. Some special reward cards are travel rewards; cash back rewards and low interest rewards. You will find credit card applications for those with bad credit, or you can also find credit card applications for those who are seeking high credit lines. A credit card application can be used to obtain the type of credit card you want to have for your financial security and future.

A credit card application should be filled out completely. You will need to include your name, address, phone number, work information, information about your wages, and your annual income. You will need your credit card information if you are going to transfer balances, and you will need to have your spouse sign the application if you are opening a joint account. A credit card application is not going to take more than a few minutes to complete, online, offline, or in person.

You can complete a credit card application without waiting on the phone or online, and you will get a response to your credit card application in just seconds. When you mail in a credit card application, you have to wait a longer time to get a response, which is generally about two weeks. A credit card application does not take long to fill out, but you determine which method you would like to complete to get a new credit line.

After applying for a credit card, and you find that you are denied, you will get a letter stating that you are not eligible, or perhaps you will get a reply stating that you are qualified but only for a certain savings deposit type credit card. You will on that letter, find a name and address of a company where you can request a free copy of your credit report. You are entitled to that free credit report because you were denied credit, and this is the law.

If you were accepted, you will receive a letter, stating what your new credit line is, what type of credit card you are being issued, and you will be notified in a separate letter with your actual credit card. In still another letter, you should receive your pin number for that credit card. These separate letters are for your protection, so that in case the card was stolen, the person will not have the pin number. If you receive one letter without receiving the others, you should call the credit card company and tell them that there is a problem with that account, and they will reissue you a credit card, and cancel the one that is lost so there is no problems at all with your new account.

Visit www.SelectCreditFast.com for more information on Credit Card Applications and the MBNA Credit Card.

Consumer Credit Secrets the Loan Companies Don’t Want You to Know

March 21st, 2008

Whether you want to buy a car, furniture, home electronics or you need to pay off medical expenses, most of us need to borrow money at some point in life. The willingness of lenders to loan you the money you want depends largely on what is inside your credit file. Credit bureaus located in most cities will tell you what information is in your file and give you a copy of your credit report for a small fee. You can find credit bureaus listed in the Yellow Pages under “Credit” or “Credit Reporting Agencies.”

If you previously had credit under a different name or in a different location and it is not reported in your file, request that the credit bureau includes it. If you shared accounts with a former spouse, ask the credit bureau to list these accounts under your name as well. Credit bureaus are not required to add new accounts to your file, but many will do so for a small fee. Finally, if you now share the use of a credit account with your spouse, ask the creditor to report it under both names.

When contacting your creditor or credit bureau, it will speed the process if you do so in writing and include relevant information, such as account numbers. As with all important business communications, don’t forget to keep a copy of all correspondence.

The law entitles you to correct any inaccurate information that appears in your credit bureau file. If a creditor rejects your application because of negative information contained in your credit report, it must disclose the identity of that credit bureau. At your request, the credit bureau must reveal the contents of your credit file. If you act within 30 days of being denied a loan, there is no charge for this service.

Check to see whether the information in your credit report is accurate and complete. You have the right, under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, to dispute the completeness or accuracy of any information in your report. Tell the credit bureau, in writing, why you think the information is not correct. As long as your dispute is neither frivolous nor irrelevant, the credit bureau is required to re-investigate the matter. They must correct any information that is not reported accurately. Information that cannot be verified must be deleted. If you disagree with the results of the credit bureau’s re-investigation, you may file a dispute statement telling your side of the story. At your request, the credit bureau will note your dispute in future credit bureau reports.

Be aware that when negative information in your report is accurate, only time can erase it. Credit bureaus are permitted by law to report bankruptcies for ten years and other negative information for seven years. There is nothing that can be done to force a credit bureau to remove accurate information from your credit file until the reporting period has expired. Don’t be fooled by advertising from companies claiming they can “repair” or “clean up” a bad credit history. In most cases, these promises turn out to be nothing but advertising hype.

Unexpected unemployment or illness occasionally makes it impossible for people to pay their bills on time. If you should ever discover that you cannot make your regular payments, it is imperative to contact your creditors at once. They may be able work out a modified payment plan that reduces your payments to a more manageable level. If you have a good history of prompt payments they will be more willing to accommodate your changed circumstances. But never wait until your account is turned over to a collection agency. At that point, it is too late.

If you need assistance dealing with your personal loans, you may want to contact the Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS). This is a non-profit organization with more than 850 offices located in 50 states. Their counselors can try to arrange a plan for re-payment that is workable for you and your creditors. CCCS can also help you set up a realistic budget for the future. These services are available at little or no charge. You can find a CCCS office in your area by calling 1-800-873-2227.

Often overlooked are non-profit counseling programs operated at local colleges, credit unions, military bases and housing authorities. Lists of these no-fee or low-fee counseling services are frequently available from local consumer protection offices or banks.

Remember that good credit is a fragile commodity; much easier to break than it is to repair.

Carlotta Cortes is a personal loans advisor for Prime Loans Info, an information website dedicated to consumer credit and
personal loans. The web location is http://www.prime-loans.info.