Credit Card Application

The idea of moving abroad to escape debt seems to be more of a common practice these days. People with failed businesses or swamped in debt seem to think moving abroad will give them a fresh start, free from debt and allow them to build a new life.

It became obvious after reading some of the comments on various UK debt forums that there is divided opinions on this. Some people think running away from debt is too much of a risk, and believe the creditors will eventually catch up with the debtor, whilst others encourage the idea, stating that there is no way debtors will be found and seem to encourage people to move on and enjoy a new life free from the responsibilities of debt.

In the past this might have been a successful way to start a new life without the worry of unpaid debt. However, creditors and courts alike seem to have caught up with the idea over the last few years and have taken action to make it more difficult for people to escape the responsibility of repaying outstanding debt.

Creditors taking action

Some countries, such as Germany and Canada, have reciprocal agreements when it comes to tracing debtors and debt collection practices. There is not an awful lot of information regarding which countries have reciprocal agreements and which do not. Could it be that creditors do not want people to become too clever so have not made it common knowledge? However, a search around the World Wide Web might disclose a few more countries with these agreements.

A reciprocal agreement in the UK means a UK Court can enforce a CCJ (County Court Judgment) using the legal system of the other country. If there is no such agreement in place, a creditor can sell a debt to the relevant country where the debtor resides and debt recovery procedures will commence under the law of that land.

Tracing a debtor

The resources available to creditors nowadays when it comes to tracing a debtor are vast. Although the resources in other countries may be limited, there are still ways and means of finding people, especially once the creditor finds out which country the debtor has moved to. A creditor may have their own department in that country, or relations with other credit companies in that area.

An inability to manage credit, growing debt and bankruptcy are all major problems today. On an average day, over 8,000 people file bankruptcy in the United States alone. The Internet is rife with companies that promise help and salvation; to the uninitiated, their words and assurances prey upon those wanting a painless solution.

The January post-holiday credit card bills are often the proverbial straw that breaks the camel''s back, where families now have to face the problem of how to pay for the holiday gifts and celebrations without sliding further into debt.

Avoiding these problems, and recovering from overwhelming debt, are what Real Life Debt.com is all about: it''s a resource site that''s dedicated to helping you learn about your options with credit card debt, debit cards, debt management, debt counseling, privacy, deciding about bankruptcy (and the different types of bankruptcy), and more.

Founder Dave Taylor explains "As a private, independent initiative, we''re sure that you''ll find Real Life Debt.com to be an excellent resource for understanding and managing your own financial issues. To ensure accuracy, the materials on this site are all from the United States government: one goal of Real-Life-Debt.com is to help people find the excellent material produced by the Federal Trade Commission, Federal Reserve, Consumer Information Center, and similar organizations."

In addition, Real Life Debt also features a weblog (a "blog") with postings from different individuals who share their own challenges managing their personal finances, including bankruptcy, credit card penalties, and much more.

It is vital to get rid of debt while things are going well. Yet the opposite is usually the case. Human nature is such that when we find ourselves living in good times, we let down our defenses. With our lives going great we seem to make the worst decisions. It''s not hard to understand why this happens. We believe things will always be better in the future, "When I''m done with school, When I get a better paying job, I''m sure I will get that promotion."

With this attitude, that extra lump sum of money, or the raise at work, is used as a springboard to increase your personal debt. After all you can now afford better this, bigger that. You assume in your linear view of life that tomorrow will take care of everything. You don''t become concerned with your debt load, until you no longer can make the payments.

When you begin to feel the squeeze of debt, you want some quick fix to get you out of trouble. Unfortunately there are no quick fixes for debt that will leave you (or your credit report) unscarred.

But why should it be any different from other areas of your life? If you know a food will give you heartburn you take a pill and, "presto," you may eat any thing you like. If you can''t find time to exercise, just take a pill and watch those pounds melt away.

The economy is built on the same "I want it now," principle. If you want an item, you just whip out the plastic. You need it now. You will figure out later how to pay for it. When your plastic can take no more, you want out of debt in an easy way. You begin looking for the magic pill. Unfortunately the drugstore closed a long time ago.

A woman, who I know casually, had no problem taking on more debt because she saw herself able to handle the extra payments. She reasoned, if everything remained the same she could handle the drain on her income. So she bought some expensive gift items on her cards and began making the monthly payments.

Having trouble paying your bills? Getting dunning notices from creditors? Are your accounts being turned over to debt collectors? Are you worried about losing your home or your car?

You''re not alone. Many people face a financial crisis some time in their lives. Whether the crisis is caused by personal or family illness, the loss of a job, or overspending, it can seem overwhelming. But often, it can be overcome. Your financial situation doesn''t have to go from bad to worse. If you or someone you know is in financial hot water consider the options below. How do you know which will work best for you? It depends on your level of debt, your level of discipline, and your prospects for the future.

Developing a Budget: The first step toward taking control of your financial situation, is to do a realistic assessment of how much money you earn and how much money you spend. Start by listing your income from all sources. Then, list your "fixed" expenses - those that are the same each month - like mortgage payments or rent, car payments, and insurance premiums. Next, list the expenses that vary - like entertainment, recreation, and clothing. Writing down all your expenses, even those that seem insignificant, is a helpful way to track your spending patterns, identify necessary expenses, and prioritize the rest. The goal is to make sure you can make ends meet on the basics: housing, food, health care, insurance, and education. Your public library and bookstores have information about budgeting and money management techniques.

In addition, computer software programs can be useful tools for developing and maintaining a budget, balancing your cheque book, and creating plans to save money and pay down your debt.

The first thing to understand is that there is categorically no guaranteed way to get interest frozen.

Each of your creditors has the right to refuse any change in the details you initially agreed.

Therefore, all you can do is ask. Given that this is the case, it follows that your success depends entirely on what and how you ask. It will also be considerably influenced by how you have presented your case generally in the other steps in this series, and by the relationship you have with each creditor.

In the first in this series, on how to deal with your creditors, you will remember that we pointed out that you are not actually dealing directly with ABC Finance, or XZY Credit Card, you are dealing directly with another human being who is representing the entity which is your creditor.

Any request to freeze interest should logically accompany your proposal to reduce payments.

You will need to compose your own request, in order to fit in with your other material, but here are some pointers.

Remember that your letter with its request to freeze interest will be dealt with by a human being. Make sure that your letter "talks" to that person nicely.

Present a good reason why that person should consider your request.

It might help to point out that, bearing in mind these reduced payments are all you can afford, it would be helpful if all of each payment could be applied to the capital outstanding.

First, make a list of your creditors (NOTE: you should only attempt to re-negotiate payments on your UNSECURED debts if you wish to avoid the risk that an item upon which a debt is secured could be re-possessed)

Add to this list the outstanding balance owed to each creditor. It is essential that you are accurate with this balance. You should find the balance on the most recent statement from each creditor on your list. If you cannot find a balance figure, call the creditor or write and ask for a current outstanding balance. Only when you have an accurate outstanding balance for each creditor on your list can you proceed to the next step.

From your financial statement (prepared in the last of this series), subtract the total of your outgoings from the total of your income. The resulting figure is your disposable income.

You need to divide the disposable income figure amongst your list of creditors in proportion to the outstanding balance owed to each. This is why you need an accurate balance before you start. Otherwise, your creditors will not accept your proposal.

When you have done this, write a letter to each creditor quoting your name, address and account number, offering to pay the amount you have calculated for that creditor.

You will need to include a copy of your financial statement with each letter, and you will need a valid explanation for your hardship, which now prevents you from paying the full amount agreed initially.

It is not difficult to see that the success of your proposal will depend on how well you have put together your financial statement. The amounts you have claimed for each item of expenditure will need to be acceptable to your creditors. Unfortunately, there is no hard and fast rule I can give you for this. it is entirely dependent on the combination of your circumstances, which is unique for everybody.

Here is how to prepare a financial statement, for the purpose of negotiating reduced payments with your creditors.

Secured/Unsecured debts.
Before we get into the substance of this, let''s ensure we are clear about the significance of secured debts.

If the debt is secured, there is a risk that the item upon which the debt is secured could be re-possessed, if payments are not maintained. One of the most common forms of secured debt is the mortgage -- which also typically represents a very large debt and therefore a potentially very large problem.

There are two important points to note concerning secured/unsecured debts and attempting to reduce payments.

1. any creditor who is owed a secured debt has no reason to accept reduced payment. The creditor, in nearly all cases, would rather re-possess the item upon which the debt is secured

2. The borrower must be aware that, in the case of a secured debt, any change in the agreed payments carries a risk that the item upon which the debt is secured could be re-possessed, unless the creditor agrees in advance to accept the change. Thus, in most cases, it is only unsecured debts which offer the chance of a potential reduction in payments.

Right, on to the financial statement.

The following are the items you should list, where applicable, in order to present your total income and expenditure. You should calculate and enter a monthly figure for these items.

You might like to copy and paste the following items into your Word Processor/Spreadsheet/Text Editor for printing out.

INCOME

However far you are along the road of financial/debt problems, the same principles apply to dealing with your creditors.

However rude, intrusive, threatening the correspondence/telephone calls FROM your creditors, your correspondence/phone calls TO your creditors must be:

* Calm
* Brief
* Factual
* Relevant
* To the point

You must create the impression that you are efficient, knowledgeable and trustworthy. The person dealing with your correspondence is merely doing their job, which is acting on behalf of their employer -- to whom you probably owe money. This person probably has the opposite point of view from you, but it is not personal and you must not let it become so.

Just as you would, this individual will respond better to a person who appears to be calm, and believable, and know what they are doing.

How can you appear calm and believable, efficient, knowledgeable and trustworthy, when you possibly owe more than you can afford and have probably made past mistakes? The answer is that your past history is less important to the person dealing with your account than your present attitude and what that promises for the future.

That is not to say that what you have done in the past has no relevance, or that you can go on to make promises you don''t keep - far from it. However, if you acknowledge your current problems, explain your past mistakes if required, and most important of all, do everything you say you will do from now on, you CAN improve your relationship and situation with your creditors.

You''re not alone. Many people face a financial crisis some time in their lives. Whether the crisis is caused by personal or family illness, the loss of a job, or overspending, it can seem overwhelming. But often, it can be overcome. Your financial situation doesn''t have to go from bad to worse.

Have you considered preparing a budget?

The first step toward taking control of your financial situation, is to do a realistic assessment of how much money you earn and how much money you spend. Start by listing your income from all sources. Then, list your "fixed" expenses - those that are the same each month - like mortgage payments or rent, car payments, and insurance premiums. Next, list the expenses that vary - like entertainment, recreation, and clothing. Writing down all your expenses, even those that seem insignificant, is a helpful way to track your spending patterns, identify necessary expenses, and prioritize the rest. The goal is to make sure you can make ends meet on the basics: housing, food, health care, insurance, and education. Your public library and bookstores have information about budgeting and money management techniques. In addition, computer software programs can be useful tools for developing and maintaining a budget, balancing your cheque book, and creating plans to save money and pay down your debt.

If your objective is to reduce interest rates and lower your monthly payments, avoid bankruptcy, consolidate your bills and have one monthly payment, or simply get out of debt the fastest way possible, then a debt consolidation loan could provide the answer.

Are you paying out too much every month for your credit cards, store cards and loans? Then why not replace them all with one, lower, convenient repayment through a consolidation loan?

Consolidation loans can give you a fresh start, allowing you to consolidate all of your loans into one - giving you one easy to manage payment, and in most cases, at a lower rate of interest.

Too many debts? Having trouble paying your bills? Are you worried about losing your home or your car?

You''re not alone. Many people face a financial crisis some time in their lives. Your financial situation doesn''t have to go from bad to worse. If you are a homeowner why not look to release the equity tied up in your home, Why not consider a Debt Consolidation Loan to consolidate all your debts into one monthly repayment?

If your objective is to reduce interest rates and lower your monthly payments, avoid bankruptcy, consolidate your bills and have one monthly payment, or simply get out of debt the fastest way possible, then a debt consolidation loan could provide the answer.

Are you paying out too much every month for your credit cards, store cards and loans? Then why not replace them all with one, lower, convenient repayment through a consolidation loan?

Consolidation loans can give you a fresh start, allowing you to consolidate all of your loans into one - giving you one easy to manage payment, and in most cases, at a lower rate of interest.

Secured on your UK home, low cost, low rate, cheap, low interest debt consolidation loans can sweep away the pile of repayments to your credit and store cards, HP, loans and replace them with one, low cost, monthly payment ? one calculated to be well within your means.

With a Debt Consolidation Loan you can borrow from £5,000 to £75,000 and up to 125% of your property value in some cases.

If your objective is to reduce interest rates and lower your monthly payments, avoid bankruptcy, consolidate your bills and have one monthly payment, or simply get out of debt the fastest way possible, then a debt consolidation loan could provide the answer.

Are you feeling overburdened with debt? Are you paying out too much every month for your credit cards, store cards and loans? Then why not replace them all with one, lower, convenient repayment through a consolidation loan?

Consolidation loans can give you a fresh start, allowing you to consolidate all of your loans into one - giving you one easy to manage payment, and in most cases, at a lower rate of interest.

Secured on your UK home, low cost, low rate, cheap, low interest debt consolidation loans can sweep away the pile of repayments to your credit and store cards, HP, loans and replace them with one, low cost, monthly payment ? one calculated to be well within your means.

With a Debt Consolidation Loan you can borrow from £5,000 to £75,000 and up to 125% of your property value in some cases.

A UK Debt Consolidation Loan is a low cost loan secured on your UK home. It frees up the spare capital (or equity) in your home to repay your store card and other debts.

Private Student Loans ? dispelling the myths

If savings, grants, scholarships, and federal loans don''t cover the cost of your education, it''s time to turn to private loans. But young college students can''t qualify for a private loan, can they? Wrong! This article addresses this and other myths about student loans that you may run into.

I don''t have any collateral, so I can''t get a private loan.

Private loans are usually unsecured, which means no collateral is required. On the downside, this may also mean a higher interest rate.

I don''t have a good credit history (or no credit history at all)

Since the government doesn''t back private loans, your credit history is a consideration in being approved for a loan. If your credit history is bad or non-existent, you may be subject to a higher interest rate. And remember, you can always get a co-signer. Pay your loan off on time, and soon you will have a good credit history!

I have enough funds for tuition and fees, so I can''t get a private loan

In addition to paying tuition and fees, funds from private loans can be used to cover living expenses, supplies, computers, and other everyday living needs.

I can''t afford to make payments on a loan while I am still in school

For most loans, your principal and interest payments can be deferred while you are enrolled in school. Another option is to make interest payments while you are in school but defer paying off the principal. Your interest payments might even be tax-deductible!

I missed the deadline for applying for financial aid this year

You can apply for private student loans any time ? there is no deadline. Depending on the financial institution you choose, you can be pre-approved in minutes and have the money (which will be sent directly to you) within a matter of days.

If you are up to your neck in debt, there may seem like there is no relief in sight. In fact this is not necessarily the truth. There are ways to take all of your stifling bills and roll them up into one neat package by using debt consolidation in two very popular forms Home Equity Loans, Refinancing Loans, and a Consolidation Credit Card. All of these instruments provide the debtor with one thing "relief" from the current debt by shrinking it down to a single manageable debt.

Using home equity to consolidate debts

One of the popular methods of debt consolidation today is the Home Equity Loan. What happens is that the debt is extinguished using the equity from a homeowner''s home. A loan is created outside of the mortgage in order to satisfy the debts. Should the homeowner default on the loan, their house is in jeopardy of being foreclosed upon if that loan is not satisfied with a specified amount of time.

Refinancing loans

People often consume the debt by rolling it into a new mortgage. This way the house costs more money to the borrower, but the debt is extinguished at close and the debt is neatly rolled away into the mortgage securely. Upon settlement of the loan, the debts are paid in full and satisfied. The clock on the mortgage is reset to day one.

Credit card consolidation

Over recent years personal debt in the UK has exploded. Since 1997 the total debt including mortgages was in the region of £940 million. Approximately 18% of that figure is unsecured credit, accounting for about £8000 per household.

This is a staggering amount of money. With interest rates being raised several times last year, the strain of maintaining our debt is taking its toll. Sources reveal that the UK''s debt "has increased every single month without fail since April 1993".

As it has been relatively cheap to borrow money over that last few years it has been very easy to get access to money. Interest rates are widely predicted to rise further adding even more to the current £5 billion we are paying every month in interest.

According to the FSA (Financial Services Authority) one pound in every 10 we spend is borrowed money. It''s very easy to shop around for good rates when borrowing money. Most of us still buy our financial products on the high street and the big Financial Institutions base the price of their products on what they think is the maximum borrowers are prepared to pay.

With the internet people are able to shop around for much better rates and this is driving the average price of borrowing money down. This does pose a catch 22 situation as the cheaper the cost of borrowing becomes the more people will feel they can borrow more. This does breed a nation of people that are living beyond their means. Debt can be very dangerous as you are effectively borrowing from your future to pay for today.

The wage rate is not growing in line with rising debts so somewhere along the line something has got to give. This may be in the form of the slightest interest rate rise which may be the straw on the proverbial camels back. One could associate it with a brick that is attached to an elastic band. You can gently pull and pull and nothing will happen, sooner or later the brick will finally budge and most of use will be walking around with a black eye.

Nowadays, many people can get into a bad credit situation if they do not keep track of their income and expenditure. Many young executives suddenly find that they are being offered credit cards by various companies. Those who are sensible will find a credit card that suits their needs, sign up, keep track of their purchases, pay off their credit card bills in full each month, and ignore offers from other companies.

There are others who may be dazzled by all the credit on offer and will end up with credit cards from several companies. They may easily end up making lots of purchases on credit while making the minimum payments on their cards. Then, one day they realize just how much debt they are in when they need a debt consolidation loan to get out of a bad credit situation.

At the Debt Consolidation and Debt Reduction Service, we do not give you debt consolidation loans. We help you reduce your debts by 40 percent to 60 percent and your payments by 40 percent. We see to it that you pay no interest, late fees, or penalties. We get you out of debt, and out of a bad credit situation, within three years. We ensure that you receive no more harassing phone calls from creditors by negotiating with them.

We can help you create a debt reduction plan. You begin by listing all your debts, estimating your income, and creating a workable monthly budget. You then have to find the money to pay off all your debts. We also offer credit counseling to our clients. We begin by advising our clients to stop using their credit cards-this automatically stops their debt situation from worsening. By helping you estimate your income and create a monthly budget, we ensure that you know how much you earn each month and how you spend what you earn.

Debt Consolidation of Different Loans

Debt consolidation refers to the restructuring of a large number of unsecured debts into one low monthly payment, while eliminating interest and reducing the total amount owed to creditors. Debt consolidation has become popular with people as they cope with increasing amounts of credit card debt, home mortgage loans, car loans, and student loans, along with low credit ratings and threatening phone calls from creditors. Debt consolidation is seen as the last option before declaring bankruptcy.

It often takes consumers a lifetime to get out of debt to credit card companies, because of the interest rates charged by the companies. Consumers often think they can pay off their credit card debts by paying the minimum amount they owe on a card, but they can remain in debt for the next 30 years while paying off this amount each month.

Many people, faced by their poor credit situation, are forced to declare bankruptcy, which adversely affects their credit rating for the next ten years, or to take another loan to pay off the money they owe. However, if you are already in debt, you do not need another loan-you need a debt management plan and some credit counseling.

We at the Debt Consolidation and Debt Reduction Service do just that. Our debt consolidation program can reduce your debt by 40 percent, and have you out of debt in three years instead of twelve. We can consolidate your debts into one low monthly payment, eliminate interest payments, penalties, and late fees, and rebuild poor credit. Unlike most other debt consolidation companies, we are not owned by a credit card company-our priority is getting you out of debt quickly and keeping you out of debt thereafter.

Ever wondered what is Credit Counselling? There are occasions when you might encounter a financial situation that is beyond your scope which is when a session with a credit counsellor could be beneficial.

If you''re not disciplined enough to create a workable budget and stick to it, can''t work out a repayment plan with your creditors, or can''t keep track of mounting bills, consider contacting a credit counselling organisation. Many credit counselling organisations are non-profit and work with you to solve your financial problems. But be aware that, just because an organisation says it''s "non-profit," there''s no guarantee that its services are free, affordable, or even legitimate. In fact, some credit counselling organisations charge high fees, which may be hidden, or urge consumers to make "voluntary" contributions that can cause more debt.

Most credit counsellors offer services through local offices, the Internet, or on the telephone. If possible, find an organisation that offers person to-person counselling.

If you are not sure of how to contact a counselling service, check with your financial institution, local consumer protection agency, friends or family as they may be a good source of information and referral.

Will lenders really love you for having a good credit report score? Love is not the right word of course; lenders are after your money, and never forget that. But the lender''s representative will love dealing with your credit application if your credit report is good. If you have a high credit score and spotless credit record, then when you apply for a large loan, you stand a good chance of not only getting the loan approved, but obtaining a competitive interest rate.

How, then, do you go about building up a good credit report score?

The most important thing you can do when beginning to build a good credit report is to always pay your bills on time and to never, ever borrow more than you can afford to pay back. It sounds simple and obvious, but unfortunately, credit can be very tempting, and if you allow yourself to be seduced by the allure of easy credit, you could quickly find yourself in some difficulty. Credit card debt is often the biggest and most impulsive temptation. However, it is essential for your financial well being, and for building a good credit report, that you set and remember your long term goals. You must resist the instant gratification of easy and expensive credit, such as with a credit card.

These days, if you have a good credit record, as reflected in your credit report, it means more than ever. Your chances of getting a car, a house, or being approved for personal loans or credit cards, has for many years been affected by your credit report. Increasingly, though, the report is being accessed for more reasons. Background checks by employers, for example, may include looking at your credit report, and even insurance companies sometimes consider credit reports when deciding whether or not to extend coverage.

To achieve a good credit record, you must have shown that you have borrowed money and then paid it back in accordance with the terms of a loan, with regard to both times and amounts. It also means that you have shown that you do not over extend yourself on credit. One thing to be careful about, though, is not to apply for a lot of loans or credit cards just to increase your chances of being successful in obtaining credit with one. If you do it too many times, you may look like a high risk.

Credit has become a much-used word, thanks to the various connotations that it is being used in. Transactions in which the payment is deferred to the near future are termed as credit transactions.

Ever thought why the grocer sells goods on deferred payment- because of a good credit that you enjoy. Credit is the reputation or standing that a person has in the society. Though credit includes various non-financial aspects, our study primarily includes the financial aspect.

The lending community watches every financial transaction of the person in question with its hawkish sight, and classifies the cases from excellent to worst. One cannot be sure of staying on a particular credit rating for a long time, owing to the volatile nature of the credit reports.

A single instance of default or late payment can tarnish the credit for a long time. Having contracted bad credit once, you would always find yourself facing the same situation, unless some serious efforts are taken to get out of the muck.

Do you think that the issue is insignificant to your case? Think again. Checking with your counterpart having a good credit rating will reveal the higher rate of interest being charged by you. The reason for this extra charge is a bad credit tag that accompanies your credit report. It will be much easier for a person with good credit to get a loan than for a person with bad credit.

These and many more reasons make credit repair a priority. First check the credit report. Every person who has ever indulged in credit transactions will have a credit report prepared by the credit reference agencies. A person can apply for a credit report within 60 days of receiving the bad credit notice. Make a note of any discrepancies in the credit report. There are many debts that you have not incurred but are present in the credit report. Many trivial matters like divorces, lawsuits etc affect credit. It will thus be important to see that even the smaller discrepancies are not overlooked. Credit report must be regularly checked to fix such small discrepancies within time. This will also help trace identity theft on your account. These must be fixed immediately.

Are Credit Card companies starting to feel the pinch? We all know that the Credit Card companies make their money by charging us interest on the money we borrow. With all the 0% balance transfer offers that we have seen over the last few years its no wonder these companies are concerned they aren''t making any money. Many customers who take advantage of these offers move once the 0% period has expired.

These credit card companies are now using smart tactics to grab back a chunk of money that they have lost through these deals. One of the ways they are doing this is by reducing the interest free period, meaning you have less time to pay the balance off. If you don''t pay it off by the time your 0% period ends you are charged interest backdated to when you made the balance transfer.

If you do find yourself in this predicament and you decide to transfer the outstanding balance to another 0% credit card you will unfortunately now be charged a fee for making the transfer by the Credit Card Company you had the original offer with.

These are all tactics that are now being used to make sure the Credit Card Companies make some money off of you.

Here are some points that may help you to beat the new rules that are being implemented plus other ways to save on your Credit Card fees:

? The most obvious advice that can be given is to be disciplined and try to pay off the full balance off every month.

? If you fall in the remaining 85% of us that are not able to do this then you should opt for a Credit Card that has a low transfer rate which stays low no matter how long it take to pay off the balance.

? If you are in danger of exceeding your credit limit and being charged £25 then contact your Credit Card provider and get an increase on your limit. In most cases they will fall over themselves to do this. Once you are back on your feet get the amount reduced. Remember discipline!

? Whatever you do avoid withdrawing cash from your credit card. These services will cost you from 2% upwards of the amount drawn.

Credit card debt is a major social problem in some Western countries. To rid yourself of credit card debt, it is best to recognize the problem as both a social and individual problem.

If you are overburdened with credit card debt, or are in danger of becoming so, it is very easy to see it purely as an individual problem, one from which you may be suffering both physically and mentally. Worry and stress can be silent marauders into your physical and mental well being. Debt can undoubtedly cause both worry and stress, not just to the debtor, but their immediate families too.

Why Should You Care About The Social Causes of Credit Card Debt?

If you wish to overcome your credit card debt problem, you will benefit from removing some of the social influences. They are a major influence on the way you react, think and behave. Remove the social influences, and you take a big stride in your journey to eliminate your debt.

I do not, of course, mean remove the root causes of credit card debt. You cannot do that. What I am referring to is to prevent the social influences from penetrating you and taking over your life. As an individual, you have the right to resist social influences where they are harmful. The liberal, unfettered use of credit cards is an influence you will benefit from resisting.

Just by being fully aware of the social influences, you have made an important step. You will more likely be on your guard, and by asserting your individuality, you are more likely to overcome or prevent the credit card debt problem.

What Are The Social Causes Of Credit Card Debt?

You could spend years analyzing the credit card debt problem. Here are just a few of the influences at work in the society around you:

1. Credit card interest rates are high, therefore the profits can be high. Banks and other credit card issuers are after their slice of that big money, including from you. They can therefore justify big marketing budgets to get your money. I deliberately do not say "get your business". You will resist better if you think "they are after my money."

2. It is very easy to get credit cards, multiple credit cards in fact. Issuers of credit cards make it easy for you, if you have had no debt problems in the past. If they seem to take it lightly, it is understandable that their customers do too. But remember, they take the risk factors into account when setting interest rates. That''s why they are so high.

A good credit history is critically important for the consumer. A bad credit will prevent you from getting a business loan, owning a home, or even a job. Promises to "fix" your credit are always made by credit consolidation companies, but they are seldom true. Here are some of the important tips to avoid scams:

First things first. Negative information cannot be erased if the information is correct. Only inaccurate information can be corrected in your credit file. Credit file information remains on your record for seven good years from the time it is reported to the bureau. For bankruptcy, the information remains on your record for ten years. All the consolidated information about your credit bills you fell behind on, but are now paid, will remain on your report for the time period mentioned above.

Do not pay the credit repair company unless their promises are kept. Remember, the law is on your side. Federal law requires credit repair companies to give you a complete detailed explanation of your legal rights, a completely documented written contract, and above all, 3 days to cancel. This applies to all credit repair services including for-profit services, non-profit services, creditors and credit unions.

Be wary about emails you receive. When you hover your mouse over the link in the email, you will know for sure if it is a trusted website or a fraudelent one. If fraudelent, report it to your bank promptly.

You don''t need a counselor to correct your mistakes in the credit report. Take charge of it yourself. If you were recently denied credit, you can request a free credit report. Otherwise there is a small charge for it. Some states will allow you a free copy of your credit report once a year. It doesn''t cost you anything to dispute or question items in your credit report. Get online or follow instructions from your credit bureau. The three major credit bureaus are Equifax (800- 685-1111), Experian (800-682-7654) and Transunion (800-916-8800). In most cases you will need to contact all the three credit bureaus as the information they have about you may vary.

A new sickness is plaguing the UK called Denial. Denial has resulted in a national personal debt of almost £1.1 trillion (source Credit Action). Symptoms include:

* Refusal to open bank statements
* Lots of scratching of head, saying "how did it get to this?"
* Paying by plastic most, or all of the time
* Sweating at the checkout

Denial is now the most common illness in the UK and it is spreading. Scientists are not sure how the illness reached such epidemic proportions, but they are concerned about how the disease is mutating.

Take, for example, the hideous case of Karyn Bosnak, a self-confessed shopaholic. The American blonde ran up a massive $20,000 of debt. Unable to contemplate the thought of actually working to pay it off, Karen set up a website pleading with gullible surfers all over the world to send donations. And they did. And Karen has now written lots of books about this venture and no longer needs to borrow such huge amounts of cash. Karen, according to the website, lives happily ever after, but still suffers from serious bouts of Denial.

But most people don''t live happily ever after.

The most worrying side-effect of Denial is that most people are aware that they could do something about their debt and research appropriate credit options. However, most humans don''t do this, most stick their fingers in their ears, close their eyes and lie back and think of England. They could, if they desired, look on the internet for a financial information site. There are lots of them around. Available for consumer perusal is the compact and impartial comparison site www.moneynet.co.uk or the larger option http://www.moneysupermarket.com ? and those are only two of the more popular choices. And if you''re an American, you have www.lowermybills.com at your disposal.

Here are some useful tips on borrowing money. Borrowing money is one of the most common sources of funding for a small business, but obtaining a loan isn''t always easy. Before you approach your banker for a loan, it is a good idea to understand as much as you can about the factors the bank will evaluate when they consider making you a loan. Let''s start by exploring some of the key points your banker will review:

Ability to Repay/Capacity:

The ability to repay must be justified in your loan package. Banks want to see two sources of repayment - cash flow from the business, plus a secondary source such as collateral. In order to analyse the cash flow of the business, the lender will review the business''s past financial statements. Generally, banks feel most comfortable dealing with a business that has been in existence for a number of years because they have a financial track record. If the business has consistently made a profit and that profit can cover the payment of additional debt, then it is likely that the loan will be approved. If however, the business has been operating marginally and now has a new opportunity to grow or if that business is a start-up, then it is necessary to prepare a thorough loan package with detailed explanation addressing how the business will be able to repay the loan.

Credit History:

The first thing a bank will determine when a person/business requests a loan is whether their personal and business credit is good. Therefore before you go to the bank, or even start the process of preparing a loan request, you want to make sure your credit is good.

Equity:

Financial institutions want to see a certain amount of equity in a business. Equity can be built up in a business through retained earnings or the injection of cash from either the owner or investors. Most banks want to see that the total liabilities or debt of a business is not more than four times the amount of equity. A business owner usually must put some of her/his own money into the business. The amount an individual must put into the business in order to obtain a loan is dependent on the type of loan, purpose and terms.

Ever wondered what is a credit report? If you''ve ever applied for a credit card, a personal loan, or insurance, there''s a file about you. This file is known as your credit report. It is full of information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you''ve been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy.

Consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses with a legitimate need for it. They use the information to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or a lease.

Having a good credit report means it will be easier for you to get loans and lower interest rates. Lower interest rates usually translate into smaller monthly payments.

Nevertheless, newspapers and the Internet are filled with ads for companies and services that promise to erase accurate negative information in your credit report in exchange for a fee. The scam artists who run these ads not only don''t deliver - they can''t deliver. Only time and a plan to repay your bills will improve your credit as it''s detailed in your credit report.

Here are details of the type of information that is collected and added to your credit report:

Identification and employment information:

Your name, date of birth, national insurance number, employer, and spouse''s name are noted routinely. The consumer reporting company also may provide information about your employment history, home ownership, income, and previous address, if a creditor asks.

Payment history:

Martin Henderson is in a fix these days. Because of his failure to repay a loan he had taken a few years back, he has been adjudged as a bad credit case. And, in spite of much effort, he has not been able to get a loan or a mortgage. Lenders do not want to take risk by offering loans to him, and he is severely in need of money.

This is not a single case. There are many who are facing bad credit and the problems resulting from it is making their lives difficult.

Failure to pay the debts in most cases is unintentional. Most people are mainly concerned with the immediate relief that the loan or credit will offer. They do not want to mar the immediate relief by thinking of the repayment in future. They feel that their present income is enough to meet these extra expenditures. It surely is sufficient to meet the cost of repayments, until the financial condition changes for worse, and it becomes difficult to make the repayments on time.

Some creditors make the payment terms flexible for borrowers who are going through financial depression. Others will wait to see that the customer mends his ways. If not, then they report the matter to the credit reference agencies. Credit reference agencies monitor all actions of the borrower on his debts in their respective credit file. The main credit reference agencies are Experian and Equifax. These agencies record information about the defaults on loan or mortgage.

The defaults being registered in the credit file has serious repercussions for the borrower. This will impede the borrower from getting loans in the future. County Court Judgement registered by the County Courts keep the record of bad credit for a period of six years. This can be reviewed if the customer pays off the debts within a month of the judgement. A further delay can make the judgement irrevocable.

Collection agencies are businesses that collect past-due bills and accounts receivable for other persons or businesses in exchange for a fee. Collection agencies charge for their services one of three ways:

1) A flat fee.

2) A percentage of what is collected.

3) Through a direct sale of the delinquent accounts.

If you are trying to collect a small or medium sized debt, using collection agencies that charge a flat fee are probably your best option - collection agencies that charge a flat fee work just as hard to collect a small debt as they do to collect a large debt.

If you have just a few large unpaid receivables, working with collection agencies that charge a percent of the total debt collected is a wise choice. (usually 25 to 50 percent).

The third option, selling your uncollected receivables at a discount to certain collection agencies is advisable only if you have a very large amount of debt - usually $1 million or more. The selling price is typically a minuscule 2 to 8 cents on the dollar.

Most collection agencies use one of three tactics to collect debt:

1) Letters.

2) Direct contact via the telephone.

3) Litigation.

Typically, collection agencies begin the collection process by sending a series of notification letters, often called demand letters. The final notification letter generally warns the debt dodger that if the past-due account is not paid by a certain date, his or her name or company will passed on to more intensive collections.

According to the September 2004 issue of the Nilson Report, around $588 billion dollars worth of debit cards were bought in the United States in 2003. By 2008 that volume is expected to grow to $1.231 trillion putting a significant dent in the nation''s use of pure credit cards as consumers continue to favor the use of prepaid debit cards. If you are among the nation''s millions who are currently using prepaid debit cards or are among those considering their use, you need to know two things that may detract and enhance your use of the prepaid debit card.

First, know what you''re getting. Most people understand the prepaid debit card as the retail gift card. Others know that such gift cards can be purchased through their local bank. What some consumers don''t know is that those purchased through their bank can come with hefty fees attached, and those fees can come in a myriad of disguises from up-front purchase fees to various administration fees including replacement costs account maintenance fees and fees for checking the balance. Such fees are currently being debated in the courts, but until a fair resolution is offered, it is up to the consumers to be aware of what they are buying.

Second, despite consumer and fair trade concerns, some applications of the prepaid debit card are both innovative and convenient. For example, there are now some tax preparation services offering what is known as the "stored value" card. In other words, in lieu of waiting for your refund to arrive, you can simply tell your tax preparation service that you would like to have your refund loaded onto your prepaid debit card. Once you have your prepaid debit card "loaded" you can make arrangements with your bank to assign it a routing number so that you may use it just like a checking account. Another new use of prepaid debit cards come from the currency exchange companies, better known as remittance services. The usual remittance companies such as Western Union and MoneyGram are facing new competition from small companies who are targeting the immigration population by offering speed and convenience in sending money on-line using a bank account, a credit card or a PayPal account. The customer simply electronically "loads" the desired amount onto a Visacard which is then mailed to the beneficiary.

With prepaid credit cards, you get the practicality of plastic while choosing exactly how much debt to charge. By taking charge of your personal financing, you determine your own limits, to the penny, and change them any time you need to.

There are many prepaid credit cards on the market these days, sometimes also labeled pre-funded. They''re all reloadable, functioning like a prepaid card for the telephone, and they offer the gigantic benefits of no credit check and no annual interest fees.

Easy to get online or in a store near you, these prepaid credit cards are the wave of the future cashless society. You simply use your own money to buy stuff. That way you''re not borrowing from anyone; you''re just using plastic instead of cash. And there''s no way to get into debt with them...when you run the limit you set, they run out, so you can''t overspend even if you want to.

Use your prepaid credit cards almost any place where MasterCard or Visa cards are accepted, without racking up any interest charges whatsoever.

Got kids? A prepaid credit card makes a great instructional tool and present. Buy them one for an initial setup fee (usually from $5-50), and let them pay the smaller fee to renew it when it runs out. Explain that if they let it lapse they have to start all over again with a much larger fee than if they simply renewed in a timely manner. Suddenly, your kids become financially responsible!

1) Do your homework. Applying for and getting approved for a credit card is nothing more than legwork. Credit card contracts can sometimes contain onerous terms that might make you sorry that you signed up for the new card that you did. Read the fine print carefully. If a deal looks to good to be true, it just might be. Credit cards can be a great way to finance your purchases, but make sure it''s not at such an expense that you end up paying for a long time afterward.

2) Read about the APR. The APR stands for "annual percentage rate". Yes, the APR of a credit card is important no matter what people tell you. A low APR for a credit card is more critical than you think. When you sign up for your new card, you probably are thinking that "hey, all I never miss a payment so who cares what the APR is?" The fact of the matter is, expenses come up. Unexpected expenses that you have to pay for no matter what. If your credit card''s APR is low and when those expenses arise, you will be in a better financial position when you pay it off. You would rather pay off your a credit card''s 4% on $1000 than 15% on $1000. This can make a world of difference.

The articles and tips provided on this site are intended to help you access credit card offers that suit your lifestyle. By providing you with some basic information, we are confident that you will be able to easily identify which are the best credit cards for you. There are literally thousands of offers online which make deciding on what cards apply to your needs very challenging.

The best place to start when shopping around for credit cards is knowing your credit score - you are now entitled to a free credit report annually - order your 3-in-1 report to have a complete picture of how a credit card bank might view you. How your credit report looks will determine which credit cards you quality for.

Excellent Credit Reports Qualify For:

If you are among the elite few who have managed your credit cards and other loans responsibly the bank will reward you with added perks such as airline points cards or low interest credit cards. There are many card offers that will reward your good financial habits with low or no annual fees, some great reward points as well as introductory rates of 0% APR with ongoing low interest rates. Typically the interest free period is 6 months but in some cases will be awarded to you for a full year. Since your credit is in excellent standing the interest free period might not be of concern to you as you are probably the type that pays your credit card balance in full every month. If this is the case you should make your credit card comparisons based upon the rewards and extra perks offered by the bank - if you are paying your balance in full a 0% APR is really of no value to you.

Good Credit Reports Qualify For:

The good credit range is where the majority of people are with their personal finances. You will still qualify for a card offer that provides some great perks such as airline or gas rewards. You may also qualify for credit applications that have an attractive introductory rate, with some credit cards you may get a 0% APR for a few months however the ongoing rate will be a bit higher than what you could get with an excellent credit rating.

Most people who carry major credit cards are well aware that the interest rates associated with them tend to be higher than for other types of lending, such as home or auto loans. Anyone who has paid their credit card bill late more than once or twice is also aware that doing so may cause the interest rate on their card to go up ? sometimes by quite a lot. Many credit cards carry interest rates of as much as 20% or 25% annually, and customers who want to avoid interest rates in that range make an effort to pay their bills on time.

What many people do not realize, however, is that up to one third of all credit card issuers now include what is known as a "universal default clause" in their bills. This information, usually disclosed in the tiny print on the bill that few people bother to read, indicates that the interest rate on your credit card may be increased if you pay bills late to other lenders, even if you pay your credit card bill on time.

This means that paying any bill late that could show up on your credit report, such as an auto payment or a utility bill could cause your credit card interest rate to go up. This, in turn, could hurt your credit score. There is currently nothing in Federal law that prohibits this practice; the law only requires that lenders disclose it in writing. Credit card companies justify this by saying that customers that make late payments to anyone increase the risk for all lenders. Nevertheless, many, if not most, credit card customers are unaware that such policies exist.

Not everyone has a positive experience with credit counseling. Potential creditors often frown upon consumers who are going through credit counseling, denying them credit or sticking them with elevated interest rates on new lines of credit.

Some consumers, who have found themselves in this situation due to credit counseling, would tell you that you can accomplish the same things on your own. It is simply a matter of educating yourself on the inner workings of the creditor you are dealing with. Many who have dealt with the negative affects of being associated with a credit counseling company, wouldn''t have pursued credit counseling at all, had they known how it would affect their overall credit in the long run.

Credit counseling companies, of course, will have you believe that you can''t solve your financial problems without them. If credit counseling is your last stop before pulling into bankruptcy station, you may be surprised at how willing your creditors are to work with you in your time of financial hardship. Quite simply, they would rather collect something from you than have to write it off as bad debt and never see a dime from you. Credit counseling works on these principles and that is why it is so easy for credit counseling companies to negotiate with your creditors.

If you have considered credit counseling as an option to your financial problems, then you are probably wondering how to choose from one of the many credit counseling companies that are popping up left and right these days. There really is not an easy answer to this dilemma but there are some things that you can look for in a credit counseling company that might make the decision a little easier.

One factor to consider is whether it''s going to cost you anything to pursue credit counseling. If you are having financial difficulties in the first place, then chances are that you don''t really have the expendable cash to pay for the credit counseling you so desperately need. In this instance, rest assured that there are reputable, non-profit, credit counseling companies that will assist you for free. On the other hand, if you are of the philosophy that you get what you pay for, then you may want to consider a fee based credit counseling company.

Your best bet, when deciding which credit counseling company to turn to in your time of need, is to find one that will provide you with a custom fit. Every situation, requiring credit counseling, is unique. If you are subjected to a cookie cutter financial plan when your personal situation is much more complex than the average consumer, you may come up short and rule out credit counseling as an option.

When you hear the word "debt", whats the first thought or feeling that comes to you? For most people debt is "bad" or it becomes the "enemy" and is something that should be avoided like the plague.

Having debt does not make you a bad person. The more a situation is judged as being bad, the worse it gets. It''s the judgement that you have around debt, that will keep you feeling "stuck". It''s the judgement that brings out the anxiety, the fear, the stress, the knot in the stomach.

It''s the old success principle: what you focus on expands. So what are you focusing on? Getting out of debt is an inside job first! What that means is taking 100% responsibility for your debts and admitting to yourself that you have an obligation, and knowing and believing that you will fulfill that obligation, by paying your creditors as quickly as possible.

No one wants to be stressed, or worry about living beyond their means. Most people are very uncomfortable talking about the subject of money and debt. And since the subject of money management is NOT normally taught in schools, where do we learn about it?

From our families, friends, co-workers etc, tv shows. These are people who mean well, and it''s been my experience that they are usually passing along information that may be outdated, and no longer relevant for the times that we currently live in and may or may not apply to you and your life. It is THEIR opinions and beliefs.

Once again it doesn''t make it a "good" or "bad" thing. The answer is to find a solution that "works" for you and your particular situation. Keep in mind, that once you decide to become debt free, it will become crystal clear that not everyone thinks that becoming debt free is a good idea.

Everyone from your local bank to your grocery store, want you to buy on credit. Realize that "credit" is a tool that can serve you, or NOT serve you. Here are some tips for becoming debt free.

1) Admit that you have debt, and are willing to become debt free. This is the most important step and is part of being 100% responsible, and being open to finding a solution. Without knowing where you are now, you are probably not going to be able to plot out a plan or map to where you want to go.

Next to winning the lottery, a debt consolidation loan is a debtor''s dream. With one monthly payment and a fixed monthly payment schedule, you can actually see an end to those monthly payments.

In reality, consolidating bills isn''t always easy. If you have a lot of debt, it can be hard to find a consolidation loan at a lower interest rate. And if you''re not careful, you can end up deeper in debt than when you started.

Your goal in consolidating your debt should be to lower your overall costs. To accomplish this there are two things to keep in mind:

1. Get the lowest interest rate possible

2. Have a plan to pay off your debts in 3 ? 5 years.

Here are some of the best ways to consolidate:

Using Credit Cards

The good news about this method is that with a good credit rating, you may get a much lower rate than other forms of consolidation loans. And since credit card issuers don''t require collateral, you aren''t "risking the farm."

Call your current issuer to ask what interest rates they will offer you if you transfer balances from other cards over to theirs. Go for a fixed rate if you can get it, and ask them to waive any transfer fees. If you can''t negotiate a low rate with your current issuer, try shopping for a new card at a site such as CardRatings.com. But be careful! Too many applications for credit in a short period of time can hurt your credit rating.

Once you do consolidate this way, be sure to set up an optimal payment plan so you can be debt-free in 3 ? 5 years.

Home Equity Loans

With a home equity loan, you borrow against the value of you home, minus any other mortgages. The two major kinds are:

1. A Home Equity Loan ? a fixed amount of money for a fixed period of time (sometimes at a fixed rate) and

2. A "Home Equity Line of Credit" where you borrow up to a pre-approved credit limit (interest rates usually variable) and can borrow again if you still have money available.

These loans can offer attractive rates, low payments, and the interest is usually tax-deductible if you itemize.

Many issuers offer no or low closing costs for these loans. Interest rates are often variable, however, and there''s always the risk that you can lose your home if you can''t pay.

You may not realize what that credit card bill is doing to you?

Bob is a 27 year old truck driver. He dropped out of college after one year and got a job. With hard work and good luck, he is making about $35,000 a year. Bob is passionate about remaining debt free. He drove his old car from high school until he could afford to pay cash for a newer one. He rented a cheap apartment until he saved a solid down payment on his house. Even during the lean months, he steadfastly refused to build up a credit card balance he couldn''t pay off at the end of the month.

At 27, he''s decided he''s tired of his job and would like to change directions. By living within his means and staying out of debt, Bob has enough money in the bank to take some time off, get a part time job, and go back to school. He has visions of owning his own business one day soon ? and there''s nothing to stop him.

Now meet John. John is in his 40''s and is in upper management with his company. He''s making more than double Bob''s salary, but he''s had a different outlook on life. John has never been afraid of debt - he figured as long as he could afford to pay the bill he was ok. He has a very nice house, a brand new $40,000 car, lots of new sports and recreation equipment, and travels extensively on his vacations. And he''s done it all on credit. John was living this lifestyle before he could afford it. Now, he''s almost tapped out ? his credit cards are maxed out, his house is double mortgaged, and even though he''s making a great income, he has lacks the lifestyle, peace of mind, freedom, and opportunity Bob has.

Externally, anyone who saw the two would think that John is the greater success. But the truth is John is trapped. He may be tired of his job. He may want to do something else. He may wish he could spend more time with his family than at work or have a business venture he''d like to pursue. But he spent his money before he had it, and now he''s paying the price.

Credit counseling is a free service that many people with money problems have turned to in the face of financial ruin. Credit counseling companies negotiate with your creditors to reach financial solutions that benefit both you and your creditors. Often they are able to lower your monthly payments, reduce high interest, and eliminate late charges.

In addition to getting harassing collectors off your back, credit counseling can be an educational experience that you can carry with you throughout life. Whatever the reason for your financial problems, credit counseling can teach you how to avoid those problems in the future should you be faced with the same circumstances.

Credit counseling is confidential and rightly so as money is quite a private issue for most people. Some even find it difficult to have such intimacies exposed in credit counseling. Hopefully you will be met with a caring and professional credit counselor who can ease your worries and make you feel at home discussing your current financial situation.

One of the things that you should learn through credit counseling is how to make the most out of the money you have. How to stretch your dollar, so to speak. Of course this will help your current situation but it will also help you hold on to more of your money in the future and keep you out of situations similar to the one that brought you to credit counseling in the first place.

For many people the lure of easy credit has taken them into the forbidden zone of debt. Between debt on regular credit cards, shopping store credit cards, home equity lines of credit, mortgages and car payments it''s no wonder consumers are finding themselves financially and emotionally drained as they float in a sea of debt.

At a time like this with debt continuing to mount the decision to use a debt consolidation loan may seem like the smart thing to do - or is it? Certainly the top financial priority should be to pay off all outstanding debt. Unfortunately figuring out how to do this and which debt to pay off first can be difficult at best and even lead to more financially related stress.

This dilemma is common among consumers struggling to eliminate debt in order to regain their financial sanity. A debt consolidation loan can be an easy answer to solve the current financial strain brought on by a large outstanding debt amount but it may not solve the long term issue. The reason is because many consumers obtain a debt consolidation loan and correctly use it to pay off their debt. Unfortunatly suddenly feeling good about their new found financial strength they make the mistake of using their credit cards again and again and again - essentially repeating the blunders that got them into trouble in the first place. Compound that with the fact that they now also must pay off teh debt consolidation loan they orginally got in order to relieve them of their initial financial burdens. This is a classic example of where using a debt consolidation loan could lead to more harm then good.

A better option would be to pay off their credit cards one at a time starting with the card that currently has the biggest balance while paying the minimum amount neccessary to all other cards. Any extra money should be devoted to paying off the card with the highest balance first. Once that first credit card is paid off then move onto the card with the next highest balance. Repeat this process until all credit cards are fully paid off then put all but one in a drawer for safe keeping. Only keep the one card handy for emergency purposes. Now concentrate all money that was previous earmarked as credit card payments towards paying off other bills - perhaps a car or house payment. This option will only work so long as the original credit cards are not charged back up again.

One of the easiest "things" that can happen in life is the ratcheting up of a large credit card debt. For whatever reason, making purchases with credit cards seems easier than spending cash to obtain a product or service.

Maintaining high levels of credit card debt is not prudent. The interest rates associated with most credit cards is high. In fact, many people have managed to rack their card balances up so high that only the minimum payment is made each month. As a result, these people are taking years if not decades to pay down their credit card balances, all the while wasting an incredible sum of money in interest payments alone.

In this article, a number of strategies to reduce credit card debt are presented. These tips are general in nature but will provide a person with credit card debt a solid plan for reining in credit card balances.

A good overall strategy is to target the highest rates of interest. If you can, transfer the balance to another credit card, where you will achieve a zero or low interest rate for a set period. While this balance is not costing interest you can target other debts that are. Make sure you are prepared for when the offer period runs out and have another balance transfer offer ready to take over. You should look to have your credit card application a few weeks before your current offer period runs out. If you cannot transfer the balance then pay off as much as you can afford, so the balance reduces as quickly as possible.

Credit card companies are very competitive and as such there are some very good 0% balance transfers and purchase offers available. Look to take advantage of these, but make sure you have a plan in place on how to deal with the balance when the offer finishes. Remember that the debt has not gone away.

As mentioned previously in this article, credit card accounts usually have high interest rates. The combination of high interest rates and free spending patterns can result in the rapid escalation of credit card debt.

In our world of dizzying change, nothing is more true than the time honored statement that circumstances always change.

No where is this more true than with financial issues.

Have you ever borrowed money, or charged up the VISA card at Christmas, all the while telling yourself that you would pay everything off with a coming tax refund or bonus?

Sound familiar. And then what happens when the bonus money arrives?

Let me guess?.circumstances changed, the car needed brakes (or the kids needed braces, etc), and the VISA debt and interest charges keeps piling up.

Unless you have a plan, you will always be caught in the unpredictable grip of "changing circumstances."

This is a slippery slope that can very quickly become serious financial stress. Consider the fact that Americans are declaring bankruptcy at record rates. One in every 100 families is affected by a bankruptcy.

I was on this slope 10 years ago. Declaring personal bankruptcy and filing for divorce went hand in hand.

One of the most insightful moments of the process was preparing a written log for the trustee of all of our spending for the 5 years leading up to bankruptcy.

While all of the individual decisions made sense in the moments that they were made, they looked totally foolish in the context of the "bigger picture"

In other words, constantly changing circumstances drove us off our financial roadmap.

Consider this five step plan for getting on, and staying with, your financial roadmap.

Step No. 1: Make a list of what you owe & prioritize: Put all your bills in a pile. Then list your debts in order, starting with the largest balance first. Then prioritize your repayments (ie paying down the highest interest rate first).

Step No. 2: Eliminate credit cards and don''t roll over balances. Once paid off, notify the company that you want to close the account.

Consumer Borrowing

Consumer borrowing in the UK has now crashed through the £1 trillion barrier. 80% of this is due to credit card borrowing, loans and mortgages. How are people managing to handle their debt and what effect is debt having on families today?

The National Consumer Council reports that 6 million families in the UK are already struggling to make repayments towards their debt, and Citizens Advice reports that over the last 6 years, they have seen a 44% increase in the number of people seeking debt advice. This may be just the tip of the iceberg. There must be many families in the UK who have debt problems, but are not aware of the free help and advice available.

Tackling Debt

According to a DTI survey carried out in 2002, a household is likely to be over-indebted if:

25% of your annual income is spent on repaying Creditors

50% of your annual income is spent on repaying credit and mortgages

You have 4 or more companies that you owe money to.

People find it difficult to make repayments for a number of reasons. Generally, the underlying cause is some kind of change in personal circumstances such as job loss, divorce, illness or a new baby. In these instances some people may resort to more borrowing in order to pay creditors or household bills. This is not always the best option.

Effects of Over-Indebtedness

The personal effect of struggling to repay debt can be far reaching. Sometimes a lack of financial awareness can lead to stress, depression, anxiety, mental health problems, relationship breakdown and even suicide.

Raising Financial Awareness

The Government recognise the need to raise financial awareness amongst the general public. The financial cost of debt is not only on an individual level, but there is also a cost to society in general.

People who experience stress due to their situation, will probably seek advice from their GP and may take time off work, therefore, this has an effect on already hard-pressed NHS and productivity due to absenteeism.

(Money You Don''t Have to Pay Back)

1. One way to get money is to have a yard sale and sell items
that you are getting ready to toss away because you don''t want
them any longer.

2. You can always gather shells at the beach and polish and turn
into jewelry.

3. Get cash surrender from life insurance policy.

4. Paint faces on rocks and sell as paper weights.

5. Go to a pawn shop and pawn some jewelry.

6. Borrow from a relative.

7. Go get welfare pay or food stamps.

8. Dig small trees from woods and sell to homeowners.

9. Learn names of wild plants and plant in pots for sale.

10. Roll newspapers up in logs, tie, dye and let dry... then sell
(fireplace).

11. Cut up old shirts and dresses and make pot holders out of
them and sell.

12. Cut square towels out of old tossed out clothes and sell as
wiping rags.

13. Gather driftwood from the beach areas and sell to craft shops.

14. Paint old used wine bottles and sell as hand painted vases.

15. Go house to house and paint house numbers on curbs for a fee.

16. Take the lawn mower house to house to mow lawns for a fee.

17. Offer to dig or spade gardens for local neighbors for money.

18. Offer to sell fishing (earth) worms as bait - dig in garden
to get the worms.

19. Paint house exteriors in spare hours. Charge prevailing rate.

20. Gather pine cones and sell to craft shops.

21. Turn pine cones into useful jewelry, etc. and sell to shops
or houses.

22. Spray old building bricks gold, sell as "Fort Knox Rejects"
paper weight.

23. Paint bricks a vibrant enamel and sell as toilet bowl
displacements.

24. Fill coffee cans full of plaster, paint all over and sell as
door stops.

25. Gather vegetables from your garden and sell at road side stand.

26. Walk pets for your neighbors for pay.

27. Baby-sit for profits.

28. House sit for vacationers, get extra by upkeeping grounds.

29. Make fudge and sell house to house.

30. Do typing for fellow students or fellow workers for a fee.

31. Type menus for restaurants for a certain amount per menu.

When you find yourself thinking about using a credit counseling service, you need to be very careful. You need someone who will help you, not just some pushy sales associate who wants only to sign you up for their service.

You are about to place your financial life in someone else''s hands. Make sure you have the answers to some questions before you do. Then make sure you like the answers to your questions. Here are some for starters:

Which of my creditors have you worked with in the past?

You have a list of your creditors. You want to compare it to the creditors they have worked

with in the past. Have they been successful working with your creditors in reducing payments,

lowering interest, and eliminating fees?

You need to know not all creditors will work with credit counselors. If all, or most, of your

creditors have, or will, you should investigate these services further. If not, credit counseling won''t do you much good. To protect yourself, ask for a list (in writing) of any of your creditors they have worked with in the past.

Will my creditors be paid on time each month?

Two things come into play here. What are the due dates of each creditor and when during the month do you get paid? Nothing defeats the purpose faster than paying a creditor late, after you have set up a new payment schedule.

Some credit counseling services use a set date each month to make payments from the money you have given them. If they don''t have your creditors change the due date you could be socked with late fees each month. Find a service that adjusts the due dates of your bills to work around the days you get paid.

How do I pay you each month?

The credit counselor can''t pay your creditors until you pay them each month. Will they

remove money, each month, from your account with an electronic transfer or are you

required to send them a guaranteed check or money order? You want to make it as easy as

possible for this plan to work. Look for a service that will withdraw funds from your

In the face of financial hardship, many seeking a responsible solution turn to credit counseling. Credit counseling is, all too often, the last stop before bankruptcy. That is, of course, not to say that credit counseling prevents bankruptcy altogether. There are more cases than one might think that end up in bankruptcy court after credit counseling has failed to remedy the financial woes of the debtor.

It is doubtful that the failure of credit counseling for some consumers can be blamed on the credit counseling company. Sure there are some cases but, more often than not, credit counseling fails to end financial problems because the person who ran up the debt in the first place continues to run up the debt or doesn''t stick to the budgeting that they were taught through credit counseling.

If you are thinking of pursuing credit counseling, it''s important to remember that, as with any counseling, you get back what you put into credit counseling. You can''t expect miracles from your credit counseling company. Credit counseling is all about working with you, not working for you. Credit counseling is not going to solve your financial problems, but rather teach you to solve your own financial problems and avoid getting back into them.

Credit counseling is an option you might want to consider if you are having financial problems. The stress can be overwhelming when you have creditors calling you daily to collect money that you simply don''t have. Among others, one of the benefits of credit counseling is that the credit counselors can deal with those pesky collectors for you. But the most important benefit of credit counseling has got to be that it helps many people, who have reached the end of their financial rope, to avoid bankruptcy.

Once you have decided that credit counseling is the best avenue for you to pursue in regard to your financial issues, the first step is to lay it all out. When you have your first credit counseling appointment, it is important to have all of your financial information in order so that it is easily assessed by the credit counseling company. It is the job of the credit counseling company to analyze your current situation and help you develop realistic goals and a course of action to show you that you can reach those goals with the help of credit counseling.

The ultimate goal of credit counseling is for you to get out of debt. But what good is going to do for you to get out of debt if you turn around and get right back in it? Of course the answer is that it will not do you an ounce of good, so that is why it''s important for you to learn, through credit counseling, how to stay out of debt as well.

Credit counseling can help you learn how to budget the debt that you have taken on and, more importantly, how to avoid taking on additional debt that you just can''t budget. So if you take advantage of the benefits available through credit counseling, you could be on your way to be being, and staying, debt free.

The moment I placed myself in front of the computer screen a whole new world beckoned me to join it. And years of strolling have proved incompetent to get me acquainted with the full panorama of computers. You have always wanted one in your home. But something is stopping you. Bad credit? Do I hear bad credit? You think bad credit can stop you from getting your computer financed. Which world are you living in? You certainly need a computer. Computer financing for bad credit can enable you to get your very own home computer, lab tops, desk top or any other computer requirement.

Credit can be marred at any stage due to a number of reasons. Late payments, inflating debts, bankruptcy, county court judgments, arrears, any court case ? all can result in impaired credit. Jaundiced credit report can falter you probability for getting computer financing. Yet the odds are not that diffuse for bad credit computer financing. First of all realize that computer financing for bad credit is not a Gordian knot. Any person with bad credit can find a loan including the one for computer financing. Envision your own position before you make a loan application for bad credit computer financing.

Bad credit has some obvious disadvantages that cannot be ignored. Bad credit is synonymous with greater rate of interest. You can''t escape increasing rate of interest for bad credit computer financing. What you can do is shop for a comparative lower rate of interest. First make your own stand clear with respect to bad credit loan. Before you make your claim as a bad credit loan applicant, check out your credit status. This will canonize your computer financing for bad credit with little or no impediment.

Very few people actually understand the meaning of the terms credit report and credit score. These are integral to bad credit loans inclusive of computer financing. A credit report contains a list of any credit cards you may hold, loans you may have taken out, how much your monthly payments are and any actions taken against you for any unpaid bills you may have accumulated over the years. Before providing you with finance for your computer, the loan lender will probably check your credit activities, to rule out any bad credit details. Credit score will be extracted out of your credit report. Your credit score is not good, that you already know. Otherwise you would not have been reading this article. Knowing your credit score will facilitate the prevention of abuse at the hands of the loan lender. He might take advantage of your ignorance and charge you higher rate than valid in context to bad credit computer financing. Forewarned is forearmed. You have heard that.

Now hear this, it really works.

His hard earned money? Gone. Creditors on his back everyday. Police knocking on his door. His family strained to the breaking point. He didn''t do anything wrong but my business partner''s life got turned upside down a few years back. He became a victim of what is now the fastest growing crime in the world. Identity theft.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, since 1999 over 27 million people in the US alone became victims of this epidemic 10 million more last year. Harris InterActive,a marketing research company, reports that between 2002 and 2003 roughly 19,178 people per day fell victim.

Your identity can be stolen in many ways. For my partner, the thief gained access to his social security number and address then applied for a series of loans in his name. When the bills came due, guess who the creditors and law enforcement held accountable?

He and his family felt the full impact. Identity theft can cripple and even destroy a person''s life. Not just the time loss trying to recover your identity but also the out of pocket expense. U.S.Treasury Secretary John Snow calls identity theft "the greatest threat to consumers and far more insidious and harmful to our national welfare than many people realize."

The internet doesn''t make it any better with its almost limitless access to information but a great deal of identity theft still comes from the offline world. Wherever it comes from the goal stays the same. Get your personnal information and steal what belongs to you for as long as possible.

In many cases, this can lead to the victim filing for bankruptcy or worse. As reported by the Orlando Sentinel, one man whose identity got stolen recently spent 54 days in jail before authorities realized their mistake.

Yet even when the thief finally gets caught, victims find out all too often the worse part still lies ahead. The recovery of their identity. For my partner, that meant never ending battles with the same credit bureaus that previously gave him good ratings.

It is wise for you to have a company credit card like a VISA card. How can you find the least expensive bank card for your business? You may decide to use a VISA card from your local bank. Check the interest rate on unpaid balances. It is excessively high? Is it in line with other cards? If you are not sure, write to:

Bankcard Holders of America 560 Herndon Parkway #120 Herndon, Virginia 22070

Send $4.00 for an up to date listing of preferred credit cards with low interest rates and those with no or low annual fees.

If you are presently like 60% of our population and carry large credit card balances and spend much of your cash flow paying high interest rates, you need to get them paid down and paid off. If you are having problems with your ability to quit charging and you need help, you can call your local support group.

National Foundation For Consumer Credit Referral Line 1-800-388-2227

You may also want to shift your balances to cards with lower rates as a tool to lower interest allowing you to pay down principal quicker. Sometimes your current card companies will reduce their interest rates. You can buy software that helps you cut your interest rates. The software is full of good advice. It''s called ''The Banker''s Security Credit Card Software''. You can call Good Advice Press at 1-800-255-0899. If your credit card balances are too high it may affect your ability to buy a home. Pay off those credit card debts with some of small home business profits.

The Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is designated to promote accuracy, fairness, and privacy of information in the files of every "consumer reporting agency" (CRA) or Credit Bureau. Learn what the law says and repair your credit today!

Most CRA are credit bureaus that gather and sell information about you, such as if you pay your bills on time or have filed bankruptcy.

They sell this information to creditors, employers, landlords and other businesses; and that''s why you should be sure that the information they have on you is accurate and correct.

You can find the complete text of the FCRA 15 U.S.C. 16-81-1681u, at the Federal Trade Commission''s website (www.ftc.gov) but here you can find the summary of your rights.

1. You must be told if information in your file has been used against you

2. You can find out what is in your file

3. You can dispute inaccurate information with the CRA

4. Inaccurate information must be corrected or deleted

5. You can dispute inaccurate items with the source of the information

6. Outdated information may not be reported

7. Access to your file is limited

8. Your consent is required for reports that are provided to employers, or reports that contain medical information

9. You may choose to exclude your name from CRA lists for unsolicited and insurance offers.

10. You may seek damages from violators.

There are multiple reasons that tell us why we should have a 700+ Credit Score, but these five facts will definitely give you the big picture and hopefully will drive you to want to fix your credit score starting today.

Fact #1: Did you know that consumers with Credit Scores of 700+ are likely to get interest rates up to four points lower than those with scores under 640.

Fact #2: People with Credit Score below 620 won''t get approved for a home mortgage 97% of the time. Therefore if this is your case, you''ll have to keep renting forever!

Fact #3: The interest rates for Jumbo Loans in today''s market are as low as 5% in interest only loans, for 10 years. Only for consumers with FICO score of 720+. Do the math.

Fact #4: Were you aware that you can finance a brand new car for up to 60 months at 0% APR, if your credit score is 700+.

Fact #5: Did you know that there are multiple credit cards companies offering 0% APR not only for balance transfers, but for purchases for up to 18 months... of course when you have a 700+ credit score. Imagine the possibilities!

Copyright © 2005 Excellentcreditnow.com - All Rights Reserved

Consolidating credit card debt is never easy. Too often people run up their debts without even realizing it until it is too late. If you are one of these people, don''t feel bad or trapped, or that there is something wrong with you. Credit cards are the hardest bills to consolidate because the interest rates are so high. But not any more. We are here to help you get your monthly payments to a bear minimum.

Most often, credit card debts get so high because people feel trapped within their payments. More often than not, you will find yourself using one credit card to make payments on another. You think to yourself, "at least I''m making the payments on time", when in actuality, you are simply substituting one payment for another. Right now you probably have up to five different payments to make. Let our professional team convert your five payments into one affordable payment. We''ll help you sleep a lot easier.

Written by Risto - Webmaster of credit cards comparison site http://www.credit-cards-info.com', 133, 'Credit Cards Debt Consolidation, Debt-Consolidation, Debt-Consolidation articles, Debt-Consolidation information, about Debt-Consolidation, what is Debt-Consolidation, Debt Consolidation Information', 'Credit Cards Debt Consolidation plus articles and information on Debt-Consolidation'); INSERT INTO pqdb_articles (article_id, article_title, article_text, article_cat, article_meta_key, article_meta_desc) VALUES (11560, 'Consolidate All Your Debt Into One Monthly Payment', 'Are you feeling overburdened with debt? Are you paying out too much every month for your credit cards, store cards and loans? Then why not replace them all with one, lower, convenient repayment through a consolidation loan?

Consolidation loans can give you a fresh start, allowing you to consolidate all of your loans into one - giving you one easy to manage payment, and in most cases, at a lower rate of interest.

Believe it or not, many people do not understand equity and the power it provides.

In its purest form, equity is money. With regard to real estate (specifically, your house or other investment property), equity is measured in terms of the value of the property minus what you owe. So, if your home is valued at $100,000, and you owe $40,000 on it, you have $60,000 in equity (actual money that is available to you, under particular circumstances).

Surprisingly, many people have this type of equity and do not take advantage of it. Some people are actually in dire financial straits and fail to realize their problems can be solved very easily, by taking the equity from their home. Remember, your home is a "vault," and the money inside that vault belongs to you. Best of all, you can use that money/ equity for anything you desire, from home improvement to travel expenses to spending money.

Exactly what is a home equity line of credit or HELOC? A home equity line of credit, which lenders and mortgage brokers refer to as a HELOC, is a different kind of home loan. An equity line has different rates and terms from a conventional first mortgage. In a standard home loan, or mortgage, your monthly payments cover both the principal loan and the interest you are charged.

Most mortgage payments include escrow, or taxes and insurance. An equity line of credit payment does not reduce your principal loan amount and does not include escrow. You are borrowing the equity in your house and paying the bank an interest premium on that loan. With a HELOC, you pay only the interest on the loan and, generally, you get the money for less time than you do a standard first mortgage.

The underwriting on these loans is very simple, and in most cases, the loans are very easy to get. At close, you either get one big check, which you can deposit into your savings or checking account or you can get a check book and treat your equity line of credit as another checking account. The payment on equity lines is very enticing. Paying interest only makes for a very low payment. It''s important to remember, though, when paying interest only, you are not paying down the principal loan balance.

Are you the victim of a high interest rate auto loan? If so, the following email discussion may help you. Read on:

DEAR LoanResources.Net:

I was very impressed with your article entitled "8 Point Checklist, Evaluating Online Lenders."

I have tried several sources to refinance my auto. I only have 2 more years to pay $245.04 a month. I owe 4,414.00 on the car loan.

This may not seem like a lot of money but I would like a lower interest rate on my car loan which is now $16.4% APR.

I want to still pay it off in 24 months but at a lower rate so that I can use the money saved to help pay off other bills.

In my internet searches, the auto refinance loans required that you borrow more money than I need. I tried to search for unsecured personal loans on your website and they also required that I borrow more money.

I have a very good credit record and I am working to get some of my bills paid off.

Is there anything you can suggest so that I can get a lower rate auto loan for under $5,000? Any assistance will be appreciated.

Thanks. Geraldine W.

DEAR Geraldine:

Sorry I have not gotten back to you sooner. I took a couple weeks off to be with family...Thanks for the compliment on the article!

Anyway, I read your email and I do indeed have a suggestion or two that I''m happy to share.

A COUPLE THINGS INITIALLY:

1. First, you''re paying a very high interest rate at 16.4% APR for an auto loan! I''m going to assume that your statement as to your good credit is accurate. If that''s true, then you do indeed need to fix this.

2. Since you only need $5000, with the intention of paying it off in 2 years or less, I don''t think you should look for a refinance auto loan or a refinance on your home. Indeed, the bank is going to want to loan you much more money, usually at least $25,000. While a refinance or equity loan on your home does offer tax benefits, we''re only talking about interest on $5,000 over the course of 2 years. I have another idea you may not have considered.

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED?

Have you considered just putting the balance of your car loan on a credit card that has a lower interest rate?

1. Credit Cards are, indeed, unsecured lines of credit with financial institutions.

You are swimming in debt. You have 4 credit cards maxed out, a car loan, a consumer loan, and a house payment. Simply making the minimum payments is causing your distress and certainly not getting you out of debt. What should you do?

Some people feel that debt consolidation loans are the best option. A debt consolidation loans is one loan which pays off many other loans or lines of credit.

I''m sure you''ve seen the advertisements of smiling people who have chosen to take a consolidation loan. They seem to have had the weight of the world lifted off their shoulders. But are debt consolidation loans a good deal? Let''s explore the pros and cons of this type of debt solution.

Pros

1. One payment versus many payments: The average citizen of the USA pays 11 different creditors every month. Making one single payment is much easier than figuring out who should get paid how much and when. This makes managing your finances much easier.

2. Reduced interest rates: Since the most common type of debt consolidation loan is the home equity loan, also called a second mortgage, the interest rates will be lower than most consumer debt interest rates. Your mortgage is a secured debt. This means that they have something they can take from you if you do not make your payment. Credit cards are unsecured loans. They have nothing except your word and your history. Since this is the case, unsecured loans typically have higher interest rates.

3. Lower monthly payments: Since the interest rate is lower and because you have one payment vs many, the amount you have to pay per month is typically decreased significantly.

4. Only one creditor: With a consolidated loan, you only have one creditor to deal with. If there are any problems or issues, you will only have to make one call instead of several. Once again, this simply makes controlling your finances much easier.

5. Tax Breaks: Interest paid to a credit card is money down the drain. Interest paid to a mortgage can be used as a tax write-off.

Sounds great, doesn''t it? Before you run out and get a loan, let''s look at the other side of the picture ? the cons.

There are seven consumer credit laws you should be aware when dealing with your credit.

1. The Truth in Lending Act

The customer had to be told the true cost of borrowing, so they could figure out exactly what the charges would be. You must be informed, in writing of the finance charge and the APR before you sign any contract. Also, you need to be informed of the method they are going to use to calculate the balance on which you pay a finance charge.

This Act gives you a chance to change your mind when you use your home as security in a transaction. The first 3 day right of rescission gives you 3 business days to cancel the transaction and the creditor must give you this notice prior to the transaction.

2. The Fair Credit Reporting Act

Check other bonus material for your rights. Basically this act regulates the activities of credit reporting agencies or credit bureaus and gives the FTC responsibility for enforcement.

3. The Fair Credit Billing Act

This law establishes procedures requiring creditors to promptly correct billing errors, and allows the consumer to withhold payment on damage goods, and makes creditors promptly credit your payments.

4. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

This act establishes the guidelines for collectors to follow. They may not contact you at unreasonable times or places. Unless agree, they must not contact you before 8 am or after 9 pm, nor at your place of employment. You must receive a written explanation of your supposed debt and what to do if you feel you do not owe the money.

5. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act

This Law prohibits discrimination in the granting of credit of any form due to sex, marital status, race, religion or age.

6. The Electronic Funds Transfer Act

This act gives protection in all stages of modern banking techniques such ATM, telephone transfers, computer transactions, etc. Its limits for the first time consumers'' liability for lost or unauthorized use of debit or electronic cards are similar to those in place for credit cards.

Here are some useful tips on using credit cards. Whether you shop online, by telephone or by mail, a credit card can make buying many things much easier; but when you use a credit card, it''s important to keep track of your spending.

Incidental and impulse purchases add up, and each one you make with a credit card is a separate loan. When the bill comes, you have to pay what you owe. Owing more than you can afford to repay can damage your credit rating.

Keeping good records can prevent a lot of headaches, especially if there are inaccuracies on your monthly statement. If you notice a problem, promptly report it to the company that issued the card. Usually the instructions for disputing a charge are on your monthly statement.

If you order by mail, by telephone or online, keep copies and printouts with details about the transaction. These details should include the company''s name, address and telephone number; the date of your order; a copy of the order form you sent to the company or a list of the stock codes of the items ordered; the order confirmation code; the ad or catalog from which you ordered.

Finally, if you have a credit card, take the following precautions:

Never lend it to anyone.

Never sign a blank charge slip. Draw lines through blank spaces on charge slips above the total so the amount can''t be changed.

Never put your account number on the outside of an envelope or on a postcard.

Always be cautious about disclosing your account number on the telephone unless you know the person you''re dealing with represents a reputable company.

It''s no surprise that thousands of Americans are victimized by identity theft each year. Last year more than 9,000,000 people were victims of identity theft amounting to some $45 billion dollars.

By the time the average person realizes they have become a victim of identity theft; it is much too late. By this point, the victim''s financial stability and credit rating may be impacted significantly.

What can you to to protect yourself from identity theft? Here are some useful suggestions for you...

• Place passwords on your credit card, bank, and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your mother''s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.
• Secure personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your home.
• Use a paper shredder to shred sensitive documents before discarding them.
• Ask about information security procedures in your workplace or at businesses, doctor''s offices or other institutions that collect your personally identifying information. Find out who has access to your personal information and verify that it is handled securely. Ask about the disposal procedures for those records as well. Find out if your information will be shared with anyone else. If so, ask how your information can be kept confidential.
• Never tell anyone your personal information over the phone or send it through email, or fax. Most legitimate companies will not request this information from you via phone or any other unprotected source.
• Monitor your credit report on a monthly basis to watch for unusual activitiy. Many credit report services will alert you to such activity and even assist you in resolving issues. We have partnered with Equifax to offer you their Credit Watch product.

One of the biggest problems people have in these modern times is Credit card debt, and worst is USA. Simply because there have always been so many laws and regulations before you could have a card in the rest of the world, you can''t for instance borrow someone elses card and go shopping because you always have to show some ID before they accept cards in Europe.

Credit card debt is an ever growing problem in the U.S. Countless American''s are finding themselves in a financial bind because of their over spending habits. Credit cards are a dangerous convenience to those who tend to impulse buy.

Recent statistics in regard to credit card debt are staggering. According to The Motley Fool Credit Center (http://www.fool.com/ccc/secrets/secrets.htm) total U.S. consumer credit debt has reached 1.7 TRILLION dollars. Collectively, these card holders pay over 50 BILLION dollars in finance charges, every year.

It is said that, on any given day, approximately 78% of the nation''s population would qualify for some type of credit. More than 1.3 million of these card holders will file for bankruptcy, each calendar year.

Credit card companies are as lenient as they can afford to be when it comes to issuing new credit cards and spend MILLIONS of advertising dollars, each year, singing the praises of their specific offer.

They count on the fact that the majority of card holders will, indeed, possess an impulse buying gene. These companies also hope that card holders who apply for a line of credit, to be used only on an emergency basis, will give in when tempted with appealing merchandise.

If you suddenly find yourself struggling with credit card debt there are things you can do that will help to ease your stress and reduce your balances. These common sense steps will assist you in getting your credit card debt, under control.

1. Stop using the cards - this is the simplest way to start reducing your debt. Yes, you still owe for past charges, but cutting up your cards or putting them away in a secure place, will alleviate the urge to purchase things that you don''t really need.

2. Stop new credit card offers - It''s always tempting to take advantage of a new credit card offer, especially if it is pre-approved. You can easily obtain the forms needed to remove your name from credit bureau lists, by calling 1-888-5OPTOUT.

Online car finance is convenient. You can apply over the net and shop around for a good deal from the comfort of your home.

But with the rise of scams on the net there are precautions you should take to make sure you are not being ripped off.

Car Finance Safety Tips

1) If you are in an english speaking country, the website you are dealing with should be in english. If the English is poor it could be a scam site.

2) Only deal with companies that publish full contact details on their site, such as phone numbers, preferably one in your country. Also they should maintain a physical office and also publish that on the web. A reputable company will have an office.

3) They should be listed in the phone directory as well, either the yellow or white pages.

4) No bank or finance company will ever send you an email asking for your passwords or account details.

5) Check a number of companies out before you make your decision. Compare the rates. Read all the terms and conditions.

6) E-loan and Capital One are two safe online finance companies and have passed all these checks from my research.

7) I recently reviewed an offer from a finance company that looked like it was from Russia, who didn''t even have a phone number. They had all manner of explanations but it is simply not good enough. So go with professional companies. Remember, there is no such thing as something for nothing

Remember to seek competent advice from a professional such as accountant before making financial decisions.

How many of you bank, shop, or transact other business online? There are at least 4 million Department pf Defense employees that access their pay records online only. Even offline, stored financial data can be placed at risk in computers that are used on the Internet as well. As one of the fastest growing crimes in America, identity theft is a concern for everyone.

A criminal gaining access to your bank or credit card accounts or personal information can wreak havoc with your credit and leave you holding the bag. Protecting your personal data at home and online is not too painful and lowering your risk for a reasonable effort level is well worth it.

Before we tackle the computer and online environment, let''s take a quick look at your other home risks. Your garbage can and mail box are prime targets for identity thieves. Bills, old checks, financial statements, credit offers, the list goes on. All of these documents need to be shredded with a crosscut shredder before discarding and mail should never be left in the mail box for long. Arrange for someone to pickup mail if you are going to gone from your home for more than a day. In short, anything with your full name combined with any other sensitive information should be shredded before discarding.

Phishing and social engineering are methods to get you to divulge your data to a criminal by making you believe the criminal represents an organization or interest with access or rights to your information. Any phone call you receive from someone requesting your personal information or credit card numbers should be suspect. Request a way to call them back via the organization''s published numbers and verify the number is associated with the organization before proceeding. Suspect good deals that come to you out of the blue via the telephone or any other method. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Now for your computer, there are a few things you should do here. Your online activities pose the greatest risk. You need a hardware, or good software firewall. You need good Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware software. The software versions will need regular updates to keep ahead of the hackers out there.

As I am not from the US, I had no idea what FICO meant before researching it. FICO stands for Fair Isaac Corporation, a company based in California. FICO, put simply, is a person''s credit score. A credit score can be used by a potential lender in making a judgement on whether to grant you credit or not, for example when you apply for a new credit card or home mortgage. Therefore, if you are in the US, the FICO score is very important to you. What Does a FICO Score Do?

A FICO score places a value on the types of credit accounts you hold or have held, and your credit history in maintaining those accounts. The FICO score scale ranges from 300 to 850, with the majority of people in the United States in the 600 - 850 range.

Factors Which Affect Your FICO Credit Score

There are 5 factors in all which determine your FICO credit score:

1. Your payment history.

This counts for a very significant 35%--the most of the FICO score factors. As you would expect, paying your bills on time is gets you a good score, while paying them late on a consistent basis is will mark down your FICO score. If you have had debts referred to a collection agency, that is worse still, while declaring bankruptcy is the worst of all.

2. How much you owe.

Another obvious factor that FICO will take into account in arriving at a credit score. This accounts for another 30% of your total FICO score. It is not just what you owe already that affects your FICO score. Also taken into account is the amount of credit available to you. For example, if you have a credit line of $5000, but have so far only used $1000, that will be taken into account.

Your total amount of credit will be totalled, and compared to your annual income. So, loans such as car loans, mortgages, credit cards, store cards, will all be added together. Those who use most or all of their available credit will get a lower rating for this part of the FICO score calculation.

3. Length of credit history.

Another important factor that makes up 15% of your FICO credit score is the length of your credit history. The longer your credit history, the better for your FICO score. Additionally, though, a long history with any particular lender will be good for your credit score.

Moving money from credit card to credit card to take advantage of interest free balance transfers and effectively borrowing money for free. It''s even possible to make money by borrowing money, transferring the debt to an interest free card and investing the cash in a high interest savings account until the interest free period expires.

However, if you plan on being a serial card surfer, there are a number of things you need to do.

Firstly. Make sure you read the terms and conditions of the card to which you''re transferring your balance and are aware of exactly what you''re signing up for. Some cards, for example insist that you spend a certain amount per month on the card in order to qualify for the interest free balance transfer.

Secondly. Never, never, never spend any money on the card to which you transfer a balance. This is because, your monthly payment is always put towards paying off the transferred balance. This means that you will pay interest on everything you spend, even if you pay off as much as you spend every month.

Finally, make sure you know and write down the date that the balance transfer period ends. Better still, set an alarm on your mobile phone or PDA for seven working days before the expiry date. That will give you enough time to pay off the balance before the interest free period ends.

Follow these simple guidelines and you can surf from credit card to credit card and never pay any interest on transferred balances.

Robert Armstrong is a contributor to Consumer IQ ? a site dedicated to publishing the UK''s best high street and online deals.', 127, 'Tips for Credit Card Surfers, Credit, Credit articles, Credit information, about Credit, what is Credit, Credit Information', 'Tips for Credit Card Surfers plus articles and information on Credit

Read More....

Most of us want a good credit report to obtain automobile financing, credit cards, and to purchase a home. But, beyond these consumer loans, your credit report can cost you in everyday living expenses. What you don''t know about your credit could be costing you money.

Having a credit card means that you can order tickets, rent a car, and reserve hotel rooms. Besides these conveniences, your credit report can mean that you must pay higher deposits and fees for everyday services.

Did you know that your credit history can keep you from getting utility connections, good telephone rates, the best auto insurance, home owner''s insurance, or even keep you from getting hired?

Some utility companies set minimum standards for service connections. If your report shows collection accounts for prior utility bills, you may not be eligible for service at all. And if utility companies do agree to connect your service, you''ll need to pay a higher deposit than another customer with good credit who may not need to make any deposit.

The same requirements exist for telephone services. People with a good credit history don''t need to pay deposits for home telephone or cell phone services. When we first got a cell phone with poor credit scores, we had to pay a $300 deposit, for one cell phone. After fixing our credit, we got eight cell phones for our business, with zero deposits.

What many people don''t realize is that good credit enables them to get better insurance rates. High-quality, low-cost home owners'' insurance, auto, and life insurance companies set minimum credit standards for their policy holders; this means that consumers with poor credit have to pay more for less coverage. Many automobile insurance companies now base your monthly premiums on your credit score; these companies offer a 17% discount if your score is over 625 and a 25% discount if your score is over 725. Why? Because according to their studies, people who are careful with their credit are also careful with their property and careful drivers.

One of the focus areas of my information is the absolute necessity of changing the way a person thinks about money and debt while in the process of repairing their credit. I have seen cases where a couple will work really hard for months, and finally get their credit report to the place they can borrow again and go out and buy something on credit just because they can. And I relate so strongly, because I was there at one time.

If in fact there are 40 - 70 million people with credit problems severe enough to prevent them from getting credit, that tells me there is a tremendous paradigm of debt in the United States. Think of it like this: 1 out of every 12 people you meet or know has experienced (or is experiencing) severe financial problems that they are very likely still dealing with.

As near as I can tell, this 40 - 70 million group of people stays fairly constant over time, sometimes increasing, sometimes decreasing, but it tells us a story. And as I was thinking about it, I realized some young person with this debt mentality got their first credit card today. And thinking back on how that felt, the potential of buying anything you want (up to $500) by just handing over your card is a real rush. But the fact remains: if the debt mentality isn''t addressed, that young person has just became a part of that 40 - 70 million person pool 10 years from now. Kinda sobering, isn''t it?

Consumers today are up to their eyeballs in debt. And many people don''t realize it until their good credit has been devastated.

As a result, many credit repair agencies are popping up all over the internet, on television and in the newspapers making sweeping guarantees that they can erase your bad credit and remove bankruptcies, judgments, liens, and bad loans from your credit history - forever!

Consumers are flocking to these credit repair clinics in droves. However, estimates show that credit repair companies have defrauded consumers in the United States alone out of more than fifty million dollars.

The truth of the matter is that depending on the extent of the damage to your credit history, the best strategy could be a self help strategy - not giving away hundreds or even thousands of dollars in up-front fees to an agency that in the end may do nothing to restore or improve your credit.

After researching the topic quite extensively, I found one great method that works well for some people is a method I call "beating the credit reporting bureaus at their own game".

I report about it in more detail on my Prepaid Debit Card Site (www.debit-card-guide.com), however, in brief, this strategy involves taking advantage of signing up for prepaid debit cards which offer a built-in credit reporting feature.

A prepaid debit card is a great solution for a lot of people because the money you spend is your own and in most cases you cannot spend over the amount you have in your account.

This is a good solution for people who may have had difficulties with debt or bankruptcy in the past because a prepaid debit card is a great tool for developing invaluable financial management and budgeting skills.

A major bonus of some prepaid debit cards today is that during the sign-up process you are offered an opportunity to sign up for an additional service that will help you rebuild a bad credit history by having your monthly payments reported to one or more of the major credit reporting agencies.

You''ve probably heard the term credit scoring. You may have some idea that your credit score can have an effect on your life. For example, you may understand that when you apply for a mortgage, the mortgage company will check out your credit score.

But did you know that the interest rate you can get on your mortgage ?and on credit cards ? will depend heavily on your credit score? Did you know that more and more employers will check your credit score when you apply for a job, and that insurance companies may raise your premiums or even cancel your insurance based on your credit score?

So, what is a credit score and how is it calculated?

Your credit score (in some cases, it is called your risk score) is a rating of your credit worthiness or how likely you are to repay a loan and how likely you are to repay it in a timely fashion. And it can have a dramatic effect on your life.

There are three companies that gather information on how you handle credit. They are Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. They each determine your credit score based on a formula developed by the Fair Isaac Corporation but each calls its credit score something different. Trans Union calls its credit score "Empiraca." Experian calls its score "FICO," and Equifax will tell you its credit score is "Beacon."

Credit scores range from 400 to 900 with the average score somewhere around 700. This is one case where higher is not better as the higher the score the greater the risk you are thought to be.

What are the factors that make up your credit score?

There are five factors that determine your credit score. The first of these is payment history. About 35% of your credit score may be based on how late you have been paying your bills (30, 60 or 90 days). The later you have been, the more negative effect this will have on your score. So will matters that are in the public record, such as bankruptcies and accounts that have gone to collection.

About 30% of your credit score will be based on the amounts you owe. If you have, for example, a credit card that is close to its limit, this can impact your score negatively. This means it may be better for you to have a lower balance on several different cards than a large balance on one card.

What Are Possible Signs of Fraudulent Transactions see at Web Hosting Companies?

• Customer wants to pre-pay for a year

• Domain Name Registration for 5 years or more

• Orders using free email address providers like Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.

• Usage of multiple cards to complete order.

• International address. AVS can not validate those international addresses.

• Multiple purchases in a short time period.

• The customer and billing addresses are different.

AMEX, VISA, and MasterCard implemented a security feature known as "CVV2" and "CVC2". These are the three-digit or four-digit numbers printed on the back side or front side (depending on card company) of the card (signature panel) to the far right. The three/four-digit code helps to validate that the cardholder has the card in his possession. You can include the code in your transaction processing and need to receive a match to successfully complete the transaction. If you are using a shopping cart for your hosting sign-up process, make sure that it is capable of collecting and processing these numbers. IMPORTANT: The ToS of the credit companies state that you are not allowed to store these numbers.

Use Address Verification Service (AVS) on all US transactions to verify the billing information provided in the order with what is on file with the card issuing bank. As a bare minimum, the zip code should successfully match before the transaction is approved and you hand out the account information. You should retain the response information for some time in case of a chargeback.

The possible AVS messages are:

Y ? Exact match on street address and 5 or 9 digit zip code.

A ? Address matches, zip code does not

Z ? zip code matches, address does not

N ? No match.

U ? Address information is unavailable or Issuer does not support AVS. These transactions are only applicable for Visa and the merchant isn''t responsible for chargeback liability.

R ? Issuer authorization system is unavailable, retry later

Here, Cratchet, what do you think you''re doing?

Uh, er, leaving sir.

Leaving? It''s 5 minutes to the hour. Shall I dock your pay accordingly.

Uh, er, no sir.

No sir? Well it''s back to work for you then, and be quick about it. And I don''t expect your mind to be off home before your body gets out the door either, what?

Uh, er, no sir.

Quite.

Will you be doing anything for Christmas, sir?

Christmas, Schmissmiss.

Uh, er, what sir?

Schmi, schmish. Smiss.

Are you okay, sir?

Schmee, smaa, ooh.

Mr. Scrooge, sir? Mr. Scrooge? Mr. Scroo?.

***********************************************************************

Oooohhh. Ooooooooooooooh!

What? Who? What? Oh!

EEEIIIIII am the Ghooooost of Expeeeected Surprises.

What? What? Again? Not again. Oh please, spirit, not again. Please no.

EEEIIIIII visited yoooooou laaaast year, Scroooooooooooooge.

Oh, yes, spirit, that you did. That you did. Ooooooooh, and here I forgot!

FOOOOORGOOOOOT!!!!!

Oh, please spirit. Not so loud. Not again. Not again.

Why am I heeere again, Scrooooooooge? Why again?

Uh, uh, because I forgot the very thing that comes around every year. I forgot, yet again, Spirit. Silly me. Oh, silly silly me. I''m a bad man, spirit. Please have mercy. Oh please.

What is the Deeeeefinition of Expeeeected, Scrooooooge?

Um, of course, yes, I know this, why it''s something known in advance. Yes. Known in advance, spirit. Something you can see coming. It''s clear. It''s clear now, spirit. Foresight. Advanced knowledge.

And yet you are caught unprepaaaaaared again this year, Scroooooooge!!

I am, good spirit. I am wholly unprepared. I didn''t see you coming either, I fear. Stupid, silly man that I am. Oh spirit. Please. What is to become of me?

Yoooooouuuuuuu knoooooow.

Oooooh. Not that spirit. Anything but that.

Yeeees. Scroooge. Revise yoooooour buuuuuudgettt.

My, my budget, spirit? But I have a budget.

Muuuuuussssst yooooou beeee reminded agaaaaain? Yooooou have a moooonthleeey budget, Scroooooge. Buuut you have nooooo alloooocation foor annual expeeeennnssses.

There are many of us that have been badly stung by credit card companies that have charged exorbitant fees to use their credit cards. Several years ago an APR of 25% to 29% was common place which in simple terms means that if you borrow £1,000 your interest on that money would be £250 to £290 a year. Criminal when you think of it but I suppose we have to consider interest rates were much higher 8 to 10 years ago and there were fewer credit card companies on the market.

Today the low interest rates that we are experiencing have spurned hundreds of loan and credit card companies cashing in on the cheap cost of borrowing. To get approved for a loan or a credit card nowadays has never been easier. With the advent of the internet you can get approved for a loan or credit card in 10 minutes. So we all have a few 0%, low interest rate credit cards in our bags and wallets but lets find out a bit more about the sting in the tail of these cards.

1. Monthly Repayments:
Well done if you pay your bill off each month in full. Like most of us we only pay off the minimum monthly repayment; this is usually a % of the outstanding balance or no less that £5. Some credit cards will set the minimum repayment on a card at such a low amount that you inevitably end up paying the interest and nothing else. When this happens you end up with a compound interest scenario. Beware you could end up paying off a £2,000 loan for the next 20 years.

2. Credit Card repayment protection (CCRP):
Credit Card companies make a fair amount of money out of you when you use their cards. But wait they want to make some more. Just in case you die or lose your job they will offer you Credit Card protection for a monthly fee. These are usually over priced. Most credit card companies make a fortune out of these policies as most people don''t understand how these fees are calculated so don''t know there true worth. What most people are buying is the piece of mind.

3. Penalty fees:
If you do not pay on time you will be charged a late payment fine. These vary depending on your credit card company. The best way to prevent this happening is to set up a direct debit. You get charged for exceeding your credit limit. Again this is a very sneaky way for the credit card companies to make money off of us. Most of us will slip up without even knowing it and a charge of £25 can quite easily go unnoticed on our statements. Be diligent and don''t give the card companies any excuse to make these charges.

If gold medals were awarded for marketing consistency, the credit card industry would be the Sarah Hughes of the business world. Major players Visa and MasterCard, who have maintained their steady rates of spending and commitment to their positioning platforms for years, will stick to their established routines this year. Freshening their programs will be updated creative and the occasional push behind new products and promotions.

Discover and American Express will mix it up by introducing new taglines, but they will keep to their traditional big ad spends to bring their messages to consumers.

MasterCard, which last year spent $197 million, per CMR, will continue its successful "Priceless" campaign through 2002. In addition to general brand-building spots, MasterCard will use advertising to support several key promotions. One summer spot, for example, will tout its Major League Baseball sponsorship and a program called "Memorable Moments." The promotion asks fans to vote for their top baseball moments, with the winners slated for recognition in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Another ad highlights the "Priceless Edge" internship program, a youth-focused initiative offering participants the chance to take entertainment business classes and work on MTV''s Music in High Places.

MasterCard also will feature its sponsorship of the FIFA World Cup, particularly in reaching out to Hispanic audiences.

Holiday will be an important period for the brand. Debra Coughlin, svp-global North American brandbuilding for MasterCard, said last year''s promotional-driven advertising, which focused on "priceless" gifts that could be won through using the card, worked particularly well.

Visa, not surprisingly, also plans to spend in the fourth quarter. "That''s when there is an inordinate amount of retail spending, so it''s an important time frame for a usage message," said Liz Silver, Visa svp-advertising and brand management. Back-to-school is another key period. Visa will keep the longtime "It''s everywhere you want to be" positioning this year. With lots of dollars allocated to its 2002 Olympics sponsorship, much of Visa''s other advertising will focus on its key partnerships with the National Football League, NASCAR, the Triple Crown and Broadway.

Credit cards represent an important part of our financial lives. Having the right credit cards is essential and will make a big difference to your finances. Before choosing the right credit card you must shop around for one.

First make an idea on what credit cards are available on the market from the numerous offers that are always coming to your mailbox. Yet, don''t relay too much on them as they can be confusing and sometimes misleading. After that try to establish what features of the credit card are the most important for you. The perfect card for you should provide the right combination of fees, rates and benefits. The next step would be to compare various credit cards and decide which one you will finally choose.

Nowadays, Internet can be of big help to you when shopping for a credit card. First of all, almost all financial companies that offer credit cards have websites. This can save you the trouble of wasting your time to personally visit them all. All you need to do is visit them all from the comfort of your own home and see what offer fits best to your needs. Some of these websites have a great feature that lets you compare several credit cards side by side. And when you see all the figures at once it is easier to decide which card to select.

When you go shopping for a credit card you must think first about how you will use your future card: you''ll pay your monthly bill in full, you''ll carry over a balance from month to month or you''ll use your card to get cash advances. Depending on your needs you''ll have to be careful what APR (annual percentage rate) the credit card has. Also, you should already know that a single credit card has several APRs; be sure to check all of them. Another thing to check is how the finance charge is calculated because each company calculates it differently and you''ll want to choose the one that offers more advantages to you. Some credit cards even have a minimum finance charge, meaning it will charge you the minimum even if the calculated amount of your finance charge is less. You''ll have to carefully weight all of this information and than decide which credit card is right for you.

What is a balance transfer?

A balance transfer can be explained simply as a balance transfer! When a balance is transferred usually from a credit card, but possible from a bank account or loan to a credit card with a offer interest rate (usually 0%) for a set period. It does not have to be the entire amount. The card receiving the balance will an interest rate for a set term, normally 6 months, but can be 9 months or even a year. Take a look at the current balance transfer deals currently available at http://www.search4-credit-cards.co.uk/balance_transfers.html. This will give you a flavour of the typical kind of deal available.

Should I apply for a balance transfer?

It is important to remember that a balance transfer does not mean that the debt has gone away. It just means you are not paying interest on it. You will still have to maintain payments.

This may seem obvious but many people do not get this straight in their mind.

The basic criteria for getting a balance transfer is when you regularly have an outstanding balance after making your monthly payments. This is the amount you should look to transfer to another card. This will mean that for the period of the offer you will pay no interest on the balance (provided you make the minimum payments).

You should be very wary of taking up a balance transfer, if your overall debt is increasing. A balance transfer is not a green light to spend more money. The money you save should be used to decrease your debt.

What should I look for in a balance transfer?

You need to be aware of the following when looking for a balance transfer card

Good things

Length of offer period.

Offer Interest Rate.

The zero or low interest rate charged on the balance.

Possible transfers from loans and overdrafts.

On some cards you can transfer from existing loans and overdrafts and still get the offer.

Bad things

Cut-off period for the balance transfer offer.

Hidden Charges on transfers.

Some banks will charge a handling fee on the balance transfer.

How long the offer is valid for?

Have you ever looked at your credit card statement? I''m not talking about just making sure that all the transactions are correct. I''m talking about looking at the finance charges. I daresay that sometimes that figure is almost as great as the minimum monthly payment you''re making. After all, as long as you can keep the creditors at bay by paying the minimum, that''s all you care about, right? If you agreed, I urge you to reconsider.

I''m sure that by now, many of you realize that you lose money by buying on credit. Still, I don''t think many of you appreciate just how much your credit cards are costing you. I''d like to really drive that point home.

Let''s say that Joe decides he needs new patio furniture. He doesn''t have the $2,000 cash, so he slaps down his plastic card knowing that he can make the minimum monthly payment, no sweat. And so that''s what he does, month in, month, out, year in, year out, and pretty soon he''s been doing this for one full decade. Surely it''s paid off by now! No, not even close. In fact, if Joe continues to make the minimum monthly payment, he will be paying for that furniture for the next 38 years! And once he has made the final payment on his original $2,000 purchase, he will have paid an additional $5,300 in interest! Pretty disgusting, isn''t it? And this is at 14% APR. Many cards run higher.

Some of you more savvy credit card users out there might be thinking that you already know this, so you don''t fall for that trap anymore. You only get credit cards with a much lower interest rate, right? But do you notice that it''s only for a few months? And do you pay attention to what the interest rate jumps to after that short introductory period? You kind of have to hunt around for this figure since they don''t put it in plain view. Believe me, credit card companies are not losing money on these lower introductory rate offers.

Credit card promotions are becoming even more devious. Now the credit card companies are offering 0% interest on all balance transfers for up to 18 months! Wow, well, you''ve GOT to take advantage of that, right? I''ll show you three reasons why you shouldn''t.

By now, you have undoubtedly heard of credit card fraud, an alarming and damaging trend that is sweeping the country. Here''s the bad news: It is disturbingly easy for thieves to obtain your credit card number--usually from discarded receipts or even directly from you. For instance, many solicitors masquerade as legitimate businesspeople--like those who offer vacation packages, for instance--when, in fact, they''re looking for you to innocently hand over your credit card number so they can rack up illegal charges.

The good news is that there are many ways you can proactively and effectively protect yourself against credit card fraud:

-If your credit card has been lost or stolen, report it immediately to the card issuer. You are not obligated to pay for unauthorized charges once you report the loss.

-Sign new cards immediately once they arrive in the mail. Once you receive them, carry them in a separate case from your wallet.

-Notify credit card companies if you are about to move, either temporarily or permanently.

-Never offer your account number over the phone unless you''re dealing with a reputable and legitimate company. If you have any question about a company, contact the Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbb.com ).

-Don''t let your credit card out of your sight-not even for a minute-when you''re using it. It only takes ten seconds for someone to covertly write down your account number and name.

-Things to destroy: Carbon copies and incorrect receipts. Things to keep in a safe place: A record of account numbers and legitimate receipts for comparison to billing statements.

-Don''t sign blank credit card receipts. Draw a line through blank portions of the receipt where bogus charges can be added.

Identity theft is when someone uses, without permission, your personal information in order to commit any frauds or crimes. Identity theft is a felony that is becoming more and more common. That is because some of us are not very careful with personal information, making the job easier for those trying to steel our identity. We should always be careful with information like Social Security number, credit card number, birth date, employment information, driver''s license number, etc., because if they enter into the wrong hands the consequences can be very serious. People that have experienced identity theft spend months trying to repair what others have damaged, and in the meantime they cannot get a loan or lose a job opportunity or, sometimes, they can get arrested for something they didn''t do.

If you have the slightest suspicion that someone has gained access to your personal information, acting quickly is a must. First of all, you should get in touch with the fraud department of the credit bureau where you have your accounts and request them to initiate a credit alert on your accounts. This way the creditors are obligated to contact you before taking any actions regarding your accounts. At the same time you should close the accounts you believe that are corrupted. The second step would be filing a police report and keeping a copy of it so to have a proof of the crime.

It is difficult dealing with an identity theft and most of all is difficult to repair what others have messed up for you. We cannot completely prevent identity theft, but we can take some simple precautions to minimize the risks. The most important thing to do is to pay attention to your bank statements: they should arrive in time and you should check them very carefully. Your bank statement should always arrive almost at the same date every month. If you don''t get your statement one month this could mean that someone has changed your billing address to prevent you from discovering any unauthorized activity in your account. Also, you must check every statement as you get it and be sure that you have made all the purchases recorded on it.

One of the great mysteries of life is how the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union) score credit. They all have secret statistical formulas for determining your credit score, but they are unwilling to divulge exactly what, exactly, constitutes your score. This can make it difficult for people with problem credit to try to improve their score in hopes of obtaining a home or car loan later.

While the exact formula is a secret, there are a few things you can do that will undoubtedly improve your score:

Pay off a home equity line of credit. These loans, which allow you to borrow more than once against your home''s equity, are considered revolving credit, much like a credit card. Pay it down or pay it off; either should help your score.

Check your credit report regularly; you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report once a year. By looking over your credit report, you can make sure that debts you have paid on time are shown on the report, such as student loans, or auto loans that have been paid in full. You can also make sure that your credit limits on your credit cards are reported correctly. Lenders look at the ratio of debt to available credit, and if your reported credit limit is low, it could make it appear as though you are nearly at your credit limit.

Check for duplicate information on your credit report. If your mortgage has been sold to another firm, make sure that your report doesn''t show your mortgage twice.

Keep balances on credit cards and other revolving accounts low. You do not want to be seen owing too much money to too many different lenders.

Don''t have too many open credit accounts. Ten Visa cards will not help your credit rating. Try to keep a maximum of three revolving credit accounts.

When I received my first credit card in the mail at age 18 I was ecstatic, I said to myself, wow now I''m getting somewhere in life. This credit card company thinks I''m worthy of 500 dollars in credit. So I made my monthly payments like a good consumer and watched my credit limit grow. I thought boy this company must think alot of me to take such a risk. I however had no idea how the money came into existence. All I cared about was that as long as when I slapped the plastic down I was approved. Like most young people I had no idea what an interest rate even was much less how it effected my monthly payments. I was like a lot of kids in America today, my parents were not a big part of my early adult life and so I really didn''t have much guidance when it came to making financial decisions. The lessons I learned were hard and I continue to learn as each day passes.

After all what is credit? When you get that "Pre-Approved" application in the mail, does that mean that the credit card companies have been watching you personally and are rewarding you for having so called "good credit," Of course not, they are looking to make money just like any business, and they are making a lot of it.

Today there are thousands of people who are losing their homes, farms, and businesses because they do not understand the meaning of credit. This article will explain the difference between money and credit and will show you how the banks create "credit" and pretend that it is "money".

There has been a monetary debate in our country for some time now and that debate focuses on two central issues. First that only gold and silver are Constitutional money Article I Section 10 clause 1U.S. Constitution and second that the dollar is defined by the Mint Act of 1792, and that a Federal Reserve Note is not a dollar. There is a third area that is not well understood, but which is very important. It is the most important issue of all because 97% of our money supply today consists of bank credit whereas Federal Reserve Notes and coins consist of less than 3%.Today every bank loan in the United States can be legally voided because it is based on credit instead of money!

Have you ever been told you were over your credit card limit, or had your debit card declined, even though you knew you had available credit or money in your bank account? If this happened shortly after you stayed in a hotel or rented a car, the problem could have been card "blocking."

What is Blocking?

When you use a credit or debit card to check into a hotel or rent a car, the clerk usually contacts the company that issued your card to give an estimated total. If the transaction is approved, your available credit (credit card) or the balance in your bank account (debit card) is reduced by this amount. That''s a "block." Some companies also call this placing a "hold" on those amounts.

Here''s how it works: Suppose you use a credit or debit card when you check into a £100-a-night hotel for five nights. At least £500 would likely be blocked. In addition, hotels and rental car companies often add anticipated charges for "incidentals" like food, beverages, or gasoline to the blocked amount. These incidental amounts can vary widely among merchants. If you pay your bill with the same card you used when you checked in, the final charge on your credit card, or final amount on your debit card, probably will replace the block in a day or two. However, if you pay your bill with a different card, or with cash or a cheque, the company that issued the card you used at check-in might hold the block for up to 15 days after you''ve checked out. That''s because they weren''t notified of the final payment and didn''t know you paid another way.

Why Blocking Can Be a Problem

Blocking is used to make sure you don''t exceed your credit line (credit card) or overdraw your bank account (debit card) before checking out of a hotel or returning a rental car, leaving the merchant unpaid. Blocking is sometimes also used by restaurants for anticipated sizeable bills (like large groups at dinner or a party), by companies cleaning your home, and other businesses to ensure credit or account money will be available to complete payment.

Like me, you''ve probably been offered a fair old number of these by now...

..and, if you''re like most people, chances are you maybe own at least one or two.

They always seem to put in an appearance at just the right (or wrong) moment...

It might be Saturday and you''ve just seen the clothing item of your dreams.

That can be a pain, though, if this month''s paycheck isn''t due for another week.

You''re undecided.

Until, that is, you''re offered...

..a store card.

One of the horrible ironies about store cards is that the vast majority of people who sign up for one actually had no intention of making a purchase before they left the house.

But if you''re caught in the above situation, the convenience factor frequently wins the day, doesn''t it? Add on top of this all the little goodies thrown in as a sweetener...

An introductory discount on goods ? typically around the 10% mark ? extra money off during sales periods etc...

But let me tell you what the sales assistant probably won''t...

For starters, did you know that many department stores will currently charge you anything up to 30% interest on that little card they offer you? (yes, even those ones with the pretty pictures.) That''s around double the interest of your standard credit card!

Sound scandalous?

Well, hang around... it gets a lot worse!

Here are just a few of the pitfalls you should look out for the next time you''re offered a store card...

• Buy now, pay within the next three months. Sure...great deal if you do actually manage to pay it off within that time. If not, some stores will charge you interest from the first day you bought!

• Ask questions: In a recent study, it was found that in one third of cases, information on the interest rate on the card (among other things) was not freely available.

• Don''t be tempted to take out expensive and often useless insurance. This can be a monthly amount of 1.5%. With interest repayments of 30%, you could end up with an annual rate of 56%!

• Also, steer clear of any payment protection insurance scheme. If you were to lose your job or couldn''t work due to illness or accident, you''ll find that this ''insurance'' generally only pays the minimum monthly payment, not the whole balance!

• Be on your guard. Staff will usually ask you to fill in the application form in store. In many cases the insurance box will already have been ticked and you will simply be asked to sign up for insurance.

• Study the terms and conditions carefully in the store. Staff have been known to refuse customers to take away the form.

Probably the worst thing about store cards is that it''s very easy to build up an array of them so that, before you know it, there seems to be more of them in your wallet than there are coat hangars in your wardrobe.

And in what seems like no time at all...

.. you''ve just spent way, way beyond your means!

If you feel you must buy on credit why not use a credit card with a low or even 0% rate? After all, if you''re going to have debts, you may as well make them cheap ones!

A store card might seem handy and convenient but they generally come with a horrendous hidden cost.

So next time you''re a tempted to take on another piece of plastic, make sure you get all the facts up front.

Your bank balance might just thank you for it.

Copyright © 2004 by Colin McCaig mailto:colin@cmcaig.com

About The Author

Colin Mc Caig is dedicated to helping others become debt free and start their own home-based business. Get his free 6-part mini-course. Learn the powerful secrets to becoming debt-free using only the money you have today. Send a blank email to: mailto:colindebtfre@demandmail.com', 127, 'Beware the Shopping Mall Monster, Credit, Credit articles, Credit information, about Credit, what is Credit, Credit Information', 'Beware the Shopping Mall Monster plus articles and information on Credit'

Read More....

If you''re like most people, you probably own at least one.

And like most people, you''ve maybe never thought what it''s really costing you?

At a recent conference held by the Fabian Society at London''s Imperial college, one of the issues discussed was happiness, and, more specifically, why it seems to elude so many of us.

One of the conclusions reached was that one of the greatest causes of unhappiness in the last 50 years has been people''s constant desire to raise their level of material wealth (especially in relation to others who have more).

As one speaker noted, ''We''re like children on a rainy Sunday afternoon, impossible to please. We have everything and nothing.''

You may disagree, but I can''t think of a worse modern symbol of this constant craving than the credit card.

Yes, I know, they might seem a godsend when payday isn''t for another week and a half. Having ''free'' money can be a fantastic thing...if you manage to pay it back on time that is...

If you''re like a great many, though, and only managing to make that minimum monthly repayment, here are 4 things to think about the next time you reach for that piece of plastic?

1 It''s very expensive!

2% interest a month may sound like peanuts but that equates to 24% per year. Let''s imagine, like me, you lived in the UK, and had an average balance of £8000 on your card... that would mean you were paying £160 a month interest. On the national average salary, that''s almost a week''s work!

2 It''s not your money

You''re actually paying someone else for the privilege of making you poorer! That hard-earned cash should be in your pocket, not some lender''s. How can you remain solvent if you''re continually spending money you don''t have?

3 Money burns a hole in your pocket

If you''re like me, I can bet you''ve met or know loads of people who always seem to have too much month left at the end of the money. Yet, I''ll bet you if they earned double or even treble their income, they would still find some way to squander it. It seems to be in our nature somehow.

When you are deciding what type of credit card to get it is important to compare credit cards to each other and find the best deal for you. There are a variety of different credit cards available, from low interest cards, cash back cards and even reward credit cards, it''s hard to decide what exactly the best credit cards are.

The best credit cards are generally going to have a few things in common. The first thing, being a low interest rate. Low interest cards can save you money over time, by not requiring you to pay large amounts of interest on your purchases. Some of the best credit cards in addition to offering a low interest rate will be reward credit cards. Reward credit card will give the user some sort of incentive for choosing their card to make a purchase rather than another. Rewards can vary from cash back to gift certificates at your favorite department store. Some cards will even offer actual merchandise or trips as rewards for using the card.

Compare different offers you receive for credit cards in the mail, and look for the credit card offer which is giving you the most perks for the least amount of money. Be sure to pay special attention to any membership or annual fees that the card may charge. Often credit cards with fantastic rewards will come at fantastic prices.

Sure, there are a lot of problems with credit cards, but there are a lot of good things attached to them as well. For instance, if you have a small business, fleet credit cards can keep your books in order when you issue them to drivers of company vehicles for gas and automobile repairs. On the other hand, it''s very easy to abuse department store credit cards. And it''s easy to have too many credit cards open at once.

Credit cards can be great for keeping your business in order; fleet credit cards are a tool you should use. With fleet credit cards, you can keep close watch on the expenses of your automotive fleet while building your company''s credit rating by paying off the card regularly; and because the cards are of limited use, it''s difficult for less-than-honest employees to abuse them. Company credit cards are also handy for keeping tabs on small expenditures, such as office supplies or luncheon meetings. But there''s a dark side to credit cards. When you start to slide into credit trouble, it''s often easier to get department store credit cards; and having too many department store credit cards can lead to missed payments and bad credit.

You don''t have to keep a balance on credit cards for it to count against you in your credit rating; instead, having a large amount of money available to use for credit can harm your application for large loans. And having several credit cards available to you makes it easy to either use too many credit cards for too many things, or to use the wrong, higher-interest credit card for your purchases. Either of these bad choices can cost you money and points against your credit rating.

One of the great mysteries of life is how the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union) score credit. They all have secret statistical formulas for determining your credit score, but they are unwilling to divulge exactly what, exactly, constitutes your score. This can make it difficult for people with problem credit to try to improve their score in hopes of obtaining a home or car loan later.

While the exact formula is a secret, there are a few things you can do that will undoubtedly improve your score:

Pay off a home equity line of credit. These loans, which allow you to borrow more than once against your home''s equity, are considered revolving credit, much like a credit card. Pay it down or pay it off; either should help your score.

Check your credit report regularly; you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report once a year. By looking over your credit report, you can make sure that debts you have paid on time are shown on the report, such as student loans, or auto loans that have been paid in full. You can also make sure that your credit limits on your credit cards are reported correctly. Lenders look at the ratio of debt to available credit, and if your reported credit limit is low, it could make it appear as though you are nearly at your credit limit.

Check for duplicate information on your credit report. If your mortgage has been sold to another firm, make sure that your report doesn''t show your mortgage twice.

Keep balances on credit cards and other revolving accounts low. You do not want to be seen owing too much money to too many different lenders.

When I received my first credit card in the mail at age 18 I was ecstatic, I said to myself, wow now I''m getting somewhere in life. This credit card company thinks I''m worthy of 500 dollars in credit. So I made my monthly payments like a good consumer and watched my credit limit grow. I thought boy this company must think alot of me to take such a risk. I however had no idea how the money came into existence. All I cared about was that as long as when I slapped the plastic down I was approved. Like most young people I had no idea what an interest rate even was much less how it effected my monthly payments. I was like a lot of kids in America today, my parents were not a big part of my early adult life and so I really didn''t have much guidance when it came to making financial decisions. The lessons I learned were hard and I continue to learn as each day passes.

After all what is credit? When you get that "Pre-Approved" application in the mail, does that mean that the credit card companies have been watching you personally and are rewarding you for having so called "good credit," Of course not, they are looking to make money just like any business, and they are making a lot of it.

Today there are thousands of people who are losing their homes, farms, and businesses because they do not understand the meaning of credit. This article will explain the difference between money and credit and will show you how the banks create "credit" and pretend that it is "money".

There has been a monetary debate in our country for some time now and that debate focuses on two central issues. First that only gold and silver are Constitutional money Article I Section 10 clause 1U.S. Constitution and second that the dollar is defined by the Mint Act of 1792, and that a Federal Reserve Note is not a dollar. There is a third area that is not well understood, but which is very important. It is the most important issue of all because 97% of our money supply today consists of bank credit whereas Federal Reserve Notes and coins consist of less than 3%.Today every bank loan in the United States can be legally voided because it is based on credit instead of money!

Have you ever been told you were over your credit card limit, or had your debit card declined, even though you knew you had available credit or money in your bank account? If this happened shortly after you stayed in a hotel or rented a car, the problem could have been card "blocking."

What is Blocking?

When you use a credit or debit card to check into a hotel or rent a car, the clerk usually contacts the company that issued your card to give an estimated total. If the transaction is approved, your available credit (credit card) or the balance in your bank account (debit card) is reduced by this amount. That''s a "block." Some companies also call this placing a "hold" on those amounts.

Here''s how it works: Suppose you use a credit or debit card when you check into a £100-a-night hotel for five nights. At least £500 would likely be blocked. In addition, hotels and rental car companies often add anticipated charges for "incidentals" like food, beverages, or gasoline to the blocked amount. These incidental amounts can vary widely among merchants. If you pay your bill with the same card you used when you checked in, the final charge on your credit card, or final amount on your debit card, probably will replace the block in a day or two. However, if you pay your bill with a different card, or with cash or a cheque, the company that issued the card you used at check-in might hold the block for up to 15 days after you''ve checked out. That''s because they weren''t notified of the final payment and didn''t know you paid another way.

Why Blocking Can Be a Problem

Blocking is used to make sure you don''t exceed your credit line (credit card) or overdraw your bank account (debit card) before checking out of a hotel or returning a rental car, leaving the merchant unpaid. Blocking is sometimes also used by restaurants for anticipated sizeable bills (like large groups at dinner or a party), by companies cleaning your home, and other businesses to ensure credit or account money will be available to complete payment.

Like me, you''ve probably been offered a fair old number of these by now...

..and, if you''re like most people, chances are you maybe own at least one or two.

They always seem to put in an appearance at just the right (or wrong) moment...

It might be Saturday and you''ve just seen the clothing item of your dreams.

That can be a pain, though, if this month''s paycheck isn''t due for another week.

You''re undecided.

Until, that is, you''re offered...

..a store card.

One of the horrible ironies about store cards is that the vast majority of people who sign up for one actually had no intention of making a purchase before they left the house.

But if you''re caught in the above situation, the convenience factor frequently wins the day, doesn''t it? Add on top of this all the little goodies thrown in as a sweetener...

An introductory discount on goods ? typically around the 10% mark ? extra money off during sales periods etc...

But let me tell you what the sales assistant probably won''t...

For starters, did you know that many department stores will currently charge you anything up to 30% interest on that little card they offer you? (yes, even those ones with the pretty pictures.) That''s around double the interest of your standard credit card!

Sound scandalous?

Well, hang around... it gets a lot worse!

Here are just a few of the pitfalls you should look out for the next time you''re offered a store card...

• Buy now, pay within the next three months. Sure...great deal if you do actually manage to pay it off within that time. If not, some stores will charge you interest from the first day you bought!

• Ask questions: In a recent study, it was found that in one third of cases, information on the interest rate on the card (among other things) was not freely available.

• Don''t be tempted to take out expensive and often useless insurance. This can be a monthly amount of 1.5%. With interest repayments of 30%, you could end up with an annual rate of 56%!

• Also, steer clear of any payment protection insurance scheme. If you were to lose your job or couldn''t work due to illness or accident, you''ll find that this ''insurance'' generally only pays the minimum monthly payment, not the whole balance!

• Be on your guard. Staff will usually ask you to fill in the application form in store. In many cases the insurance box will already have been ticked and you will simply be asked to sign up for insurance.

• Study the terms and conditions carefully in the store. Staff have been known to refuse customers to take away the form.

Probably the worst thing about store cards is that it''s very easy to build up an array of them so that, before you know it, there seems to be more of them in your wallet than there are coat hangars in your wardrobe.

And in what seems like no time at all...

.. you''ve just spent way, way beyond your means!

If you feel you must buy on credit why not use a credit card with a low or even 0% rate? After all, if you''re going to have debts, you may as well make them cheap ones!

A store card might seem handy and convenient but they generally come with a horrendous hidden cost.

So next time you''re a tempted to take on another piece of plastic, make sure you get all the facts up front.

Your bank balance might just thank you for it.

Copyright © 2004 by Colin McCaig mailto:colin@cmcaig.com

About The Author

Colin Mc Caig is dedicated to helping others become debt free and start their own home-based business. Get his free 6-part mini-course. Learn the powerful secrets to becoming debt-free using only the money you have today. Send a blank email to: mailto:colindebtfre@demandmail.com', 127, 'Beware the Shopping Mall Monster, Credit, Credit articles, Credit information, about Credit, what is Credit, Credit Information', 'Beware the Shopping Mall Monster plus articles and information on Credit

Read More....

If you''re like most people, you probably own at least one.

And like most people, you''ve maybe never thought what it''s really costing you?

At a recent conference held by the Fabian Society at London''s Imperial college, one of the issues discussed was happiness, and, more specifically, why it seems to elude so many of us.

One of the conclusions reached was that one of the greatest causes of unhappiness in the last 50 years has been people''s constant desire to raise their level of material wealth (especially in relation to others who have more).

As one speaker noted, ''We''re like children on a rainy Sunday afternoon, impossible to please. We have everything and nothing.''

You may disagree, but I can''t think of a worse modern symbol of this constant craving than the credit card.

Yes, I know, they might seem a godsend when payday isn''t for another week and a half. Having ''free'' money can be a fantastic thing...if you manage to pay it back on time that is...

If you''re like a great many, though, and only managing to make that minimum monthly repayment, here are 4 things to think about the next time you reach for that piece of plastic?

1 It''s very expensive!

2% interest a month may sound like peanuts but that equates to 24% per year. Let''s imagine, like me, you lived in the UK, and had an average balance of £8000 on your card... that would mean you were paying £160 a month interest. On the national average salary, that''s almost a week''s work!

2 It''s not your money

You''re actually paying someone else for the privilege of making you poorer! That hard-earned cash should be in your pocket, not some lender''s. How can you remain solvent if you''re continually spending money you don''t have?

3 Money burns a hole in your pocket

If you''re like me, I can bet you''ve met or know loads of people who always seem to have too much month left at the end of the money. Yet, I''ll bet you if they earned double or even treble their income, they would still find some way to squander it. It seems to be in our nature somehow.

We''ve all seen those quiz shows where the contestants win big money. What''s the first question they''re asked? Yep, that''s right, ''How are you going to spend it?'' I don''t recall many replying they would wisely invest it for their retirement.

These days, credit cards in the UK are competing with each other on two very attractive offers with a headline rate of 0%. These 0% credit cards will be either balance transfers; introductory purchases offers or a combination of the two. This article looks at how to get the best out these types of card and the things to that the credit card companies want you to do and therefore the things to avoid. There is a school of thought that believes that these types of card will soon be a thing of the past as they cost the credit card companies too much profit, as consumers get wiser to the pitfalls.

A balance transfer credit card is basically an offer of either a zero interest rate or very low interest rate for a set period. The typical period is 6 months although there are variations on this and there have even been some low rates set for the lifetime of the balance. However, these are becoming rare. Once, the offer period expires then the outstanding balance reverts to the standard rate on purchases. This is very important, as at this point the credit card company will hope the consumer will not take any action and so the company can begin to earn money on the balance.

A 0% purchase offer credit card has many similarities to the balance transfer offers. The introductory rate and period are usually 0% and 6 months in the same way as the balance transfer. Also, once the period expires the outstanding balance is subject to the standard rate on purchases. It is an important point to note that the introductory rate does not apply indefinitely on purchases made in the period, but only applies for the duration of the introductory period.

It is often the case that credit card companies will offer both the balance transfer and 0% on purchases on the same card. When this is not the case it is wise to keep balance transfers and purchases separate. This is because the balance transfer portion of an outstanding balance will be paid off quicker than the standard rate purchases. Therefore an increasing portion of the balance will be subject to the standard rate and the balance transfer portion will decrease at a faster rate. There is nothing to stop a consumer obtaining a credit card with a balance transfer and a separate low interest credit card for any purchases to be made. That way the benefits of the offers are maximised.

When you are deciding what type of credit card to get it is important to compare credit cards to each other and find the best deal for you. There are a variety of different credit cards available, from low interest cards, cash back cards and even reward credit cards, it''s hard to decide what exactly the best credit cards are.

The best credit cards are generally going to have a few things in common. The first thing, being a low interest rate. Low interest cards can save you money over time, by not requiring you to pay large amounts of interest on your purchases. Some of the best credit cards in addition to offering a low interest rate will be reward credit cards. Reward credit card will give the user some sort of incentive for choosing their card to make a purchase rather than another. Rewards can vary from cash back to gift certificates at your favorite department store. Some cards will even offer actual merchandise or trips as rewards for using the card.

Compare different offers you receive for credit cards in the mail, and look for the credit card offer which is giving you the most perks for the least amount of money. Be sure to pay special attention to any membership or annual fees that the card may charge. Often credit cards with fantastic rewards will come at fantastic prices.