Every adult in America is most likely carrying a credit card in the wallet. In fact more than 70 million people are using the plastic for transactions. That is too big a number to also say that these people are prone to be victimized by fraud and identity theft as well. Truth be told, scammers are just right there waiting for the next one to con.
If you worry about your credit card and your identity, then you might find these tips handy to keep you protected:
• Never carry all your cards when you leave the house. Carry only the ones you need and keep the rest in a safe place at home. This way, you are able to track all … (more) March 15, 2010
A secured credit card they say is the answer for those who have no credit history at all or for those whose credit rating is not too great. A secured credit card is provided for those who can afford to put in a cash collateral deposit that will serve as the credit line. Some banks even offer a percentage atop that amount as a limit. You as the card holder may charge up to the amount of your collateral deposit and you may also have an option to increase credit line. The collateral deposit may vary among banks – usually between $300 and $500 in deposits. There are times when you are awarded with additional credit line without depositing more … (more) March 14, 2010
A travel credit card carries several distinct privileges. Primarily, when using these cards, you can avail of free air tickets, free meals, and in most cases, even free hotel accommodations.
Sometimes known as air mile cards, a travel credit card is actually part of an extensive promotional scheme involving credit cards. Just like the mechanics of most promotions, these cards can only be used after earning the required points. In this case, once the needed points are earned, you can exchange these for free airplane fares.
The required number of points that will mean instant travel rewards depends on what has been set by credit card companies. Some require only a $5 purchase using your card and the needed points are instantly … (more) March 13, 2010
Years ago, when I needed to finish my thesis for my degree, I had to find an interviewee that will give light to some business tricks. Fortunately, my dad’s friend has his own company that does well to this day so I did not have a hard time finding a subject. One of the lessons he learned during his start-up days was to apply and use business credit cards the sensible way. These cards are actually great tools for the business but also must be used responsibly just like personal cards.
Business credit cards help build your company’s own credit history, your company being a separate entity. A good credit rating puts your reputation in a good light for your creditors … (more) March 8, 2010
Having married really early, my cousin is guilty of not learning the ropes around finances. She used to let her husband decide on financial matters, including scheduling of payments and which investments to make, among others. Now that they are freshly divorced, she knew that she will have to learn these things so she could start building good credit for herself. Now, she realizes that even if she was just a stay-at-home wife, she should have considered understanding how credit works. When she started reading about this a couple of weeks ago, she found out that she is not alone in the situation and that a lot of women suffer from the same dilemma. Along with this realization, she read … (more) March 7, 2010
To pay off debt faster and save a bit more money, people resort to balance transfers program of any bank where the interest rate is much lower than the existing card account. Some banks even offer 0% percent interest when you finally decide to take the leap to another financial institution. Keep in mind however that you also need to consider how the step may affect your credit score.
Some may not easily realize that balance transfers may cause some negative outcomes to your rating. While the formula to calculate credit scores is a top-secret, financial experts point out that these could be the factors by which credit bureaus come up with scores: 35% for payment history, 30% for outstanding balances, … (more) March 6, 2010
March 15, 2010 |
Credit Card General 
