The Truth Bar

There are so many credit cards out there to choose from that deciding which one to get can feel really daunting. What makes one offer better than the hundreds of others you’ve seen? Take this little quiz to find out what you should look for in a card.

First, Are You a Student?

If you are, then you’ll be best off with a student card - you’ll probably have trouble getting accepted for anything else. It would be best to contact the bank where you have your student account before you do anything else.

Do You Have a Balance to Transfer?

If you do, then you need to be looking for a card with a low APR on balance transfers - preferably one that stays low for more than a few months, unless you intend to switch often.

Are You Planning to Make New Purchases?

If so, then pay more attention to the APR for purchases, which is usually entirely different to the one for balance transfers. You should also look at what kind of grace period different cards offer, so you don’t end up paying interest on your purchases straight away.

Do You Pay Off Your Balance In Full Every Month?

If you have a lot of money or you only keep a credit card for emergencies, then you might just pay it all off each time you get the bill. If you do, then you’re in a position where you obviously don’t need to worry about the interest rate much at all, since you won’t be paying any interest (make sure there’s a grace period, though).

Many people don’t realise, but the credit card company still makes money from you even if you pay no interest - the money shops pay to be able to accept credit cards. The credit card companies want to give you some kind of reward for letting them make this money without causing them any trouble, and you basically have a choice of three things:

Get cashback. For always paying everything off, they’re quite willing to throw a few dollars your way. If you spend much with the card, this can add up to a tidy sum.

Take vouchers. You might, for example, be able to earn points as you spend that get you money off flights, or other rewards.

Give it away. If there’s a charity or other cause you support, the chances are that you can donate money to them using an affinity card. This is a credit card that gives a very small percentage of each transaction to your chosen cause, and over time it adds up to a pretty decent donation for them.

Take Your Time…

Don’t let anyone pressure you into making a decision before you’re ready. Any offer that says it’s for a limited time only is one you should ignore, as there’s no reason to do it other than as a sales tactic. Think hard about your spending habits and what you want the card for, consider all the options you can find and then, once you’re sure, go for it.

Ken Austin is the webmaster at Debt Consolidation Solutions and Credit Relief Solutions

Raising your credit score can be a fairly simple and straightforward process unless you have derogatory marks that need to be disputed (which will be explained below).

The reasons for bad credit can be as follows, high balances, bankruptcies, late payments, and many others. The most significant thing you can do to raise your score is to change your financial habits. Chances are that if you have a bad credit score, you did something to make it that way. Here are some of the best ways to quickly raise your credit score:

1. The most obvious: pay off your debt! This doesn’t include a home mortgage, but revolving balances such as credit card debt, a car loan, etc.

2. Make every payment on time. This is the most important factor in your credit score rating. If you have had late payments in the past, it will take some time to see real results from your on-time payments, but keep it up, sooner or later the credit bureau will notice the change in your payment habits. Develop the mentality that no late payment is acceptable!

3. If possible, pay over your minimum amount. This is especially important with credit card balances, and will reflect a slight boost in your score.

4. If you have paid off all your debt, and your credit score seems to be at a stand still, you might want to make small purchases each month with your credit card and pay them off immediately. Often times the credit bureaus like to see at least some kind of activity. Otherwise, they have no way to gauge how you are doing financially.

5. Be patient! Sometimes repairing credit can be a long and arduous process. Especially if you have had a bankruptcy. It can often take the better part of a year or more to see any significant raises in your score.

Clearing a derogatory mark on your credit report:

This is probably the most difficult in regards to credit repair. If you have requested a copy of your credit report, and notice a problem (an example would be a late payment mark), that shouldn’t be there, you need to take action to get the derogatory mark cleared as soon as possible. It is extremely important to get your credit score cleared before you attempt to get prequalified for mortgage.

Here are the steps you should take:

First of all, if you are in contact with a loan officer, you may want to describe the problem you are having to them. They can be very helpful when it comes to credit repair, and should know exactly what to do if you have a bad mark on your credit that is a mistake. In some cases, they may even call the creditor for you to address the situation.

Second, you should call your creditor and each credit bureau to find out which course of action you should take. In most cases, writing a letter will do. Here is an example letter:

Date 00/00/00

Dear Big Credit Bureau,

This letter is a complaint that you are reporting inaccurate and/or incomplete credit information on my credit report.
I am displeased that you have included the below information in my credit profile that includes the following errors. Credit reporting laws ensure that bureaus report 100% accurate credit information.

The following information concerning my credit report needs to be re-investigated. I respectfully request to be provided proof of this alleged item on my credit report. If this cannot be provided, the item must be deleted from my report as soon as possible:

CREDITOR AGENCY, acct. 123-34567-ABC

The listed item is inaccurate and/or incomplete, and is a serious error in reporting. Please delete this information, and supply a corrected credit profile to all creditors who have received a copy within the last 6 months, or the last 2 years for employment purposes. Also, please provide the name, address, and telephone number of each credit grantor or other subscriber.

Under federal law, you have 30 days to complete your re- investigation. Be advised that the description of the procedure used to determine the accuracy and completeness of the information is hereby requested as well, to be provided within 15 days of the completion of your re-investigation.

Sincerely,
your signature

Your Name
SSN# 123-45-6789

Unfortunately, you will need to write 3 separate letters to each of the 3 major credit bureaus. Here are the contact addresses for each:

Trans Union
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
1-800-888-4213

Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
1-800-997-2493

Experian
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104
1-888-397-3742

Justin is the President of the Christian Real Estate Network - http://www.HisMove.com

A credit card allows you to buy things even though you might not have the money to pay for it right away. The company that gave you the card lets you spend up to an agreed sum and then makes additional money available to you as you pay off what you’ve spent. You must pay at least a minimum amount by the due date, generally once every month. You will pay a finance charge or interest on any amount you do not pay by the due date.

Today our entire financial system relies on credit. Credit cards can help to make your life that little bit easier- you can use it to pay for goods or services, either over the phone, online or over the counter.

Credit cards can enable you to have that little extra spending power when and where you need it. In addition to paying for purchases you can also use your credit cards in order to withdraw cash from a cash machine, not only in this country but all over the world.

It is increasingly difficult to operate in the modern economy without a credit card. Credit cards allow people to manage emergencies, to shop conveniently in the High Street, by telephone or over the internet and are useful when travelling abroad.

With each credit card you will have a limit to the amount of money that you can spend on it. This is known as a ‘credit limit’. You can withdraw money and pay for goods and services as much as you want up to your credit limit, effectively borrowing capital from your credit card provider.

Every month you will receive a credit card statement that will detail both your balance (the amount of money you have either withdrawn or spent) and any interest that has accrued upon it. You can then either pay off the full amount or make the minimum payment.

A credit card allows the cardholder to borrow as much money (up to their credit limit) as they like, when and where they like, without having to get permission from their bank manager.

All credit cards have finance charges for not paying your balance in full each month, but you could save a lot of money by shopping around for the credit card that offers you the best terms.

Shop for a card with an interest free period that gives you enough time to pay your bills on time without charging you interest. Credit cards with no interest free period start charging you fees as soon as you buy something on your credit card.

A credit card is convenient for making purchases. It is also the best way to create a credit history for you, and this is necessary to do things like buy a home.

It is very easy to lose control of your spending habits if you rely on credit cards too often. While they can be very useful, credit cards can also be risky. Even people who are usually good with their money get into trouble with credit cards. The problem is that people use their credit cards too often and let their debt add up. Then they can only pay back small amounts at a time. This ends up costing a lot of money in finance charges.

Before applying for a credit card, you should decide why you want one, and make sure you can use it wisely.

You may freely reprint this article provided the author’s biography remains intact:

About The Author
John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

For years, major credit card companies have allowed cardholders to make minimum payments of 2% of the outstanding balances on their credit cards. Having customers pay the minimum doesn’t reduce the balance by very much, but when the 18-30% interest rates that many credit cards charge is applied, the result is a profitable ones for the banks that issue credit cards. A balance of $1000 can take nine years to pay off at 20% interest if the borrower only pays the minimum due each month.

Clearly, it is not in the best interests of consumers to pay the minimum every month. But tens of thousands of Americans do just that, carrying huge balances and paying the minimum every month. The average household now carries $10,000 in credit card debt; for many people, paying the minimum is all they can manage. Due to changes in Federal law, several major credit card issuing banks will soon raise the minimum amount due to 4%. This might seem like a small increase, but if you are already deep in debt and paying the minimum amount, this could cause your payments to double. If you have a $10,000 balance and you are paying $200 per month, you will soon need to come up with $400 instead. Many people will find this impossible to do, as they are already paying as much as they can. What solutions are available?

The usual common sense rules of credit card use apply here. Stop using your credit cards. See if you can consolidate your debt on another credit card with lower interest. See if you can cut out some unnecessary expenses in order to free up some more money to pay your balance. Consider a home equity loan to consolidate your debt. Call your card issuing bank and see if they can work out repayment plan or lower your interest rate. There are numerous solutions available, but card holders need to be aware that the minimum payment is rising, and it isn’t going to come back down. By charging a 4% minimum, the credit card issuing banks are hoping that consumers will pay off their debt a bit sooner and that fewer consumers will find themselves in a situation where filing for bankruptcy is the only solution. And once October comes around, even filing for bankruptcy will be more difficult. Credit card holders with large balances on their accounts should give considerable thought to reducing their debt now, as payment options and requirements are going to be more strict from now on.

©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing.

Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling, and StructuredSettlementHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding structured settlements.

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It occurs when someone takes a piece of your personal information and uses it without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft. An all-too-common example is when an identity thief uses your personal information to open a credit card account in your name, or uses an existing credit card of yours.

Did you know that someone’s identity is stolen every 20 seconds?

In a recent survey by the FTC, 12.7% of American adults, or 27 million people, reported that they had become victims of some type of identity theft in the last five years. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years — and thousands of dollars — cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of their good name and credit record.

Personal Identity Theft: Key Facts

* Victims now spend an average of 600 hours recovering from the crime of identity theft, often over a period of years. Three years ago the average was 175 hours of time, representing an increase of about 2470%.

* While victims are finding out about personal identity theft more quickly, it is taking far longer than ever before to clear their records and recover from the situation.

* Even after the thief stops using the information, victims struggle with the impact of identity theft. That might include increased insurance or credit card fees, inability to find a job, higher interest rates and battling collection agencies and issuers who refuse to clear records despite substantiating evidence of the crime. This “tail” may continue for more than 10 years after the crime was first discovered.

* Approximately 85% of victims found out about the theft of their identity due to an adverse situation - denied credit or employment, notification by police or collection agencies, receipt of credit cards or bills never ordered, etc. Only 15% found out through a positive action taken by a business group that verified a submitted application or a reported change of address.

Read Below for Key Steps to Protect Yourself!

The question remains, where is a person the most safe to make a purchase using a credit card? We compare online, phone, mail and in-person purchases to see where the most identity and credit card theft occurs. Then we provide you the key steps to keep your credit cards and personal identity safe.

Phone Theft: Talk is Not Cheap

Peter Reid, portfolio strategist for EDS Security and Privacy Services, says that “while consumers have learned not to divulge information such as their Social Security number and debit card number over the phone…they are still naive and share significant amounts of information from the contents of their wallet — putting them at greater risk for identity theft and phishing.”

Over 70% of consumers freely provide personal information, such as their name, address, postal code, phone number, and account number, or give the answer to a security question, to an unsolicited call.

The price for not being aware is astonishing. For example, more than 38,000 people lost close to $15.4 million to the operator of a sophisticated-but fraudulent-telemarketing scheme. The man convinced timeshare owners to pay $400 for unit appraisals by relying on misrepresentations to win them over, such as promising the unit would be purchased once it was appraised. At sentencing, the judge stated that Postal Inspectors had uncovered “the most corrupt, the most extensive, and the most sophisticated mail fraud scheme this Court has ever seen.” Seven others, including three of the operator’s children and his son-in-law, were convicted for their roles in the scheme.

Be suspicious of marketing calls wanting to verify your address or phone number over the phone. Do not say yes at anytime during the conversation and hang up immediately!

In-Person Theft: How Much Are You Really Paying For Dinner?

Carrying and using your credit cards and other sources of personal information “in-person” appears to be by far the leading cause of stolen identity and credit card information. “In person” may mean you are right there when the theft occurs - such as with retail purchases at stores or someone “shoulder surfing” you while you’re at an ATM machine — or you left your personal information in a location vulnerable to theft.

According to 2004 research by Javelin Group, a respected retail and business research firm, over 30% of personal identity theft occurred because of a lost or stolen wallet, checkbook or credit card.

Meanwhile, nearly 25% of personal identity theft is due to a “friend” or relative who had personal access to the information, or a corrupt employee who had access to the information.

Offline transactions account for nearly 10% of such theft. A common scenario is going to out to eat at restaurant and paying with a credit card. The problem occurs when you receive your next credit card bill and see charges of several hundred dollars for things that you didn’t buy! At the restaurant the likely scenario is that the employee probably ran the credit card twice, once for the meal charge and a second time on a magnetic card reader. The employee then copied the data onto a blank credit card and sold it to a third person or used it personally. This is not limited to restaurants, of course - the threat exists at any retail location where you submit your credit card.

Garbage Theft: Your Trash is Another Person’s New Identity

Another common “live” location for theft of your identity - account for nearly 5% of such crimes according to the Javelin research - is the garbage.

If you fail to properly dispose of personal information containing account numbers, addresses, and dates of birth, you’re making it easy for “dumpster divers” to obtain valuable information and steal your identity.

Such garbage diggers will often target upscale neighborhoods. They pick up garbage bags on collection day, take them home and rummage through them for “the gold.” The gold can include pre-approved credit cards, discarded bills, and a host of other information containing social security numbers, credit card numbers and more. Tax season is an especially prosperous time for dumpster divers as people dispose of old receipts and financial records carelessly.

Mail Theft: Involved in Most U.S. Identity Theft

Identity theft is one of the most serious issues for the U.S. Postal Service, and of course for the general public.

Thieves check mailboxes looking for paid bills or credit card payments that people leave in their mailbox for the postal carrier to collect. They use information from these items to obtain credit or to purchase products and services in the victim’s name.

One story involves the operator of a sweepstakes scheme in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Postal Inspectors found that respondents to the mailings were called and told they were winners, but had to mail “taxes” or “Customs fees” to collect their money. Victims either received nothing at all or items vastly inferior to what was represented, losing $15,000 to $102,000 apiece in the scheme. The scammer agreed in March 2003 to cease and desist his mailings and pay the Postal Service $200,000.

Most identity theft somehow involves the U.S. mail - it crosses over to the “in person” theft described above because, beyond strangers robbing your mailbox, the friends, relatives or fellow employees who are stealing your personal information and credit cards are usually lifting it off of a piece of your U.S. mail.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has therefore become one of the world’s lead agencies in investigating these crimes. Postal Inspectors have jurisdiction to investigate and enforce more than 200 federal statutes involving the U.S. Mail. They are allowed to arrest anyone suspected of stealing mail or filing a false change-of-address order. But don’t depend on their measures for your peace of mind.

Postal Inspectors strongly advise people not to leave mail in their mailbox overnight or on weekends. Further, you should never leave your mail on your desk at work when you are not in the vicinity (or even exposed at home if you will be having friends or relatives over that you don’t trust 100%) Also, deposit outgoing mail at the post office and try to remove mail from your mailbox as soon as possible after delivery.

Online Theft: The Safest Place to Do Business is Online … If You’re Smart

Despite the fears of those unused to the (relatively) “new” frontier of the Internet,
online transactions account for less than 4% of identity theft! And almost all of that 4% is due to people not knowing the difference between a safe and secure website and one that may be “here today, gone tomorrow” … or just plain flimsy when it comes to safety of your personal information.

The key you must remember to make your chances of online identity/credit card theft close to zero is to only make purchases through reputable and technologically secure websites like SixWise.com.

When you are making a purchase from the store of a reputable website like SixWise.com, the data you input in the checkout process is encrypted by what is known as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) before it is sent over the Internet. This technology provides a very secure connection that keeps your data private during transmission over the Internet.

How can you tell if a website has the high-level personal encryption technology, SSL, in place for your personal information? When you are done adding products to your cart on a website and you enter the checkout process where your personal information is being requested, make sure the beginning letters in the URL (web address) at the top of your browser window have switched to “https:” instead of just “http:” If they have not, it is highly recommended you do not make a purchase from that website.

In total, computer crimes accounted for 11.6% of all known cases of identity fraud in 2004. Over half of these digitally driven crimes stem from spyware — software the computer user unknowingly installs to make ads pop-up when the consumer is online.

SixWise.com highly recommends you read the article, The World’s #1 Internet Threat May Be Robbing Your Identity Right Now … How to Effectively Detect, Eliminate and Avoid It, for tips - and a free program - to prevent identity theft by spyware.

How to Protect Yourself from Credit Card and Personal Identity Theft

Can you completely prevent identity theft from occurring? Probably not, but you can dramatically minimize your risk by managing your personal information wisely and cautiously.

Here are some tips to help protect you from credit and charge card fraud.

Do:

* Sign your cards as soon as you receive them in the mail, at a store, etc.

* Carry your cards separately from your wallet, in a zippered compartment, a business card holder, or another small pouch.

* Keep a record of your account numbers, their expiration dates, and the phone number and address of each company in a secure place.

* Keep an eye on your credit card during live transactions, and get it back as quickly as possible.

* Destroy carbon copies of your credit card bills.

* Save receipts to compare with billing statements.

* Open bills promptly and reconcile accounts monthly, just as you would your checking account.

* Consider replacing paper bills, statements and checks with online versions. Think about moving to an electronic bill payment service, such as your bank or biller’s web site, and stop sending signed paper checks through the mail. Visit the site(s) to monitor account activity on a regular basis.

* Sign up for automatic payroll deposits.

* Use and regularly update firewall and anti-virus software

* Notify card companies in advance of a change in address.

* Examine your credit card report from each of the three major credit-reporting agencies once a year. Report any credit card fraud to them. Equifax: 800-525-6285, Experian: 888-397-3742, TransUnion: 800-680-7289

* Shield your credit card number so that others around you can’t copy it or capture it on a cell phone or other camera.

* Before throwing out any statements containing your credit card (or social security) numbers, it is highly recommended you shred the documents

Do NOT:

* Lend your card(s) to anyone.

* Leave cards or receipts lying around, whether at home or at the office.

* Sign a blank receipt. When you sign a receipt, draw a line through any blank spaces above the total - this includes the space for “Tips” if you have not filled it in at restaurants.

* Write your account number on a postcard or outside of an envelope.

* Give out your account number over the phone unless you’re making the call to a company you know is reputable. If you have questions about a company, check it out with your local consumer protection office or Better Business Bureau.

* Discard a computer without deleting all sensitive data

* Respond to emails that request you provide your credit card info via email - and don’t ever respond to emails that ask you to go to a website to verify personal and credit card information. These are called “phishing” scams.

* Write your PIN number on your credit card or have it anywhere near your credit card (in the event that your wallet gets stolen).

For More Information

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357),

From the FREE SixWise.com e-newsletter, the Web’s #1 most read newsletter with original articles in all 6 areas of life leading to complete wellness.

Do you know why you should check your credit report?

Of course you do, because you have undoubtedly experienced one working in your life!

No matter where you roam, your credit report follows you through life, updating all aspects of your life: your employment, where you live, your opened credit accounts, your closed accounts, your payment history, and even public records on you.

In this country, a good credit history brings you benefits of all kinds–a home mortgage, an apartment lease, an auto loan, or even more credit–with ease.

Like a job resume, your credit file carries a lot of weight, that’s why you need to keep an eye on what it says about you.

Many options are cut off to you if you do not look “credit worthy” on paper. A bad report can mean higher rates on loans and insurance. It can also mean whether you get hired or promoted by a growing number of employers who now use them in the evaluation process.

Even if you think you have a good credit standing and you pay your bills on time, you still need to review your credit file for accuracy.

Studies have shown that credit files have an error rate as high as 70%, often the result of simple human or computer error.

Sometimes these errors show you being late in paying your bills when you are not. Your file might even leave out information that could sway a decision in your favor. The most common error is where damaging information of another person, with a similar name or account number, is mixed into your profile.

Monitor your personal credit file so that you are alerted whenever negative or derogatory items are reported against you.

A neglected credit file can lead to some major inconveniences in your life in the future.

You should fix mistakes or remove any incorrect information as soon as you find it. Errors that creep onto your report take time to correct. Catching these mistakes when they occur helps resolve them faster.

When you improve your credit worthiness you can qualify for better rates - which adds up to big savings for you.

Even if you think you have an unblemished past, checking your report lets you know what a future lender or employer will learn about you.

If your credit report is less than perfect now, you can deal with lingering problems effectively, and move towards a better credit standing in the future.

A good credit rating means more money in your pocket and less out the door!

** Attn Ezine editors / Site owners **
Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site so long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content and include our resource box as listed above. If you do use the material please send us a note so we can take a look.

Thanks,
Mary

(c) Mary Arce - All Rights reserved

Mary Arce is a consumer advocate and author helping Americans solve their credit problems and save massive amounts of money on mortgage and credit card interest. WHY are some people getting RICH managing their debt?

My email address: wealth@1st-wealth.com
Website: http://www.1st-wealth.com

Article is also available by email - send blank email to: checkreport@1st-wealth.com

Mark and Beth, a young married couple in their twenties, established a goal to buy a home within the first three years of their marriage before starting a family. They budgeted and used their money wisely in order to save for the down payment. Whenever they purchased something they always paid cash - no credit cards for them. Why waste money by paying interest to a credit card company?

Within two years they’d reached their savings goal and began house hunting. They found their “American Dream” home in a new community with lots of amenities that seemed perfect for their soon-to-be family. They were elated that their years of saving were about to finally payoff.

But, they ran into a big problem when they went shopping for a mortgage. Even though they had enough income to make mortgage payments and enough money saved to afford the down payment, they had no credit history. Lenders had no FICO score to evaluate their creditworthiness in order to offer them a loan. Fair Isaacs Co. established a credit scoring system in the 1980’s and since then FICO scores have been used to determine if someone will qualify for a mortgage and the interest rate they would pay.

Over 50 million U.S. adults fall into the same category - they have either too little credit history or no credit history at all. But now thanks to a new FICO formula, called FICO Expansion Score, lenders will now have opportunities to extend credit to consumers based on non-traditional credit data that are excluded from credit bureau reports.

FICO Expansion will consider a wide range of financial transactions including payment activities such as rental payments, deposit accounts, payday loans, book or CD club payment plans, and retail lay-away plans.

Who stands to benefit from this new scoring model? Anyone who makes little use of banks, credit cards, or checking accounts. The “credit underserved” claims Fair Isaac Co, which includes young adults, low-income consumers, widows or divorcees, and immigrants.

And while those in the credit card and mortgage industry see this new scoring model as a potential benefit, those in the credit counseling sector foresee potential problems.

Fair Isaac CEO Tom Grudnowski is excited about his company’s new credit-scoring resource. “This extension of the FICO score gives lenders and other businesses another powerful tool …, while expanding service options for consumers who have missed out on opportunities simply because they lack a traditional credit history.”

The opposition, namely debt and credit counselors, see both the good and the bad. Some consumers will benefit by qualifying for less costly credit arrangements. However, others could fall prey to becoming overextended unless they also receive some basic credit and debt education.

Tom Hicks, a credit counselor in Chicago, worries that “with the average American household owing $8,000.00 in credit debt, this could open the door to others finding themselves unable to handle credit properly. Ultimately the burden lies with the consumer,” he says.

Fair Isaac Co. estimates that at least half of those without traditional credit profiles will benefit from this new scoring method.

About The Author

© 2004, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com

Author: James H. Dimmitt

Discover more money-saving tips and articles in our free weekly ezine, “To Your Credit” by visiting http://tinyurl.com/bgo9.

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Are you one of the thousands pulling your hair out trying to figure out how you’re going to pay your credit card bills? Using your credit cards wisely and sensibly will help you avoid financial problems and establish a strong credit rating, so here’s some information to help you get your credit card problems under control.

Credit cards are convenient for buying things now and paying later. Credit card companies are in business to make money. Don’t forget that every time you use your credit card you are borrowing money. You will pay a finance charge if you don’t pay off your balance each month.

Millions of people use credit cards to avoid carrying large amounts of cash, for emergencies, to track spending, etc. However, charging more than your income allows can be worrisome and potentially devastating to your finances and your credit rating. The pitfalls of credit card use are the accumulation of large amounts of debt and the inability to make more than the minimum monthly payment.

It’s important to look out for your own interests. Some credit card companies have lowered minimum monthly payments to less than two percent of the balance. It could take 30 years or more to pay off your credit cards if you pay only the minimum payment. Debit cards should not be confused with credit cards. There is no credit extended with a debit card. The money is deducted directly from your savings or checking account. The bottom line is don’t spend more than you can afford to pay on a monthly basis.

Limit the number of credit card applications you fill out. There will be an inquiry into your credit report for each application you submit. Your credit report contains a record of every company or institution that has evaluated your credit. It reflects negatively on your credit score if you have an inquiry that does not lead to the issuance of a credit card. Obtaining too many credit cards can affect your ability to finance other purchases as well, such as homes or automobiles. Too much available credit can cause suspicion in the eyes of a lender as to your ability to repay your potential debt.

Consider what you are looking for in a credit card such as the interest rate, annual fee, grace period, and credit line. Be wary of companies offering cards with a low introductory interest rate that often lasts for only a brief period of time, after which they become considerably higher. The average interest rate for credit cards is over fifteen percent. Choose a credit card with no annual fee. Credit card issuers are paid a percentage from the vendor each time you make a purchase. Many companies have waived the annual fee to attract customers. Avoid cards offering a high credit limit. There is great potential to overspend. Instead, pay down your balance before using your card to make additional purchases. Send in your payment well ahead of the due date. Issuers may charge late fees, and late payments could result in a considerably higher interest rate than the advertised rate.

So the bottom line is by using your credit cards wisely you can reduce adverse effects of credit cards and maximize the benefits by spending wisely, using self-discipline, and paying off your balance as quickly as possible to avoid unnecessary fees.

About The Author

© Noel Hynes is the owner of http://1st-for-credit-cards.com. Easy online credit card applications.

Let’s be crystal clear, right up front. Paying someone to “fix” your credit is a waste of your time and money, since the negative issues that are temporarily removed from your file will only reappear again in a couple of months.

Be careful with credit repair scams.

Most “credit repair” companies really don’t help. In fact, you can improve your credit more effectively on your own. By using credit repair companies, you may also be opening yourself up to identity theft, unsolicited emails, and direct mailings. Protect yourself; don’t ever share your personal information with strangers or give up your right to handle your own financial affairs as you see fit.

Another important point: credit counselors only promise to get you out of debt, not to improve your credit. Some companies will have you send them a check every month, out of which they’re supposed to pay your creditors for you. However, some credit counselors will often pay your bills late, which means that your credit report soon becomes filled with “over 30 days late” notations and your credit score drops even lower than it was.

“Debt negotiators,” posing as non-profit organizations, can ruin your credit even further, advising you not to pay your credit card bills at all. They also charge upfront fees, maintenance fees, and monthly fees, all of which are supposed to be placed in a “trust” account. Then, after many months have passed, debt negotiators finally convince creditors to settle for less money than was owed, making yours an “uncollectible account.”

That tactic not only ruins your credit, due to the many “over 90 days late” remarks and collections notations, but all the money you supposedly saved — which was actually money you owed — will be considered as income by the IRS! In other words, if you owed $20,000 and settled for $12,000, you’d be required to list the $8,000 difference as income!

Credit repair companies promise to help clear up your credit problems. They write letters to credit bureaus, stating that various listed information is false, so the agencies will remove that information while they investigate your account. During that time, the credit repair company sends you a clean credit report, thereby giving you the false impression that you now have good credit. But after you’ve paid off the credit repair company, you’ll discover that all the negative items will soon reappear on your report.

Remember: only incorrect items must be removed from your credit report if they’re proven to be false. If the black marks on your credit report are correct, no one can have them removed, regardless of what credit repair companies may try to tell you. Working with collectors to remove negative remarks is possible, but that’s another article.

Some credit repair agencies can probably do a reputable job removing items that are truly incorrect, such as: items after a bankruptcy that should have been removed, double items, children’s items on parents’ reports, and paid-off items that still show past due. Some people really just don’t like dealing with this kind of thing, so a reputable credit restoration company can help with these problems.

If you’re seeking legitimate financial help to buy a home, the best place to turn is to a mortgage broker. They’re the ones who can offer you the best FREE advice for settling credit disputes and problems, so when you find yourself in difficulty, consider using a mortgage broker as your credit counselor.

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm

When thinking about cell phones, there are consistently the famous few that pop into our minds and are the most used, obviously I was thinking of 3G, 02, Orange, Tmobile the well known Vodafone.

Founded in the 1980s as Rascal Telecom, the mobile firm then grew independent in 1991. Situated in Berkshire UK; the mobile organisation are the biggest mobile company in the world by sales and has value in the market of pretty near to 79 billion pounds. The mobile firm has equity interests in more than twenty countries around six continents, 186 m proportionate clientele and 33 partner networks.

For more than twenty years they have been in the forefront of the mobile phone innovation. The organisation is used by so many users for the reason that the organisation is rather recognised for their amazing service. The mobile corporation channels great investments into creating a telecommunication network that lets every one of their mobile phone customers dial additional telephone calls from more spots than any other network, at low rates and whilst continuing to continue supplying top quality and reliability to all there customers. In the last 3 years they have cut there costs more than five times, this is the equivalent of them cutting their costs and services by 50 per cent per client. The retailer has enlarged its range of bargain mobile phones and introduced further flexible payment schemes. Vodafone mobile phones are available from MobileShop, visit for the latest deals.

Mobile phone technology is improving at a fast speed every week. The mobile firm is aware that their users are their main concern and therefore Vodafone have to make sure that the mobile phone customers can use all the products safely and confidently. What makes the mobile firm the prominent company to choose is that the retailer actually care about their clients. Even if you do have a query there’s no need to dread calling as their call centres are located in the United Kingdom and are able to assist you come up with a solution to all your problems and queries wonderfully quickly. The corporation routinely ask their mobile phone clients about their problems of using the retailer as their specific cellphone network and what they can do to make it better for their clients.