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Posts Tagged ‘cards’

If you have never applied for a credit card before, there are things you will need to know about them. Credit cards can bring you a convenience which is unrivaled by using cash or checks. Despite this, using your credit card improperly and can lead to a financial hardship which is difficult to overcome. Many credit card companies will now allow you to apply for cards online. This has made it easy for people to compare credit card offers.

The first thing you want to do is look for a credit card which interests you. It should be a card which has a low interest rate, and you will also want to get cards which have no annual fees. Some companies offer an introductory rate of 0% APR for the first 6 months. There are a large number of reputable sites online where you can compare credit card offers side by side. Make sure that the site you use is encrypted.

When you apply for the card, you will need to have some basic information on hand. You will need your social security number, driver’s license information and your address. You may also have to submit your date of birth. Once you submit your application, the credit card company or bank will review it. The amount of time it takes for them to approve or reject your application varies. It could take a few weeks, and the better your credit, the faster the process will take.

When you go online, remember that not all websites may be secure. Look for sites which use an SSL encryption system. You don’t want to submit your personal information to sites you’re not sure about. You can apply for one credit card, or multiple credit cards. It is important to remember that having too many accounts could lower your credit score. There are limits to how many cards you can have, and this is usually based on your income. It is also not necessary to have a bank account in order to be approved.

If you have detailed questions, it is best to contact the customer service department. Shopping for credit cards online can allow you to compare the different offers available from the comfort of your home. You can look for the best interest rates and features. While shopping for credit cards online is fast, it is important to remember that some websites are fraudulent. Applying for credit cards has never been easier.

Ultimately keeping you credit card safe is you responsibility. Indeed, in a worst case scenario, if it can be proven you may have been negligent in keeping your credit card safe, you may find yourself liable for the cost of all transactions made fraudulent on your account should you lose the card. To help you avoid this, here are 5 basic credit card safety tips:

Never have more cards than you need

While it is always advisable that you have more than 1 credit card, in case it gets lost, you should never have more credit cards than you actually need to use. The principal reason why this is the case is because it becomes harder to keep a track of which cards you have and where you have kept them with the more cards you have.

Always keep a photocopy of your cards

How many times have you been asked what you card number is only to find yourself looking for your card to get the number? Now, what happens if you have a card stolen and no credit card statement to-hand? You have a problem! For this reason, it is always best practice to take photocopies of you credit cards to so that always know where to find the number should anything unfortunate happen to your card.

Always keep your receipts separate

Among the most important of the basic credit card safety tips you’ll receive is never to keep your credit cards and credit card purchase receipts in the same place – because likely as not if you have lost your card, or if it is stolen, then you’ll have lost or stolen the receipts as well. Now there is no way for you to vouch which transactions were yours and which where not – or, there is no way to tell which was the last genuine transaction you made.

Moreover, never keep a record of your PIN with your card, this is only asking for trouble!

Never give your account number to someone you don’t know

If you are ever asked to give your credit card details to someone you don’t know, or who as initiated a discussion with you (rather than the other way round) over the phone or via email, you should always refuse. Worst come to the worst, phone the card issuer and ask them if it is okay for you to divulge the information or phone the enquirer back. If the enquirer seems reluctant to accept this, you have to ask yourself why!

Never leave your account details open to public viewing

It may sound rather basic to say you should never let ‘Joe public’ see your credit card account details, but ask yourself this question: “How often have you received a publication subscription form in postcard format?” Now, suppose you complete this with your credit card details filled in. Suddenly half the world has access your credit card number, expiry date and signature!

Although the above may sound like 5 basic credit card safety tips you already know, you would be surprised to see how many people fail to follow one or all of them!

Buying a property usually means having a big mortgage, which will also mean having big debts, but it can also mean big savings. While most of us will accrue various debts as we go – credit cards, student loans, bank loans and overdrafts – taking a look at your existing mortgage arrangements could mean finding ways to better manage your debt.

In this article, we will discuss ways to reduce the interest you pay on your debt and release money from your investments are looked at, including second mortgages and remortgaging.

Debt Consolidation Analysis

The basic principle of debt consolidation is simple – using the assets you have (normally your property) either to raise cash or reduce your payments. Often you can get a lower interest deal, particularly as the market in recent years has become so fiercely competitive, with relatively low interest rates and ever more flexible arrangements. In an effort to attract new customers, lenders offer cut price deals if you switch.

Play It Safe!

Unfortunately, this is an area that carries the faint whiff of dodgy loan providers and there certainly are people out there who circle like vultures, offering instant debt solutions that turn out to be filled with hidden clauses and stiff penalties. Normally you should be able to spot these providers quite easily; they normally want up front payment of certain fees or are overly keen to get you to sign on the dotted line for a loan.

Debt certainly can cause problems for some people, and the short-term solutions can seem tempting. Be wary, however, of trying to solve debts by borrowing more – you could end up just making the long-term situation worse. Rather than panicking about monthly payments, try to look at your long-term plans.

Citizen’s advice bureaus or the National Debtline (0808 808 4000) are a starting point for sorting out the mess.

Financial Long Term

So, debt consolidation should be looked at as a way to update your finances, rather than a desperate attempt to keep your head above water. As modern living becomes ever more debt laden, and our economy relies more and more on clever, flexible borrowing, most of us are learning to live with our debt and manage our commitments without letting them get on top of us. With sensible planning, you could take advantage of some of the options.

You may find that existing loans are at a high rate of interest, and as a homeowner, you can qualify for a better deal. It can also make your finances simpler to manage, for example merging all your debts into one loan, with one monthly repayment every month can mean you are less likely to forget or lose track of what has been paid and what’s outstanding. As we lead busier and busier lives, the chance to streamline our finances and make things cheaper and more straightforward is an opportunity not to be ignored.

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