Best Credit Card Offer When Traveling
March 8, 2010
Statistics show that women are now getting closer to becoming financially independent; they now enjoy the benefits of spending their own money in whatever way they want to spend it. Thanks to the benefits that credit cards can bring nowadays as far as finances are concerned.
Some people know them better as financial freedom cards.
With the fast-paced lifestyle that people have these days, the utilization of credit cards seems to have a great impact on the financial status of every individual.
In fact, with the proliferation of credit cards in the market today, more and more people are applying to obtain a credit card for their own use. No wonder that credit card growth is skyrocketing, with more than 80% of American household owning at least one credit card.
Given these facts, credit card companies dominate the market today. With many hundreds of credit card offers being advertised in print and broadcast media, people are sometimes confused which credit card could work best for them.
With so many credit card offers available in the market today, choosing the best credit card can be really tricky. Almost anywhere you look, credit card companies will load you up with freebies and benefits galore when you apply for their card.
Most of the credit card offers are so tempting that many people are encouraged or enticed to obtain a credit card even if their lifestyle will not permit them. Some people will apply even if they do not need a card at all.
However, with these tempting credit card offers, choosing the right card is the best thing that you can do to ensure that you get the card that meets every need when traveling.
If you are considering any credit card offers, now is the time for you to learn how to choose the best. Here are some ideas to help you:
1. Do your homework
Know more about credit cards. Try to learn more about the credit limits, annual percentage rate, and charges that go with every package.
Keep in mind that there are credit card offers that are bundled with some tricky credit card charges. What is the late or penalty fee? Is there a grace period to pay the charges? Is there a statement charge per month? Be aware when considering some of these options because otherwise you will never know what charges have hit, until you have made an inadvertent mistake with your card.
As they say, a well-informed decision is a smart decision.
2. Know the offers
The other advantages of having an international credit card instead of hard cash? Some credit cards allow billing in local currencies.
As in the regular use of credit cards, charges made during your trip abroad allow for a more flexible payment schedule. You do not have to fork over paper money to that shoe store sales clerk in Bangkok right away, for instance. In some cases, you can even pay in installments for your charges.
However, not all credit cards can give you this kind of benefit. So, if you often need this kind of advantage, try to look for a card that can provide this service in their credit card offer.
3. Customer support
When evaluating credit card offers, do not just be concerned with the freebies, low interest rates, and other incredible credit card perks. Whenever possible, opt for those that can give you 24 hour a day, 7 day a week customer service.
Some credit cards can offer you this. When you travel abroad, you do not have to wait for regular business hours in the United States to get help. Many credit card companies offer 24/7 customer service. Make sure you know when you can get service, and how fast you can get a replacement card if yours is lost or stolen.
So the next time you receive a new credit card offer, remember to use these tips. Go for the best experience when traveling by choosing a credit card that meets your needs.
Balance Transfer Credit Cards – Benefits and Detailed Descriptions
March 6, 2010
A Balance transfer credit card helps the consumers to move an outstanding balance from one credit card to another. This process also helps the consumer to get lower APR. Balance transfer helps the consumers in many ways. By Transferring high balance from the current credit card to a 0% interest rate offered card, the consumer can save a lot. By considering the benefits, we can name the balance transfer credit cards as best financial tools. There are hundreds of new balance transfer credit cards are introduced. Lets see their benefits and detailed descriptions.
Discover® Open Road Card: This card offers 0% Intro APR for purchases and Balance Transfers for 12 months. Provides full 5% Cashback bonus on gas and auto maintenance purchases. Up to 1% Cashback Bonus on all other purchases automatically. Provides unlimited cash rewards that never expire. There is no annual fee. Provides $0 fraud liability guarantee and easiest online account management options. The card members can DOUBLE their Cashback Bonus (turn $20 into $40) when they redeem for gift cards or certificates from many of the 70 brand name partners.
Discover® More Clear Card: This card offers 0% Intro APR for purchases and Balance Transfers for 12 months and 5% cash back bonus on purchases in popular categories that change four times a year like home, apparel and more. Provides up to 1% cash back bonus on all other purchases automatically and unlimited cash rewards that never expire. Provides $0 fraud liability guarantee and easiest online account management options. There is no annual fee and the card members can DOUBLE their cash back bonus (turn $20 into $40) when they redeem for gift cards or certificates from 70 brand name partners.
BoatU.S.™ Platinum Plus® Visa® Card: This card offers 0% Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)on balance transfers and cash advance checks for the first 12 billing cycles. The card user can earn 1 point for every net retail purchase dollar spent and also he can redeem points for travel, merchandise, gift certificates, and cash. Provides Access to the MyConciergeSM service, a unique personal assistance service. There is absolute fraud protection against unauthorized use, online and offline. And there is no annual fee.
Chase Platinum Visa® Card: This Card offers 0% Intro APR for up to 12 months on purchases and balance transfers. The time period for the introductory APR and the balances to which it will apply will be based on the review of applicant’s application and credit history. There is no annual fee. Provides Flexible Rewards Program like the the card member earns one point per dollar spent. Provides redeem for the card users choice of Cash Back, Merchandise, Travel or Gift Cards. Also provides FREE Online Account Access and FREE travel services including Auto Rental Insurance and worldwide Travel Accident Insurance.
Bank of America Visa® Platinum Plus®: This card offers 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 6 months. There is no annual fee. Offers Credit lines as high as $25,000, Online Banking Service and total security protection.
Citi® Driver’s Edge® Card for College Students: This card offers 0% APR for Six months on purchases, Cash Advances, and Balance Transfers – No Balance Transfer Fee with this Offer. Helps the card members to build credit history and the card users will earn rebates towards any car, new or used. Provide offers like, Get Cash for Miles Driven and free online account management.
Blue from American Express®: This card offers Fee-Free Rewards Program and 0% APR for up to 15 months. There is no annual fee. Provides low balance transfer APR – 4.99% Fixed APR for the life of the balance. Actuallly Blue is named as the card members launch pad to standout shopping and entertainment rewards and one-of-a-kind experiences.
Citi PremierPassSM: This card offers 0% APR on Balance Transfers for Twelve Months and the card member will get 5,000 Bonus Points after the first purchase. The card member will earn one point for every dollar spent on purchases and also earn one point for every three miles flown on any Airline. There is no annual fee.
TripRewards® MasterCard® Credit Card: This card offers 0% introductory APR on balance transfers and cash advance checks for the first 12 billing cycles. The card member earn 2 points for every $1 in net retail purchases and earn 13 points for every $1 spent for qualifying TripRewards hotel stays. There is no annual fee. Provides 24-hour online access and Absolute Fraud Protection.
Blue Cash® from American Express: This card offers up to 5% Cash Back with unlimited Cash Rewards and unlimited cash back earnings. Offers 0% Intro APR for 6 months and low balance transfer rate – 4.99% fixed APR for the life of the balance. There is no annual fee.
Blue Sky® from American Express: This card offers Redeem points to save on any airline, hotel, rental car or cruise – and there are no blackout dates or travel restrictions. The card member earns 1 point for every dollar spend. There are No blackout dates, no travel restrictions and there is no annual fee. Provides 0% intro APR. The card users get world class cardmember benefits including Travel Accident Insurance, Buyers Assurance Plan, and Return Protection.
SkyPoints™ Credit Card from Delta and American Express: This card offers discounts on Delta and Song® flights for as few as 3,000 SkyPoints. And the card member get up to 2,500 SkyPoints with his first purchase. Also provides double SkyPoints on everyday purchases. The card member get one SkyPoint for every other eligible dollar spent. And there is no annual fee for the first year — a $49 savings.
JetBlue Business Credit Card from American Express: This card offers 25 TrueBlue points, worth 1/4 of a free flight, after the first purchase and double award dollars on JetBlue purchases, gas, wireless phone charges, and other business needs. Provides $50 statement credit after the first purchase and 5% savings on all JetBlue flights purchased directly, using JetBlue Business Card. Automatic discounts at leading merchants through the OPEN Savings program. Provides protection on travel, Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance, Baggage Insurance, and more.
Bank of America Visa Signature® with WorldPoints™: This card offers 0% Intro (APR)on balance transfers and cash advance checks for the first 12 billing cycles. The card members will earn 1 point for every dollar spend in net retail purchases. The points are redeemable for cash, brand name merchandise, travel with no blackout dates, dining certificates and more. There is no annual fee. The card members can take advantage of preferred seating – Visa Signature Access gives the card user an exclusive entry to exciting events as well as the best seats at sports, entertainment, and cultural venues. Provides ability to reserve last-minute tables at popular restaurants – Visa Signature Dining makes it easy to get preferrred reservations, discounts, and special offers at the nation’s hottest restaurants. The card member enjoy more savings and more extras and will get discounts at select merchants, valuable upgrades, and savings of up to 50% on accommodations at spectacular places.
Efectiva™ Visa®: This card member will earn points towards cash back. This card offers 0% (APR) on purchases and balance transfers for the first 6 billing cycles. The card member earn 5 bonus points with the first purchase. Additional advantage is that the card member get bilingual communications and services in English or Spanish. There is no annual fee.
Citi PremierPass® Card – Elite Level: This card offers low APR on balance transfers for 12 months. The card members will earn 1 Flight Point for every mile they fly on any airline — or anyone else whose ticket bought with the card, Earns 2 Purchase Points for every dollar spend at gas stations, supermarkets, and drugstores, plus earn 1 Purchase Point for every other dollar spend. Provides unlimited companion travel (minimum fare requirements apply). The card members can redeem points for: flights on any airline with no blackout dates. Provides retail gift cards, electronics, and even statement credits through ThankYou Network, the free rewards program from Citi. Exclusive bonus offer is the card member earn 15,000 bonus points after his first purchase is made within 60 days of account opening.
AT&T Universal Platinum Card: This card offers 0% APR on Balance Transfers for Twelve Months – a Balance Transfer Fee Applies with this Offer. The card member save on Phone Services used everyday and provides up to 30 free phone Minutes per month – Anytime, Anywhere. And there is no annual fee.
Union Plus® MasterCard: This card offers FREE rewards program designed for hard-working union members. The card members get 2,000 bonus points after first purchase, more than halfway to a $25 Gift Card. Also earns 1 point for every dollar spent anywhere and Earns 2 Points for every dollar spent at gas stations, grocery stores, and drug stores. There are no balance transfer Fees and APR stays FIXED until the balance is paid in full. There is 1.99% introductory APR on new purchases. There is no annual fee and no liability for unauthorized use.
Getting Approved For Your First Unsecured Credit Card
March 5, 2010
Credit cards are considered as one of the necessities in today’s life. Besides, with a credit card, you can literally purchase any product or services without having money in your pocket at all. No longer will you run the risk of getting your money stolen by simply having a credit card.
However, with all the advantages that a credit card can give you, you will find that it is quite difficult to apply for a credit card and getting approved. There are a lot of things you have to consider before a credit card issuer or a bank can get you approved for a credit card.
The first thing you need to know and need to have when applying for a credit card is a good credit rating. Your credit rating is one of the essentials that a credit card issuer or a bank will look at in order to get you approved for a credit card. By having a good credit rating, you will be sure that you can get yourself approved.
However, if you don’t have any credit history or a bad credit rating it will relatively be hard or even impossible for you to get approved for a credit card. In order to obtain a credit history or repair your credit rating, you can always apply for a secured credit card.
Unlike an unsecured credit card, it will require you to deposit money on an account. The amount you deposit will be the credit limit for a secured credit card. You will also receive a monthly billing statement like an unsecured credit card.
You have to remember that a prepaid credit card and a debit card are different from a secured credit card. Debit card and prepaid credit cards will never repair or build your credit rating.
One main disadvantage of a secured credit card is that it will usually have a high interest rate than most unsecured credit cards. However, it is also a great way to control your credit card purchases. It is also a great way for you to become a responsible credit card holder and help you prepare to own an unsecured credit card.
Not only that, it will also help you build a good credit rating or help you repair a bad credit rating. With this kind of feature, you will definitely get yourself prepared to own an unsecured credit card.
Owning a credit card will also mean being more responsible for your purchases. With a secured credit card, you can train yourself to be a more responsible credit card holder. This is because, aside from the advantages that an unsecured credit card can give you, there are some people that buy irresponsibly. The feature that a credit card offers will usually tempt people to buy things that they don’t really need and will often result in getting into huge amounts of credit card debt.
By first getting an unsecured credit card, you will be sure that you can be a more responsible credit card holder.
So, if you want to apply for an unsecured credit card, getting a secured credit card first is recommended if you don’t know what you are getting into or if you want to build a credit history or repair your credit rating.
Credit Card Debt Management – Negotiating your Way to Financial Freedom
February 22, 2010
Credit card negotiation is something that the average credit card holder can and should do on a regular basis. Sure, there are numerous financial planners, tax lawyers, and debt consolidation companies that will gladly handle the negotiations for you; but if the idea is to put yourself in a better financial position, why would you pay someone to do what you can do yourself? This article explains how credit card companies make their money, why they are willing to negotiate, when to negotiate, and how to negotiate a better deal on your credit cards. There is even a bit of a script included, in case you are unsure of what to say in your first negotiation.
How the Credit Card Companies Make Money
A credit card gives you the ability to spend money that is not yours. Of course, you have to pay it back, and unless you pay off the entire balance within the first billing cycle, you will pay interest on the amount of your debt. That interest is one of the primary sources of revenue for credit card companies, but it is by no means the only source.
According to CreditCards.com, the credit card industry took in a whopping $43 billion in late payment fees, over-limit fees, and balance transfer fees in 2004. That is enough to support the entire industry, though you will never hear the CEO of a major credit card company admit it.
Let’s talk about the people who do not incur late fees, over-limit fees, or balance transfer fees, and who keep their accounts in good standing. They usually have above average credit limits and below average interest rates. Why do credit card companies treat them so well if they are making so little money from these people? If they pay their balances in full each month, the credit card companies don’t even get to collect finance charges; the credit card companies make zero from these folks, right? Wrong!
When a business sets up a merchant account, which gives them the ability to accept credit cards, they sign a contract allowing the credit card companies to collect a small fee for each transaction. This fee generally ranges from five cents to half a dollar; but when you consider how many millions of credit card transactions are executed each day, you can see that it adds up! The fact that credit card companies have several methods of generating revenue is exactly what gives you the opportunity to negotiate with them. They are not one-dimensional with their finances, and neither should you be.
Why Credit Card Companies Will Negotiate
Credit card companies make scads of money from their worst customers through late-payment fees and over-limit fees. As we now can see, their best means to make money from their best customers is to entice those customers to use their cards more often. A savvy consumer can use that fact to his or her advantage.
When to Negotiate
First, be sure your account is in good standing. To be in good standing, your account should meet these criteria:
- No late payments in the past six months
- No over-limit penalties in the past six months
- The account must be open for more than six months (obviously)
If you are not there yet, get there. If your most recent payment was a late one, don’t get discouraged. Buckle down, get organized, and start making those payments on time. If you have to wait six months before you can begin negotiating, remember that financial success is an endurance race, not a sprint.
Once your account is in good standing, you are ready to call up your credit card company, unless you have too recently negotiated a new deal. Here again, the rule of thumb is six months between negotiations. You may be able to get away with once every three months with some credit card companies, but do not call more often than that. If you call too frequently, the best that could happen is nothing, so don’t waste your time. Simply make a note in your calendar or planner to call your credit card companies twice a year.
How to Negotiate Your Credit Card Terms
Negotiating with your credit card company for better terms is easy, and there is no reason why every cardholder in good standing does not do this regularly. Even if you are neck deep in credit card debt, you can get a better deal as long as you make your payments on time and do not spend over your limit.
To begin, you will need your most recent credit card statement and your credit card number. Call the customer service number and push whatever buttons you have to push to speak to a human. Now, here is your script, starring “You” and the credit card company customer service “Rep.”
Rep: Hello, thanks for calling Acme Card Services, how can I help you today?
You: Hi. I was just reviewing my account, and I think my APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is a bit high. I would like to have it adjusted, please.
At this point, either the rep will begin reviewing your account, or he will transfer your call to the appropriate department. In any case, you will likely be placed on hold once or twice. It is a good idea to have twenty to thirty minutes free when you call.
Rep: Yes, I see you have been maintaining your account well, so we should be able to help you.
The rep will then make you an offer. Is it the best offer you can get? Probably not. Be prepared to make a counter-offer.
You: Hmm, 15.9 percent, you say? I was really looking for about 13.9 percent. Is that possible?
Your counter-offer should be aggressive, but not ridiculous. You may have a target number in mind before you dial the phone, or you may take whatever number the rep gives you and drop it by one or two percentage points. The worst-case scenario is that you will end up with the rep’s first offer; more likely, you will get a compromise offer that you will happily accept.
This simple, twice yearly procedure can save you several thousands of dollars in interest over the years. Knowing how the credit card companies make money helps you understand why they can give you a better deal. The script above, though simple in form, is all you need. It is your financial future. Don’t squander it – pick up the phone and start bending it to your advantage!
Accountant New York: Solve Your Accounting Problems
February 21, 2010
The most time consuming, tedious and the most crucial aspect of any business is accounting. Whether a business is small or large, it needs the help of accounting or bookkeeping. Accounting is a task in which expertise is required. The person who manages the accounts of the firm has to be reliable. One can always hire a professional expert and his services in order to reap benefits in the company. Accountant New York is one such service provider which can help you get rid of the problems in maintaining books of accounts.
In order to run a business, there is requirement of a lot of management and expertise. It is not merely a child’s play. The professionals at accountant New York prepare a daily record of accounts so that all the financial records of the business are properly maintained and one gets the best from these professional accountants. By handing over the work to accountant New York, one can be rest assured that the work will be done in a proper manner. Maintenance of daily record of transactions is crucial to draw conclusions about the financial status of the business. Accountant New York helps in accomplishing this task. Since a business owner has to see all the aspects of business, so there is very less time left to see the accounting work. Giving the work to accountant New York, he can reduce his workload.
An accountant who is hired from accountant New York firm is ready to work towards the profits of the clients whom he is serving. The accountants at accounting New York firm are specialized in their work and have an updated knowledge about the changing accounting rules and regulations. They work and maintain the books of accounts according to the changing rules and regulations. The software used by the professional accountants is latest and up to date. The accountants at accountant New York provide all crucial details of a transaction that the firm has to bear in a particular time period. The task done by the professionals at any accounting firm involves keeping a check on the invoice generation, billing statements, payment records, trial balance, profit and loss account, balance sheet etc. It is the working of the accounting department that can make or break the success of the business. Accounting department has to be conscious and alert about any transaction that the company bears.
In case of maintaining accounts, accuracy is needed. Accountant New York takes into consideration this important aspect. By hiring an accountant from accountant New York can not only help the business to get the accurate accounting details but also helps to relax and have an eased out accounting session. Accountant New York acts as a guide towards a successful business. Professionals working at accountant New York are thorough with all aspects of accounting and book keeping, so they can prepare the books of accounts in the most efficient manner. A highly efficient accountant can give the business a right direction. The professionals at accountant New York fully understand the concept of your business and can help the business to reach new dimensions.