Entries tagged cards

Learning About Cash Back Credit Cards: Good or Bad Idea?

Published: Mar 2nd, 2010 | Author: Alex Bhaswara Add Comment

Well, there are cards that give you free cash, but it is usually only around 1% cash back. However, free money is free money, right? Well, sometimes.

If you like to buy a lot of things in one month, this kind of credit card probably sounds great to you. However, you need to keep in mind that they are not going to give you cash back on every purchase that you make. Even if they claim to give you cash back on every purchase, they will only give you up to a certain amount per transaction. The company also has a strict limit on the amount that they will give back to their customers. If you read the little, bitty print on the form that you signed, you will see a paragraph with their limits in the terms and agreements.

This is another way to try to draw in new customers for these companies. It is a good credit card to have and sounds great in theory, but they will have to check your credit rating before they will give you their card.

Research different credit card companies to see what they are offering. You may be surprised to find a cash back credit card that offers you just what you need and want with a high cash back percentage, few limits on the amount they will give you back, and instant cash deposits when you make each purchase with their card.

Although these credit cards seem like a great thing to have, some companies will need your credit rating to be great too. However, there are credit card companies that offer these cards to people with a low credit rating to help them rebuild their credit. Research all of your options.

What should your decision be? If you have a good credit rating, then this card is a great option for you. Research different card companies – there are cards out there that offer you up to 3% cash back and impose very few limits. If, however, you have a bad credit rating, you may want to find a credit card that will help you rebuild your credit.

http:/www.surfnfind.info

About the Author:

We are a tips website with tips on how to make money as an affiliate,finance tips,travel tips,car tips,computer tips,shopping tips,video tips, and much more.

Current accounts can be switched too

Recent events in the world economy have forced many people to take stock of their finances and realise just how reliant they are on credit. While mortgages, loans and credit cards may be grabbing all the headlines, it is important to remember that overdrafts can cause just as many problems.

And with people being advised to make sure the money they do have is working for them as well as it can, it could be that a customer should consider finding the best current account rate to be just as crucial as comparing the likes of credit cards.

Last week Santander was attracting attention to new savings rates being offered by its three brands – Abbey, Alliance & Leicester (A&L) and Bradford & Bingley – but now it has turned its attention to current accounts.

This week the interest rate being offered for Abbey’s preferred in-credit rate product, as well as two A&L accounts, rose from five per cent to six per cent – the level being fixed for a period of one year.

Gillian Almond, speaking on behalf of the banks, noted that other lenders are offering rates as low as zero per cent, while nearly nine out of ten customers are benefiting from less than a 0.5 per cent return.

“With the Bank of England base rate being at an all-time low, we know consumers are increasingly shopping around to make the most of their money. By switching to a current account customers could earn 60 times more than the interest they can get from other high street banks,” she added.

This was a point also made by Moneyfacts.co.uk finance expert Michelle Slade, who described the six per cent rate as being “streets ahead of the rest of the market”. She urged customers to recognise the importance of current accounts and consider switching, something a current account comparison could help achieve.

But one crucial thing to bear in mind could well be overdrafts, as those who find themselves in financial difficulty may have to rely on them and a high rate could just add to problems.

Tom Howard, spokesperson for the Consumer Credit Counselling Service, observed that overdrafts can provide a useful cushion when managing finances, but warned against relying on them too heavily.

He explained that anyone who needs to do so may have a “fairly serious problem” with debt and should seek advice. But for those who use an overdraft only occasionally, he also pointed to the advantages that comparisons can bring.

“If your bank is looking to increase its overdraft rates, switching may be something to consider,” said Mr Howard, adding: “Unfortunately keeping a loyalty to one bank counts for little these days.”

About the Author:

For all your unbiased comparison needs visit Moneyfacts.co.uk

Moneyfacts.co.uk is the leading independent financial information provider in the UK. Since 1988, we’ve been providing impartial information to financial services professionals which has helped thousands of customers get the best deal on their mortgages, savings accounts, credit cards, loans and other personal finance products.

www.moneyfacts.co.uk Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

Bankruptcy Information

Bankruptcy is a situation in which someone who owes money will seek relief from their debts by going to court. Though bankruptcy can be good in some situations, it may not always be necessary. Just because you are in a financial strain does not mean you should immediately file for bankruptcy. There are some things you will want to take into consideration first.

Will I or Won’t I?

There is no easy answer to whether or not you should file for bankruptcy. Before making a decision you should first consult an attorney or credit counselor. They will be able to look at all the factors involved with filing bankruptcy, including the advantages and cost. The amount of debt you have is one of the most important factors for whether or not you should file for bankruptcy. It is important to remember that there are many alternative solutions. One solution is to hire a financial manager.

The Financial Manager

Hiring a financial manager is a difficult decision for many people. They take control of your finances, and will pay your bills for you. They will give you a set amount of money to use for anything you wish, but their goal is to make sure all of your bills are paid on time. Using a financial manager is a good idea if you find that many of your problems come from being irresponsible with how you spend your money. Once your bills are under control, you will be given back control of your finances. If this makes you uncomfortable, you could simply use a counseling service. You also want to make sure you use a service that has an excellent reputation.

Many lenders will work with the borrowers in paying back the money owed. It can be difficult for a lender to get back all the money they loaned out to you, even if you file for bankruptcy. Taking you to court will cost them money, and is very time consuming. When collection agencies get back the money that is owed, they will often charge the lender fees, and this will reduce the amount of money they get back. Because of this, many lenders will waive certain fees or charges as long as you make your payments on time.

(more…)

Fixed Rate Vs. Variable Rate Credit Cards

Although it is mostly industry practice to charge a variable rate of interest on outstanding credit balances at a certain percentage rate above Prime Lending Rate, it is possible, these days, to obtain a fixed rate credit card. So, when would you want to apply for a fixed rate credit card over a variable rate credit card?

The answer to this may not actually sound as simply as you may think. Two factor need to be borne in mind: first, what is the Prime Lending Rate at the moment; and second, what are the chances of the percentage rate plus Prime Lending Rate going above the fixed rate?

If you feel that borrowing rates are cheap at the moment and that it is unlikely that Prime Lending Rate is going to go up in the near future, then in all likelihood having the variable rate credit card is going to be more of a benefit to you than having a fixed rate credit card. However, if the opposite is true, and you believe that there is a good chance that Prime Lending Rate is going to up in the near future, there may be a very good reason for you to want to lock-in your interest rate at the current fixed rate being offered by the card provider.

One exception to the fixed rate vs. variable rate credit cards debate comes into play if you can manage to obtain a fixed rate with a card provider on the transfer of your credit card balance to a new card provider. In this circumstance it could prove to be a very useful money saving policy to agree to the fixed rate for the initial 6 or more month period as, traditionally, fixed rates for transferring balances are very low. You do, however, need to be extremely careful that any variable rate that comes into play following the fixed rate period is not excessive.

Alternatively, you need to ensure (a) that you have made as much of a repayment as is possible during your fixed rate term that you only have a minimum outstanding balance on the day the balance transfers over to a variable rate; or (b) you have the option of transferring the credit card balance outstanding to another new card provider who is also offering a very low fixed rate of interest.

In any case, these days the debate over fixed rate vs. variable rate credit cards is certainly more interesting than was ever the case previously!

http://www.credit-repair.moneybizhome.com

About the Author:

http://www.moneybizhome.com
Oli works full time as a Market Analyst.He graduated in Management.He can help you to grow your computer consulting.
http://www.computer-pc-tips.moneybizhome.com/