Thursday, 3 March 2011

How To Avoid Late Fees


Although it may be overstated, there is a lot of truth to people ruining their credit score due to missing payments and paying their credit card bills late.  The fees can pile up and the interest rates can grow before you know it, and after a while you won’t even be able to pay the minimum amount of payment.  If you don’t do something fast - it could be the beginning of the end.

To make sure this don’t happen to you, you should always pay your bill on time, and always avoid missing a payment.  Sometimes, it can be hard to make your payments on time, although you should always do everything in your power to ensure that you stay on top of things.  Below, you’ll find some tips to help you with your credit card payments.

As stated above, you should always pay your bill on time.  If something comes up and you aren’t able to pay, you’ll be penalized.  Even though you may think what has come up will justify a late payment, it doesn’t justify the means in the eyes of your credit card company.  Inside of your bill, you’ll find detailed instructions regarding payment.  You should always follow them as accurately as possible, pay where and when you are supposed to pay - and do it on time.

If you simply aren’t able to pay your entire bill, you shouldn’t worry about it - but instead pay the minimum amount possible.  Even though you may be able to pay more later, you should always pay at least the minimum amount.  Then, when you have more money, you can always add to your minimum payment by sending in an additional payment. 

The easiest way to do this, is to always have the minimum payment amount set aside, so that you have it once your credit card bill arrives.  Once you have assured yourself that you won’t be penalized or charged any late fees, you should look into paying a higher amount than just the minimum balance.  By paying the minimum amount, you’ll also ensure that no other fees will be added to your next credit card bill.

Another option includes skip a payment, although you’ll need to check whether or not your credit card company offers it or not.  This service will allow you to request a waiver regarding your payment, when something comes up and you don’t have the money to pay your bill.  Make sure that you use this service wisely if you have it, as it can only be used once a year.  Therefore, you should always ensure that the situation is truly an emergency and there are no other options available for you.  This service will normally have a cost as well, and you’ll need to pay it the following month. 

Although credit cards can be great for numerous reasons, you should always know your interest rates and have a good general idea of what your bill is going to be before you make a purchase.  Many times, those who have credit cards will make purchases, knowing they can’t make the payments - then suffer when they get the bill and aren’t able to pay it.

Anytime you have a credit card, you should always make sure that you have the money to pay the bill, or the minimum amount, the minute it arrives.  This way, you’ll remain in good standing with your company and your credit score will continue to increase.  If you simply aren’t able to make your payment, you should contact your credit card issuer immediately and see if you can work something out.

Posted by: Hak
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Tuesday, 1 March 2011

Getting A Higher Limit On Your Credit Card

Nearly everyone who has a credit card always has the goal of a higher line of credit.  A higher credit card limit will enable you to make much higher purchases, normally purchases that you are unable to get with your current line of credit.  There are ways that you can get a higher credit limit.  Below, are some tips that will help you raise the limit of your credit:

1.      The most important thing is to improve your overall level of credit worthiness.
When lenders and banks look at your credit report, this is the first thing that they look for.

2.      You should pay them every once in a while, although you shouldn’t go out of your way to make a habit of it.
Normally, this should be done as a last resort when all else fails to increase your overall chances of raising your line of credit.

Once you prove to a bank or credit card company that you can be trusted to borrow money, they may raise your line of credit.  You should be careful with this strategy however, as this could only apply to your bank or current credit card company. 

3.      When you have a credit card, don’t use it just for emergency purposes. 
       If you save your credit card for emergency purposes only, you’ll rarely use it.  When this happens, your company will begin to wonder about your spending behavior and ability to pay it back, therefore they will start to think twice about giving you a higher line of credit.

4.      When you send in your payment, always try to pay more than just the minimum amount. 
This way, you’ll show them that you deserve to have a higher line of credit. 

If you follow the above tips, you’ll get your credit limit higher in no time at all.  Once you get your limit raised, you should protect it at all costs.  If you continue to strive for perfection - you’ll get a higher line of credit than you ever thought possible.

Posted by: Hak
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Monday, 28 February 2011

Choosing Your Credit Card

Choosing Your Credit Card
As you probably already know, there are many credit cards out there.  The one you choose however, should reflect your lifestyle and your ideal spending amounts.  If you are looking for the best possible deal and the best company for your credit card, you’ll obviously need to look around at what you have to choose from and what works best for you.
The first thing you’ll need to decide when choosing your credit card, is why you need one in the first place.  Some people choose to get a credit card for cash flow purposes.  With a credit card, you can make purchases and buy things, leaving your paycheck or other source of income in your bank account to draw interest.  This way, your money will continue to grow while you continue to buy the things you need.  Then at the end of the month, simply pay your bill.
Others will choose to get a credit card and use it for instant cash purposes.  This way, they can use their credit card at an ATM and get instant cash, which is great for travel or going on a long and extended vacation.  If this is why you want a credit card, you should look for one that has the lowest rate possible for instant cash transactions.
With a credit card, you’ll also need to think about the payments.  You’ll need to decide if you want to pay the balance in full each month, or only the required amount.  When you select your credit card, you should look at the introductory rates, balance transfer rates, and other offers that may apply to new credit cards and new holders.  Some will offer you truly amazing deals, especially if you have good credit.
Another important area to look at when choosing your credit card is the incentives.  There are several cards out there that will give you incentives, such as reward points and even cash back with purchases that you can use towards paying back what you owe.  There are several incentives out there with credit cards, all you have to do is look around and compare.
The key area you’ll need to look at and compare is the APR (Annual Percentage Rate).  The APR is what you will pay on what you purchase when the incentive period runs out.  APR rates will vary among credit cards, so it is always in your best interest to compare and shop around.  The lower APR rate you get, the better off you’ll be.
Another concern with choosing your credit card is the minimum payment amount.  Most minimum payment balances will start around 3%, although some can be lower while others tend to be quite a bit higher.  The interest free period is a concern as well, as you will obviously want to choose the longest period that you can keep the payments down.
When you make that final decision and choose your credit card, you should always make sure that you know exactly what you are getting. Credit cards are great to have, although they can lead to a downfall if you don’t choose them carefully.  If you put some time and research into choosing your credit card, you’ll find the best one for you.  As long as you take care of your credit card and pay the bill on time, you’ll help raise your credit and eventually be able to purchase even bigger things - such as a car or even a house

Posted by: Hak
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