Credit Card ’s Talk

If flying to exotic destinations or traveling across the country on your favorite airline is something you want to do, you can get free trips with an airline rewards credit card. That?s right, by selecting the right credit card you can quickly accumulate enough points to take that well deserved vacation to the Virgin Islands or hop on a plane to visit friends in Dallas, San Francisco, New York or just about any U.S. city. Airline rewards credit cards are all the rage. Are you on your way to accumulating valuable air miles?

Airline rewards credit cards continue to grow in popularity and for good reason. Depending on which card you select, you can accumulate enough points to take you and your family members on an expensive vacation with your airfare covered for free. So, how can you determine which card is best for you? By weighing the following options:

Fee v. No Annual Fee ? Some consumers hate paying annual fees and there are airline rewards credit cards that are fee free. Keep in mind that paying a fee may actually help you accumulate more airline miles at a faster pace. If you use your card a lot, the card with an annual fee may turn out to be the better buy. Besides, if you use your card for business purposes, your annual fee may be tax deductible.

Annual Percentage Rate ? As with all cards, rates do vary. If you never carry a monthly balance, than the annual percentage rate or APR won?t matter to you. If you do carry balances, there are plenty of low interest rate airline rewards credit cards to choose from. Some offer low introductory rates while others will allow you to quickly accumulate points by transferring existing credit card balances to your new card.

One Airline v. Many Airlines ? Some consumers have an affinity toward one air carrier and a rewards card that accumulates points for that particular carrier can be just what they need. On the other hand, there are cards which allow you to accumulate air miles that can be used on just about any carrier. This can be the best choice for the consumer not wanting to be locked into one carrier. You might not be able to take that trip to the Virgin Islands if your airline rewards credit card is with a carrier that doesn?t even fly to that destination!

Mileage Plans ? Read each offer carefully to learn if you can accumulate double miles, if your miles expire, and if blackout periods fall into play. Some airline rewards credit cards have sweeter deals than others; shop around for the plan that is best for you.

Preset Spending Limits ? Those cards that have no preset spending limits may be the best choice for you. In many cases you can also quickly accumulate points [even double points by using your card to shop for groceries, purchase clothes, pay for gas for your car, and more. Use your card wisely and you may be able to accumulate enough points for a luxury trip once a year!

Bonus Benefits ? A select group of cards will give to you a free seat upgrade certificate which can be used on a future flight while other cards allow you to accumulate points toward hotel stays too. The more options your airline rewards credit cards has, the better for you!

If you are looking for an airline rewards credit card, you?ll find that many of the best offers are available online. Find the airline rewards card that is right for you and begin making plans to take that important trip you have long dreamed about on someone else?s dime!

Copyright 2006 Ed Vegliante. Free online reprints of this article are allowed provided the resource box remains intact with a live link back to http://www.credit-card-surplus.com

Ed Vegliante runs the website http://www.Credit-Card-Surplus.com, a well organized credit card directory enabling the consumer to compare and apply for a variety of credit card offers including Airline Rewards Credit Cards. View more Credit Card Articles.

If you are a member of the unfortunate group of people who have less than perfect credit, or poor credit, you know how tough it is to get approved for any kind of a normal credit card. Many times the credit card offers you do receive are disguised as being legitimate when in actuality they are a rip-off. They offer inflated fees, astronomical interest rates and ridiculous terms. These companies target consumers with poor credit who are trying their best to rebuild it and take advantage of their situations. Let’s take a closer look at one such credit card offer that is going around these days.

There are several different credit card companies that send out pre-approved credit card offers disguised as legitimate Visa or MasterCards, when really they are credit cards for store clubs or catalog clubs. The offer tells you that you are pre-approved for a credit line of up to $5,000 with no security deposit. They make you believe you’ll be rebuilding your credit and enjoying the convenience of having a credit card in your wallet.

It sounds so good doesn’t it? Your desperate for a credit card and this wonderful offer comes in the mail. I get these myself, but let’s take a closer look at the fine print and what this is really about. Here is a typical headline in the letter you get. Congratulations! You have been pre-approved for a Visa card with a $5,000 credit limit! It goes on to say that all you need to do to activate your card is to verify your personal information, sign it and send back the pre-approved application. Your new card will be sent immediately.

If you continue reading the entire document you will find that this isn’t a regular Visa credit card. It will only allow you to make purchases with the credit card in their special store or online catalog. You can’t use it anywhere else. The products usually consist of non name brand items like electronics and house ware products.

A little further down the letter it states that in order to activate your new credit card you’ll need to send in a check or money order for $299.00 to cover the activation or new account fee. Of course you’ll immediately get a discount on your first purchase. Some companies will also charge an annual fee of another $100-$200 on top of the activation fee. It’s not beginning to sound like such a great offer now is it?

This is just one example of many that are sent out to unsuspecting consumers in the mail every day. Here are just a few things to watch for with any credit card offer:

? You can only use the new credit card to make purchases through the company’s online catalog or store. The items are priced much higher than you can purchase them elsewhere. You’re trapped into using the card for these purchases only.

? The credit card has ridiculously high fees, such as hundreds of dollars of an activation fee, joining fee, annual fee, or monthly account fees. These fees are how the credit card company makes its money off the backs of consumers who are desperately trying to rebuild their credit.

? High interest rates. Credit cards from companies like this can often have APR’s of anywhere from 25% all the way up to 45% or more. You have to read the fine print and keep this in mind.

The best thing you can do with an offer like this is to take it and throw it in the trash. Take the $250 you would spend to open an account with one of these credit cards and spend it on a secured credit card instead. You can easily get a Visa or MasterCard with a security deposit. These companies report your payments to all the major credit bureaus each month and before you know it you’ll be on your way to rebuilding your credit. Keep this in mind the next time you receive one of these fantastic new credit card offers in your mailbox.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Credit Cards

Many people aren’t aware that the total amount of outstanding credit card debt that a person carries can adversely affect the interest rate on other credit cards.

Sounds like a Catch-22 situation, doesn’t it? Higher debt higher interest rate = higher monthly payments that are harder to pay.

Here’s how it happens.

Credit card companies constantly monitor a cardholder’s credit report and profile. The credit card companies have whole departments of credit analysts whose job is to look for a change in your credit status, limits, and usage. When the analysts detect that additional unsecured credit has been added - either in the form of personal loans or additional purchases on other credit cards (or using one card to pay the monthly payment on another card!), they have the option (and usually do) of increasing the interest rate of the credit card that they have issued. This is to offset their increased risk (higher risk = higher interest rate) that a cardholder might miss a payment.

This new, higher interest rate can even override a low promotional interest rate that had been extended as a balance transfer or introductory rate. This means an even higher minimum payment will be due the following month - placing an even heavier burden on a cardholder’s budget.

On the other side of the equation, if you keep very low or no balances on your credit cards, you can get very low interest rates because the credit card companies want you to use their cards.

The solution.

Keep to your budget and make every effort to pay off your higher balance credit cards as soon as possible - to keep your credit card interest rates low, and your payments to a minimum. I know it’s easier said than done, but you’ll receive multiple benefits for your hard work watching your finances.

Another great way to clear out credit card debt is to take out a debt consolidation loan. This will create a single monthly payment at an interest rate that could have an APR of 10% or less (compared to as much as 21.99% APR or higher from the credit card companies!). You can then close some of your existing credit card accounts, and although your debt burden remains the same for a while, you may raise your credit score simply by having less available unused credit! Sounds like a winning combination - lower fixed interest on outstanding debt, and an increase in your credit score. The next time you need credit, a higher credit score could mean a lower interest rate on loans for automobiles and home buying.

Dan Brewer is the owner of http://www.DeleteBills.com, a website dedicated to helping consumers gain and maintain control of their personal finances.

Whether you?ve owned credit cards in the past or are looking to get your first card, you probably already know that there are tons of credit card choices out there for you to pick from. From Visa and MasterCard to unsecured and low interest cards, it can be overwhelming when you?re trying to find the right card for you.

A great way to take a look at your options is by using the internet. Use a search engine and pull up a few different sites that offer credit cards. You can read descriptions of each credit card to figure out which one would work best and you can usually apply online. Most sites offer immediate responses, so you?ll know right away if you?ve been approved or declined.

If you?re declined, don?t immediately go and apply for another credit card. Chances are you?ll be declined again for the same reason you didn?t get a credit card on the first try and you could also lower your credit score with multiple pulls on your credit report.

Instead, wait for your decline letter to come to find out the reason. If you have little or no credit, you?re going to want to find an secured credit card to apply for. These credit cards cater to people with bad credit, but they usually make you put down a deposit before you can get a card. If this is the only way you can get a credit card, it?s definitely worth it, but keep in mind you will be subject to more fees and higher interest rates.

No matter what type of credit card you end up getting, be sure to read all terms and conditions thoroughly before you begin to use it. Take a ?low interest? credit card for example- you may start off with a 5% interest rate, but if you read the fine print, you?ll learn that after 3 months, it jumps to 15%. This can be very dangerous if you aren?t expecting the increase, so take care to always read the fine print before using your card.

Small business owners, large business owners and students all have credit cards designed specifically for them, so look into one of these cards if you fit into the category. Business credit cards tend to have higher limits and incentive programs, while cards for students offer lower limits to help build credit history if used wisely.

Before you apply for a credit card, do some research. Take a look at the types of credit cards offered and figure out which one would work best for you. From frequent flyer miles to cash back incentive cards- you?re bound to find the right one for your lifestyle and financial situation.

Visit Credit and You.com for more information on credit cards and were you can get credit cards if you have bad credit or no credit.

Whether you own a credit card that offers reward points, a credit card with a low ongoing APR or one with a 0% APR intro rate, it helps ? and pays ? to act smart with your credit card usage. If and when you own a credit card, it?s not just simply a matter of swiping and paying off bills. There are ways to maximize the promotional offers and rewards of your credit card and we?re here to teach you how to be a smart credit card owner.

The Zero Percent (0%) APR Intro Rate Credit Card ? So, you?ve been approached by a credit card representative offering you this type of credit card, have you? He made it all sound so simple and wonderful, didn?t he? Or maybe, you accidentally came across a credit card website and you found yourself mesmerized with the words zero percent.

Whatever the case, here?s the truth about 0% APR intro rate credit cards ? it?s not what everybody needs. That?s right. Even if it does promises to give you 0% APR on your credit card purchases, keep in mind that this is an intro rate we?re talking about.

And this means that if the introductory period is over ? and the coverage is usually between three to fifteen months, tops ? then say bye-bye to your beloved 0% APR and say hello once more to the normal APR for credit cards.

A 0% APR intro rate credit card is best for people who want to transfer their balance from old credit cards and people who are planning to make expensive purchases and are able to pay them off before the introductory offer expires. When shopping for 0% APR intro rate credit cards, remember to ask about the duration of the introductory period, what the APR?s going to be after the intro period and if there are any additional fees to be paid.

The Low Ongoing APR Credit Card ? If you just want a credit card with a low or lower interest rate but you?re not in the mood to buy a Tiffany jewelry set or a yacht then yes, you?re better off with a low ongoing APR credit card.

Credit Card Offering Rewards / Reward Points ? This is the most popular type of credit card. Although they have higher interest rates compared to other credit card types, if you don?t mind paying more on finance charges in the hopes of winning something else later on then this type of credit card is the ideal one for you!

Michael Colucci is a technical writer for Low Interest Credit Cards and Credit Card Facts

So your thinking about getting a credit card but your not exactly sure what to look for right? Well there are a lot of different things to consider when applying for a credit card. Some things to think about are the interest rate, annual fees and features the credit card may offer. Here are a few tips that will help you choose the best credit card for you.

Tip #1 Determine how you plan on using the card.

This is one of the most important things to determine when looking for a credit card. Will you be paying your credit card bill off in full each month or are you going to carry a balance? If you will be paying your credit card bill off each month you won?t have to worry about interest rates so you may want to look for a card that offers some sort of rewards program. If you will be carrying a balance each month you will want to find a card that offers low interest rates. Be sure to find the lowest rate possible since this will save you the most money on finance charges each month.

Tip #2 Read the fine print.

Read the credit card disclosure to see what terms and conditions apply to the credit card. Are there any minimum finance charges? How long is the grace period? What is the APR? How much are the late fees? These are all important things to look for when reading the credit card terms. By looking at the credit card terms you can compare different credit cards to see which one will benefit you the most. Be sure to also know what the introductory rate is and what the rate will be after that introductory period is over. Some cards will offer a 0% intro APR and then the rate will shoot up to over 20% once that introductory period is over. Also keep in mind some cards have an annual fee and some don?t so be sure to take that into consideration.

Tip #3 Determine what credit card features will benefit you the most?

Are you a frequent flyer? Do you want to save money at the gas pump? Or do you want to receive cash back on your purchases? There are all sorts of different rewards that credit card companies offer. If you are a frequent flyer you may want to get a credit card that gives you free airline miles. If you purchase a lot of gas each month you may want to get a gas rebate card that can save you 3%-10% at the gas pump. Or if you just want to receive money back on all your purchases you might want to look at a cash back credit card which may give you up to 5% cash back on your purchases. In the end you want to get a card that will work for you. You need to ask yourself what type of card will benefit you the most?

Richie Chapin is a freelance writer and website administrator for Low Interest Credit Cards.