The Lowdown On The HESS Gas Card

Posted by Credit Card Man | Credit Card | Friday 12 March 2010 3:38 pm

Named as the HESS Platinum Visa Card, this credit card is produced to cater to people with good credit ratings from the East Coast of the United States who fill up their gas tanks and make other purchases from HESS, HESS EXPRESS and WILCO HESS store regularly.

Cardholders will earn a 1% rebate on all general purchases. However, if they make purchases at stores under the HESS umbrella mentioned earlier, they are eligible for a massive 5% rebate. Furthermore, purchases at HESS made within the first 90 days of membership are awarded with a whopping 10% rebate. Unlike many other reward cards with great rebates, the HESS Gas Card does not have a yearly limit to the amount of rebates that can be earned.

The interest rates for purchases and balance transfers on the card are reasonable while there are no annual fees imposed. At the same time, there is a six-month introductory period where purchases and balance transfers are charged 0% interest. Standard platinum cardholder benefits from Chase such as auto rental insurance, travel accident insurance of up to $500,000 and fraud protection also apply.

However the HESS Gas Card, just like everything else in life, is not perfect. The credit card utilizes the ?Two Cycles Average Daily Balance? method of calculating finance charges including new purchases. With new purchases included, the cost for having the occasional balance ends up higher than if it were calculated using the ?Average Daily Balance? method that most other card issuers use.

In a nutshell, the HESS Gas Card would greatly benefit those who plan to take advantage of the fabulous 10% rebate at HESS during the first 90 days and subsequently make regular purchases at HESS, while making payments in full after the introductory period expires.

For more information or to apply for the HESS Gas Card, Eric Wasselman recommends Find Credit Cards.

An Introduction To Rewards Credit Cards

Posted by Credit Card Man | Credit Card | Friday 12 March 2010 11:38 am

Rewards credit cards became popular because of the intense rivalry among credit card companies. Competition has caused credit card companies to offer special interest rates, lower fees and reward programs in order to win over some costumers. However, card holders need to be careful because credit card reward programs have a tendency to cause major debt problems.

If you have good credit then rewards credit cards are ideal for you. Persons who pay their balance off or carry a low balance will find these cards useful. On the other hand, people who carry a high balance or only pay the minimum amount due will often have problems with this type of credit card.

There are many types of rewards credit cards ranging from airline miles to free gas. Each type of card is intended for a certain market. Nevertheless, they all work in the same general way. People will earn rewards for the amount of money they charge to the card. The rewards that a person earns usually depend on how much he or she charges to the credit card, but there are slight variations between rewards programs.

Cash rebate cards are also one of the most sought after reward card. You can earn cash reward for every purchase that you make with these cards. A percentage of each dollar spent is paid back to the card holder. The airline miles card is also one of the most popular rewards credit cards. You can earn free air travel with an airline miles card. You will usually earn a mile of air travel for every dollar you spend. However, you still have to use rewards credit cards prudently, so that you will be able to maximize the benefits and avoid serious debt problems.

A credit card company makes deals with other companies so that you will earn more rewards than usual when you use rewards credit cards at that company?s retailer. This strategy can compel you to shop at more expensive stores just to get more rewards. Try to calculate how much you are spending against how much reward you are getting to avoid having major debts problems. Additionally, many reward credit cards have high annual fees or interest. If you figure this in the total expenses, you may find that you are actually spending more money by using this credit card.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Rewards Credit Cards including assistance with the Bank of America Credit Card Application.

5 Reasons Why You Should Apply For A Cash Back Credit Card

Posted by Credit Card Man | Credit Card | Friday 12 March 2010 7:38 am

The key words cash back appeal to everyone, especially those who are on the lookout for more reasons to use their credit cards. It is even safe to say that this would arouse the curiosity of most people to at least find out how this concept works. In fact, the recent hype surrounding cash back credit cards has seen millions of consumers switching their regular cards for these ones. It all seems too good to be true that we are getting our money back for nothing. Well, if that’s what you are thinking, read on to learn five reasons why you too should play the cash back game.

1. You charge everything to your credit card

The cash back incentive works well for those who charge everything to their credit cards. That’s literally everything ? clothes, gas, groceries, dinners, etc. With a cash back percentage of 0.5% – 1% (some may even offer an introductory 2%), you need to spend a huge amount in order for your cash back to be significant. Therefore, if you are comfortable with charging everything to your card, then cash back credit cards are all for you!

2. You pay off you credit card balance every month

Are you the disciplined credit card user who pays off your outstanding charges each month? If you are, then cash back credit cards are for you! As huge charges are made to these cards, not being able to pay off your balance each month will just result in greater interest charges as compared to your cash back value.

3. You have a good credit rating

Credit card companies usually award cash back credit cards to cardholders who have a good credit rating. So, if you are one of them, then you should really get one and start earning points today!

4. You get to redeem your points once you have enough

You gain points for every purchase you charge to your card. Once you have attained a significant threshold, you have a few options to redeem your cash. You can either get it credited to your outstanding credit card bill to reduce your balance payment, or you get the credit card to send cash to you.

5. A win-win situation for you, the credit card company, and the merchant

Take a closer look, and you’ll see that cash back cards are a win-win for everyone. Credit card companies earn more through the merchant charges; merchants get more people to buy their products; you get cash back for making purchases! That just has to be the ultimate reason for you to get a cash back credit card today.

Alan Bernstein recommends Find Credit Cards to apply for a cash back credit card today.

Student Credit Card

Posted by Credit Card Man | Credit Card | Friday 12 March 2010 3:38 am

Often students require money to pay their expenses. If the student is not earning he/she might go to his/her parents or guardian and ask for money. When they are not around and the student needs immediate cash, the student faces a problem. So in this situation a student credit card is very useful.

Many companies provide student credit cards and some of them with nice offers. Aggressive companies offer low interest rates and free application. Parents pay the bills if the student cannot pay in time. Parents can limit the credit amount by putting a voluntary limit on the card.

A good credit history always helps in the latter half of life. So parents should teach their children about the importance of a good credit record. All major credit card issuers like American Express, Visa and MasterCard offer students credit card.

In first world countries like USA, Canada, UK, students pay a very high amount to study in colleges. During the college days students spend a lot. Companies target these college-going teens. An average college-going student?s credit card often crosses a credit limit of USD 7,000. Many students have more than one credit card. The inexperienced over enthusiastic student uses the card haphazardly and usually crosses the card limit and usually ends up paying the principal plus interest, which ranges up to 20%. So it is advised to use the card judiciously.

Paul has been providing answers to lots of queries through his website on a wide variety of subjects ranging from satellite phones to acne. To learn more visit http://www.askaquery.com/Answers/qn587.html

Better The Devil You Know

Posted by Credit Card Man | Credit Card | Thursday 11 March 2010 11:37 pm

To save money on your credit cards, doesn?t always necessary mean that you have to switch providers to get a better deal, far from it as you can always start on your own doorstep and ask your current credit card lender if they can offer you a better deal than the one that you are getting at present.

This should be your first step if you are looking to get a better deal, but are unsure, as you are more than happy with the service that your current credit card gives you. Though you may feel that it maybe easier to simply change to a different lender, then this couldn?t be further from the truth and at the end of the day, the credit card that you have should be one that suits you and not the credit card issuer.

If you are in fact happy with your present credit card and the benefits and service that you have then read on and find out how simple that getting a better deal can be.

Firstly you have to ask yourself if you keep your payments up to date, have not missed any and have an overall good payment history with your credit card company, if so then you have the right cards to play when it comes to asking for a reduction in your APR charges. If you fail to have any of the criteria that has been mentioned, then before you can ask your credit card issuer for a better deal, you may find that you have to get your credit history up to scratch.

Once you have ascertained that you have the right credentials, look out for some of the better deals that you can currently find in the credit card market at the moment, so that you can tell them about the better offers that have been sent to you from the other credit card lenders, it is just another weapon to use to get what you want and with a good payment history and long service wit the card, most credit card companies do not wish to loose good customers, so even if it sounds a bit like blackmail you have to get the best deal for you.

Once you contact your credit card issuer, remember to always stay polite, even more so if the person on the other side of the phone is lets say having a bad day, simply ask to be put on to a supervisor or manager and while doing so remain calm and polite.

If you get to the stage that the credit card company has made you a better offer (I said ?If? because always be prepared that your credit card issuer declines your request) see if it matches up against the other offers you have written down, tell them so and if they cant beat or even come close to matching it, then let them know that you will be cancelling your account with them and that you want it confirmed, if by doing this and they still don?t budge on the APR, then maybe who ever you move to, will value your custom more than they did.

Peter Kenny is a writer for creditcards-gb

For additional articles and an extensive resource for everything about credit cards, please visit us at http://www.creditcards-gb.co.uk and http://www.creditcards2go4.com

The Lowdown On The Aspire Gold Visa Card

Posted by Credit Card Man | Credit Card | Thursday 11 March 2010 7:37 pm

The Aspire Gold Visa Card issued by Columbus Bank and Trust is specifically designed for individuals with a poor or limited credit history, and who only need the basic functions of a credit card.

Due to the nature of this card, interest rates imposed for outstanding balances are high, with the minimum variable rates. This simply means that no matter how low the Prime Rate may get, interest rates imposed will not drop below this minimum. On top of that, the rates are tagged to the highest Prime Rate within a 90-day period making low APRs a distant fantasy.

As though these nerve-racking rates are not enough to scare intelligent folks away, the Aspire Gold Visa Card charges various fees that Regular Joes would not call ?loose change.? The minute your application is approved, a $150 annual fee for new accounts are imposed followed by a $29 account opening fee as well as a monthly maintenance fee of $78 per annum. All this adds up to $257 just within the first year, excluding any penalty or default fees should you be daft enough to use this card and not the outstanding balances off without fail.

On the other hand, there must be something valuable that this card has to offer in exchange for the steep fees. Well, some of the card?s ?additional perks? include various Internet account related activities, auto rental insurance, various travel and emergency related service, all of which are quite run-of-the-mill.

In summary, this card may not be suitable for everyone. In fact, the target market for the Aspire Gold Visa Card should be people who require just the basic credit card benefits, and who don?t mind forking out $257 for it.

Users who plan to pay the minimum on their credit card charges should look elsewhere, or they will end up paying for sky-high interests. Thus, the Aspire Gold Visa would not be suited for users who miss their monthly credit card payments time and again.

For more information or to apply for the Aspire Gold Visa Card, Eric Wasselman recommends Find Credit Cards.

Credit Card Selection For The Inexperienced

Posted by Credit Card Man | Credit Card | Thursday 11 March 2010 3:37 pm

Credit History – Before you apply for a card you should get a free credit report so you will know what types of cards you are eligible for. (By law you can can get a free credit report once annually). If you have a limited or damaged credit history you will have to limit your potential choices to cards that cater to your particular situation. For example, cards such as the Aspire Gold Visa, Orchard Bank Gold Mastercard and the Orchard Bank Platinum MasterCard (to name a few) are cards geared toward consumers wishing to establish or rebuild their credit. These cards usually have higher aprs and come with annual fees. So you will have to shop around checking different offers — maybe even make some phone calls in order to find the best credit card for your financial situation. By using one of these cards responsibly for a certain period of time, you will eventually be able to upgrade to a better card with better rates thus improving your credit rating.

Keep in mind that if you apply for a card that requires a better credit score than you currently have — you WILL be rejected. Consequently this rejection will be placed on your credit report and will adversely affect your chances for getting approved for other credit cards as well. So unless you are pre-approved make sure you know where you stand with your credit rating before applying.

On the other end of the spectrum if you have good to excellent credit you will have a much wider array of choices with much better rates, terms and conditions. Experienced credit cardholders usually base their decisions on the following criteria:

Introductory APR – This is usually the most alluring component of any credit card offer. Many credit card companies will offer 0% apr for certain periods of time. For instance these intro rates can last anywhere from 6 to 15 months. In these cases you should always check to see what the regular apr is once the intro period is over. Also be advised that if you are late with just one payment (default) all aprs associated with your card will automatically increase to an exorbitant rate — some are over 30.00%…pay your bills on time.

Annual Percentage Rate – Is the apr that represents (part) of the cost of credit on a yearly basis (after the intro period expires) and is usually applied to new purchases, balance transfers or both. You will need to check the cards terms and conditions for particulars — The lower the better.

Annual Fees – Many Credit Card companies will charge annual fees which can range anywhere from $25 to several hundred dollars depending on the type of card. These fees are usually associated with rewards based credit cards. On the other hand there are many card offers which have no annual fee – Shop around.

Transaction Fees – Unless otherwise stated, credit card companies usually charge a fee for exceeding your credit limit, making a late payment, getting a cash advance and on balance transfers. Make sure you know these fees before applying.

Grace Period – Accept for a limited or poor credit history, most credit cards offer some sort of grace period which can be 15 to 25 days. This is a free period in which you will not have to pay finance charges if you pay your balance in full by the due date. This doesn’t mean you have 15 to 25 days after the due date to make the minimum payment.

When trying to decide on a credit card the bottom line is to understand what you want from the card, your spending habits, your credit score, what the card has to offer, the terms, conditions (fine print) and all the expenses the card has associated with it so you can make a more informed decision and avoid any unexpected expenses or marks against your credit score.

Randy Savage is the webmaster of http://www.the-best-of-credit-cards.com/index.html where consumers can compare and apply securely for the credit card of their choice. For added convenience there is also a list of additional credit card resources at http://www.the-best-of-credit-cards.com/resources.html and http://www.the-best-of-credit-cards.com/credit-card-resources.html

Tips For Managing Credit

Posted by Credit Card Man | Credit Card | Thursday 11 March 2010 11:37 am

Tips for managing credit can come from a number of places.

You can find them through those you know who have learned a thing or two about the ups and downs of credit. You can definitely research for them online.

You can experiment and come up with your own tips. Or, you can read some tips for managing credit here.

But, remember this. There is no better teacher than experience. So, ask your parents and friends for there advice too.

Here are some tips for managing credit that will at least help you to get started.

Start early. Do not wait until you are out of college to have your first credit card. Get one when you are entering college and maintain a good credit rating.

Maintain a good rating. Do this by paying your credit on time. Do not go above your limit. Try to pay off your credit card bills each and every month in full.

Maintain low balances. You can do this by making sure that you do not spend more than you truly can afford.

A rule of thumb for big purchases is to wait at least 48 before deciding if you should do it. This will help prevent impulse buys that can get you down fast.

Look for good interest rates. It’s your money. Give it to the company that will provide you with the best rate. Or, if you already have credit, get them to lower your rate for being a good customer.

Pay off anything you can early. This include cars, furniture, store credits.

When purchasing big items like cars and homes you should shop around for the best deal.

Try to make additional payments on these big purchases in order to cut down on the time you have to pay them back. That cuts down dramatically on interest.

In the end, the best tips for managing credit cards will come from wisely making decisions about purchases. Don’t buy what you don’t need and can not afford.

It is that easy!

For More Tips Managing Your Credit Visit How-Is-Your-Credit.info And Learn More About Your Credit Understand Why Credit Reports And Scores Are Important As Well As Finding The Credit Bureaus’ Contact Information

Bank Of America Credit Cards: A Look At The Top 3

Posted by Credit Card Man | Credit Card | Thursday 11 March 2010 7:37 am

You probably know Bank of America from its commercials on better banking. They are one of the major players in commercial banking and lending. Well, you know you can enjoy their ?Higher Standards? through a variety of products, including mortgages and checking/savings accounts, but did you know they have an uncommonly large pool of credit card options? ?B of A? is one of the countries top credit card providers, and their Higher Standards certainly extends to this product line as well. This article takes a quick peek at the Bank of America Platinum Visa, the Bank of America Visa Signature with WorldPoints, and the TripRewards MasterCard by Bank of America.

A Look at the Top Three

The Bank of America Platinum Visa – The B of A Platinum Visa is a solid all around card. Categorized by Bank of America as an ?everyday credit card,? it is chock full of useful features and reasons to consider it. The Platinum Visa offers a six month interest free introductory period, and accepts initial and subsequent balance transfers with no additional fees. So, if you are on the market for an all around solid card with cheap and easy balance transfer options, this could be the way to go.

The Bank of America Visa Signature with WorldPoints – What on earth are WorldPoints? We?re glad you?ve asked. WorldPoints is one of Bank of America?s great incentive programs for cardholders. WorldPoints is a flexible incentive program that lets you apply your purchases to a number of categories: cash back, travel, merchandise, or personal services. In addition to this powerful rewards program, you will receive an introductory 0% APR for the first twelve months of membership. B of A offers a handsome black and silver design that really instills the impression that this is one of their top-of-the-line cards.

TripRewards MasterCard Credit Card – With its uniquely redundant name, the TripRewards MasterCard Credit Card has become a favorite for travelers. The 0% introductory APR on balance transfers is a nice feature (and a theme for B of A), but most users are attracted to its high powered rewards plan. Earn 2 points for every $1 in net retail purchases and earn 13 points for every $1 spent for qualifying TripRewards hotel stays, and that can add up quickly.

All Bank of America cards come with the same great 24 hour customer service, online account management, and fraud protection. Opting into a B of A card gives you all of the benefits and security of one of America?s largest financial institutions. So, if you are considering a general use card, check out the Platinum Visa; if you want flexible incentives, make sure to apply for the Visa Signature with World Points; and, of course, if you?re out to see the world, the TripRewards MasterCard Credit Card is the way to go.

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

Ed Vegliante runs the website 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. View more Credit Card Articles.

Discover Credit Card For Rewards You Want

Posted by Credit Card Man | Credit Card | Thursday 11 March 2010 3:37 am

The Discover Credit Card is just one of the well known credit card companies that are out there for you to choose from. They usually have a great introductory period for the new credit card applicants. When you are looking at obtaining a credit card, the Discover Card is one of the many that you are going to see advertised a lot.

The Discover Credit Card has a variety of different credit cards that you are going to be able to choose. As for a personal credit card you are going to see that they are going to offer you cash back rewards for your purchases that you are doing when you use your Discover Credit Card. With the cash back rewards; you can do a variety of different things with the rewards that you have received. You are able to have it deposited in your bank, have a check sent to you, or receive a gift card and with it you are even going to double the amount on the gift card. That means that if you have 20 dollars in cash back reward you can receive a gift card for 40 dollars. That would be a big benefit to you if you were going to be going to the store that you chose to have the gift card made out.

The Discover Credit Card also has the option of receiving a credit card for the student you have going off to college. That is one option you may want to think about when it comes to making sure your kids in college are able, to purchase any and all of their school supplies, they may need. You may even feel a little better knowing your child is going to have a way to pay for any emergencies that may come up, when they are away from home. You just may half to make sure that your kid is going to use the credit card wisely and not max out the credit card the first month that they are away from home.

When you are planning to receive a Discover Credit Card you are going to want to make sure that you are going to check into all the different offers that they have to offer new customers. The Discover Card will even offer some good introductory deals on balance transfers and even new purchases for a certain amount of time. The period usually runs anywhere from 3 months up to a year. You are going to want to make sure that you are credit worthy for a Discover Card because they do have certain standards as far as the credit card they will give out to people. That way if you are not in good credit standing you are not going to waste the time and any credit points by applying for a Discover Credit Card that you may not receive because your credit report does not match the Discover Credit Card standards.

Visit http://www.SelectCreditFast.com for more information on credit cards and credit card offers. Apply for a Credit Card and review best credit card offers for the Discover Credit Card, cash back credit cards, Low Interest Credit Cards, and the Discover Card.

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