Credit Card ’s Talk

Did you know that your credit report is telling all of your dirty secrets? And not just to lenders, but many others as well.

Having bad credit doesn’t just mean that you won’t be approved for a mortgage, auto loan or personal financing. It means a lot more.

Many companies look at your credit report to decide whether or not to do business with you. They even decide how they will do business with you based on your credit history. You may not have known that many non-lenders have been looking at your credit information for years. Your insurance rates have probably been set based on your credit history. When applying for a job, the employer may have looked at your credit to assess your character.

Did you know that your auto insurance premiums may be based on your credit history. According to a 2001 study, 92% of the top 100 automobile insurance companies report using credit information to underwrite new business. Fifty-two percent of these insurance companies use the information to determine what rates you will pay.

There is reportedly a link between bad credit and auto-insurance claims. Some companies will even give the information from your credit report more weight than your driving record. The correlation isn’t proven anywhere, but it does appear that those who manage their personal finances successfully are conscientious about their driving and car maintenance. They understand the value of their vehicle.

Not all states allow this to happen. California, for example, does not allow insurance companies to use its residents’ credit histories. Many states are starting to take notice of the practice, but many still allow it to go on.

Farmers Insurance vice president of auto-product management Greg Ciezadlo was quoted as saying that bad credit can cost a customer up to 40% more in premiums. Allstate is also reported as using your credit history to make approval determinations.

Your poor credit could even cost you that dream job. As many as 42% of employers in 1998 performed credit checks on employees prior to hiring them. The information is often used simply for verification purposes. But negative information can prove hard for potential employers to ignore. They assume that applicants with poor credit histories aren’t capable of management, and may even steal from the company.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act has limited the use of credit checks by employers. The employer must notify the applicant that the credit report will be looked at. They must also tell you if you aren’t being hired based on information on your credit report. Fewer employers are doing checks every year.

Have you checked your credit report? You may think that because you pay all of your bills on time that you don’t have to. But almost 80% of reports contain errors. Check your report at least on an annual basis. There are people looking at it, and it is telling them not only your financial standing, but your character as well. Make sure that your credit report is saying the right things about you.

Martin Lukac, represents http://www.RateEmpire.com, a finance web-company specializing in real estate/mortgage market. We specialize in daily updates, rate predictions, mortgage rates and more. Find low home loan mortgage interest rates from hundreds of mortgage companies! Visit http://www.RateEmpire.com today.

Once you get that credit card, here’s how to use it most effectively!

The best way to make your scores improve is to keep the balance of your cards low in relation to your higher limit. In other words, with a $1,000 credit limit, you should carry no more than $100 in balance to optimize your score.

Paying off the account provides no activity for your scores to be calculated. Closing the account may very well make your overall debt ratio higher and bring your score down.

The best way to use a credit card is to do the following:

Start off each month by making one small charge. This could be a tank of gas, date night with your spouse, or your monthly gym membership fees. Once you make that charge, put the card away! (When your card is not in your wallet or purse, you are less tempted by those emergencies such as that shirt on sale!)

When your bill arrives in the mail, pay it off completely. Each month use the card again. By using this technique you should only spend $30-40 each month. And each month as your bill comes in, pay it off completely.

The $30-40 balance will be reported to your credit report and paying it in full will eliminate any finance charges. Altogether, this low balance on a higher limit shows that you know how to use credit and that you are not living on credit! This will boost your scores (and save you cash!)

Ed Nailor is a webmaster, writer and works in the financial and credit fields. His website, http://www.BestNewCreditCards.com has the most current credit card offers online. Each card has a comprehensive review, details about each offer, and a link to the site for instant online applications. Be sure to check out our free articles and Blog for great tips, news and feedback. Also see PlasticPlatinum.com for the best in credit cards with rewards and staus.

If you have been plagued with credit problems in the past, I would like to welcome you to your future! The first step in the process to rebuild credit is to get a new credit card. While many people will debate the best type of credit card such as secured or unsecured, I would argue that the type does not matter! What matters most is getting something and using it effectively!

The old school idea on credit was to get a card, make a large purchase and pay for it over time with no late payments. Today, that rule has changed! While making payments on time is VERY important, making the large purchase is the wrong thing to do! The way credit scores are made up, large revolving accounts (like credit cards) with high balances actually hurt your score. They figure that if your card is nearly maxed out, so is your budget and one emergency such as a flat tire could make you late on other payments.

The trick to maximizing your credit score is to use your credit card as a tool. No matter what your credit limit is, keep the charges to 20% or less of the limit. In other words, if your credit limit is $500, charge no more than $100 to the account. The most effective program is this….

When you get your bill each month, pay off the complete balance. Then each month simply make a small charge, like a tank of gas, gym membership or something else you normally would do anyway. Don’t use the card for dinners or special sales… only small charges ($30-40). Then again, as your bill arrives each month, pay off the balance. Each time your bill is sent out, the balance is reported to the credit bureaus. So you will always show a $30-40 balance, recent activity, and no late payments. You won’t even pay interest on your charges since they are paid off each month! But the activity and low balances will kick your credit score into overdrive in a short period of time!

If you use credit as a tool and not as a gift card, you will be able to get the best deals on everything you need. It just takes balance and determination.

Best of luck!

Ed Nailor is works in the financial and credit fields. For new credit cards designed to rebuild credit, visit http://www.BestNewCreditCards.com/poor-credit-cards.htm (the most current credit card offers online.) For more credit tips, visit http://www.BestNewCreditCards.com/free-articles.htm

It’s a fact that the credit card issuers are predisposed towards those with excellent credit. But let’s face it, not everyone has superior credit. There are times when life has thrown in a few punches that can cause financial hardship that in turn damages your credit. If you’re presently in this position, don’t fret, there are bad credit credit card offers available.

No credit rating at all or a bad mark on your report will not necessarily stop you from obtaining a credit card. There are many companies that will issue you a credit card when you have bad credit. Your options aren’t as great as those with superior credit, but there are a number of choices you can look at.

The first type of bad credit credit card available is the prepaid debit card or secured credit card. This is where you make a deposit at the financial institution and your line of credit is determined by the amount available in your account. The prepaid debit card looks and can be used like a regular credit card. When you apply for a secured credit card there is no credit check and no employer verification.

When you apply for an unsecured bad credit credit card, the terms and conditions should be looked at carefully. The monthly interest rate is generally higher than regular credit cards. Most offers have annual fees starting at $35 and up.

An additional option available for unsecured bad credit credit cards is a periodic increase in your line of credit. Check with the financial institution to be sure they report your progress with the major credit reporting agencies.

The interest rate is higher on an unsecured bad credit credit card than cards for those with a higher credit rating. You may want to only charge what you know you can repay each month. To assist in rebuilding your credit, you would want to occasionally leave a small portion open and repay it the next month.

A credit card is an excellent way to rebuild your credit. But be cautious that you don’t get back into financial difficulty again. Make sure you follow the terms and conditions of the card.

It?s not difficult to be approved for a bad credit credit card. Just be sure to use the tools available to you, like the internet, to compare offers so that you can apply for the right card for you.

About the Author: Bradley Carson is the webmaster and editor of Apply Online For A Credit Card at http://www.cards-king.com, a website established to provide concise information about credit cards. See Brad’s latest recommendations of Bad Credit Credit Cards at http://www.cards-king.com/categories/badcreditcreditcards

Your credit is bad. Perhaps you have a string of unpaid bills haunting your past. Maybe you declared bankruptcy within the past 10 years, or defaulted on a student loan.

All of the above can block your access to obtaining a major credit card, such as VISA or Mastercard.

But bad credit is not the only reason you can be denied a major credit card. Some people simply have never used credit. People who like to pay cash only, have never financed a car, taken out a college loan, or a mortgage may have zero experience with credit. In that case, most card companies will reject your application, not because you have bad credit — but because you have no credit rating.

Many women who marry young and do all their borrowing under their husband’s name often find themselves with no credit rating after they are widowed or divorced. Thousands of women have been denied loans and credit cards on that basis.

Still other people carry too much debt to be considered a good risk. If you have a car loan, a student loan, a mortgage, two or three — out cards, you are unlikely to be granted another credit card.

But in any and all of the above cases, you can still obtain a credit card. No matter how bad your credit, and even if you have declared bankruptcy, you can still be granted a VISA or Mastercard with a limit as high as $5,000, if you know the right company to call, and how to make your application.

We are going to reveal these card companies and the methods by which you can obtain a VISA or Mastercard later in this report, but first, let’s talk about some of the other things you really should know about credit cards, including annual fees, interest rates, credit reports and more.

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Your Credit Rating
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How do credit card companies decide if you are a good credit risk or a bad credit risk? Well, it’s sort of a Big Brother thing. There are several large agencies in America which track the borrowing and buying behavior of just about every single American who has borrowed money at one time or another.

The four major credit rating agencies are:

CSC Credit Service :: (Phone: 800-392-7816)
TRW Information Sys. :: (Phone: 800-392-1122)
Equifax :: (Phone: 800-685-1111)
Trans Union Corp. :: (Phone: 800-851-2674)

When you send in an application for a credit card, the card company contacts one of the above agencies, which pulls your file, if one exists, and let’s the company know if you have any bad debts in your background.

If you have never borrowed money or used credit of any kind, your name will not appear in the data base of any of the above. If you have, there will almost certainly be information about you. If you have ever defaulted on a bill, or walked away from a debt owed, that information will be available. If you have never defaulted on a loan, but have made frequent late payments, that is recorded, too, and goes against your credit rating.

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25 Percent Error Rate
======================

If this sounds a bit like Big Brother, most would agree with you that it is. It’s scary to think that some large anonymous corporation is keeping a file on you, but it’s true. Furthermore, they will share your file with any lending institution that wants to know something about you. That’s the price you pay to obtain credit. You’ve heard the statement, there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.

When it comes to the game of credit, the lunch is definitely not free, neither in the monetary sense, or in the realm of personal freedom.

To top things off, credit agencies make errors in as many as one-fourth (25 percent) of all their reports. At this minute, false information about you may be ruining your credit rating.

To check your credit rating for errors, call the agencies at the numbers I provided above. They will request that you send them a written letter asking for a copy of your credit report. They will send you a copy of the information they have about you.

Now let’s look at how card companies make the big bucks — interest rates.

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Interest Rates
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A few decades ago there were laws against charging the kinds of interest rates credit cards get today. Exorbitantly high interest rates were called usury, and were forbidden by federal law. Just 30 years ago loaning money at 20 percent would have landed any banker in prison. Such rates were the territory of loan sharks and organized crime.

Today, however, it’s standard business. Some cards have rates approaching 21 percent. Some product manufacturers, such as Apple Computer, have credit plans that push a whopping 23 percent.

Most credit card companies attract customers with super low interest rates, sometimes as easy as 5 percent. But what they only tell you in the fine print, which few people bother to read, it that the interest rate jumps back up after six months. Many cards that start you out at 6 percent soon jump to 18 percent, or higher. By that time, most people have chalked up a balance and are stuck. Most people simply fail to notice when their rate increases. Credit card companies count on that. They like who take no interest in details. If you don’t watch them, they’ll watch you — and your wallet — and dip into it in the most insidious ways.

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No Annual Fee Cards
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Some credit card companies charge no annual fee for use of their card. Annual fees range from $18 to $55. You pay it every year simply for the privilege of using the card. Other companies charge no annual fee. You might think, then, that this is a better deal. Most often they are not. Cards with no annual fee almost always have a higher interest rate. If you leave a monthly balance, you’ll always pay more than the annual fee in interest charges. Only if you never leave an unpaid monthly balance can you benefit form a card with no annual fee.

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Perks and Freebies
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One of those insidious ways is the offer such perks as frequent flier miles or annual rebates. Use the card so often, and get X amount of frequent flier miles. Use your card, and get credit toward the purchase of an automobile. Is this a good deal? Hardly ever. As you might have guessed, the offer of rebates and gifts is simply an inducement for you to pay super high interest rates. Unless you are a big spender and travel a lot, you’ll rarely benefit from this kind of promotion.

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Be Choosy
==========

In short, never sign up for a credit card until you compare rates. Shop around. Credit card companies are just as competitive as any other kind of business. That means interest rates that vary widely. In general, never go for a card that is five percent higher than the current prime rate.

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How To Get A Lower Rate
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What if you are already on the hook with a major credit card with an agonizing rate of interest? Pick up the phone, call your card company, and get tough. Often, if you ask for a lower interest rate, you’ll get one — it’s as simple as that.

As further incentive, you can threaten to transfer your balance to another card company with a lower rate. Many card companies are more than willing to take you on as a customer by paying off one of their competitors for you. Of course, you are then beholden to them. That’s okay if you score a lower interest rate.

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How Anyone Can Get a Credit Card
=================================

Now what about all of you hopeless cases out there. What if you have deplorable credit, or no credit rating at all. You may have already been turned down by a half-dozen card companies. What can you do?

First, you should think long and hard about why you want a credit card in the first place. If you have a history of bad credit, a credit card may be the last thing you need. Many people feel that credit cards and the debt they lead people into is a modern form of slavery.

Credit cards are almost magically deceptive and alluring. They get at the deepest psychological lever of the human mind — a lever which allows people to have the feeling they are getting something for free, when in fact, they are paying two, three, four, even ten times as much for that product because of the interest they will pay on each purchase.

On the other hand, not having a credit card is becoming less and less practical in modern America. You can’t rent a car without a credit card. Carrying cash is dangerous. Checks are not accepted everywhere — and traveling to another city or country is extremely difficult without the confidence and identity a credit card brings.

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A Secured Card
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If you decide you really need and want a credit card despite your past problems with credit, you should get what is called a secured credit card. Even people who have declared bankruptcy are granted secured cards.

A secured card works this way: you pay a lump sum of cash upfront either to your bank or the card company itself, usually from $200 to $2,500. The card company will then grant your credit for up to 150 percent of the amount of your deposit. If you pony up $500, you will be granted a $750 credit line. If you put up $1,000, you will get $1,500 in credit, and so on.

Your deposit money will earn a very nice 4 to 5 percent interest while it is held as collateral by your bank or the card company. The deposit money acts like a buffer for the lender. In the event you default on your card debt, the lender gets to keep your money. They may still incur a net loss, but the risk is far less.

Additionally, the interest you gain on your deposit will offset the interest on your monthly balance if you have one. If you get a secured card with an 18 percent interest rate, you can feel good about the fact that your pre-payment is earning 5 percent.

Which card companies offer secured credit card plans?

The following:
(At the time of writing, these details are correct. If they change by any chance, you’ll have to look up the institutions in the Yellow Pages, or simply do a search online.)

CitiBank — Minimum deposit is $300, which earns 4%.
Call: 800-933-2484

Federal Savings Bank — Minimum deposit is $250, which earn 2.5%.
Call 800-285-9090

Orchard Bank — Minimum deposit is $400, which pays 4%
Call 800-873-7307

Key Federal — Minimum deposit is $300, which earns from 4% to 5%.
Call 800-228-2230

Signet Bank — Minimum deposit is $200, which earns 5%.
Call 800-333-7116.

Using a secured credit card can also help repair your credit rating if you use it responsibly over a number of years.

Even if you do not have bad credit, a secured credit card is recommended for anyone who wants the safety and convenience of a credit card. Secured cards are a safe, responsible way to control your spending, and you actually earn money though interest on your deposit while you enjoy the use of your card.

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Copyright ? Andre Vas, Direct-Credit-Card.com, All Rights Reserved.

A Message To People Who Want To Apply For The Best Credit Card —
But Can’t Get Started, Don’t Know Where To Go, Or Simply Feel
Overwhelmed With The Insane Amount Of Credit Card Offers…

==> http://www.Direct-Credit-Card.com

Also go to link below to get TONS OF FREE money saving and personal
finance tips & tricks…

==> http://www.Direct-Credit-Card.com

===================================================================

It’s a fact that the credit card issuers are predisposed towards those with excellent credit. But let’s face it, not everyone has superior credit. There are times when life has thrown in a few punches that can cause financial hardship that in turn damages your credit. If you’re presently in this position, don’t fret, there are bad credit credit card offers available.

No credit rating at all or a bad mark on your report will not necessarily stop you from obtaining a credit card. There are many companies that will issue you a credit card when you have bad credit. Your options aren’t as great as those with superior credit, but there are a number of choices you can look at.

The first type of bad credit credit card available is the prepaid debit card or secured credit card. This is where you make a deposit at the financial institution and your line of credit is determined by the amount available in your account. The prepaid debit card looks and can be used like a regular credit card. When you apply for a secured credit card there is no credit check and no employer verification.

When you apply for an unsecured bad credit credit card, the terms and conditions should be looked at carefully. The monthly interest rate is generally higher than regular credit cards. Most offers have annual fees starting at $35 and up.

An additional option available for unsecured bad credit credit cards is a periodic increase in your line of credit. Check with the financial institution to be sure they report your progress with the major credit reporting agencies.

The interest rate is higher on an unsecured bad credit credit card than cards for those with a higher credit rating. You may want to only charge what you know you can repay each month. To assist in rebuilding your credit, you would want to occasionally leave a small portion open and repay it the next month.

A credit card is an excellent way to rebuild your credit. But be cautious that you don’t get back into financial difficulty again. Make sure you follow the terms and conditions of the card.

It?s not difficult to be approved for a bad credit credit card. Just be sure to use the tools available to you, like the internet, to compare offers so that you can apply for the right card for you.

About the Author: Bradley Carson is the webmaster and editor of Apply Online For A Credit Card at http://www.cards-king.com, a website established to provide concise information about credit cards. See Brad’s latest recommendations of Bad Credit Credit Cards at http://www.cards-king.com/categories/badcreditcreditcards

There are thousands of Americans out there who may not be aware that there is such a thing as a prepaid credit card. If you are one of these people, don?t worry. Yes, there is such a thing and if you read on, you?ll quickly learn of its advantages of a prepaid credit card.

It?s important to possess a credit card ? even if you don?t plan on using it. Why ? because it establishes a credit rating and everyone single person has a rating. A credit rating is designed to let banks know what your financial situation is like, and your ability to repay debt. Nowadays, more and more people are shopping online. Have you ever tried purchasing something without a credit card? This scenario is probably unlikely. If you want to purchase something big, like a car or a home, it is next to nearly impossible to do it without some form of credit. For those of you who have had credit problems in the past, there is hope. That hope comes in the form of prepaid cards, which allow you to open an account (like a bank account) and load the card as you wish. The process is similar to using debit cards, except with this form of credit card, you are helping your credit rating to improve rather than to deteriorate more.

If you have no credit, chances are, it?s because you are young and starting out in today?s society. It is also possible that you have less than perfect credit, forcing you to start re-establishing your credit history, once again. Since it is important to establish a good credit history, owning a credit card is a good start, but only under certain conditions. Regardless of what anyone might say, if you have bad credit, you?ll need to take immediate steps of action to erase the debt that?s causing your credit to go from poor to bad. It goes without saying ? building good credit is so important today, especially for young adults wanting to buy a house or a car one day. Most young adults don?t have the cash upfront to afford a home. That is where having good credit comes in handy. If you have good credit, a bank will be more likely to approve you for a mortgage on a house or a lease on a car. If you have bad credit, you may be stuck in no man?s land.

You can?t erase bad credit, but there are things you can do to change it for the better. As previously mentioned, getting a credit card to help with bad credit is a wise move. Every month, your credit card company will send credit reports to credit bureaus, which are designed to help you re-build credit. It is important to note that once you receive a credit card, the responsibility is on you. You?ll need to make sure that you?re paying off your monthly balances in full. It may also be helpful to get a secured credit card ? that way, you?ll have to maintain a certain amount of money in your account at all times. It?s also good to obtain a copy of your credit report to track positive (and negative) changes being made.

There are many advantages to using a credit card, such as these. First of all, they work like regular credit cards. This means you can use them worldwide. You?ll also get superior customer service and protection as you use your card. Prepaid cards are also easy to get. You can pick them up anywhere ? whether it?s online or at the local retail store. There are also no interest charges. That?s because you?re not borrowing anyone?s money. You?re using your own. This also means that you won?t go into debt by using your prepaid card. It?s simple to use and effective in today?s world where it?s easy to spend too much when you may not have the cash to pay for it later on. Be smart and consider a prepaid card.

?Copyright 2005. Caitlin Crosain is a successful writer and publisher of resource websites on how to Repair Bad Credit and qualify for Secured Credit Cards and Personal Loans

There are no quick fixes in credit. Only time and prompt payment of credit obligations repairs a poor credit history. Yes, it takes time to undo credit damage, but here are a few suggestions on how to speed up the process and improve and rebuild your credit:

Start with a credit card that has a low credit line, or use a secured credit card that is backed by your own personal savings. Many people start rebuilding their credit this way.

Credit unions and local hometown banks are probably the best two sources for these. Make sure that the results are reported by credit bureaus as a revolving account like any other card. You want to get your credit report cleaned up, and you also want to start adding new, positive credit info as soon as possible, and a low-limit or a secured credit card is an excellent choice to do just that.

Know what your new card’s credit limits are, and keep balances way below 50 percent of this, as this practice — plus prompt payment of all your bills — will help raise your FICO credit score in the long run.

The term secured credit card is what it sounds like: you will be securing your line of credit with your own money. The card issuer’s risk is minimal, they are pretty much guaranteed to get their money.

Mark you credit card payment due dates on your calendar, and pay your bills at least one week before they are due. This means writing a check, putting it into an envelope, licking a stamp and applying it to the envelope, and dropping it into a mailbox TWO FULL WEEKS prior to your due date. Get in this habit, and eventually, you will write the check and mail it the day after you receive your bill. You will get one full month ahead on your payments, and you’ll never have another late fee, nor will your credit suffer from delayed the check is in the mail crisis.

Experts point to the fact that new accounts with regular on-time payments even for only a matter of months, tends to really put a shine one a credit report score.

A bank passbook loan is yet another way to improve your credit. You borrow from a bank and pledge your own savings account monies as the collateral behind it. Yes, you will lose interest on your savings, and you will pay interest on the amount of money you are now borrowing, but the ultimate goal is to rebuild your credit. It’s worth the cost.

To get started, you’ll need to have the savings to cover this sort of loan, and you might need to turn to a family member or close friend to help seed you the money to do this; the good news, again, is these accounts are reported and paid as installment loans, so your credit report will start to improve.

Having a mix of credit cards (low-limit or secured) and personal, installment loans, is important to maintain, since one factor in a good credit score is having different types of credit. If all you’ve ever borrowed and paid back are car loans, lenders reason, you might not do very well with a business loan or a mortgage loan.

Before you take out a loan through your local hometown bank or your local credit union, one of your most important questions to the loan officer is to ensure they report accounts to all three major credit bureaus. You don’t want to go through all this trouble and not be able to rebuild your bad credit.

Retail-store credit cards are yet another option to consider, as they can be easy to acquire, they get reported to credit bureaus, and they carry low lines of credit. This will take some real discipline. Only pull out and use these types of charge cards only when you already have saved up the money to pay for what you’ve bought.

We’d recommend that you pay your monthly balance in full. But if you carry a balance, remember that you’ll need to keep it below 50 percent of your available credit. Make timely payments are agreed, pay the bills early to avoid late fees from slow moving mail delivery, and check your credit report every 4-6 months to see that positive information is being added to your credit files.

Steve Johnson is the publisher of http://www.FindHow2.com — a growing collection of free how-to articles focusing on credit, debt and personal finance. He can be contacted at fixyourcreditreport@gmail.com.

Yes, its that time of year again… Spring is right around the corner. And while many people use this time of year to motivate themselves to clean out the garage or the attic, why not take this time and clean up some credit issues?

Right about now, most people are expecting Uncle Sam to drop them a check in the mail. You may have already received yours. Instead of running out to buy the next great thing to collect dust in your home, why not invest at least part of that money back into your financial future?

Ok, I know saving money isn’t sexy. So I am not going to tell you to put all that money away… I do live in the real world here! But I would suggest you put some of it away.. maybe 10% for a rainy day.

Here’s a great idea for those with bruised credit… How about taking part of that cash and obtaining a secured credit card? Think about it… a secured credit card accomplishes two things… savings and healthy credit.

To obtain a secured credit card, you must put some money into a savings account (min $300 for most cards.) This money typically will earn interest while there. Of course, as long as you keep the secured card, then the cash must stay in the account. But since your credit limit will match the savings amount, you virtually have access to your cash!

To build that healthy credit just follow a simple plan. Each month use your new card once to buy a tank of gas. Then put the card away until your bill arrives. Pay the bill off completely and then use the card for another tank of gas. The reason for this is to allow a small balance to report to the credit bureaus (thereby increasing your score) and then pay if off each month with no finance charges! In short order, you have begun to build a healthy credit history for yourself.

One last tip… take a small part of the tax return and buy something fun… Otherwise, this will seem like torture. You can reward yourself for doing a good thing for your future!

Make this spring cleaning count for something long term… you.

Ed Nailor is a webmaster, writer and works in the financial and credit fields. His website, http://www.BestNewCreditCards.com has the most current credit card offers online. Each card has a comprehensive review, details about each offer, and a link to the site for instant online applications. Be sure to check out our free articles and Blog for great tips, news and feedback.

Getting to college and keeping up with your studies is hard enough and let?s not forget the weekend jobs and late night shift. To top this off you have to worry about the building credit and your financial reputation.

What is this world coming to?

Take a deep breath and sit back. Like most problems in life, this one too has a solution that is not as hard as it seems.

Let?s start with ?credit worthiness.? It simply means that you appear reliable enough for financial firms to lend you money. These are some tips to help you build and maintain ?credit worthiness.?

? Pay your student credit card on time. On time means before the due date. You see, even one day late, is late and you don?t want to appear tardy to those who want to lend you money. They translate it to irresponsible.

? Don?t go overboard and over your credit limit. Staying below your credit card limit demonstrates your ability to manage your money. You come across as reliable. Try to keep your account balances less than 50% of your available credit.

? Less is better. Think of this as a love relationship. You find the one you love and really nourish that relationship. If you have too many relationships, they will remain on the shallow end. In life, you will need depth.

Limit the number of credit cards you acquire or even apply for. How would you feel if your girl friend or boy friend started asking others for dates? Just asking someone else for a date indicates some kind of a problem, doesn?t it? Excessive credit inquiries over a short time are interpreted as you having financial problems.

? Try to pay your balance in full each month or at least make sure you send more than the minimum payment required.

? Ignore the pressures that you may feel in social circumstances. You live much longer than you think and most people you now know will not be as close to you in a few years. Your debts will be with you for much longer if you are not careful. Work on some basic emotional disciplines like asking yourself if you really need something before you charge it. Or, can you repay the charge and if so how long will it take you? If it takes you longer to pay the credit card debt than it takes you to finish college, you may think about that purchase twice.

? Compare the terms and costs when shopping for a student credit card.

? Review your student credit card statements carefully and write to your credit card company as soon as you notice an error on a billing statement. Don?t just call them, write to them and keep a copy.

? Review your credit reports and check for inaccurate, incomplete or outdated information. You have the right to dispute inaccurate information.

? Keep in touch with your creditors, report your card as lost or stolen immediately, let them know of an address change immediately, inform them of telephone number change immediately. I know, that is a lot of ?immediately? in one sentence.

? Keep your friendships a little on the distant side and don?t open joint accounts easily. As I said, most people you know now regardless of how close you feel to them, may be much more distant both geographically and emotionally in a few years.

If you get into trouble, despite your best efforts, exercise courage and honesty. If you can’t pay your bills on time, pick up the phone and call your creditor to explain your situation and ask them for advice. Creditors will often work with you to come up with an alternate payment arrangement.

I leave you with a quote with James Lane Allen, ?You are the one who must choose your place.? May you be happy with your choices.

For more information about Student Credit Cards, Secured Credit Card, and College Credit Card check out FreeCreditReport.ws