Posts Tagged With 'Credit Card'

Reducing the Risk of Stolen Credit Card Numbers

Posted by Andrea Lewis at Aug 12, 2010 | No Comments »

Seems like daily there are news reports concerning yet another case of identity theft or credit card fraud. Who are the typical victims? Are they the nice elderly couple down the street who are so trusting and big-hearted? Or perhaps the high school and college-age kids who believe they are invincible as they step out to conquer the world and make a place for themselves? Surely it isn’t the savvy white-collar business man who drives his Lexus by the house everyday on his way to work.

The truth is, none of us is exempt from the all-too-real threat of potential credit card fraud, which is a big part of identity theft. In reality, no one can guarantee that your credit card numbers won’t be stolen or that your identity won’t be accessed by a criminal. However, there are several pro-active measures we can take that will reduce our risk ratio.

I have a friend who is a general contractor. He ha

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Tags: Card Credit Card

Using a Balance Transfer Credit Card Application Successfully

Posted by Andrea Lewis at Jul 28, 2010 | No Comments »

When you’re looking for a balance transfer credit card application, there’s usually a reason. Balance transfer cards are a great way to gain some breathing space if you’re paying a large amount of interest, but they can also create more problems than you anticipate. Before you set out to make your application, keep these thoughts in mind.

Who should get a balance transfer card…

The only reason to make a balance transfer credit card application is to gain a bit of breathing space. If you’re suffering from an extremely heavy debt, a balance transfer credit card won’t help in the long run. What it can do, however, is give you a few months of low interest or no interest where you can make payments and lower your principal.

In these tough economic times, many of us need every advantage we can get.

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Tags: Card Card Application Credit Card Credit Card Application

Transferring a Balance to a New Credit Card vs an Existing Card

Posted by Anthony Jackson at Jul 06, 2010 | No Comments »

Are you thinking about transferring a balance from a high-interest credit card to one with lower interest rates? One question on your mind might be whether you should transfer that balance to one of your existing cards, or apply for a new credit card.

Each choice will affect your credit score in different ways, so let’s look at the pros and cons of each.

Applying for New Credit

When you apply for new credit, whether or not you get the card, your credit score will take a small hit due to the credit inquiry. If you get the card, expect your score to drop more because you’ll have a “new account” in your credit file. New accounts are red flags to lenders and adversely affect your credit score for about six months.

However, there are many benefits to transferring your balance to a new credit card. Credit

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Tags: Card Credit Card

How To Maintain a Below Average Credit Card Debt

Posted by Andrea Lewis at Jul 06, 2010 | No Comments »

Are you familiar with the average credit card debt in the United States? Depending on who you ask, the figures are staggering: some studies suggest a figure of up to $9,000 per person. It’s hard to arrive at a single accurate answer to this question — but actually, it doesn’t really matter that much. What does matter is that any significant credit card debt is too much to carry.

What’s the Problem with Credit Card Debt?

Sure, any debt is problematic, but it’s simply a fact of life in modern America. Most people have mortgages for hundreds of thousands of dollars, so why does another five or six thousand dollars in credit card debt make a difference?

Actually, credit card debt is problematic for a number of reasons. For example, the average credit card debt arises not from necessities (like shelter — a mortgage — or transportation — a car loan) but from luxuries (like meals out, clothing, and entertainment).

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Tags: Card Debt Credit Card Credit Card Debt Debt

How to Get Out of Credit Card Debt 101

Posted by Andrea Lewis at Jun 11, 2010 | No Comments »

Getting out of credit card debt is very important. Out of all the types of debt to have, credit card debt can be the most expensive and the hardest to pay off. However, with a little hard work, determination and discipline, it is possible to eliminate your credit card debt once and for all. Here are five things you can do to begin your journey to financial freedom.

1. Pay more than the minimum amount

Making the minimum payment indicated on your credit card bill isn’t going to get you anywhere when you are trying to rid yourself of this debt. How long it takes to pay off a credit card by only paying minimum payments will depend on your interest rate and debt load. Use this calculator to figure out how long it will take to eliminate your debt by only paying minimums. Use this as a motivating factor to send in those extra payments each month.

2. D

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Tags: Card Debt Credit Card Credit Card Debt Debt

Finding and Keeping the Best Credit Card Rewards

Posted by Andrea Lewis at May 31, 2010 | No Comments »

It used to be a snap, finding the best credit card rewards. For a while, credit cards were fighting amongst themselves to attract business, and virtually every card had some sort of gimmick. In those golden days, finding the best credit card rewards usually meant picking the type of reward you wanted among many good cards.

But with the economy in turmoil and new credit laws emerging, it’s not as easy to find those rewards any longer.

What’s changed?

In a word, money is to blame. Credit card companies are working under three major financial blows right now:

1. A struggling economy, which impacts them as much as anyone else

2. A struggling economy, which means people aren’t spending as much on credit cards (and subsequently, aren’t paying as much in interest) while more frequently defaulting on loans

3.

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Tags: Card Rewards Credit Card Credit Card Rewards Rewards

5 Best Credit Card and Financial Calculators

Posted by Anthony Jackson at May 18, 2010 | No Comments »

If you’re not a “numbers” person, finance can be a challenge. You may understand the concepts, but actually doing the math gets confusing. Fortunately, the internet has a variety of credit card and financial calculators to help you figure out:

  • how much interest you’ll pay over the life of an installment loan
  • how much cash back you’ll earn for purchases on your rewards card
  • how long it will take you to pay off your credit card if you make just the minimum payment (or pay more than the minimum)
  • how quickly compound interest will add up in your savings account or other investments
  • if it pays to transfer a balance to another credit card

Here at CreditShout, we scoured the Web to find some of the best financial calculators to help you understand your loans and investments and better manage your money.

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Tags: Card Credit Card

FAQs About Capital One Secured Credit Card Application in Canada

Posted by Andrea Lewis at May 16, 2010 | No Comments »

Wondering about the Canadian Capital One secured credit card application? You’re not alone: Capital One is a very popular option for people pursuing a secured credit card option. Fortunately, the process is easy, and the most commonly asked questions find their answers here

Can I apply online?

Yes! Visit the Capital One website at www.capitalone.com to find quick, easy online applications for most of their credit cards.

How much of my credit limit do I have to supply in security funds?

Capital One offers a nice secured credit card option in that, depending on your credit score and history, you may not have to supply your entire credit limit in security funds. As long as you have some sort of security funds available, you may be able to treat your secured card as a real credit card.

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Tags: Card Card Application Credit Card Credit Card Application