| |
| |
|
Credit Information |
|
|
|
What You Need To Know About Credit Cards
What is a credit card? A credit card is a card that allows you to borrow money to pay for things. There will be a limit to how much you can spend called your credit limit. At the end of each month you can either pay off the whole of the amount you owe or make a minimum repayment. Other kinds of cards include:
Do you need a credit card? Using a credit card is a useful way of making purchases:
How do you choose a credit card? The main two UK credit card issuers are Visa and Mastercard. These are accepted in most places and in 130 countries worldwide. Beware of less well known brands that may not be accepted everywhere. Before you choose which credit card is the best for you, remember to read the terms and conditions carefully. Never sign up for a credit card without fully understanding what you are agreeing to. Remember that all the plus factors will be prominently displayed in large print. You may have to study the small print carefully to discover if there are any negative factors. What You Need To Consider: 1) APR (Annual Percentage Rate) 2) Special Introductory Rates 3) Balance Transfer Rate 4) Interest Free period 5) Cashback and Rewards 6) Minimum Repayment 7) Annual Fees 8) Late Payments 9) Exceeding Your Limit
Whether or not your application is successful will depend on your credit rating. Your credit rating depends on your credit history (a record of your use of credit) and is based on the record of your ability to repay debt. You can obtain a copy of your credit file by contacting a credit reference agency. There may be a small fee for this service. When you application has been accepted you will be given a credit limit. The credit limit will be fixed when you first apply for your card (although you can ask for it to be increased or decreased later) and the limit, including the amount you have left available to spend, will be shown on your monthly statement. Insurances and Protection.
1) Take good care of your credit card to ensure that it isn't lost or stolen. 2) To prevent misuse of your card you must report any loss or theft of your card to the issuer immediately. Many issuers allow you to register all your cards with them so that in the event of you losing a purse, handbag or wallet they can all be cancelled with just one phone call. 3) You must keep all your receipts and also check your statement carefully and report any suspicious transactions. For example payments that you have no record of making. 4) Credit card companies are now issuing cards with PIN (Personal identification numbers) which are known as Chip and PIN cards. Rather than signing your name you will be asked to enter your PIN onto a keypad. You must ensure that you keep this number secret. What The Issuer Will Do 1) The issuer should insure you against loss, misuse or theft of your card. 2) The issuer may also insure your purchases for up to 100 days. 3) Your issuer may also provide protection against you being sold unsuitable or shoddy goods. Important Points To Remember: a) Credit cards can be a very useful tool to help you to manage your finances. For a glossary of the terms mentioned in this article please visit the credit card glossary page. Phil Edwards is a Business analyst in the city of London, freelance writer for several finance magazines and websites and co-owner of 1st UK credit cards and 1st UK bank accounts
MORE RESOURCES:
Credit - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How to Improve Your Credit Rating So you got into debt, had problems but you got yourself back on your feet through hard work and sacrifice and how are you rewarded? A Bad Credit Rating.You would be forgiven for thinking thats not fair and why did you bother sorting yourself out if your hands are still tied when it comes to applying for anything financial? There are ways to improve your credit rating and get back on track completely. Defeating Credit Card Debt With Self Control Credit card debt is a major social problem in some Western countries. To rid yourself of credit card debt, it is best to recognize the problem as both a social and individual problem. Automobile Credit Report When applying for a loan to purchase a car, the lender will want to take a look at a person's auto credit report. Credit reports tell lenders all they need to know about granting a loan to all applicants. Finding and Applying for the Right Credit Card Offer Online Anywhere you go online nowadays, you will see a multitude of ads for credit cards. Some offer low interest rate for an introductory period, or bonus frequent flyer miles while others offer real discounts on new vehicles and equipment. Credit Scores and Loan Applications Keep Your Credit History Clean - Remove A Negative Credit Record From Your Credit ReportIt can make a difference of up to 18% in loan repayment costs. For example, on a 30-year, $150,000 fixed rate mortgage, a borrower with the best credit score, 760-850, will pay 5. Credit Card Disclosure Table - Do You Understand It All? In addition to the APR (annual percentage rate) and the finance charges, most credit cards have a number of 'fees' associated with their use. Some fees are unavoidable with a particular card (like an annual fee or a program participation fee), while others are triggered by certain circumstances. Tackling Bad Credit The first time I heard the term credit history was when I approached a lender for a secured loan. Being a first timer I was completely ignorant of the procedure and didn't even know that a credit record of our transactions is prepared by some credit reference agencies. All You Wanted to Know of Bad Credit Martin Henderson is in a fix these days. Because of his failure to repay a loan he had taken a few years back, he has been adjudged as a bad credit case. Teaching Students To Keep Out Of Credit Card Debt - The Parents Role Parents have the full responsibility for their children and their education. It is up to parents to teach their children what's right and what's wrong, how to conduct themselves as good citizens, how to cross the road safely and generally protect themselves from harm. Choosing The Best Credit Card To Apply For Always shop around to get the best deal when choosing which credit card to apply for. If you don't do your due diligence you could end up with a card that has too high of an interest rate, that has an unnecessarily high annual membership fee, etc. Useful Tips On Avoiding Credit and Charge Card Fraud Credit and charge card fraud costs cardholders and issuers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. While theft is the most obvious form of fraud, it can occur in other ways. Commercial Collections And Credit Granting It is estimated that billions of dollars in delinquent commercial credit is currently being carried on the books of both American and international businesses. This figure changes as our economy grows or contracts. Getting Your Credit Report and Understanding Whats On It If you intend to apply for a loan, you need to obtain your credit score. Understanding what this score means will allow you to make the loan process easier and quicker. Legislators Ponder New Credit Protection Laws Legislators in Washington, D.C. Dont Trade Your Future for Todays DooDads "Easy Low Down Monthly Payment," "Buy Now Pay Later," "You Deserve the Car Today and We Can Finance It for You," & "Spend Today, 0% APR until Next Year!" We see those statements above every where today, on TV commercials, car dealership, banks and magazines. Those statements have put a lot of people into a financial disaster, because the statements make a lot of people believe that acquiring bad debts is an ok thing to do. How to Repair a Bad Credit Rating If you have a bad credit rating, then you might find that your ability to get financing, loans, and even some jobs is greatly diminished.Once you have a bad credit rating, it might seem like there's nothing that you can do about it? but you don't have to believe that. Credit Trap: What They Dont Tell You About Credit Cards In College In industrialized nations, going into debt starts early. It's easy for an eighteen-year-old to get credit cards and fall into debt, especially if they're headed for college. Credit Card Security Advice Which of the following is the biggest threat to your credit card security?a) Shopping online with a credit card b) Shopping in a real store with your credit card c) Ordering something over the phone with your credit cardThe answer may surprise you. It's b - shopping in a real store with a credit card. 14 Common Credit Mistakes Establishing credit and wisely managing your credit becomes easier when you know how. You'll feel empowered by taking knowledgeable steps towards good credit, and you'll be on your way to purchasing real estate and greater financial freedom. Credit Repair, How To Credit repair, is in a word, vital to reestablishing your credit. Unless you plan to never use your credit again, then you have to find a way to fix it.
|
| Good Credit Loans | home | site map | School Bus Clothing | Florida Pool Heating |
| © 2006 |
