| |
| |
|
Credit Information |
|
|
|
Dont Fall For A Scheme When Trying To Rebuild Your Credit History
For people with a spotty credit history or bad credit, getting approved for a standard credit card can be difficult, if not impossible. There are a number of credit card options that are aimed specifically at people who have bad credit and are trying to rebuild or repair it. There are also, unfortunately, a lot of schemes to take advantage of the desperation to get a credit card when no one else will issue one. How do you tell which options are valid ones and which are just taking advantage of a bad situation? Let's take a look at some the things that you should be wary of below. Catalog Clubs Disguised As 'Credit Cards' For People With Bad Credit. Some supposed credit cards offer to help people rebuild a bad credit history by making purchases from their catalogs. Products in the catalogs are often overpriced, and you can't use the 'credit card' anywhere else. While they will make reports to credit card companies with your balance and payment history, which will help to repair bad credit, it can be a very expensive way to acquire goods and clear up your credit history. Prepaid 'Credit Cards' To Help People Repair Bad Credit. Technically, prepaid credit cards are not credit cards, though they may bear a Visa or MasterCard logo. They're more like a debit card, without a bank account. The purchaser 'loads' the card with a deposit, usually with a minimum of $20 and a maximum of $500 to $5000. When you use the credit card to make a purchase, the amount of the purchase is deducted from your balance. When the balance reaches $0, you can't use the card until it is reloaded. Generally, you can reload the card at any time, though there is usually an upper limit to the amount of cash that the card can carry at any one time. Secured Credit Card - The Best Option For People With Bad Credit. A secured credit card is one of the best options for people who've failed to get the approval for a standard credit card. Your approval for credit is contingent upon a deposit in the credit card company's bank. Your initial credit limit is usually the amount of your deposit. As you make payments on time, the credit card company may increase your credit limit to 150% or 200% of your security deposit. Unlike a prepaid card, where you are actually spending your own money when you make a purchase, with a secured credit card you are buying on credit and reestablishing your credit history. The security deposit is only touched if you default on payments. Be sure to check around for the best interest rates, as they can vary widely. You will be faced with many options as you are trying to rebuild your credit history, and unfortunately, many people have found ways to take advantage of those people who are tying to turn over a new credit "leaf." Don't let that happen to you! Thoroughly research each of your options before making a decision. What Are The Benefits Of Gas Station and Department Store Credit Cards? If you are trying to rebuild your credit, gas station and department store credit cards just may be the answer that you're looking for. Why? Unlike bank issued credit cards, these types of cards are generally easier to get, so even if your credit report isn't spotless, you may be approved for one of them. But it's important to remember to use them for the purpose of rebuilding your credit report, or you could quickly find yourself in debt again. (After all, those department stores filled with everything imaginable are pretty tempting, aren't they?) After you've been approved for a card, you should make every effort to pay off the balance in full each and every month. Because they typically have higher interest rates, letting a balance accumulate can cost you a lot of money! Obviously, you should pay on time, and never, ever allow a payment to be late. If you think that you've waited too long on a department store credit card, simply go to the store and pay your bill in the customer service department. Another thing to remember is that just because these cards are easier to get, that doesn't mean that you should have tons of them! When a potential lender looks on your credit report and sees a lot of credit already extended-even if it's just one of these cards-they will likely pass on your request. Once you have used the cards to build a good credit history, you'll have to decide whether or not to keep them. After all, the interest rates are significantly higher than bank issued credit cards, and if your credit rating is good enough to get one, you might be better off canceling them and using a master card or visa instead. Here are some things to consider when applying for one of these cards: Most people think of gas station credit cards as only good for purchasing gas, but in fact, you'll reap other benefits as well. For example, what would happen if your car broke down, but you didn't have the cash to get it fixed? If you had a gas station credit card, you could simply charge the amount of the repair to your card! In addition, when traveling you could use the card to eat out (most gas stations in remote areas have restaurants), or simply use it to buy snacks, suntan lotion or whatever else you need. Finally, you may be able to get discounts on travel, hotels or rental cars, and car insurance when using your gas station credit card. The key is to shop around for just the right card that will offer you the most benefits. A department store credit card can offer great benefits as well. Just imagine everything that a department store offers; appliances, rugs, furniture, clothes, jewelry, tool and cosmetics, to name just a few. But remember not to get too carried away-after all the point is to build your credit, not go further in debt, remember? Again the bad thing about these types of credit cards is that the interest rate you pay will be higher than a bank issued card. But if you watch your charges, and then pay them off every month, this shouldn't be an issue. Michael Contaro For More Articles by Michael Contaro visit http://www.atozonline.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Credit - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
All Is Fair In Love, War, and, Your Credit Report - At Least It Should Be! Understanding the FCRA Fact: Over 150 million Americans have credit report with the three major credit reporting agencies. Approximately 50 million of these credit reports contain errors, many of which are inaccurate. Credit Report - Watch Out for Parking Tickets The economic downturn of the last five years has affected millions of Americans, but it has also affected the budgets of states, cities and counties. With limited tax dollars with which to work, various government entities have had to try to stretch their budgets to allow them to continue to function. Easing Your Financial Burdens With Credit Counseling It is a well-publicized fact that more of us are getting ourselves into greater debt, and this may be true for you. The embarrassment of your financial situation can mean you are unlikely to seek credit counselling or other credit management solutions. Start Building Credit Fast! There are a couple of reasons for this. You can pay your bills on time for years and never gain more than a few points on your credit score. Useful Tips on Using Credit Cards Here are some useful tips on using credit cards. Whether you shop online, by telephone or by mail, a credit card can make buying many things much easier; but when you use a credit card, it's important to keep track of your spending. Figuring Out the Ever Nebulous Numbers Called Credit Scores Credit Score FactorsThe information contained on our credit reports affect every aspect of our lives; including employment, insurance, and even interest rates (mortgage, credit cards, automobiles, etc.). Identity Theft - How to Protect Yourself "Like the tan? I got tons of sun on that Caribbean cruise. First class tickets to Florida and back! Nope, not an airline upgrade. Tips For Getting Your First Credit Card Most of us get a credit card on our name when we go to college or when we are in our senior years of high school and all of us stumble into the same types of difficulties when it comes to finding an issuer and managing the credit card. Most banks ask for a prior type of credit history that most of the time lacks and for some type of warranty that we will be good payers. Consumer Credit Reports A consumer credit report is a factual record of an individual's credit payment history. It is provided for a purpose permitted by law: to help a credit grantor or lender quickly and objectively decide whether to grant you credit. 5 Steps You Can Take to Get Paid! There are always some companies that have past due invoices and can't seem to get them paid. They might be quietly waiting to get paid not wanting to contact the client for fear of appearing "desperate". 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. 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. 10 Tips To Prevent Credit Card Fraud Imagine opening your credit card statement one morning and discovering to your horror that you suddenly owe thousands of dollars - on purchases that you never made.Impossible?Credit card fraud on the rise, so you need to treat your card and its information with extreme care. Avoiding Credit Card Traps The next time you open your credit card statement, take a closer look at the small insert titled "changes to your credit card agreement". You know the one I'm speaking about. Credit Reporting: How Does It Work? In order to determine a consumer's credit worthiness, creditors and lending institutions have come to depend on credit reporting agencies. Credit reporting agencies supply individual reports that provide consumer specific information for lending purposes. Finding the Right Credit Card There are so many credit cards out there to choose from that deciding which one to get can feel really daunting. What makes one offer better than the hundreds of others you've seen? Take this little quiz to find out what you should look for in a card. Credit Report Hassles There is no end to the amount of pain that your credit report can cause you. If you have a bad credit history this is something that can follow you around and wreak havoc on your life without you even knowing it. What Is A FICO Score? A credit score is most commonly known as a FICO score. FICO stands for Fair Isaacs Corporation. Choosing the Best Low Interest Credit Card With so many low interest credit cards on offer, how do you know which one to choose? Here is a brief guide for choosing your low interest credit card.The Chase Manhattan MasterCard is a great choice, for those with an excellent credit rating. The FICO Score Misconceptions There are many misconceptions about credit scores out there. There are borrowers who believe that they don't have a credit score.
|
| Good Credit Loans | home | site map | School Bus Clothing | Florida Pool Heating |
| © 2006 |
