Showing posts with label Credit Comapny. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Credit Comapny. Show all posts

Thursday, April 16, 2009

How Non Profit Credit Consolidation Company Can Aid You

Are you so far in debt you can’t see any way out? Are you in danger of loosing your automobile or even your home? If so you need to take action now before your house goes into foreclosure or you have to take the choice of a bankruptcy..

Credit card counseling debt consolidation non profit companies may be the way for you to pull yourself up out of the crushing weight of your bills and be able to breathe freely again knowing you are taking steps to pay off your debts.

In case you were wondering what these companies can do to help you I have provided a list of all the benefits of using one. 1. You can expect as much as a 70% reduction in your credit card debt.2. Phone calls from bill collectors will stop. 3. Get all of your bills into one easy monthly payment. 4. Your debts will instantly be reduced and interest charges will be erased 5. You will have credit counselors working with your creditors to get you a lower payment. 6. You won’t have to worry about making multiple payments anymore as the nonprofit debt consolidation company will make them for you. 7. You only have to send one payment to the credit agency and they will make sure that everything is paid on time. 8. You won’t be left in the dark has each month you will receive a statement that includes Bill payment times and amounts. 9. Your statements from the creditors will still be received by you.

The annual interest rate on credit cards is normally between 18 and 24% If you decide to only make the payments on credit card in 30 years you will still be paying for them. When you take advantage of the services of a credit card counseling debt consolidation non profit company you will be able to reduce your interest rate and eliminate late fees in some cases. Another good thing about it is that your creditors will end up getting their money and you have the possibility of saving your credit rating. It is a win-win situation for everybody and the span of time that you are in debt gets dramatically reduced.

You need to remember that, as with all things of such importance, you need to research the company that you want to do business with thoroughly before you sign any type of agreement with them. There have been some of these companies who have taken the money from clients and used it for their own designs, stating that the monthly amount was a fee for their involvement. Others have been late on payments and their clients have paid the price by having their credit destroyed.

Make sure you are clear about how much they will charge for a fee. Don’t leave it up to the company to make the decisions on what they do with the money, you need to make sure to let them know that the money is to be paid out to the creditors as soon as they receive it. Consolidating your debts can be a real blessing but you need to make sure that what she wanted stated clearly and you need to be sure what the company’s methods of business are.

In the long run, as long as you are aware of the problems with some of these companies you have the advantage. If you find a reputable credit card counseling debt reduction company, they can truly benefit you by helping you to restore your credit and helping you to get a hold of any other financial troubles you are experiencing.

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Thursday, October 11, 2007

Relationships With Credit – Are You And Your Partner Ready For It?

As you found the love of your life at last, one of the most acute problems that your couple faces is how to manage the both partners' finances. It is usually no easy for the partners to determine how they will spend together and how they will own the property in possession.

There are some guidelines to help couples organize their spending according to their choice and lifestyle and the way they make their relationship. You and your partner are free to share or not share your property and earnings.

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There are a number of models to organize the financial aspect of your relationship:

You spend as a married couple: that is you have joint accounts and are both reliable for payments, plus both of you are involved in the ownership. You also make credit card applications in both names, building a joint credit history.

Partnership for spending: you can get joint accounts for certain expenditures, such as rent or household payments, on other needs each of you spend on your own.

Keeping independence-model: each partner pays for himself and you manage to pay for mutual needs (household, food, holidays) in turn or making equal contributions.

When living together, young people can't usually do without big purchases. A TV, a sofa or a washing machine – sooner or later the couple gets in need of such sort of things.

No wonder, a loan or a credit card plays the main part in this case. It goes without saying you should be careful and wise to play it fair and safe. Remember, you should be 100% sure of your partner before putting your name on an application or agreement. These are some possible threats that each of you should be aware of when some of you decides to apply to the bank. - Be careful becoming a co-signer. If your partner fails to pay off the debt or you fall apart, you will have to pay off the balance, as a second responsible person. Besides, it is fraught with damage to your credit score.

Joint accounts for credit cards or loans seem to be a good option, but not in cases when the relationship is unstable and seems to be not to last long. Though in this way you can build your credit rating together and both of you are responsible for payments, there are pitfalls to beware. If some of you fail to pay or exceed the limit, the other's credit history can be damaged and he or she will have to pay the balance and all the penalty fees. If one of the partners has bad credit, it is required that it should be under repair, in order to prevent future problems with approvals.

Before taking the decision to apply for mortgage or a car loan, which are long term and money consuming types of lending, you should know for sure you can trust your partner. Mistakes in this matter can cause serious troubles like bankruptcy. Love has nothing to do with money. So if you want to be protected, it doesn't mean you do not love your partner. Create your relationship and do not forget about future and financial security.

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Credit Cards – How Much Do We Really Owe?

Credit card debt seems to be growing and people are getting more and more concerned. Americans are once again polarized.

Some like David Ramsey encourage consumers to shred all credit card applications and buy only things they can pay for in cash. Some say that a mature person can use loans and credit cards for his or her benefit. Of course, there are some things most people need but can not buy with cash like cars and houses.

Student loans are also looked upon as a necessity. That is why credit cards are mostly under attack. It is a widely known fact that an average American carries about $8,000 in credit card debt.

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  • Credit Repair Clinics: Secrets You Should Know Before Hiring One
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However, this number is often misinterpreted. It actually shows how much an average American household that has a credit card owes to the card-issuing financial institution. Moreover, this number is greatly influenced by credit card users with enormous credit card debts thus making the average number so shocking.

According to the recent Federal Reserve report, if you add together the number of households that do not use credit cards or own nothing on them you will see that more than half Americans have no credit card debt. The median credit card debt for those that do carry a balance is a little bit less than $2,000. Almost half of them owe less than $1,000. This figure seems to be far less alarming. Especially if you take into account the fact that the situation with paying off credit card balances is slightly but constantly improving.

The data provided by the Federal Reserve System does not differ much from the one disclosed by another acclaimed credit resource – Fair Isaac. Only a little bit over 50% of Americans with credit history owe more than $1,000 on their credit cards. More than 50% credit card owners use less than 30% of their credit line. That means that Americans are not as irresponsible when it comes to money as they are portrayed.

So does this mean that the problem of credit card debt does not exist? It surely does. Although most consumers try to avoid high balances on their plastic but there is still a significant part that is balancing on the razor’s edge.

One third of those who have more than $10, 000 in credit card debt have a household income of less then $50,000. The number of bankruptcies filing is still extremely high with about 1.5 million personal filings a year. Another problem is unfavorable policies credit card companies use to make more money especially on those clients that fail to pay off their full balances on time.

Definitely, the government needs to step in and force the banks to make credit card terms and conditions less confusing for average consumers. But the biggest issue is financial literacy. People need to be more educated about credit and its costs. Americans need to learn to compare credit card offers before mailing another credit card application and calculate the amount of money they will need to pay back. The situation with credit card debt is not as terrible as it is usually described by the media but there are still many problems to be solved.

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Thursday, September 27, 2007

Do Credit Card Debt Reduction Possible?

Everyone wants credit card debt reduction, but nobody wants to give up shopping and splurging. Such is the world of plastic! When you go out on a Friday night, all you want is to blow up a lot of money on a night full of fun. Knowing that you do not really have to pay any cash only spoils the situation further. Moreover, before you know your monthly credit card bill amounts to more than what you had bargained for.

Being in debt is not a matter of choice for people using credit cards. When you use credit, you will obviously owe something to the bank. But you can surely reduce or limit that amount. There are many ways of debt reduction. If you find yourself in the pit of mounting card bills, you can get help in the form of a credit card debt consolidation program or a free plan. Some companies even offer free credit card and debt consolidation.

Tips For Credit Card Debt Reduction

  • The first and most obvious tip for credit card debt reduction is to stop using credit cards altogether. Most people will find this tip impractical and difficult to follow. But what you can do is keep the use of credit cards in check. Try to pay in cash as far as possible. Minimize the use of plastic money and use it only in emergencies.
  • Homeowners have another option available to them, in the form of home equity loans. Home equity is the difference between the amount you owe to the mortgage company and the market value of your home. By obtaining refinancing on your home, you can cash in on this equity. The money can be used to pay off huge credit card bills to eliminate credit card debt. The debt reduction will automatically reduce monthly payments; hence your debt burden is lowered.
  • Debt management agencies are also very helpful in credit card debt reduction. These agencies will negotiate with all your creditors and get you lower interest rates and waived off fees. Credit card debt consolidation will make the debts easier to pay off. Since, you will be making payments to the agency only; you will not have to deal with individual creditors or banks.

The time it will take for you to get out of the debt trap also depends on which credit card debt consolidation program you choose. There are numerous players in the market and you will need a little research before you make a choice. Getting in touch with multiple credit card debt consolidation companies to compare fees and interests is a good idea. Some of these companies even offer free credit card debt consolidation services. Once you hire a debt consolidation company, you are on your way to debt reduction.

It is not very difficult to achieve credit card debt reduction, which, reduces the amount unpaid on your credit card bills and can save you thousands of dollars every year with the help of a low interest consolidation loan. All you need to do is be careful while spending and using the plastic money sparingly when you are opting for a credit card debt consolidation program.

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Friday, August 24, 2007

Credit Repair Clinics: Secrets You Should Know Before Hiring One

If your credit score could use a boost, a credit repair specialist may seem like the best solution. But don't even think about hiring one until you read this.

You've probably heard myths that suggest that credit repair specialists have some divine dispensation with the credit bureaus. They don't. Far from it. In fact, in a minute, we'll show you why they have less leverage over your credit file than you do.

How to Repair Your Credit Score Now: Simple No Cost Methods You Can Put to Use Today
by Jamaine Burrell

Your credit score affects every aspect of your financial life including qualifying for loans and mortgages, low interest rates, housing, employment opportunities, and even insurance premiums. Millions of Americans have negative, inaccurate, and unverifiable information on their credit report. Repairing your credit profile is one of the most important financial decisions you can make. You re about to take the important step of taking control of your credit! If you re like the average American, having improved credit will save you thousands of dollars on your loans and credit cards...

The sad truth about the credit repair clinic industry -- and it is an industry -- is that many of these so-called credit repair specialists are scam artists, and the ones that aren't will be using the exact same techniques to repair your credit score that you can wield more effectively -- and safer -- yourself. And they'll charge you at least $750 to $1000 for their "expertise."

Now for those dirty little secrets...

Dirty Little Secret #1: If a credit bureau suspects that your dispute is being filed by a credit repair clinic, they'll trash it.

Dirty Little Secret #2: Credit repair specialists may be in cahoots with your creditors. Many of them are secretly paid as much as 15% by the creditor to reach a so-called "debt settlement!" Who do you think comes out ahead in that scenario? Not you! Such credit repair clinics are the worst kind of predator, exploiting their client's financial woes.

Dirty Little Secret #3: Credit repair specialists usually won't give you access to their correspondence with the credit bureaus on your behalf. Why? Here are a few reasons:

(1) They don't want you to know how easy it actually is to do your own credit repair, and wonder why you're paying them.

(2) If they resort to boilerplate dispute letters (which will just likely end up in credit bureaus' trash cans), they don't want you to see their boilerplate letters.

(3) The ones who are scamming you -- only pretending to correspond with the credit bureau on your behalf -- surely don't want you to know they're not doing much in exchange for the hard-earned fee you forked over.

If you do hire a credit repair clinic to represent your interests, make sure that they are, in fact, representing your interests. Force them to detail their plan of action. Don't sign until they agree to provide you with copies of all correspondence with the credit bureaus.

Remember: your goal is to take control of your finances again, instead of letting your creditors, a credit repair specialist, or the credit bureaus control your financial health. Don't rely on anyone who isn't personally vested in your financial health -- and doesn't even necessarily have your best interests at heart -- to fix your credit score.

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Tuesday, August 7, 2007

When is a Right Time to Use Credit? Cash or Credit

These oft-repeated words are a cashier's stock phrase. Yet the question packs a powerful punch in demanding a response that may have a significant impact on your budget.

When should you charge a purchase? The following guidelines may help you think about the best answer to this question.

  1. Charge only when you must. If you can afford to pay cash, do so to avoid interest payments being added to the amount of the purchase. Emergencies like a flat tire, an unexpected medical bill, or a one-time expense can be paid by credit if you have no savings or cash on hand to cover it. But keep in mind you will have to pay interest charges and possible additional account fees if you do not pay the balance in full on the account statement when it arrives.
  2. Charge when other options are unavailable. For example, if you don't have cash or a debit card, you may need to charge something. But get in the habit of using your bank's debit card, which deducts a purchase amount from your checking account. This can be done without fees when you don't use your PIN, but check with your bank to clarify their specific rules and regulations.
  3. Charge against your home equity line of credit to get a tax deduction. Check with your mortgage institution for details or if you don't already have an equity credit line. Ask about the interest rate to be sure it will not exceed the benefit of a tax deduction.
  4. Charge to get cash-back value or bonus points on your credit account. Sometimes it pays to purchase gas, groceries, and routine home maintenance supplies if you can pay them off in full when the statement comes in. Some credit companies offer cash back on a percentage basis, depending on the amount of the credit purchase. Fuel card companies offer gasoline discounts. The goal is not to get hooked into overusing your card in exchange for services you may not really need.
  5. Charge for convenience. Rather than carrying cash around all day to the drugstore, grocery store, or video store, you may want to charge these and other purchases to avoid running out of cash, as long as you are able to pay the balance off each month rather than letting it accumulate. Paying at the pump for gasoline is especially handy when you're in a hurry or the weather is bad and you don't want to take those extra steps to pay inside or at the window.
  6. Charge when you travel. Tracking expenses and checking each purchase can help you monitor expenditures and the family budget as well as give you a few extra weeks after you return to pay the bill. Travel checks work well, too, although the monthly credit card statement provides a helpful spending history.

While a majority of people have at least one credit card, don't fall into the trap of relying on credit too heavily. Debt is a heavy burden to carry, especially as it continues to accrue added interest charges.

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Sunday, August 5, 2007

When You Should Not Use Credit?

Decades ago, it used to be that credit purchasing privileges were reserved for the rich and famous. While farmers, miners, and other small blue-collar communities could buy "on credit," large-scale purchases were made primarily by cash.

Not anymore. Today, it is rare to meet someone who does not use a credit card. Many people have several. The down side of this development is that with the easy access to credit card use, consumer debt has mounted significantly, with some hapless victims running tens of thousands of dollars into debt that may be difficult to escape without incurring bankruptcy.

If you have a credit card or are thinking of getting one, here are a few guidelines to consider in making purchases.

  • Don't charge if you can't afford to pay it off in one statement cycle. For many middle-class consumers, the limit might be an amount in the range of a hundred dollars. Charging a more expensive item could impact your monthly budget if you strain to pay it off, jostling existing obligations. Or you may be tempted to make several monthly payments instead of paying the balance in full with the first statement. Check your credit terms to see if interest accrues from the date of purchase or when the first billing cycle (usually 30 days) ends.
  • Don't charge if you don't need it. "Make do or do without" is the motto of some thrifty people. A "needed" charge expense might be an unexpected car repair or a veterinarian bill, though a healthy budget includes savings for items like these. A new dress or shirt along with a visit to a classy restaurant are not true "needs" for most people. Pause before pulling out the plastic to determine if this purchase is worth the eventual wear and tear on your wallet.
  • Don't let someone else use your charge card. Even well-meaning friends or family members can get careless about paying back a charge on someone else's account. The old saying "business and family don't mix" particularly applies to a credit situation. Keep your card to yourself.
  • Don't buy something just because it's on sale. Those 50 percent off signs are like magnets, pulling us in against our will. A lower price doesn't necessarily mean you need to rush out and buy something on discount. Consider it only if you have been planning the purchase for some time.
  • Don't charge presumptuously. "I'll pay it off with the income tax refund." Sometimes expected windfalls blow the other way. You don't want to get stuck with a large debt and no way to pay it off. If you plan to buy something using a special or one-time income, wait until you have the money in hand. It's safer that way and you'll have peace of mind.
  • Don't be pressured into charging a purchase. Guilt, joy, forgetfulness, or empathy can cause us to want to run out and buy something for another person that they may not need and we cannot afford. The resulting charge will only make you feel worse when the statement comes in the mail.

Credit cards can convey a sense of financial power and well-being. But the mature consumer will control his spending and credit card use before it takes control of him. If you are having trouble limiting your credit purchases, meet with a financial adviser who can help you set limits.

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Saturday, August 4, 2007

How to Establishing & Protecting Good Credit

Rich Dad's Advisors: Turn Bad Debt into Good Debt and Bad Credit into Good Credit
by Garrett Sutton

Know yourself, get your attitudes and behavior under control, and then use the author's formulas and action steps to wrestle your credit report, account by account, back into something respectable.

Many people claim they will never need to use credit in order to obtain the goods and services they need, but credit is necessary unless a person is financially well off and can pay cash for everything. The average person cannot obtain a home or a new vehicle without making monthly payments. It would be ideal to never have to pay interest in order to obtain the luxuries and necessities of life, but few are able to do so. You may think you’ll never need credit, but you may find yourself unable to buy what you want if you haven’t established and maintained a good credit history.

If you want to establish credit, one of the ways of doing so is with a credit card account. Some credit card companies are willing to take a chance on a new customer, and offer a small credit line to those who have yet to establish credit. The easiest credit cards to obtain are department store cards and service station cards. They are however not as valuable in the eyes of credit reporting agencies. Even if you always remit the required payment on time, your credit score won’t improve as much as if the major credit card companies such as Visa or MasterCard issued the cards. Try to obtain a small line of credit with one of the major credit card companies, but keep in mind that every time you apply for credit and are turned down, this information ends up on your credit report, even if you haven’t established credit. This can become a vicious circle that is sometimes difficult to break into.

Some credit cards are considered secured, which means you must maintain a savings account to secure the balance of the card in case you default on the payment. These types of cards are useful if the issuing company doesn’t inform credit-reporting agencies that the account is secure. If the card is reported as being secure, your credit score will actually become damaged instead of improved. Avoid secure credit card accounts if at all possible, or at the very least, find out what the company policy is regarding sharing information about the account.

If you are in need of new furniture, appliances, or electronics, you can begin establishing credit by shopping at a rent-to-own store. Items sold in rent-to-own stores are often more expensive than other retailers, but this is sometimes the only way people without credit can obtain items such as these. Not only will you get the items you desire; you’ll be establishing good credit when you pay the monthly amount due on time, every time.

Some stores, such as carpeting and flooring stores, offer credit accounts to their customers. Carpeting and flooring is rather expensive, so credit customers are important to the success of a business such as this. It is for this reason that this type of credit is relatively easy to obtain. Improving your home by purchasing new flooring is a great way to begin establishing credit.

Once your credit has been established, it’s of the utmost importance to maintain good credit by paying your bills on time. Everyone makes mistakes and forgets to pay a bill now and then, but if you pay a bill more than 30 days late, chances are it will be reported to the major credit bureaus. Make a habit of paying your bills late, and your credit score will take a major nosedive.

Don’t let your credit get out of control. People often make the mistake of overextending themselves, and they become buried by credit card debt. Use your credit wisely, and it will be there for you when you need it.

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Thursday, August 2, 2007

Credit Repair Steps

When your credit becomes damaged, the road to credit repair can seem difficult indeed. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are simple steps that you can take to start repairing your credit right away. Combine these simple steps with planning and discipline, and you are virtually guaranteed to achieve your credit repair goals.

The first step is to access your credit condition by obtaining a copy of your credit report. This can be done very easily, right online. From the comfort of your living room, you can get access your credit report from one of the three main credit reporting companies – Equifax, Trans Union, or Experian.

While a small fee is customary, there are many circumstances in which you can get your credit report for free. If you’ve been turned down for a loan, you can make a written request, within 30 days of the refusal, to receive a copy. You can also get a free credit report if you suspect that there are illegitimate purchases on your credit card, if you are job hunting or are receiving public assistance.

Once you have your credit report in hand, you can use it as a guide to map out your return to financial health. Look it over carefully, and make sure that all the information is correct. Mistakes do happen occasionally. If you find inaccurate data, you must take immediate action to correct it by contacting the creditors or lenders involved. If you have debt, craft a budget and repayment plan. Even a small amount will move you towards your goal of financial health and demonstrate your intention to resolve outstanding debt.

Use the credit that you do have wisely. Do not carry a balance or add to the one that you already have, unless it is a true emergency. If you have a balance, stick to your repayment plan. These actions will improve your credit rating by demonstrating your financial responsibility. If you have no credit, try to obtain a retail credit card, meaning a credit card from a national retail store, such as Sears. The standards for obtaining these cards tend to be lower, as do their credit limits. It is important to remember, however, that their interest rates are often higher. Use this card to demonstrate your financial abilities and responsible attitude. Treat it with respect, as this will be your opportunity to create positive input for your credit report.

Closing any open credit accounts that you do not use frequently or that are not essential will serve to improve your credit rating, as many available lines of credit can frighten potential creditors or lenders. It looks to them as though you could be a financial risk due to your ability to take on a lot of debt very quickly.

Each time your credit report is viewed by a potential creditor or lender, which is called an inquiry, this becomes a permanent part of your credit history. Frequent inquiries can appear as though you are being turned down a lot or that you are under some type of financial strain that has you in search of credit. To avoid this negative connotation, do not apply for credit or a loan more than one time in a six-week period. Only apply for credit cards that you will really use, and use wisely.

With these step in mind, guided by your realistic financial planning and determination to reach your credit repair goals, you are sure to achieve success. Don’t wait, take the steps to ensure your financial health today.

Credit Repair Kit For Dummies
by Stephen R. Bucci

Essential guide to managing your credit, from fixing mistakes on your credit report, to improving your credit going forward, to establishing manageable payment plans with creditors.

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Wednesday, August 1, 2007

1 Hour Success to Credit Card Debt Elimination

The road has been a bumpy one indeed, but realize that you are not alone in your quest for financial freedom. Most people that you meet are in the same boat as you are…They are strapped with credit card debt. Unfortunately, many people believe that their only way out is through;

  • Filing for bankruptcy
  • Living off Mac & Cheese for the next five years
  • Or finding some miracle way to earn the money needed to pay off the debts

Well guess what? It’s not about any of these. There is a simple plan for credit card debt elimination that anyone can master. I think back to when I was strapped with debt. I tried borrowing money from family and friends and even tried doing some crazy schemes where I would send a letter and believe the banks would just wipe away the debt because I said it wasn’t mine. It wasn’t until I broke down and started researching the methods that banks use to place you in debt, which I realized how easy it was to get out of debt.

The nice thing is that I didn’t need to hire lawyers or go to court at all. I applied some simple steps and was amazed. In 3 years I was debt free and I did it all with the one small job that I had and I didn’t even need to go to a high priced counselor or debt be gone boot camp. I simply mastered my own destiny and experienced my own credit card debt elimination.

More often than not people believe that they have to be stuck in a certain type of rut until enough time passes so that things naturally take care of themselves or feel that they must locate a way to raise thousands of extra dollars. Not Needed! I researched and found out that there was extraordinary software available that took care of the process of credit card debt elimination and it was free (Debt Knife). I also realized that there were free credit counselors in every major city that were not for profit.

The truth is, do NOT get depressed or feeling like there is no way out for you. By looking through free sites, gathering free software, and speaking to the right individuals, you can be debt free in 3.

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What To Do If Credit Card Debt 80k Plus

Many consumers are faced with overwhelming financial hardship and have a substantial amount of debt. I have seen debt amounts from $200 dollars all the way to $629,589 in unsecured credit card bills. There are major differences between the average person that has $15k in credit card bills to the person that has above $80,000 in credit card bills.

Once the debt amount has grown to $80k or above the chances of the consumer paying off that debt becomes bleak. On that amount of debt payments would be above the $2,000/month mark and based upon your credit score the interest rates may hover around the 20% range. The combination of the compounding interest and the extreme monthly payments is a recipe for disaster.

Most consumers accumulate high credit card debt in a few ways. The first being a medical expenses and the other being a long term job loss. For some families if an emergency occurs and medical attention is required but not covered by insurance most people will result to credit cards to solve the lack of cash or savings issue. In certain instances a job loss depending upon the field could take 12-18 months to be rehired and when that rehire takes place you have to hope that you are getting the same rate of pay as before. During the 12 months that you are off work un-employment does always cover the costs of living and credit cards can be the crutch to get through tough times.

Before things get to out of control you should look into debt relief or seek debt counseling for your debts above $10k but debts larger than $80k require immediate attention. Debt settlement programs can help to reduce the total amount of debt that you need to payback and can provide you with one lower monthly payment in order to settle your debts in a efficient time frame.

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Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Visa Vs MasterCard – Which Is The Best?

The two leading credit card companies in the world today are the competitors Visa and MasterCard. They both operate along very similar lines. While Visa can claim to have almost a billion cards issued, MasterCard has over twenty five thousand banks issuing its cards and it is difficult to find any difference in the number of locations worldwide that accept the cards, which is now estimated at over twenty million.

In fact, as far as most consumers are concerned, there is no real difference between the two. They are both very widely accepted in over one hundred and fifty countries and it is very rare to find a location that will accept one but not the other.

However, neither Visa nor MasterCard actually issue any credit cards themselves. They are both simply methods of payment. They rely on banks in various countries to issue credit cards that utilise these payment methods. Therefore, the interest rates, rewards, annual fees, and all other charges are issued by your bank and when you pay your bill you are paying it to the bank or institution that issued your card and not Visa or MasterCard.

How Visa and MasterCard make their money is by charging the retailer for using their payment method. So the truth of the matter is that a Visa issued by say the Bank of Scotland will have very little to do with a Visa issued by other banks and may in fact by more similar to the Bank of Scotland’s MasterCard.

What this means for the vast majority of customers is that you do not have to overly concern yourself with whether a credit card is MasterCard or Visa. You would be better off concentrating on the interest and other charges on the card, the balance transfer possibilities or their reward scheme. You are very unlikely to ever be effected by the fact that it is one and not the other.

If you prefer, if you are going to have two credit cards, you may decide that you want one of them to be Visa and the other MasterCard, this means that if something drastic were to happen to one company, or if you were in the unlikely position of finding a location that accepts one but not the other, then you would have the option of paying with either.

At the end of the day however, much more depends on the bank that gave you the card, than on the type of card it is.

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Sunday, July 29, 2007

How to Avoid Bad Credit & Repair

Pay your bills on time to avoid getting bad credit. Research the marketplace before coming to a purchasing decision, and continue on your way to reestablishing your good credit.

Understand all applications, including credit cards, student loans, mortgages, and car loans carefully to avoid being overcharged. Make wise decisions ahead of the game as the ultimate solution to maintaining good credit. Most people are not aware of the options available to them when they take out a home mortgage loan. Many walk into the bank, fill out an application, and accept the terms & conditions when offered to them without concern for the fine print.

People are filing bankruptcy because they can’t afford their homes anymore. This is because these people did not take the time to check the marketplace for options available to them. Millions are, instead, in debt and searching for a way to repair their credit. The real solution is to avoid bad credit in the first place.

Research, invest wisely, make good decisions, and budget. Information and education are two of the best tools offered to us. Some mortgage loans offer overpayments and underpayments. These loans include vacation packages and lump sum payments to the borrowers. Other loans offer low mortgage monthly installments and low interest rates with attached insurance policies that will pay your mortgage if you are sick, unemployed, in an accident and so on. On the other hand, some mortgage loans have high interest rates, high mortgages, and balloon payments attached. When balloon payments are attached to home mortgages, it’s almost guaranteed in a few years you will be searching for a solution to repair your credit.

There are very few home lenders willing to tell you the truth about all the home loans available. Most of the lenders are making money off the loan. Your debt is their source of income. Scope out the terms & agreements carefully, and read all the fine print on any loan contract before you sign.

If you want to avoid bad credit and repair, stay on the right path. Loans are agreements that are made between two parties. Interest rates and other fees are always attached to those agreements. If you are applying for a home loan and want to avoid bad credit, learn what fees are included and how much those fees are. You will be charged fees up front any time you take out a mortgage loan. In some cases, however, you can get a home for little or no money out-of-pocket. Search the marketplace to save time and money.

Some home loans offer an “acceleration clause,” which covers missed mortgage payments. Lenders apply the clause by allowing leniency for one month, providing you make payments the following month on time. This type of loan is great for avoiding bad credit, foreclosures, and repossessions.

The marketplace is swarming with realtors and other resources that will help you get an affordable mortgage loan with benefits included. One tip to consider is painting your home and adding a little landscaping to increase curb appeal and property value.

If you are applying for a car loan, it is also important to search the marketplace carefully before agreeing to terms & conditions. Make sure that your find the best deal affordable to you. Most car dealers increase fees on cars 15%. This means if you can negotiate a price reduction with the dealer up to that amount. Stay away from credit cards that have fees attached and high interest rates. Avoid credit card offers that have upfront fees or offer a high line of credit. Consider a student loan. You may be qualified for a student grant from the government. These lower-rate options should be considered before you commit to a loan agreement.

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How The Credit Card Companies Rip You Apart?

Bad credit can happen to anyone. The reasons could be different but the result is the same. Credit card companies see bad credit people as a good means to fill up their coffers. Without paying attention to how the person got into this grim situation, they enforce their credit card issuing norms in such a way that they make maximum amount. How they rip us apart? Take a look at the following article and you will find the answer for sure.

High Interest Rates
A less than perfect credit repot attracts high APR on your credit card. Credit card companies simply can't digest the fact. The feel it risky to provide credit card, so to offset the risk high interest rates come in.

Low Credit Limits
A very low credit limit is given if you have an unsecured bad credit credit card. On the other hand if you offer any collateral or link your credit card to a bank account, the credit limits can increase slightly. However, don't expect huge credit limits instantly, they can grow gradually if you are prompt on repayment and get the credit card companies faith.

High Annual Fees
High ownership costs are a regular feature of bad credit credit card, this includes a high annual fees which can go in hundreds of dollars if the situation is really bad on the credit history front.

Low Grace Periods
With very less tolerance for defaults, credit card companies levy heavy late payment penalties and do not allow large grace period. Considering the fact that the borrower's credit history is already tainted, credit card companies feel that they have very little choice but to enforce strict repayment schedules to recover their money.

Advance Processing Fee
Yes, don't be surprised if a credit card company demands a huge sum in advance to give you that bad credit credit card. It has become a norm with some 'shady' credit card companies.

The facts above present the stark reality which faces a person with bad credit when he approaches a credit card company. To avoid getting ripped off by the credit card companies he/she should compare various bad credit credit card offers available in the market and choose only the one which suits best. A bad credit credit card is an opportunity to remedy the credit history. This can only be done if the monthly balances are repaid promptly and the credit card is used in a responsible manner.

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