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A Step-By-Step Tutorial: How to buy a car with bad credit without it turning into a nightmare.

January 26th, 2012

3645

a step-by-step guide to buying a car with bad credit and taking control of the entire deal.

bad credit car loan

Are you tired of hearing the word ‘No’ when it comes to a car loan? I set up auto bad credit financing loan specifically so that you could hear the words ‘yes’. Who am I, you ask?

I spent 14 years in the automobile business as a Finance Manager so I believe it’s fair to say that I know a thing or two about getting a loan financed, irregardless of your past credit history.

Remember, regardless of your past credit history, you still need a car, want a car and most of all, you deserve a car. You should also be treated with respect and given choices. I’m going to teach you how to have a choice with auto bad credit financing loan.

I know what you’re thinking here: this lady has lost her mind! But, I know a few insider tips about Ford Motor Credit and some other big name lenders that may help you here. First of all, all lenders now purchase deals based on what is called a beacon score, which is the same as your credit score. There are three credit bureaus that make up the package. Each lender will choose whichever credit bureau(s) they prefer when looking at your credit or a combination of bureaus.
I highly advise everyone to have all three credit bureaus pulled when checking your credit and to pay for the credit score. If you only look at one bureau, you’re only seeing part of the whole picture. Bad credit financing is an art and there is a skill to it.

If your credit score happens to be around 600 or higher, Ford Motor will look at your deal with the intention of purchasing it; there are a few exceptions. They are as follows:
1- You cannot have had a previous Ford Motor repossession-
2- If you have had a repo, it needs to be a year or older; if you have had 2 repo’s, forget it and move onto another lender.
3- You can be freshly discharged from a bankruptcy, have a high enough beacon score and qualify for a loan with Ford Motor. You just can’t have any negative credit after the bankruptcy was discharged.

With the exception of these three things, beacon score will play a large part in your approval. Staying within your financial means is another, so be realistic. If you make $2500 per month and have $1200 going out, don’t walk in all high-and-mighty and tell the Finance Manager that you will only have an Expedition or nothing. You’ll end up with nothing.

In order to effectively use auto bad credit financing, you are going to have to know what your credit looks like and what your credit score actually is. Otherwise, you are working in the dark.
Pay for the credit score or it’s just almost useless. With the credit score, you will know whether or not you qualify for a lender such as Ford. Also, the higher the score, the lower the interest rate. Got it? With an auto bad credit loan, the higher the beacon score, the better.

Let me explain websites like cars.com and the such: They collect applications for car loans online. They then have a network of dealerships that PAY them for the leads. These are generally dealerships that have departments that specialize in getting you financed, regardless of your credit. These departments pay for these leads, so most take them very seriously, as they are their bread-and-butter, so to speak.

If you have a lower than usual credit score, a current repo or just plain, all-around bad credit, this might be the way to go. If your credit is really that bad, remember that you are going to need some cash or a paid-for trade in that’s actually worth something.

O.K., now for the step-by-step system that I promised. First, take control of your car deal! You need to be in the driver’s seat, if at all possible. Go online and run a copy of a tri-merge, which is all three credit bureaus, plus pay for your credit score. You can get a FREE copy of your credit report once per year HERE:
http://www.annualcreditreport.com

This is the new Federal law that actually entitles you to receive a FREE copy of your credit bureau once per year and with some other exceptions. This is not a credit monitoring site. You have to run each bureau separately; Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Then, you have to pay for the credit score.
So as to hold down on confusion, here’s the scoop: Each credit score for each separate bureau will be different. That’s why a Tri-Merge is called what it is called. You can run a specific bureau called a Tri-Merge from one company (there are many-just do a Google search) and you actually get one bureau (it’s actually all three combined but the credit score is also one credit score). It’s more expensive and generally runs around $34.00 but it just depends on your preference.

Now, with your credit score in hand and a copy(s) of your credit bureau, look at your credit. Do you have anything strange on there that is not yours? If so, it’s time to fix it. You should review your credit bureau at least every 6 months to a year. Plus, if your identity has been stolen, you will know quickly. P.S. you can also have a liner placed on the bottom of your bureau that simply states “Do not extend any credit on my behalf without contacting me first. Work # (111)222-3333 Home#(222)333-4444 Cell# (333)444-5555.?Call or write the credit bureaus and request that this is done. You can now do this online for free. Again, do a Google search for all three bureaus listed above.

How do you fix your credit, you ask? I give away a totally FREE book that I wrote on the subject simply for the asking. Email me with Free Credit Repair Book in the headline and I’ll email it to you.

Next in line: Know what you want to buy BEFORE you even go out shopping! Let me make this very clear. Car dealer’s jobs are to sell you a car on your very first visit. A salesman/woman and their sales manager believe that if you walk into their dealership and do not leave with a car, you will never come back again. They are going to hammer on you until they either A) Make you mad and you get up and leave or B) Sell you a car. It’s the nature of the beast. Accept it ahead of time.

What do you want to buy? Where can you get unbiased information on the auto? Again, Google for Kelley Blue Book or NADA and you can get cost, warranty repairs, recalls, and information on problems and tons of info beforehand. Limit your shopping to three models. Keep it simple. Those will be the ones that you will shop for.

Can you afford the car? You may think you can afford the car, but the bank may think otherwise! I have seen this so many times in my career. Automobile economics 101: Take your gross income (what you make per year BEFORE Uncle Sam taxes you) and remember, this income needs to be provable-tax returns, check stubs with taxes taken out or a W-2. If you are self-employed, you will need two years of tax returns with Schedule C’s. This is the income that you actually paid taxes on. Being self-employed can be tough. You may need to combine a spouse’s income if you are self-employed.

Now with your gross income figured out, find out what all of your debts are that are going out each month. Include everything…it’s listed on your credit bureau’s. Example: Car note=$450.00 + House note= $560.00 + Credit card debt= $425.00
Boat note= $310.00 Charge-offs=$1200.00 (yes, charge-offs; these are bills that you never paid and they were written off). Add all of your debts up. With just your obvious debts (including the charge-offs), you have $1805.00 per month going out. I arrived at that figure by adding up all the monthly notes and taking 5% of the charge-offs. 5% of $1200.00 = $60.00. We’re not through, though. Now we have to figure in cost of living-utilities. Each lender has their own algorithm for utilities but a good range to estimate would be to add $300.00. Now we have a total outgo of $2105.00. This is what you have to have to pay your current bills before you take on any other debt.

Almost all lenders will not allow your new car note to exceed 20% of your current income. For our example, let’s assume that your gross income is $5300.00 per month. Let’s take $5300.00 and subtract your debts, which are $2105.00. That leaves you with $3195.00. To make it easy, take $2105.00 and double it. That would be $4210.00. That would leave you with disposable income of $1090.00. What the lender is looking at here is referred to as debt-to-income. They want to know if you have more going out than you can handle. This is strictly a case of numbers and provable numbers. If your gross income was $4500.00 and you had $2105.00 in debts each month, you need to be prepared for one of two things; add your spouse’s income and your spouse to the deal or trade in the other auto. If your debt-to-income is running too close to 50%, you’re going to have a hard time getting a loan for anything. Make sense? The way the bank looks at it is this: you can’t afford both cars so they assume that you are going to let the other (older) car go back to the lender-repossession. That’s their take. Debt-to-income is a HUGE deal.

In this case, your disposable leftover income is $1090.00. 20% of that would be $1060.00. Whoa! Let me be the first to inform you that you are NOT getting a car payment of $1060.00! Why? Well, you only have $1090.00 left over for starters. Let’s be realistic here. Most lenders will slice that in half which will equal $530.00. Your payment call should be around that figure, give or take a few dollars.

How expensive of a car can I buy on a $530.00 payment? Good question and one that you absolutely need to know so that you can pick out the correct car. One answer depends on the term of the loan. You can finance for 36, 48, 60 or 72 months, as a for-instance. That equates to 3 years, 4 years, 5 years and 6 years. I will tell you this: the worst thing you can do is extend the note out the longest amount of time in order to get the payment where you can afford it. That creates a syndrome that now affects over 75% of car owners called being “Upside Down.?It means that you owe more on your car than it’s worth. It also means that you need more money down when you go to trade it in. The only way around that is a lot of money down or a short-term loan.

You can again do a Google search for a ‘car loan calculator? You will punch in the loan amount you want to borrow, the term (48,60, etc.) and the interest rate. If you have not gotten approved already and know the rate, you will have to guesstimate. Here’s a rule of thumb for you-it’s not an exact science without knowing your credit, but it is a guide you can follow to get you close. Let’s base the rate on your beacon score: that’s what most of the lenders are going to look at. If your beacon (credit score) is in the 400 or lower range, you will need to figure your interest rate on a new car at 21% (state maximums differ-it could be 18%). If you are looking at a used car, figure on 33%. If your beacon score is in the low 500 range, figure your new car loan as you would for the above-mentioned 400 beacon. If your beacon score is in the mid to high 500-range, figure a new car at 18% and a used car at 27%. If you have a beacon of 600 to 649, figure a new car at 16% and a used car at 20%. If you have a beacon score of 650 to 699, figure a new car rate at 12% and a used car rate at 16%. I may be hitting too high on a few of these, but I live in a state that has the highest rates in the nation. Better safe than sorry.

Get Pre-Approved BEFORE you start shopping. This is the easy part, in a way. Remember I told you at the beginning of this article to take charge of your car deal instead of letting the dealer lead you by the hand. It all boils down to financing. If you can walk in with a check in your hand, you are in control. I will recommend a few companies that are reputable, have a proven track record in sub prime loans and all mail the check to you at home. You then go into a dealership and pick out your vehicle, negotiate and buy like a cash buyer! These companies are Household Finance, Capital One Finance, Americredit and E-Loan. You can do a Google search for all four, apply online, and get either an instant approval or one really quickly. When you are approved, they mail the contract to you and then the check. It’s that easy.

On the final decision for the car-work smart here. There is nothing more valuable than time and nothing more rewarding than piece of mind. Please don’t go running from dealership to dealership. Wrong. Pick out the 3 models of auto that you can afford. If you are looking for a program car (rental), call dealerships and inquire as to whether or not they have any. If you want a new, ask other people that are driving that model where they bought theirs and would they purchase there again. If you start hearing a lot of “I’ll never buy from them again? move on. Something is wrong. Your new car is only as good as the service you will get AFTER the sale.

Negotiating-Most people hate this. I have only met 2 people in 14 years that enjoyed it; they were both retired and had nothing better to do. One did it for the fun of it and never even bought if you agreed to his price. Don’t waste other people’s time. If you don’t like the car, don’t negotiate on it. When you do find a car that you would own, tell the salesman you’d buy it right then if the price was right and if they provided you with a Car Fax. The keyword here is: ‘If the price is right? How do you know what a good price is? Well…glad you asked. If it’s a new car, Kelley Blue Book will have dealer cost. Go to: http://www.kbb.com
If it’s a used car, compare used car figures at http://www.kbb.com
And
http://www.nadaguides.com

What’s the difference? Most dealers (with the exception of the West coast) will use NADA as their guide.

Before you ever drove the car, you went by the dealership on Sunday, when there are no salespeople and you got the Vin# of the car and the equipment, year model and had a good look at it. You already know if you like the car when you drive it, that you would buy it. The list price is in your pre-approved check category, to boot. You’ve already gone online and gotten wholesale, trade-in and retail values for the car.

Retail is what the dealer should ask for the car. This will help you to know whether or not the salesman is trying to add money to the car, or if the dealership is. Trade-in is a figure to gauge approximately what the dealership traded for the car for. It will give you an idea of what the dealer paid for the car, before reconditioning fees and any ticket from service. Now, not every make of car will bring trade-in value. Two that will at this time are a Honda and a Toyota. Those cars will bring trade-in value. Domestic cars generally will not bring trade-in value, with the exception of new, hot models. Other models will only bring wholesale. As an example, Kia makes a great car, but most will not bring close to trade-in value. Mitsubishi is going through changes and also won’t bring close to trade-in value. There are exceptions to the rule: Katrina and Rita-two hurricanes that created a short supply of used cars. If you live in the south, that will be the case for a while. With the exception of a Honda and a Toyota, you can probably be safe offering less than trade-in. Not thousands, mind you, but less. Take into consideration the other costs of trading for a car. Also, ask the salesperson how long they’ve had the car. If the salesperson slips up and tells you they’ve had it a while, your negotiating should be easier. The reason behind that is that the dealer is paying interest on the car every month it does not sell. The book value is also dropping every month so it needs to go.

Throughout the car deal, make sure they know you are paying cash. Don’t mention that you have a check from Americredit or whoever. That’s none of their business. When you make a deal, insist on the Used Car Manager running a Car Fax before you sign any paperwork. A Car Fax will show if the vehicle has been involved in a serious wreck, was bought back from the original customer or is salvaged. This will put your mind at ease. If you don’t like the Car Fax, don’t buy the car.

Throughout your shopping, I can’t stress this enough-Do NOT fill out credit applications at each dealership. Every time you sign a credit application, the dealer pulls your credit report and your beacon score goes DOWN. That’s why I advise on getting approved ahead of time. There are numerous advantages to getting approved ahead of time. The main advantage is that you are in control, not the dealership. That’s worth a fortune in itself. Their job is to take control of you from the start of every meeting. Believe me; I know what I’m telling you. I lived that life for a long time.

For some reason, should you not be able to get pre-approved because your credit is extremely bad (a discharged bankruptcy is an instant-approval, by the way), and you have to go through an online clearinghouse like cars.com, don’t despair. Continue to follow my previous steps and advice and negotiate and insist on a Car Fax report.

When you do decide on a car and go into the Finance Office to sign the papers, I would like for everyone to know that you do not have to purchase any products in order to get the loan. If anyone in Finance tells you that you have to purchase a warranty and credit life to get the loan, which is a bold-faced lie. Why would a Finance Manager do that? Because they work on commission, also. Surprised? Don’t be. That’s the way dealers set up Finance Offices from the start when they realized how much money could be made. The Finance Manager makes money off of the rate they quote you, the warranty they sell you, the gap insurance and the credit life and disability you buy. That’s how they make a living.

I’m not saying that any of these products are bad, though. I believe in extended warranties. I’m just telling you to shop around first. If you find a cheap warranty, check out the company and make sure they will give the dealer a credit card over the phone immediately when in need of repairs in any state. All in all, I will say this-A manufacturers warranty is always better than an after-market warranty. Always. Just negotiate on it if you want it. The only reason why you would not want gap insurance would be if you literally paid cash for the car. Otherwise, gap is cheap (should retail around $495) and will pay the portion that insurance won’t pay if it’s totaled. Just remember what I said about the book dropping on a car every month. It will never be worth what you owe unless you put down a lot of money at the time of purchase.

Credit life and Disability insurance are a personal matter. If you have a life insurance policy, it can be used to pay off the car in the event of your death. If you are single, why do you need Credit Life? The only benefit would be if you are married with a family, it cuts down the payout time. In this situation, your spouse would not lose the car. Disability Insurance pays out for a specified amount of time. It will not pay out for the entirety of the loan. It also has a specified start date from the time you are disabled. It doesn’t just kick in immediately.

This is a lengthy article, but the gist of it is this: do your homework at home first. Then get approved online. Then shop on Sunday. Then go get your car and negotiate on everything. It will be the easiest car-buying experience you have ever had. Regardless of your credit situation, if you follow my steps, you’ll have a car in no time and you’ll be an educated and informed customer during the process. Good luck!

Avoiding Credit Card Debt? Preventive Medicine is Best

January 24th, 2012

689

Credit card debt is one of the most wide spread financial problems throughout many countries of the world. The convenience of using credit cards, combined with the special offers, discounts and reward systems offered by the credit card companies make this method of paying for goods the number one favorite for hundreds of millions of people.

credit cards, finance, Avoiding Credit Card Debt, credit card debt

Credit card debt is one of the most wide spread financial problems throughout many countries of the world. The convenience of using credit cards, combined with the special offers, discounts and reward systems offered by the credit card companies make this method of paying for goods the number one favorite for hundreds of millions of people. However, irrational spending or simply gradual uncontrolled spending habits can lead to a lot of accumulated debt. Preventing this is essential, as it is much easier to avoid credit card debt problems before they grow strong, instead of battling them when they are already at maximum intensity.

The temptation to use credit cards repeatedly a fact that is also supported by the reward systems and lower monthly payments – will often lead to debt problems. Here are a few tips that will help you use your credit cards more wisely and enable you to prevent the unpleasant situations of having to pay off credit card debts: Set your budget create a framework for a monthly budget, as this will enable you to get a better sense of what your earning and spending balance is. Much notice that they simply can’t stick with the planned budget in this case you should leave your credit card at home when going shopping, and use cash instead. Try to pay as much of the balance for each month. Don’t settle for the minimum payment, as that will gradually develop into credit card debt as you are loosing quite a lot of money to interest rates.

Always remember that your credit card is a cash substitute, nothing more. You can either carry a balance, which comes with a high interest loan or you can make the minimum payments. Although the amount of the minimum payment seems insignificant (it is usually around 3% of the entire balance), this approach will gradually put you in debt. The credit card company accepts such low payments because they get their money back from keeping you in debt for an unlimited period by using high interest rates.

Many studies have been carried out on the psychology of the credit card owner. We tend to spend more than we can afford, own things that are above our financial reality levels and gratify an immediate need with a debt that might take years to pay off. Try to adapt your spending habits to your life style and earnings. If you can’t pay off the balance on a monthly basis, then you are going into a vicious circle of overspending and credit card debt. Don’t use the credit card anymore, until you pay off the outstanding balance. You should also make sure to pay it off on time, as there might be late fees and different other financial penalties that will further complicate your debt problem. Your credit record will also get damaged if your payments are inconsistent and you are often late with them.

Prevent credit card debt by making sure to keep your finances simple. Use only one or two credit cards, if possible. The more cards you have the higher are the chances that you will not be able to pay them off in time. Never pay off one credit card balance with another credit card. If this happens, you need to drastically change your spending habits and come up with a good credit card management plan. Cash advances might sound attractive, but the truth is that they come with higher interest rates and you don’t get a grace period. There are also transaction fees to worry about.

The credit industry is extremely dynamic, and credit card issuers are always trying new ways to convince more people to sign up with their services. Different forms of rewards, life insurances, protection plans or point systems were created to make the credit card plans more attractive. Make sure you don’t let your emotional side dictate when you make a credit card related decision. Getting free gifts or free air miles sounds amazing, but is it really worth it? Try to base your choice on hard facts and a realistic financial plan, not on an advertising created fantasy.

Balancing The Benefits Of Reward Programs Against Credit Card Costs

January 22nd, 2012

470

0 APR credit card APR, cash back and optional rewards etc. are several reasons for any one to opt for a good credit card. They are also a useful and a smart way to meet ones financial needs. Most of the credit card companies offer most attractive features to lure their customers.

These credit card companies offer 0 APR credit card for several reasons and in several manners. Many cards offer 0 APR credit card for first six months and after the introductory period is over t…

Business Credit Cards,Best Credit Card,0% Credit Cards,Low Interest Credit Cards,Credit Card Debt

0 APR credit card APR, cash back and optional rewards etc. are several reasons for any one to opt for a good credit card. They are also a useful and a smart way to meet ones financial needs. Most of the credit card companies offer most attractive features to lure their customers.

These credit card companies offer 0 APR credit card for several reasons and in several manners. Many cards offer 0 APR credit card for first six months and after the introductory period is over the regular APR is applicable on any purchases made through the cards. This offer for regular period ranges from 12.49% to 15.99% on such a 0 APR credit card.

Credit companies offering a student credit card offer a 0 APR credit card. Most of the 0 APR credit card offer applies to the student credit card on all purchases, cash advances and balance transfers as long as the student does not default under the card agreement. The 0 APR credit card is offered usually by most reputed banks like Citibank, ABN Amro, Chase, etc. Some merchants also offer 0 APR credit card like British Airways, NorthWest Airlines, Hilton Hotels, etc.

Travel cards offered by various merchants and banks like Chase, British Airways, and etc. offer 0 APR credit card for which the introductory period of 0 APR is applicable for first twelve months. 0 APR credit card of a travel category also offers various other benefits other than 0 APR. These benefits include bonus miles, free flights, hotel stays, extra miles or bonus reward points on purchases from participating merchants. Travel 0 APR credit card are also eligible for redemption of reward points at any of the issuing banks or merchants outlet and also at any of the participating merchants.

0 APR credit card have the 0 APR period on limited to a few months. After the period is over the regular APR applicable on these cards can be fixed or variable. One must look for such a 0 APR credit card for which the regular APR period is most convenient. In a fixed APR credit card offer the finance charges are usually high but there is a bottom line for charging the finances. If the published index goes higher then the fixed APR does not change and finances charged remain the same. IN case of a variable APR after the introductory period is over on a 0 APR credit card, the finance charges are low. The existing APR is determined on the basis of published index on the basis of which the finances are calculated for the existing billing cycle.

Chase Cash Plus Rewards Visa, Discover Platinum Card, Chase Platinum, American Express Rewards Gold Card, Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card, The GM Card Mastercard, Discover Platinum American Flag Card, Sony Platinum Visa Card, Citi Driver s Edge Platinum Select Card etc are some of the classic examples of a 0 APR credit card.

Bank Of America Credit Cards

January 21st, 2012

528

Most people want to apply for a credit card online and get the best deal available, including a low interest rate, a reliable credit company, and some sort of reward program like a travel credit card offers. The Bank of America credit card is a card you can trust. They are available online at http://www.bankofamerica.com, and one of the most popular travel credit card they offer is the Bank of America MilesEdge card.

This card offers a great value for a low interest rate a…

apply for a credit card, travel credit card, bank of America credit card

Most people want to apply for a credit card online and get the best deal available, including a low interest rate, a reliable credit company, and some sort of reward program like a travel credit card offers. The Bank of America credit card is a card you can trust. They are available online at http://www.bankofamerica.com, and one of the most popular travel credit card they offer is the Bank of America MilesEdge card.

This card offers a great value for a low interest rate and the best rewards you can get in travel credit card. Plus, with the Bank of America website, you can apply for a credit card online and receive it within a matter of days.

Features:

Every Bank of America credit card offers great features, including the following:

Great security and protection in the form of fraud protection. When someone uses your card to make an unusual purchase, you will not be held responsible for unauthorized charges. In addition, if any of your purchases are stolen or lost and you used the Bank of America credit card to buy them, you can report the loss within ninety days and get refunded for the purchase price charged to your travel credit card.

Online banking services at the Bank of America website ensure that using your MilesEdge card will be convenient and hassle free. You get online bill paying and viewing so that you never have to wonder what will appear on your bill this month, what interest you are being charged, or what charges have been paid for in previous months. You can check your balance and your amount due at any time. You will also receive online customer service and ways to manage your account. And if you apply for a credit card online, you can set all this up when you finish with your application.

The Bank of America customer service is another great feature. When you use your travel credit card anywhere in the world, you are assured that it will be accepted wherever you go. And no matter where you are, customer service is available to you twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. The professionals on the customer service line are there to protect you from credit card fraud and from day to day inconvenience.

Automatic payments are a great feature for many credit card users who do not want the hassle of a monthly paper bill. Each month, your payment is automatically deducted from the account that you choose, either your standard checking account or other business account. No need for stamps or handwritten checks. Plus you do not need to worry about the possibility of late payments and the fees that go along with them. If set up automatic payments for multiple credit cards, you can view your account activities all on one statement.

When you’re on the go and away from home, especially if you’re in a foreign country, having cash is a necessity. But if you’re short on funds, you can rely on your MilesEdge travel credit card from Bank of America to give you cash at ATMs worldwide.

Balance Transfer Credit Card Offers Gaining Momentum

January 18th, 2012

751

This article describes how consumers can research and find out about balance transfer credit card offers are currently gaining momentum in the marketplace.

Balance Transfer Credit Cards, Balance Transfer Credit Card, Credit Card Balance Transfer

Only two out of three credit card customers pay their balances off every month, paying more than they should (and could). If you’re one of them, do not despair; with a credit card balance transfer you could easily do a balance transfer and save! If you recently made a big purchase but you can’t possibly make your payment on time, try using a balance transfer credit card that would allow you to you could save a lot of money transferring your balance to other balance transfer credit cards that will allow a very low or even a 0% APR on balance transfers.

Sounds confusing? Not at all! Here’s how this can be done. You fill out an application for a new balance transfer credit card; enter your other credit card accounts and the amount you want transferred from the old account to the new one. Your balance switches accounts, and your interest costs plummet. Generally, you will have up to a year to pay this balance off with a zero percent (or very low) interest rate.

Some other “traditional?credit cards will even offer a low interest rate over the lifetime of the balance until it’s paid off. If you are not sure if you could pay the whole balance in the prearranged zero-interest time-frame, this may seem to be a better option for you. But, using balance transfer credit cards would never be a risk if you plan effectively in advance for balance transfers and, in turn, will help you to save a lot more!

A balance transfer credit card would prove to be a great advantage if you have several cards with outstanding balances. Balance transfer credit cards permit you to do credit card balance transfers all into one account, and pay zero interest for the introductory months. Here are some things you should know, however, before you take the leap.

1. You should end up with a smaller payment amount.
Balance transfers would allow you to bring your interest costs way down, allowing you to make monthly payments, eliminating your debt gradually over the zero interest period.

2. A balance transfer does not mean debt elimination?
NEVER regard balance transfer credit cards to be the answer to all your prayers; it is NOT a way to run away from debts! If you are not able to pay off your balance in full during the introductory period, you may be charged interest on the entire amount of the consolidation, which would prove to be much, much more.
Be sure you check the terms and conditions of the card you apply for. Also, some customers see the new credit cards (or the newly paid-off old cards) as free money, and they continue to spend on them, with the result that they will have just as much debt as they did when they started ?plus the balance on their new balance transfer credit cards. Yikes!

3. Transfer at the right time
If you transfer a balance from a card right before the finance charge is accrued and calculated for that month, you will get almost a month’s free of interest expense. If the balance transfer is done before the interest and finance fees get placed on your statement, you should not have to pay those costs!

4. Cutting back = GOOD; Overspending = BAD
Some credit card companies will charge substantial over limit fees if you go over your assigned credit limit. A balance transfer credit card can give you some wiggle room if you have emergency expenses. Transferring high balances to new accounts can avoid these fees.

5. How do credit card balance transfers really work?

A credit card balance transfer is just like making any charge on your other credit card accounts. The difference is that the debt obligation moves from one credit card issuer to another, rather than from your credit card to a retailer. When one credit card is debited, the other is credited. Make sure you research your options, so that you know the balance transfer steps for the cards that you are using. It may be good to contact your existing creditors to find out if there are specific requirements on their cards regarding balance transfers. Sometimes companies make this a difficult process to navigate so make sure that you are absolutely clear about how the process works for each specific balance transfer offer.

As long as you use your balance transfers in the right way, it can be an excellent tool for financial management in difficult times.

Bad Credit Credit Report Repair – Why Do It Yourself?

January 16th, 2012

369

A credit report is a powerful piece of paper. Lenders look at it closely when deciding whether or not to give you a loan. Insurance companies can use it to determine your rates or whether they will cover you at all. Employers can access it and use it as a factor in offering you a job or promotion. With that much significance placed on your credit report, it is absolutely essential that the information it contains paints you in a good light.

Repairing your credit yourself s…

credit report, credit score

A credit report is a powerful piece of paper. Lenders look at it closely when deciding whether or not to give you a loan. Insurance companies can use it to determine your rates or whether they will cover you at all. Employers can access it and use it as a factor in offering you a job or promotion. With that much significance placed on your credit report, it is absolutely essential that the information it contains paints you in a good light.

Repairing your credit yourself saves you money

According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, consumers can dispute mistakes in their credit report for free. It can be a little time consuming to pull your report, document the error, type up a letter and send it in, so many people hire credit repair agencies to do the boring work for them. There is no real reason, other than the issue of time, to pour out money for work that you can easily do yourself.

There are no secret tricks to credit repair

Don’t be fooled into thinking that you don’t have the knowledge to clean up your credit report and that a credit repair agency knows a bunch of angles that have eluded you. Everything you need to know in order to fix errors on your credit report is readily available and there is nothing in the process that is required to be done by a third party or professional agency that specializes in credit repair.

Keep yourself from getting scammed

Don’t fall for the ads that claim an agency can erase bad credit from your report. The only thing by law that can be changed on a credit report is inaccurate information. If you have had a bankruptcy, the only thing that will legally remove it from your credit report is time.

Credit repair agencies charge anywhere from $400 to $2000 for their services and the reality is they are not doing anything that you can’t do for yourself. For $30 you can obtain a credit report that lists your history with all three credit bureaus. The rest of the investment in cleaning up your credit report is in the value of the time it requires.

Avoid Credit card frauds

January 14th, 2012

670

With a rise in the number of credit card scams, it is necessary that you use and keep your credit card with utmost care.

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With overwhelming use of credit cards, there is a need to keep check on the increasing credit card fraud that is dramatically rising on the internet. Internet users know that it is safe to enter their credit card number on a secure online form rather than giving it in a restaurant to pay off. Research shows that there is increasing number of fraudulent cases where purchases are made by mobile phones on account of credit cards of other persons that are higher than credit card fraud on the internet.

As a rule of thumb, you need to use some common sense and there are some tips that shall help you in avoiding credit card scams:

1. Always keep an eye whenever you use your credit card and get it back quickly if you have given it to some other person and try not to let your card out of your sight.

2. You need to be careful while you give your credit card to someone else and never give your account number over the phone unless you are sure that the company is a reputed one. Also it is not safe to give the credit card number over phone to any company who asks you for the same seeking excuses such as “computer problem?

3. Don’t give any response to emails asking you to provide your credit card information and emails that ask you to go to a website and verify your personal and credit card information as these are known as “phishing?scams.

4. Don’t provide your credit card information over insecure websites.

5. You should sign your credit card as soon as you receive them and shred all the credit card applications when you receive.

6. You should not write your Pin number on the credit card or anywhere near your credit card.

7. Don’t leave your credit cards and receipts lying all around.

8. You should shield your credit card number so that others who are around you could not copy or capture it on a mobile phone or camera.

9. Always keep the list of your account numbers and expiry dates and phone numbers along with addresses of each bank issuing you a credit card at safe places. You need to update this list each time you get one new credit card.

10. Try to carry only those credit cards that you require and don’t carry extra credit cards that you need rarely.

11. You should promptly open your credit card bills and make sure that there is no bogus charge involved. You should also treat your credit card bill in the same way as you check your accounts and reconcile it monthly. Save your receipts so that you can compare them with monthly bills.

12. In case, you find any charges for which you don’t have a receipt or one you don’t recognize you need to report these charges to the credit card issuer.

13. You should destroy and void incorrect receipts and shred anything with your credit card number written upon it.

14. Don’t sign a blank credit card receipt and you can carefully draw a line through the blank portions of the receipts where there is chance to add any fraudulent charges.

15. Even though carbon paper is not much in use but if there is any carbon used in a credit card transaction you should destroy it immediately.

16. Don’t write your credit card account number in a public place for example a postcard or from a place that it is evident to others.

17. Its good if you carry your credit cards separately from your wallet.

18. Never lend your credit card to others and if you move from your existing residence, do notify your card issuer about the change in address.

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Avoiding the Pitfalls of Business Credit Cards

January 12th, 2012

551

For startup entrepreneurs having an excruciatingly difficult time raising capital for their project, borrowing against business credit cards becomes a very real temptation; and sometimes, it is the only option immediately available. The caveat is that if you do not manage your business credit cards wisely, you may end up failing in the venture that you have long wanted to establish.

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For startup entrepreneurs having an excruciatingly difficult time raising capital for their project, borrowing against business credit cards becomes a very real temptation; and sometimes, it is the only option immediately available. The caveat is that if you do not manage your business credit cards wisely, you may end up failing in the venture that you have long wanted to establish. Without proper management, the debts that one incurs from business credit cards will simply pile up.

Business credit cards undoubtedly are very convenient to use. The moment you get approved for business credit cards, you get a guaranteed credit line that you can use virtually anywhere, anytime you need it. In spite of not having the cash, you can purchase what you need for the business with your business credit card. The convenience that business credit cards provide can also be the pitfall; and to the unwary user, business credit cards can be dangerous.

Knowing that business credit cards can be dangerous does not mean to say that you should not resort to using business credit cards to prop up your business. The key thing in minimizing the danger is to use the business credit card wisely, or to use it within bounds.

You might be too excited about a new business and get carried away about making more money and having a better life. But wait! Have you ever considered your fallback options should things not work out as you expect them to be? Remember that filing for bankruptcy is no longer an attractive option; the bankruptcy laws have been amended recently, and it is more difficult now for debtors to escape creditors in this way.

There is a way to avoid the debt trap. You should keep track of purchases you charge to your business credit card ?which you can easily do by logging onto your account at the business credit card issuer’s website. You should then work out your payment plan in advance by estimating your cash flow per month, and using this figure to calculate how much you can afford to pay against your business credit card debt. Pay off the entire business credit card balance as often as you can afford to. If that proves difficult to do, try to pay more than the minimum required payment for each month. This is the only way you can stay ahead of finance charges and the very painful bite of late payment fees and default APRs. Unless you have already arranged to remove the personal guarantee you signed in favor of your business, anything that happens to the business credit card account will have repercussions on your personal credit report.

It is necessary ?and quite educational, really ?that you do comparison shopping on trends in business credit card rates. You must educate yourself about how you can effectively use the float period on purchases, the fees for cash advances and late payments, over credit limit charges, balance transfer fees, and penalties for late payments. Then, there are also the annual fees: some business credit cards charge annual fees while others do not. There is a lot of information about business credit cards on the huge variety of websites devoted to the subject. Manage your business credit cards well, and they will help you finance your business.

Are You a Fan of Universal Theme Parks?

January 10th, 2012

422

When you think of going on vacation, does your mind drift to sunny Florida and a thrilling roller coaster ride? Do you love technology and movies? Then you must be a fan of the Universal Studios Parks and Resorts. Any visit to one of the parks or resorts is well worth remembering. It is a wonderful combination of remarkable visual sights, thrilling rides, and comfort and relaxation at the end of a day.

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When you think of going on vacation, does your mind drift to sunny Florida and a thrilling roller coaster ride? Do you love technology and movies? Then you must be a fan of the Universal Studios Parks and Resorts. Any visit to one of the parks or resorts is well worth remembering. It is a wonderful combination of remarkable visual sights, thrilling rides, and comfort and relaxation at the end of a day. Imagine getting a payback after having such a wonderful time. You can, when you use your Universal Entertainment Student MasterCard.
When you use your Universal Entertainment Student MasterCard at a Universal Park or Resort, you will be getting rewards points for everything you purchase. This includes admission to the park, the nights you spend at the resort, and any souvenirs or food you purchase at the park. Your Universal Entertainment Student MasterCard will give you 2 reward points for every $1 that you spend at the Park. There is no limit on points, so you can continue accumulating reward points and redeem them any time you wish. Like any credit card, this card is also useful for your regular life, such as buying groceries and filling up on gas. For each of these purchases you will receive 1 reward point for every $1 that you spend.
The Universal Entertainment Student MasterCard is a very unusual credit card in several ways. First, once you make your first purchase using your Universal Entertainment Student MasterCard, you will get a free movie ticket. No other credit card offers that. There are contests for card holders, in which you can win free tickets to award shows, and backstage passes to meet some of the attendees. Imagine getting free tickets to a show like the Golden Globes, or the Country Music Association Awards. You will also get notification and VIP invites for sneak movie previews, so that you will know have seen new movies before your friends do. All these are benefits of you applying for and using your Universal Entertainment Student MasterCard.
Another benefit not offered by most other credit cards is that the Universal Entertainment Student MasterCard offers free emusic. More details on how to obtain this are available on the website. There is also 0% interest for purchases during the first six months that you use your card. This means that you can buy those new DVDs that you have had your eye on, and not pay any additional charges for six months, as long as you use your Universal Entertainment Student MasterCard. So apply today!

A Credit Card Company That You Can Trust

January 8th, 2012

441

The following article lists some simple, informative tips that will help you have a better experience with Credit Card Companies.

Have you ever wondered if what you know about Credit Card Companies is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on Credit Card Companies.

If you are looking for a credit card company to give your business to, but are unsure of which one to choose, then you may want to consider Chase. They are k…

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The following article lists some simple, informative tips that will help you have a better experience with Credit Card Companies.

Have you ever wondered if what you know about Credit Card Companies is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on Credit Card Companies.

If you are looking for a credit card company to give your business to, but are unsure of which one to choose, then you may want to consider Chase. They are known for being one of the best credit cards around. They make applying for one of their cards very simple and there are no hidden charges.

When you sign up, they will give you all of the information about any charges that they may charge you. They do not have annual fees and offer a 0% interest introductory rate. Also, Chase offers fraud protection, which is a very important thing to have these days.

It is so easy to apply for a Chase credit card. Applying on their website is simple, too. Their website is also a great place to learn more about their credit cards including the interest rates and pictures of each kind of card.

When most people think of Credit Card Companies, what comes to mind is usually basic information that’s not particularly interesting or beneficial. But there’s a lot more to Credit Card Companies than just the basics.

You can also pay your credit card bill online. This is a fast and secure way for you to pay your credit card bill. If you do not have a Chase credit card, but have heard great things about the company, you can sign-up on their website. If you fill out the form correctly, then you could be a Chase member in just a few days.

Chase offers individual accounts and small business accounts. This is great for those of you who are looking for a credit card to start your small business.

Chase credit cards are accepted all over the world, so you do not have to worry about being able to use it on a trip abroad. Chase also gives their customers air miles for every dollar, so you may be able to take a vacation much cheaper than you think.

There’s a lot to understand about Credit Card Companies. We were able to provide you with some of the facts above, but there is still plenty more to write about in subsequent articles.

Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what’s important about Credit Card Companies.