credit cards header image
   
 

Choosing Your Credit Card

There are many credit card lenders all over the country today that would more than likely love to issue a credit card for you. Since there are so many lenders, competition is fierce, which means that consumers have more power when it comes to choosing the best credit card for them. Some banks will use incentive programs to try to lure you to them, and others will offer low rates, high credit limits, and various other perks, all in an effort to persuade you to do business with them.

 

If you are looking for a credit card, the best thing you can do is take your time and look at cards being offered by many different lenders, so you can get the best possible deal. Don’t just fill out that application you get in the mail and send it back in assuming it is a good deal, do your homework first, to make sure it really is as good as it seems to be. It is also important that you very carefully read and understand all of the fine print, and the terms and conditions of the card, so that you can find out exactly how much that card will cost you. This is the area where you will usually find out about the interest, and the fees that will be applied to the card. Many of the offers you receive in the mail may be for cards with a very low credit limit, and half or more of that eaten away right at the start in fees, and if you don’t read the fine print and use the card, it will be too late, you will be stuck paying for those fees or having your credit ruined with a charge-off.

In credit card lingo, the APR, or annual percentage rate, will tell you what your interest rate on your card is, and how much it will be if you miss a payment or do anything that puts the card into default. Make sure you pay attention to this, and look for a card that can offer you a low APR. Don't take a card that comes with a high APR, as it will only lead to no good. These cards typically are the fee happy cards, where you use the card once, and because of the APR and other fees that are charged, if you only make your minimum payment you will never see the balance come down. Everything you pay will go towards the finance charges and monthly fees, and in some instances, your balance may go up, even after your payment posts.

You will need to decide whether you want an American Express, MasterCard, or Visa, so you should take some time to read up on the differences between the three. Typically, if you can get a decent American Express, that is the way you should go, as you will be dealing directly with them, rather than a third party lender.

If you do take American Express, you should know that not every merchant accepts it, especially if you will be traveling out of the country. In that case, you would do better with one of the other card types.

There is another card type, but it isn't nearly as well-known as the other three, Discover. Discover cards typically come with tremendous benefits, but like American Express, it isn't widely accepted as the other types of credit cards. If you think you will only need your card for local use, then you might really want to look closer at the many benefits Discover offers its customers.

Credit Cards Recommended Products


Loading...

Tips when co-signing for a College Student's Credit Card - Pressemeldungen.at (Pressemitteilung)


Pressemeldungen.at (Pressemitteilung)

Tips when co-signing for a College Student's Credit Card
Pressemeldungen.at (Pressemitteilung)
By agreeing to co-sign for a student credit card, you accept the accountability of repayment in case the student defaults or fails to keep up with his/her ...

and more »

Read more...


Credit card fees for college students who charge tuition - Credit.com News


Credit.com News

Credit card fees for college students who charge tuition
Credit.com News
Student loan company Sallie Mae's 2009 report on student credit card use indicated that the average undergraduate will leave school with $4100 in credit ...
Credit card users faceWWLP 22News
Colleges hit credit card payers with junk feesWalletPop

all 5 news articles »

Read more...


Protecting Students From Credit Card Debt - Huffington Post


Pressemeldungen.at (Pressemitteilung)

Protecting Students From Credit Card Debt
Huffington Post
Credit card companies have long insisted that student default rates were no worse than the national default rates which, face it, at a current 20-year high, ...
Credit Card Debt: Avoid Student Credit Card DebtPressemeldungen.at (Pressemitteilung)
Credit card debt can plague college grads before their first jobCredit.com News
10 ways students can build good creditCreditCards.com
Nurido -Marketplace -Nurido
all 69 news articles »

Read more...


Credit Card Where Credit Card Is Due - Seeking Alpha


Channel 4 News

Credit Card Where Credit Card Is Due
Seeking Alpha
TALF leverage ratios vary from anywhere between 20:1 to 16.7:1 for credit card receivables, 10:1 for student loans, and 20:1 for small business loans. ...
Owe money? Credit card terms could be negotiableKnoxville News Sentinel
Credit Cards Giving Consumers HeartburnConsumer Affairs

all 275 news articles »

Read more...


Congress Fumes Over Credit Card Rate Hikes - Consumer Affairs


Reuters

Congress Fumes Over Credit Card Rate Hikes
Consumer Affairs
... sole focus is protecting consumers - be it credit card holders, anyone with a bank account, or families with mortgages or student loans – is really the ...
US credit card companies jack up ratesWorld Socialist Web Site
Why I'm Still BearishForbes

all 170 news articles »

Read more...


 
 
 
Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt!: Phone Calls to Banks That Saved More Than $43,000 in Interest Charges and Fees
Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt!: Phone Calls to Banks That Saved More Than $43,000 in Interest Charges and Fees
by Scott Bilker
Our Price: $19.55
Used from: $6.41

How You Can Profit from Credit Cards: Using Credit to Improve Your Financial Life and Bottom Line
How You Can Profit from Credit Cards: Using Credit to Improve Your Financial Life and Bottom Line
by Curtis E. Arnold
Our Price: $14.99
Used from: $10.80

Credit Card Nation: The Consequences of America's Addiction to Credit
Credit Card Nation: The Consequences of America's Addiction to Credit
by Robert D. Manning
Our Price: $15.30
Used from: $1.92

Fraud Prevention Techniques for Credit Card Fraud
Fraud Prevention Techniques for Credit Card Fraud
by David A. Montague
Our Price: $23.95
Used from: $23.35

Credit Card Debt:
Credit Card Debt:
by Alexander Daskaloff
Our Price: $6.99
Used from: $2.80

bottom bar