Wednesday 30 November 2011

Online Credit Card Processing: Understanding Basic Essentials

If you are considering becoming an online retailer, then one of the first things that you need to sort out is finding a reliable online credit card processing service. In general, the services imply either creating an embedded payment option directly on your website or redirecting the visitors to the secure sites owned by the service provider. One of the advantages of working with an online bank or payment services over the internet comes from the fact that you are significantly reducing your workload. Therefore, the small monthly processing fees are totally worth getting the security issues and paperwork off your hands.

The credit card processing services will require you to set up a merchant account. In fact, if you are aiming to become a successful online merchant, then it is imperious to call on the help of such providers. Overall, people that make online purchases want things to be as simple as possible and what easier way than an option to pay with their credit cards. It is important to note that online businesses that do not include any sort of online credit card processing function will lose approximately 75% of their sales.

Working with such services is important as you are expanding the number of users that your business reaches. First of all, the credit card processing provider will offer you a solution that enables you to access your merchant account from any part of the globe. In addition, your online shop will be available for all visitors across the world. Therefore, since you are not limiting your company to a specific region or country, you can be sure that you will make more sales. Moreover, you can opt for a multiple currency support and hence, be able to accept payments from anyone that is interested in your services or products. At the same time, if you set a default currency, then another benefit of working with online credit card processing is that your bank will automatically convert all payments to the preferred currency.

A further advantage you can enjoy from doing business with a credit card processing service is the fact that you can learn more about your target audience. More exactly, the merchant account usually includes a function that permits you to check out detailed information about your customers, such as age, sex or location. This information can help you optimize your website, add functions or figure out a method of presenting yourself and your products or services so that they appeal to your target audience.

In order to enjoy all of the aforementioned advantages you will need to find a provider that meets and understands the needs of your business. Overall, the service provider must be able to offer you solutions that are easy to use at an affordable cost. On the other hand, depending on your products or services, their solution must be able to accommodate additional features and guarantee security, since after all your visitors are typing in critical data. Lastly, they should have a permanent customer service or support that you can contact via phone, fax or email.

Want to acquire online credit card processing facility for your website? Do visit http://www.bestonlinemerchantaccounts.com/ if you want to get one of the best vendors who can help you in getting the service of accepting credit cards online up on your site.


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Repairing Your Credit: When You Should Get Rid of Older Delinquent Accounts

Lots of people when viewing their credit reports will be disappointed to see a record of your old account, opened several years ago, showing late payments or delinquent status and even a charge-off. Their first response is to get it off their report as fast as possible. It is really an understandable response but, if it's possible to have it removed, more attention and care should be exercised when considering this kind of action. The length of credit history is an important factor in determining your credit rating; longer history usually translates to better score. Definitely the negative status of your account does affect the score negatively. Now add to the equation that the older a charged-off account becomes, the less negative influence it has on your score and the problem becomes even more perplexing. Faced with this dilemma, do you go ahead and remove the account or let it stand to demonstrate a longer credit history?

The primary line of defense would be to ensure that the information is accurate; if they are not move ahead and challenge it so that it remains on your report, though the negative content is corrected. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), missed payments can remain on a credit report for up to seven years. If your delinquent payments are older than that, they must be corrected. But don't forget, if you missed payments and your account remained open, subsequent payments can cause the debt to be re-aged this means the seven year period given by the FCRA will probably have begun to run again extending the time that's needed to pass before it will appear in your report. Disputing the account on those grounds will fail because it is being reported accurately.

If you're within your rights to have the account taken from your report, then consider your current payment history. If you currently are paying as agreed and on time, then this is more influential in calculating your credit score than having an older charged-off account on your report. "On time payments" always are superior to "age of accounts". Another reason supporting removing of the older charged-off account is that it will often be viewed by lenders, employers, insurance underwriters and landlords as a red flag causing them to look past your credit score and could influence their decision to deny you credit, employment, insurance, etc.

All things considered, the general consensus is that removing an older account is a clever choice when you're able to demonstrate a solid history of more current on time payments.

Get credit repair organization has helped thousands of consumers across the nation repair their credit reports. For more information about their programs, call 1-800-665-9981. They can also be found on the web at credit repair company.


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The Lexington Law Firm Review

The Lexington Law Firm is a credit repair service. They will file a dispute with the bureaus and try to remove negative marks from your report.

Removing negative items will improve your payment history. If you pay your current bills on time and remove old negative items then your payment history will improve and so will your FICO score. Your payment history is taken into account for almost 40% of your overall score calculation.

How Do They Work?

You Need Your Reports - you will need to forward these to Lexington. You also need to tell them what items you feel are questionable and you would like to have disputed.
They Will File a Dispute - this is done by writing a letter to each bureau. In the letter it will need to have; your personal information, the items you are challenging, and the reason it is inaccurate. Congress passed the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) this law gives you the right to challenge any item that you feel is inaccurate.
Bureaus Will Investigate - the bureaus will contact each lender or debt collector and ask them to verify the account, the dates, and the balance. If the account can not be verified then it must be removed from your report.
Check Your Mail Box - you will get notification from the bureaus of their results by mail. They will tell you if the item was removed or updated with accurate information. You need to forward these letters to your service so they are up to date with your progress.
Watch The Items Fall Off Your File - sit back and relax and watch your report get cleaned up.

How Much Will It Cost?

We can not provide you with a concrete figure as it will depend on how long you use the service. It also is dependent upon how much work needs to be done to clear your file.

There is a $99 up front fee and then a monthly fee starting at $49 a month. Often clients will use the service for about 8-12 months. At the end of the day you are looking at about $500 to use this service.

They will not guarantee results and anyone that does, you should view very skeptically. Unfortunately everyone has a different set of circumstances and while you can rest assured you have experts working for you with a service, they still can not make any guarantees. However a good idea is to look at their past results, how long they have been in business, and what prior clients have to say about their experience with a service.

I Thought This Was Illegal?

Somehow this myth has been spread through our society and couldn't be further from the truth. Congress passed the FCRA which gives you the right to dispute items on your report, and this was passed to protect consumers from debt collectors and the bureaus.

It is 100% legal and no one has ever faced any criminal prosecution for filling a dispute. Did you know the experts estimate that 25% of all reports have an error on them? Without the FCRA you would have to just live with these errors, which could be damaging your score.

For a free credit consultation call 1-800-232-2903 or for more about Lexington Law or for more about Credit Repair Services and how they work visit us.


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Tuesday 29 November 2011

Repair Credit Scores Before Seeking Financing

Many consumers will know long before they make a big financial move that they intend to do so. Rarely do consumers who work for a living make an impulse buy as large as a vehicle or home. Such large investments do require some forethought and financial planning. Part of that planning should be to investigate one's existing credit score and work on improving one's credit rating well before financing ventures are sought out.

The Problem With Waiting

Consumers who are about to embark on a big-ticket purchase such as the dream home they finally found will suddenly come to realize the importance of their credit even if they paid it no attention in the past. When a consumer finds the house they now can not live without, they will need to apply for a mortgage with a lender. The lender will make their decision based largely on a consumer's credit score. If that score is low and the credit history is marred by financial issues, there is a strong likelihood the loan application will be denied right away.

The problem with waiting is that while credit improvement is always possible, it takes time to make a credit score get better. Consumers will have to put forth the effort to make their credit better. Bills will need to be paid on time and open accounts analyzed in order for credit scores to rise. Unpaid creditor balances should be eliminated as efficiently as possible.

Looking at the Timeline

These actions are the only way to improve existing credit scores. They do work but it will not be an overnight activity. Once a consumer orders their credit reports, it takes up to 45 days for the credit reporting bureaus to investigate and correct inaccurate information that a consumer disputes with the bureaus. Creditors will take even longer to update score-relevant credit information. It can take several months for consumers to notice a difference after paying debts on time and avoiding new lines of credit.

For those with plans of financing something in the future, there should be a credit repair lead time of at least 6 months, if not a year, if the consumer wants to make a marked difference. With this amount of time, consumers will have the ability to review the details of the credit and make the necessary effort to repair past financial mistakes.

Credit Matters Elsewhere

Credit scores matter for much more than just mortgage loans and vehicle financing. These days industries of all kinds are relying on a consumer credit score to make important decisions that affect a consumer's life. For instance, basic services like electricity may require a credit check when new customers apply for service. Without a good credit record, customers will likely have to pay a hefty down payment in order to get services activated.

For consumers looking for a new job, especially in the areas of finance or for government employment, a credit score can make or break your chances of being hired. Low credit scores can indicate that the applicant has difficulty managing their own financial matters and may not have the characteristics to be successful at a specific job. If a consumer is looking for a new place to live, it is important to know that many landlords will also require a credit check before agreeing to rent.

Those who drive and must have car insurance coverage to stay within the laws will find they must spend more for insurance premiums than another person with similar insurance needs. Insurance companies use credit scores to predict reckless behavior. Studies show a correlation between low credit scores and the increased likelihood that policyholders will file one or more claims.

Get Your Act Together

Because credit matters in more places than loan offices these days, it is important to keep credit scores high and histories maintained. Ideally, all consumers should request their free annual copy of their credit report from each of the consumer credit reporting bureaus. Credit scores are not part of the free report but can be purchased for a small fee from the credit reporting agencies.

Once the reports come in, consumers should analyze every bit of information the reports contain and dispute all inaccurate/unknown information with the credit bureaus. Investigations will be launched into your dispute and incorrect information will be removed from a credit report. This step alone has improved many consumer credit scores significantly. More than 80% of credit reports are found to contain at least one mistake.

After reviewing and disputing information, consumers need to maintain their active accounts with on-time payments every month. Debts should be eliminated as quickly as possible to improve credit to income ratios. After several months of good payment activity and no new applications for credit, consumers can re-order their credit information for the updated scores before proceeding ahead with request for financing.

This guest post was written by Steve Dowell, a professional writer specializing in topics related to personal finance, debt relief, credit repair and more. Pass through creditrepair.org for more tips and advice.


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Understanding the Steps of Credit Card Processing

When someone hands over a credit card to a merchant, or enters their credit card information online, they have little knowledge of what happens. All they see is the charge that appears on their statement. The truth is that a lot more is going on behind the scenes during your average credit card processing. Let's look at the steps taken by the typical online purchase.

Ready, Set, Charge

The buyer finds what they wish to purchase and, using an HTML form, enters their name, credit card information, shipping and billing addresses and so on. Once the form is completed properly the buyer submits the data and it heads out to the server for processing.

Processing the Submitted Data

The server receives the information and evaluates that everything is filled out properly and checks for a code that tells it where to forward the incoming request. The server then converts the data to a form which the gateway will understand and moves the information to the gateway. The code also confirms whether or not the credit card is valid and if the transaction can be processed.

Entering the Gateway

Once the information reaches the gateway the card is validated and the user's account is checked to make sure that the required amount is available. If everything checks out then an approval code is provided - and if there is a problem, the card is declined.

For providing this service the merchant is charged. The charge can be assessed per-transaction or on a monthly basis, depending upon the arrangement between the merchant and the service provider.

Transactions are batched at the gateway. Periodically, usually once a day, they are sent on to the clearinghouse. A clearinghouse is a large card issuer such as Visanet, Global or Nova. The clearinghouse determines the type of card used and the bank which issued the card.

Responsible for transferring money from bank to bank, clearinghouses take 2 to 5 percent of every transaction. They move the money from the buyer's account to the merchant's account.

The Merchant Gets Paid

The final step in the process occurs after the merchant's bank receives the funds through the clearinghouse. The bank then transfers money in to the merchant's Card Not Present account.

Why You Should Know

Both as a buyer and a merchant it is important to understand the process. It can take several days for a transaction to move from the pending list to the approved list and if you need funds to move quickly as a merchant, this can help you select a company that batches more frequently; for example. As a buyer, it clarifies why you might need to wait a couple of days to see your order shipped.

Determining what kind of credit card services you choose, as a merchant, will depend on a number of factors, many of them financial, but time can be a valuable asset as well.

Choosing a Provider

When you search for credit card processing services as a merchant, especially one involved in ecommerce, you need to take a good look at all the charges you will encounter. A business that makes many small sales daily will do better with a monthly charge, whereas one that makes fewer but larger sales may opt for a per-transaction arrangement.

Gateway fees can also add up quickly. The difference between 2% and 5% is dramatic when you do $10,000 worth of business in a month. Make a spreadsheet to compare two or three offers and pick the one that is best for your company.

Opening your own business is an exciting and risky endeavor. Credit card acceptance is essential if you are going to serve a broad client base and getting online can make the difference between success and failure.

You may find that you need two service providers, one for the Internet and another for your physical store, but you will only find that out by doing the math. Remember that you are the customer, and barring unusual circumstances, you will be able to find an arrangement that suits your needs.

Michael Rupkalvis owns the Transaction group. The Transaction Group offers credit card processing and other services such as internet merchant account solutions for all types of businesses.


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The Reasons Behind Secured Credit Cards

For some people, a credit card is a valuable necessity that is required for use in every day life and a secured credit card solution seems pointless, after all why would need to secure you card when you don't need to? For some people, in particular those that are struggling with a bad credit history secured credit cards can be one of the only options for financial aid available.

Understanding the difference between secured credit cards and regular credit cards can be hard however it is very simple if you know about secured and unsecured loans. These cards take pretty much exactly the same principles as loans in the way that unsecured loans or cards require no upfront payments and secured do.

Secured loans require you to own a valuable item that you can use to place against the loan. Throughout your loan period a 3rd party company will hold your asset, and if you fail to repay the lending vendor can take the item in to their possession. Due to the high amounts you are usually required to take out to qualify for a loan, the item you deposit is typically a house, car or object of similar value.

The great thing about this aspect of secured credit cards is that technically if you end up in further financial trouble and really can't afford to pay off your balance, you have a backup plan which can quickly and easily wipe the debt of your shoulders. This does mean losing the valuable asset you first used as a deposit, however you will have known and understood that this could be the case from the start of your application.

The balance of a normal card is usually based on your income or your credit history and sometimes it can be hard to apply for a balance that you really need. Another great thing about secured cards is that we can have more of a say on what our cards balance is. The item we initially use, such as a car, house, jewellery or cash deposit is used to roughly calculate a suitable credit balance for us personally. This means if you use a car valued at £1500 as your deposit, you balance will either be £1500 or a slightly lower amount.

Much like any credit card there are various charges that can be applied and you should be fully aware of these before you sign for or start using your card. Standard fees you will find appearing on your bill are things like monthly interest, with a secured card you may expect a slightly smaller amount of interest and the vendor already has some guaranty that you will pay back your credit. Annual fees are charged on most of these cards and secured cards unfortunately follow the same principle, you will be charges a set amount just for having your credit card each year.

One charge you will not be familiar with Secured credit cards is an application fee. These tend to not apply to a regular card or any other form of financial solution, an application is as you'd expect from the name; a fee for applying for the service. This charge will usually be of very little value however it does mean you are paying more than most people believe you should, just to apply for a service.

Are you looking for some more information these types of credit cards, you will definitely want to take a look at Secured Credit Cards.


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Saturday 19 November 2011

Letters Of Credit - Three Types of Letters of Credit Importers and Exporters Rely On To Get Paid

Many people search the Internet to find out what the term "Letters of Credit" refers to, and if these types of letters are the sort needed to fix a bad credit score.

Commonly referred to as "LC's" or "LOC" in a sort of shorthand description, letters of credit are in fact the name of secure instruments available to international traders to pay for goods.

All too often, however, the term "letters of credit" related to import/export financial products, mistakenly gets mixed up with the term "credit repair letters" -- but these two terms are quite distinct, and not related to one another at all.

An LOC is a bank's commitment -- on behalf of the buyer -- to process payment(s) to the seller once all the terms and conditions of a transaction has been met and verified through the presentation of all required documents.

They are the tools of the trade when it comes to operating an import and/or export business. Understanding how letters of credit are used is essential if you want to become successful in the import/export field.

According to Export.gov, three common types of letters of credit are known as:

Irrevocable Letter of Credit

The LOC can be issued as revocable or irrevocable. Most LC's deemed irrevocable. This means they may not be changed or cancelled unless both the buyer and seller agree to do so.

Confirmed Letter of Credit

Offers a much greater degree of protection to exporter when a LC issued by a foreign bank (the importer's issuing bank) is confirmed by a U.S. bank (the exporter's advising bank). U.S. bank adds its guarantee to pay the exporter.

Special Letters of Credit

When LC is issued as transferable, payment obligation under original LC can be transferred to "second beneficiaries." With revolving LC, issuing bank restores the credit to its original amount once drawn down. Standby LCs used in lieu of security or cash deposits.

So the question remains: "Just how are Letters of Credit used in international business today?"

There are essentially seven steps that Letters of Credit flow through between importers and exporters:

1. The importer arranges for the issuing bank to open an LC in favor of the exporter.
2. The issuing bank transmits the LC to the advising bank, which forwards it to the exporter.
3. The exporter forwards the goods and documents to a freight forwarder.
4. The freight forwarder dispatches the goods and submits documents to the advising bank.
5. The advising bank checks documents for compliance with the LC and pays the exporter.
6. The importer's account at the issuing bank is debited.
7. The issuing bank releases documents to the importer to claim the goods from the carrier.

Pros and cons of relying on letters of credit abound. The pros include: Safety of receiving payment after shipment. A variety of payment, financing and risk reduction options become available to the seller. The cons include these factors to beware of: The entire process can become quite complex, as well as very labor intensive. Often an expensive factor in terms of the total transaction costs in international trade. Best used only on quite large transactions.

Knowing what the term "letters of credit" refers to -- knowing that it has no relation to "credit repair letters" -- is an important step in learning that "LC's" or "LOC" are in actuality among the most secure instruments available to international buyers and sellers. Knowing what letters of credit are, and reviewing sample letters of credit to ensure that your own financial correspondence will help protect your firm get paid, are two of the most important steps you can make to stay profitable in the emerging international trade arena.

Steve Johnson is the writer and publisher who founded FindHow2.com, offering free sample credit repair letters, dispute letters, and letters of credit for business use. One of the most popular topics now on importing and exporting is the free informative review of letters of credit and how they are used in essential import/export financial transactions.


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Credit Scores / Credit History Repair

Credit scores are numbers ranging from 300 to 850. These scores are a measure of a person's creditworthiness and financial stability. Over the years they have become an important part of a person's future. Lower credit scores can affect your life but credit history repair can help.

Financial institutions and creditors use credit scores as the basis for making decisions on granting credit. Each bureau has it's own formula for figuring credit scores. It consists of numbers being put into their own formula. The main factors for these formulas are:

The amount of debt a consumer has
The length of time a consumer has had credit. Newer accounts are riskier
The balance to limit on each account. High balances are a danger signal
The mixture of the types of accounts a consumer has (i.e. credit cards, mortgages, installment loans)

Any negative information in these areas will need to be worked on and changed in order to get higher scores.

No open credit, no scores. This can create problems for you the consumers. Not only are the scores used to determine if credit is granted, it determines the percentage rate that will be given for that account. Credit scores are also used in decisions for employment, promotions, rates for car insurance, deposits for utilities and prospective landlords plus much more. Know what you need to do to have the highest possible scores.

There are three credit bureaus that are pulled to obtain consumer credit scores. These are: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax/CSC Credit Service. Each bureau is a commercial business not affiliated with the government. They are multi-million dollar companies that operate for profit. The bureaus do not verify the accuracy on credit reports. The bureaus say it is your duty to prove the accuracy on your report. This makes credit history repair very important.

These bureaus make their money selling your credit report to others. They even sell your personal information to telemarketers and mailing list companies without your permission. A consumer with bad credit means more business for the bureaus. This type of consumer will apply for credit 10 times more often than consumers with good credit. It is very important to change your situation.

TransUnion and Experian will also sell credit scores to consumers but they are not FICO Scores. They are scores the bureaus have created for their own use. These scores can differ as much as 100 points from FICO Scores. Equifax does sell consumers the actual FICO Scores. The scores of each bureau will differ since each bureau has their own way for figuring them. Also, creditors do not always report to all three bureaus. You need your credit scores from all three bureaus in order to know what is going on with your credit and to be able to keep track of any changes on your credit report.

Take control of your credit today. Credit history repair is the answer. Learn what can be done for your credit situation. Go to http://www.restoringcreditscores.com/ and sign up for a free consultation.


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Credit Report Monitoring

This is a hot topic today. We live in a fast moving, fast living and ever more gadget orientated world. Gone are the days of dressing up to go and see the bank manager, having a discussion about your account and that was it for another year. Now we all buy online all the time, and want instant access to get it. This is why credit report monitoring is all the rage. The problem is, just what is it? What is on it? Who has it? How does it affect me?

All of these questions can be answered with a little research. There are the obvious things. When you ask to borrow any money, you become a "risk". The major money lenders need to know what their chances are of getting their money back. To this end, credit report monitoring is a way they can share information about you and your finances. That is why it has been made into a scoring table, that way your credit risk can be assessed quickly. Obviously, they are in the business of lending to make money and they want to be as sure as they can that you are going to pay them back.

If you have the time, you can research your own credit history and should it be wrong, you can write to the relevant people and get it changed. The trouble is you generally do not find out there is anything wrong until you actually apply.

Here are some general rules that apply which may help you understand the credit monitoring report system. When you apply for credit of any kind, you may find an instant problem if you are not on the electoral roll. The other more crazy kind of problem you may have is if it is the first time you have ever applied for credit. No record at all makes lenders as nervous as a bad record. If you can, cancel any cards you don't use and if it is at all possible, clear any debts you can.

Another thing is, try not to apply for lots of things at the same time, these companies share information so, if your name keeps popping up, it makes them nervous. Although different lenders may have different criteria, the basics will apply to them all.

On any credit monitoring report there will be status codes. These are codes that show where you owe money and the state of payment. There will also be information such as agreements made through the courts agreeing payments. These are held for up to six years even when the debt is paid. The same applies to any bankruptcies, court judgments, just about anything that would make you seem at all like a risk of defaulting.

There are a lot of ways to improve your rating, The first thing to do is obtain your credit monitoring report. Then you need to put aside some time to go through it. Make a note of anything that is wrong. If you have a lot of credit issues, it may be wise to go to one of the many companies now springing up that will "improve" your credit score. You may need someone who knows their way around the system. It may cost you a little money to do this but it will help you when that next "must have" purchase arrives on your e-mail!

A credit score is a definitive measure of your financial abilities and thus it becomes imperative to keep a check on your company credit reports. You can also get your free credit report monthly and track all the entries to avoid any discrepancies.


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Friday 18 November 2011

Lexington Law - Credit Attorneys

The confusing world of credit repair can be stressful and time consuming. Lexington is billed as a consumer advocacy law firm with over 20 years experience. They offer a network of attorneys and paralegals throughout 18 states to work for you using their knowledge of consumer law.

Initially, you will be offered a consultation. From there a level of service is recommended based on your needs. For each, there is a flat monthly fee. The benefit to this is that there is no billing per deletion so you always know what you will pay each month. Those considering this should also be aware of the First Work fee. This fee is $99.95 regardless of the service you choose and is charged after the first round of disputes is completed.

At the Regular level, $59.95, you can expect to receive unlimited number of disputes, and no charge for phone, email and chat support, as well as a same day consultation. They will begin gathering information about your case the day you sign the retainer agreement.

The Concord Standard is $79.95 a month and offers the above assistance as well as Goodwill Interventions. These are non-confrontational interventions that are recommended for mildly late accounts. According to Lexington, these interventions help your relationship with the lender and can positively impact the reporting of your record to the bureaus.

Concord Standard also offers Escalated Information Requests. This is recommended for seriously late accounts and requests information concerning compliance with consumer protection legislation, as well as a request for a change in the way the information is reported. Debt Validation is also offered at this level. It is used for charged-off and collection accounts in which a complete history of the debt is demanded as well as its removal from your report if necessary.

At the highest level, Concord Premier at $99.95 per month. Offers you the aforementioned services and TransUnion report monitoring, a monthly score analysis and Identity Theft Assurance. You also receive ReportWatch, in which alerts of changes to your report are sent through email. These alerts notify you of both positive and negative changes that will impact your score. Another feature of the Concord Premier is Inquiry Assist. Inquiries can have an impact on your score and they will help you address any of these that are questionable.

They recommend that you retain their services for 12 months to receive the maximum benefit; however, you are free to cancel at anytime without penalty. You should be aware that you are able to submit disputes on your own free of charge, as often as you would like. Further, if you feel that you can not afford these services, they also offer a free guide so that you can begin working on it immediately, and keep them in mind should you find the process overwhelming and feel the need for assistance. However you choose to fix your fico score realize that you are fully capable and legally able to do this.

For more about credit repair companies and the Lexington Law service and how their lawyers and paralegals will work to fix your credit visit us - and you can also get a free consultation by calling 1-800-232-2903.


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Useful Suggestions for Choosing the Most Suitable Rewards Credit Card

Everyone loves rewards and bonuses, and credit card issuers normally feature a number of added benefits and incentives in order to get individuals to sign up for their particular credit card. Rewards cards give account holders an excuse to select their card, and can also be a fantastic way to save cash and also earn cash if put to use properly.

If you use charge cards sensibly, a rewards bank card is a superb method to make a little more on day to day expenditures. It is crucial that you opt for a rewards bank card that offers a perk which is best suited to your needs so that you will obtain something which you can actually make use of.

There's lots of perks offered by rewards cards, and some of the most well-known are frequent flyer miles. It's wise for people who regularly travel to utilize rewards charge cards that offers frequent flyer air miles mainly because it will save them cash on something they will have to purchase anyway.

Quite a few airline rewards charge cards will offer bonuses as well as 0% interest for an introductory period so it is vital that you review the terms and conditions of the card you are applying for to uncover one that offers the best deal.

Another popular type of reward card is one that gives money back. Quite a few cash rebate reward credit cards give you a particular percentage of your total spending as cash back while others work on a point system which may then be exchanged for a cash rebate check or gift card. Many charge cards will present you with more cash back if you use them at particular places like a specific grocery or gas station company.

Yet another popular kind of reward card are ones that provide products or amusement perks. These types of charge cards are good for people that love to frequent dining establishments and films. These bank cards provide benefits which are based mostly on points per dollars spent. The points can be exchanged for gift cards redeemable at many different restaurants and motion picture chains.

When submitting an application for a rewards charge card make sure to select one that provides bonuses most suitable to you personally. You should also take into account all of the service fees associated with the card and also the annual percentage rate, because despite having a good incentives package, high interest rates and charges definitely will result in costing you more than what the incentives are actually worth.

To evaluate top rated bank cards including citicards and what exactly they feature we urge you to visit http://www.creditcardcandor.com/.


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Credit Card Companies: Too Big to Play Fair

Nationally known credit card companies may seem like upstanding establishments, but they are not above trying tricks to squeeze money out of their customers. These big companies are so good at these tricks that they usually don't get caught, so their solid reputations remain intact. There are many ways they can get extra money from unsuspecting customers.

If a person has a great rating, they do not have to worry about the interest rate a card company will give them. If your credit rating is less than perfect you have to look out. Big credit card companies are often unclear about their interest rates, giving customers a range of possible rates. The rate you end up getting may be under 10% or it may be over 20%. There is no way of knowing where you will fall in this range because the credit card company doesn't want you to know until it's too late. This is how they hide outlandish interest rates.

It is hard to always pay your bills on time, and late payments can happen to normally very reliable and trustworthy people. If a person is consistently late in their credit card payments, the company is right in raising their interest rates. But some of the big credit card companies are too severe in their policies. Often a bill that is paid only a few days late will be met with a dramatic rate increase, regardless of a history of on-time payments. There is a difference between slightly late payments and payments that are skipped entirely. Some card companies benefit by ignoring the difference and raising rates for any delay in payment, no matter how small. According to a NYTimes.com article:

"Credit card companies offered customers misleadingly low rates, then used deceptive practices and hidden fees to make actual costs much higher. The 2009 Credit Card reform act prohibited tricks and traps like exorbitant late fees, deceptive payment allocations and arbitrary interest-rate hikes on existing balances."

They keywords above are "on existing balances." What about those who have come later? And how do these companies actually do this?

For a person with shaky credit, a big credit company can issue a card with a very low spending limit, often below $1000. This prevents the individual from spending too much and getting into trouble. But sometimes the company will let the person with a shaky credit history borrow multiple low-limit cards. So now, the person who has trouble keeping up with bills is tangled in a web of multiple bills to be paid on different days. The credit card company benefits from this confusion, and will watch the person dig himself into a hole. The only way out of the hole is by paying through the nose.

While there are alternatives in the world of credit cards, many people have limited choices when it comes to choosing which plastic currency to go with. Just because the name of a big credit card company is familiar, do not assume that they will treat you fairly. They are out there playing hardball and the customers don't have a glove. Even if a customer has a legitimate complaint, he and his problems, are just too small for them to care.

Mark Baldwin is a freelance writer and market analyst. He has been a contributor for many websites such as http://www.moneyonthegoreview.com/.


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Walmart Credit Card - Is It a Good Choice?

If you have been thinking about getting yourself a Walmart credit card here's some information I hope you can find useful. Especially during the holiday season, it never hurts to have an extra couple of cards hanging out in your wallet from stores like Walmart, Home Depot, and Kmart, as well as others. Usually, retail store credit cards have an APR of over 15% depending on your credit. By comparison, there are many credit cards available for those with good or excellent credit from companies such as Capital one, Citibank, and many others, where you don't have any financing charges for the first 12 to 18 months. This makes a huge difference when your holiday shopping comes around because you can buy whatever your credit limit allows you and not have to pay anything but the minimum payment for the next few months without having to pay interest.

What kind of perks does a Walmart credit card have?

First of all, this retail chain has two cards that they offer; one is the Walmart Discover card and the other one is the regular card. The Discover card issued by Walmart comes from GE Capital Retail Bank. With this card you can get 1% cash back on all your purchases. Also, anywhere that they except Discover cards you'll be able to use this one also. You can also save anywhere from $.03-$.10 per gallon at the participating Walmart gas stations all across United States. The one really great feature I like about the Walmart credit cards is that you get provided with your FICO score every month to monitor your credit and you can get a cash advance whenever you need it. Aside from that, I like the fact that we have to pay no annual fee and if somebody commits fraud with your credit cards that there is no liability whatsoever.

The way I use my Walmart credit card is I definitely go fill up my car with gas at my local Walmart, and every now and then I do have to rely on them to get a cash advance. For me, it never hurts to have enough credit around for those moments where you need a little bit of help with your finances and you can turn to a credit card to carry you through a few days. Also I like the fact that I'm able to establish and improve my credit with this card from Walmart and the monthly payments are so easy for me that there is no way to move but up in my FICO score. All in all, the credit card from Walmart is a solid choice but you have to stay on top of it and monitor it well to take full advantage of what it has to offer.

Get all the information you need to get Walmart coupon codes in order to save and stay on top of your Walmart ad for maximum savings.


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Thursday 17 November 2011

Cutting Credit Card Debt

Lots of individuals these days are suffering from credit card debt. You need to be very proactive in your approach in order to deal with this situation.

The financial institution that you have taken credit with will be more than happy to work with you when it comes to dealing with credit card debt as it will ensure that they are going to get some money from you. This is a much better option for them rather than getting nothing.

To get the best out of this situation, make sure that you contact the top officials of the financial institution you are dealing with and explain your current financial condition. During conversation, demand for lower interest rates and some flexibility in the repayment schedule.

Another important thing that you need to do is to stop using your credit cards immediately. There is no substitute to it because using these cards when you are struggling financially is going to make your situation even worse.

It is always a good option to pay off the cards in which you are paying higher interest rates. You may ask at this juncture: How you can do that? The answer is pretty straightforward. Contact the financial institutions you are dealing with and ask them how much interests you are paying to them. This process is widely been regarded as Laddering.

You also have an option of going for a Reverse Laddering routine. In this routine, you pay off those bills that have a lowest balance. The main advantage of this routine is that it will ensure that you have more cash in hand, giving you an opportunity to pay off higher balance debts in the future.

To cut your credit card debt, you need to be disciplined. Rather than spending too much, try to save in your bank account. This will not only improve your financial condition but more importantly it will create a positive impression on the mind of your financial institution and therefore you may get some discount from them in the form of interest rates.

You need to show positive attitude during this time. No doubt, these are tough situation to handle but you can only solve it when you are ready for a battle. If you give up, things can go even worse. When negotiating with your financial institution, you need to be honest. If you do not tell them the correct situation, they may not be able to help you out.


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Don't Let Divorce Ruin Your Credit Score

Act to Protect Your Credit Report

Divorce is unpleasant enough without having to experience a huge drop in your credit score. While you may be more interested in your property and investments than in your credit report, creditors have no interest in how you and your spouse dispose of your belongings; they are only interested in your credit bureau report and your credit score.

Why is this information so important to you? Well if you and your spouse opened credit accounts, including credit cards, auto loans and mortgages jointly, you are both responsible for paying them back. Before you reply, "but the Judge ordered my spouse to pay that account", just remember, creditors are not legally bound to follow the orders set forth in your final divorce decree. A judge's order does not override what you owe your creditors and most attorneys don't advise their clients of the potential for problems if one spouse does not follow the court order. Here are a few strategies to prevent the dissolution of your marriage from crumbling your credit score.

Close joint accounts. If it is possible, close all joint accounts before the divorce proceedings. This will keep an angry spouse from continuing to use the account and adding new charges that you may later be held responsible for.

Open separate or individual accounts. Turn all joint credit cards, gas cards and any retail accounts into individual accounts. The added benefit of doing this is that it will mean you won't have to re-establish credit in your own name after the divorce since the new accounts will be opened using your present credit score and bureau report.

Settle with creditors. Try to settle existing accounts for an amount less than you owe. Some creditors will be receptive to this option to protect their money when they become aware of a potential divorce. Too many creditors have been burned trying to collect from angry spouses. If you do this, be certain to get a letter from the creditor that the account has been paid in full and a written promise that they will not file anything derogatory about the account to the credit reporting bureaus.

Freeze accounts. This will keep you and your spouse from being able to use the account and running up the balance. Once the divorce is final, the balance due can be transferred to the party charged with repaying it in the divorce decree.

Contact your creditors. Inform them that you are in the process of a divorce. If there is a change of address, make sure they know it so that you will continue to receive bills from all joint accounts.

Make sure all bills are being paid. A divorce is not quick when there is substantial money, property or children involved. During the long process it is easy to miss a payment and all it takes is one late payment to hurt your credit. If your spouse won't pay, make a minimum payment even if you know that your spouse will ultimately be responsible. Preserving your credit is more important than standing on ceremony.

After the divorce check your credit report and credit score. Obtain your credit report and score immediately after the divorce. Look for any unusual activity, new accounts you did not authorize or an increase in debt you did not create. If you do observe any of these events and you suspect that your spouse is responsible, consult your attorney. Do this every 3 months for the next year.

Take action to correct errors and unauthorized activity on your credit report. Either contact your credit reporting bureau directly or retain a professional credit repair company and challenge the activity that you did not authorize. Have the erroneous information removed if possible. If you do decide to use the services of a credit repair organization, make certain that they follow all of the laws for credit repair including those provided by the federal Credit Repair Organization Act ("CROA").

Get credit repair company has helped thousands of consumers across the nation to repair their credit reports. For more information about their programs, call 1-800-665-9981. They can also be found on the web at http://www.getcreditrepair.org/


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How to Responsibly Manage Your Credit Card

If you own a credit card, and you are looking for pointers that can help you manage your line of credit in the most responsible way you can, then you have stumbled upon the right article. In the remainder of this piece, we have listed down and tackled four suggestions guaranteed to help you, as well as other cardholders, succeed in your quest to responsibly use and manage your respective card accounts.

Practical Suggestions for Credit Cardholders
Use your card account only when necessary. Most credit cardholders find it hard to resist the urge to use their card accounts, especially when they find items that they really like. However, this can prove to be very dangerous as the "urge" can eventually overpower their resolve to manage their respective lines of credit responsibly. And this could lead to even bigger problems such as incurring huge credit card debts and possessing severely damaged credit profiles which are not that easy to rehabilitate.
To avoid such problems, we suggest that you use your credit card only when it is absolutely necessary. Avoid putting it in your wallet whenever you go shopping. This way, you can fight the temptation to charge unnecessary expenses on your account. And should you decide to use your card to finance a purchase, ask yourself this question several times: Do I really need this item? In so doing, you can reach a sound decision whether to buy and charge the item on your card account, or not.
Settle your credit charges on time and in full each month. The best way for you to achieve your goal of managing your credit card in the most responsible way you can involves paying your charges on time and in full each month. Not only will this suggestion help you build and eventually maintain a good credit standing. This tip will also help you keep your credit payments at a minimum. After all, you can avoid paying the fines and penalties that are usually imposed on cardholders who fail to keep up with their monthly financial obligations with their respective card issuers.
Review the fine print of your card program, on a regular basis. We also suggest that you review the terms and conditions imposed on your credit card, once in a while. This way, you can easily remember the restrictions and important stipulations of your credit card account so that you can live up to them, all the time.
Manage one to two credit cards at a time. Content yourself with managing at most two lines of credit. Keep in mind that this tip will help make it easier for you to juggle your credit payments with your monthly expenses. And, at the same time, this suggestion will prevent you from falling into debt traps, which can potentially inflict severe damage to your credit history and thus make it more difficult for you to qualify for excellent credit opportunities in the future.

Melanie Mathis is a credit analyst and a writer for 8 years. She has been participating in the programs of http://www.newhorizon.org/ such as their continuous effort in giving out Free Credit Repair and Building Ebook. NHBS also has a list of recommended Bad Credit Credit Cards


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Wednesday 16 November 2011

What Is Bad Credit - Steps You Can Take to Fix It

Have you ever wondered what those credit score numbers mean and what is considered good or bad? The truth of the matter is that the meaning is fairly ambiguous. The bureaus have a complicated formula in which they use information provided by the entities with which you do business to compute a score of your creditworthiness. In other words how big of a risk the lender will be taking. To make it less clear, each lender has different methods of interpretation and standards as to what they believe to be acceptable.

Scores range from about 400-850. While 850 is the highest rating; anything above 800 will get you the best rates. Seven hundred and above is still considered good and you will enjoy decent rates and access to funds. Generally, 620 and below is considered to be bad. At 620 you will be limited by the amount of funds a lender will be willing to extend. If you find someone willing to take the risk, they will generally charge exorbitant fees and interest rates, with possible balloon payments, along the way.

You don't get a damaged history by making one late payment or two. Your three digit number will start seeing significant drops when there are patterns of negative behavior. The marks on your report that can have the most significant negative impact are charge-offs, debt collections, bankruptcies, foreclosures, tax liens, and lawsuits or judgments. If these items are appearing and they are not accurate, you must fix them immediately by submitting a dispute to both the reporting agency and the company that provided the information. If they are correct and you must wait for them to naturally fall off your record, most items will take 7 years, but a bankruptcy will stay for ten.

Lenders are not the only ones who use your FICO number. Insurance companies will use it to determine your rates and future employers may use it to determine your eligibility for employment. It can also be used for review when a lender is attempting to collect on an account and the underwriting of insurance, as well as for a business transaction that you initiate. Lastly, it can be used by a government agency that is required to consider your financial responsibility to determine eligibility for a license or other benefit. An example of this is a security clearance required to access classified government information.

Having a low score can have a significant impact on your life but you do have the power to increase this. Make your payments on time, every time, for all of your accounts. It is very difficult to have a history of chronic late payments removed from your record, but lenders place more weight on recent activity. If you can show that you have taken control and are responsibly handling your finances and upholding your end of the agreements, they will look upon you more favorably in terms of risk.

Besides a strong payment history, one of the most important things you can do is pay down the high balances on your Visa or MasterCard. A good rule to follow is to keep balances below 30% of the limit. If you have a $10,000 limit, for example, you never want to let your balance get above $3,000. Many companies will allow you to set up an alert when you are getting close to reaching this threshold.

For more about bad credit and how you can remove these items to earn a better credit score visit us or you can get a free consultation by calling 800.232.2903


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4 Ways to Keeping Credit Card Debt Manageable

The average US household has over $16,000 in credit card debt and 3.5 cards. Without great attention to detail that total debt could spiral out of control and be a very large burden for many years. However, there are some simple things consumers can do to ensure this does not happen

It's vital to keep tabs on payments and balances. It's not unheard of for lenders to hold a payment and not credit it to the account while the borrower thinks it has been credited. This can happen if payments are made by check and/or sent in the mail. One sure way to avoid this is to make payments online using a checking account debit card. When the consumer assumes a payment has been made and makes more purchases they can often exceed their credit limit and suffer fees and penalties.

Knowing the terms of any given card is also critical. Some cards begin charging interest the minute the purchase is made while others have between 20 and 30 day grace periods. Try to use a card that has such a grace period and ensure the payment gets credited on or before the due date. This is the best way to avoid paying interest on purchases and effectively having some interest free credit cards.

Consolidating multiple cards onto a single card with fixed rate interest is another great way to keep a handle on card debt. Using a zero balance transfer credit card can be doubly effective in helping borrowers reduce debt. Taking advantage of an offer that has 18 or 21 months of zero interest can help a consumer pay off that debt in much less time and save significant money spent on interest.

Using a rewards card can be an excellent way to actually make money on a credit card. People who like to travel can reap benefits on a card that offers flyer points or lodging credits. If the rewards card is used to buy items that were going to be bought anyway, such as groceries and gasoline, and the purchases can be paid off in a timely manner, then this can be a great way to reward yourself.

There are many great ways to keep credit card debt under control and these are just 4 simple ideas. The key to managing any sort of debt is to not incur any more than a budget can balance. Leveraging credit cards can be an excellent way build credit and gain rewards if they are used wisely.

Discover intriguing ideas for credit card management and keep up to date with all the latest credit card offers at http://www.interestfree-creditcard.com/


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Find Out What Credit Card Issuers Think About You

Charge card issuers have been in news reports a great deal within the last 12 months, mainly because of the Credit Card Reform Act. With that in mind I think it would be entertaining and sort of interesting to show a little bit of understanding of just how the credit card providers view their customers. So let us have a little behind the scenes glimpse at the industry.

I bet you never before imagined being seen as a "deadbeat" was a good thing. Well, it is for you personally, but it isn't for the credit card companies. In the jargon of the credit card industry, deadbeats are actually people who pay off their entire account balance fully every single month. These people rarely carry a balance, and because of that fact, they don't pay any interest. They're also referred to as "convenience users" as well as "transactors."

"Revolvers" are called this simply because they carry balances. It is just a reference to bank card account holders which are no longer protected by promotional or introductory rates of 0% APR and need to pay interest fees on their revolving credit. Banks along with credit card companies Love revolvers. The so-called revolvers keep them operational. And boy oh boy, do they ever help keep issuers in business... to the tune of billions of greenbacks annually.

People who regularly transfer balances from bank card to card seeking more desirable percentage rates are referred to as "rate surfers." Card company insiders likewise use the not so complementary titles of "rate tarts" as well as "gamers" to describe people who typically transfer balances.

Know that while shifting balances can end up being an excellent financial tactic, doing it excessively definitely does raise warning signs to the credit agencies. Acquiring a great number of bank cards may detrimentally impact your credit history. You'll be considered in over your head and also an elevated credit risk, even if you have never defaulted on a monthly payment.

Next time you happen to be looking for the best credit card out there you might possibly believe that it is intriguing to learn which group you think you fall into. It will, actually, have an impact on what type of credit card you will be approved for. It most certainly hurts to have the information you can in advance.

You might even choose to do a credit assessment on your own self to know precisely where you are credit wise. It really is a smart idea to prepare yourself and we unquestionably do recommend it.

To obtain the best credit card to meet your fiscal specifications we strongly suggest you pay a visit to http://www.creditcardcandor.com/.


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Credit Monitoring Basics

More and more people are realizing the need for good credit and high credit scores these days. As consumers become more educated in ways to improve credit scores and take proactive steps to raise their scores, they may consider credit monitoring to help them see their progress.

Consumers' scores are dynamically changing and evolving entities. Keeping your thumb on the pulse of your credit is very important. However, many consumers do not have the time to continuously monitor their credit scores themselves. That is where credit monitoring services can become an important and valuable tool.

Why Is Credit Monitoring Important?

For starters, credit monitoring services can:
Provide your credit scoresTrack changes to your credit data and let you know if there has been a change or possible security breachHelp identify errors on your credit reports

Beyond this, monitoring services may help save you time and money. Many consumers check their credit scores once a year. But what about the rest of the year? So much can happen over the course of a year and it can be difficult to dedicate the time and energy necessary to keep a close eye on your scores. In addition, catching an issue early on your credit report may help you keep your scores higher. A lowering of your credit scores may cost you money as some lenders may charge higher interest rates or even exclude you from certain financing if this happens.

Before signing up for a credit monitoring service, be sure to look at several services and read the terms and features carefully. Take your time and choose the one that best addresses your needs.

Benefits of Consistent Monitoring

Improving scores is all about taking control of your credit situation and systematically working on your profile. Keeping on top of your credit situation can help you make important decisions that can have long-term implications. A credit report is only a snapshot in time of your credit history. If you want to monitor your credit consistently, then you may want to consider credit monitoring services.

Many consumers know that improving credit scores goes beyond paying debts on time. By having information from a good credit monitoring service on a consistent basis, a consumer will likely be able to react much more quickly and have a better chance to protect and potentially improve their scores. It takes years to build a solid credit history and may take only a few moments for someone to destroy it. Finding a good and reputable monitoring service may provide you with an extra level of security and peace of mind.

When you are implementing ways to improve your scores, credit monitoring can help you see what is helping and what is not. Ways To Improve Credit Scores is a Web site that offers tips and other resources that may help people improve their scores.


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Tuesday 15 November 2011

How to Fix My Credit

If you've recently been denied a loan application, you are well aware that you need to fix your credit. The first step is to request your reports. You can request a copy from each of the three major agencies once per year for free. These will not give you a FICO score, but will provide information about what is on your file.

Once you receive these you want to look it through and make sure the information is correct. If there is anything that is not accurate, you have the right to submit a dispute, along with supporting documentation, to the bureau, who will then forward the information to the financial institution for verification. If it is found to be inaccurate it will have to be deleted.

If the information is accurate, there really isn't a quick solution; however, there is a way to dramatically improve your score so that your past blunders are overshadowed by your present responsibility. This three digit number is calculated based on payment history, how much you owe, length of history, new, and types of accounts. Below are some things to keep in mind concerning each of these areas.

Your payment history is the largest portion of your score at 35%. This means that it is vital for you to make at least the minimum payments, on-time, every time. A potential lender wants to see that you will hold your end of the bargain in paying back the loan. A clean payment history is one way to show this, even if it is not completely paid-off. If you have been late on a few payments, start making them on-time and you will see a steady increase in your score.

This brings up the point that it is not advantageous to close an account that you have made late payments on in the past because the history will stay for 7 years regardless. Closing it can also hurt you because it can shorten your history (15% of your score), as well as change the ratio of how much you owe to how much you have available (30%).

A general rule of thumb is to keep your monthly balances at or below 30% of the limit as well. This means if you charge a large amount to one card each month, even if you pay it off, it would be better to spread the charges across your accounts to keep them below that 30% threshold at any one time.

The next factor, is new accounts and this is 10% of your score. Here it is best to do your rate shopping within a short period of time so that it does not look like you are borrowing money from everywhere you can, which could make you more to be viewed as a risk by a potential lender.

The last major factor is type of account, which is 10%. There are two types: installment and revolving. Installment loans are those which are personal, auto, mortgages and student. Revolving are credit cards. It is important for you to show that you can handle both types responsibly. If you do not currently have an installment line, you might consider getting a small personal loan.

If you are finding it difficult to gain approval for a revolving, you can seek out a secured card in which you make a deposit to the bank in the amount the bank will be making available to you. In either case, ensure that any new borrowing you do, the company reports your behavior to all three agencies.

For more about how to fix my credit by removing inaccurate and questionable items from my reports visit us. You can also get a free credit consultation by calling 800.251.3505 and find out how you can improve your credit.


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The nFinanSe Prepaid Card by Discover

Prepaid cards have been increasing in popularity as a good option for those who are bank averse or have a hard time qualifying for a standard checking account. One option is the nFinanSe card offered by Discover. It has a retail prices at $3.00. There is no credit check or security deposit. You will not be charged overdraft fees due to the fact that you are only allowed to spend the amount of money in the account, nothing more.

Funds can be loaded to your card at over 80,000 participating locations nationwide. A standard fee of $2.95 is assessed; however, the fee may vary at MoneyGram locations as these are set by the individual stores. A maximum of $950 per day can be added, but this is limited by the fact that only $500 can be added at any one time. You should also be aware that the total balance of the account can not exceed $5,000..

While it does have a lot to offer, there are fees for some services. There is a $0.99 charge for ATM cash withdrawals and online bill pay costs $0.44 per transaction, or the same as the current cost of a stamp. ATM balance inquiries and declines are $0.49 each occurrence. Additionally, you can choose to personalize your card design for a fee of $1.75, which could prove useful should if it is lost or stolen.

When making purchases you can choose whether to use as debit or credit. In which case you will confirm purchases with either your PIN or your signature, depending on which one you choose. If you choose to enter your PIN you have the option of receiving cash back on your transaction.

This will act just like a checking account because you can avoid the time and expense of going to the bank and paying to have your check cashed or you can use direct deposit. Currently this is only available for employer payroll however we are confident in the very near future this will also include government benefits and tax returns.

Many individuals find it useful that they cannot go into debt with these. Your only going to be approved for purchase with which you have the funds on your card to pay for. There won't be any late fee or overdraft fee. However this card does carry a monthly fee of $2.95. While this is a fee it is a very low one in the industry. We have seen their competitors charge up to $19.95 a month.

It can be used to make purchases online and over the phone. You can also use it to rent a car or a hotel room. It will come as a Visa and is covered under their zero liability policy. This is insurance that your money is safe in case your card is lost or stolen.

Before you apply make sure to fully research the terms and conditions as it is common for offers to change their fees and services on a regular basis. In addition to that, this is a very new offer in the market and we are sure they will need to work some kinks out and provide some services. However they are entering at a very competitive position and we would encourage you to do additional research about this offer.

For more about the nFinanSe Card visit us or to learn more about Prepaid Cards. You can also get a free credit consultation and learn how you can remove questionable information from your report by calling 1-800-483-0256.


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How To Use Credit Wisely And Achieve An Abundant Life Part 1

Have you ever had your credit frozen? Ever get that panicky feeling in your chest when you whip out the plastic and say the "I hope this isn't denied" prayer? Ever tried to apply for a loan only to hear "I'm sorry, we can't help you!" (which is the polite form of "No way Jose!")? Would you like to stop worrying about these kinds of situations? Then grab a Perrier, hon, and let's have a little chat about how to use credit wisely.

First things first. Though it may not seem like it, roughly 25% of American households do not have credit cards. Amazing, right? So it IS possible to give up your cards though I don't recommend that if you, like many people these days, routinely order things on the phone or internet.

You can, however, have a credit card and use it wisely. If you're in the close to 75% who do own cards, the first step you must take is to get rid of all but one or two of them. Make sure the ones you keep are the ones that don't have an annual charge, unless they accumulate airline miles for you. (Those cards always have an annual charge but it may be worth it if you love to travel and use your card carefully, namely just for large purchases you plan to pay off before the end of your credit card cycle.)

The second thing you must NEVER do is use your cards for routine expenses such as gas, groceries, electricity, and other regular expenses. If you are using your credit card to pay for the essential things like gas, food, utilities, or even taxes, then you are most likely in financial trouble! These expenditures need to be paid out of your bank account or cash, not on credit.

The best thing you can do to not get eaten up by credit is this: Do NOT use your credit card for anything except larger purchases that you have planned and saved for IN ADVANCE, such as car repairs, airline tickets, theater tickets, and online purchases of electronics, etc. Make sure that you have the funds needed for those purchases tucked away in an account where you won't touch them until your credit card bill arrives. Then you'll dip into that account and PRESTO! You'll pay off your credit card balance COMPLETELY with the funds earmarked for those expenditures.

I know--You're probably inundated with those credit card offers in the mail that offer 0% interest for a limited time, but that's just it. It's for a LIMITED time. Getting such a card may be a good way to finance a short-term "loan" when you need cash fast; this is how we paid for thousands of dollars of extra expenses for our wedding without paying one red cent in interest. But (and this is a big big BUT) if you routinely run up expenses on these 0% interest cards, you will quickly dig a deep hole chock full of credit quicksand. And doll, I'll be sad to see you sinking in that trap!

Tune in for my next article on a creative, fun way to freeze your credit and you'll be on the way to transforming debt into wealth and achieving the abundant life you deserve.

Dr. Barnsley Brown is a professional speaker and coach who loves helping busy professionals create balance and prosperity. Grab your copy of Dr. Brown's empowering e-book and audio package, Get Out of Debt and Get On With Your Life: Every Woman's Guide to Create Prosperity Right Now at " Get Out of Debt ebook package!"


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