Filed Under (Credit Card) by APR Credit Card on 21-03-2009
Nowadays, nothing is free. You should pay for everything that you need and or everything that you want. If someone tells you that you can have a particular item for free, would you believe him easily? I bet your answer is no. most probably you will think that it is just a fake, a fraud, or a funny joke that your friend wants to crack.
But I’m going to tell you something. In the case of credit reports there is no catch, you can now get a free copy of this report through the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, TransUnions, and Experian. Let’s take a look at the law and how you can benefit from it.
An amendment to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires the three national credit reporting agencies to provide one free copy of your credit report to you annually. The Federal Trade Commission is requiring that these agencies offer reports on a rolling, phase in basis beginning on December 1, 2004. In other words, on December 1, 2004, if you live in certain western states you became eligible at that time and every three months later additional states were added. By September 1, 2005, residents of all states are eligible because it is the culmination.
You can order right online at www.annualcreditreport.com; or by calling 877-322-8228; or by completing the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mailing it:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
Fortunately for consumers, you need not contact the three reporting agencies separately to obtain your free credit report. The form is available online where you can print it out and mail it in: www.ftc.gov/credit. If you need copies more often, you can contact the three reporting agencies and request copies. However, you must pay for those.
Here are the contact numbers that you may need to reach if you want to buy a copy of your report.
Equifax
800-685-1111
www.equifax.com
Experian
888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)
www.experian.com
Trans Union
800-916-8800
www.transunion.com
There are also private companies who will obtain all three copies of your credit report for you as well. There is a fee involved, but you may find their services to be less of a hassle than contacting the three companies separately.
By ordering copies of your reports from the companies on a four month rotating basis, you can say that you are actually utilizing the amendments made to the law. It will allow for you to compare/contrast the reports of each agency so most consumers will find this plan to be sufficient. In case of fraud, you will want to order all three reports at once and notify each agency to place a “fraud alert” in your credit file.
Many consumers will benefit from this law. Take advantage of it now.
Filed Under (Credit Card) by APR Credit Card on 19-03-2009
This modern era is also the golden age of credit cards. Many credit card companies are always bombarding you with emails especially if you do have a good credit card history.
One of the finest in advertising their service is the 0% Balance Transfer Credit Cards. However, because of its very beautiful offer, many are actually asking their credibility. Are they real?
0% balance transfer credit cards are incredibly enticing, especially if you have outstanding credit card balances, that is, if you just look at their surface. But before you make any choices, it is always advisable to have a little kind of research and to understand everything first.
Seemingly broke and deeply in debt, some desperate card holders are constantly on the lookout for a quick fix for the credit problems. They are the kind of consumers seem to get in trouble overnight with credit cards. For them the perfect solution is to jump in a 0% credit card balance transfer. Without a further research and deep understanding, . Many among us desperately jump at such offers without much forethought. 0% deals on balance transfers or purchases might seem irresistible even to the most credit worthy person. A 0% credit card balance transfer will seem especially lucrative especially when you have a large outstanding card balance.
Proper caution and thorough investigation will actually lead you to the truth. You must consider all the aspect first and do the right thing. . Despite the obvious attractions of a balance transfer credit card, it is worth giving a second thought before you cut up your old credit card to make room in your wallet for the new one. Companies often fail to clarify the fine print, hiding those rather unpleasant details which could cost you dearly in the long run.
Here’s a very familiar scenario: Imagine having a $10,000 outstanding balance on a credit card with a 10% annual APR, translating to $1000 in finance charges on a yearly basis. On the other hand, imagine securing a credit card that offers you 0% on balance transfers for the first year of membership. Transferring your card balance to a 0% balance transfer offer would cut down your annual interest expense by $1000. Is it a very good deal? Let’s see.
Check what the interest rate would be after the introductory interest-free period. The rate might turn out to be significantly higher than your existing card, and you do not want to be caught on the wrong side of a high APR. Some consumers might be surprised to discover that when an introductory APR offer expires that the rate of interest can revert retroactively to an APR of 23% and beyond. If you do not pay off your balance systematically and end up with a large balance when the introductory offer expires, many times consumers are stuck paying out an outrageously high APR because they did not pay down their card balance at all. So above all, make sure to plan on paying off that balance before the introductory period expires or you may regret it. You will need to plan ahead – and not just a day or two before the interest-free period comes to an end. Remember that forewarned is forearmed.
A balance transfer card most certainly has its own pros and cons but if you wish to use balance transfers to your advantage, make sure that you understand the net benefits of the card over the long term. If your current credit card offers a better long-term ongoing APR than the new one, it makes more sense to stick with what you’ve got, especially if you have the means to pay off your card balance without incurring large finance charges.
Always check if the 0% balance transfer credit cards offers promise more than they deliver. Decide for yourself.
Filed Under (Credit Card) by APR Credit Card on 19-03-2009
It is really good to consider 0% APR Credit Card Benefits especially nowadays that money isn’t that easy to make. There is nothing as fine as saving money with a 0% APR credit card. It would allow you to spend hundreds less each year in interest. Isn’t it great that you can buy more important things especially for your family? You can now do all of these with the benefits of 0% APR Credit Card.
Nowadays, many lenders offer % APR credit cards. However, you need to do your homework of researching the best credit card company that offers this kind of deal. Researching and comparing are the keys so you could really have a great deal.
Many companies offer 0% interest credit cards but it is just for introductory or limited period only. Make some time in considering different offers and review them all. Compare the agreements and conditions carefully because these vary considerably from lender to lender. Another thing to consider is the permanent rates that these companies are charging. If the permanent rate is too high, what is the use of considering this kind of offer? You will just struggle to pay it.
An obvious fact is that you don’t pay any interest in 0% APR credit card. But aside from that, there are also several kinds of benefits that you must consider when comparing. Some come with reward schemes like rebates, others with cash back offers. The reward scheme applies to your purchases, where the lender may give you a percentage of cash back for every dollar you spend. They may also have a reward scheme where you can accumulate points depending on how much you spend. These points can then be exchanged for merchandise which the companies offer to their customers. While the points on offer are strictly in favor of the card company, you can still save on the retail purchase price of these goods, which is a benefit.
If you have a few cards the monthly payments can soon become a considerable sum so the consideration of not paying interest or changing to 0% APR credit card will be a real time for you to save something. You could be paying out a lot less while reducing the amount you owe.
You can also transfer the outstanding balance you have on your current card to one of the 0% interest credit cards depending on the credit card company. By transferring them to your new 0% APR credit cards, you could consolidate all your outstanding balances on your current cards. However, some lenders have limits on the total money you are allowed to transfer. It is important to read and understand first their terms and conditions regarding this deal before committing yourself to any kind of agreement just to make sure you will not incur a fee for transferring your balance to another card.
Just as long as you do your responsibility to research, compare and understand everything, there is really no problem in dealing with this kind of agreements. Start looking for your new 0% APR credit cards, or card, a month or so before your offer terminates. This will give you time to apply and be able to transfer your balance as soon as your 0% interest credit cards offer ends.
Most agreements state you must make all your 0% APR credit card payments on time. If you make a late payment on your 0% interest credit cards then the offer becomes invalid immediately. This is actually one of the things that people tend to overlooked. Always check about this one.
Be smart in making decisions and practice a lot of precautions. Those are always the key.
It is really good to consider 0% APR Credit Card Benefits especially nowadays that money isn’t that easy to make. There is nothing as fine as saving money with a 0% APR credit card. It would allow you to spend hundreds less each year in interest. Isn’t it great that you can buy more important things especially for your family? You can now do all of these with the benefits of 0% APR Credit Card.
Nowadays, many lenders offer % APR credit cards. However, you need to do your homework of researching the best credit card company that offers this kind of deal. Researching and comparing are the keys so you could really have a great deal.
Many companies offer 0% interest credit cards but it is just for introductory or limited period only. Make some time in considering different offers and review them all. Compare the agreements and conditions carefully because these vary considerably from lender to lender. Another thing to consider is the permanent rates that these companies are charging. If the permanent rate is too high, what is the use of considering this kind of offer? You will just struggle to pay it.
An obvious fact is that you don’t pay any interest in 0% APR credit card. But aside from that, there are also several kinds of benefits that you must consider when comparing. Some come with reward schemes like rebates, others with cash back offers. The reward scheme applies to your purchases, where the lender may give you a percentage of cash back for every dollar you spend. They may also have a reward scheme where you can accumulate points depending on how much you spend. These points can then be exchanged for merchandise which the companies offer to their customers. While the points on offer are strictly in favor of the card company, you can still save on the retail purchase price of these goods, which is a benefit.
If you have a few cards the monthly payments can soon become a considerable sum so the consideration of not paying interest or changing to 0% APR credit card will be a real time for you to save something. You could be paying out a lot less while reducing the amount you owe.
You can also transfer the outstanding balance you have on your current card to one of the 0% interest credit cards depending on the credit card company. By transferring them to your new 0% APR credit cards, you could consolidate all your outstanding balances on your current cards. However, some lenders have limits on the total money you are allowed to transfer. It is important to read and understand first their terms and conditions regarding this deal before committing yourself to any kind of agreement just to make sure you will not incur a fee for transferring your balance to another card.
Just as long as you do your responsibility to research, compare and understand everything, there is really no problem in dealing with this kind of agreements. Start looking for your new 0% APR credit cards, or card, a month or so before your offer terminates. This will give you time to apply and be able to transfer your balance as soon as your 0% interest credit cards offer ends.
Most agreements state you must make all your 0% APR credit card payments on time. If you make a late payment on your 0% interest credit cards then the offer becomes invalid immediately. This is actually one of the things that people tend to overlooked. Always check about this one.
Be smart in making decisions and practice a lot of precautions. Those are always the key.