Low Interest Credit Cards: Are You Still Paying Too Much?

Filed Under (Best credit card deals) by admin on 29-05-2010

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You may think that the rate you are paying on your current credit card is low, but chances are it isn’t the lowest rate you could be paying. 0% interest rate credit card offers are still available…do you have one? If not, why not? If you don’t have a low interest credit card in your wallet, you may be missing out on a great way to save yourself hundreds of pounds per year. Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can find a low interest credit card today.

Contact Your Current Credit Card Company.

Once in awhile, consumers can persuade their current credit card company to give them a lower rate. Unfortunately, most credit card companies will not budge much on their current rate to you or the rate they agree to give to you is not the lowest available rate going. What a hassle! While you don’t have to get rid of your current card, shopping for a new one is probably the easiest and most pain free way to secure the lowest rate.

Shop For A New Card.

Speaking of new cards, there are hundreds of credit card providers, each of whom wants your business. With bankruptcy laws tightening and consumers shopping more carefully, the competition for customers has sharpened. For smart shoppers, it is a “buyer’s market” when it comes to finding a low interest credit card that meets your needs. Rewards cards are popular and so are credit cards such as Citibank’s Citi Simplicity card which doesn’t charge you late fees. Compare the various offers out there to select the card that is right for you.

Consolidate Debt.

If you already have several credit cards and owe money on each one, consider getting a new low interest credit card with a fixed rate. Many will allow you to transfer balances from high interest credit cards — which are currently charging you 17.9%, 21.9%, or even 24% or more per year — to their low interest rate credit card for a small fee. You can also ask the new credit card provider to waive their balance transfer fee for even greater savings for you. In addition, some will agree to give to you a low balance transfer rate [for example, 6.9%] for the life of your balance. As you might guess, you can potentially save hundreds of pounds per year with this type of an agreement.

In all cases, if you don’t have the lowest rate available, just ask your credit card provider for it. If they are not interested in giving to you a 0% percent rate, start shopping for a new low interest credit card today that is right for you. Take charge of your finances: you have nothing to lose, but plenty of money to gain…what’s in your wallet?

Credit Card APR - What exaclty is APR?

Filed Under (Abbey credit card) by admin on 28-05-2010

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APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate. APR attempts to create a single figure of interest allowing the consumer to compare like with like when selecting the best product for their lifestyle.

Without APR it would be literally impossible to make this kind of quick comparison because the credit card companies use different calculations to compute their interest and other charges. Without APR it would be possible for a card bearing an ‘advertised’ interest rate of 12% (not APR) to be more expensive than one charging 16%.

Financial Regulators (such as the the UK’s FSA) have recognized this and as such have attempted to put in some safeguards to protect the consumer, making sure that there is at least some standard information allowing comparison between interest rates and other associated charges.

The main thing to remember is that APR takes into account not only the interest charges levied, but also any other costs that are also included. Credit card companies use different calculations to compute their interest and other charges, so APR makes it easier to make a good
credit card comparison between products. Generally speaking, the lower the APR, the less money you will end up paying back in interest to the credit card provider. It is very important to make sure you compare the APR of different credit cards when deciding which credit card to take out, as card issuers may offer a low rate of interest for an initial period but this will increase at the end of this period.

Any credit card deal will take the following items into consideration :
- the interest rate you must pay
- how you repay the loan
- length of the loan agreement (or term)
- frequency and timing of instalment payments
- amount of each payment
- fees associated with the product
- premiums for payment protection insurance (the lender may choose to make this compulsory)

Remember; if you are looking around for a credit card, you should try and get as low an APR rate as possible. However, be on the lookout for other costs; administration fees, legal fees or penalties you may encur for late charges. It is always wise to shop around for any deal involving finance, making sure that you consider all the options before signing on the dotted line. There are many ways to do this online, with many compenies offering comparison tables on each deal offered. These days you have no excuse not to, the information is freely available.

The law that covers credit agreements in the UK is the Consumer Credit Act (1974).

Credit Card - Suggestions

Filed Under (Abbey credit card) by admin on 21-05-2010

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Suggestions of cards that are created and maintained for people with an imperfect credit history. Numerous cards that allow those with no credit to apply and successfully be granted a credit card in order to begin building up and improving their credit card history.

The first card offered is the Orchard Bank Gold MasterCard. This card comes with all the privileges and benefits of a normal gold card and reports to all 3 credit bureaus monthly.  This monthly reporting can help improve your credit score.  The annual fee is $79 and the late fee is $35.  The card offers a 25 days grace period and an overlimit fee of $30.  Thee APR is on the high end at 14.9%.

The next card on offer is the First Premier Bank Gold MasterCard. This card offers instant notification of approval and 24 hour access to their premiere quality customer service.  There is a low APR on purchases, a 25 day grace period, a $25 late fee and a $25 overlimit fee.  As with the Orchard Bank Gold MasterCard, a consumer needn’t worry about his or her credit history in order to be considered for this card.

Another card suggested by Credit.com is the Centennial MasterCard.  This card offers a low APR on purchased and quality customer service.  It also has a 25 day grace period, a $25 late fee and a $25 overlimit fee.  The site also recommends the Total Visa Card.  This card offers an instant online decision as to acceptance and monthly reporting to all the major credit bureaus.  You can access your account online for free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  The annual fee is $48, the grace period is 25 days, the late fee is $29 dollars and the overlimit fee is $25.

The last two cards are the First Premier Bank MasterCard and the New Millennium Bank Secured Platinum Visa or MasterCard. The First Premier Bank MasterCard reports to all the major bureaus, has a low APR on purchases, a 25 day grace period, $25 late fee and $25 ‘overlimit’ fee.  The New Millennium Bank Secured Platinum Visa or MasterCard does not require a credit check, will approve you regardless of your credit history and has credit limits up to $10,000.  The annual fee is $59, the late fee $20 and the overlimit fee $25.  However, the APR is an astounding 19.50% so if any of the other cards are available to you, it may behoove you to seek them out before you apply for The New Millennium Bank Secured Platinum Visa or MasterCard.

Credit and Debit Cards: Choosing Dilemma

Filed Under (Abbey credit card) by admin on 13-05-2010

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As soon as you decide to get the card you face some questions – what card finally to select? They arise because between both types we have more differences rather than commonness.

In fact on the surface cards are very similar. Cards are made of plastic, have some magnet or chip protection, shining bank logos and share the very size.

And probably that is all about their commonness. The first essential distinction lies in the logic of payments. The core sense of credit payment means, that in order to cover spending, money is “taken” from the future. Thus your credit is extended every time when you make “a purchase”. And all your debt events are listed – so you need to make periodical payments for account prolongation. Paying system of debit type is merely another. Your bank will just transfer money from your account wherever you wish.
The fraud protection is really significant matter. Credit cardholder can receive return with no more than 50$ of any stolen sum – and only if he or she doesn’t forget to report the fact quickly. The best cardholders may be given a possibility to decrease the rate on this sum. Bad cardholders may receive no more than 50$.
As for debit cards – you can also receive 50$ of fraud protection – especially if you report the event during first 2 days. Moreover, you can be responsible for even some hundreds of dollars.

As for payments duration credit cards give you a chance to postpone payments, moving them closer to the end of paying period. But keep in mind that one hand gives while the second takes away – so the bank may suppress you with new higher interest rate. Оn the contrary, debit cards are the control tools of “real” money which is located at your account. This means that making payments has nothing common with extending debt. You just spend it – and without any credit urgency.
Take into consideration one important similarity of all credit cards: due to Fair Credit Billing Act all the credit cardholders – especially the U.S. citizens - have the right to restrain payments in case of poor quality of sold goods. This is called the “buffer zone” – it exists between your account and merchant’s hands. So – you can even get the recourse. As for debit card purchases money leaves your account immediately.
So, which card should be chosen is the matter of serious thinking – and in this article I tried to help you. What you certainly have to conceive is the fact that any card – being managed dowdily – may bring you difficulties with fraud. And this is the pure truth; any kind of cards can one day show their hidden limitations.
In this case I guess that better variant for you is to apply for a debit card in order to easily buy. Else – if you prefer the idea of delayed payment – then you need the credit one. Just listen to yourself.

Credit card processing

Filed Under (Abbey credit card) by admin on 06-05-2010

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It comes as a surprise how credit cards have found their way into our lives (and out wallet). Credit cards have gradually turned into becoming a necessity (rather than luxury). You can find credit card processing machines in almost all the shops today. With the advent of internet, online credit card processing has become popular too. ‘Credit card processing’ as such is a really interesting topic. This article tries to put into perspective the people, systems and the equipment that go into credit card processing.

First, let’s check the equipments used for credit card processing. So, there are credit card processing softwares for online credit card processing, there are credit card processing machines (i.e. the credit card reading machines at shops), there are data verification/validation devices/softwares that verify the security information on credit cards, there are communication devices/systems that enable safe transfer of credit card information from one point to another, and then there are other credit card processing equipments like the credit card processing equipment that is used for the preparation of the actual plastic (credit card).

Then there are various service providers that provide services related to credit card processing. There are suppliers for credit card processing equipment and suppliers for online credit card processing services. Then there are postal and courier service that help deliver credit card bills in time. There are merchants/petrol-bunks etc which provide facility of payment collection boxes at their premises (another important aspect of credit card processing).

Besides that there are complete systems for processing credit card applications, there are systems for credit card bill processing/generation, there are people at call centres who help in addressing the queries from credit card holders and, very importantly, there are people (sales representatives) who help you in filling the credit card application forms. Another important entity with regards to ‘credit card processing’ process is the credit rating bureaus. Credit card bureaus maintain a database of credit ratings for individuals and businesses. This rating is based on the data received from various credit providers over a period of time. This rating is the most important part of credit card application processing and a bad rating can lead to rejection of the credit card application altogether.

Thus, credit card processing involves a coordinated effort from a lot of professionals and service providers. In that sense, we can also say that credit card processing is an industry in itself that has generated a lot of employment.