Know your cash back credit card

Cash back credit cards are great for those who pay off their balances every month and don't require a super-low interest rate. For the reward seeker who wants cold hard cash in exchange for his or her credit card loyalty, cash back credit cards pay you cash back or rebate a percentage of the money that you have spent on your credit card. Cash back credit card offers may all appear the same, however, in reality there are many different types of cash back credit cards so it pays to do a little homework before you choose your cash back credit card. Also, if you own or plan on applying for a cash back credit card know what percentage is earned on purchases, what spending categories are rewarded at higher rates and the method by which rewards are delivered to the customer.

Cash back credit cards began about 15 years ago and are very popular. The first cash back credit cards were issued by Discover and were rather simple, offering a flat percentage rate (typically 1% of purchases) rebated back to the customer in the form of a check at the end of the year or a statement credit.

Now there are many different types of cash back credit card offers out there. Some are simple others are rather complex to keep track of. Simple cash back credit card offers calculate the flat rate against all spending (or different rates for cerain category puchases, as in the case of the Citi® Dividend Platinum Select® Card) and show the earned amount on each month's billing statement. The consumer may call to order a check once the amount reaches $100. However, the more complex programs can be confusing since the banks rarely show which purchase amounts earned cash back at which rate. A single earned amount is generally reported on statements or is available upon request of the reward check.

Cash back rebates are not always presented to the customer in the form of a check but also as a statement credit. Some credit card companies that provide statement credit probably find it to be the easiest delivery process since it is electronic but may not be as satisfying for you since it is reflected as a reduction on your outstanding balance. Other credit card companies will mail you a check, either on an annual basis or once you have hit a dollar earnings threshold of $25, $50 or $100. In the previous years reward checks were automatically mailed, however, now it seems more common for the cash back credit card issuer to require the card members to order their reward check. This requirement means increased profits for the issuer when consumers fail to collect their earned rewards so it's important to remain active and monitor your earnings, either online or by calling your credit card company.

At the end of the day cash back credit cards will not make you rich but it is really a nice feature of the market that you can get paid several hundred dollars per year to use a no annual fee credit card. It certainly beats being in debt and paying interest!

Guide to reward type credit cards

Among all types of credit cards, credit cards offering rewards or bonus points are usually the ones with the highest interest rates. But if you’re not cash strapped and you’ve got a steady (not to mention abundant) source of income then maybe, this type of credit card is the ideal credit card for you.

The way a credit card offering rewards or bonuses works is quite simple. Each time you use your credit card, you are awarded a point. The number of points you’re awarded depends on the amount of your purchase. You can maximize the use of your credit card if you’re also able to pay off your purchases before it could incur high finance charges. If you don’t, then whatever reward or bonus you’ll be earning later on may just be equal to what you’ve paid the company for in terms of interest charges.

There are different types of rewards that are offered by credit card companies and it is certainly better that you choose one that would suit you best to make you more motivated when it comes to paying promptly. Some credit cards offer travel benefits as rewards. These benefits include but are not limited to free air travel, free hotel stays and rental cars.

On the other hand, there are other credit cards that target shoppers as their primary client. For these people, they offer cash rebates, discounts on their favorite stores as well as free items of their choice. If your credit card is affiliated with a gas company, for example, then naturally one of the rewards that you’ll receive is free gas for your car. This is not a bad bargain at all when you consider the soaring prices for gas.

To save and earn more using your reward type credit card then it’s better to remember that you should only use your reward type credit card for short term or cheap purchases which you can easily pay off before it can incur high interest rates. On the other hand, long term or expensive purchases are better charged to credit cards that do not offer any rewards but have lower ongoing APR.

Secondly, make it a point to shop as much as you can on the stores or brands that are affiliated with your credit card company because it will earn you bonus points that you may not get from other stores.

Lastly, if you’re just planning to get a reward type credit card of your own, do make sure that you get the highest amount of sign up bonus that you can.

Low interest rate credit cards telling the good from the bad

There are several credit card companies that offer low interest rate credit cards. However, along with low interest rates, the best credit cards offer combinations that include low interest rate on balance transfers and purchases, 0% introductory APR for a fixed period of time, low or no annual fees, cash back percentages that vary from 1% to 5%, reward programs, and/or reduced cash advance fees. A good low interest credit card strives to keep the user’s cost of borrowing as low as possible. If a low rate credit card assesses a hefty transaction fee, it offsets any benefits that may have otherwise accrued to a cardholder.

The credit rating of an applicant is taken into consideration for deciding the time period of the introductory APR of 0% and the balance that it will be applicable to. People with excellent credit rating can avail the lowest interest rates that a company offers. The cash backs can be had at places such as supermarkets, drugstores, and gas stations.

It is useful to compare the fixed/variable interest rates applicable with the various credit cards after the introductory period. Fixed interest rate credit cards often offer better value to the users. Factors such as the length of the grace period, late fees, etc. should be compared for low interest rate credit cards. There are several online resources that offer detailed comparisons and reviews of low interest credit cards. These should be referred to get an idea regarding the type of low interest credit card best suited to an individual’s requirements.

A good low interest credit card from a reputed credit card company is universally accepted. Low interest credit card offers from companies such as Discover, Chase, HSBC, First Premier, and similar companies are considered to be among the best.

An important aspect to be aware of is that the simple interest rate advertised may not be the effective interest rate. The effective interest rate is a compounded interest rate inclusive of annual fees, if any. Also, it is important to ensure that the low rate of interest is not liable to change any time soon. In order to avoid signing up for a credit card that is not really a low interest credit card, it is best to read the fine print carefully and ask questions before submitting the signed application.

Switching to a low interest credit card can help save hundreds of dollars for individuals who are in the habit of carrying a balance each month. Credit cards that offer a 0% interest rate on balance transfers offer an excellent opportunity for settling credit card debt without having to pay interest on it.

An important indication of a genuine low interest credit card is that it will not charge any superfluous fees such as enrollment fees from applicants with perfect credit; such fees are usually reserved for high-risk applicants with bad credit.

Student credit card offers good or bad

Student credit card offers can be a wonderful way for college students to be introduced to the world of credit. With a student credit card they can buy things when they need to and learn how to manage debt successfully. But there are some good reasons to use student credit cards as well as some bad that are worth noting.

A student credit card is not for every student out there. Just like with other credit cards there are some people who should just never have one. For example, those that have trouble keeping themselves on a budget should probably avoid getting any kind of student credit cards. These cards can only lead to trouble in the wrong hands!

If on the other hand you are in college and you have proven to yourself that you are perfectly capable of managing debt and your finances then a college student credit card might be the best thing that has ever happened to you. With one of these student credit cards you will be able to buy food when you are in a pinch or pay to get your car repaired if something goes wrong with it. You know how fickle cars can be not to mention computers. Can you imagine how much trouble you would be in if your computer crashed? If you have a good student credit card you would not have to worry about it because you would have the money to get it fixed right away.

One of the best aspects of student credit cards and college student credit cards is the fact that they are very easy to get. All though in some cases this could be seen as a drawback. Many students are getting approved for these credit cards before they are responsible enough to be able to manage them wisely.

Even students who have no credit history or who have bad credit history have been able to get approved for college student credit cards. Other major credit cards would not even consider many of the candidates that student cards do which makes them perfect for those who want t use these cards to build or rebuild their credit history.

Did you know that you have to have a good credit history to buy a car or a home? If you have no history or poor history you could find yourself getting turned down for just about nay kind of loan out there and in this electronic age credit reports are being accessed for all kinds of other reasons as well. Many employers and landlords check to see what kind of credit rating you have before they give you the job or the place to live. They do this to see if you are a reliable person or not. That is why being able to get a student credit card is so important. You can use student credit cards as powerful tools when it comes to building up a credit report to be proud of.

If you get your student credit card and you then make all of your monthly payments on time every month then you will be in the perfect position to get approved for any other kind of important loan that you need in the future as well as other more beneficial credit cards. So start looking into college student credit cards today and see what a difference they can make in your life.

Selecting the right credit card

Not all credit cards are created equal. There are many various types of credit cards, and if you are looking to apply for a credit card, it may be difficult to decide which type of card is best for you.

In this article, we will look at several popular types of credit cards, to help you figure out which type of credit card meets your unique needs.

Low-Interest Credit Cards

These credit cards are often useful if you are currently carrying a balance on some of your current credit cards. Low Interest credit cards, also know as balance transfer credit cards, are offered at significantly lower interest rates than what you may be used to. They are good for transferring balances to a new card at a lower rate. Often times, this will allow you to pay off your balance in a shorter amount of time, and for less interest.

Rewards Credit Cards

As the credit card industry becomes more and more competitive, companies are scrambling to get and keep cardholders and they are willing to bribe you to use their cards. This is where rewards cards come in. Each program has their own rules, but they all work in a similar fashion. By using your rewards credit card, you accumulate points that can then be redeemed for prizes, and sometimes even cash. There are many options available as to what type of reward cards you can

choose. If you use credit cards frequently anyways, you might as well get something for it, right?

Bad Credit Credit Cards

Even if you have poor credit, you can still be approved for a credit card. Now, credit cards offered to people with bad credit often times have much more restrictive terms, higher fees, lower limits and a higher interest rate. If your credit is particular poor, you may have to go with a secured credit card where by you put down a security deposit, or prepay your credit limit. Why do that? Because, by using one of these credit cards and diligently paying your bill on time, you can actually improve your credit and before long you will be eligible for lower rates through a traditional credit card.

Student Credit Cards

These credit cards often have a lower limit than their more grown up counterparts, making them a perfect "starter" credit card for students. Young people can learn how to control debt without the risk of getting in too deep. As you can see, there are nay choices in credit cards.

By choosing the right credit card for your particular situation, you can build your credit in a responsible way and enjoy perks that suit your lifestyle.

Credit card web-acceptance the basics

For every new and existing virtual marketer who has put up their very own website, payment methods quickly becomes a reality you can’t afford to ignore or resist. Unlike a traditional walk-in establishment, doing business over the internet requires you to reconsider any preconceived notion of getting checks, cash, and money orders – all in advance of sending your valuable products out. Long gone are the days when potential customers have the patience to wait until their check arrives, shipment or download authorization happens, etc. Simply put, some means of debit/credit type acceptance is a must for doing business via the web in today’s internet market place.

Truth is, the expectations of customers demand more and more sophistication in our order, billing, and payment exchange. An increasing amount of potential customers fully expect to use a shopping basket that mimics a traditional shopping experience. They proceed to checkout for payment, get immediate response feedback for delivery information or in many cases with e-download materials, are taken to a download page, ready for exchange of the materials or products.

For those unable, or unwilling, to give them this, they simply are seeking other alternatives for their buying needs. After all, shopping via the internet is about the convenience and ease of use and

capabilities. If you can’t provide it, they will find someone else who can.

Fortunately, the options for gaining this capability are readily available. Payment processor providers (PayPal for example) can be simplistic and reasonably priced. There are many, so make sure to shop around for a provider that fits your specific needs. Also, there is a multitude of merchant account software programs available, though generally speaking, this option is more expensive that a turnkey payment processor activity.

Using the PayPal example, once you sign up, you can either link to their servers or incorporate their payment methods directly into your website via web query forms. The html language generated via the PayPal site can be pasted directly into your webpage, thereby making the transaction less apparent and intrusive, though not entirely seamless.

Irrespective of the method chosen, one area of concern involves the issue of charge-backs. Charge-backs occur when a customer who previously purchased an item requests a refund of an amount – where you have already been paid. The reasons for this are long and varied, ranging from non-receipt of goods, damage in shipping, “not as described” claims, and of course the ever present fraudulent claims. The point being, make sure you understand up front how these charges will be handled, what fees (if any) you will be charged when (not if) they occur. These fees can get out of hand if you are not careful. Make sure you know what you are getting into with these fees.

As a bottom line, there are lots and lots of alternatives for getting your website capabilities “up to speed” in today’s internet business environment. Make sure you do some research about what is available and what it will cost you. A little up-front homework will save you hundreds, if not thousands, later on. Either way, do not miss out on sales and revenue by not having these capabilities.