If you are a current credit card holder - MasterCard or Visa — you may be overlooking an important way to make your card work even better for you: by joining a rewards program. Why possess a plain old credit card when you get rewarded for using the same card? Let’s take a look at how you can receive benefits from your current card.

Some cards are offering rewards based on your purchases. Depending on the card selected, your rewards card can offer to you a variety of benefits such as:

1. Cash back. Receive 1% or 2% back on all purchases. Usually not redeemable for cash until your balance reaches a certain amount, such as $20. Some card plans allow for you to use the “cash back” as a credit toward future balances and/or purchases.

2. Airline miles. Some cards have tie ins to one particular airline while other cards allow for you to accrue miles that can be used for mostly any carrier. Similar plans include cards that allow you to accumulate free stays at select hotel chains.

3. Car purchase. One prominent automaker allows for card holders to receive as much as 5% credit toward a future purchase of a new vehicle - one of their models, of course! Add these credits to other discounts offered by the automaker at the time of your next purchase and your savings can be huge.

Rewards cards offers do vary between card issuers and your offer can be changed or amended at any time [usually in writing with prior notice given]. In addition, your points may expire after a certain period of time.

If you do not pay off your credit card balances monthly, you lose the advantage of accumulating points as your APR will be greater than the points accumulated.

So, why hold onto a “do nothing” credit card when you can make the one you have work for you? Call your credit card provider today and request that your current card be upgraded immediately.

Copyright 2005 — Matthew Keegan is The Article Writer who writes on a variety of topics including: advocacy, automobiles, aviation, business, Christian themes, family, news, product reviews, travel, writing, and more. Samples from his portfolio are available right online.

Posted by admin as Mathematics Center at 1:03 AM CDT

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With the fast pace of our everyday lives, we don’t have time for anything really. This is where the combined power of commerce and technology comes in. The capability to apply online for a credit card is one such example. Yes, you can apply online for a credit card. The revolution behind providing you with the ability to ‘apply online for credit card’ is called ‘internet’. You can not only apply online for credit card but also use your credit card to do online shopping (and get the goods delivered to your door at no extra cost compared to the local store).

So, it is possible to apply online for a credit card. To apply online for credit card, you just have to fill-in an application form that is presented to you on the website of the credit card supplier (who provides the capability to apply online for credit card). This application form is very similar to the one you would have filled-in in person - the details asked are same and the processing of the application is same too. You will find that a lot credit card companies encourage you to apply online for credit card. This is because they save on the costs related to salary of representatives, paper, etc.

Moreover, when you apply online for credit card, your details can smoothly flow into the database of the credit card supplier i.e. the manual intervention is minimal when you apply online for credit card. This will in turn lead to faster processing of your application. Though it is not necessarily true, if you apply online for credit card, your credit card might reach you much faster. Moreover, if you apply online for credit card, you save on all the time and hassle associated with approaching a credit card company etc etc. You can compare the credit cards (again online) before you apply online for credit card.

Some people don’t like to apply online for credit card. The main reason is their discomfort in giving out the personal information online. One quick check, before you apply online for credit card, is to see if the website address of the page (where you are required to enter your details) starts with ‘https’. ‘Https’ indicates that it’s a secure website (you might also check if the security certificate is provided by a reputed organization e.g. Verisign). If you don’t see an https, you should not apply online for credit card of that company. Besides that, some people don’t apply online for credit card because they are not comfortable in filling up the form all by themselves. In such a case, you might either not apply online for credit card (and apply in person instead); or you might just go through the form, note down your questions/problems and seek the answers by calling the customer service center of the credit card company.

So, applying online for credit card is surely a good option.

What was started as an online store, has turned into a growing collection of internet resources on subjects ranging from Network Marketing, Investing, Health, Travel and even Credit Cards. Visit http://www.mjesales.com for our store or http://www.mjesales.com/articles.htm for more articles. This article may be reproduced only in its entirety.

Posted by admin as Mathematics Center at 10:33 PM CDT

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Step 3: Save For Good Credit!

Did you know you can use a savings account to establish or repair your credit?
Follow these 5 simple steps and you can start to rebuild your credit right away!

1. Open a Credit Union Savings Account

Call your local credit union tell them you want to open a savings account. Depending on the credit union you may need about $500.00 to make this program work. If you don’t have enough cash yet, don’t wait. Open your account with the minimum requirement and begin to deposit as often as you can.

2. Take out a Loan Secured by Your Savings

Once your account is open and has the minimum savings required, take out a Secured Share Loan. This loan will be secured by your savings. In most cases you can choose any repayment terms you like. I advise a 12 month repayment. Once you have only 10 months left, most lenders will not count the payment against your debt load!

3. Deposit the Loan back into Your Account

Don’t go on a shopping spree! Have the loan funds deposited back into the savings account. Now your account will show double the amount you placed in savings… For example: $500 for your savings (the secured amount), and $500 from your loan.

4. Set up Automatic Drafts to Pay Back Loan

Have the monthly payments for the loan drafted from your savings account. Now the loan is repaying itself! Add just enough money to cover the interest on the loan. One great feature of this program is that if you ever need your $500 for an emergency, simply have the loan completely paid off with the remaining loan funds in the account and your savings will be released… With no additional debt!

5. Rebuild Your Credit… Using Your Savings!

Try to find a credit union that reports to ALL three major credit bureaus… Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to bring up the middle score!

About the author:

Ed Nailor is a webmaster, writer and works in the financial and credit fields. His websites, BestNewCreditCards.com, OrchardBankApproval.com and PlasticPlatinum.com have the most current credit card offers online. Each card has a comprehensive review, details about each offer, and a link to the site for instant online applications. For more information on home mortgages in North and South Carolina, or to contact Ed Nailor directly, visit his website at DropRent.com

Posted by admin as Mathematics Center at 3:44 PM CDT

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With so many scams out there and businesses trying to pull the wool over consumer’s eyes, it seems impossible to believe that a credit card would really offer to pay 5% cash back just for making purchases with the card. Nonetheless, it is true. Several of the best cash back credit cards are really giving their customers 5% cash back rewards - and you just might be able to take advantage of these special deals.

Beating the Competition

With so many credit cards out there, credit card companies are in a bind to find a way to draw more customers in. One of the answers they have come up with is to offer cash back credit cards. With these credit cards, you earn money back for every purchase you make. As cash back credit cards rise in popularity, credit card companies are once again at the drawing table looking for a way to bring customers their way. All of this fierce battling is perfect for the consumer, who can take advantage of the resulting deals.

One of these great deals is the increase in credit card companies willing to provide cardholders with 5% cash back. In addition, this cash back reward is earned from making everyday purchases, such as those made at drugstores, gas stations, and grocery stores. These cards also offer 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Finding a 5% Cash Back Credit Card

The best cash back credit cards provide the 5% cash back reward. Some credit cards offering this special deal are Citi Dividend Platinum Select MasterCard and the Blue Cash Card from American Express. Whether you are an individual or a small business, you can find a great cash back credit card. The Advanta Platinum with Rewards and American Express OPEN: The Small Business Network are two great cash back credit cards for business owners.

The Downside

There is one downside to the 5% cash back bonus offered by certain cash back credit cards. Certain major stores, such as Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart, do not earn the 5% rebate. This is not because the credit card company has excluded them. Rather, it is because these stores have not coded their items as grocery, gas, or pharmacy. Therefore, the credit card company has no way to properly track the items. Therefore, you will need to go to major drug stores, grocery stores, and gas stations to take advantage of the special 5% incentive. Otherwise, you will only earn 1% cash back.

The Mindset of the Credit Card Company

Credit card companies are able to offer the great incentives of these cash back credit cards for many reasons. First of all, they are willing to pay out a little extra in order to grab a larger portion of the consumer market. Secondly, American spending habits have traditionally been to use a check or cash for everyday necessities, such as food, health, and home purchases. Therefore, they are counting on you setting the plastic aside when you visit drug stores, gas stations, and grocery stores.

The trend for credit card usage is, however, changing. More and more, consumers are using their credit cards for everyday purchases. Retailers are assisting in this trend by providing incentives for using credit cards, such as fast moving self-service aisles that accept only credit cards. So, if you are able to pay your credit card balance at the end of the month and if you make sure to use your cash back credit card for all of your purchases, particularly the everyday ones, you will be sure to start earning money back in no time!

To discover more about the best cash back credit cards available in the marketplace, Robert Alan recommends that you visit CreditCardAssist.com

Posted by admin as Mathematics Center at 6:43 PM CDT

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If you’ve done any searching on the Internet for information pertaining to “Credit Repair,” you’ve no doubt found that there’s a great deal available. Unfortunately, there’s also a lot of misinformation as well.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common misstatements you’ll come across and examine them in detail.

MYTH #1
“Credit repair doesn’t work!”

While it’s true that credit repair is more “art” than “science” that’s not to say it doesn’t work. If you undertake to repair your bad credit score, there’s never any guarantee you can restore it to “perfect” status. But sometimes you can, and in almost every case you can at least affect some improvement in your credit score, and often major improvement at that!

First of all, credit reports for the most part are filled with errors. While there seems to be no general agreement, it’s estimated that anywhere from 1/3 (Attorney General of NY) to as many as 90% (Charles Givens Organization) of credit reports contain errors.

Removal of erroneous negative information alone will go a great way toward improving your credit score. But there’s more to the story, which brings us to myth #2.

MYTH #2
“Negative information that can be verified cannot be removed”

This is one of those statements that are “almost” true, but taken literally is misleading. As is often the case, the inclusion (or exclusion) of one seemingly small word makes the difference in a truthful statement, and one that’s not (or not necessarily) accurate.

Let’s take an analogy. Suppose it’s the middle of summer, and your grass has grown unusually high. Let’s also suppose that you own a lawn mower, it’s in good working condition, and has plenty of gasoline in the tank.

Now let’s say that you’re sitting on your couch and say to yourself “My grass will get cut today because I ‘CAN’ go outdoors anytime and cut it.”

So will your grass get cut? Not necessarily! Just because you “can” go outdoors and cut your grass doesn’t mean it’s going to get done. You can repeat this statement to yourself all day long, but your grass isn’t going to get cut until you actually go outside and DO it!

Likewise, because a negative item on your credit report “can” be verified doesn’t mean it will be. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a credit bureau must investigate and verify “within a reasonable period of time” any item in your credit report that you dispute. If the “information is found to be inaccurate or can no longer be verified, the consumer reporting agency shall promptly delete such information.”

Now in this context “can be verified” clearly means verified by the credit bureau’s investigation of the item, and the “reasonable period of time” has been established (by subsequent rulings) to be 30 days. So if the credit bureau doesn’t complete its investigation of the disputed information within 30 days, or if for some reason the creditor fails to respond and verify the information, by law the disputed data must be deleted from your credit file.

MYTH #3
“Credit repair agencies are all scams”

It’s true that there ARE a good many unscrupulous credit repair agencies. But there are also some corrupt police officers, lawyers, and politicians. Yet we don’t label all members of these professions as “corrupt.”

If you’re looking for help to repair your bad credit you do need to be careful and do your “homework” when selecting an agency. There are many honest credit repair companies that are not “scams.” But beware of any who make promises as to results!

As stated above, it’s not always possible to restore your bad credit history to perfect status, and no one should be making any promises to that effect. Beware of any company that does! And while an agency will in all likelihood be able to improve your credit score, if any agency makes this promise, be sure it’s accompanied by a money back guarantee. Otherwise, look elsewhere. And don’t forget to ask for references and follow up on them.

MYTH #4
“You have to hire a credit repair agency or lawyer to fix your credit”

Going back to the analogy above, you can always hire someone else to cut your grass (or to do just about anything else) for your. And if fixing your own credit seems an intimidating task, you might prefer to hire a credit repair company to do it.

But it’s not really necessary that you do. First of all, credit repair agencies aren’t cheap. You can expect to pay anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000 or more. Plus, you’ll be paying a high fee for something you can just as well do for yourself, which brings us to myth #5.

MYTH #5
“It’s too difficult or complicated to fix your own credit”

A credit repair company isn’t going to do anything for you that you can’t do for yourself! Credit repair isn’t rocket science. It involves writing letters to credit bureaus and to creditors. If you’re able to write a letter, put a stamp on it and mail it, you’re able to repair your own credit.

“Given the proper knowledge, you can fix your own credit”

This statement IS true! You’re entirely able to repair your own credit, given the proper knowledge. And given the proper knowledge, you can fix your own car, repair your own plumbing, or for that matter perform brain surgery.

While fixing your own credit is relatively simple and straightforward, you do have to know how to go about it. Essentially it involves getting a copy of your credit report and writing letters to the 3 major credit bureaus disputing negative information in your file.

But there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it. In fact even some of the high priced credit repair agencies get it wrong, which brings us to myth #6.

MYTH #6
“You improve your credit score by getting all the negative items on your credit report removed”

It’s possible to get all the negative items on your credit report removed and actually see you credit score go DOWN as a result! The reason? Your credit score depends on a number of factors, one of which is the length of your credit history. In some cases, you’re better off to NOT remove some negative items on your report, especially if they involve a few late payments in the distant past, but show timely payments during recent years.

While the “nuts and bolts” of credit repair is beyond the scope of this report, there are a number of sources of good information online. If you have bad credit, there are 3 major points you should keep in mind:

1. If you have a bad credit history, it can (and probably will) cost you many tens of thousands of dollars in higher loan interest over the years, as you’ll be charged much higher rates than you would be with good credit. If your credit is really bad, you may not be able to get a loan at all!

2. The situation isn’t hopeless! In almost every case you CAN improve your credit score. You can easily do it yourself or find a reputable agency to do it for you. But in any case, GET IT DONE!

3. If you choose to repair your own credit (recommended) there are good books and eBooks available that can walk through the process. Get hold of one and get started NOW!

© 2005 by eBusiness Power

Jim Eastman is the support contact for www.ErasingBadCredit.com. People wanting to repair their credit can visit the site to sign up for a free mini-course on Credit Repair

Posted by admin as Mathematics Center at 12:29 PM CDT

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