How To Protect Your Credit Card Number

online credit card processing

Reports show that about ten percent of identify fraud crimes stem from stealing information from credit cards, after the credit card number is fed online to pay for a purchase. With such disturbing news in the background, is research being done to find safer alternatives? Though this is the need of the day, the question remains whether this is possible at all. If it is not possible, then what are the viable alternatives?

The answer to this question is yes. Yes, fraud can be prevented and the danger of copying or poaching your credit card number from the internet can be completely eliminated. Meet the virtual credit cards, which have been engineered specifically for online shopping and will provide inherent protection for those who want to shop online. Virtual credit cards, simply put, are temporary cards that expire within a very short time after their use. Therefore, if anyone did capture the number, they would not be able to use it, let alone launch an identity theft attempt, which is emerging as one of the most serious and fastest growing crimes in the USA.

It is true that virtual credit cards may be the answer to the present dilemma of fraudulent activities online. They are also a good alternative to the permanent credit card number processing, which will short circuit the efforts of criminals to gain access to your money and/or identity. At the same time, there are still a few issues that need to be answered, such as acceptance for car rentals, hotel booking or purchases of air tickets online, since you will still be asked to show your real credit card at the time of delivery of the goods. Recurring expenses too can be a problem with this solution.

It is amazing that the answer could be so simple and safe at the same time. With the virtual credit cards, you can buy whatever you want without exposing your credit card number to the criminals stalking the online shopping sites. Once the limitation of these credit card payments are ironed out, shopping online will once again be the hottest thing to do.

American Express Black Card - The Legend

No Limit Credit Card

If you are using a credit card for your purchases, you are probably aware of its privileges.  When it comes to privileges, American Express was rumored to have issued a Centurion Card or the black card that features extra ordinary exclusive benefits to high ranking and dignitary celebrities and private individuals.  It has been rumored that the cardholder is entitled to many benefits and privileges.

American Express offers direct access to a wide range of exclusive perks, but in order to get one, a certain criteria should be met.  Aside from the necessary requirements, an applicant should pay an initial fee of $5000 plus the annual fee of $2500 for a total of $7500.

The black credit card started from a legend which states that American Express issued the black credit card to its cardholders; most of them are celebrities and well-off personalities, allowing them to avail high class products and services from high class establishments.  The fact behind this rumor was the information card issued by the American Express to cardholders containing important American Express Travel numbers and hotel assistant services numbers.

The rumor about the Centurion card was about the widest range of benefits and privileges it extends to the cardholder.  It emphasizes the freedom to buy anything as much as the cardholder wants it.  Although the rumor was widespread in the industry, no one really ever had it or get to use it.

American Express used the rumors that had circulated about the black card that was so special to start the Centurion card in the fall of 1999. This card was only available to those who had the Platinum card and instead of being made of plastic; this card was made of metal.

American Express sends invitations to qualified cardholders.  Once the cardholder is qualified to have met the criteria, he will then be invited to avail the Centurion card.  For cardholders located in different countries, they can also be qualified as applicants by the American Express through sending the invitation.  The Platinum card will serve as the exclusive “invitation only” Centurion Card that is electronically linked to the American Express.

American Express black Centurion card started in 1999 with an introduction of $1000 as an annual fee and a one-time initiation fee of $5000.  Now the annual fee was raised to $2500, the highest annual fee for credit cards as of today.  Among the first persons who got one was the comedian and American Express spokesperson, Jerry Seinfeld.

Centurion Card became famous around the business industry because of the urban legends in circulation.  The rumors about the black credit card continue to circulate to all people concerned.  Although the rumor was not true, new rumors and tales would still come up.  This will make the Centurion Card more controversial and the promotion would generate more applicants as well.

How to Refinance Your Life

This can be a great time to look at cutting monthly expenses. It may be easier to reduce our Starbucks expense, now that they are closing stores all across the country. In all seriousness, you may really need to get serious about your expenses during this rough economic time. It is time to sit down and start eliminating all of your unnecessary expenses. Look at all of the things that eat up your paycheck. It is not all about eliminating these expenses; it is about reducing them and/or finding alternatives.

How do you go about refinancing your life?  It is quite simple. There are new finances always accruing. It is important to pause and take a look at the expenses that have been accruing over time. There has never been a better time. Be realistic. You will not be able to reduce some of your expenses. Take a deep breath, you can cut out many of your expenses and you may need to change your lifestyle a bit.

You can start with the easy stuff. Can you pick up a newspaper at the store once or twice a week instead of having it delivered everyday? Can you cut back on eating out? You can use this as a great opportunity. You may find that eating healthier meals can actually save you money. Consider skipping out on steak and opt for chicken. Is your gym membership something that you are truly using? You can find alternative ways to exercise without using a gym membership. Just put some thought into your own lifestyle and your own expenses. It is not as hard as you may think to make improvements to your expenses each month.

Major expenses may require a bit more work. Pick one day each week that you will spend on cutting your large expenses. Contact some insurance companies and shop your rates again. Consider reducing or changing your coverage.

Your largest expense is most likely your payment on your mortgage. A refinance is not only a liability but it can also be used as a great financial tool. There are many ways to reduce your mortgage payment or get into a loan program that makes more sense for your lifestyle than the mortgage that you are currently paying. Payoff credit cards with your mortgage. You may want to cash out of your home to payoff auto loans. This may even allow you to make the same payments that you’re making right now, and go from a 30 year fixed mortgage into a 15 year fixed mortgage. You can spend some extra time to find a refi with no fees.

This will be much easier than you may initially think. You just have to commit some time and effort, plus make a few sacrifices. You may need to make some sacrifices but it will be worth it. You will feel as if a huge weight was taken off of your shoulders when your are done. What are you waiting for?

 

Four Ways To Repair Your Credit

To repair credit history, there are many things you can do to show you're a worthy, reformed borrower. First, you must understand the basic premise of the unsecured credit card and personal loan world. These wealthy lenders are offering money to you based on the condition that you can make reasonable payments in a timely fashion. The only way a lender knows what kind of a client you'd be is based on your FICO score, which is reported by the Experian, Equifax and TransUnion credit bureaus.

The worst thing you can do is miss a payment or make a late payment, experts say. Even if you've always been reliable, a missed or late payment shows a reversal and the potential to get into bad credit debt. If you were previously a good client and make one honest mistake, then your creditor will usually remove the notation from your report if you pay as soon as you realize, apologize and kindly ask them to repair your credit file.

Secondly, you should begin paying down your debts to repair credit history. This won't make as great an impact as paying monthly bills on time, but it certainly helps. Begin by figuring out how much disposable income you'll have toward paying down your debt by subtracting your fixed monthly expenses from your income. Pay your mortgage and utilities in full. Then pay all your minimum monthly payments on your credit cards. Make sure to thro all spare cash to the highest interest rate card. Once you've paid down that debt, use all your spare cash to pay off the next highest interest rate. Very soon you will see significant reduction in your credit card debt.

The third way to repair credit history is to start a fresh history of good credit. Credit repair company experts say that a healthy credit portfolio includes both the unsecured credit card and secured loans, like an auto, home equity, mortgage or student loan. On average, most people have two or three credit cards they regularly use. Your balance should never be more than 30% of the maximum credit offered and should be paid on-time and in-full each month.

While past mistakes will remain on your record for seven years, the good news is that the past 48 months carry the most weight, so within a year you'll see large improvements if you keep up with all your payments. Some people take out self-financed loans by taking $1,000 out of their savings and repaying themselves each month, while the bank reports all these timely payments as good credit history to the bureaus.

One last way to repair credit is to avoid some of the common pitfalls that land people in financial hot water. For example, never co-sign for someone! If he or she defaults on that loan, you'll be held personally responsible for their actions and may have to pay the full amount! Also, do not close out credit card accounts. Closing accounts will decrease the amount of available credit you have.

Don't apply for a bunch of new credit cards at once because your report will show multiple "inquiries," which signals you're getting low on your unsecured credit card capital and desperately need more cash. Lastly, don't charge more than 25% of your available credit limit. Statistically, people who tend to max out their credit cards often file for bankruptcy.

Manage Your Debt and Budget Effectively

It is true that if you can manage to create your own budget, you will be able to control your finances wisely. It's not just a matter of writing things down and getting things altogether in a list.

Budget and Debt Reduction

Creating your own budget is more than that. You have to take into consideration what you really require, plus include what you have to pay for, for example your expenses and debts. When you create your budget, it should focus in reducing your expenses so you can save for your future. For you to begin creating your own personal budget effectively, consider these four major points

1. Your Fixed Expenses
2. Your Variable Expenses
3. Debt Reduction
4. Your Personal Savings

First, you have to know what your fixed expenses are and track down which ones you can afford to take out. Fixed expenses are those goods and services that you are obliged to pay for every month, such as your rent or mortgage, utility bills, credit card bills, monthly subscriptions, etc.

Manage Your Expenses

Then you have to manage variable expenses accordingly. You need to check on these irregular expenditures and on how much you are spending for them. If a variable expense is unnecessary, like a shopping spree every month, you have to take it out of your budget.

It is important to make a list of the goods and services you owe, and to write the date due, so that these expenses are paid for in due time. You have to be able to evaluate when you are required to settle your debts either with the minimum amount due or in full, and pay them on time.

Formulating a plan on your personal finances, should involve saving enough money for the 'rainy days'. If your budget is not balanced, then you will have to cut down on more expenses. Your variable expenses are usually where you begin to cut down on your expenses. How many times, for instance, do you eat out? If you eat out twice a week, perhaps you can try eating out just twice a month. How often do you shop for clothes?

It is important that you spend your money wisely by setting a strict budget so that you may prepare for your future, especially in these troubled economic times. It takes a little time investment on your part and a lot of discipline to manage your debt.

What To Look For When Choosing A Credit Card

personal debt

If your credit rating is fairly good, then you probably receive credit card offers in the mail on a regular basis. Companies lure new customers with introductory 0% interest rates or low rates for balance transfers. If you receive such offers, then read the fine print before you apply for a card. Before you accept any offer, take a look at your financial situation and your debt management capabilities; you don't want to add to your personal debt.

The first thing most consumers look at in credit cards is the annual percentage rate, or APR. While this is an important factor, it is not the only thing to consider when evaluating offers. You also need to look at things like finance charges, over-limit fees and late charges. These things can add up to a higher than expected bill. If you plan to pay off your balance every month, then you should also look at the grace period. This is the period of time you have to pay off your balance before the company starts charging interest. In recent years, grace periods have gotten shorter, and many card companies have done away with them altogether. However, many companies still have grace periods as long as 25 days. If you pay off your credit cards every month, then this will be a benefit to you.

Many consumers look for credit card offers with low introductory rates or low rates for balance transfers. Some companies offer rates as low as 0% APR. Consumers with a lot of debts can save money in interest by taking advantage of such offers. If you decide to take advantage of these low rates, remember they are only temporary. You should apply for a card offering them only if you are fairly certain that you will be able to pay off your balance before the introductory period expires.

In past years, when consumers had reached their credit limits, card companies would decline further purchases. It has now become common for the companies to accept the charge and then hit the customer with an over-limit fee. This is one more factor to consider when comparing credit card offers. There are many websites where consumers can find comparisons of various companies and their offers. In particular, you can go to the Federal Reserve Board's website at www.federalreserve.gov. Do some research before you apply for a card. Being an informed consumer is always a wise idea.

A Credit Card Company Plays A Big Role In Providing Credit

credit cards

Credit cards are issued to customers by a credit card company. These cards work by allowing the customer to purchase something now that will be paid for later. This credit system was invented several years ago, and now there are many different credit card companies in existence. The ways in which these companies make money varies, as do the credit plans they offer.

Most issued credit cards have a monetary limit. The amount usually depends on the person's credit rating and history, as well as their income. Current rates decide what interest rate will be charged. However, many cards will initially offer no interest or a really low rate for several months, and then they will jack up the rate to reflect current market standards. When someone uses a credit card, they are legally bound to repay the company later, after using the products purchased. The way that the companies make their money is through the interest rate on the credit card's balance, and through different late fees and finance charges. A credit card can be a great purchasing tool, especially for emergencies; however, spending on credit can easily get out of hand, causing a lot of debt that must be repaid to the credit card company.

In recent years, the credit card and the debit card have basically taken over from the use of cash and checks. With so many people now using them, the credit card companies are in constant competition to get consumers to use their card rather than someone else's. This has made the benefits that come with using a different company, such as Mastercard and Visa, much better. Many companies offer points every time their card is used, which can be cashed in for prizes.

Other companies offer continuously lower rates than other companies. Still other companies offer cash back for certain purchases and the general use of their card. It has become much safer to use credit cards as well. Most credit card companies now offer many protective services to their customers, including identity theft protection. Other services that these companies offer usually consist of canceling stolen cards, and not making a customer pay for charges on a stolen card. This makes using a credit card easier and safer than using cash or traveler's checks. In fact, most places now accept many different credit cards, so using them while on vacation is much simpler than through any other means.

A credit card company can be quite influential in how businesses are run today. If you use your card properly, then it can allow you to enhance your life. Still, when not used properly, your personal debt will soon overwhelm your life. When using credit, be extremely cautious.

Credit Cards for Small Businesses

Many different banks issue credit cards, and many are providing different incentives to get you to choose their card. Credit cards often provide you the opportunity to accumulate points as you buy items with the card, and some cards provide you with special perks, such as special deals at stores and restaurants, or let you in special events. These days there seems to be a card that fits the needs of just about anybody.

When you are a business owner, you really should be using a credit card that is designed for your specific needs. You may not be so interested in the perks of a normal consumer credit card, but rather you could use something that are more business oriented. While there are not as many choices for a small business card, there are still several that will fit your needs just fine.

As far as a business credit card, there are ones available from big card issuers, which include Discover business credit card. Most of the credit cards that are designed with the business owner in mind, include features that allow you to track charges, issue individual employees cards, and adjust the credit limit for additional cards. These business specific cards tend to give a lot of control to you, the small business owner.

It is very important to go with a credit card issuer that understands the needs of the small business owner. An example of such a financial institution is Advanta with their Advanta card. Advanta only deals with small businesses, which means they are one of the best credit card issuers when it comes to serving the entrepreneur.

When you decide on a issuer of credit cards for your business, choose one that is designed specifically for the requirements of the small business owner. Always go with the right credit card for your particular situation so that you are using the best financial tools available to the entrepreneur.

What to Look for in College Credit Cards

The quality of your credit rating has a huge effect on a lot of things in your life. It will be easier to get loans when you need them; and you will receive a lower interest rate on them as well. A good credit rating can even mean having an easier time being hired for a job.

Just a few years back, credit card companies were giving out cards to absolutely everyone. You'd get credit card offers almost non-stop which offered low interest rates and high credit limits. Then, credit cards for college students were a big sector of the market. Credit card offers were mass mailed and all you had to do was fill out the application. People got on the bandwagon in droves, buying all of those things they couldn't afford outright, but could make payments on.

If you weren't raised by financial whizzes and especially if you're a young person, you might not have any idea how to manage your money. If you see that "must have" item, you just pull out that plastic, forgetting that the bill will come due at the end of the month.

If you're in school, you probably see a lot of these credit cards for college students being offered. Before you even look at any of these applications, it would probably be a good idea to ask your parents for some advice. They may have had some experiences with these credit cards for college students when they were still attending university back before you were born; of course now, these cards have a much higher interest rate and fees. If your parents got themselves into a debt which it took years to pay off, this is a time where you should not follow the example set by your parents.

Amazing as it might seem, credit cards for college students are being offered just as much as they were a few decades back. However, these offers no longer come with a low APR. The fees are a lot higher too and just one late payment can send your APR skyrocketing.

Many credit card companies don't even ask you for all that much information before they will hand that card over to you. It is your responsibility to read all of that fine print; you need to understand all of the terms and conditions which are spelled out there.

Be smart when you shop these credit cards for college students. Read the cardholder agreement carefully. Don't regard that card as a windfall of cash. It isn't. Be prepared to pay it off each month. If you must max it out for emergencies, make at least three times the minimum payment, to avoid having your balance increase instead of decrease. If you're smart, a credit card can be a good thing!

Tips for Choosing the Best Credit Card Offer

Bills bills bills .. How they haunt us all the time. What would we do if we did not have credit cards? So many times in life we find ourselves short of the money we need but obviously we can't beg or steal but there are ways to borrow. So why not swipe your credit card and save your skin?

They are really tiny in their size but they sure are the ones who stand by us in tough times. There's Master Card, Visa, American Express and Discover who have amazing offers for you. Well you wouldn't just jump for anything so there are these who bring you lots of advantages.

Where would you go to find the best credit card offers and what is a good APR to consider? These are great questions and virtually anyone can get this right. First of all, if you truly want to find a variety of the best credit card offers at your disposal, you need to direct your attention to the Internet. Online you can easily search for the best deals on credit cards, regardless of whether it involves Visa, Discover, MasterCard or American Express. Whatever you do, don't simply settle for any credit card offer that comes with any annual percentage rate.

These annual percentage rates applies to everything you purchase and this can be a really serious amount when we talk about dollars. Nobody wants to pay so much only on interest. So that will restrict what you spend on your credit card when you are buying in dollars. You'll be paying around 16-19 % interest if you spend a few grand on dollars. That comes to quite a lot of money.

Be sure to do your homework when searching high and low for the best credit card offers currently out there. Try their official websites first. This means you should go to MasterCard.com or Visa.com. See what's offered right off the bat. Naturally you can acquire a better rate and higher credit line dependent upon your income. There are numerous cards offers to select from.

What Credit Card Information You Need When Seeking Credit Application

credit card payments

With the increased use of credit cards to make everyday purchases, consumers are required to supply more information on their credit card applications than was required in the past. The need to keep consumer credit card information protected has also come about and there are now several companies in place whose sole job is to do this. They have regulations that the businesses that do credit card processing must follow, or they will lose their capability to do so.

On the consumer side of things, the credit information that is needed in order to process a credit card application includes biological information, employment history, balance transfer information and any student information, if it is a student credit card. The credit card company will take all of this information into consideration, as well as any credit rating, credit scoring or credit history that you have. The credit card payments that you make on existing cards will also affect this information, as will whether or not you are making payments on time, are a little late or are consistently late or lack making any credit payments at all.

Companies who make it their business to protect credit card information have placed safeguard regulations on companies, both large and small, that have to be adhered to. These regulations are in place to protect consumers from identity theft and any other illegal use of their personal information. These regulations have become a huge ordeal now that more and more consumers are opting to use credit cards for everyday purchases and to shop online. These companies are also checking and re-checking constantly to make sure businesses that accept credit card purchases are following the regulations on all counts.

In the past, when credit cards were new, they were mainly used for emergencies. Because of the major use of cards now, the way that consumer information is protected has become a vital need and several companies have stepped up to provide this service. They have set many rules and regulations in place that companies have to adhere to in order to keep processing payments. The amount of credit card information that is needed from consumers who apply for cards has also changed and credit card companies are looking at a multitude of items in order to process credit card application requests.

Small Business Loans - Building Credit Score in 2 Steps

Are you trying to get a business loan but you do not have credit history to show up to a bank? It is difficult to get a business loan with no credit history at all, this because banks act, and always do, with precaution on investment considered high risk. However, there are still some things you can do to start building your hopefully successful credit history;

There are two recommended ways in order to build credit history, and those are specially designed for small business owners, it is precisely that condition (small business owner) that get you access to some effective tools that get your credit score improved in a shorter span of time, despite the fact that traditional small business loans are difficult to get for the newbie entrepreneur.

Lines of credit for small business owners

There are special lines of credit for small business owners, those are specially designed and have lower interest rates, your local bank is the perfect place to start researching about loans for small business. Moreover, by paying on time you are building a first hand credit history with a local institution, meaning it should be easy to get a larger loan after your line of credit is paid off.

Credit cards for small business owners

Another effective way to build credit history is through business credit cards, similar to lines of credit these ones have lower interest rates as well, and you build credit history in no time, plus you have immediate access to purchases your business could be needing. Once again, by paying on time you get good credit score and this helps with future larger application loans.

Finally yet importantly, as you can see, small business owners have access to cash, at the beginning a small amount of credit, but sooner or later, if you pay on time you will get access to larger business loans because of a good credit score, the due date then, become an important piece of your financial planning.

Summing up, by improving your credit score you get just benefits, while this can be done by yourself properly, just make sure you have the right guide helping you in the process. However, seasoned advise from a financial counselor is recommendable on every situation, if you decide going with a company, make yourself sure you are dealing with a trusted and reputable score fixing company.

Hector Milla runs the Improve Your Credit Score website, where you can see his "Improve Your Credit Score Up To 700 in 60 Days" Guide Recommendation, and the Best Credit Repair Companies resources center.

Find how to improve your credit score advice and credit report repair tips respectively, visit for further information.

Use an Advanta Credit Card for Your Business Needs

Credit cards are the part of everyday life, especially when you are an entrepreneur. On a frequent basis there comes a point in each day when you need to use a credit card. This occasion can be as simple as placing an order online at a business, or going to the local office supply store to get pencils, but you have the requirement to use a business credit card.

It is definitely not a good idea to use a personal credit card for business use, as this will really make your accountant and the IRS very angry. Therefore, you should make sure there is at least one business credit card you can use. Fortunately there are some great sources for low interest business credit cards.

One of the better-known business credit card issuers is Advanta. The one thing that they provide is credit cards for use with your business. This is all that they do and they are very good at it.

If you choose the Advanta credit card as an entrepreneur, you have the backing of a company that has a top-quality product with great benefits that are meant specifically for a small business. As one of the top issuers of small business credit cards, Advanta has over fifty years experience working for small business.

You need to make sure that you are comfortable with the financial institution that provides the credit card you use for your small business. Advanta is one of the few companies that gives you a very secure feeling when it comes to your business finances.

If you own your own business, then make sure that you are using a business credit card that does as much for your business as can be possible. Advanta is a great choice in small business credit cards. See for yourself if they are the right choice for your business.

Bank Secured Loans – Advantages Of Taking Out A Bank Secured Loan

Some of the reasons to take bank secured loans are: poor credit history, having problems obtaining an unsecured loan or because they're easier to get when you want a larger amount of money. The flexibility of the lenders is bigger when secured loans are involved, so you have a better chance of getting them, even if you were rejected for an unsecured loan.

You can use secured loans for improving your house, getting a new car or going on a luxury holiday.

Bad credit is not that important when it comes to secured loans, as they are secured on property. That's why defaults, CCJs and arrears don't count that much. That's why secured loans are favorites for those that usually aren't approved by their local banks for loans.

A bank secured loan can be taken even if you don't own your home outright. You can use a mortgaged house in the amount you own as a security.

The amount that can be borrowed varies between £5,000 and £75,000, and can be paid over a period of time between 5 and 25 years. You only need to choose the monthly payment that suits your circumstances best. Usually, unsecured loans are more expensive then secured loans or other types of loans.

For a secured loan, the interest rate can vary depending on a number of factors, like the length of time, the amount of money or other personal details. Your payment can also be insured if you want, so you don't worry about being unable to work or losing your job.

Some of the benefits that come with secured loans are the ability to borrow more money, having smaller monthly repayments or having them over an increased period of time.

Learn how to get a bank secured loan at my site. Learn more about secured bank loans and their requirements.

Credit Card Counseling

There is an appropriate and beneficial time to use a credit card.  Sometimes we have an emergency or need to make a purchase right away and simply do not have the cash available.  That is the time to use a credit card.  At times when we receive the statement we are still not quite ready or able to pay for the purchase.  This is even worse for people who find it very difficult to control their credit card spending.  For them, they truly dread receiving that statement at the end of the month.

Get Help

If you have a credit card that has a growing balance due to the high interest charges don't feel that all is lost.  There is something you can do.  You can call the credit card company's customer service department and try to negotiate a lower rate.  They will be able to inform you quickly if you qualify for such a reduction.  If you are able to reduce your interest you can begin to chip away at the balance because you will not be spending so much money each month on the compounding interest.

Utilize the Internet

Other help is available and can be found on line, such as non profit credit counseling.  There are thousands of financial experts out there who can help you with your credit card debt and they can easily be located on line.  Sometimes it can be arranged for you to have a live chat with credit counselors that can help you get back on track and better manage your finances.  There are also web sites that sell reading material with instructions on how to get out from under debt.

Counselors That Can Help

Non Profit Credit counseling is also available on the internet or face to face.  Credit counselors can evaluate your situation and explain to you where you have gotten off track.   Also some are willing to negotiate with your creditors in your behalf to reduce your interest and give you a more manageable payment.  Seeking help from credit counselors will help you drastically improve your credit scores.

Credit Counseling for Free

You will find that most credit card counselors offer their services free of charge.  Simply pull all your debts together and prepare the information for them to review.  They will give you options and help you choose the plan that will help you in time to get back on your feet financially.

Accepting Online Credit Card Transactions

There are a number of facts you should be made aware of before you use your credit card online. If you run an internet business you must be able to handle online credit card transactions. Most people won't use their credit card if the site isn't secure and many small businesses find this a problem. If your web site accepts credit card payments it's important that it's secure so potential customers will feel comfortable ordering from you.

There are always commercials and advertisements about debt relief being flashed on TV or in the newspaper. You would be wise not to readily commit to anything until you know more about the process. Warnings are now coming from the Federal Trade Commission about signing up with companies that advertise in this way. It is good to be aware that you may have a worse credit record after you have used the services of one of the firms.


If you shop online, don't forget this. Although many websites accept credit card payments, some are safer to use than others. The verisign logo helps and it is a good place to start but it is not the only thing you should look for. A secure web site has the address https:// and not the usual http:// when you look at the address bar in your browser.

When looking at sites that accept credit cards, it is always wise to be wary as there are a number that have been set up purely to gather credit card information from the users. These are often referred to as phishing sites, you may be surprised at the number of people who fall for this. It usually begins with an email telling you that your information must be updated, and then offers you a link. So when you follow the link it takes the user to what appears to be an official looking site but is a complete fake. The criminals behind this scam will have immediate access to your account as soon as your details are entered.

The easiest way around this type of scam is to enter the website address in manually. By entering the internet address in yourself, manually, in a new browser, you will avoid the dangerous link. As a rule of thumb, just remember that financial institutions almost never ask for private information via an email. Initial contact is normally by phone if there is a problem. It's easy to check the website for a telephone number if you're not sure. Any site that is legitimate, and can accept credit cards online will understand your hesitation and will be happy to answer any questions you may have for them.

Get more information on financing and loans visit Unsecured Debt Relief

Credit Card Debt Can Be Lowered

The convenience and ease of use that is connected with credit card use may be  part of the reason why there is a large amount of credit card debt in the society of today.The use of credit must be done with discrimination, otherwise this can lead to overspending of funds you do not really have.It is necessary to be able to pay off the balances on all of your credit cards each month if at all possible when you have more than one card with credit debt attached to it.   

Now is the time to take control of your financial future, this can be initiated by using credit just to purchase something you really need instead of everything you want.You will probably need to consolidate credit card debt onto one low interest credit card and get rid of the other high interest credit cards you have. The lower interest credit card could be easier to pay off in a shorter period of time, if you can add a little extra to the payment amount each month. The resulting credit card debt from several maxed out high interest credit cards can be the cause of great pressure in anyone’s life. It is a necessity for all of us to stop spending beyond our means and start a financial plan in which we involve using credit cards on an emergency basis only. The financial planning we do should include the use of a spreadsheet on all of our income and expenses, we have to include everything we spend money on for a month. By reviewing our spending pattern after paying normal expenses, we have to try to see how much was spent on essentials and how much could have been unnecessary and been used to pay down credit card debt. The most profitable way to plan financially for our future is to live within our means and avoid any further credit card debt and sticking to a comfortable budget that works for us. 

If you make weekly credit card payments it will help to pay off your credit card debt faster and you will not have to be afraid to receive your monthly credit card bills or to apply for a low interest credit card. After you pay off your credit card debt, you will have the freedom to save for your future and try to achieve the bigger dreams and goals you have and you will receive an excellent credit rating to help you do it.No one else can do these things for you, so go on out there and deal with your own personal credit card debt.

It is only good common sense to pay off the credit card with the highest interest rate first when trying to rid yourself of debt related to credit card use.You may be able to set your finances more in order if you check to see exactly what the interest rates are on the credit card debt you are paying on.          

Get rid of all those high interest credit cards and take more control of your finances to have a much better future.Our financial well-being is very much affected by the extinuating circumstances of our lives and our ability to control them.

Tips To Steer To A Good Credit Rating

your credit score

Did you know that 60% of your credit rating is based on the activity within the last 24 months? You may be lamenting over those old collection accounts or an old bankruptcy filing, but if you have since gotten back on track, or plan to get back on track, then there is a silver lining for you. Borrowers can eradicate bad credit scores by establishing a short and long term financial plan aimed at mitigating bad debt and maximizing good debt.

Improving credit scores involves avoiding many things. In the order of importance, they are late payments, high credit card balances, closing credit card accounts and having too many in-store charge cards. Late payments carry 35% of the weight in terms of your credit score, so do not take them lightly, even if it's just a store charge card, a cell phone bill or a rent payment. Your credit score can drop by as little as 20 points or more than 100 points, depending on how often you are late and how many accounts you're late on, as well as whether you are 30, 60, 90, or more than 120 days late.

Secondly, your credit usage should be no more than 40% of what is offered to you. If your credit line is $1,000, then you should owe no more than $400, and that goes for all lines of credit you have open. If you have any maxed out cards, then pay them down until you hit the 40% mark! Some people think they should close out their accounts to "do the right thing" or "prevent overspending," although this will decrease your overall credit offering and will reflect negatively on you.

Instead, work on paying those balances down and once you're finished, aim to purchase one thing a year on those cards to keep them active, and pay them off right away. Lastly, opening and closing store charge cards just to get that 10-15% initial discount is a signal of irresponsible credit behavior and will not result in high scores for your credit.

Once your past debts are paid off, you may want to negotiate your way toward a higher credit rating. If you were a good borrower but missed a payment, often lenders will remove your delinquency if you ask. If you're in larger trouble, then you can ask your lender to "re-age" your account and delete previous delinquencies by making 12 consecutive on-time payments. Some people hire a credit bureau to blitz old blemishes, such as late payments, charge-offs, fraudulent collection items, under-reported/inaccurate credit limits, accounts listed as "settled," "paid derogatory," "paid charge-off" or anything other than "current" or "paid as agreed," accounts listed as "unpaid" if previously settled by bankruptcy or items that are more than seven years old but have not disappeared yet. Good credit scores can't always be negotiated but if you have some of these ugly mishaps on your report, it's worth a try.

Following a bankruptcy, foreclosure or bout of unemployment, improving your credit rating could become an obsession. It never feels good to know you've failed at something. If you're really knee-deep in debt, then you may need a credit counselor or debt relief service to help you sort out the mess. For the long-term, you need to renew your way of thinking about debt. Carefully record your monthly spending, writing down all your bills, incoming assets and expenditures. It can be really eye-opening to see where your money is going! Subtract your fixed expenses, such as rent/mortgage, utilities, auto loans, minimum credit payments from your monthly income and use the leftover cash to spread out to your debt. Make a list of your debts and interest rates, then begin paying the highest interest rate off first, while making minimum monthly payments on the rest. Be sure to take advantage of free credit report services each year at www.AnnualCreditReport.com to keep on top of things.

Get More From Your Cash Back Credit Card

Every purchase made with a cash back credit card will help you receive some cash back after the purchase and this difference is what makes the popularity of cash back credit cards grow greater with every day that goes by. 

How the cash back credit cards  work depends on the type of card you are applying, because some of these credit cards give back a larger sum of money when you purchase certain items.You will have to make a decision of the type of cash back credit card you intend to use, because some cards may give you cash back on groceries or gasoline.

You get more cash or free tickets when you fly often and use these specialized cash back credit cards such as airline credit cards, so if you are a frequent flier, you should get these cards.

Cash back credit cards offer different various terms, policies and conditions from one company to another, but the way the points or rewards are earned is almost the same with all companies.Credit card holders will usually receive one point on every single dollar that they use to make purchases; some companies offer two points for every two dollars.These points are what will become cash later, so that is why they are called cash back credit cards.Companies may give cash back in amounts from one percent to twenty percent, it depends on the amount of cash spent on the purchase. 

Before using the cash back credit cards, you need to read the fine print with great care and make sure you fully understand the way your reward system works.

An eight hundred dollar purchase of airline tickets could bring you a return of four free tickets worth four hundred dollars each if you use an airline cash back credit card.This is just a general idea of how the cash back credit system works, this rule is not applicable for all companies.

Once you have the reward points offered by most companies you may want to know what to do with them.These points may be used to buy something or to pay your bills.Some of the credit card companies make a requirement for the reward points to be used to make purchases at designated places, but some other companies give you the option to choose your own purchase site.  

There is a limit imposed on the number of cash points that can be earned from some card companies, and after the limit has been reached the cardholder is not able to qualify for more reward points.The ideal cash back companies do not impose such limits, but by using such cash back credit cards, you can earn a desirable number of points and be an active member of that firm. 

Cash back credit card firms are all striving for attention to get more customers, some are trustworthy and others are not so it will pay to be cautious when applying for their cards.      

Cash back credit cards will promptly give rewards when the points are made on time by clearing off the balance each month.

What Do Personal Finances Include

All of the various financial parts of your life are gathered together under the umbrella term of personal finance.The personal finance umbrella term covers not only the various avenues you traverse to acquire the funds you need for your personal use; it can also cover the ways you spend these funds through savings, budgeting and normal expenses.

We, first of all, must take a glance at the different ways we choose to borrow money. credit cards make it possible for cash to be borrowed in an instantaneous manner, but it will have to be repaid later with interest.While their use is popular in today's world, you should still be careful with the way you utilize your credit cards.The interest rates on credit cards can be excessive and when you are ready to make the payments on the balances, you may see where you probably have overspent as this is something that is easily done. 

In contrast to credit cards, personal loans will reduce your spending, because you will be borrowing only the amount you need, which is the original purpose of your loan. If you need a home improvement loan, auto loans, a debt consolidation loan, or perhaps you want to some plastic surgery done, there also are personal loans for these purposes.

When you get a personal loan it has interest attached too, and you must abide by the terms of the loan as you attempt to pay it off.If you get your loan through the offering of collateral, there is a possibility of losing your assets if you do not make the required payments. 

Just in case you are wondering how to get the best results from the financial opportunities you have, the answer is easy to come track down and it begins with you. The characteristics of prudence, and being of an economical mindset and having the patience to use unlimited time to research the loan market are all helpful.

It will be possible to create a doable budget and develop the habit of staying within it when you know your financial limitations and ability to make payment. You will understand what your spending habits are and where to make the needed changes and you will also be aware of how you are spending on your credit cards if you keep records of your expenses.  

You must first become acquainted with all the different trends and offers in the loan market before finalizing any loan deal. Do not hesitate to ask for a loan quote, this is the best way to get an idea of how much the loan will cost. By requesting and receiving loan quotes you will know if you can afford the loan with comfort, but you should carefully search for hidden fees and costs in the fine print.

The way you live your life and take care of your financial obligations is determined by your personal finances. You will have a lifestyle that is not encumbered with worry over finances when you handle your personal finance properly, but if you do not take charge of it you find that you are wandering around in a maze of debt.

If you gather as much information on personal finance and figure out how to take care of your own, you will be more assured how to live safely and smartly.When we are looking for a complete financial picture that makes sense for each one of us we have to find the pieces that fit together the best to make our own picture clear.

Cit Business Credit Cards and Your Business

If you are an entrepreneur, you are going to need to have a credit card just for your business. It is not a wise choice to use personal credit cards for business expenses, as you are required to be keeping your personal and business expenses separate.

There are several to choose from, but one of the top issuers of small business credit cards is Citi with their Citi Business card. If you use a CitiBusiness small business credit card, you have a credit card that is made especially for the small business owner.

Since you have the opportunity to receive cards for employees, and determine the credit limit for each card, CitiBusiness really lets you control your expenses. They provide online account management that gives you the ability to view card charges, view statements, add additional cards for employees, and otherwise manage your CitiBusiness account.

If you have a need for low interest business credit card, CitiBusiness may have exactly what you need for your business. They often times have specials for low, or no, beginning rates of interest for purchase or balance transfers for a given length of time. With these deals, you can really get in control of your cash flow without having to pay interest.

CitiBusiness does offer credit cards that include a rewards program. With such a program, you earn a given number of points for every $1 you spend with your credit card. You then can choose how you wish to redeem your rewards points. They give you several options so that you can have several ways to redeem points.

Just about every business has the need for a credit card, so it is a smart decision to have a credit card that is specifically intended for business use. The CitiBusiness credit cards make a great choice as far as small business credit cards are concerned. CitiBusiness cards offer some incredible benefits for the small business owner, so you really ought to look into their cards for your business.

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{{{Consider using debt consolidation to consolidate your credit card debt into one low interest payment and thereby, limit your credit card use to one low interest card|You will probably need to consolidate all of your credit card debt onto one low interest credit card and quit using all of the other high interest credit cards you have by using debt consolidation services|It would be a good idea to use a credit card that has the lowest rate of interest and thus, combine the credit card debt you have into one monthly payment and rid yourself of the debt connected with the other high interest credit cards by way of debt consolidation|Your debt load can be alleviated by debt consolidation and placing all of it on the one card you have with the lowest interest rate; then you will have one low interest payment per month and you can toss out the other cards}}}. {{{Once you only have one single low interest payment, you can afford to increase your monthly payment amount and pay your credit card debt off more quickly|You could possibly make an increase in the amount you pay on this one low interest monthly payment, and pay off the credit card debt more quickly|When you have only one low interest monthly payment, it may be easier to pay off the debt at a faster pace by increasing the amount of the payment you are making|The lower interest credit card could be easier to pay off in a shorter period of time, if you can add a little extra to the payment amount each month}}}.

{{{The type of pressure you can be under due to several maxed out credit cards and their resulting credit card debt, can be very debilitating to even the strongest person|The resulting credit card debt from several maxed out high interest credit cards can cause an intense amount of pressure in anyone’s life|The convenience of instant gratification is not worth having if one has to be under the unrelenting pressure of the credit card debt caused by several maxed out credit cards|There is almost nothing worse than the awesome pressure brought into your life by the credit card debt from several maxed out cards?}}}. {{{Credit cards should be primarily used only in emergencies, because it is essential to stop spending beyond your means so you can find a financial plan that works for you|It is a necessity for all of us to stop spending beyond our means and start a financial plan which involves using credit cards on an emergency basis only|By using our credit cards for only emergency purposes it may enable us to stop spending beyond our means and start planning for a more stable financial future|We all can stop spending more than we can afford to pay if we start to use credit for emergency reasons only; this will also help us to make better plans for our future finances}}}. {{{A financial plan that is helpful to many includes the use of a spreadsheet to carefully record all of the sources of income and expenditures, it must include every single cent that is spent in a month’s time|If we use a financial plan with a spreadsheet to illustrate all of our expenses and all income amounts for a month and include absolutely every cent that is spent it can help us to see where the money goes|The financial planning that is done should include the use of a spreadsheet on all sources of income and expense, it must include everything we spend money on for a month|By recording all of our monthly expenses on a spreadsheet and keeping track of everything we spend any money on for a month, we can begin to make a useful financial plan}}}.{{{After paying for our food, utilities, and all of the other normal living expenses, look at how the rest was spent and how much of it we could have done without, then put these funds toward paying down credit card debt|By reviewing our spending pattern after paying normal expenses, we have to try to see how much was spent on essentials and how much could have been unnecessary, and then use the funds to pay down credit card debt|When we have paid for the necessities such as food and utilities and housing, we need to see where the bulk of our spending has taken place and whether or not some of the funds could have been applied to our credit card debt|We have to see where some of our money could have been used to pay down credit card debt after paying for the normal living expenses, instead of buying unnecessary items}}}.{{{The budget that does not include more credit card debt and does include living within our means is a wise way to plan our future finances|It is wise to plan our financial future by living within our means and staying on a budget that does not include any more credit card debt|Not trying to live within our means and straying from the comfortable limits of a budget and adding more credit card debt is not a good way to plan our future finances|The most profitable way to plan financially for our future is to live within our means, avoid any further credit card debt, and sticking to a comfortable budget that works for us}}}. 

{{{If you attempt to pay your credit cards weekly it will help pay your credit card debt off  more quickly and you will no longer live in fear of your monthly credit card bill|You will no longer live your life in fear of your monthly credit card bills if you pay your credit cards on a weekly basis, and this will also get your credit cards paid off more quickly|If you make weekly payments to your credit cards it will help to pay off your credit card debt faster and you will not have to be afraid to receive your monthly credit card bills|A monthly credit card bill will no longer cause fear to reign in your life when you make weekly payments on these credit cards, and the plus side of this is that you will pay your credit card debt off much more quickly}}}. {{{This could also give you the freedom to save for the future and achieve bigger dreams and goals, plus it will also give you an excellent credit rating to help you make your financial dreams come true|The ability to save for the future and achieve your bigger dreams and goals could be yours; you also will receive an excellent credit rating to help make those dreams come true after paying off your credit card debt|When you have succeeded in paying off your credit card debt you most likely will receive an excellent credit rating and will also be able to save for your future and the bigger dreams and goals you want to achieve|After you pay off your credit card debt, you will have the freedom to save for your future and achieve the bigger dreams and goals you have and you will receive an excellent credit rating to help you do it}}}. {{{No one else can do these things for you, so go on out there and deal with your own personal credit card debt|You need to deal with your own credit card debt on a personal basis because there is no one else who can do it for you|There is no other person who can deal with your credit card debt, you have to do this on your own|Dealing with your own credit card debt is something that you have to do personally because there is no one else who can do it for you}}}.

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{{{Get rid of all those high interest credit cards and take more control of your finances in order to have a much better future|You can once again take control of your life and have a bright future if you once and for all get rid of all of those high interest credit cards|Once you have gotten rid of all of your high interest credit cards, you should be able to easily take control of your life and have a great future|A wonderful future is easy to secure, after you get rid of all of your high interest credit card debt and take back the control of your financial life}}}.{{{If you have control of your own finances and life circumstances this is the most liberating feeling you can have|When you have control of the circumstances that affect your life and your financial future you have a great sense of freedom|The feeling of freedom to achieve your dreams is given to you when you have your finances and the circumstances that affect them under control|Our financial well-being is very much affected by the extenuating circumstances of our lives and our ability to control them}}}.