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Information and Advice on Five Different Types of Credit Cards
How can you find the right credit card for you with so many different types of cards available? The first thing you need to do is start thinking about how you plan on using credit and for what. After you do this, you can start comparing all the different charge cards and credit cards available. Some cards offer you excellent value, and then there are others, which may cost more in finance and interest charges, provide incentives you may find useful. My advice is to research all the varying card rates, fees and benefits before making a decision.
Depending on your needs, you’ll find several different options which can fit what you are looking for. There are some cards aimed toward individual consumers, while others are built specifically for small business needs. To help you figure out what type of credit card would fit your needs, here is some information on five of the most common credit cards available:
- Standard credit cards – These types of credit cards are the most commonly used. They let the user hold a balance on the card all the way up to a set credit limit. After you make a purchase for an item such as a new TV, credit from that balance is used. After you make payments on that balance, that credit is made available to you once again. Keep in mind that finance charges and interest rates will be applied at the end of the month to your balance. You should also be aware of your card’s minimum payment that needs to be paid by a certain due date or be charged late-payment penalties.
- Premium credit cards – Premium credit cards are very similar to regular credit cards except these offer incentives and benefits. I’m talking about those Gold and Platinum credits cards. These offer incentives such as cash back, reward points, or travel upgrades along with many other different types of rewards just for using the card. However, they tend to come with higher fees and you will need minimum income and credit score requirements before you can be qualified for one.
- Prepaid credit cards – These credit cards require money to be uploaded onto the card before it can be used for a transaction. You do not have a renewing credit limit on these either since you are responsible for how much of a balance is loaded up on the card. They work very similarly as debit cards do, but are not dependent on the balance of your checking account.
- Business credit cards – These cards are intended specifically for business use. These cards allow business owners to keep all of their transaction separated between personal and business. They work nearly identical to a standard credit card does with mostly all the same rules and fees.
- Charge cards – Charge cards are basically credit cards without a limit to how much you can charge. The only requirement is that the entire balance must be paid in full at the end of the month. Since the balance is always paid in full monthly, they tend not to come with any finance charges or minimum payments. They ares however, subject to fees, charge restrictions, or card cancellations if you are late on your monthly payments.
Pitfalls of debt consolidation
In my mail box everyday I receive at least one or two mails regarding the debt consolidation companies and services and I always wonder how many people will be taken into these attractive statements without knowing much about the details. The luring claims of these companies include;
1. To decrease interest rate to almost a zero level.
2.50% lessening of monthly payments
3. A security to your company and debt.
If you are stuck into this whole system of unpaid debt these statements would look like a relieving pain killer or an exact ointment on your wounds. But before actually jumping on any of these services let me give a few drawbacks of this whole methodology that will compel you to think appropriately and then decide.
Zero Interest Rate
Well, zero interest rate is not possible humanly, because no fooling is sitting in these companies to let you spend all his money gaining no profit in return. Its just like you need to have a detailed calculation about the monthly payments you are going to make and the time period. Most of the times youll come to know that interest rate are as much as 22 to 25% high. You may be paying less monthly amounts but yeah the duration will be much prolonged.
Payments and their Share in these
You will pay your monthly amount to these debt consolidation companies and then lets see what can happen to those. First of all you may notice that they are having their share or fees in every payment and ultimately paying the creditor a lesser one. Then some of these companies are even notorious to make late payments or missed payments that will worsen your credit score and your rating for payments.
Balance Transfer Cards
These low interest balance transfer cards re very much into market these days even you can have dozens of them in your pocket. But what is the drawback? You ask for such a balance transfer cards and pay that low interest payments for few days, but after that time this interest rate is diminished and you have to either pay the original interest or even more than that thatll be devastating.
Negotiating
This is the part they said they are expert in, but actually they are misleading you so as not to involve you in this whole matter. The better option here will be to negotiate with the companies by you so that you wont have any doubts regarding the payments.