Tag Archives: charges

How To Get Out of Credit Card Debt 101

June 8, 2019   Loan Tips

Having problems with your debts? Starting up the year with stress because of the charges you’ve incurred last holiday season? Is there a way to get out of debt more easily? This article will discuss some tips on how you can get free from your debt problems effectively:

Transfer your high rate credit cards. If you can’t pay off your credit card balance in full by the end of the month, it’s a good idea to transfer them over to another credit card that has no interest. Also, if you have more than one credit card, check which one of your cards have the lowest rate of interest so you can transfer over your balances.

When transferring credit card balances, check if there are transfer fees or penalties. If you’re opening a new credit card, check how long the zero interest rate will last. Promo periods usually end by six months while other credit cards offer a longer time period of up to a year or even more. It’s important that you complete your repayment before the zero interest introductory offer expires.

Focus on paying off your credit card debts. Don’t be content with just paying the minimum of your credit card charges. Make it a point to pay off your balances in full as much as possible. Concentrate on paying your charges on your highest rate credit cards and work your way down to those with the lowest interest. This way, you can avoid paying for additional interest and penalty fees.

Put your credit cards at halt. It is advised to stop using your credit cards until you’ve finished paying off all your bills. Don’t give yourself a hard time paying off too many bills at one time. Don’t risk getting stuck in credit card debts just because you kept charging more expenses on your cards. Exercise discipline and avoid debt problems.

Check your credit limit. How much of your credit limit have you used in purchasing for the holidays? Remember, experts advise all credit card holders not to go beyond 40% to 50% of their allowable credit line. If you go beyond that, you risk getting stuck in debts and there is a possibility that your creditors will increase your rates because you’ll be considered as a high-risk borrower. To avoid such problems, make sure that you stay within below 40% of your credit.

Check your credit card statement. Do you take the time to study your credit card statement? If your credit card enables you to access your account online, take this opportunity to make sure that all charges on your credit are accurate.

Check if your payments are aptly recorded by your credit card issuer. If you have any disputes, call your credit card issuer immediately and clear up your concerns. If by any chance, you won’t be able to submit your payment on time, call your bank right away to explain your situation and ask for an adjustment. Most creditors won’t report your late payment if you can re-submit on the next 30 days.

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Being Careful With Credit Cards

April 20, 2019   Home Mortgage

When it comes to getting equipped with a credit card, many people are aware of the advantages and disadvantages, but few are aware of how to ensure that they are getting the best deal through being careful about the credit card provider they use, and ensuring they have read the terms and conditions, and are therefore aware of all the cost centers that will affect them during their contract.

Watch out for:

Annual Fees – Not all credit card providers will charge an annual fee, but by the same token not all those who do charge an annual fee will necessarily be the least cost-effective. Keep in mind that different credit card providers will charge in different ways, and being away of the ways you are charged means you get the best deal, and can budget for these expenses.

Late Payment Charges – Should your credit card payments be later than expected then as well as the interest still being due you will have to incur a late payment fee. This is justified by the credit card providers through the consideration that it could cause cash flow problems, and may mean that their financial planning could be off-set or not as projected. Late charges should be a consideration when costing a credit card; a great way to avoid this is to set up a direct debit so your payment is taken directly out of your bank account.

Exceeding Your Limit – When you exceed your credit limit the likelihood is that you will be charged, unless you make prior arrangements with your credit card provider. You should be aware of what these charges are before you enter into a contract with a credit card provider. To avoid these costs, many choose to take out another credit card to finance clearing the limit, whilst others may look towards short-term solutions like an overdraft or long-term solutions like a bank loan. Please be careful not to spend money on a credit card unless you can afford it.

Avoid:

Small Companies – Avoiding small companies can ensure that you do not come across problems that would not face well-known, reputable house-hold names. Should a company be a public limited company/listed company or be owned by such then the inherent risk of unfair contract terms and a shift away from best-practice are significantly reduced by PR factors and media pressures/influences.

High APR/0% initial APR – Choosing to contract with a credit card company that offers a great introduction rate and a higher rate in the long term is relying on your lack of financial control to make money. If you are not in total control of your finances and ultimately earn less than you make then please avoid these at all costs.

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